Everyone thinks Amy is joking when she swaps her job at a London city vets for life in the moorland village of Grassdale, but this girl has never shied away from a challenge…
From looking after bunnies and guinea pigs, her day job is now all about caring for sheep, horses and more often than not, their grumpy owners.
Can this city girl cut it on the Dales?
Shying away from the village’s residents, Amy finds her solace running across the fells alone – it’s a far cry from running round urban streets – but when she falls on the trail one day, will she let obnoxious fellow vet (and keen runner), Damian, come to her rescue?
As the countdown to the annual fell race gets underway, the rivalry mounts. Can these two learn to play on the same team, or will their competitiveness push them over the edge?
Vet There Be Love by Isla Green is published by HarperNorth on 23 April 2023. You can find out more about the book on Amazon, Goodreads and StoryGraph. With thanks to NetGalley and HarperNorth for providing an advance review copy of this novel.
Isla Green is the pseudonym of Barbara Fox, who is best known for her memoir writing. Her debut work, Bedpans & Bobby Socks, was inspired by letters her mother wrote during her travels in 1950s America. Originally from Newcastle and now based in the south east, Vet There Be Love marks her first foray into fiction – and what a lovely one it is.
🔗 Bedpans & Bobby Socks blog
Review
Vet There Be Love by Isla Green completely wrapped me up in its world – and honestly, I didn’t want to leave. I loved this book. I felt myself slowing down into Amy’s new life, breathing in the fresh air of Grassdale, and quietly rooting for her as she tried to figure out where she belonged. The writing is just so lovely – soft, descriptive, and completely immersive. The setting in particular was described so perfectly that more than once I caught myself thinking, could I just get in the car and go and find this place for myself?
Amy really got to me. There’s something incredibly emotional about watching someone start over, especially when they’re doing it a little defensively – keeping herself at arm’s length from everything and everyone around her. I felt that push and pull in her so strongly. Part of me just wanted to gently nudge her towards the village, to let people in, to see what was right in front of her… but at the same time, I completely understood why she held back. That kind of change isn’t easy, and I think that’s what made her feel so real.
And then there are those quieter moments – some of my absolute favourites. Amy settling into her new home, enjoying her morning cuppa, the breeze in the air, birds chattering away, a squirrel keeping her company… it all felt so peaceful, so grounding. Those scenes weren’t just descriptions – they were feelings, and I was right there with her.
I also loved the way the story introduced Damian – let’s just say their first meeting isn’t exactly smooth! It made me smile, and it added such a natural spark to the story without giving anything away. From that moment, I had a little feeling that there might be more beneath the surface… and I really enjoyed seeing how that energy wove through the book.
What I loved most, though, is how this story balances that gentle hint of romance with something deeper – finding your place, allowing yourself to belong, and learning that sometimes the life you didn’t plan can turn out to be exactly what you need. This feels like such a special debut, and I genuinely hope there’s more to come from Isla Green. I would go back to Grassdale in a heartbeat—no hesitation.
A Note from the Blogger… 🐑💛
One line in particular really made me smile:
“Amy knew that most farmers planned their lambing, their busiest time of the year, to take place over a four-week period. Extra staff might need to be booked, as someone was required in the lambing shed day and night, so organisation was key.”
This stood out to me because I’ve recently become a bit obsessed with following Dalscone Farm online and their 24/7 live streams from the lambing and kidding sheds.
I’ve genuinely been glued to my laptop watching it all unfold – so much so that my reading has taken a bit of a back seat this month! There’s just something incredibly calming about watching the newborn lambs and kids finding their feet (literally). It’s become a little moment of peace in my day and has done wonders for my mental health.
So seeing that side of farming reflected in the story made it feel even more real to me – and gave me an extra little connection to Amy’s world. Safe to say, I’m fully invested in lambing season this year… and books and lamb cams might be competing for my attention right now!
#VetThereBeLove #IslaGreen
#HarperNorth #NetGalley
See About My Reviews and Review FAQ for full star rating explanations and review guidelines. This review may also appear on my social media channels and selected book platforms. All links were correct at the time of publication. DISCLOSURE: I received a review copy of this book from HarperNorth (A Harper Collins UK company) via NetGalley. As always, my thoughts are honest and my own. This review is original content. Please credit and link back if you wish to quote.
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