A Class Act

The Beddingfield (book 1)

Julie Houston

About the book:

Robyn Allen is finally getting closer to her dream of West End stardom. And along with her role dancing in the latest hot musical, she’s being wined and dined by an equally hot man – the wildly successful and well-connected Fabian Carrington. But one slip up and her dreams are shattered, and Robyn has to hobble back to the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield, and the life she hoped she’d escaped.

Moving back into her mum’s house with her recalcitrant teenage sister Sorrel, next door to her older sister Jess who’s fed up with picking up the slack, is not how Robyn pictured her year. But there’s more to come. Sorrel needs a new school, and the school needs a new drama teacher. Despite having vowed never to teach again, Robyn knows she has to support her sister.

So together Sorrel and Robyn vow to take on St Mede’s – home to jokers, tearaways and trouble-makers, but with a hidden heartbeat ready to be inspired. And who knows, the kids might have something to teach Robyn about life too…

My thoughts:

“A Class Act” is the first in a new romantic-comedy series by Julie Houston, and it’s a delightful start!

The novel follows Robyn Allen, who has dreamed of performing on London’s West End since childhood. Just as her dream becomes reality and she begins a relationship with the captivating Fabian Carrington, life takes an unexpected turn and Robyn is forced to return to the family home in Yorkshire.

Julie Houston brilliantly captures the complexities of family dynamics while balancing the challenges of love, personal dreams, and family obligations. Robyn’s journey from her musical theatre ambitions to navigating her family’s needs is both captivating and relatable. Each sister’s path unfolds with new relationships and challenges, creating a richly layered narrative.

I especially loved the way the book was brought to a conclusion, with some storylines left open. I’m eagerly anticipating the next instalment in this series. This was my first Julie Houston book, and I’m hooked!

A Class Act is the perfect weekend read—heartfelt, funny, and beautifully written. It is currently available on Kindle Unlimited or to buy from 99p < Mybook.to/ClassActSocial >

and more…

Julie Houston can be found online Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X

Boldwood Books are online at BoldwoodBooks.com and on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X.

I was involved in the #AClassActReadalong arranged by Boldwood Books and Julie Houston for the weekend of 7 and 8 September and I had so much fun. Boldwood Books supplied six questions for discussion (see below) and I did a lot of additional sharing on social media. It was fun and extra special to have the author chatting too!

All views expressed are my own. This review, or parts thereof, may also be published on my social medial channels – find me everywhere as momobookdiary – and book websites, such as Amazon, Goodreads, LoveReading, StoryGraph, and Waterstones. All links are correct at the time of publication.