I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Happy Singles Day is a fun book in anticipation of Valentine’s Day, celebrating loving oneself regardless of being with a partner, and in some ways, it works. While it is a romance, so the couple ends up together, I like that the story reinforces the idea that this isn’t the be-all, end-all.

I liked that Paige was very career oriented, and while I did want that fleshed out a bit more, I did enjoy her portrayal for the most part. Meanwhile, I struggled to warm up to Lucas. I get he was grieving, but he acted like such a jerk for a lot of the book. That contributed to killing the mood quite a bit.

I did like that there were some sweet supporting characters. Lucas’ four year old daughter is sweet, and the dogs, the reason I picked this up, had some cute scenes, even if I felt there should have been more page time dedicated to them (to be fair, it could be all about them, and I might still say that!)

I enjoyed this book, even if there were aspects that I didn’t care for. If you’re looking for something fun to read in anticipation of Valentine’s Day, I think you’ll enjoy it, perhaps even more than I did.

Very cute romcom with Hallmark vibes! The story is delightful, and the story of Paige and Lucas was adorable. I will definitely be reading more from Ann Marie Walker.

3 stars!

We’ve all made bookings that have ended up nothing like they looked on the internet, right?

So has Paige Parker.

The very first thing that resonated with me about Paige is that she’s a workaholic, much like myself, except I have zero self-control and won’t stop reading. She’s been working for years on her own as a business owner with no breaks or vacations. When she sees an advert for Singles Appreciation Day (SAD, right?), she takes it — and her assistant’s multiple hints — as a sign to get out and spend a week at a cute, quaint inn in North Carolina.

For the first vacation she’s taken in years, everything that can go wrong does go wrong. No one mentioned that cars weren’t allowed on the island, the inn looks nothing like it did online, the innkeeper is mean and on top of that, a storm strands her here until she can finally catch the ferry.

Lucas Croft, on the other hand, was not prepared for any renters. The inn was his and his late wife’s dream, and in the two years she’s been gone, the inn has become one stiff wind away from inhabitable by guests. One meddling sister later, he’s got an uptight businesswoman on his hands, in his space, in the space his late wife decorated.

This is a pure got-off-on-the-wrong-foot trope, at its finest. It’s puppies stuck in a storm that bring them together, and in the week that Paige spends on the island, she loses some of her ice, and forms bonds with Lucas’ sister and daughter. Bonds she didn’t know she could form — kids are not her forte.

Maddie, an almost-five-year-old legend, made this book so much more enjoyable, because kids will say the weirdest things. I love how the author showed that although kids might not understand some things, they pick up on more things than we think.

There was also the vulnerability between the two characters, as much as the plot could afford them. I was so glad that the ending didn’t turn out to be the female protagonist going back on her word!

While I did think that multiple plot points were rushed, including the end, there was an air of fantasy to this story that kept me out of my head for the evening. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed that. I definitely would've liked to get to know the other characters some more, because I felt that I didn't really know Paige and Lucas as much as I wanted to know them.

All in all, cute read for an afternoon, curled up on a back porch!

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for providing this book to me in exchange for an honest review!

This very charming story is set in a dilapidated oceanside bed and breakfast -- which actually adds to the enjoyment of the story. It got that way because the proprietor, Lucas, lost his beloved wife. It had been their dream to run the place and grow old together there. Lucas' sister intervenes and advertises a room for rent, which is immediately booked by Paige, a hard charging, successful single woman who has decided she needs a break. In fact, she'll use the trip to celebrate "Singles Day," which if it hasn't really been invented yet, should. Her and Lucas start off very badly, but soon grow to love one another. Really enjoyed this.

Paige and Lucas have wonderful chemistry from the start even though they start off on a bad foot. Paige come for a break - vacation after years but comes to a broken down B and B that Lucas hasn't worked on for year after his wife dies. This book is just so adorable with puppies, cute kids, funny sister, and TMT! Lucas is the grumpy dude that turns into lovable man! There is also serious conversations that they solve to get that HEA.

This was my first book by this author and really enjoyed it! I looked forward to more!

4 stars
2 steam (all closed door)

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐💫

This was a cute, closed door romance that would be a perfect Hallmark movie.

I enjoyed seeing Paige and Lucas' relationship develop throughout her stay at his B&B. They both were healing from previous relationships, and it was nice to see them open up to each other as they realized they were ready to move on.

This was definitely insta-love and I wasn't sure how they were going to make their relationship work beyond vacation, but it had a cute ending.

To be completely honest, I didn’t love the first few chapters of this book and I was a little bit reluctant to continue but I’m glad I did because I ended up really enjoying it!

I loved the characters and I felt like I was along for the ride of Paige’s vacation mishaps. It was just the book I needed during this time of high stress. It was fun and kept my attention throughout the book. I thought there were a few issues with the book but overall, it was a really good read and I recommend checking it out!

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Boy, is this book a tease.

No, for real--some books are destined to be open door, and this was one of them. Almost got whiplash from trying to discern whether some pages accidentally been omitted from my ARC copy. There is nothing wrong with closed door books--makes perfect sense in a Hallmark-style read, sweet Christmas romance, or where the characters logically get together after the book's conclusion. I love those books. But this book is NOT those books. It spends the first five pages talking about orgasms, and spends much of the book discussing various body parts of the main characters with a sexual tension so tense it could cut glass. And then nothing. Hardly a fade to black, even, just a complete door slam. It was such a confusing contrast to the rest of the book.

And the rest of the book was good--great, even. I loved the forced proximity concept of our heroine staying at the dilapidated inn with the widowed single dad. Maddie (his daughter) was a delight, and there were some adorable, sweet, and sexy moments. This may have been a five start read for me if not for the above. But the time skip made it feel disjointed. I honestly think it would have been a better book, and we would have understood the characters better--especially Paige's reaction to the morning after--if it had been shown. I don't know if it was the author's choice/comfort level or the editor's, but it was an odd one. People looking for a closed-door, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, sweet but not too sweet should still enjoy this one, as what was shown was beautifully written.

I think I'd probably read something else by the author, assuming that the next book is more balanced (in terms of the tension with what is shown)--and tipping the scales in EITHER direction would be fine with me.

I really couldn't decide on a rating for this one--torn somewhere between 3 stars-5/10 and 4 stars-6/10. I've decided to round up to four stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourcebooksCasa for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Paige sets off on her holiday to celebrate Singles Day, and from the moment she steps off the boat things start to go wrong. Stuck on the island with reluctant host Lucas, she tries to make the best of the situation. As they spend more time together, will it be a case of opposites attract or is Lucas not ready to move on?

A great read, and I liked how it was told from both of their points of view. Also, Maddie was a great character.

I thought this was a cute, light hearted story! I enjoyed the progression of Lucas and Paige's relationship, especially Lucas who was coping with falling in love for the second time around. It was a quick read for anyone who enjoys romance novels as well as someone who enjoys a main character who may seem out there or energetic but also learns to step back and enjoy what's around her.

This book was a delightful surprise that left me with a smile on my face!

Paige Parker has been all business since a messy break up with her ex fiancé five years ago. Not only did she lose her fiancé, but her job too. In order to take back control in her life, the hyper organized Paige started her own, now very successful professional organizing business.

All is well until her BF/ assistant plants the seed that she needs a vacationing Singles Day ( the day after Valentines Day) is the perfect time to get away. Inspired, she books a getaway to the picturesque beaches of North Carolina. Too bad February in NC isn’t really beach and tourist season!

Paige’s vacation goes from bad to worse when she finally arrives at the B&B and finds out is hasn’t been operating in years and the host isn’t keen on starting anytime soon! With a story baring down on them, Paige and the reluctant B&B operator, Lucas are stuck with each other… and soon its not just the lightening creating sparks!

Lucas and Paige are complete opposites, but exactly what the other needs, as they start working together and opening up to each other they find that a week is just not enough time together. Can they find a way to bridge the gap between her business in Chicago and his B&B in North Carolina?

This was a fun read! I loved the opposites attract chemistry between Lucas and Paige. The side characters of Paige’s assistant and Lucas’s sister and daughter really added to the fun and quirkiness of the book.

This light read was just what I needed last week to boost my mood, I highly recommend this book to people looking for a feel good romance that includes a little laughter!

Happy Singles Day by Ann Marie Walker is scheduled to release January 19th, 2021.

Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for my review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#HappySInglesDay #AnnMarieWalker #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

Such lovely rom-com! I really liked all the enemies-to-lovers vibes in the beginning. I found it really cute all the swooning they had on each other.

Even though it was some kind of instalove, I enjoyed the romance. First impressions in the past. Lucas and Paige were alike in matters of the heart. And their chemistry... *chef's kiss*

I really loved Lucas' relationship with his little girl. She's so cute and funny. Also liked the connection she had with Paige. Sophie is a good one and it got me wishing for her happy ending too.

3.5 stars
Super quick and cute read!
Put two people together who are cynical about love and watch what happens next.
This story wastes no time getting started, which means there’s a lot of telling and not a lot of showing.
But it was a fun and sweet read! This has it all! Opposites attract, hate to love, stuck with each other/ forced proximity, single parent, etc.
It definitely falls prey to instalove and the “not like other girls trope”, but I’ll ignore it.
I also liked how it had dual perspectives. I feel that always helps me get into the romance more.
This would be good for someone who prefers romance books that are more on the more modest side of things.
I enjoyed this little romance!

Paige Parker is a professional organizer and a bit of a perfectionist. After focusing on building her Chicago-based career and business for several years, Paige books a quaint vacation on a whim. She’s packing her bags for Aurelia, North Carolina, where she plans to celebrate SAD (Singles Awareness Day), contentedly solo. ⁠
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When Paige shows up at the bed and breakfast, it’s not quite as picturesque as its online presence boasts. Its owner-Lucas Croft-- certainly doesn’t ooze southern hospitality either. When a storm forces the pair together, tensions run high. Will either let their guard down enough to make room for their obvious connection?⁠
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Highlights:⁠
Aurelia, North Carolina is a cool setting. It sounds like the cutest, coziest coastal village. A getaway at a bed and breakfast there sounds heavenly. (Well, maybe once they expanded the menu beyond frozen pizza haha.) The bookstore in an old fire station was also such a cool concept.⁠
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A puppy rescue mission?! Paige and Lucas really bond over the pups and their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-esque beginnings. This showed a softer, compassionate side for each of the characters.⁠
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Maddie and Sophie were delightful secondary characters. I also LOVED Paige’s assistant and friend, Sammy. Her convos with him were so fun.⁠
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Overall, it’s a short and sweet read. If I could critique anything, it would be that I wanted more. More of the idyllic setting, more steam, and more of even Maddie and Sophie. I feel like I got a good taste of Ann Marie Walker’s style and I’ll not only pick up follow-up books in this series, but I’m definitely interested in checking out some of her backlist titles. She was gracious enough to chat with @lovearctually this week and she was so sweet and relatable! Thanks to Sourcebooks and Netgalley for an earc. Happy Singles Day is out January 19th!⁠
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Ooo noooo.... I am so disappoited. I really wanted to love this. And the begining was soo good, but than all was just rushed.
I love the dog resuce. And love there little romance game will they/ won't they... But then, all with the grandparents and clean up. And then she leaves... Nooo.

This was on my TBR list, and I was really exated. But this was a let down...

Only 3 stars.

I’m sad to say that this one was not for me. Immediately on page 1 there is a description of an overweight woman with a cat as the spokesperson for a dating service. As if, over weight women are the only ones desperate enough to use a dating service. It really put me off. After that it was consistently pretty dull and ordinary. There was also ableism displayed in the improper usage of OCD.

Ever come a cross a book that just takes you completely by surprise? You know you will enjoy it based off the description, but you are shocked just how much you enjoy it when you are done? Happy Singles Day was one of those books for me. It was so completely unexpectedly delightful. Between the characters and the story and the setting I was done for. It hit all the check marks of a story I love with one shortcoming…it was too short.

Happy Singles Day is the story of Paige Parker, a professional organizer. Paige is an obsessive worker and hardly ever takes any time off. That is until her assistant convinces her she needs a break. So Paige books a room at Bed and Breakfast, based off an online ad, to celebrate Single’s Day. But when Paige arrives nothing is at it looked online and the man that is running the inn, Lucas Croft, is anything but charming. Stuck on an island in the middle of winter with a person neither want to be around. Lucas and Paige end up with a connection neither one of them expected or wanted.

I found Happy Singles Day to be delightfully adorable. I loved the dynamic between Paige and Lucas. He was so very very grumpy and put off by people but she managed to bring out the best in him. And somehow Lucas managed to get Paige to relax. I found the two of them to be charming together in a huge opposites attract kind of way. They just worked well together. And Lucas’ daughter was adorable.

In the end, Happy Singles Day was what I needed in a book at the time I read it. It had a lot of heart in a quick story. It was romance/sexy times light but it seemed fitting for the book. I do wish it were longer to flush out some stuff more, but all in all it was a solid, enjoyable read in a year when it is needed most.

3.5 stars
this was really cute! this book was what would've been if Leap Year, with Amy Adams, was a Hallmark movie. i really enjoyed it, it was a fast read, predictable and all, but cute.

I really enjoyed this novel by Ann Marie Walker! I loved the main characters Paige and Lucus and thought that their story was really cute and written so wonderfully. A beautiful story of new beginnings and newfound love, this one if for all who love a good contemporary romance read! 💕
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A big thank you to Netgalley and Source Books Casablanca for this advanced digital copy to read and review! Happy Singles Day is available on 19 JAN✨

Happy Single's Day by Ann Marie Walker was a cute romance that I was able to finish pretty quickly. When Paige takes her first vacation in years, she selects an inn on an island off the Carolinas to celebrate being single. However, when she arrives, the inn is not as described and looks a bit worse for wear. Lucas is not prepared for guests and hosting Paige is the last thing he wants to do. When a storm sticks to two of them together at the inn, they just may learn that they are exactly what the other needs. I have seen this book everywhere and for me it was just ok. It was very predictable and I felt the pacing of the story went from very slow to really quick. I did love the dog rescue in the middle though! If you are looking for a quick, cute, romance than this would definitely fit! Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebooks for the advanced copy. Happy Single's Day comes out Jan 19th.