Book Review | My Year of Saying No

Title: My Year of Saying No

Author: Maxine Morrey

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Published: 16th April 2020

Pages: 372 pages

Length: 10 hrs 34 minutes

Buy Now: Amazon UK | Audible UK | Waterstones 

Format: Kindle via NetGalley

Rating: 5 * * * * *

Acquired: NetGalley copy received in exchange for an honest review

Blurb:

When a long-term relationship ended, her best friend’s scheme to get Lottie back in the swing of things seemed like a good idea. She’s kept her promise to Jess to see it through but, as a lover of the quiet life, Lottie couldn’t be happier to say hello to a brand new year – The Year of Saying No! 

Unfortunately, the one thing she still seems unable to say no to is the crush she has on her best client and now friend, Army veteran, Seb Marshall. But she’s working on it, and with rescue dog Humphrey at her side, she knows that she’ll manage just fine.

Lottie’s decision to stop trying to please everyone has brought a sense of relief beyond what she had expected. Her actions and determination have also begun to send ripples throughout her life and those closest to her, bringing about changes none of them could have expected. 

Review:

This is my third #MaxineMorreyMarch read and I am in love. Maxine Morrey writes in a special kind of way. Every one of her books I've read (now 4!) has that extra bit of something-something.

My Year of Saying No is her latest release, and I will admit her writing has got better as her novels have gone on and this is definitely one of her best (#NoFilter is an equal first place - read my review here). 

My Year of Saying No follows Lottie who embarks on... a year of saying no. After a year of saying yes. I did love that the beginning of this book there was a flashback style chapter where it gave you a hint of what happened during her year of saying yes and gave some background info as to why Lottie would finally want to start saying no! It gave a bigger understanding which made me more invested in the story. 

Lottie is fabulous. I loved reading about a main character with such strong views about what she wants for herself. Lottie took a chance and did the Year of Saying No because her best friend asked her too, but then her Best Friend found love, and Lottie found less desirable things coming her way. But when she stands up for herself she changes, and she takes the same attitude and decides to do what she wants to do and I 100% think we could all learn something from Lottie. 

Lottie is a Self Employed Virtual Assistant so her relationship with Seb, her hottie of a Client is purely virtual. So I loved seeing this virtual relationship blossom into something so beautifully written. See and Lottie are bloody adorable. Even as friends I loved them. 

Seb was a fantastic character. Maxine Morrey seems to include characters with aspects most rom-com type novels don't often contain. My Year of Saying No addresses aspects of Soldiers back forms he war and the difficulties some of them face in a slightly uncensored way. Her knowledge is there and it shows. Nothing about Sex felt faked or embellished. He was very realistic and very well written. He had a kind-hearted nature and his personality was so strongly written he became a very lovable character. In a roguish kinda way. 

MYOSN had some ups and down and the suspense was built and everything I wanted to happen, happened. Without spoiling it of course. 

Maxine Morrey writes the best relationships. I think sometimes it's about what isn't written than what is, and to build that suspense and anticipation on paper. Is just the best thing to experience and it's why I love to read. 

I honestly fell head over heels in love with this book. I love Maxine and everything she writes it's just pure bliss.

My Year of Saying No is an uplifting novel that gives you the courage to stand up and do what makes you happy and stop doing so many things that's just expected of you. When you read a Maxine Morrey novel you invest in the storyline you find yourself eclipsed in nothing else. It's all you read. They get your devote attention and they deserve it too. I promised myself 2020 would be the year that I did what I wanted to do and I left a job of nearly 5 years to make myself happy. It was a totally selfish and very drastic choice. My Year of Saying No only made me feel more confident in that everything is going to be ok. And sometimes saying no, is ok too. 

I cannot stress enough how much I think you should read this novel.

Rebecca x