This book had all the ingredients I usually love—small‑town romance, a renovation project, and the classic “city girl meets small‑town guy” setup—and the storyline itself was enjoyable enough. Unfortunately, the pacing really let it down: the first 60% unfolds over the course of just a week and drags with repetitive conversations, while the latter part jumps abruptly through time, feeling like an entirely different book. The rushed, unsatisfying ending left Felicity’s character arc underdeveloped, with little of the growth I’d hoped for. The premise had strong bones, but the execution just didn’t land for me.

This was an absolutely fabulous romcom. The female main character was an absolute disaster at times and quite hilarious- the male main character was grumpy but loveable and overall their chemistry was great

REACH FOR THE STARS - Maxine Morrey

Persistence! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - For Fliss, one rash decision loses her a job and gains her a major fixer-upper. The only bright spot of living in the country is the very dishy and very handy Jesse Woods. And when Fliss’s new roof has an ill-advised meeting with a tree in the middle of the night, there’s only one thing for it. She’s going to have to accept Jesse’s help and a place to stay. The city girl soon finds herself at rock bottom, but if anyone can teach her to turn her gaze from the gutter to the stars it’s Jesse Woods. She’s been burnt trusting men before, but Jesse may just be worth breaking her own rules for.

Writing - 4 stars - Morrey caught my attention right from the first page. She writes in a smooth and casual manner that drew me in. I liked the characters she built, the setting was pleasant, and the story (while sometimes a little over-the-top) made sense.

Characters - 4.5 stars - Although Fliss is an intelligent and strong main character, she's pretty hard to read. I liked the challenge of getting to know her, knowing that there's someone very likeable beneath her hard outer shell. She grew and changed throughout the book, having found a warm and nurturing place to land. Jesse is a great hero--tall, kind, and handsome, coming to her rescue, even when she resists. He's persistent, helpful, and even though he makes mistakes, you can tell he has a good heart. Jules (Jesse's sister) is adorable--outgoing, friendly, and insistent on Fliss joining the community and the family.

Title - 4 stars - Fliss has always gone her own way in life, following in the footsteps of her parents even when she wasn't really sure that was the way to go. She didn't know any other way. But now that she's starting over, she's decided to become a new person with new goals and challenges--reaching for the stars. I love that the title sets the reader up for a hopeful book.

Cover - 4 stars - I'm not really a fan of the trend for cartoon-y covers, but this one is a beautiful jewel-tone that really catches the eye.

Overall - 4 stars - What a lovely surprise! This is a new-to-me author who surpassed all of my expectations. I loved the strong main characters in this book. Even though Fliss and Jesse weren't necessarily always sweet and charming, they were independent and compelling, sometimes working well together but sometimes butting heads. Both types of opposite storylines were enjoyable to read, helping us get to know them better. There was plenty of character-driven drama to keep my interest throughout. And the romance was nicely done without all the intimate details. I will definitely look for more from this author.
**It took an extra-long time for me to finish this book because of personal issues that occurred after I had started. It in no way reflects on how much I enjoyed reading this book.**

Fliss is a hot mess. The book starts off with a bang...literally...when FMC Fliss bangs into MMC Jesse with some 2x4s at the hardware store). However, had I not read the premise on the back of the book, I would have been so lost. I like a bit of backstory in the first chapter or two instead of being thrown into the deep end and trying to figure out what's happening without some c0ntext. I wanted to like this book, but I could not connect with the characters. I'm just not a fan of the country folk immediately hating on city slickers then wow, what do you know, they end up falling in love despite their differences. Hopefully you like this trope a little better than I did!

This was auch a cute read. I really had fun reading it.
Love the mcs soooo much
Big thanks to netgally for this book

Thank you NetGalley and Maxine Morrey for this ARC

This was a really sweet and lovely read, it is a good heart warming story with a sprinkle of humour which was good. I would highly recommend.

Felicity life is spinning out of control. She makes the decision to move to the country. She buys a farmhouse from the listing only and not see it in person and when she gets there she's shocked to find it's not quite as advertised. Thankfully, the owners brother, Jesse, gets wind of her moving in and comes to her aid. While a bit cheesy at times, the dialogue was believable and easy to enjoy. This book reminded me of the movie, The Money Pit. This was a nice read.

Maxine Morrey as a brand new author to me and after this I will look for more by her! It had me invested- loving her characters and laughing ouloud at times!

A cute romance with just the right touch of funny. I loved the characters and the storyline. Can't wait for the next one.

I have never read a Maxine morrey book that I have not enjoyed. This one has her style of amazing characters and I adored it

The story will sweep you away into the life of Felicity "Fliss," a city girl whose world unravels after a particularly humiliating social media encounter involving her ex-fiancé’s picture-perfect wedding. What starts as an attempt to drown her sorrows ends with her impulsively purchasing a rundown farmhouse.

This feel-good, slow-burn romance offers the perfect blend of heartbreak, humor, and healing. The dilapidated country house serves as more than just a setting — it mirrors Fliss’s own state of disrepair. Enter Jesse Woods, the “loveliest-man-ever” who is as competent with a hammer as he is gentle with a bruised heart. Their chemistry is warm and believable, slowly building trust in a way that feels earned rather than rushed.

The novel does a lovely job in its portrayal of personal reinvention. Fliss isn’t just looking for love — she’s learning how to stand on her own, rediscover her passions, and build a new life, literally brick by brick. The moments of domestic chaos, quirky village charm, and emotional honesty make for a compelling read that’s both comforting and inspiring.

This is a beautiful and uplifting story of second chances and the surprising beauty of starting over — even when the roof caves in.

A cozy, heartfelt read that reminds us sometimes rock bottom is the perfect place to rebuild.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey is a slo-burn fixer upper rom-com.

Felicity leaves London for what is supposed to be a quant country life...only to have her whole world crumble around her.

Thankfully, she meets Jesse, who helps her turn things around.

A cute romance that will have you dreaming of a simpler country life.

Thank you to my partners, Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, and the author. I appreciate the gifted eARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

1. 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 • This one had me laughing right out of the gates. Felicity’s sense of humor is on par with mine, so I felt an immediate connection and continued to laugh all of the way through it!

2. 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 • The peace and tranquility of being in the country and living a small town life. There really is nothing like it. I wouldn’t trade mine for anything, and it was pleasing to watch as Felicity fell in love with it.

3. 𝐁𝐚𝐦 • Have you ever been reading along like nothing is going on and then all of a sudden you read one sentence and it stops you in your tracks? Holy smokes - this one got me. Jesse’s reasoning for his harsh feelings for one of the characters is completely reasonable.

4. 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 • This kind of felt like I was watching the DIY shows on TV. The way that they met had me laughing and watching as their love grew while they found a way to fix her house was so fun.

5. 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 • Felicity didn’t have the best family life growing up, so when she finds the closeness of the small town, it is like coming home. She feels the love that they are willing to give quite easily and holds on for dear life.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me.

The story just wasn’t for me..
I’m still grateful for the opportunity for the arc though

DNF
I won’t be finishing this book due to feeling uninterested in the story
i will not continue to read

Love this book. It's emotional and funny. Felicity has some histories because of that she struggles to trust people or accept help. As she starts to live in the village, starts a new life, she begins to trust people and make friends. Her journey is not just romance, it's about rebuilding herself a future. Jesse is patient, understanding and kind hearted. He also has story of his own. Their romance is filled with undeniable chemistry, playful banter and tender love and understanding. If you love small town romance, personal growth, slow burn then this book delivers all of these.

If you’ve ever wanted to buy a crumbling farmhouse on a whim after a heartbreak… same, Felicity, same. This book was such a cozy, feel-good read with just the right mix of heart and humor—I adored the grumpy-sunshine vibe between Felicity and Jesse, and their slow-burn romance gave me all the warm fuzzies. The setting? Total countryside romcom perfection. I knocked off a star only because I wanted a little more emotional depth in a few scenes, but overall, this one left me smiling and swooning—an absolute delight!

Thank you NetGalley, Maxine Morrey, and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read the book in exchange for a honest review.

This was a DNF for me, sorry. If I persevered I may have gotten into it but it really wasn’t grabbing me.

This was such a delightful rom-com that I read it in one afternoon.

Felicity is a no-nonsense interior decorator who doesn’t let anyone get in her way until her scoundrel fiancée dumps her for another woman. This leads to a lot of wine drinking and bad decisions, including quitting her job. During her wine infused haze, she sells her condo and buys a fixer upper in the country-sight unseen. What she didn’t realize was how much it needed fixing and that it came with chickens! The laughter continues with disintegrating clothes, knocking down a Gorgeous Man (who happens to be a neighbor), thunder storms, and trees through her roof.

This is an absolutely delightful story, with many laugh out loud moments. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick paced romance.

Thank you to Net Galley for this e-arc book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fliss is heartbroken, her life is in tatters, her partner had cheated on her and in the depths of her despair she buys a house in the country. She can do it up and then look to what she wants to do with her future.

This was a very good idea until a tree decides to make life difficult, if life in the country wasnt bad enough she now has to move in with the grumpy handyman Jessie until her house if fixed. But why is he so keen to help her.

Jessie doesnt want to get close to Fliss, but he feels a obligation, his cousin sold the property to her knowing how much of a money pit it was, he knew he had sold it to her for spite as he knew Jessie would have bought it in a heartbeat.

Living with Jessie is confusing, there are mixed messages at every turn, Jessie has a secret but when Fliss discovers it can she make a future with Jessie or will their demons hold them back.

I love a fixer up story, The characters are very well written and deal with some major issues with sensitive and careful handling, the story takes its time to get to the ending but it is so worth the journey.

Would definitely recommend.