Natalie Murray

Love, Just In is an engaging contemporary romance novel from Australian Natalie Murray.

After having a panic attack while reporting live on air Josephine Larsen is banished to cover another reporter's six-month leave at the regional bureau in Newcastle. Nearing 30, perennially single, and steeped in anxiety, the only silver lining to her demotion is the chance to reconnect with her best friend, Zac Jameson, even though they have barely spoken for two years.

Friends-to-lovers is generally my preferred romance trope, and some of my favourite parts of Love, Just In were the flashback moments that showed Josie and Zac as teenagers and young adults. The ‘will they/won’t they’ of their adult relationship is far more complicated and there’s plenty of angst and miscommunication between the couple before they work things out. Zac’s hesitation in pursuing Josie makes sense, especially once certain information is revealed. Josie’s treatment of Zac frustrating at times, even knowing it stems from her own insecurities.

Murray touches on several serious subjects in Love, Just In including drink driving, grief, illness, and health anxiety. I found the latter to be an interesting topic that the author explored with sensitivity and compassion and I feel it’s something many can relate to at some level. There is some humour too, but I think the description of the story as a romcom is over generous.

I was a fan of the setting, since it’s familiar with Newcastle being just a few hours south of me.

I do like a happy ending, and though perhaps a tad long at over 450 pages, I found Love, Just In to be a pleasant and satisfying read.… (mer)

In this novel, Josie is an Australian television news reporter. After suffering a panic attack during a live interview, she is relegated to a small town tv station in Newcastle. Fortunately, or possibly unfortunately, her estranged bestie Zac resides in Newcastle. This would be a great opportunity to reconnect and discover what actually happened with their relationship. The story is told in a dual timeline with flashbacks that reveal their backstory.

Josie’s struggle with health anxiety will cut close to home for many, I’m sure. Zac was a great friend, always wanting more but trying to protect himself from hurt. Both characters were likeable. A sweet and poignant friends-to-lovers story with some serious side topics. 3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.… (mer)

Josie is a news reporter looking for her big break, closing in on 30 and so not meeting the goals she set for herself. Zac is her best friend since middle school. They share all their hopes and dreams.

I typically don’t read romance, but for for some reason, I grabbed this one. I’m so glad I did. Much more than ‘just’ a romance. A young woman facing the doubts, fears and questions I think most 30 year olds face. I found the characters likeable and situations relatable. Love a book with a message and a lesson! I enjoyed the subtle backstory of the TV station. A little steam, friends to lovers and a diagnosis needing to be accepted and dealt with. I’ll admit that at first I found Josie slightly annoying and paranoid, but that soon changed as I got further in, and my empathy took over. Loved the friendship (and more) between her and Zac that developed slowly.

This was a new author to me, and I’ll gladly read her again. I must admit that I can be a cover snob and typically steer away from this type of cover and genre. But, this book has proved me wrong! It was definitely a fun read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.… (mer)

Mental health and anxiety!

Friends to lovers romance that’s complicated, heart breaking and strangely surprising. Set in Australia this is the tale of two friends.
Josie Larson and Zac Jameson have been friends since they first met years ago when Josie changed schools, from a private girls school to the local high school
They did everything together. When Zac asks her to be his girlfriend, Josie said No but even then she’d wondered about a Yes!
They went to university together, had too much to drink together, laughed and mourned—together.
Now it’s fifteen years later and Josie’s a television journalist. Recently she had a panic attack on air and froze. In an attempt to regain her mojo and prove she’s fine, Josie’s moving from Sydney down to Newcastle to consolidate her experience. She has an eye to reclaiming her reputation, and anchoring the Sydney desk in the near future.
Zac is in Newcastle, a paramedic. He’s been through a hard time with his fiancé dying in his arms after a car accident a few years ago. He and Josie had lost touch.
Josie makes contact with Zac and a new chapter begins with plenty of drama, treasured moments and surprises.
The story moves along at a fast pace, poised between the past and now.
An intriguing and absorbing read. I adored it.
There’s plenty of humor, hand in hand with more serious moments of Josie’s health anxiety, an illness that is real, obsessive and lonely.

An Allen & Unwin ARC invite via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (mer)