Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity of reading The Start of Something.

I was excited to read this book as the concept of it is wonderful. Two strangers, Lachlan and Bethan, sparking a friendship through handwritten signs in their windows. They both have a lot going on in their lives - for Bethan, a young son and a past she wants to put behind her, for Lachlan, a serious injury he is struggling to recover from.

I found some parts of the book slightly edging out of the realms of believability, but overall thought it was a great, heartwarming read!

This is my first time reading a book by Miranda and it definitely won't be the last because she is so talented. I didn't want to put this book down and the fact that it is a romance book with just a hint of mystery makes it so unique and I loved it!

The start of something

I LOVED the concept for this book. Two strangers, living in flats across from each other, start writing notes and leaving in them their windows. They quickly both fall for each other - even though they have never met.

Lachlan worries that he won’t be good enough with his leg injury and Bethan doesn’t want someone to judge her for having a son.

I really enjoyed how Miranda Dickinson didn’t explain the back stories for both the characters until quite late in the book. This definitely kept me going throughout the book because I just needed to know what had happened to Lachlan and what Bethan was running from.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Miranda Dickinson and Netgalley for an ARC of The Start of Something in return for an honest review.

The Start of Something follows the developing relationship of Lachlan and Bethan. Lachlan and Bethan are similar in both struggling with their troubles and identities of their new selves after twists and turns in their life. Lachlan and Bethan learn to accept themselves, move on from the past and take courage in their own future. The relationship is unique in the way it starts - refreshing from the modern world.

The Start of Something is about relationships, acceptance, taking life day-by-day and enjoying the little moments along the way. The chapters alternate between Lachlan and Bethan and their points of view/life and reflections therefore each chapter builds on the precedent.

A wholesome romance book - unlike one you won't have read before.

Thank you Negalley for the preview of this book.

This is a cute and easy to read story about a single mother and injured soldier who come to learn about each other through signs in the window. I enjoyed the story. It’s a simple book and a quick read.

I absolutely loved this story from start to finish. The story of two people, facing terrible times in their lives, and finding support in each other by simple messages in a window as strangers. Both have secrets, which could impact their future happiness, but with sheer determination, and learning to love yourself and what you achieve, they can look forward to brighter times ahead. There are tears of laughter an sadness in this tale of Lachie and Beth, I couldn't put it down.

3⭐️

This book is about Bethan and Lachie who live across from each other and start communicating by leaving notes on their windows. It game me Taylor Swift ‘You Belong With Me’ music video vibes and I kinda loved it.

I loved all parts of this book of them leaving notes for each other especially when they didn’t know yet or what each other looked like. And the part where the see each other for the first time was so cute!!

Bethan is a single mum but doesn’t want to tell Lachie in case he is put off by this but Lachie was in an accident and has a severe leg injury which he also doesn’t want her to know about in case she doesn’t like that about him.

There was a bit of miscommunication which I was not a fan of, and is ultimately what brought my rating down from a 4 to a 3.

It also felt a bit insta love-ish, which isn’t my favourite thing to read, but I think it felt that way because it wasn’t very clear how much time had passed from them leaving their notes and them meeting in person for the first time.

Overall, this was still a cute romance and I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book by the cover, the author and the synopsis. So I was thrilled to be approved for a copy.

The story focuses on Bethan and Lachlan and their communication and developing relationship. Both characters have detailed back stories, and both were really well written.

I’ve read a few books recently which centred around communicating by notes, so I did struggled to stay excited by the storyline as it seems a little ‘overdone’ right now. However, there’s no avoiding the fact that this was a lovely read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 📚

3.5 ⭐️

I was very excited to read this book, the characters have depth and reading about the relationship growing between Bethan & Lachie was beautiful. Sadly I struggled with the flow of this book and found it a little slow in places.

Beautifully written, believable and genuinely touching.
Having been fortunate enough to receive and advance copy, I really loved this book, The two main characters were believable and authentic and the story unfolded with a fair few twists that I was not expecting. Highly recommended.

I love this book! The themes of betrayal, adversity and redemption are skilfully woven into a story of two neighbours who communicate via messages in their windows. Their secrets and circumstances remain hidden as their relationship develops. A touching and absorbing tale. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book which I received as an advance copy via Netgalley.

I’m afraid to say this book as not for me, I could not get into it. I wish the author all the best for the future. I’ll rate is 3 stars as possibly to some people this book will be right up there street. Just unfortunately not for me.

This is a very sweet story about two lonely people who live in adjacent apartment buildings. Lachlan is a soldier, recovering from a serious road accident in which he was badly crushed and he has to have regular physiotherapy to try and get him walking properly again. Bethan is a young single mother to Noah, and has just rented a new flat which has allowed her and Noah to escape from the scary, rough neighbourhood they lived in before. Her new full-time job in the garden centre has made that possible. Her life since Noah was born has been a huge struggle, for reasons that become clear late on in the story. Before they move in to the new apartment her landlord has allowed her to decorate, and as Noah wants to live in a rainbow she has painted all the walls white, so they can have lots of colour in their furnishings.

Lachlan sees that somebody is decorating so realises there will be a new tenant opposite, and Bethan sees his cat Ernie asleep on the windowsill opposite, and knows that Noah will love that. When they move in Bethan places a vase filled with brightly coloured ranunculus in the window. Lachlan puts a note in his window, asking what the flowers are, and so begins a conversation, with daily notes left on their windows. Despite never actually meeting each other they become friends through the notes, and when they do at last meet across the beech hedge between their buildings it cements their friendship. However, both are hiding their secrets, and the day they decide to meet without the hedge between them Bethan plans to tell Lachlan about Noah and he plans to tell her about his injury; and it all goes terribly wrong. Other areas of their lives start collapsing as well, and it looks as though all their hopes and plans will be destroyed. It takes leaps of faith for both of them to get their lives back in order, and discover that they had both misinterpreted what happened in their previous meeting..

It is a well-written, well thought through story, which I can thoroughly recommend.

One of my ‘go to’ authors, Miranda Dickenson always brings a story that will tug on the heart strings for one reason or another. With an amazing ability of bringing her characters to life, I felt like I was reading about two very real people – watching how their lives start to intertwine and how their connection starts to heal wounds of all kinds.
Reminiscent of a lockdown tale of a couple finding love whilst posting notes in their windows; this story gives us two people, damaged and in need of care but in very different ways. Both Lachlan and Bethan have their own story, they have lives and problems and as a reader we are in the position of knowing all their thoughts and feelings; but we also have their story; the one where a small act changes both of their lives.
I loved the story, I was swept away in the romance and cheered on both as they overcame their insecurities as well as the people problems. I adored Bethan’s friends at the garden centre, what a supportive group (the majority of course!) and it was lovely to see Bethan’s idea’s on how to save the garden centre work. Bert and Ernie must have a mention, brilliant!
Great characters that aren’t perfect; they may make mistakes, have misunderstandings but this all adds to their charm and what makes them like real people rather than fictional perfect people.
Well written, with heart and emotion. Moments of light and shade, with love at it’s core. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Net Galley, Harper Collins and Miranda Dickinson who very kindly provided me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book!! It’s the first Miranda Dickinson that I have read but definitely won’t be the last!
I enjoyed living Bethan and Lachies lives, laughing along at some points but close to tears in others!
I would recommend to friends to read! A lovely easy read when snuggled on the sofa on winters nights

this book started off slow and was not of interest but i didnt put it down i carried on reading and o what a difference the further you got into the book nothing too heavy but what a good light read brill

Reading this book made me really happy. It is a light but thoroughly enjoyable read. The communication between the main characters through their windows is novel. It is a good story and just wanted to keep reading to know what was to happen next. The ending is predictable but I can forgive that. I particularly liked the different characters, I found the main characters well developed and interesting. The characters in their individual stories were well drawn. Would recommend.

A beautiful written love story. Loved the characters, their back stories and their sensitivity. It very much reminded me of Beth O'Leary's Flat Share. Wonderful.

This was a really sweet romance. It reminded me of The Flatshare with the notes (which isn't a bad thing!) I was rooting for them all the way through and it gave me a nice warm glow when I finished it

This book is something special. It’s all the good feels rolled up in one story! Heartwarming and fizzing with fun and anticipation. The story focuses on two neighbours, their unique fledgling relationship and the challenges along the way. I found it difficult to put this book down. Completely compelling! A must read for those who love a good romance.

Thank you Netgalley