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When to Let Go
When is it time to let go of the life you’ve been living and embrace the one you were meant for?
When your gran’s getting more action in the spare room than you’ve managed for the best part of a year, something’s going wrong. The trouble is, Adie hasn’t realised that yet.
Even when she meets an attractive plumber who can solve all her obvious problems, she’s still determined to play it safe. After all, Morgan is a bundle of anxiety who wants a fresh start, and it’s far easier to focus on everyone else’s issues than examine your own.
It’s all under control until it’s not under control, and when it turns out Morgan also has a knack for asking difficult questions, Adie’s left wondering what the hell she’s been doing with her life. Whether she’ll have the courage to change anything, though, is another thing entirely.
When your gran’s getting more action in the spare room than you’ve managed for the best part of a year, something’s going wrong. The trouble is, Adie hasn’t realised that yet.
Even when she meets an attractive plumber who can solve all her obvious problems, she’s still determined to play it safe. After all, Morgan is a bundle of anxiety who wants a fresh start, and it’s far easier to focus on everyone else’s issues than examine your own.
It’s all under control until it’s not under control, and when it turns out Morgan also has a knack for asking difficult questions, Adie’s left wondering what the hell she’s been doing with her life. Whether she’ll have the courage to change anything, though, is another thing entirely.
252 pages, ebook
First published September 12, 2020
39 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Jo Cox
13 books28 followersJo Cox writes character-driven fiction about women navigating love, family, and identity. Her contemporary novels centre queer women’s lives and are known for their emotional realism, strong ensemble casts, and relationships that develop with warmth, humour, and depth.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 28, 2020
I seriously loved this book! I'm struggling to understand a few of the other reviews here, but I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion. This is mine; this book is amazing! Both characters are great, funny, kind, genuine, and going through real life. I have never inadvertently smiled so much while reading a book. The humour is bang on, and is right up my street. Perhaps it's a British thing, but there were so many little anecdotes and bits of dialogue that were 'so me' and they made me chuckle. The deadpan when Adie says "I love you" at the end and Morgan says "Who's that [karaoke song] by?" This is not brushing off a serious issue, it's perfect! It's exactly what my wife would say to me! It's a pun, and it's funny, and sarcastic, and if you don't believe by this point that Morgan loves Adie just as much, you haven't been paying attention. They develop a real friendship before admitting their feelings for one another which I think is wonderful. This story is beautifully written, and I haven't been able to put the book down for two days. It's the first book I've read by the author but I will 100% be reading another. I have already signed up to the newsletter because I NEED the epilogue for this story, lol. Morgan and Adie are one of my favourite ships so far, and I highly recommend this book. This is also one of the longest reviews I've ever done because I really want to highlight how much I loved it, and I want to spread the word. Check it out!
September 17, 2020
After loving the first two stories by Jo Cox I was excited about her newest one. I definitely didn’t get disappointed. It was such a beautiful, heartwarming and not to forget hot (at the right places) story. all the more serious topics were treated in such a wonderful and natural way.
Adie reminded me a lot about myself. So I was able to relate a lot. Morgan was just the person she needed to leave the place she was mentally stuck in. Sometimes we just need someone in life that is there for us, listens and accepts us for who we are. And very important makes us talk when needed. This might sound easy but it definitely isn’t. On the other side Adie treated Morgan with her problems perfectly. If there would only exist more people like those too. And before I forget there were so many wonderful side characters like Adie’s grandma, her mom, her best friend Josh and Morgan’s mom. Adie‘s grandma was totally hilarious. Every character in this book made it to it was in the end. A wonderful and unique one.
I recommend this book very much.
Adie reminded me a lot about myself. So I was able to relate a lot. Morgan was just the person she needed to leave the place she was mentally stuck in. Sometimes we just need someone in life that is there for us, listens and accepts us for who we are. And very important makes us talk when needed. This might sound easy but it definitely isn’t. On the other side Adie treated Morgan with her problems perfectly. If there would only exist more people like those too. And before I forget there were so many wonderful side characters like Adie’s grandma, her mom, her best friend Josh and Morgan’s mom. Adie‘s grandma was totally hilarious. Every character in this book made it to it was in the end. A wonderful and unique one.
I recommend this book very much.
November 29, 2023
A beautiful slow burn love story. Adie has a complicated relationship with her father. since she caught him cheating on her mother when she was out with her girlfriend. Her father had a fit finding out she was a lesbian and hasn't changed his attitude. She's fighting her feelings inwardly.
Then she meets Morgan, who 's a plumber and offers to help Adie work on her house. Morgan has her life together except she's terrified of hospitals and flying. The two women are attracted to one another and help each other in time. I enjoyed this book immensely. 5 stars!
Then she meets Morgan, who 's a plumber and offers to help Adie work on her house. Morgan has her life together except she's terrified of hospitals and flying. The two women are attracted to one another and help each other in time. I enjoyed this book immensely. 5 stars!
did-not-finish
October 22, 2020Odd book. DNF 27%. I just couldn't take it anymore.
I couldn't care for any of the characters. They all had massive issues. Which I am usually all for. But the author made them shallow and hopeless, despite the serious subject matter.
Josh the best friend especially pissed me off. He was spineless and lazy, never willing to do a damn thing except mooch off his best friend Adie.
(Both are 29 and still acting like drunken louts, partying each weekend with massive hangovers and agreements not to do it again, but keep doing it despite even saying they don't find it fun.)
Adie, well she just cruises along through life, not really caring much about anything or anyone. She's robotic and stilted. Also has no spine to tell her friend to pull his head outta his arse and stop relying on her so much. Meanwhile when someone does actually need her, like her Mother, she can barely muster up the care factor.
Morgan was the only one I liked, she put herself out there and spoke about her anxiety issues. Adie was supportive, but the whole time I felt like she was just saying the right things and didn't actually care. It was so awkward.
But, That's literally her personality. That's how the author set her up. As a soulless lifeless person just going through the motions. And I GET that.. but damn there was no endearing qualities here. She herself didn't even question her own personality, or lack of passion in life. It's hard to muster up your own care factor for a character when they themselves don't care.
Her own mother has mental health issues and she just keeps hoping she'll be better and happier next time she see's her. She has no real feelings about her dad cheating on her mother and their divorce. Hasn't come out to her mother despite her being the more supportive parent, but her father supposedly has issues with her sexuality.
Adie just came off as a shit person. Who obviously has her own serious issues but the fact she can't even emote or stand up for anything, and the fact the author has made her so entirely unlikable killed any interest I had in the story.
Despite what you might think I hate Not Finishing a book, because I genuinely want to like the stories and characters of books I pick up. So it's just disappointing.
I couldn't care for any of the characters. They all had massive issues. Which I am usually all for. But the author made them shallow and hopeless, despite the serious subject matter.
Josh the best friend especially pissed me off. He was spineless and lazy, never willing to do a damn thing except mooch off his best friend Adie.
(Both are 29 and still acting like drunken louts, partying each weekend with massive hangovers and agreements not to do it again, but keep doing it despite even saying they don't find it fun.)
Adie, well she just cruises along through life, not really caring much about anything or anyone. She's robotic and stilted. Also has no spine to tell her friend to pull his head outta his arse and stop relying on her so much. Meanwhile when someone does actually need her, like her Mother, she can barely muster up the care factor.
Morgan was the only one I liked, she put herself out there and spoke about her anxiety issues. Adie was supportive, but the whole time I felt like she was just saying the right things and didn't actually care. It was so awkward.
But, That's literally her personality. That's how the author set her up. As a soulless lifeless person just going through the motions. And I GET that.. but damn there was no endearing qualities here. She herself didn't even question her own personality, or lack of passion in life. It's hard to muster up your own care factor for a character when they themselves don't care.
Her own mother has mental health issues and she just keeps hoping she'll be better and happier next time she see's her. She has no real feelings about her dad cheating on her mother and their divorce. Hasn't come out to her mother despite her being the more supportive parent, but her father supposedly has issues with her sexuality.
Adie just came off as a shit person. Who obviously has her own serious issues but the fact she can't even emote or stand up for anything, and the fact the author has made her so entirely unlikable killed any interest I had in the story.
Despite what you might think I hate Not Finishing a book, because I genuinely want to like the stories and characters of books I pick up. So it's just disappointing.
February 26, 2021
Being tightly wraped up to please others leaves you cramped.
Adie is just the best person you want to meet- she just does not know it. Closeted gay because her father can't deal with the truth leaves her overwhelming sadness a way of life. She works and helps her Mom but no life for her. When Morgan appears the attraction makes Adie rethink her world. Both MC have issues, best fried Josh needs a little growing up and Monica is the fun Grandma not every child gets. This cast of Characters make for the best journey. Jo Cox takes us on a journey of epic growth. Family's are not perfect and hurt happens. Watching Adie figure out who she is and Morgan working through some tough life moment was just so healing for me. The characters learned to lean on each other to become inwardly stronger. The dialogue was witty, real and relationships grew strong. Adie confronting her Dad was such a teary moment for me. There are so many strong, emotional moment that I just really enjoyed this book. The author expressed such great depth as she shared each character weaving their stories. It is hard to know when to let go and this very beautiful story speaks wonderfully to that moment. I like this authors style and will be reading more of her work.
Adie is just the best person you want to meet- she just does not know it. Closeted gay because her father can't deal with the truth leaves her overwhelming sadness a way of life. She works and helps her Mom but no life for her. When Morgan appears the attraction makes Adie rethink her world. Both MC have issues, best fried Josh needs a little growing up and Monica is the fun Grandma not every child gets. This cast of Characters make for the best journey. Jo Cox takes us on a journey of epic growth. Family's are not perfect and hurt happens. Watching Adie figure out who she is and Morgan working through some tough life moment was just so healing for me. The characters learned to lean on each other to become inwardly stronger. The dialogue was witty, real and relationships grew strong. Adie confronting her Dad was such a teary moment for me. There are so many strong, emotional moment that I just really enjoyed this book. The author expressed such great depth as she shared each character weaving their stories. It is hard to know when to let go and this very beautiful story speaks wonderfully to that moment. I like this authors style and will be reading more of her work.
September 20, 2020
Not my cup of tea. YMMV. But for nearly 3/4 of the novel there was *zero* chemistry. And not just lust, I'm talking physical, emotional, and intellectual. None of the above. Usually at least you have lust early on, then it evolves to intellectual/emotional, but I just grew bored of waiting. It was almost like the author didn't want any kind of connection too fast, but the thing is, that kind of thing is what interests readers in wanting them to be a couple. IDK. Like I said, not my cuppa.
February 2, 2024
A good story, especially for tool belt enthusiasts 😜
Adie has been living her life a day at a time for the last four years, ever since she came out to her father, and found him having an affair which caused her parents to divorce. She bought a house, and now needs a plumber to fit a new bathroom and kitchen. Morgan is a plumber recently moved with her family to the area, and so consequently she needs local work.
The romance between Adie and Morgan is really lovely. It’s quite slow burn, as neither woman wants to risk their friendship by admitting to their attraction, but to friends and family members it’s obvious something is happening. There is also a really cute romance blossoming between Josh (Adie’s best friend) and Emma.
The only really negative part of this story is Adie’s father Robert, and his continued attitude towards her sexuality. The fact that he can’t accept her as she is, but tries to put her into the mould of what he thinks is best for her. This has caused ongoing issues of trust for Adie. Robert does have his own demons that we don’t hear much about, but that’s no excuse for his attitude.
This is really well written; we see many facets of the characters, their insecurities, and also their fun sides. Adie’s grandmother Monica is hilarious.
The ending does feel a little unresolved, but so it is in life. I like the last sentence of the book: “It wasn’t a traditional happy ending, but perhaps it was a happy ending in every way that counted.”
As an extra, there seem to be two versions of the cover art. There is one with a woman standing each side facing away with clasped hands, one with a tool belt. There is another that is a lovely semi-abstract painting with two hands, almost in the style of stained glass. My Amazon copy has the latter.
Adie has been living her life a day at a time for the last four years, ever since she came out to her father, and found him having an affair which caused her parents to divorce. She bought a house, and now needs a plumber to fit a new bathroom and kitchen. Morgan is a plumber recently moved with her family to the area, and so consequently she needs local work.
The romance between Adie and Morgan is really lovely. It’s quite slow burn, as neither woman wants to risk their friendship by admitting to their attraction, but to friends and family members it’s obvious something is happening. There is also a really cute romance blossoming between Josh (Adie’s best friend) and Emma.
The only really negative part of this story is Adie’s father Robert, and his continued attitude towards her sexuality. The fact that he can’t accept her as she is, but tries to put her into the mould of what he thinks is best for her. This has caused ongoing issues of trust for Adie. Robert does have his own demons that we don’t hear much about, but that’s no excuse for his attitude.
This is really well written; we see many facets of the characters, their insecurities, and also their fun sides. Adie’s grandmother Monica is hilarious.
The ending does feel a little unresolved, but so it is in life. I like the last sentence of the book: “It wasn’t a traditional happy ending, but perhaps it was a happy ending in every way that counted.”
As an extra, there seem to be two versions of the cover art. There is one with a woman standing each side facing away with clasped hands, one with a tool belt. There is another that is a lovely semi-abstract painting with two hands, almost in the style of stained glass. My Amazon copy has the latter.
October 8, 2020
I enjoy reading angst but this was a stressful read! Lol. Overall, a nice book. But at first, Josh's whining annoyed me and Adie's Dad situation kept stressing me out. But I wanted to see through it and see Adie being truly happy and carefree. That said, the ending was satisfying and made it worth while.
October 29, 2020
The main characters in this romance make a nice couple and there is a great supporting cast. Aldie's grandmother is especially amusing. That said, many parts of the story arc focus more on their respective neuroses and interactions with secondary characters than on their developing relationship. The result is largely a chronicle of the main characters finally growing up as they approach the ripe old age of thirty. This leaves the reader a little less invested in the romance itself.
One caveat. The Kindle Edition, at least as provided by Amazon, comes without the final chapter (epilogue.) Without that chapter everything is left hanging. In order to receive a copy the reader must sign up for the author's newsletter list. In the overall scheme of things this is not a big deal, but it is extremely irritating when it brings the reader to a full stop right at the end of the story.
One caveat. The Kindle Edition, at least as provided by Amazon, comes without the final chapter (epilogue.) Without that chapter everything is left hanging. In order to receive a copy the reader must sign up for the author's newsletter list. In the overall scheme of things this is not a big deal, but it is extremely irritating when it brings the reader to a full stop right at the end of the story.
March 16, 2021
Good slow burn story!
The main characters of Adie and Morgan each had to work on their own problems, but through this slow burn romance they learned to lean on each other. They were both very likeable characters. I liked that the author took her time in developing their relationship. They each had already experienced lustier encounters that fizzled out fast. Their dialogue was witty and heartwarming. I think Morgan is the most feminine plumber I've ever read about which was a nice change. I loved her warm, accepting and friendly mother. On the other hand, when Adie finally confronted her dad, it felt so cathartic. But the woman who stole the show was definitely Grandma. What a hoot! I'll have what she's having!!! 😏
The main characters of Adie and Morgan each had to work on their own problems, but through this slow burn romance they learned to lean on each other. They were both very likeable characters. I liked that the author took her time in developing their relationship. They each had already experienced lustier encounters that fizzled out fast. Their dialogue was witty and heartwarming. I think Morgan is the most feminine plumber I've ever read about which was a nice change. I loved her warm, accepting and friendly mother. On the other hand, when Adie finally confronted her dad, it felt so cathartic. But the woman who stole the show was definitely Grandma. What a hoot! I'll have what she's having!!! 😏
September 30, 2020
Great characters I wish I knew IRL
I loved how the relationship developed between the two main characters. The internal struggles were well drawn and I found myself relating to Adie a lot; I even learned a few things about myself. The side characters jumped off the page. The sex scenes were hot and so natural. This is a great read I'll be returning to again for sure.
I loved how the relationship developed between the two main characters. The internal struggles were well drawn and I found myself relating to Adie a lot; I even learned a few things about myself. The side characters jumped off the page. The sex scenes were hot and so natural. This is a great read I'll be returning to again for sure.
October 15, 2020
Boring....
December 10, 2020
Good story
Bit of a slow start but stick with it. It's well worth taking the time, as it's a somewhat complex,interesting story. I definitely recommend!
Bit of a slow start but stick with it. It's well worth taking the time, as it's a somewhat complex,interesting story. I definitely recommend!
December 5, 2023
new fave author!!
All I have to say is that after reading ALL of her books within the span of a few days, Jo Cox is one of my all-time favourite authors. AMAZING. the characters are so endearing, real, the messages have really hit home for me and the writing is engaging and hilarious. Love love love.
All I have to say is that after reading ALL of her books within the span of a few days, Jo Cox is one of my all-time favourite authors. AMAZING. the characters are so endearing, real, the messages have really hit home for me and the writing is engaging and hilarious. Love love love.
January 2, 2024
I loved this story!
Jo Cox has written a complicated family’s issues along with a love story of two women who are struggling with emotional issues that work hard to help each other and in t he process fall in love. It is sensitive and funny and sad. The love saves them both, helps them heal and strengthens ties with family. The sex was exciting and appropriate.
Jo Cox has written a complicated family’s issues along with a love story of two women who are struggling with emotional issues that work hard to help each other and in t he process fall in love. It is sensitive and funny and sad. The love saves them both, helps them heal and strengthens ties with family. The sex was exciting and appropriate.
July 6, 2024
Nice
This book was very nice. It had ups and downs, and was acceptable to read. I can't really give it a proper review as it didn't really end. Everything was left unresolved at the end of the book, and there is no sequel. I really don't know how one is supposed to form an opinion on something that did not conclude 🤷♀️
This book was very nice. It had ups and downs, and was acceptable to read. I can't really give it a proper review as it didn't really end. Everything was left unresolved at the end of the book, and there is no sequel. I really don't know how one is supposed to form an opinion on something that did not conclude 🤷♀️
January 8, 2021
Epilogue
Loved the book but hate going to find the epilogue it was okay once but this is now the second time . So I don’t think I will read anymore of them
Loved the book but hate going to find the epilogue it was okay once but this is now the second time . So I don’t think I will read anymore of them
December 27, 2023
A sweet and thoughtful romance.
May 9, 2024
Loved it. Great slow burn, real characters.
November 10, 2024
I really should have known when to let go of this book. Dull characters and average story line, no thank you x
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews