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Did You Miss Me?
Nell Mason is extremely happy with her life – or at least, that’s what she tells herself. She’s lucky to have a high-powered job as a lawyer, even if it does come with an eccentric set of billionaire divorce clients. And she’s absolutely fine living with her sweet, if slightly dull, boyfriend Gus in their London flat where they have very sensible sex once (OK, sometimes twice) a week. She’s definitely not stuck in a rut.
But when Nell bumps into childhood friend and first love Arthur Drummond who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. The seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect. Maybe Nell’s been kidding herself all these years. Can she ever get over her first love?
But when Nell bumps into childhood friend and first love Arthur Drummond who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. The seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect. Maybe Nell’s been kidding herself all these years. Can she ever get over her first love?
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2021
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1340 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
May 8, 2021
Sometimes the book I’m reading gives me a warm little buzz that I can’t stop thinking about and I’m a bit conflicted because I don’t want to put down but I don’t want to end either. This was one of those books, I absolutely loved it. It was witty and authentic - I actually spontaneously laughed out loud a few times reading this - with characters that I feel like I’ve got to know and love.
Nell is an absolute delight, as the central character, her wry observations and deliciously dark sense of humour really appealed to me. It was also a joy to read about a real relationship complete with the most painfully - and hilariously- accurate sex scenes I think I’ve ever read; I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read something that doesn’t follow the usual conventions of an evil boyfriend and zany, crazy woman making daft decisions.
This was essentially a second chance story which is one of my favourite tropes at the best of times, but what made this special was the affection Nell had for her family, her childhood home and her friends. We didn’t get as much time with Art as I’d have liked, but I felt like I knew Nell well enough by the end to trust her judgement. I realise that makes me sound like a crazy person, but whatever. I just want to be her friend, I think we’d get on well.
Fabulous warm, witty and low angst complete story. Highly recommended. I also loved What Happens Now? by the same author, it’s one of my comfort reads I’ve returned to a few times, I’m so pleased this will join it on my favourite rereads list.
*Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for the arc.*
Nell is an absolute delight, as the central character, her wry observations and deliciously dark sense of humour really appealed to me. It was also a joy to read about a real relationship complete with the most painfully - and hilariously- accurate sex scenes I think I’ve ever read; I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read something that doesn’t follow the usual conventions of an evil boyfriend and zany, crazy woman making daft decisions.
This was essentially a second chance story which is one of my favourite tropes at the best of times, but what made this special was the affection Nell had for her family, her childhood home and her friends. We didn’t get as much time with Art as I’d have liked, but I felt like I knew Nell well enough by the end to trust her judgement. I realise that makes me sound like a crazy person, but whatever. I just want to be her friend, I think we’d get on well.
Fabulous warm, witty and low angst complete story. Highly recommended. I also loved What Happens Now? by the same author, it’s one of my comfort reads I’ve returned to a few times, I’m so pleased this will join it on my favourite rereads list.
*Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for the arc.*
September 17, 2021
This is definately not my genre. Im a crime and thriller girl. I chose this book as I liked the plot. I didnt think I would be so invested in this book but yes Sophia you have moved me to expand my genre and look at other books . I will be reading your other books.
I could not stop reading this book. It was witty, with loads of laugh out loud moments. I connected especially with Nell and her family. Everyone in her family has a sense of humour.
I loved how the story unfolded where she returns home to where she grew up and catches up with old friends. The "what if" we all think about if what if I had done this.... Friendships and family play a huge part of this book. I am still thinking about this book even today after I have finished it.
Well done Sophia.!
I could not stop reading this book. It was witty, with loads of laugh out loud moments. I connected especially with Nell and her family. Everyone in her family has a sense of humour.
I loved how the story unfolded where she returns home to where she grew up and catches up with old friends. The "what if" we all think about if what if I had done this.... Friendships and family play a huge part of this book. I am still thinking about this book even today after I have finished it.
Well done Sophia.!
August 18, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and HQ Publishing for providing me access to this e book in exchange for an honest review.
One thing i did enjoy in this book was that i actually found Nell, the main character, agreeable and funny. Nell is the main character who has always dreamed of the big white dress wedding but has ended up spending more than a decade of her life with someone who thinks marriage isn’t worth it. I think what made Nell such a great character was the realistic writing which didn’t make her too perfect or untouchable. Another good thing about this book was that it was genuinely funny and did make me laugh near the beginning.
However, when reviews say this book is slow paced they are not lying. I was over half way through this book and the ‘love interest’ (childhood best friend Art who is married and doesn’t live in england) had only interacted 3 times. Due to the lack of interaction between the two characters it made the whole premise of this novel feel foolish because why would someone in a happy relationship be longing to be with someone who they’d spoken to about 3 times in the whole book?? On this note, it didn’t feel like Nell had any interest in either men of this book and it felt as if the author hated her, she basically never had any satisfying sex which made both romances/ships in this book dry and underwhelming. The book was also so slow paced that everything happened within the space of two chapters. In addition there was almost no ship development for Art and Nell, it was as if the author had run out of time and the book ended on a six month flash forward which was not a satisfactory end. I would not recommend this book and not would i buy myself a copy of this book.
One thing i did enjoy in this book was that i actually found Nell, the main character, agreeable and funny. Nell is the main character who has always dreamed of the big white dress wedding but has ended up spending more than a decade of her life with someone who thinks marriage isn’t worth it. I think what made Nell such a great character was the realistic writing which didn’t make her too perfect or untouchable. Another good thing about this book was that it was genuinely funny and did make me laugh near the beginning.
However, when reviews say this book is slow paced they are not lying. I was over half way through this book and the ‘love interest’ (childhood best friend Art who is married and doesn’t live in england) had only interacted 3 times. Due to the lack of interaction between the two characters it made the whole premise of this novel feel foolish because why would someone in a happy relationship be longing to be with someone who they’d spoken to about 3 times in the whole book?? On this note, it didn’t feel like Nell had any interest in either men of this book and it felt as if the author hated her, she basically never had any satisfying sex which made both romances/ships in this book dry and underwhelming. The book was also so slow paced that everything happened within the space of two chapters. In addition there was almost no ship development for Art and Nell, it was as if the author had run out of time and the book ended on a six month flash forward which was not a satisfactory end. I would not recommend this book and not would i buy myself a copy of this book.
August 16, 2021
I loved reading this sweet book. I was really hoping that Nell and Art got together and was so pleased that they finally did. I didn’t like Gus’s character as he wasn’t right for Nell as he seemed very controlling. The antics with Nell’s mum made me laugh out loud and the whole finished too quickly. I’m very interested in reading more by this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
August 19, 2021
Nell tells herself that she is happy with her boyfriend of eleven years, Gus. Both agreeing that marriage is not for them, the couple lead a satisfied life in London. As lawyers, they work long hours but sow the rewards with fancy dining, gadgets and weekend exhibitions around the city. Furthermore, Nell is chasing the next big promotion of work and I don’t blame her. Escaping from her boss, Gideon, in the office, would drive even the strongest of lawyer away! I admired Nell’s determination and grit, especially with the way he treats her.
However, when Nell has to return home to care for her dad after he has had an accident, her world does seem to turn upside down. Not only does Nell start to question how happy she is in her relationship with Gus, she is witness to her parents’ relationship altering. Being back home provokes childhood memories that Nell cannot ignore: her first love for Art and the emotions that came with it. Surely, she is happy in her safe relationship with Gus? And, why would she want to get married, especially as she works as a divorce lawyer?
Consequently, readers see Nell transform over the story. I liked reading about her childhood memories; they are embedded within the chapters and I thought this made the timeless seamless. Although the chapters are really lengthy in this book, I really did not notice, so absorbed was I in the novel.
Nell is a likeable character and I also enjoyed the community of her childhood village. There are plenty of witty conversations between the locals and I loved Nell’s commentary. Her dry humour definitely appealed and I think her character really stimulated the narrative. Furthermore, when Nell’s secret obsession is revealed, I could not help but chuckle: the way the writer presents it is so vivid and I could imagine Nell sneaky around the local shop in order not to be discovered. They are priceless scenes!
Whilst, on the surface, this is a book about first loves and relationships, I did not find it as sweet a story as I expected. I think this was because of the situation between Nell’s parents and also the work that Nell does as a divorce lawyer. I guess it made it more bitter-sweet, aided by the recollections of Nell’s love for Art. Nell has to look deeper to understand what she really wants from life and, although she enjoys the financial perks of being a lawyer, I wanted her to recognise how incorrect her work-life balance was. Indeed, her liaisons with Gus made my toes curl – Nell deserves so much better!
This was a lovely story that I felt immersed in from the beginning. It offered true escapism and was such an innocent, lovely read. Nell’s past is interesting and allows readers to understand her present behaviours. At the same time, I wanted her to find her happy-ever-after and allow her secret to make her happy. After all, surely we all deserve a slice of happiness and not just accept the ‘safe’ option?
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, when Nell has to return home to care for her dad after he has had an accident, her world does seem to turn upside down. Not only does Nell start to question how happy she is in her relationship with Gus, she is witness to her parents’ relationship altering. Being back home provokes childhood memories that Nell cannot ignore: her first love for Art and the emotions that came with it. Surely, she is happy in her safe relationship with Gus? And, why would she want to get married, especially as she works as a divorce lawyer?
Consequently, readers see Nell transform over the story. I liked reading about her childhood memories; they are embedded within the chapters and I thought this made the timeless seamless. Although the chapters are really lengthy in this book, I really did not notice, so absorbed was I in the novel.
Nell is a likeable character and I also enjoyed the community of her childhood village. There are plenty of witty conversations between the locals and I loved Nell’s commentary. Her dry humour definitely appealed and I think her character really stimulated the narrative. Furthermore, when Nell’s secret obsession is revealed, I could not help but chuckle: the way the writer presents it is so vivid and I could imagine Nell sneaky around the local shop in order not to be discovered. They are priceless scenes!
Whilst, on the surface, this is a book about first loves and relationships, I did not find it as sweet a story as I expected. I think this was because of the situation between Nell’s parents and also the work that Nell does as a divorce lawyer. I guess it made it more bitter-sweet, aided by the recollections of Nell’s love for Art. Nell has to look deeper to understand what she really wants from life and, although she enjoys the financial perks of being a lawyer, I wanted her to recognise how incorrect her work-life balance was. Indeed, her liaisons with Gus made my toes curl – Nell deserves so much better!
This was a lovely story that I felt immersed in from the beginning. It offered true escapism and was such an innocent, lovely read. Nell’s past is interesting and allows readers to understand her present behaviours. At the same time, I wanted her to find her happy-ever-after and allow her secret to make her happy. After all, surely we all deserve a slice of happiness and not just accept the ‘safe’ option?
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2021
Three and a half stars.
On paper Nell Mason should be happy, a successful divorce lawyer with prospects of partnership within the next six months, a long-term relationship with her partner Gus, a house in Clapham and money in the bank. What more could she ask? Maybe Gus won't set the world on fire but he's solvent, kind, and reliable, even if he does have a regrettable liking for German petnames.
Then her mother calls to say that Lord Drummond has died, the father of Nell's schoolgirl crush, Art(hur) Drummond, her brother's best friend. Nell, Art, and her brother Jake grew up together, it didn't matter that Art was the son of the landowner and Mr Mason worked for him, the Masons were in and out of Drummond Hall all day long and Art was in and out of the Masons' far less impressive semi-detached cottage just as often. Then Art broke Nell's heart and has been living in America with his wife and son pretty much ever since.
Although she's avoided anything and everything to do with Art ever since, Nell knows she will have to return for his father's funeral, especially since Jake can be guaranteed to weasel out of doing anything. But meeting Art again after all these years brings back all those hopes and dreams that Nell has suppressed for years, is the grass always greener or has she been settling for boring all these years?
I liked this but I felt that too many of the secondary characters were characters. Nell's brother was a wide-boy estate agent who acted like a teenager. Nell's mum leaves her father for a caricature, Nell's boss is a ghastly misogynist, her clients are foul, her father is oblivious, Gus is self-absorbed - it was all too much and too strong. It felt like these characters overshadowed the romance, which in itself had broken down because of a series of coincidences, and consequently the ending felt like bish-bash-bosh, the end. More comedy than romance, which meant that some of the story didn't hang true for me, if Nell works 12-14 hour days in London how can she take her Dad down the pub every night at 6pm when she is working from home, and go for a run every morning?
Recommended if you are looking for a good laugh about divorce lawyers (and their clients), London snobbery and parental disasters, not so much if you are looking for a touching romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
On paper Nell Mason should be happy, a successful divorce lawyer with prospects of partnership within the next six months, a long-term relationship with her partner Gus, a house in Clapham and money in the bank. What more could she ask? Maybe Gus won't set the world on fire but he's solvent, kind, and reliable, even if he does have a regrettable liking for German petnames.
Then her mother calls to say that Lord Drummond has died, the father of Nell's schoolgirl crush, Art(hur) Drummond, her brother's best friend. Nell, Art, and her brother Jake grew up together, it didn't matter that Art was the son of the landowner and Mr Mason worked for him, the Masons were in and out of Drummond Hall all day long and Art was in and out of the Masons' far less impressive semi-detached cottage just as often. Then Art broke Nell's heart and has been living in America with his wife and son pretty much ever since.
Although she's avoided anything and everything to do with Art ever since, Nell knows she will have to return for his father's funeral, especially since Jake can be guaranteed to weasel out of doing anything. But meeting Art again after all these years brings back all those hopes and dreams that Nell has suppressed for years, is the grass always greener or has she been settling for boring all these years?
I liked this but I felt that too many of the secondary characters were characters. Nell's brother was a wide-boy estate agent who acted like a teenager. Nell's mum leaves her father for a caricature, Nell's boss is a ghastly misogynist, her clients are foul, her father is oblivious, Gus is self-absorbed - it was all too much and too strong. It felt like these characters overshadowed the romance, which in itself had broken down because of a series of coincidences, and consequently the ending felt like bish-bash-bosh, the end. More comedy than romance, which meant that some of the story didn't hang true for me, if Nell works 12-14 hour days in London how can she take her Dad down the pub every night at 6pm when she is working from home, and go for a run every morning?
Recommended if you are looking for a good laugh about divorce lawyers (and their clients), London snobbery and parental disasters, not so much if you are looking for a touching romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 7, 2022
Book starts with a praise of Sophia Money-Coutts as an « author who spent 5 years studying the British aristocracy » and you start reading until page 6 where bam! She « the author » makes Nell « the protagonist » say « she was a woman of my age called Ophelia who a had a single-digit IQ and spent most of her time deliberating over curtain patterns for their house in the Cotswolds. »
I am not gonna sit and read women writing shitty lines about women talking shit about women.
I am not gonna sit and read women writing shitty lines about women talking shit about women.
August 3, 2021
Rating: 3*
‘Did you miss me?’ was a fun quick read, however I ended up skimming the majority of this book as I was bored with the first half. It seemed like there was too much information on Nells relationship with Gus, and not enough on Nell with Arthur - which is a shame because I thought their relationship was quite sweet, especially with the first love trope. I was just left feeling unsatisfied with the amount of content their relationship covered in the book. The ending also felt rather abrupt, but the epilogue was a sweet finish. Would recommend it if you’re looking for an easy, well written romcom to read, but for me personally there was nothing about this book that felt particularly special in comparison to the other romances I've read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
‘Did you miss me?’ was a fun quick read, however I ended up skimming the majority of this book as I was bored with the first half. It seemed like there was too much information on Nells relationship with Gus, and not enough on Nell with Arthur - which is a shame because I thought their relationship was quite sweet, especially with the first love trope. I was just left feeling unsatisfied with the amount of content their relationship covered in the book. The ending also felt rather abrupt, but the epilogue was a sweet finish. Would recommend it if you’re looking for an easy, well written romcom to read, but for me personally there was nothing about this book that felt particularly special in comparison to the other romances I've read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
August 28, 2021
I’ve waited for this book so long, since I loved her previous books. And it was well worth my time, but I wasn’t as involved and immersed in the story as I would have liked to be.
August 23, 2021
Did You Miss Me? is an entertaining and compelling romance full of humour and wonderful characters. It is well written with a solid storyline and grabs your attention from the onset. Nell is a divorce lawyer and lives with her lawyer boyfriend of 11 years and they have fallen into a monotonous and predictable routine. Nell returns home to Northumberland to attend the funeral of Lord Drummond, the father of a boy she had a schoolgirl crush on. Her old feelings for Art begin to surface and the mystery surrounding what happened between them is intriguing and entices the reader to keep turning the pages.
There is a fabulous mix of characters of differing age groups. Nell is a great character, I enjoy a strong female lead and she is no exception. She’s ambitious, successful and has worked exceptionally hard to get where she is. Her ultimate goal is to become partner in the prestigious law firm she works for. I loved her humour and her thought processes are very ‘Bridget Jones’, particularly in the way she recounts some of the banal bedroom scenes. Her boyfriend, Gus, does not believe in marriage and has coerced her into the idea that marriage is not important and she goes along with it for the time being. She becomes obsessed with bridal magazines and it’s hilarious the way she furtively buys them hoping no one will see her. She has created quite a stockpile hidden in the spare bedroom which she peruses at every opportunity. I really wasn’t a huge fan of Gus, simply because he comes across as controlling and selfish and it is clear from the start he is not right for Nell. Although his pretentiousness is really amusing, with his love of fine wines and a special corkscrew that aerated the wine. My mouth was watering with his fancy cooking exploits and, although Nell might prefer pizza, I would definitely rather sample what Gus is cooking up!
This is the perfect summer read with a lovely balance of humour and romance which kept me thoroughly entertained. A quick and fun read that every romcom fan needs to pick up.
Thank you HQ for the proof copy for review.
TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG
There is a fabulous mix of characters of differing age groups. Nell is a great character, I enjoy a strong female lead and she is no exception. She’s ambitious, successful and has worked exceptionally hard to get where she is. Her ultimate goal is to become partner in the prestigious law firm she works for. I loved her humour and her thought processes are very ‘Bridget Jones’, particularly in the way she recounts some of the banal bedroom scenes. Her boyfriend, Gus, does not believe in marriage and has coerced her into the idea that marriage is not important and she goes along with it for the time being. She becomes obsessed with bridal magazines and it’s hilarious the way she furtively buys them hoping no one will see her. She has created quite a stockpile hidden in the spare bedroom which she peruses at every opportunity. I really wasn’t a huge fan of Gus, simply because he comes across as controlling and selfish and it is clear from the start he is not right for Nell. Although his pretentiousness is really amusing, with his love of fine wines and a special corkscrew that aerated the wine. My mouth was watering with his fancy cooking exploits and, although Nell might prefer pizza, I would definitely rather sample what Gus is cooking up!
This is the perfect summer read with a lovely balance of humour and romance which kept me thoroughly entertained. A quick and fun read that every romcom fan needs to pick up.
Thank you HQ for the proof copy for review.
TWISTED IN PAGES BLOG
December 8, 2021
I’d like to thank NetGalley and HQ for approving me for an ARC of this book.
This is the first time that I have read anything by Sophia Money-Coutts but it certainly won’t be my last. From the first page I found myself chuckling away and I still find myself giggling about the phone sex scene even now! The book was littered with sarcastic humour and I loved it!
The story is told entirely from the POV of Nell, who is stuck in a rut. She’s surrounded by men that are only dragging her down. Whether it’s Gus, the dull and boring boyfriend, her maniac of a boss of Prince Pervert, she can’t seem to escape them!
When Nell was called back to her hometown I instantly felt like she was relaxing more, even if she found her dad trying at times! I was very intrigued to know what happened between herself and Art all those years ago and I thought the way it unravelled was delivered perfectly. Whilst I knew where the story was heading there were some surprises along the way.
This was a lovely story about teenage heart break, love, family and not being afraid to make the jump. Nell was relatable, funny and someone everyone would love to call a friend. I can not wait to read everything else Sophia Money-Coutts has written!
This is the first time that I have read anything by Sophia Money-Coutts but it certainly won’t be my last. From the first page I found myself chuckling away and I still find myself giggling about the phone sex scene even now! The book was littered with sarcastic humour and I loved it!
The story is told entirely from the POV of Nell, who is stuck in a rut. She’s surrounded by men that are only dragging her down. Whether it’s Gus, the dull and boring boyfriend, her maniac of a boss of Prince Pervert, she can’t seem to escape them!
When Nell was called back to her hometown I instantly felt like she was relaxing more, even if she found her dad trying at times! I was very intrigued to know what happened between herself and Art all those years ago and I thought the way it unravelled was delivered perfectly. Whilst I knew where the story was heading there were some surprises along the way.
This was a lovely story about teenage heart break, love, family and not being afraid to make the jump. Nell was relatable, funny and someone everyone would love to call a friend. I can not wait to read everything else Sophia Money-Coutts has written!
February 28, 2025
A comical, contemporary romance; the ideal book for Sophie Kinsella fans!
September 23, 2021
This week I enjoyed the heartwarming, relatable and entertaining #romcom DID YOU MISS ME? by Sophia Money-Coutts
I love the wit and humour that @sophiamcoutts injects in her story telling and the cast of characters in her latest book were fantastic. I enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane with Nell and watching her come to some realisations.
I would've preferred to have read more of Art or perhaps one chapter in his POV, but Nell was such a wonderful main character and I enjoyed all her interactions with the various supporting characters.
I was looking for a feel good read to escape with and #DidYouMissMe delivered on this!
Huge thanks @harlequinaus for this gifted copy
4.25 stars
I love the wit and humour that @sophiamcoutts injects in her story telling and the cast of characters in her latest book were fantastic. I enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane with Nell and watching her come to some realisations.
I would've preferred to have read more of Art or perhaps one chapter in his POV, but Nell was such a wonderful main character and I enjoyed all her interactions with the various supporting characters.
I was looking for a feel good read to escape with and #DidYouMissMe delivered on this!
Huge thanks @harlequinaus for this gifted copy
4.25 stars
September 7, 2021
I am usually a fan of Sophia Money-Coutts books but for some reason this one took me ages to get in to.
It’s the story of Nell, a divorce lawyer stuck in a rut.
She bumps into an old boyfriend, her first love, and the book sets out to find out if you can ever get over your first love.
On paper, this synopsis sounds exactly like my type of book but I think I was about half way through before I felt like I was invested in the story - there are definitely better books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley & HQ Stories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
It’s the story of Nell, a divorce lawyer stuck in a rut.
She bumps into an old boyfriend, her first love, and the book sets out to find out if you can ever get over your first love.
On paper, this synopsis sounds exactly like my type of book but I think I was about half way through before I felt like I was invested in the story - there are definitely better books by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley & HQ Stories for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
August 7, 2021
The Wish List was a book I loved, when I read it, so to be offered the chance to read a new book by Sofie Money-Coutts was not to be sniffed at.
I really loved this story centring around first loves and second chances.
Nell is a successful lawyer in a prestigious law firm in London, specialising in family law, so basically she spends her days dealing with divorces. Good thing that she wasn't all that fussed about marriage, since the stories she has to deal with, would put off many a bridezilla.
Oh and her partner, Gus, was also of the opinion that marriage was unimportant: an unnecessary evil in their perfect relationship.
A local tragedy brings her back home for a short while, but in that twenty four hours she is back, she meets people who stir up a whole lot of long hidden emotions.
She's faced with Art, the newly appointed Lord of the manor, since his father passed away, and also, her first love.
Of course, he's married, and lives in another country, so why would he remember much about their teenage romance? Or was it just a little fling for him?
Fantastic story! I think I always know where it would end up, however, there were a few points where I thought the end might have been something different, so I was definitely turning the pages, in anticipation.
I kinda loved Art, the handsome new Lord, who really didn't know what he'd done wrong.
Gus, well, I could take him or leave him, but I understood why Nell was with him, comfortable, content, but was she happy?
The addition of the secondary characters back home; Nell's newly separated parents, her brother and her two besties from school, Colin and Luce, all made for some interesting side storylines, too.
And Nell, I was quite proud of her by the end, making a stand where it counted!
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I really loved this story centring around first loves and second chances.
Nell is a successful lawyer in a prestigious law firm in London, specialising in family law, so basically she spends her days dealing with divorces. Good thing that she wasn't all that fussed about marriage, since the stories she has to deal with, would put off many a bridezilla.
Oh and her partner, Gus, was also of the opinion that marriage was unimportant: an unnecessary evil in their perfect relationship.
A local tragedy brings her back home for a short while, but in that twenty four hours she is back, she meets people who stir up a whole lot of long hidden emotions.
She's faced with Art, the newly appointed Lord of the manor, since his father passed away, and also, her first love.
Of course, he's married, and lives in another country, so why would he remember much about their teenage romance? Or was it just a little fling for him?
Fantastic story! I think I always know where it would end up, however, there were a few points where I thought the end might have been something different, so I was definitely turning the pages, in anticipation.
I kinda loved Art, the handsome new Lord, who really didn't know what he'd done wrong.
Gus, well, I could take him or leave him, but I understood why Nell was with him, comfortable, content, but was she happy?
The addition of the secondary characters back home; Nell's newly separated parents, her brother and her two besties from school, Colin and Luce, all made for some interesting side storylines, too.
And Nell, I was quite proud of her by the end, making a stand where it counted!
Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
August 30, 2021
This was such an entertaining read, the mix of quick-witted banter and the longed for romance had me laughing out loud, hooked and hoping for a happy reunion (sorry Gus) and I wasn't left disappointed! With a strong, relatable and openly honest female protagonist taking centre stage and a further cast of very colourful supporting characters, there was never a dull moment.
Jam packed full of fun, there was a little bit of everything: a monotonous (yet hilarious) relationship, family AND workplace drama, secret guilty pleasures, and of course the main event, the unexpected return of the-one-that-got-away. Not to mention the saucy (and not so saucy) sex scenes!
Add in Sophia's wicked sense of humour and we have a winning combination - Getting to witness Nell juggle all of the above and come out on top was a complete scream!
🧡☀️
Jam packed full of fun, there was a little bit of everything: a monotonous (yet hilarious) relationship, family AND workplace drama, secret guilty pleasures, and of course the main event, the unexpected return of the-one-that-got-away. Not to mention the saucy (and not so saucy) sex scenes!
Add in Sophia's wicked sense of humour and we have a winning combination - Getting to witness Nell juggle all of the above and come out on top was a complete scream!
🧡☀️
August 21, 2021
This book is a wonderful escape. When the world seems pretty bleak, and I've buried myself in non-fiction, it really takes you out of everything and back to being young and in love. Wonderful references and perfect descriptions of teenage hopes competing with real life challenges. It's not literature, but it's fun to blitz in 24hours and have a laugh.
September 1, 2021
Great read. Easy going and very enjoyable. The star character is definitely Nell’s Dad! Romantic and laugh out loud. This shouldn’t be missed. I love this authors books, they are always a treat to read and this one is no exception. Highly recommended!
Thank you Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley
December 11, 2021
I thought that this book was good
January 28, 2023
Jag lyssnade majoriteten av denna boken medans jag var sjuk och därmed halvsov så fattade inte helt hur boken hänger ihop… men det var lite mysig
August 1, 2021
(NetGalley arc in exchange for honest review)
Nell is a successful and hardworking lawyer attempting to make partner at her firm and has a lawyer boyfriend of 11 years who doesn’t believe in marriage and doesn’t realise their relationship has fallen into a sort of boring routine of sex on Friday mornings, no drinking weekdays etc… but when Nell goes back to her home village for a funeral, her childhood crush, Art, makes old feelings come back to surface.
Not going to lie, I was so so bored by this book. I’ve read so many rom coms this year and there wasn’t really anything that made this one stand out. The no marriage thing made me assume from early on that she would end up married to someone else and the characters were so unlikeable and unrealistic that you couldn’t relate to them at all. The book dragged so much at times and honestly the only reason I’m rating it a 2 instead of a 1 is because I managed to not DNF it. It’s a shame because I’ve heard so many good things about this author
Nell is a successful and hardworking lawyer attempting to make partner at her firm and has a lawyer boyfriend of 11 years who doesn’t believe in marriage and doesn’t realise their relationship has fallen into a sort of boring routine of sex on Friday mornings, no drinking weekdays etc… but when Nell goes back to her home village for a funeral, her childhood crush, Art, makes old feelings come back to surface.
Not going to lie, I was so so bored by this book. I’ve read so many rom coms this year and there wasn’t really anything that made this one stand out. The no marriage thing made me assume from early on that she would end up married to someone else and the characters were so unlikeable and unrealistic that you couldn’t relate to them at all. The book dragged so much at times and honestly the only reason I’m rating it a 2 instead of a 1 is because I managed to not DNF it. It’s a shame because I’ve heard so many good things about this author
May 30, 2022
2.5
It was enjoyable book but I really don’t enjoy cheating of any sorts and unfortunately here from the beginning I knew where the plot is going. Don’t get me wrong, I like reading stories about childhood sweethearts that get back together years after they split due to minor miscommunication, but I’d like the book more if Nell had figure out she’s unhappy in her current relationship before Arthur came back and started flirting with her…
What I was also missing was the family dynamics I remember from other books of this author, Nell’s family was shit and each time her brother was mentioned I felt really bad for her, and the whole mom-dad splitting? Let me leave that without comments
Nonetheless it was a nice book and I’m sure that unless you’re allergic to cheating like me you can have great time reading it
It was enjoyable book but I really don’t enjoy cheating of any sorts and unfortunately here from the beginning I knew where the plot is going. Don’t get me wrong, I like reading stories about childhood sweethearts that get back together years after they split due to minor miscommunication, but I’d like the book more if Nell had figure out she’s unhappy in her current relationship before Arthur came back and started flirting with her…
What I was also missing was the family dynamics I remember from other books of this author, Nell’s family was shit and each time her brother was mentioned I felt really bad for her, and the whole mom-dad splitting? Let me leave that without comments
Nonetheless it was a nice book and I’m sure that unless you’re allergic to cheating like me you can have great time reading it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
idk how to feel about this tbh, it has a cheating trope which I’m just not into at all but like it wasn’t necessarily bad
August 24, 2021
Plot: Nell Mason is extremely happy with her life – or at least, that’s what she tells herself. She’s absolutely fine living with her sweet, if slightly dull, boyfriend Gus in their London flat where they have very sensible sex once (OK, sometimes twice) a week. She’s definitely not stuck in a rut.
But when Nell bumps into childhood friend and first love Arthur Drummond who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. The seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect. Maybe Nell’s been kidding herself all these years. Can she ever get over her first love?
⭐ Money-Couts bring us a laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy (Art) escapism one again! A must-read for all uplit fans!
⭐ Hilarious, I was laughing from the very first page! Nell's deliciously dark sense of humor really appealed to me & Gus's pet names never failed to put a smile on my face.
⭐ Every single character had their own vibrant personality & something unique to add to the story.
⭐ The writing is so effortless & engaging it was terribly hard to pit down.
⭐ That first love feeling is captured so intensely, the pages for your teenage love & heartbreak are inevitable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Disclaimer: A huge thanks to NetGalley & HQ Stories for sending me this title for an honest & unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
But when Nell bumps into childhood friend and first love Arthur Drummond who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. The seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect. Maybe Nell’s been kidding herself all these years. Can she ever get over her first love?
⭐ Money-Couts bring us a laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy (Art) escapism one again! A must-read for all uplit fans!
⭐ Hilarious, I was laughing from the very first page! Nell's deliciously dark sense of humor really appealed to me & Gus's pet names never failed to put a smile on my face.
⭐ Every single character had their own vibrant personality & something unique to add to the story.
⭐ The writing is so effortless & engaging it was terribly hard to pit down.
⭐ That first love feeling is captured so intensely, the pages for your teenage love & heartbreak are inevitable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Disclaimer: A huge thanks to NetGalley & HQ Stories for sending me this title for an honest & unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2023
Meh. If you manage to wade through the sewage of the first half, the second half of the book is much improved. The problem is, Nell is such a judgemental, pompous know-it-all, that as a reader I really didn't back her. When she has to rush back home for a funeral, she spends the whole time internally monologuing over how uncultured and below her everyone back home is now that she considers herself a London girl. Then, halfway through the book when she's moved back home for a quarter of a second to look after her father, she starts considering how shallow and meaningless her life in the big city is. Grow up! Stop sniping at everyone else because you're a sad individual.
There was absolutely no reason to pit the two ways of life against each other, especially making the Northumberland folk out to be sad country bumpkins whose greatest excitement was quiz night at the pub. Now, if the author's intention was to make Nell unlikeable, then bravo! But at least give her an unhappy ending please.
Plus points of the book: made me laugh a couple times, and I thought the relationship between Nell and her brother was quite relatable, although it would've been nice to give her a fragment of backbone. Otherwise, don't waste your time.
There was absolutely no reason to pit the two ways of life against each other, especially making the Northumberland folk out to be sad country bumpkins whose greatest excitement was quiz night at the pub. Now, if the author's intention was to make Nell unlikeable, then bravo! But at least give her an unhappy ending please.
Plus points of the book: made me laugh a couple times, and I thought the relationship between Nell and her brother was quite relatable, although it would've been nice to give her a fragment of backbone. Otherwise, don't waste your time.
June 9, 2024
I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was one of those where I continuously wanted to get back to it because I couldn’t put it down. The characters and the setting in Morpeth made this story feel like it wasn’t fiction at all - making it even more enjoyable. My only reason for not five stars is I feel certain elements of the book were delved into too much, and some not enough: Nell working at the law firm took up large portions of this book and although it was relevant to know about her work, and how this fit into her life, I wasn’t particularly interested in the minor details about the law cases; her love story with Art - I wanted to know more, leaving what had happened till later built the suspense but I feel that the books focus wasn’t actually on them as he wasn’t in the book THAT much (I just would have loved to have read about them a little bit more). Albeit this, a really great read which left me incredibly emotional about 3/4s of the way through.
September 23, 2021
4.5 rounded up
Well, it’s official, Sophia Money-Coutts is one of my favourite romance writers. I’ve loved every single one of her books, but this latest one might just be her best yet.
Hilarious and relatable, Did You Miss Me? explores first love and second chances. Nell is happy with her life—or at least, that’s what she tells herself. But when she bumps into her childhood friend and first love, Arthur, who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. Suddenly the seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect…
Packed with loveable characters and Sophia’s trademark wit, Did You Miss Me? is the perfect feel-good read. Highly recommend adding this one to your summer reading lists.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Harlequin Australia in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Well, it’s official, Sophia Money-Coutts is one of my favourite romance writers. I’ve loved every single one of her books, but this latest one might just be her best yet.
Hilarious and relatable, Did You Miss Me? explores first love and second chances. Nell is happy with her life—or at least, that’s what she tells herself. But when she bumps into her childhood friend and first love, Arthur, who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. Suddenly the seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect…
Packed with loveable characters and Sophia’s trademark wit, Did You Miss Me? is the perfect feel-good read. Highly recommend adding this one to your summer reading lists.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Harlequin Australia in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 16, 2021
Few of us ever forget our first love but how many of us give in to those nostalgic “what if” moments, contemplating how different life would have been had that particular relationship never ended? Imagine if you had a second shot at getting it right? Would you even want to?!? Sophia Money-Coutts allows you to wander down memory lane and revisit those giddy, butterflies-in-the-stomach, sweet but possibly painful memories as we follow the life and loves, past and present, of London based lawyer Eleanor (Nell) Mason. The queen of the romcom is back and on top sparkling form as always with a novel to prove it’s never too late to have a second bite at the cherry.
Nell and Gus, a fellow lawyer, have been together for eleven years. They’ve been to enough stag/hen dos and wedding celebrations to last them a lifetime. Both are adamant they are NEVER EVER getting married. Working as a divorce lawyer for high profile clients, Nell knows first hand what happens when love turns sour plus she’s only got to look towards her own parents marriage to realise she’s better off leaving all the hearts and flowers stuff to others. So what if there are no swings and roundabouts in her relationship with Gus, no swooping highs nor crashing lows that can sometimes accompany an intense, passionate romance. Safe, sensible and predictable, if boring, is how she prefers her love life (or does she?) Like the majority of us, Nell’s heart has been broken once before, by childhood sweetheart Art Drummond, when she was still living in her hometown of Northcliffe. Heir to the Drummond estate, Art became Nell’s teenage crush, the two having grown up alongside each other with the Hall and its grounds their playground, her father Bruce working for the Lord at his racing stables. But Art was the one who got away, to America to be precise, marrying a banking heiress and Nell hasn’t clapped eyes on him since. Until the day Lord Drummond unexpectedly drops dead from a heart attack and Nell returns to Northcliffe for the funeral and she has to confront the man who stole her heart.
Losing myself in the pages of a Sophia Money-Coutts novel is to find myself cozily ensconced in a happy place. I may have only read three of this author’s novels to date but her writing, with its mixture of the funny, sometimes hilarious (but never ridiculously silly) and the heart meltingly romantic has won a place in my affections. From this day forward, whenever there’s news of a new book on the horizon, it will be going straight to the top of my wish list! She writes about matters of the heart so well with an emotional astuteness that renders her storylines and her characters so relatable. Yet she doesn’t venture into “too serious” territory; her novels are lighthearted enough to make you want to fall in love with the very idea of falling in love. Reading Did You Miss Me? felt like stripping back the years; I could see myself as a rather shy seventeen going on eighteen year old experiencing for the very first time those fluttery feelings you get in the first flush of love and the utter devastation when a few months later my heart was broken.
I can honestly say I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with this storyline and its characters. From the hilarious but excruciatingly toe curling opening scene in which Nell and Gus are having what I would describe as mechanical dull sex to the characters you’ll love to hate (Prince Pervert, Gideon and Nell’s brother Jack spring to mind) and those you want to wrap up in a bear hug, this novel ticks all the right boxes. The storyline is as predictable as day following night but these brilliant characters manage to liven up the proceedings, with some even dropping the odd minor bombshell or two to set the fox amongst the chickens (we are in countryside territory after all!) They each add a touch more colour and humour to an already dazzling array of kindness, love, eccentricities and cheekiness. There’s the sprightly Nanny Gertrude, Nell’s teenage best friends Lucy and nerdy Colin, Thanks A Latte coffee shop owner Luigi who’s stirring up more in this town than just the macchiatos he serves plus Nell’s long suffering mother Kath to name but a few. My personal favourite, aside from the leading lady, has to be the irrepressible, cheeky chappie Bruce and his drinking cronies who love to congregate in the local pub the Drunken Duck. When it comes to his relationship with daughter Nell, it’s like the roles have been reversed, her as the scolding parent with him acting like a recalcitrant child. But Nell is well used to dealing with awkward gentleman, there are enough of them already in her life so one more isn’t going to make much difference. She’s superwoman, albeit a romantically unfulfilled one, as she juggles work and the demands of an insufferable boss whilst determined to keep her father on the straight and narrow. Her interactions with Gideon and Bruce really made me laugh. Here is a woman in complete denial about what she really wants from life but time spent back in Northcliffe is sure to bring her to her senses. I liked this woman a lot and couldn’t stand the thought that a second chance at happiness might pass her by.
Did You Miss Me? is a lovely, witty, romantic escapist read which made me feel quite wistful. It would have been even better if Art had featured a fraction more but that’s only a minor criticism. Overall, I loved this book!
For all those who those who daydream of true love, second chances and romance filled futures, this one is written just for you.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Nell and Gus, a fellow lawyer, have been together for eleven years. They’ve been to enough stag/hen dos and wedding celebrations to last them a lifetime. Both are adamant they are NEVER EVER getting married. Working as a divorce lawyer for high profile clients, Nell knows first hand what happens when love turns sour plus she’s only got to look towards her own parents marriage to realise she’s better off leaving all the hearts and flowers stuff to others. So what if there are no swings and roundabouts in her relationship with Gus, no swooping highs nor crashing lows that can sometimes accompany an intense, passionate romance. Safe, sensible and predictable, if boring, is how she prefers her love life (or does she?) Like the majority of us, Nell’s heart has been broken once before, by childhood sweetheart Art Drummond, when she was still living in her hometown of Northcliffe. Heir to the Drummond estate, Art became Nell’s teenage crush, the two having grown up alongside each other with the Hall and its grounds their playground, her father Bruce working for the Lord at his racing stables. But Art was the one who got away, to America to be precise, marrying a banking heiress and Nell hasn’t clapped eyes on him since. Until the day Lord Drummond unexpectedly drops dead from a heart attack and Nell returns to Northcliffe for the funeral and she has to confront the man who stole her heart.
Losing myself in the pages of a Sophia Money-Coutts novel is to find myself cozily ensconced in a happy place. I may have only read three of this author’s novels to date but her writing, with its mixture of the funny, sometimes hilarious (but never ridiculously silly) and the heart meltingly romantic has won a place in my affections. From this day forward, whenever there’s news of a new book on the horizon, it will be going straight to the top of my wish list! She writes about matters of the heart so well with an emotional astuteness that renders her storylines and her characters so relatable. Yet she doesn’t venture into “too serious” territory; her novels are lighthearted enough to make you want to fall in love with the very idea of falling in love. Reading Did You Miss Me? felt like stripping back the years; I could see myself as a rather shy seventeen going on eighteen year old experiencing for the very first time those fluttery feelings you get in the first flush of love and the utter devastation when a few months later my heart was broken.
I can honestly say I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with this storyline and its characters. From the hilarious but excruciatingly toe curling opening scene in which Nell and Gus are having what I would describe as mechanical dull sex to the characters you’ll love to hate (Prince Pervert, Gideon and Nell’s brother Jack spring to mind) and those you want to wrap up in a bear hug, this novel ticks all the right boxes. The storyline is as predictable as day following night but these brilliant characters manage to liven up the proceedings, with some even dropping the odd minor bombshell or two to set the fox amongst the chickens (we are in countryside territory after all!) They each add a touch more colour and humour to an already dazzling array of kindness, love, eccentricities and cheekiness. There’s the sprightly Nanny Gertrude, Nell’s teenage best friends Lucy and nerdy Colin, Thanks A Latte coffee shop owner Luigi who’s stirring up more in this town than just the macchiatos he serves plus Nell’s long suffering mother Kath to name but a few. My personal favourite, aside from the leading lady, has to be the irrepressible, cheeky chappie Bruce and his drinking cronies who love to congregate in the local pub the Drunken Duck. When it comes to his relationship with daughter Nell, it’s like the roles have been reversed, her as the scolding parent with him acting like a recalcitrant child. But Nell is well used to dealing with awkward gentleman, there are enough of them already in her life so one more isn’t going to make much difference. She’s superwoman, albeit a romantically unfulfilled one, as she juggles work and the demands of an insufferable boss whilst determined to keep her father on the straight and narrow. Her interactions with Gideon and Bruce really made me laugh. Here is a woman in complete denial about what she really wants from life but time spent back in Northcliffe is sure to bring her to her senses. I liked this woman a lot and couldn’t stand the thought that a second chance at happiness might pass her by.
Did You Miss Me? is a lovely, witty, romantic escapist read which made me feel quite wistful. It would have been even better if Art had featured a fraction more but that’s only a minor criticism. Overall, I loved this book!
For all those who those who daydream of true love, second chances and romance filled futures, this one is written just for you.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2021
Nell from the outside looks like she has it all great job (divorce lawyer) on her way to promotion and a loyal high flying partner in Gus. They work hard with no plans of marriage but is this life really for her.
When her parents split up and her dad breaks her leg so returns to her home town and to skeletons of the past. Reuniting with old friends and an old flame.
The book was very witty. Great overall writing style. Easy to read and great depth of character. The plot was abit too similar to another book I’d read recently hence 4 stars instead of 5.
But it’s been an enjoyable read.
When her parents split up and her dad breaks her leg so returns to her home town and to skeletons of the past. Reuniting with old friends and an old flame.
The book was very witty. Great overall writing style. Easy to read and great depth of character. The plot was abit too similar to another book I’d read recently hence 4 stars instead of 5.
But it’s been an enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2021
This story is just wonderful. My first book by this author and I immediately want to read everything she’s ever written.
The dialogues and situations are entirely believable, entertaining and interesting. It flowed exceptionally well and had me hooked and invested from the beginning.
I was routing for her from the beginning and LOVED the way it ended. The story had elements of humour effortlessly weaved in which really bought the story to life.
I would definitely recommend this book!
The dialogues and situations are entirely believable, entertaining and interesting. It flowed exceptionally well and had me hooked and invested from the beginning.
I was routing for her from the beginning and LOVED the way it ended. The story had elements of humour effortlessly weaved in which really bought the story to life.
I would definitely recommend this book!
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