How one unexpected night can get you out of your comfort zone in so many ways

Synopsis

Lizzie Rose knows what she likes and likes what she knows.

Her role at the London Museum is more than a job, it’s her safe place and her passion. So when Lizzie is passed over for a chance in a lifetime opportunity in favour of her ex-boyfriend and fellow Egypt nerd Friedrich Klein, her heartbreak over their relationship pales into insignificance compared to her sadness at losing the project.

Best friend Colette thinks an evening of cocktails is just the medicine for a broken heart, and meeting dashing, charming, but very much ‘not her type’ Finn Bryson at the bar puts a smile on Lizzie’s face too. But Lizzie isn’t used to spending time outside of her comfortable world of academia and doesn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. So when Finn’s job brings him to the museum, she’s determined to put an end to any notion of romance between them.

But what if Lizzie’s comfort zone isn’t that comfortable any more? Is it time for Lizzie to take the chance on love that fate keeps bringing her way – even if it means changing the habits of a lifetime?

My review

Lizzie Rose is an archeologist that loves her job at the London Museum. So when she loses the chance to be the lead of a gig to her obnoxious ex – boyfriend, her best friend Colette decides that a night filled with cocktails what Lizzie needs.
On their night out, Lizzie meets Finn Bryson. Even if he is totally not Lizzie’s type, he manages to distract her, and Lizzie even does something she usually never does. Because after all, she is never going to see Finn again.
Until their worlds once again collide and Finn’s job brings him to the museum where Lizzie works. Even if sparks keep flying around, Lizzie is determined to not mix business with pleasure.
Yet Lizzie’s comfortable comfort zone doesn’t feel that comfortable anymore, and it’s up to Lizzie to take a step into the unknown, and perhaps even take a chance on Finn?

Maxine Morrey always manages to write stories that seem at first sight rather simple and easy. But she has the ability and talent to yet make it into something spectacular.
And having read several of her books, I knew I would be in for a treat!

Lizzie is such a recognizable character, even if her job (and passion) couldn’t be further from my own interests. Yet I could completely understand her, how she feels comfortable in her current situation, and not all that eager to make any changes.
I liked it how passionate she is about her job, I could practically see the light in her eyes!

But it was also clear how much her comfort zone was limiting her in a way. What happens when she meets Finn is so out of character for her, yet I could understand her feelings, how she was for sure enjoyed it, but it so not her.
There is so much potential in Lizzie, if only she would allow herself to take that step into the unknown, to even allow her to have fun and let her hair loose without feeling guilty or even losing herself.

And that is exactly why Finn is so perfect for her. While it started as one night of fun, when their paths cross again, he respects Lizzie for who she is, but he also wants her to see that there is so much more in Lizzie’s life than just her passion for archeology.
He understands her boundaries, fears and actions, but without turning Lizzie into someone else, she gently nudges her to understand that perhaps her boundaries are perhaps too strict, limiting her to be the best possible version of Lizzie.

So while before I already loved Lizzie, seeing her spending time with Finn, getting out there, having more fun and realizing how much she is capable of, made me love her even more.
And seeing her together with Finn was absolutely delightful!

Of course there are a few struggles in this book, and not only between Lizzie and Finn, but also things that unfortunately are still happening in the real world. And I thought that Maxine Morrey addressed these issues in a perfect manner, by showing them to us, but without getting too preachy about the injustice of it….

After finishing the book, I had to take some time to think about myself, and wonder if perhaps in the past I was a Lizzie myself, settling for my own comfort zone, but just like her, had to learn to step out of it and enjoy life more but without losing the person I am. I enjoyed reading this story from the first page until the very last one. I had extreme high expectations, and the author not only fulfilled them, but even went beyond!