Hi Everyone, Happy Saturday and I very rarely post at the weekend so this is most certainly a change as well as the book that I’m on tour and sharing my review. On to the blog tour, Today I’m sharing my review of Love and Other Things to Live For by Louise Leverett. But before that here is a little more about the book…

Jessica Wood is an aspiring photographer living in London. She’s had her heart broken, and her friends have pieced it back together again.

But across the neon lights of Soho, in the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke, on every night bus, in every song, every time she tries to forget: she remembers him.

Now, in a battle between the past and the future, choosing between having a life and making a living, finding her feet or spreading her wings, Jessica must ask herself: who is she really living for?

Love and Other Things to Live For is an ode to modern girls and triumph over heartbreak, perfect for fans of Holly Bourne and Dolly Alderton.

So when I first saw this book on request, it was admittedly the words ‘for fans of Holly Bourne’. You all know how much I love Holly’s books. What’s also surprised was how long it’s been since reading a chick-lit book, it’s been years and also the first on this blog too. So in simple terms, I’m really enjoying this book.

Jess, a woman in her 30s going through a period in her life where she feels lost in love, life and well other things. After failing university twice, she pursues her career in her passion which is photography which safe to say isn’t exactly going anywhere. Along with that, her love life seems to be going into a spiral, her relationship with Charlie seems to be one where she feels she doesn’t know who to be, how to be with him or around her friends. So she’s dumped, and so Jess finds that she needs to focus on herself, rather than, to try to be happy for you and to thrive on life rather than just trying to survive it.

So to me Jess comes across as quite an erratic and rather obsessed woman at times which can annoy me in places. But I love how she pursues her passion of photography and doesn’t give up, so whilst working as a waitress she assists, a photographer Cathy, a lady of pure wisdom that I feel Jess really admires. Then there are her friends, Amber, Marlowe and Sean (I love him and feel for him so much.) We each see snippets/perspectives of their own lives which I really liked seeing, it broke up Jess’s story whilst seeing how they are living their lives. They are always there for Jess but what about themselves.

It seems I have no relation to this book whatsoever, someone who is in her nearly mid 20s and in a relationship, ha. But Louise has a lot of things dead right, living is bloody hard, (excuse my french). I’m talking about starting your career, following your passion, paying bills, saving money for your future, getting a place of your own (which is hard enough as it is these days), owning things, and even more competitive in London.  But there is one thing I do feel quite strongly whether you are in a relationship or not, discovering yourself and being happy in all parts of your life, not just with you partner. These messages really do empower you to feel and believe in your own happiness ans striving towards that.

LOVE and Other Things to Live For really reminded me how much I enjoyed this genre! But this book is more than just chic-flic, it’s about life and learning to actually do things for yourself not other people.

Rating – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you to Nina and HQ Stories for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.