Book Review - Not Moving Out by Jon Rance

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Title: Not Moving Out

Author: Jon Rance

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Author supplied copy

Publisher: Hera

Publication Date: 15th May 2025

Rating: 4 Stars

Spouses Without Benefits - how can you move on without moving out?

Freya and Joe’s marriage has fizzled its way to the end, but for financial reasons, and to support their daughter in her final year of school, they decide they need to keep living together for six months.

They know it won’t be easy, but for Joe at least, it provides creative rewards: a struggling sitcom writer, he has found his new project. Why not write about his own situation? And the network loves it.

There is just one problem - Freya doesn’t know.

Can Freya and Joe navigate the six months together and might they find out something new about their relationship?

A relatable second-chance romcom perfect for fans of Mike Gayle and Beth O’Leary.

It's been years since I last read a Jon Rance novel, so I was very excited when this slid onto my kindle.  And it was incredibly enjoyable. 

Freya and Joe know their marriage is over, but they are determined to keep living in the same house for the next six months, until their daughter Dolly leaves for uni.  And thanks to this new dynamic between them, it leads to some very entertaining moments, as well as especially in Freya's case a discovering of who she is without Joe. 

As they gain new interests, inspirations and continue to try to persuade Dolly that everything is business as usual, they start seeing each other in various new lights too. 

It's Joe's deceptions that really added something to me, and with him being a sit com writer, I kept thinking that this book would be great generally on the small screen itself. 

I would love to see this turned into a TV series. 

I enjoyed the various characters and new friends that are made, and seeing how Freya and Joe change is heartwarming. I also really loved Dolly and contributions to this novel 

It's an all around enjoyable story that I had a great time reading. 

Thank you to Hera for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.