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Izzy Bayliss
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The Girl I Was Before: A Gorgeously Cosy Heartwarming Romance to curl up with (Lily McDermott Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Izzy Bayliss (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 3,024 ratings
The perfect book to curl up with...

When Lily McDermott walks in to find Marc, her husband of just three months in bed with actress Nadia, life as she knows it is over. Lily thinks things can't get any worse when she sees photos of her husband and his new lover splashed across the glossy magazine pages, but when she loses her job too, she is at her lowest ebb and turns to baking to soothe her soul.

Wounded and broken she has to try and pick herself up again with the help of her best friend Frankie and with her encouragement, Lily decides to turn her hobby into a business and sets up Baked With Love. However whatever Lily does, it seems disaster soon ensues and when handsome stranger Sam comes to her rescue, Lily isn't quite ready to turn her back on her marriage. Can Lily risk opening her heart again or is she destined to allow Marc to shadow her life forever?

Romantic fiction at its very best, perfect for fans of Holly Martin & Jenny Colgan.

Praise for Izzy Bayliss:

'There’s just something about this authors writing skills that almost put you into a trance and I was quite happy to stay inside the book, losing myself into the story.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Perfect for the romantic comedy loving readers. I think this is going to be one to watch!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THESE BOOKS!!!' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazon Reviewer

'Page Turner ... Outstanding' - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazon Reviewer
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Lily McDermott Series
  2. Print length
    300 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    August 21, 2016
  6. File size
    1.7 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Izzy Bayliss lives in Ireland with her husband, children and their dog. A romantic at heart, she loves nothing more than cosying up in front of the fire with a good book. Her motto is that reality is over-rated and she is happiest staring into space and day-dreaming. You can find out more about Izzy Bayliss on http: //www.izzybayliss.com She can also be found hanging about on Facebook or Twitter @izzybaylis

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01H1T5I5Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blue Gate Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 21, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Lily McDermott Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 3,024 ratings

About the author

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Izzy Bayliss

Izzy Bayliss

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Izzy Bayliss lives in Ireland with her husband and young children. A romantic at heart, she loves nothing more than cosying up in front of the fire with a good book.

You can find her hanging about on Twitter @izzybayliss or on her website www.izzybayliss.com

She also writes as Caroline Finnerty.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
3,024 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book an easy holiday read with a nice story and wonderful characters. They describe it as warm and cozy, with one customer noting it's great for a cold winter's day.

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ReadabilityStory qualityCharacter developmentWarmth
51 customers mention "Readability"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the book delightful and easy to read, describing it as a feel-good story that makes a great holiday read.

"This was a fun and easy to read chick-lit. The characters were well developed and I liked the sense of place...." Read more

"...echo the words up above: This was a cozy (US spelling, readers), heartwarming book...." Read more

"This was an easy read...." Read more

"...There's so many great characters and the dialogue was seamlessly written I reach the end before I knew it...." Read more

26 customers mention "Story quality"22 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a great beginning with a nice premise, and one customer specifically mentions it as a feelgood rebound story.

"...This book had me crying and smiling because of the raw and realistic drama comes with thinking the grass is greener on the other side...." Read more

"A delightful story, wonderful characters, real people with real life struggles. Very enjoyable read!! The title resonated, and didn't disappoint, me." Read more

"...Not here! We are pushed in to an unbelievably shocking day! Well done I say." Read more

"...Relatable characters and descriptive scenery enhance the story line. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Happy reading! Recommend!" Read more

21 customers mention "Character development"18 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one noting how the characters are real people with real life struggles.

"This was a fun and easy to read chick-lit. The characters were well developed and I liked the sense of place...." Read more

"...But Lilly and Sam were the real deal. There's so many great characters and the dialogue was seamlessly written I reach the end before I knew it...." Read more

"Happened upon this and what a pleasant surprise. Well developed characters. A page turner for sure! I’m reading the next one." Read more

"A delightful story, wonderful characters, real people with real life struggles. Very enjoyable read!! The title resonated, and didn't disappoint, me." Read more

5 customers mention "Warmth"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book warm and cozy, with one mentioning it's great for a cold winter's day.

"...Great for a cold winter's day, lounging on vacation or hanging out at home. With a Happily Ever After." Read more

"I’ll echo the words up above: This was a cozy (US spelling, readers), heartwarming book...." Read more

"Nice and inspiring read. Cozy and warm with some very funny moments. Can't wait to read the next book from this author." Read more

"It was an easy read. Great for a lazy day and keeping cool." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • The Unfrozen Tundra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading chick-lit
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was a fun and easy to read chick-lit. The characters were well developed and I liked the sense of place. Great for a cold winter's day, lounging on vacation or hanging out at home. With a Happily Ever After.
    Helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Holding Boundaries make all the difference
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Open minded perspective changes things. Do no harm. Take no crap! Taking inventory of your life doesn’t come easy for Lily, but the choices she makes in the hard times change her life-for the better.
    Helpful
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  • Robyn A. Chumley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Book to Read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I’ll echo the words up above: This was a cozy (US spelling, readers), heartwarming book. Oh, it’s the same ol’ thing these authors do: Tell you the story the way you wanna hear it. But, right now, I love happy endings…and this one had a happy ending. Enjoy it!
    Helpful
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  • Pheadra Farah
    3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat silly
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This was an easy read. A somewhat silly story about a woman who arrives home three months after marrying her childhood sweetheart to find him in bed with a famous actress in their home. He is quite happy to move away from his wife and get swept up in the glitz of stardom with all it has to offer while his wife plods on with practically no money, loses her job and drinks herself stupid. Her character came across as childish and idiotic from the way she allowed herself to be treated as a doormat by her sister, to replacing her husband's face in every photo in their home with that of a famous actor, not to mention her ridiculous behaviour when buying underwear. But what annoyed me most was her not being remotely suspicious at her wedding when no one could find the groom for the first dance, and none of the press ever mentioning in the tabloids that the famous actress was shacking up with a married man. 3 stars at most.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Marshel1969
    5.0 out of 5 stars Winner Winner!!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a ROMCOM done right. I'm so happy there's a sequel. This was full of despair and deceit but Lily, finally got her beautiful from ashes along the way. This book had me crying and smiling because of the raw and realistic drama comes with thinking the grass is greener on the other side.

    Marc's character was welled developed for such a stinker. But Lilly and Sam were the real deal. There's so many great characters and the dialogue was seamlessly written I reach the end before I knew it.

    I'm from across the pond and think 4 years to wait to get a divorce even after cheating would be brutal to me. Here 6 weeks is too long to wait. Lol (You know I have a back story for that.🙂) but he said earlier on, I'll wait. xx Sam.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • i enjoy reading
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Happened upon this and what a pleasant surprise. Well developed characters. A page turner for sure! I’m reading the next one.
    Helpful
     Report
  • CLSB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Feelgood rebound story
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A delightful story, wonderful characters, real people with real life struggles. Very enjoyable read!! The title resonated, and didn't disappoint, me.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Susan Hawkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars the girl I was before
    Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I find when reading a novel in the beginning the author sets up the story in the first few chapters. Not here! We are pushed in to an unbelievably shocking day! Well done I say.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Nely
    5.0 out of 5 stars Feel good - perfect escape read
    Reviewed in Australia on December 14, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fun novel. Not a hard read and leaves you warm inside.
    Report
  • D Gummeson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 26, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this novel - super fun characters and a good plot. I am looking forward to more from this author!
    Report
  • Ivy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and adorable read.
    Reviewed in Germany on December 31, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Oh this was a good one! Not the fun read I expected but the authentic life crisis of a 32-year-old newlywed and soon-to-be divorcé and I was hooked from the beginning.

    Lily walked into her husband of 3 months banging a famous actress n their bed. She leaves angry and devastated to come back the other day and find out he left without leaving any trace. Now instead of being upset, she starts to worry...

    Lily truly is the loveliest, naive and dreamy heroine ever. She is annoying but relatable, insecure and full of self-doubt.
    I rooted for her from the beginning. My heart broke for her when she started blaming herself for the situation, I laughed with her when she lost her job and vandalises. And I hated her when she didn't stand up for herself but tolerated being shoved around and actually thought about getting back together with Marc.

    Her sister is the worst enemy you could think of in such a situation, with her perfectly organized life and saying all the wrong things.
    Her father is the loveliest, most caring and understanding parent out there and her best friend is the best thing that could happen in her situation.
    And then there's Sam. And Sam is a good one, occasionally even too good.

    The characters are all pretty great. As was the storyline.
    The story made me angry, it shocked me, it had me laughing and cringing but I enjoyed it.
    It's the sad but entertaining story of how her life breaks down and how she's trying to figure everything out.
    In the end it's a good book with all the issues and not just a cute story falling into place easily.
    Report
  • B.R. Maycock
    5.0 out of 5 stars sparkling and witty
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I have to admit I have no idea how this book was on my Kindle. Normally I vaguely or sharply remember a book blogger hosting a book, or I remember Amazon recommending it, but the origin of this witty beauty escapes me. And it is that! Not only that, the author lives in Ireland so yay!

    This is the story of Lily, who walks in (as you can see above) to find her husband of just three months in bed with an Oscar nominated actress. To make it worse he goes off radar after and doesn’t even attempt to fight to get her back. Izzy works as a call centre operative for a pregnancy test firm, which, come on, is ingenious(I was gutted when she was fired)! There are lots of funny moments in this book, and references to things that were right up my street, Cheryl, Home and Away, Kate Middleton, L K Bennett, Jennifer Aniston, and Your Face or Mine, to name a few(or maybe I’ve used them all, apologies if I have!)! There were also a heartbreaking family backstory and a lovely lovely dad who reminded me of the dad from Bridget Jones (sniff). I loved her friend Frankie and her sister, Clara was, um, interesting. My only thing at all with the book would be with the cover, which I don’t think puts across what a sparkling, bright read this is. Really enjoyable and I’m most definitely going to read ‘Baked With Love.’

    Rating: 4.5/5
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Light Chick novel
    Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Entertaining and easy to read. At times predictable but not disappointing.
    Report

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