I write romantic comedies as both

Jennifer Joyce and Ashley Reece.

Find me on Instagram:

@writer_jenn | @ashleyreecewrites

My latest book, A Million Meet Cutes is out now.

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A Million Meet Cutes: What Inspired The Book?

 

I’m a huge fan of romantic comedies, both in book and film form, and I love a meet-cute, where the love interests meet for the first time in a funny, charming or chaotic way (Hugh Grant chucking orange juice down Julia Robert’s T-shirt in Notting Hill or Matthew Perry jumping the queue for the toilets in front of Salma Hayek in Fools Rush In, for example). I’ve written meet-cutes into my books before (Cleo mistaking James as a burglar in her grandmother’s house in The Grown Up To-Do List or Hugo catching Melody baby-talking his dog outside the fish and chip shop in The Little Bed & Breakfast by the Sea) but what if I really leaned into the whole meet-cute thing?

I'm also a massive fan of romcoms with a dash of magic; 13 Going on 30 and When We First Met are my favourites in film, and I’ve also sprinkled some magic into my own books – Everything Changes But You, The Mince Pie Mix-Up, The 12 Christmas of You & Me, The Christmas Cupid, Our Last Summer and A Magical New Year’s Kiss all have time travel or wishes coming true – and I wondered what would happen if I combined my love of meet-cutes and magic?

What if the heroine was also a massive romcom fan and, after seeing so many meet-cutes on screen, she wished for one of her own?

And what if that wish to meet-cute came true?

If you’ve read any of my magical realism stories, you’ll know that my characters should always be careful what they wish for, because it is never, ever plain-sailing for them (my brain just naturally gravitates towards making these things bad for them, I’m afraid). So, what would happen if our heroine had not one meet-cute but a whole bunch? Meet-cute after meet-cute after meet-cute, until she’s ready to tear her hair out? Fun, yes? I think so (though maybe not for our poor heroine). The idea amused me and I went with it, thinking up all the possible meet-cutes to throw at my main character, and that is how the idea of A Million Meet Cutes was born.

A Million Meet Cutes is out now

Christina has always wanted her movie-perfect meet cute. Surely this would mean he was The One?

So she is shocked and amazed when one day she has very own meet-cute - sadly, the guy is most definitely NOT The One.

Over the weeks that follow, Christina finds herself encountering meet-cutes everywhere she goes - but she is still single. Plus, she's becoming fed up of getting tangled in dog leads (even if the dog owner is extremely handsome) and her car breaking down (even if the recovery guy is extremely handsome). Even when she is on a date, she has another meet-cute with a different guy.

What does it all mean and is this the way to find the perfect guy, or have her beloved romcom movies been lying to her all this time?

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Kobo

The Grown Up To Do List: What Inspired The Book?

Our Last Summer: What Inspired The Book?

The Christmas Cupid: What Inspired The Book?

A Million Meet Cutes: Meet Christina

 

A Million Meet Cutes is out now and I thought I'd give you a quick intro to its main character, Christina.

Christina Jelly is the manager of a cafe bar, Rollerz, where she works with her best friend, Rhys. She loves watching romcoms with her flatmate, Jonah, but she doesn't have much romance in her own life: she's been single for a year after the end of her long-term relationship.

But Christina is ready for the kind of romance she sees on screen. She wishes she could meet-cute and find The One and live happily ever after.

But life is never that simple, is it?

(Not in my books, anyway *cue evil laughter*)

Christina's wish comes true: she has her very own movie-style meet-cute, and she ends up on the first date she's had in years. But it does not go well.

But then she has another meet-cute. Maybe he will be The One?

But then Christina has another meet-cute. And another - and another. She has meet-cute after meet-cute but none of them are The One.

What is going on? Will these meet-cutes ever stop? And will she eventually find The One?

A Million Meet Cutes is out now

Christina has always wanted her movie-perfect meet cute. Surely this would mean he was The One?

So she is shocked and amazed when one day she has very own meet-cute - sadly, the guy is most definitely NOT The One.

Over the weeks that follow, Christina finds herself encountering meet-cutes everywhere she goes - but she is still single. Plus, she's becoming fed up of getting tangled in dog leads (even if the dog owner is extremely handsome) and her car breaking down (even if the recovery guy is extremely handsome). Even when she is on a date, she has another meet-cute with a different guy.

What does it all mean and is this the way to find the perfect guy, or have her beloved romcom movies been lying to her all this time?

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Kobo

Publication Day: A Million Meet Cutes

 

It's Publication Day for my new book, A Million Meet Cutes

A while ago I shared that my next book would be published under a new name, and today I'm delighted that A Million Meet Cutes by my alter ego, Ashley Reece is now out!

I love a meet cute, and I love a wish gone horribly wrong, so I decided to merge the two for my poor heroine. Christina also loves a meet cute and wishes she could meet cute and find The One. Except she doesn't have one meet cute. She has them all. It's meet cute after meet cute until she can no longer walk down the street without tripping over a paving stone and falling into the arms of a handsome stranger.

Fun, yes?

Maybe not for Christina, but I had a lot of fun creating the kinds of meet cutes I love watching in romcoms and I hope you enjoy reading Christina's (mis)adventure just as much! If you do read the book, I'd love to hear what you thought. You can find me on social media using the buttons on the right or, if you want to make me really, really happy, you could leave a little review on Amazon :)

Christina has always wanted her movie-perfect meet cute. Surely this would mean he was The One?

So she is shocked and amazed when one day she has very own meet-cute - sadly, the guy is most definitely NOT The One.

Over the weeks that follow, Christina finds herself encountering meet-cutes everywhere she goes - but she is still single. Plus, she's becoming fed up of getting tangled in dog leads (even if the dog owner is extremely handsome) and her car breaking down (even if the recovery guy is extremely handsome). Even when she is on a date, she has another meet-cute with a different guy.

What does it all mean and is this the way to find the perfect guy, or have her beloved romcom movies been lying to her all this time?

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Kobo

The Fairytale Effect: Meet The Characters

 

The Fairytale Effect has recently been republished (it was previously The Wedding That Changed Everything) so I thought I would reintroduce you to its characters:

History teacher Emily Atkinson has given up on men. She's been single for a year, and she likes it like that. If only her best friend, Alice could understand and stop setting her up on blind dates!

When Alice asks Emily to accompany her to her sister's wedding, she reluctantly agrees. She's keen to stay at Durban Castle and take in its rich history, but she knows Alice will try to set her up with anything in a pair of trousers.

But Alice offers a deal: come to the wedding and give any potential love matches a chance and Alice will stop trying to match her up - for good.

Alice and Emily have been housemates since university, but Alice has been sketchy about the details of her family's castle. She hasn't visited Durban Castle for over a decade, but she has no choice but to return when her sister holds her week-long wedding celebrations there.

Durban Castle holds some not-so-fond memories for Alice and it means spending a week with her wicked stepmother who doesn't seem to want Alice to be happy, but she has Emily for support, as well as her step-cousin, Archie. Can she survive the week AND find Emily's Prince Charming?

Growing up, Archie was close to Alice and her sister, Carolyn, but they've lost touch over the last few years. As they're reunited, Alice realises her step-cousin could be the perfect match for Emily. But Emily is too stubborn for her own good at times and Alice only has one week to prove Archie is her Prince Charming...

Emily is less than impressed when she meets Durban Castle's gardener, Tom. Although he grew up with Alice and her sister, he's distanced himself from the pair. Alice was so excited to see him after all these years, but is too late to salvage their friendship?

Emily doesn’t believe in happily ever afters.

She doesn’t even believe in getting past a third date without dumping the guy (and he’s lucky to get past date one, to be honest).

Emily’s aversion to dating is driving her best friend crazy, so when they’re both invited to a lavish, week-long wedding at a castle, Alice makes Emily a deal: allow Alice to introduce her to eligible men during their stay (and actually give the guys half a chance) and she’ll back off trying to get Emily to find The One forevermore.

One week.

A fairytale castle.

A whole lot of potential for love.

But Emily won’t find it… right?

Amazon UK | Amazon US

The Fairytale Effect: Five Fun Facts

The Accidental Life Swap: Meet The Characters

The Single Mums' Picnic Club: Meet The Characters

The Fairytale Effect: Fun Facts

 

Fancy a peek behind-the-scenes of The Fairytale Effect? I've put together a few fun facts about the book, from the working title to little connections between Emily's story and some of my other books.

Emily doesn’t believe in happily ever afters.

She doesn’t even believe in getting past a third date without dumping the guy (and he’s lucky to get past date one, to be honest).

Emily’s aversion to dating is driving her best friend crazy, so when they’re both invited to a lavish, week-long wedding at a castle, Alice makes Emily a deal: allow Alice to introduce her to eligible men during their stay (and actually give the guys half a chance) and she’ll back off trying to get Emily to find The One forevermore.

One week.

A fairytale castle.

A whole lot of potential for love.

But Emily won’t find it… right?

Amazon UK | Amazon US

A Magical New Year's Kiss: Five Fun Connections

The Grown Up To-Do List: Five Fun Facts

Our Last Summer: Ten Fun Facts

Book News: A Book Makeover

 

The Wedding That Changed Everything has had a bit of TLC and now has a new cover - and a new name.

Presenting The Fairytale Effect

The book was published back in 2018 so she's had a little makeover, with a fresh cover and a sort of new title, because The Fairytale Effect was her working title!

What do you think?

The book is available as a paperback for the first time, as well as its usual ebook, and you can read it for free as part of Kindle Unlimited.

Emily doesn’t believe in happily ever afters.

She doesn’t even believe in getting past a third date without dumping the guy (and he’s lucky to get past date one, to be honest).

Emily’s aversion to dating is driving her best friend crazy, so when they’re both invited to a lavish, week-long wedding at a castle, Alice makes Emily a deal: allow Alice to introduce her to eligible men during their stay (and actually give the guys half a chance) and she’ll back off trying to get Emily to find The One forevermore.

One week.

A fairytale castle.

A whole lot of potential for love.

But Emily won’t find it… right?

Amazon UK | Amazon US