Lily Bennett’s Bucket List: The most uplifting debut romance you’ll read in 2023!

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The storyline does follow the tried and tested and always welcome trope of 'not looking for love, but finds it anyway' romance novel we all enjoy, but does it in such a way it holds your interest, entertains at every turn of the page and rewards with that happy, warm feeling inside. I loved how we see the exact point they trust each other fully, and I felt so happy that Jake felt comfortable enough with Lydia that he tells her things about his life he’s kept close to his chest for so long.

The story revolves around Lydia, whose husband one day randomly decides he’s leaving her out of the blue, and her trying to get some sort of life.This was also a hugely exciting point for me too, and I loved that it appeared towards the end of the book! What follows is pretty predictable, but it's good rom com with lots of tasty food and a houseful of Polish family and friends. Although this is a holiday romance book in style and therefore comes complete with a predictable ending, it did not disappoint, it was funny and thoroughly enjoyable! The more time she spends with Jake, the more comfortable she feels and the more she reveals about her life. An absolute feel-good novel with characters that are real and flawed, who GROW and love each other and support each other and urgh I just want to give this book a big hug.

The message that this book gave, we can relate to and that is to keep those in your life that like you for who you are, and let those go that try to change you. The author keeps us entertained and curious, and with each passing chapter, I fell in love with all these characters more and more. The only negative points I have are the repetivity of Ollie's dimples popping when she smiled, everyone smiling so widely their eyes all but disappeared and everyone brushing their hair off their faces, but I know this is very pedantic of me! Picking it up to read another chapter quickly became a highlight of my day and I was always curious to see how Lydia would take a little more adventure in her life.The idea that Lydia could have a companion in which she could complete each of Lily Bennett’s goals felt so heartwarming, like having her own personal cheerleader, someone to encourage her if she felt scared or nervous. Jake has a lot of secrets himself and concentrates on being the person Lydia needs him to be so she can feel better about herself. For me it began as a solid 4 * book, yet as the story grows it truly drew me in to the point where I ended up reading it at 1:30 in the morning.

Sounds extremely not likely, however in some way it helps me aided by the actors of personalities and the scenarios that Lydia finds herself in. Too much time had passed for her to tell him she was someone else completely and after all, what did it matter if he was simply accompanying her throughout each activity and then getting on with his own life?And, out of absolutely nowhere, there is a scene where we see Lydia step up, becoming the fierce woman we all knew she could be, standing up for herself and believing in herself in the most crucial of moments. I love a book that has such a profound impact on you, and this book is absolutely up there with my all time favourite rom coms. Accompanied by Jake, a newfound friend, Lydia decides to try and complete the list and hopefully get back with her husband.

One thing that really stood out to me as I got into this book was the personalities of everyone we meet. She comes across someone’s bucket list, and initially starts to do it because she thinks it’ll help her win her husband back before the divorce goes through, but in the end it becomes about her finding herself.Lydia’s family in particular were always delightful and amusing, and the fact Lydia fibbed about who Jake was to prevent her mother pairing her up with someone she really wasn’t interested in was always fun to read! A must-read for lovers of 2nd possibilities and also readers who applaud when female personalities enter their very own. The slow burn of Lydia and Jake’s friendship to more-than-friendship was so satisfying, the chemistry between them written with such attention to detail.