Wild artistic twice divorced. Annabelle meets anxiety ridden self imposed her it millionaire. What on earth could go wrong? Or what could go right? As a huge fan of Jenn McKinlay her books just keep getting better and better.

This was 100% a case of “the cover made me do it.” There’s no denying I’m a sucker for a cartoony cover and with the three-day weekend upon me I jumped all over this one and dreams of sitting poolside (while it was 40 degrees and pouring down rain where I live). Unfortunately, Wait for It fits the 2 Star “It Was Okay” rating to a tee.

Freelancer Annabelle takes a six month position as the creative director for her best friend’s company after dodging a proposal from her (second) ex-husband. Relocating from the frigid Boston winter to Phoenix is just the change of scenery she might be looking for. But getting used to corporate dynamics when she’s been self-employed for so long and getting used to being a tenant of a curmudgeonly landlord with an endless list of rules has her thinking this will definitely be a six months and out stint. Until she actually meets said landlord and the sparks fly.

Okay, this was a quick read, but there are just some things that didn’t work for me:

1. The nickname “Goddess”????

Yeah, never.

2. The work stuff and smarmy Carson was good reading, but JFC Annabelle. You are nearly 30 and can’t get your ass to work on time. Like EVER????

That is probably my biggest pet peeve about office life. Set your alarm, get your ass out of bed and get to work. Yeah once in a while there might be an accident on the highway the delays your commute, but the other 99.99999% of the time? You are simply an asshole who gives zero shit about taking advantage of your co-workers.

3. WARNING – THIS ONE IS SPOILSIE. You have been married TWICE at 28 and you’re going to say yes to a proposal to a guy you pretty much just banged for a couple of months and don’t really know all that way . . . .

Yeah, good luck with that.

I know people are into the happily ever, but I am a reader who is perfectly okay with a “happily for now.” I’m pretty sure I have a cozy mystery by this author sitting in one of my stacks of shame of unread ARCs. I have a feeling that will be a better fit for me.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

Another amazing Jenn McKinlay book! They are such great summer reads with some depth to them. I loved reading about Annabelle's growth and journey and how her and Nick met and came to be. it was a sweet love story that had alot of depth to it. 4/5

I loved this book! After another failed relationship, Annabelle relocates to Phoenix to work for her best friend. She is hopeful a change of scenery will help her make some changes in her life. As a favor to a friend, Nick Daire allows Annabelle to live in his guest house. Nick is retired from his career after a life altering medical situation. he is dealing with the aftermath of his physical ailments which are now causing him immense emotional distress. As he an Annabelle meet and connect, they form an unlikely partnership. Throughout their time together, Nick and Annabelle realize the importance of emotional health. The effects a healthy mind can have on physical wellness, relationships, and just life in general is paramount. I loved the dynamic between Nick and Annabelle. It was just enough humor, love, romance, and friendship. I also thought McKinlay handled the issues of anxiety and PTSD with great care and concern. It's not often we read about the ways anxiety can have a physical impact on someone, but she wrote about it candidly and authentically. Despite the heavy subject matter, Wait For It included many moments of comic relief (the passing of the ring.... yikes!) ;-)
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!! Wait For It stars Annabelle Martin, twice divorced before 30, former freelance graphic designer in Boston, now in Creative Director at her best friend's company in Phoenix. She's using this move as a trial period to reset her life after an impulsive proposal from her first ex-husband. Annabelle is a perfectly flawed character. I feel like her flaws are shared with plenty of people, especially me. I really connected with her desire to smother people in love. In comes Nick Daire, her reclusive landlord, makes her smothering tendencies come out in full force. This was just a completely lovely book from start to finish. Cannot recommend it enough!

I seem to be a sucker for a good sunshine/grump trope, and I am so happy to say that Jenn McKinlay definitely delivered! This book was delightful and charming, and I couldn't help but enjoy Annabelle and Nick. Let's forget the fact that Annabelle's best friend refers to her as "Belly"... minus that, I didn't really have any issues with this book. It was the perfect palate cleanser, and it definitely helped me break out of my reading slump. There is a lot of lessons to be learned through both Nick and Annabelle's characters. In some ways, this book reminded me of Me Before You- without the tragic ending. I also really the subplots, between Nick's sister showing up and the dreadful coworker out for Annabelle and her job. Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read this book ahead of time. I will be posting my full review on my bookstagram page a little closer to its August publishing date.

This book was very refreshing. I knew I wanted to read it after I stumbled upon her other book, Paris Is Always A Good Idea (that one is great too if you're looking for more current, wonderful reads). I liked that we weren't meeting the same, typical main characters as usual rom-com reads; these characters had more flaws (physically/emotionally/mentally) and it made me care about them even more. It added a nice layer to a contemporary romance book.

Annabelle moves to Phoenix to work for her friend who finds her a rental home. Her landlord is retired and based on his cranky rules, Annabelle thinks he is an old man. Annabelle pushes her luck and throws a party using the off limit pool and is summoned to meet her landlord. Nick surprisingly is the same age as Annabelle and had a stroke that has him dependent on a wheelchair. As they slowly get to know each other, Annabelle helps him become less reclusive and Nick helps her with her job and they start to fall for each other.

I absolutely loved this super cute summer read. The characters had so much more to them than meets the eye. It was definitely a quick read for me. I would love to read more about the characters.

Wait for It is a charming rom-com about two people trying to navigate love, while also trying to reconcile their past and how that past has played a role in who/how they are now.

I thought this was a really engaging read. There was a lot to it. I liked the characters, main and supporting. Annabelle is almost my exact opposite, so it’s interesting to be in the mind of extrovert who works on their own time and tries to make everyone like her. Nick is kinda a jerk, but he acknowledges it and reasons why he is one – but doesn’t really need to be. I love Arizona and the author captured its’ beauty and lure. On that note, I don’t think I would leave a door open for a cat to go in and out… not only would I be worried about burglars, but other wild varmints or (eek – even worse) scorpions.

A few of the drawbacks to the novel, how quickly Annabelle and Nick hooked up. What? It was like 2 weeks or less after they had met… and seemed rather shallow, not sure what she was “helping” him with. Then in a few weeks after that, they are already mad at each other (but also madly in love). I guess when you know you know – because you fit together so perfect. It’s a rom-com, what can I say? Cheesy at times. The other drawback was that I had a hard time when it shifted to Nick’s point of view. I sometimes thought I was still in Annabelle’s head, especially if they were in the same room as each other. I caught myself reading in her voice more often. Even so, still really enjoyed the book! Had me laughing many times – Annabelle’s mental dialogue was really funny! I will definitely pick up other books by this author. I really enjoyed her style and the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. Good consideration for a book club. Complex characters, environmental innovation, and jerky co-workers.

I loved this book more than I expected. It started like an entertaining, sweet rom-com but as I start knowing more about the characters and back stories, I easily connect with both of them. And the tone of the book got more serious with traumatic experiences, sensitive issues like stroke, drug addiction, abuse at work etc.

The characters were so easy to love: Both of them made so many mistakes in their lives, suffering from loss, personal traumas and but now both of them confront their fears to start over!

It’s lovely sunshine meets the grump troupe with enemies to lovers premise.

Annabella Martin is definition of ball of fire meets pocketful of sunshine. She is vivid, bold, reckless, risk taker, a brilliant artist. But she made a few bad choices in her personal life including two marriages ended with divorce. At age 28, she’s freelancer graphic designer, having a friends with benefits relationship with her ex Jeremy but the same day she celebrates her divorce at their unanniversary dinner, she gets job offer from her best friend Sophia who founded graphic design studio with her husband Miguel, living in Phoenix. She wants her to become their creative director. This means she has to love from Boston to start fresh. The sudden offer startles her and she tells Sophia she’ll think about it!

When her ex decides to propose at their un-anniversary dinner, for shutting him up she blurts out she accepted the job offer but she also accidentally swallows diamond ring he hid in her champagne flute. Sorry Annabella! This was literally sh*tty start for your journey!

When she rents a guest house at a mansion of retired business mogul Nick Daire, she gets intrigued by the mysterious man who writes daily notes to her about the restrictions about the house. She assumes she’s living at the same place with old, unhappy curmudgeon which challenges her more to meet him!

But Nick Daire is not the only challenge in her life. Mansplaining Carson who is also Miguel’s best friend is after her job, watching her like hawk, trying to find her mistakes to humiliate her in front of the coworkers.

But Annabella has no intention to get scared so easily. She is adamant to do whatever it takes to keep her job and confront with her landlord.

But Nick Daire is not who she thinks. He’s only 36, nearly one year ago he had cerebrovascular accident which means he had a stroke which changed his life completely. Residual damage from the stoke impeded his ability to walk or think. For the six months he picked himself off the floor, using his wheelchair. And now he’s still suffering from panic attacks , scaring to have another stroke, trapped in his own house. His only connections are his trainer Jackson he keeps calling brother and his caretaker couple.

His estranged sister’s coming back to his life after 20 years they got separated by foster parents startles him just like her nosy, goddess new tenant who writes witty notes to him and leaves at his door!

Annabella’s insistence to interfere his life caught him off guard but he realizes he cannot resist her charms. He never had relationship more than three months and now when he is emotionally and physically restrained, can he have a chance to form an appropriate relationship with her?

Could they help each other to face their inner fears?

At first less connection of MCs get me a little bothered. Nearly the second half of the book, they didn’t have face to face contact. But this story is more than romance. It is about inner growth, learning to change, facing your inner demons. I liked the sarcastic, entertaining tone and emotional depth of author’s writing. I liked both MCs and Jackson was amazing supporting character! A best bro you can have!

I was planning to give 4 stars but Nick’s back story and his emotional inner fight affected me more than I expected so I’m rounding up 4.5 stars to 5! Yes, I loved this book so much!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Jenn McKinlay is a go-to author for me and I was so excited when I got approved for an ARC of it. What a funny, sweet romp! Jenn always delievers!

How does Jenn McKinlay do it? This incredible story is about Chelsea's sister, Annabelle, who we met in Paris is Always a Good Idea. Annabelle who has married and divorced twice (and she is only 30), is stuck in Boston. Stuck in relationship limbo with her ex who is about to propose they try again! Annabelle's best friend, Sophie, offers her a job in Phoenix with Vasquez Squared as a creative director. Escaping her ex, she flees to Phoenix and stays in a small guest house that is part of a larger property, Her landlord has RULES and Annabelle is convinced he is just an OLD curmudgeon. He turns out to be a gorgeous, yet broken man. How will they help each other to find the right balance of life, love, family, and work? I guarantee this is a story you will NOT want to put down.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed Wait for It. It was fairly predictable but it was fun to see how the author solved all the problems. A freelance graphic designer in Boston, Annabelle, is offered a director position in a design studio in Phoenix and finds herself taking the job to get out of a messy situation. Her best friend and husband run the studio and they help her find a place to live. She rents a guest house from what she believes is an old, curmudgeonly landlord who turns out to be a cranky, hot, rich, young landlord. He has suffered a stroke and is dealing with the aftermath. This hit close to home for me because my husband had a stroke at a relatively young age and he went through many of the things Nick did with the anxiety of waiting for the next stroke to happen and wanting to be a recluse. Annabelle and Nick finally meet and sparks fly, although not smoothly. She also has a co-worker who wants her job and he is out to destroy her in anyway he can. She needs a new big client to keep her job and Nick's sister comes into the picture with a housing development project that needs a graphic designer. Lots of obstacles and chaos follow before the happily ever after ending. This is a romance with texture, not pure fluff, and it is informative as well as entertaining. For me it was a five star read.