When I read the blurb for this British tale, I was intrigued. I’ve read the books about starting over with love after losing your spouse and liked the few I have tried, so I thought this book might be similar to them.

When Lily’s husband dies, she moves to the edge of a tiny village, settling into a solitary life, her only real company her brother and his family. A quiet life becomes her safe space, with no risk of getting hurt.

When her brother offers her spare room to his oldest friend, Jack, Lily’s reluctant – but knowing how much she owes her family, can’t say no.

A lodger takes some getting used to but to her surprise, Lily begins to enjoy Jack’s company. Slowly but surely, Jack encourages Lily to step outside her comfort zone.

But taking risks means facing the consequences, and telling people how she really feels, means Lily might have to face losing them. But as the saying goes – you only live once – and being brave could mean Lily gets a second chance at love…

Trigger warnings: grief from losing a spouse, mentions of suicide

This book didn’t match the description or the cover for me. On the cover, it looks like Lily is embracing the new. The story had her fighting the new every step of the way, but being bullied by her brother and Jack to step outside of her comfort zone. While the synopsis says she lives a solitary life, in truth she is holed up inside her house as a recluse, and rarely ventures out of her house. When she does, she tries to go to stores when not many people will be there. Very different from solitary. As people try to get her out and about again, she fought against it and would shout that she wished she was dead.

Jack is portrayed as someone who is charismatic, and was a playboy in his youth. As he was being served up to be the potential love interest, some of his behaviors were appalling. As the story is going on and they are starting to get to know each other, all of a sudden he is yelling at her to leave her house and live her life. Way out of bounds! Then, when she doesn’t go along with what he says, he just ups and leaves. He brought something to Lily and forced it into her life, even when she keeps saying “no.” This didn’t sit right with me.

While the story was predictable, I had a hard time believing it as the pace of the story did not lend to believing any romantic intentions. All in all, this story just didn’t work for me.

I will give this story 2 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own!