This is a DNF for me after 94 pages. I kind of skimmed through the rest, but it played out exactly as I expected. The awkward girl meets the rich guy thins is just overdone. I don't think there was really anything wrong with the book or writing. Romance just isn't a genre I like and I didn't give AF about any of the characters. It felt like a chore to pick up to read so I'm just going to move on. ✌️

Holly Jefferson doesn't want to move on in her life. Her husband Charlie has been gone almost two years and she still doesn't want to accept that he's not coming home. She goes to work and likes to stay busy because when she dreams she dreams of him and it makes the pain fresh. Until she has to deliver a cake to Fergal Argyll. This cake is ballsy, and its from his soon to be ex- wife. She meets his son Ciaran, there is an attractions but she doesn't want to become involved with anyone, it would be betraying Charlie. She's got a meddlesome sister.

Ciaran Argyll isn't looking for anything special in life. He was just taking care of his dad and working at his dad's company. When Holly walked in to his dad's house to deliver a cake for his father he was smitten. He tried to help her by throwing business her way. He's trying to get to know her and she is one of the weirdest women he's ever met. After a time he gets close and he falls for her.

I loved watching Holly try to navigate life. You could feel the grief she was feeling pouring off the page. I can't imagine losing my husband so I can understand her reluctance to move on. Ciaran was caring and patient with her. His father is a hoot and I laughed more than once at his antics. This was a lovely book about finding love after you've suffered a huge loss. I couldn't read this one fast enough and I'll bet you'll enjoy it too!!

4.5 stars.

Since You’ve Been Gone by Anouska Knight is an enchanting novel that is light-hearted, humorous and poignant. Moving on after a loss is never easy and heroine Holly Jefferson is all too aware of this fact. With the second anniversary of her husband Charlie's death fast approaching, Holly is still deeply mourning his loss. But an unexpected encounter with wealthy playboy Ciaran Argyll could be the beginning of new chapter in her life but is Holly ready to let go the man she so dearly loved?

Holly has pretty much shut everyone out of her life while she mourns Charlie's death. She is still running her bakery business, but she has no social life to speak of other than her weekly visits with her sister Martha and brother-in-law Rob. She lets her friend and co-worker Jesse take care of the bakery's deliveries but when she is forced to make the delivery of a very unusual cake to boisterous and fun-loving Fergal Argyll, she is fascinated by her brief glimpses of his son Ciaran. Her path unexpectedly continues to cross with Ciaran, but it takes Holly quite some time to recognize that she has misjudged him and his intentions where she is concerned.

On the surface, Ciaran and Holly appear to have nothing in common. He is quite wealthy and he unapologetically enjoys the finer things his money can buy. Holly's bakery is successful but her business fluctuates throughout the year. Ciaran seems to lead a charmed life, but once she takes the time to get to know him, Holly is stunned to discover that he, too, has suffered a tremendous loss that almost cost him and his father their business. And while Ciaran might have a bit of reputation as a ladies' man, that does not necessarily mean he has not had his heart broken at some point in the past.

Ciaran and Holly's relationship is slow growing and for every step forward, they wind up taking two steps back. This is mostly due to Holly's reluctance to let Charlie go. But it is Holly's propensity to leap to conclusions that is their biggest downfall. Ciaran is genuinely sweet and surprisingly down to earth but she continually and deliberately refuses to accept that he is being completely honest with her. Holly also has difficulty believing that he is sincere about wanting a relationship with her.

The secondary cast of characters is outstanding and just as endearing Ciaran and Holly. Holly's scenes with her sister Martha are filled with humor and obvious affection. Jesse is more than Holly's employer; he is also a dear friend who gently pushes her out of her comfort zone. Holly's neighbor Mrs. Hedley gives her some sound advice based on her regrets about past decisions but it is Mrs. Hedley's friendship with Ciaran that is most surprising and touching. Ciaran's father Fergal is larger than life and his character vibrantly leaps off the pages. He is a little crass but he is such a lovable person it is easy to forgive his eccentricities. Of course, the novel would not be complete without a scheming and interfering woman whose manipulations cause some of the conflict in Holly and Ciaran's relationship.

Since You’ve Been Gone is a heartwarming second chance at love romance that is full of strong emotion. It is a beautiful novel with a marvelous cast of engaging characters and Anouska Knight puts a fresh spin on a familiar storyline. Both funny and a little bit sad, it is an all around superb read that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

Harmless and forgettable, but a quick read. I keep getting sucked in by baked goods on covers.

Lovely chick lit book. Really enjoyed it. Would recommend.

The book was written well enough. In parts the writing was really lovely. I feel like she's a writer better suited for literary work than this.

The characters were all boring to me. Why did he like her immediately? He knew nothing about her. His interference in her life is actually quite inappropriate and more than a little arrogant and misogynistic.

The villains were so one dimensional and Holly's self deprecation was so boring and unbelievable. Every twist could be seen coming a mile away, and none of the "problems" that romance novels have with couples were real ones. They were so obvious.

The book was slow and boring to me. It works up in the middle a little as she holds him accountable for his overbearing and interfering ways but the thing that still niggles me is there's just no explanation for why he likes her so much from the beginning that he gets involved in her life. Later on as he realises she is nothing like the gold diggers he is used to, him falling for her makes sense but from the first moment? Meh.

Jesse and the dog were the best parts. The book is all stuff upper lip and British with very little depth of emotion. I think white British people would love it, it'll remind them of their boring little love stories.

If you like passionless British storytelling, this is the book for you.

This book was maddening.

Light-hearted romance; well written.