Book Review: A Year of Mr Maybes by Judy Leigh

A lovely big welcome back to Judy Leigh who is here with the blog tour for latest novel, A Year of Mr Maybes. 

Never say never to falling in love…

Val didn’t expect to be starting again in her seventies, but when life gives her lemons, Val is determined to make lemonade.

Settled into her new home – a picture-perfect fisherman’s cottage in the small Cornish seaside town of Lowenstowe – Val is ready to start a new chapter. And with her son due to get married next Christmas, there’s also the little job of finding herself a plus-one to help her face her ex-husband and his new girlfriend.

With the support of her neighbour Connie, and after decades of married life, Val takes the plunge back into the world of dating with trepidation and excitement. But can she remember how the single life works, let alone what her type is? There seem to be plenty of Mr Maybes, but no sign of Mr Right.

As the year passes, and as friendships and community life flourish, Val begins to blossom. And as Christmas approach, she might just decide she doesn’t need that plus-one after all – although never say never… 

*****

Val is in her seventies and didn’t expect to be starting again. 

After the end of her marriage, she moves to the Cornish town of Lowenstowe. 

There, she meets new friends and begins to find a new lease of life and possibly, a new love. She and her neighbour, Connie, go on a mission to find Val a plus one for Val’s son’s wedding in December. They have a year to find Mr December. Can Val find someone new before the year is out? 

I have become such a fan of Judy Leigh’s novels so I jumped at the chance to be involved in the blog tour for her latest novel, A Year of Mr Maybes. 

From page one, I was completely immersed. 

Immediately, Val is someone you can empathise with. Within the first few pages, her life is forever changed. The character is written with much strength and I loved how there was very little time where she felt sorry for herself. She picks herself up and carries on. That’s inspiring. 

Connie and Loveday are brilliant supporting characters and I loved them. 

I adore the fact that the majority of the characters in this novel were over 70. Why should life end just because you’re that age!? Exactly! 

The whole community Judy has created are wonderful and it’s made me want to go and live in a small seaside town. I felt a part of the lives of these characters and felt sad when the book ended and I had to leave them. 

The plot moves along well and the themes explored are great. As well as love and friendship, the topic of the environment is tacked well – with importance but without becoming overly didactic. 

As usual, I don’t want to say much more as I don’t want to give it away. 

A Year of Mr Maybes is a wonderful novel full of fun, humour, friendship and love as well as acceptance of who you are and what you, alone, are worth. You are in charge of how your happy ending is created. 

I look forward to the next novel from Judy. 

(Thank you to Boldwood Books for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.) 

About Judy Leigh: 

Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction.

She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.

Say hello to Judy via her website, Twitter, Instagram and Bookbub. You can also sign up to her newsletter by clicking here.

A Year of Mr Maybes was released by Boldwood Books on 29th March 2022. Click to buy on Amazon UK and Waterstones.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.