It took me a while to get into this book, however once I found that extra kick, I really enjoyed this book.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

I only realised after reading this that it’s actually a sequel, a testament to how well it’s written that I never felt lost at all and now I get the joy of reading the first book– to The Education of Ivy Edwards. Let’s hope there’s more too

Is This It? was a good book to read, it did sit on my shelf for a while as I found it a little hard to get into but glad I did!

This book has been on my shelf for a little while. I’ve finally had time to get started on it and wish I’d been able to read this sooner. It was great!

Ivy is a brilliant character, flawed, real, honest, fabulous!

I loved her relationship with Scott. It developed slowly and realistically. It was lovely watching them fall in love.

Some parts of the story fell a bit flat for me, a lot of dialogue with Anna and her mum. However, this didn’t distract from the great story.

I enjoyed the ending, and I’m glad the author didn’t make Ivy compromise or settle for something she didn’t want for the sake of love.

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

Thankfully, unlike the first book, this wasn’t quite so doom and gloom. Despite being a massive cynic (I blame my less than successful dating journey so far), I love a love story so I was more than happy to watch the romance between Ivy and Scott unfold. It wasn’t perfect, there were messy bits and lovely bits, but it was real. I already think Ivy is a brilliant character but it was good to see how much she blossomed when Scott was around her, it felt like seeing your friend happy with someone.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Due to personal reasons I wasn't able to get to this book before it archived and for some reason I cannot seem to find it on my kindle. I'm gutted as I really liked the sound of this one. I'm going to try and pick it up when I have some money and then I will update my review!

What a read.

Ivy Edwards is a lost soul who just can’t allow herself to find happiness until she decides to make something of herself. Since making that decision she’s a changed woman and things start to go right for her.

Brilliant book. Brilliant characters. Brilliant full stop.

I loved the addition of translations of the Welsh sayings/words in the glossary, I knew some of them but definitely not all of them.

I’ve got to admit that for the first 10-15% of this book I was indeed thinking “is this it?” - and then something magical happened and I fell in love with it - the story, the characters and the whole book.

It is very well written. From the main characters to the smaller ones (the primary school children) they are incredibly well drawn and three dimensional. I was genuinely disappointed when I got to the last page.

That said, I have just found out this is a sequel - so I will be purchasing the first one!

What a gorgeous book - I'm desperate to go and read the first Ivy Edwards now! In 'Is This It?' Ivy makes a decision to take control of her life after her life imploded around her before. She meets the delicious Scott, and starts to train to be a primary teacher, her sister has had a much loved baby -and things look to be on the up, but in the spirit of all good romantic comedies, there's always a spanner or two in the works.
Ivy is so likeable, her family is wonderful and its written with such love and good humour - thanks for the chance to read it!

I loved Is This It? because it is funny, well-written, and compelling, but also because the protagonist is relatable and feels authentic and I adored her.

Ivy Edwards is in her thirties. She lives in London, she doesn’t have a job, she is single, but, one night, she decides it is time to change that. First thing first, it is time to follow her dream and become a teacher, so she starts her training in a school where she quickly realizes that it is not always easy to control and teach a group of screaming children, but it is often rewarding and she won’t give up easily.

On the personal side, after a few disastrous online dates, Ivy meets Scott, handsome clean-obsessed Scott. Could he be the one? Will she finally have her happy every after?

After finishing reading Is This It? I was surprised to find out that it is a sequel – to The Education of Ivy Edwards – because it so well-written and with enough background information about the protagonist that I thought this was a stand-alone. I am happy it is not a stand-alone because I really need to read The Education of Ivy Edwards (and also because I hope there will be a third book!).

Ivy is really an incredible character. Once she decides she wants to become a teacher, she works hard to achieve it, even though most of the time she was scared of the challenge and she didn’t feel up to it, she never backs down. Throughout the novel we see this character develop well and mature, both on her personal and work life. I loved her closed relationship with her sister Hannah and with her parents (I especially loved her conversations with her mother who had no filters when it came to speaking).

Is This It? is a hilarious, romantic, and captivating novel and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

Is This It came to me to just at the right time in my life. YES, it sounds awfully cliche to say, but it is true. I read the first few lines of the blurb and I was sold, just picture me standing in my kitchen shouting, 'wow, I need this'

I hadn't realised until I'd finished the book that this is the second book about the life and escapades of our shameless and sassy welsh firecracker Ivy Edwards, but from what I can tell, both seem to work just fine as a standalone.

The blurb promises a relatable female character, trying to make sense of her current circumstances, how to get to grips with this thing called 'adult life', and how to move from 'hot mess' to 'heck yes'

I'vy's situation resonated with me, far more than I'd be happy to admit, but how could it not? We've all been there, right or you know, kinda still are there. Hannah's story is achingly relatable, absolutely hilarious, and really sweet where it needs to be. Hannah's writing is brilliant and her characters are expertly fleshed out. Is this It takes the reader through situations where you can't help but cackle and nod your head in agreement. The dates, ugh! The datesss!

Ivy's character feels very lifelike which made it easy to build a connection with her as her story unfolds and I was rooting for her the whole way! We see real vulnerability in her character in the backstory about her grandfather and how the love we feel for family guides us, and our dedicision making long after they've gone.

The story concludes beautifully, so here's to hoping we get a number 3.Who knows what Ivy gets up to next? I definitely need to know. Either way, this made for beautiful summer reading.

Thanks again to Piatkus books for this copy, I truly enjoyed myself!

I didn't know this was the second in a series, or have much of a sense of what happened with Ivy Edwards and her ex Jamie in the first book. I enjoyed reading about Ivy's adventures as an NQT primary teacher and I loved her high-achieving sister Anna coming to terms with motherhood when her new baby, the lovely Eleanor, is born. Ivy is also grieving for her Gramps, a Welsh prankster and loving patriarch who has left a huge hole in the family. Not much went on, but this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel of a young women bringing her life in line, even when those around her don't always notice the effort she's making to get things on track!

Following on from The Education of Ivy Edwards (which I reviewed here), the lovable yet flawed Ivy Edwards returns in Is This It? – a book about getting your life together, getting your head around growing up and (finally) getting a chance at true love.

Ivy is as funny (and as likeable) as ever. I think where the first book focused on her spiralling out of control, this one focused on her gaining back that control which was great to see (and read). She still makes questionable decisions (don’t we all?) but, in this book, she also begins to make decisions that have a positive impact on her life – like teaching.

Despite my English degree, teaching is a job I swore I wouldn’t do but — from the various NQTs I know or am slightly aware of — I think Tovey captures the good, bad and ugly of primary school teaching well. It’s hard, it’s stressful but it’s very rewarding and I loved seeing Ivy push herself in a new and exciting role.

I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Ivy’s friends in the first book but, when I read this one, I found a new love and respect for Mia. She’s a bit snobby and needy but she’s also a brilliant friend and a great character. The sweet and funny moments between her and Ivy are lovely and her wild parties did make me laugh.

Ivy’s family are as weird and wonderful as ever, with a gorgeous new addition. Whilst I don’t have children myself, as an auntie to two gorgeous boys, I related to the unease around babies that Ivy had and — then — the huge amount of love you feel for this human being. As ever, Tovey is honest about parenting and it was nice to see a different side to her sister’s character.

Again, loss is explored in this book. Whilst the first book had me grappling with the loss I felt for my own Grandad, this one encouraged me not only to grieve but to remember the happy times I had which — on days when I am reminded that he is no longer with us —- was something I needed to hear.

Thankfully, unlike the first book, this wasn’t quite so doom and gloom. Despite being a massive cynic (I blame my less than successful dating journey so far), I love a love story so I was more than happy to watch the romance between Ivy and Scott unfold. It wasn’t perfect, there were messy bits and lovely bits, but it was real. I already think Ivy is a brilliant character but it was good to see how much she blossomed when Scott was around her, it felt like seeing your friend happy with someone.

Where the first book was about a woman whose life is falling apart, Is This It? is about the same woman – alongside her wonderful friends, family and a love interest – bringing things back together.

It’s easy to feel miles away from characters when reading fiction but, in Ivy and the other characters we come across in this book, I found that people I related to. Whether we are single, in a couple, parents, grandparents, friends or whatever, we are all trying to find ourselves in a messy world. This past year, it has been a struggle but the overall message of this book — which will stay with me for a long time — is that we will get where we need to be in the end.

You know when you are wondering what you are reading? There didn't seem to be much of a plot, not a lot happens and you begin to wonder where you are heading well this was that sort of a book. In fact it felt like I was living Ivy's life! And a few times I did wonder, is this it? Haha. The writer is very clever as it's so meandering, so every day and it's so wonderfully perceptive. I really enjoyed the character's conversations as they were real and at times brutally honest. I laughed a good many times at Ivy's behaviour. It took a while to get into but when it find its rhythm i raced to the finish.

3.5 stars

'Don't let your past fuck up your future.'

Ivy is 32, single and unsure about what she wants to do with her life.

But sometimes we need to take that leap of faith and trust in the process, or ask 'what would Gramps do?' To find the answer.

What a delightful and enjoyable novel. The narrative was free-flowing and the characters realistic.

As a reader, I love to believe what I read and in this I did.

I also liked that this wasn't your everyday romance, where the love interests do a dance for the first 300 and something pages and get together in the last 20.

This novel took us through how hard life can be. That we have to juggle what we do; friendship, family, relationships and work; and finding the balance isn't easy!

The banter between Scott and Ivy is witty and natural; I cried laughing at the scene of the dip!
And couldn't help but laugh out loud in many others.

I am definitely looking out for this author in the future.

Ivy is a thirty-two year old welsh woman living in London. Last year, before the book begins (maybe in a previous book?) she split up with her fiancé Jamie, her beloved Grandpa died, and Ivy went off the rails a bit. Now she's come to realise that she's not got a proper job, while friends and family are getting their lives together. Ivy decides to stop wasting her inheritance and start her teacher training, which will require her to stop going out and getting wasted with her two best friends, Mia the extrovert actress and Dan the obligatory gay best friend who alternates between having loads of money and being broke. Ivy also decides to get over Jamie by joining a dating app.

Ivy is a bit of a Bridget Jones (from Bridget Jones's Diary) for the twenty-first century. Often shockingly hungover on a school night, horrendous dates with losers, nagging mother, perfect sister who has it all, not doing well at her chosen career etc, etc. Then she meets the perfect man while on a mates night out, good looking, funny, and seemingly interested in Ivy he seems like the perfect man, until he takes her number and never calls her back ...

I don't know if this is part of a series, it feels as though all the characters have a lot of backstory which isn't properly explained, eg the break up with Jamie and exactly what Ivy did. Also Mia and Dan are terrible BFFs, selfish and unsupportive, they never really seem to have her back. TBH they are the sort of BFFs you have at uni and then gradually loose touch with because they are still partying, dressing, and acting like eighteen year olds in their twenties and thirties.

This was pleasant enough but it felt like Ivy was dealing with too many issues on different fronts and the mix was wrong, like maybe it should have been 50% romance, 30% teaching, 10% parental issues, and 10% friends but instead it was 25% each, making it difficult to invest in the romance.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I was incredibly excited after reading the synopsis.. which failed to mention it was a sequel, well, not the worst part but it would’ve made sense to have that little background. But, we followed Ivy, figure out her life whilst hanging in the big 3 oh, and while most people around her had their shit together. It's a well-written book and although it went a different direction than I had predicted, it was a nice read. Took me a while to keep it going and a little disappointed as the first impression was not the best, but halfway through, it went back up and I couldn't keep it down after.

Wished we got more of an elaborate ending like an epilogue as it felt, the author gave the main character a happy ending for the name of it, but nevertheless, a good book for those who are in a similar stage - definitely think I felt more frustrated due to my own relatability with the character but I guess that's the reality of contemporary writing but the reader in me couldn't jump out with this one.

I think I’ve made it pretty clear before that I love Hannah’s writing and her debut novel, The Education of Ivy Edwards! Hannah very quickly became one of my most favourite welsh authors (up there with Roald Dahl of course!). I love the world she created for Ivy, and when I finished her first book I knew I needed more, and she’s delivered! 👏🏼

I loved being back with Ivy, and I love the growth she’s had as a character, I felt so proud! I felt a connection with her in the last book, and that felt even stronger in Is This It? when Ivy started her training to be a primary school teacher, which is my job too! I felt that Hannah really got what it’s like be a trainee teacher, no sleep, no social life, the guilt when you don’t see friends or family, she really got it spot on! Plus, with Ivy’s sister being a new mum in this one, I felt a good connection with her too! And of course, there was Scott. Oh I loved him! And at points I didn’t 😂

What I love about Ivy’s story, is that it feels just so real. She has some amazing people surrounding her, her family and friends are incredible characters. Mia is just one of a kind, I mean I have never seen or heard of a party like one she’s thrown! And although they might have their moments, they’re friends for life and will always have each other’s back, even if it takes a while. And her family. Her mother is such a character, I love her! 😂

I could go on forever about this book and Ivy’s world and how much I love it!

Thank you to @netgalley and @hannahtovey for the ARC of this book.

This was such a warm and cosy easy read! The chemistry between Ivy and Scott was fun and effortless and I find myself laughing out loud at points too which I always adore in a book!

Ivy felt super real as a character and I think everyone could find something in her that they can relate to. The side characters were also well developed and all added a little something extra to the story.

It did have a few far fetched moments but by approaching it as more of a story of self discovery rather than a straight up romance I found myself able to overlooked these few moments.

If you’re a fan of writers like Dolly Alperton and Emily Henry I’d highly recommend checking this out!