Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC.

Joe, 45, is a comedy writer who lives with wife Freya, a paralegal, and daughter Dolly, 16, in Brighton. Their marriage has soured in the past 18 months, partly due to his failure to earn money with his writing. His last sitcom for the BBC was ten years ago, and the communication between him and his wife has broken down, mainly due to Joe never mentioning important things like his panic attacks or his secret visits to a therapist even though he refuses marriage counselling.

Unfortunately, neither of them can afford to leave the marital home and selling it is also not a financial option right now so they try to muddle along in the same house but separate bedrooms, at least until Dolly is going to uni in six months' time. Then Joe's agent Carl suggests making his next writing project about his unusual living situation and all hell breaks loose.

So, Jon Rance is a writer (hopefully without marriage troubles) who writes about a writer with marriage troubles who writes about a writer with marriage troubles. Got it.
To be honest, I didn't see this as a funny book so I have no idea how anybody would be able to turn this into a laughter-filled sitcom. What's funny about a crumbling marriage, about people who still love each other but have allowed life's disappointments to get in the way?

There are some quirky side characters like Stepdad Martin who is called Marmalade for reasons I have forgotten already, or the members of the Cold Water Club that Freya joins, and they round out the story nicely.

Joe and Freya however are complex characters, and I didn't always connect with them or think they were compatible. Joe is a man child who defines himself through his work and is emotionally illiterate. He constantly doesn't tell Freya really important things like that he is putting their family life in a sitcom, and that is not normal to me. His personal growth journey just takes too long. Simultaneously, Freya is competent but sometimes too rigid in her opinions and doesn't see how Joe struggles.

While I'm not entirely certain whether those two people should be together because when the chips were down, they turned to other people for advice instead of talking to each other, the dual POV storytelling works well, and the book is a well-written, very realistic exploration of love, marriage and family dynamics. Read if you like stories about middle-aged marital introspection and self-discovery.

3.5 stars

This book offers a breezy, heartwarming escape, filled with witty banter, endearing mishaps, and just enough chemistry to keep the pages turning. The love interest is suitably charming, with enough depth to make their dynamic engaging, even if some of their conflicts feel a bit predictable.

While the book excels in humor and sweet moments, the protagonist’s personal growth occasionally takes a backseat to the romantic plot. A deeper exploration of their emotional journey could have added more weight to their happily-ever-after.

That said, the supporting cast adds plenty of fun, and the romantic tension is well-paced, making it easy to root for the central couple. The writing is light and engaging, perfect for readers looking for a feel-good story with a few laughs along the way. If you don’t mind a little predictability and enjoy banter-filled romance, this book is a charming pick—just don’t expect too much introspection between the meet-cutes and grand gestures.

Are you ready for your next romantic comedy? Pick up Not Moving Out by Jon Rance. You will love it!!!!

What a great book! I always love books by Mr Rance. It was a fun unique concept. I know I had a situation like this where my parents stayed together more for my benefit than for theirs and this one has an even greater twist as they make just happen to discover their for love for one another again.