lizzieb125's review
4.0
This book had some of my favorite tropes in it - especially with someone moving to another country and falling in love with a colleague. There were some heavier topics mentioned in here, but otherwise it was lighthearted and something that I plan on reading again. It never felt rushed and I feel like the story developed well. Overall, would read again and can't wait to see what else Rebecca Banks writes!
Thanks to Amazon and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to Amazon and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
tolutolu9597's review
2.0
Hmmm. This book was…fine.
It wasn’t the kind of romance that sweeps you up in it and I was happy to see our heroine happy but I can’t say I felt that I was really rooting for her. I think it’s a quick and cute romance. I think there it was quite fast paced and probably some of the conflicts could have either been explored in more depth or just excluded because it made it all feel quite surface level. I think the 3rd act break up was really just quite predictable which can be fine but it was also really unnecessary.
I think this has the foundation of a really interesting and relatable plot but the execution wasn’t perfect. This is a debut novel though so I will definitely be looking out for how Rebecca Banks develops as a writer.
2.5 rounded up
Thinking again I decided to round down because this is just not on par with some of the other 3 star reads and I think 2 stars is more honest
It wasn’t the kind of romance that sweeps you up in it and I was happy to see our heroine happy but I can’t say I felt that I was really rooting for her. I think it’s a quick and cute romance. I think there it was quite fast paced and probably some of the conflicts could have either been explored in more depth or just excluded because it made it all feel quite surface level. I think the 3rd act break up was really just quite predictable which can be fine but it was also really unnecessary.
I think this has the foundation of a really interesting and relatable plot but the execution wasn’t perfect. This is a debut novel though so I will definitely be looking out for how Rebecca Banks develops as a writer.
2.5 rounded up
Thinking again I decided to round down because this is just not on par with some of the other 3 star reads and I think 2 stars is more honest
thewoollygeek's review
4.0
I loved reading this, it’s all about finding yourself and leaving the past behind. Something I think most of us need to learn and so will probably connect with a lot of readers. It’s all about friendships, and community. If you are looking for a fun this one is fab!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
sarareadstoomuch's review
3.0
Ever wanted to go half way across the world and start anew?
This book gives off all of those vibes. Abbie starts a new job moving from England to the US to start again, afresh. We've all been there at one point. Plus, Kyle is a very sweet character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon for the earc in return for an honest review.
This book gives off all of those vibes. Abbie starts a new job moving from England to the US to start again, afresh. We've all been there at one point. Plus, Kyle is a very sweet character.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon for the earc in return for an honest review.
yejinhand's review
3.0
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ★★★½
Firstly, I loved the main theme of the book, which was about Abby's fresh start in life. I feel like I haven't read many books that are about that, and it can turn out in a great story if you do it right, which I think that Rebecca Banks managed to do so.
It was easy to connect and relate to Abby, and I feel like this is the main reason why I liked this read and thought it was an entertaining one.
However, I do feel that the drama between her and Kyle stretched out a little too much and it felt flat to me at some point. It didn't ruin the reading for me, and I'm almost giving it four stars, but if it wasn't for that, it could've been a huge favorite for me. Overall, a great debut! Congrats to the author!
My rating: ★★★½
Firstly, I loved the main theme of the book, which was about Abby's fresh start in life. I feel like I haven't read many books that are about that, and it can turn out in a great story if you do it right, which I think that Rebecca Banks managed to do so.
It was easy to connect and relate to Abby, and I feel like this is the main reason why I liked this read and thought it was an entertaining one.
However, I do feel that the drama between her and Kyle stretched out a little too much and it felt flat to me at some point. It didn't ruin the reading for me, and I'm almost giving it four stars, but if it wasn't for that, it could've been a huge favorite for me. Overall, a great debut! Congrats to the author!
bookcasebelle's review
4.0
*thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Half the World Away – the furthest you can get from home (on earth anyways). Abby, the main character, is currently coping with her divorce and dealing with some issues at her current job. Preparing for a fresh start, she decides to move across the world to Salt Lake City. This is a story packed with a new city, new food, new adventures! Need I say more?
This story was such a cute read! So, refreshing to read a realistic and unique romance book. It was nice to see a main character with so much confidence and independence! Abby takes on a new start in not only a new city but a new country, so she shows a great deal of courage by deciding to do this all on her own. Her character was one of my favorite things about this book.
Something that I felt like the author did such a good job with was describing the city and the American atmosphere. I have never been to Salt Lake City but with the authors writing I felt like I was right there with Abby.
One thing I didn’t like about the story was the miscommunication trope. This is more of a personal thing because I just get so frustrated with this and want to yell at the characters to just talk to each other for once. I personally feel that miscommunication is a bit overused in romance books, but none the less it was a fun read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun romance read! Definitely worth checking out this author’s debut book!
Half the World Away – the furthest you can get from home (on earth anyways). Abby, the main character, is currently coping with her divorce and dealing with some issues at her current job. Preparing for a fresh start, she decides to move across the world to Salt Lake City. This is a story packed with a new city, new food, new adventures! Need I say more?
This story was such a cute read! So, refreshing to read a realistic and unique romance book. It was nice to see a main character with so much confidence and independence! Abby takes on a new start in not only a new city but a new country, so she shows a great deal of courage by deciding to do this all on her own. Her character was one of my favorite things about this book.
Something that I felt like the author did such a good job with was describing the city and the American atmosphere. I have never been to Salt Lake City but with the authors writing I felt like I was right there with Abby.
One thing I didn’t like about the story was the miscommunication trope. This is more of a personal thing because I just get so frustrated with this and want to yell at the characters to just talk to each other for once. I personally feel that miscommunication is a bit overused in romance books, but none the less it was a fun read.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun romance read! Definitely worth checking out this author’s debut book!
katie_louise_reads's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I just didn't enjoy the lack of communication and the all the added drama to make more happen to the story when the romance was fine by itself without some crazy lady lol (which was predictable unfortunately)
marreadsbooks22's review
3.0
2.5 stars
This was a bit of a miss for me.
I didn't felt like the main characters had any chemistry and in romance that's a problem for me. Also I couldn't connect with Abbie, between her basically brushing off the case of sexual assault in the beginning, were she says she felt bad for the girl, but didn’t do/say much else about it, and also her she describing Kitty being neat to having an "OCD" I just couldn’t fully care about her.
Also the side characters consistently did things that didn't fit with their "personalities" in the book and left me thinking like why are you acting like that?
I think there were too many ideas here and not so great execution. Still this wasn't a bad debut book from this author and I'm sure that the next one will be much much better.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a bit of a miss for me.
I didn't felt like the main characters had any chemistry and in romance that's a problem for me. Also I couldn't connect with Abbie, between her basically brushing off the case of sexual assault in the beginning, were she says she felt bad for the girl, but didn’t do/say much else about it, and also her she describing Kitty being neat to having an "OCD" I just couldn’t fully care about her.
Also the side characters consistently did things that didn't fit with their "personalities" in the book and left me thinking like why are you acting like that?
I think there were too many ideas here and not so great execution. Still this wasn't a bad debut book from this author and I'm sure that the next one will be much much better.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
emilyisoverbooked's review
4.0
“I had to go half the world away to find you, but I know that life with you is home.”
Abbie is ready for a fresh start in Salt Lake City, Utah. Back home in London, she’s been dealing with sleazy soccer players at work and hearing more announcements about her ex-husband’s perfect life with his new wife. She’s over it, and needs to move on. Waiting for her in Utah is a fresh start: new friends, new career, new hobby blog, and a smokin’ ex-soccer player.
This was an adorable debut novel from Rebecca Banks that I devoured in one sitting. While some of the writing was choppy, the storyline was great. I had to find out the secrets from the past and see if Abbie and Kyle would end up together. I definitely recommend this for a quick, light summer read. There are some spoiler trigger warnings for this book, but I’ll say it surrounds pregnancy and you can look it up if needed.
Abbie is ready for a fresh start in Salt Lake City, Utah. Back home in London, she’s been dealing with sleazy soccer players at work and hearing more announcements about her ex-husband’s perfect life with his new wife. She’s over it, and needs to move on. Waiting for her in Utah is a fresh start: new friends, new career, new hobby blog, and a smokin’ ex-soccer player.
This was an adorable debut novel from Rebecca Banks that I devoured in one sitting. While some of the writing was choppy, the storyline was great. I had to find out the secrets from the past and see if Abbie and Kyle would end up together. I definitely recommend this for a quick, light summer read. There are some spoiler trigger warnings for this book, but I’ll say it surrounds pregnancy and you can look it up if needed.
amiefiremoon's review
2.0
Half the World Away is a romcom written by Rebecca Banks. It is about Abbie Potter who take a chance and moves from England to Salt Lake City, Utah, to seek a fresh start after a divorce and job she hates. I didn’t love this book. I wasn’t engaged with the storyline (even though I have season tickets to my local MLS team and avidly read romcoms - you’d think it would work for me, but no), and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Recommended with reservations. I DNF’d it at 50%.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.