This holiday season, love is going off-script.
Celebrated advice columnist ‘Dear Dotty’ Ellison has made a name for herself by solving everyone else’s problems.
But her life is upended when she unknowingly advises her girlfriend of ten years to break up with her. Through her own advice column.
Newly single, Dotty realises her life behind the picture-perfect brand wasn’t as flawless as she thought. Determined to rediscover who she really is, she decides it’s time to learn how to take her own advice. She begins writing letters to herself through her column.
But everything she thought she’d learned through her journey of self-discovery is thrown into question when she meets the gorgeous Alia at a cooking class.
Now, with Christmas approaching, will she discover that love and life aren’t something you can write, edit or schedule?
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My Review
This Is a clever, heartfelt romcom that blends humor with emotional depth. The story follows Dotty “Dear Dotty” Ellison, a popular advice columnist whose life seems enviable—until her world is turned upside down in the most ironic way possible. After advising an anonymous reader to end their relationship, Dotty is blindsided when the advice is followed… and she discovers she was the girlfriend being dumped.
What unfolds is a witty, charming, and often laugh-out-loud funny tale of Dotty’s journey through heartbreak, self-reflection, and ultimately, self-discovery. Barnes infuses the novel with Dotty’s signature sarcasm and sharp wit, but beneath the humor lies a thoughtful exploration of change, vulnerability, and the resilience required to move forward.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is the warmth of Dotty’s support system. Her close-knit group of quirky friends and her loving mother provide both comic relief and genuine emotional grounding, making her journey even more relatable and uplifting. While the romance element is understated and appears later than expected, the overall resolution feels satisfying.
This is an uplifting, funny, and heartwarming read perfect for anyone seeking both humor and heart in their holiday romance.
My Rating
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