Trigger Warnings
This book contains:
• Serious illness and death of loved ones.
Characters
Elle is a young woman from a dying village in the Cotswalds. While she desperately wants to leave the village, every time she tries to leave, she’s drawn back by family ties, emergencies, and romance.
Storyline
Elle is at university and meets a boy that’s intriguing for the first time since her first crush left for uni. Unfortunately, before she can explore that she’s drawn back home and when we come back a few years later she’s still there.
Overall Thoughts
While the title suggested one kind of list of love to me, I was pleasantly surprised at what it actually represented and how. Even the little steps along the way were special and seemed to illuminate a little bit more about Elle and get her back on track.
For a nice, quick, sweet romance that spans years and includes amazing self-growth and following your dreams, this is an amazing read. Definitely an enjoyable book that I would happily re-read when I need some emotional pick-me-ups.

Such an enjoyable story to read. My only complaint with the book is that Elle is such a wuss throughout most of the book. A literal doormat.

Elle is a bit of a soft person. She had a unique childhood with a mother who really didn't want a child and a father who loved her and raised her with the help of a neighbor. Elle was "in love" with Adam, but is it really love? Or is it just a childhood dream because he was nice to her. Elle meets Zach and has an instant attraction to him. But is he the one for her? What about Toby, the boy who was a family friend since grade school?

Read the book to find out! Trust me, you will enjoy it.

This book surprised me. Elle frequently sacrifices her happiness for others and I wanted desperately to see her get her own happily ever after. It just wasn’t with the person I thought it would be.

Elle had plans to leave her small town of Haileybrook, to travel, and be a journalist in London, but life happened. In fact, every time Elle had an exciting opportunity to leave her hometown, something would keep her there. Be it love, illness, or just fear, her plans go by the wayside until she chooses her own happiness.

Elle is unlucky in love as she tries to work out her life and relationships. Her soulmate is out there, it just takes some time to find him. Her compliant nature is a little frustrating, but there is thankfully a point where she finally channels her formidable mother and grows a backbone. I enjoyed watching Elle grow and become more self-assured.

There are a number of compelling supporting characters. Elle’s friends, Lucy and Seth are over the top when it comes to wedding planning, Toby, Elle’s best friend, is brooding and playful, but sends mixed messages, Mrs. Cooper, Toby and Seth’s Nan is a sly matchmaker, and Zach, Elle’s college acquaintance, and pen pal is a hilarious KitKat fanatic.

I highly recommend this contemporary romance with relatable characters and compelling content filled with family, friends, love, and finding oneself.

Thank you to Ms. Huston for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Elle’s A to Z of Love is author Claire Huston’s second contemporary romance novel. That being said, one would expect the same or better caliber of writing like the first novel. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case for me. Perhaps I just had very high expectations especially since I enjoyed her first novel so much.

The novel is a slow read and the realization behind the meaning of the title doesn’t occur until you are invested in at least 30% of the book. Something that I’ve grown not to appreciate so much these days.

The characters were developed enough, but were not at all likeable. Elle is painted as a bullied youngster that grew up with mommy issues. And the men in Elle’s life before she meets “the one,” are cads in my opinion.

The plot is simple. Boy meets girl, something sparks but nothing becomes of it until several years later. There isn’t much in between except flashbacks to childhood events and family drama that shaped Elle into the woman that she is.

Overall, Elle’s A to Z of Love is a respectable read. Too bad it wasn’t what I expected. Two acceptable stars.

I received a digital copy of the book from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I loved this book! It was warm, funny and engaging. The characters were well developed and the dialogue was both funny and natural. The writing had a great flow to it and I looked forward to being able to pick it up and read a bit more.
It was clever to have three potential love interests and it certainly kept me guessing! The book stirs lots of emotions - frustration with Elle and her life choices; anger at those who manipulate and abuse Elle; joy for Elle when she finally gets some of the good that she deserves.
There were a few character I would like more closure/ information on - her mother, the love interest that she doesn't end up with (did he love her or just find her attractive?!), and her friendship with Serena. But... I think the fact I want to know more is a good indication of how involved I was in the story.
I will definitely be reading the author's first book.

Finished reading: July 23rd 2021

"You'll never be without friends as long as you have a good book."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

Spoiler

After really enjoying fellow book blogger Claire Huston's debut Art And Soul last year, I simply couldn't say no when she invited me to read her second story Elle's A To Z Of Love. I've been more and more in the mood for uplifting romance stories and I had high hopes for this book, but sadly enough this story and me weren't ment to be. I guess it's unpopular opinion time again! Elle's A To Z Of Love is by no means a bad read, but the story included some elements that somehow never sit right with me... I'll try to explain why this story didn't work for me personally quickly below.

First of all, I have to say that I still love the idea behind this story and the idylic setting in a small village in the Cotswolds countryside is perfect for a romance story. I loved the many descriptions of the village and it's definitely made me want to visit the English countryside... It sounds wonderful and I could really imagine what Haileybrook would look like. The village definitely feels like yet another character in the story, as its fate plays an important role in the plot and seems to be intertwined with a lot of the main characters in play too.

Talking about the characters... I think this probably the main reason why this story didn't work for me. I had huge issues with the main character Elle, and particularly how she was treated by certain characters and how she reacted to that. The fact that she seems to be blind to how those characters treat her and keeps letting others walk all over her is enormously frustrating... Psychological abuse is also abuse, and it's not something I enjoy reading about. The fact that you can see what is happening from a mile away, but Elle seems to be oblivious and continues to do what she does kind of ruined the story for me. And then I'm not even talking about her giving up her dreams multiple times along the way and never standing up for herself until the very end... I wasn't a fan of the whole love triangle vibe either, I wasn't sure why and how the whole thing with Toby fitted in and the ending was a bit of a cliche... Elle's relationship with her mother was quite frustrating too.

I did like the bookish references as well as the multiple mentions of cake (it definitely made me crave lemon pie!), and the importance of books in the plot shines through throughout the story. I also liked the emails between Zach and Elle, as they added a little something extra to the story and gave their connection more dept. Sadly, it wasn't enough for me to forget about my dislike towards Elle and her actions nor my negative feelings towards certain characters... But I know this was partly due to a personal pet peeve, and also I know that most people do enjoy Elle's A To Z Of Love a lot better. So definitely don't give up on this story on my account if you think it's your cup of tea!

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

Elle’s A to Z of Love follows Elle Bea, a young woman torn between her dreams and her home. Though eager to leave her small hometown behind, Elle’s strong ties and loyalty to her family and friends continually bring her back. When a devastating phone call compels Elle to return home for an extended period of time, it seems like Elle will never get to go on her epic adventure. However, Elle might just learn that sometimes you find what you’re looking for when you least expect it.

Elle is an interesting and well-developed character. She spends much of the story helping and supporting others and finding herself. She reminds me a bit of myself when I was her age – torn between her duty and her dreams, attached to the past and yet longing for independence, constantly pulled back into the welcoming and safe fold of my family even when trying to take adventurous and independent steps in life, confounded by love. It’s a confusing and difficult time in many people’s lives, which Huston portrays wonderfully.

Elle also struggles with anxiety (again, I so relate!) and a complicated and toxic relationship with her mother, which affect many aspects of her life. Luckily, the toxicity is balanced with Elle’s supportive father and other wonderful parental influences. Elle’s at an interesting point in her life where she is learning who and what is important to her – what she wants in life, who she wants beside her, and how she wants to be treated. I enjoyed watching her grow, change, and become more self-assured. She learns to stand up for herself and not take such a passive role in life. She also starts to fight for and act on what she wants, which is fantastic! I think all of her relationships, good and bad, help Elle figure out what she wants from herself and others. However, this can be scary and stressful, especially when familial expectations, loyalties, and potential tragedies are thrown in.

Other characters in the story, including Elle’s friends Adam, Serena, and Toby are relatable and interesting. These friends must deal with their changing relationships. Can friends become something more? Should friends turn to lovers, especially when pressured by family? What does one do when expectations don’t match reality? You can tell that Elle and her childhood friends and their respective families share a close bond and care for each other, and new relationships also show the promise of long-lasting connections. Huston makes some really great points about the fluidity of relationships – how they constantly change and grow and become redefined.

There are several potential love interests, and each is unique and intriguing. Great dialogue, witty and touching scenes, and email messages add to the development of these characters and their relationships. I like that Elle experiences several relationships through the course of the novel. Each is very different from the others, and through them, Elle learns what she really wants in a partner. Again, I related to this. As a teenager, I wanted very different things in a partner than I did when I was in my early and mid-twenties, and I think Elle is experiencing the same thing. Ultimately, she makes the best decision and finds a wonderful partner!

Elle’s A to Z of Love is a great book for readers who like contemporary romances with realistic and relatable characters and messages about family, friends, love, and finding oneself. Thanks so much to Claire Huston and Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

This book follows Elle, living in a small town in the countryside, and she has dreams of adventure. I really loved how I could relate in certain ways to Elle which was amazing. I liked the vulnerability, the Elle's past, and the topics that are talked about.

There were a lot of elements that grabbed my attention, some I have already referenced. Another things I liked as the interactions between the characters and the entire community and the background. The fact that it was set in the countryside, it made it a bit cozy and relatable to me.

I could say many other things. There were a lot of questions as I had while reading that made me curious. I wanted to know more about Elle and the town. I wanted to know what would happen in the end. And it was quite a good balance with the warmth the book had as well.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot. I liked how the story and the characters developed. It was a lovely book with romance, family, friendship, and moments of emotion and reflection.

[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, and Claire Huston for the eCopy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

I really enjoyed this book. I do love a good romance novel and this one wasn't as predictable as I thought!!

I kept thinking I knew what was going to happen, or what I wanted to happen