Josie Lloyd

For writing and life partners Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees, each of whom also publish separately over a variety of genres, You & Me and You & Me and You & Me is their eighth romcom novel.

Adam and Juliet have been married for nearly twenty-five years, but an accumulation of resentments and disappointments has left them wondering if their relationship has reached its end. After a particularly bitter argument Adam retreats to his garden shed where he discovers the mix tapes the pair traded early show more in their relationship. Slipping one into a cassette deck, Adam leans back in his chair as the synth chords of “Don’t You Want Me” by the Human League begin, only to be catapulted into the body of his teenage self on the very day in 1989 he gave Jules the tape.

What follows is not entirely unexpected as Adam and Jules realise than the mix tapes are a gateway to their past. Each tape transports them into their younger selves for an hour or so—mostly as passengers observing events, though occasionally able to break through and influence them. The pair quickly realise that they can make changes in the past that manifest in the present, but both swear that they won’t change a thing.

I’m not a big fan of time travel in general but I thought Lloyd and Rees handled it well in this story. There’s a delightful layer of nostalgia stemming from both the music and recall of events. Importantly for me, the visits to the past are short lived, and the ensuing changes in the present make sense.

The use of alternating viewpoints between Adam and Jules are the perfect structure for this story. I was thoroughly invested in their relationship, to paraphrase Robert Burns: there are three sides to every story—my side, your side, and the truth—and no one is lying.

While the time slips remind Adam and Jules of happier times, and initially improve things between them somewhat, their issues in the present still remain. Eventually the temptation to change things in search of a ‘fix’ for their problems proves too strong, and then everything begins to spiral out of control.

It may sound a little condescending, but I suspect you need to be at a certain stage of life to fully appreciate this story. The authors’ portrayal of long term marriage, in particular the stresses of accumulated regret, compromise, and tragedy, is painfully authentic, but likely unimaginable to a single person or still in the honeymoon phase.

Thankfully the authors’ balance the heavier themes with plenty of humour, lightening some of the fraught emotion the story evokes. I ultimately found the couple’s journey back to each other to be surprisingly inspiring, and a reminder to not take my relationship for granted.

Heartwarming, witty and wise, You & Me and You & Me and You & Me is a wonderful read. show less

Alice Beeton runs the Good Household Management Agency which provides housekeepers, cleaners and other staff to those in need of them, and a jolly good job she does of it too, with her eye for detail and her two trusty colleagues, Jinx and Helly. I must mention her other trusty sidekick, her gorgeous little dog, Agatha (named after Agatha Christie).

Trouble comes along when Alice finds a position for Enya, a new person on her books, and very soon afterwards Enya is found dead. Alice turns show more into an unlikely detective, which rather messes up her orderly life but which also gives her a little thrill, which may be aided by the presence of Detective Rigby in her life.

I thought this was a delightful read. I don't read a lot of cosy crime but this was an excellent example of the genre, firmly rooted in the modern day and yet with a hint of old-fashioned charm, helped along by the references to the main character's ancestor, the famous Mrs Beeton. Recipes are scattered throughout the text too, a feature which I found so appealing.

The plot itself is rather clever and Miss Beeton turns out to be a very able and cunning detective. I loved all the characters, many of whom were Alice's friends who stepped into the breach to assist her - there's a real sense of camaraderie between them all. I think Agatha might just be the star of the show though!

I have a feeling this may turn out to be the start of a series and I'd definitely like to read more books featuring Alice, Jinx and Detective Rigby. I foresee many capers ahead. Although Miss Beeton's Murder Agency is set partly at Christmas and New Year, it's not overly Christmassy so would be a brilliant read for any time of the year. show less

aah i love it when book's titles make sense once you reach a certain point in the story, or once you begin to see where it's going, and this was a perfect example of this being exercised so well!! it was so refreshing to read this genre of book where not everything is set up for the perfect ending immediately, and maybe the main characters aren't flawless, but it made it so REAL!! i felt like i could imagine jules and adam, and their house (and the shed!!) perfectly, and it was such a show more welcome change from other contemporary romance books that admittedly, can start to feel all a bit same-y when you've read so many. would read more form these authors, 100%!!

thank you to netgalley and random house uk for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. show less

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.75

Jules and Adam have been married for 25 years, their kids are in their early 20’s. Their life isn’t what they thought it would be. After a particularly nasty argument, Adam retreats to his shed and finds the first ‘mixed tape‘ he made for Jules. He puts it in the ‘boom box’ and is literally taken back to their early years. He shares his excitement with Jules and this starts them on trips neither one could have expected.

This was a story filled with show more what ifs. Could going back to the past and making small changes, make things better? Told in alternating POVs, it’s a look at Adam and Jules dating, early years to present day. While it took me a little to get into the story because of the back and forth, once I got into the flow it was fun to watch the ripple effect their changes had on their kids, friends and relationship. This book was filled with flawed characters, time travel and drama all making way for second chances. Loved all the nostalgia!

Thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion. show less