I loved this book! The characters, the hidden pasts unraveling and the hope they both have. Lovely moments of cute Welsh phrases and nods to the hard times of serving in the military. Just lovely.

I read the Start of Something over a grey weekend and it is a really lovely read. The book takes the reader on the journey of Bethan and Lachie and how they grow together just from one message in the window! Really enjoyed this book!

Oh I adored this book! Loved it from the start to the finish. Such a simple idea, posters in windows and it creates such a special story that you don't want to finish, indeed I read it in one sitting. Definitely my most favourite of Miranda's books and will be recommending it to others. (Also Bert and Ernie, what a pair of names, love it!)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book is the story of Beth and Lachlan, told in rotating chapters.
Bethan, whose a single mother and loves her job, working in a garden centre, and she’s so happy that she’s moved to a new place and can try to build a future for herself and her son, even though she’s not fully left the past behind. The reason for this becomes clearer as the story progresses and something happens which makes Bethan reveal about her past.

Her neighbour is Lachlan, whose lives opposite with his dog 🐕 and cat 🐈‍⬛. He’s still healing from an accident and his job is on hold.

Bethan finds that even with her son, she’s lonely and Lachlan too is feeling like nothing’s going right, as they begin to converse, and start getting to know each other, and secrets are kept, will there be a happy ending?
The story started gradually, but it was still a lovely read.

Recommend It.

Firstly a big thank you to hq for my copy to review on netgalley. I am a huge fan of Mirandas books.

This is a sweet romance about 2 lost souls who are neighbours and both in new chapters of their journey.

A Beautiful and heartfelt book that’s uplifting and life affirming .

It was lovely and relatable to read a single parent character who has courage,strength and resilience.

I loved the sound of Lachlan from his tattoos to his alternative way of communicating.

Published 3rd February and if you’re yet to discover the beauty of mirandas imagination… welcome.

I loved this story! Funny, sensitive, heart warming, moving, lovely, lovely, lovely!
I haven't previously read anything by Miranda Dickinson, and The Start of Something has got me counting down until payday so I can go and buy her back catalogue. The voices of the two lead characters were individual and convincing, they were both well realised and I felt so engaged with them, egging them on, sympathising in their difficulties, cheering at the end.
I loved the way that both Lachlan and Bethan have pasts and troubles they're fighting through on their own, the way that each brings the sunshine into the other's life. I loved the slow burn. I loved the supporting characters, both two and four legged. I loved to hate the "hiding in plain sight" villains. A great way to spend the weekend.
I received The Start of Something as an ARC from the publisher. I'd like to thank them and Miranda Dickinson, though this has not influenced the honesty of my review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I found this story a bit slow and really struggled to get into it and it never really gripped me.
As with all this authors books it was beautifully written and the characters were well drawn and realistic but it didn’t really do it for me.

Lachie is a soldier recovering from a car accident with only his cat and dog for company, Bethan is a single mum who works in a garden centre and has just moved into the flat across from Lachie's
2 lonely people struggling with life who begin a friendship with a note in Lachie's window asking Bethan what her flowers were.
A lovely heartwarming read

What a lovely story.
I do love Miranda Dickinson stories as a rule and I did love this one too.
I loved the messages in the window it was really heartwarming. I did feel it was a little slow in the middle but then it picked up again.
I couldn’t put it down a great easy read.

Although there was nothing groundbreakingly different in this book, it was one I didn’t want to put down. I liked the characters (and disliked the ones you’re supposed to) and enjoyed the story. I also liked the added elements of backstory to make this more than just your average romance. And I like the fact it didn’t follow the exact pattern of every rom-com ever (you do start waiting for the moment one of them messes up but there is a bit more to this than just that formula). A great holiday read.

I found this quite slow to start with so it didn't pull me in. This really set the tone for the rest of the book as I found it quite predictable. It's not normally my genre but wanted to try something new so I expect that's why it did not appeal to me. In saying that it was well written but just not for me

What a gorgeous story. I loved the two main characters and how they met and became friends is adorable. I liked how they were each battling their own issues and it isn’t a case of being ‘ rescued’ from them. Really great absorbing read

A love story which starts over a bunch of flowers in the window.
Lachlan and Bethan end up living next door to each other - both hiding different troubles in life. They start to communicate through messages in their windows and build a relationship.
They both have a lot of things going on in their lives and as they say...... The path to true love never runs smoothly.

A wonderful, heartwarming book that will warm the coldest of hearts.
A fabulous read......... Highly recommended.

An enjoyable read which would be perfect for a rainy day or reading on a beach. I loved the characters and their separate stories, and whilst I enjoyed the concept of the way the leads met, I felt that I would have liked more of them actually together before they were declaring undying love.

I started off apprehensive with this book, but quickly saw the allure of the two main characters, the way they interacted, and their storylines which were slowly introduced throughout the book. Bethan was such a strong and independent woman, it was inspiring reading how she lived her life, and loved her son with her entire being. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Lachlan, who’s misfortune seemed to be someone else’s fault. And I know I wasn’t alone in waiting on the edge for the moment we all wish for in a romance, the moment they realise they’ve fallen in love. Once I started reading this, I was hooked. It was such a good, easy read, and I just couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed this book, the characters are engaging and feel very real, even the minor ones. I would love to read more about the Garden Centre and the people there.

Widge ranging, emotionally packed and very very cute romance. The tale takes its time meandering through some chunky issues for both Lachlan and Bethan which really draws you in and makes you root for both of them. The love story is at the same time secondary to the discoveries that our couple are making in their lives whilst at the same time absolutely central to who they are becoming and how they’ll get there. The book is beautifully written and there are some wry flashes of humour as well as some low point that have your empathising with those involved,

This is a great easy read. The story of two lost souls who end up living opposite each other and writing messages that they put in their windows. From this they create a bond which they both want to take further but both have issues that appear to be stopping them.

All in all an easy chick lit read that you can just lose yourself in.

Read in August 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this lovely book.

Well, I really liked this one! What a nice premise of meeting in such a way over notes in a window. The main characters were good people who both had a lot on their plates and life hadn't dealt them the kindest of cards.

Bethan is likeable, strong and kind, clearly with a good heart and friendly nature so she's easy to follow on her journey.

Lachie is frustratingly stubborn but he has that gem inside that provokes that first move. It's lovely to see the relationship develop over their notes. I think the only thing stopping me from believing this and giving it a full 5 stars is not believing that in this modern world, that they'd not exchange numbers? Also, the through the hedge meetings after the first time I'm not sure how I could envisage this being ok when it would take a few steps to be face to face. Maybe I'm trying too hard to put myself into that but I couldn't relate to it.

The drama with the hearing (hated Adam from the get go) and with Hattie and the missing money. I knew it was Darren without needing any hints there. He's written as the stereotypical bad guy so of course it was him. However during this and their estrangement from each other I actually felt nervous for them, tense and on edge! I was there with them the whole way!

Lastly, I'd of liked a little more of the relationship build up face to face, it ended too soon for me in that regard. All the build up and a few sentences to cover it at the end.

Overall really enjoyed, just tiny wee niggles or it would have been 5*.0

This is the first book I’ve read from Miranda Dickinson and it won’t be my last. The Start of Something centres on Bethan and Lachlan. Bethan is a single mother to a lovely little boy and Lachlan is a soldier, currently stuck at home due to his rehabilitation following an accident. Their flats each have a window that allows them to see into the other’s. One day Lachlan leaves a note in his window, asking Bethan the name of the flowers she had placed by her own window, and with that it is the start of something new and much needed for each of them.

This is a beautifully written slow burn romance. It is a story that deals with the consuming nature of loneliness and how important it is to feel seen and heard by others. Both Bethan and Lachlan are dealing with things that they worry define them in others peoples’ eyes, they both want to be seen for who they are beyond this, and that is what they do for each other. I thought Bethan and Lachlan were beautifully written and with a lot of depth to each of their characters. I especially loved Bethan’s positive attitude and her attempts to find the joy in every day.

Owing to the nature of their early communication, Bethan and Lachlan’s story is very much like an old fashioned courtship. Though this is a romance it also feels like a character driven story. We learn so much about Bethan and Lachlan, what makes them who they are and who they want to be.

There were also some excellent secondary characters, particularly Bethan’s colleagues at the nursery, with the exception of dastardly Darren of course. What Bethan achieved at the nursery was just heart warming.

This was a lovely book, filled with warmth and heart. It is a slower story, but one worth luxuriating in rather than feeling the need to rush.