A good romantic read about two people Lucy and Jamie who were made for each other and meant to be together apart from one big stumbling block. Having children! The story is told from both their perspectives going back right to the beginning when they first met. I loved the pace of the book and the storyline. It kept me turning the pages from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was a pleasure.

I was delighted to be approved for a advance copy of this title from Rachel Marks, having loved ‘Until Next Weekend’ ,and ‘Saturdays at Noon.’, both 5 star reads for me. I hate to say that this book was a major disappointment for me.
I wasn’t sure about the premise for the storyline, focussing on the’ Before’ and the ‘After’ of the breakup of Lucy and Jamie. It meanders forward and back, between both protagonists, with very little actually happening, other than occasional city breaks, to which Lucy seems to be addicted.
I found Lucy very irritating and immature for a 29 year old. She works in a bookshop, owns a really nice apartment, and can afford many impromptu travel trips. (She is also ‘writing’ a book, but I’m not sure when? ) How exactly does she fund this lifestyle? Likewise, when they decide to buy a house together, they can afford an amazing big house with a river running through the bottom of the garden. Jamie is an events manager, but never goes anywhere, and works regular hours. This strikes me as all very unlikely .There is no indication of where the story might be located? Certainly not London.
Lucy has a strained, scratchy relationship with her mother, for no apparent reason other than that she assumes her Mum prefers her sister Amy, who is married with two children. I preferred her sister Amy! She is a much more mature, rounded likeable personality than Lucy.
I found Lucy’s repeated strident explanations about why she doesn’t want children very wearying. I got it first time.
Jamie, on the other hand, is the too- perfect specimen of a boyfriend. Good looking, fit, considerate, an all round good guy, constantly aware to Lucy’s insecurities and vulnerability……just too good to be true, in fact. He endlessly indulges Lucy, letting her have her own selfish way, all the time. I wanted to shake him.
It is difficult to follow any sort of timeline in the narrative, as it jumps about all over the place, the Before being referred to might be two days, or two months, or a year. Likewise with the After, it could be a day after, or as long as three years.
The reason for their ultimate split is so predictable, and is flagged up by the events in the story. The eventual ending is so long and drawn out, and schmaltzy beyond words, I almost didn’t read to the very end, I thought it would never finish. So disappointing from this author, I’m sad to say. I hate to be so negative, but there was just no authenticity in this story, unlike the author’s first two books.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. This is a 2.5, rounded up to 3 stars for me.

I was invited to read and review this title by NetGalley, so when I was looking for a enjoyable read this seemed perfect!

The novel opens on the day that Lucy and James split up then heads back through time to their first date, first kiss, first meeting of the families, first holiday - the whole story of their relationship to date right up until the end and beyond.

I loved the characters and the story of their love affair. Not giving anything away, but this book made me smile and well up at different points.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

Hello, Stranger was well written and believable. It shone a light on the attitude of others towards women who don’t want children. I didn’t give it more stars as I found it a bit of a sad read and the ending felt a bit bleak.

The cover of this book grabbed my attention; the synopsis sounded really interesting too.

I’m not familiar with the author, but I’m so glad I read this book.

Lucy and Jamie meet and we follow their relationship through its ups and downs. They are madly in love, but there is one huge difference between them that can’t be overcome - Jamie wants children, Lucy doesn’t.

The story switches between his and her perspective and between past and present. It’s easy to follow and so well written.

There are several supporting characters that play pivotal roles in the story. Each well written and unique.

Jamie and Lucy were great characters. I loved Jamie and couldn’t stand Lucy. I found her quite irritating, immature and selfish. However, this is testament to the brilliant writing from the author.

The thing I loved most about this book is that the author didn’t take the easy option and make either of the characters compromise or give up on what they truly wanted in life. Why should Lucy have to do something she genuinely didn’t want to do? Why should Jamie have to miss out on something so dearly important to him. This was handled so well.

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

To be honest I am not usually a fan of stories that hop from character to character, or time hop. But this story has changed my mind, it was so well written & each chapter told the story from either Lucy or Jamie's point of view. It was told so well & so defined that it wasn't confusing, which some stories written in this way can be.
Thoroughly enjoyed

I adored this book. Told from both Lucy and Jamie’s point of view, it had me hooked from the beginning. They were absolutely made for each other, and yet, one (big) thing was enough to be a total deal breaker- despite them both knowing the other was the love of their life! It was beautiful and sad to see them come to terms with knowing they had to end their relationship, even though they were still in love with each other. It was sad and beautiful all at the same time. Would highly recommend and I was absolutely engrossed.

I was so invested in this story it was so addictive. I enjoyed the romance in this. I really rooted for them both to sort out their problems.

Hello, Stranger is incredibly raw and real.
Such an interesting take on a love story that that so many people will relate to.
I found some of the decisions the couple made frustrating but that’s what made it so real.
The format of the book was brilliant and kept me wanting to read on and discover why things started/ended the way they did.

I really loved this book, I thought that it was fresh and new and really well written. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measures. I loved the duel narrative and how we feel the emotions of the events play out from both characters points of view.

Hello Stranger is a book that is heart-breaking and beautiful that shows that sometimes relationships aren’t all that we want them to be.

The story of Lucy and Jamie begins with their break up, and then the reader is taken on the journey of their relationship as they reflect on the good and bad times. Rachel Marks shows their relationship through the emotions of both points of view, swapping between their characters. The story highlights the ups and downs that you can face, as well as some of the compromises you can make and the consequences of them.

What was beautifully approached in this book that sometimes, despite loving someone a lot, it is better to go separate ways when you both want different things. Although those moments were heart-wrenching to read, it brought clarity to the idea that sometimes the hardest things in life will being better things.

Lucy is presented as someone who knows what she wants in a relationships but is floating through life, working a mundane job to live and to ignores the other things she wanted in life. Jamie’s is seen as having it all put together with is well paid career, desire for the normal married life and eventually children. Their journey together allowed them both to realise what they truly wanted out of live and how they were going to get there

Overall, Rachel Marks provides a romance that has a happily ever after just not between the main characters. This unique story shows the reality of what some relationships can fall to. Even though it is a sad story to read, it was beautifully written to the point that it provided clarity and realisation that life doesn’t always go to plan.

This is an unpredictable and big-hearted new love story. Rich characterizations, realistic emotions, and a lovely story make for a can't-put-it-down emotional read. Might need tissues for this one….

Having enjoyed this authors previous book until next weekend I was looking forward to reading this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. This was a very poignant read which covered a lot of sensitive issues in a very insightful and thoughtful way and brought attention to some topics which are normally not freely talked about which was good to get them out in the open.

I enjoyed that the book started at the end of Lucy and Jamie’s relationship and then took us back to the beginning and how they met and the events in between. This was so much more than just a romance story and featured a lot of hard decisions and characters looking inside themselves for how they truly felt and what they really needed to be genuinely happy.

Once I started reading I couldn’t put this down and read it over one lazy Sunday. Looking forward to reading this authors next book as they write about relatable topics and real people and real life issues and get to the heart of human emotion.

This book was totally unputdownable!! I absolutely loved it but have your tissues ready! I loved the way it was written (starting at the end of the story and then going back to the beginning), and really felt for Lucy and Jamie - I have to confess I was more on Jamie’s side however - he was just such a lovely character. The ending was perfect, such a lovely book, I will be highly recommending this to all my friends x

I’m loved this book. We begin at the point that Jamie and Lucy are breaking up. It seems weird as they clearly don’t want to but feel they have to. We are then taken back to when they first meet and fall in love; back and forth to their first dates and then to events leading to their break up. A really beautifully written story; although it was sad, I throughly enjoyed the story and seeing what the future ultimately holds for this pair who seem a match made in heaven.

Really love how this book is structured. Starting off at the end of what seems like a perfect relationship the reader immediately wonders why Jamie and Lucy are splitting up.

The book then takes us back to the beginning of their relationship and we see their romance develop through the eyes of both Lucy and Jamie with alternating chapters and some flash forward to present day post break up.

The structure worked really well in allowing the reader to journey through the relationship as it develops. I especially loved that we get the story from Jamie's perspective. Books like these dealing with relationship and romance are often one sided but Jamie's voice was essential to build what felt like a full and honest picture of their relationship. He is a strong contender for sweetheart of the year but he has his own issues and worries too.

The angle of a woman not wanting children was a refreshing one. I have friends who feel this way but I have never seen it portrayed in literature as well as this before. The weight of judgement Lucy endures for her decision from everyone from her mother to a shop assistant is smothering but from conversations I’ve had with women who have made the same decision is sadly very true to life.

While this is in some ways your typical light romance it’s also much deeper than that. As well as one of the main characters making the choice not to have children, it touches on abortion, childhood trauma and baby loss.

Great relationships throughout this book. Aside from Jamie & Lucy, Jamies relationship with his best friend is a touching one and the development of his relationship with his mum throughout the book was really well portrayed.

Particularly liked that although the ending was a good one for Lucy & Jamie, it wasn’t the perfect fairytale that one might have expected - it made the story much more believable.

Huge thank you to NetGalley & Michael Joseph for access to an ARC of this book.

This is the story of Jamie and Lucy, which starts on the day that they break up. Determined not to hold him back in life and unable to give him something he really wants Lucy ends their relationship and moves out.

The story moves back and forth between the start of their relationship from first dates, moving in together, attending events together and getting engaged. Sounds perfect, right? So why are they breaking up? Lucy doesn’t want children. She’s never wanted them and even the prospect of walking away from the man she loves will change her mind.

A heartbreaking and somewhat unspoken story of people who for whatever reason do not want to have children. As well as covering the taboo topics of abortion and miscarriage. Tissues at the ready for this one!

I loved Rachel Marks' previous books, so I was excited to read this. Jamie and Lucy are a perfect couple who seem made for each other, but there's one, perhaps insurmountable, issue in their relationship. The beginning of the book sees them splitting up; we move back in time to chart the course of their relationship and how they've arrived at this point.

Hello Stranger was a very readable story and I did get invested in the Jamie/Lucy relationship and really wanted things to work out for them. The dilemma they face - not an unusual one for many couples - is honestly presented with no easy answers, ultimately asking the question: is love enough?

I did wonder how Lucy managed to afford all that travelling and buy a property on her - surely not enormous - salary from working in a bookshop. How many shop workers can casually, on impulse, book a week at an all-inclusive resort in Antigua? (Not to mention all the other places she jets off to.) If it was explained, I missed it, and what seemed a lack of realism bothered me slightly. Nevertheless it was a very good read.

This was a poignant read about Jamie and Lucy who are so much in love with each other, yet the story starts with Lucy determined to breakup with Jamie. We then rewind to when they met and follow their relationship to find out just why she made that heartbreaking decision. This was such a thoughtful story with a whole raft of emotions and I think Rachel Marks did a superb job of writing a female character who would genuinely be judged in life for her convictions which was so well balanced with a believable male character who feels so completely differently in a key part of their relationship. Aside from that one area you could feel what a great couple they were and there were some great supporting characters too. I thought Lucy was very brave and how things transpired after the breakup was very well considered. 9/10

This was a beautifully bittersweet book that had me sobbing and smiling throughout whilst battling a million different emotions. I knew it was going to break my heart and yet, I couldn't stop reading.

This book broaches some very sensitive subjects which i felt were written well. I praise the author for writing a heroine who has no interest in ever having children and is content to spend her life doing what she wants. I find this can still be quite a taboo topic even though we're in 2022 so it was refreshing.

This book may not end how you would like it too, and I admit at first, I was gutted that it didn't go in the direction I had hoped. However, I can appreciate that everyone did get their own HEA so I took some comfort In that.

I think this is one to watch out for this year! And even though it made my heart ache, I loved it anyway.