This book was delightful from start to finish! Down on her luck, Abby had me rooting for her the entire time. Abby’s character was likable and easy to connect with. Her emotions, actions, and reactions were understandable. Her character was realistic and her actions expressed her inner turmoil. Observing her character develop, page after page, was entertaining, and I liked how things worked out for her. The relationship between Luke and Abby was enjoyable to watch unfold. I was predicting their happily ever after. However, the ending surprised me. I assumed I had it figured out, and it wasn’t what I expected. I love when the author surprises me. The entire cast of characters was genuine. Each had depth and was well written. I appreciated the many varied relationships. This book had everything. It had sibling drama, ex-fiance drama, old friend drama, and new friend drama. It drew me in and kept me engrossed, page after page. I definitely recommend this book. Especially if you like an excellent, well-written, rekindled friendship-turned-love story with a side of discovering what truly matters in life. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful, heartwarming story! The book is incredibly well written so that it reads smoothly. What I especially love about it is that the MC do not have everything under control. That they do not have a perfect life but a realistic one.
Especially touched me the relationship between the two sisters because I could relate to that story.

Overall: A beautiful romantic story that gives you a good mood.

I loved everything about this book!
I really enjoyed how the story was not only about romance but also Abby's relationship with her sister and her hometown.
I struggled to put this book down honestly.
The description does seem quite different from the actual plot to me but I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline.
I also loved that it was set in Ireland and the small sideline chemistry between Beth & Jess.

Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

Thank you to Netgalley for providing us with an E- ARC
Spoiler free review:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars

Let me just start off by saying, this book is PERFECT.
As someone who's never been to Ireland, i could imagine everything perfectly and that is something so important to me.
I think i specially relate to Abby because as someone who wants to get out of the town i live in, it felt like i was being heard, it felt like someone understands. It's captured so well and that in itself gets 3 stars from me.
Luke is *chef's kiss* and he now has my utmost adoration.
The tension and slow burn between Luke and Abby had me on the edge of my seat, waiting for them to GET TOGETHER!! And it was definitely worth the wait.
As for the pacing of this book, i am thoroughly pleased because it is so easy to get into and it's pretty fast paced so there isn't a moment of boredom. Even the conversations between the characters is so wholesome, it kept me smiling throughout. I loved RORY?!!( he NEEDs a book of his own. I need to know more about his story with Sinead), Louise, Tomasz, Beth. Even Andrew was hilarious to imagine. I will now go on to read One Night Only (the author's debut book) because i cannot get enough of her writing.
All in all, I am very glad i got to read this one. Definitely worth it.

Catherine Walsh has written a phenomenally funny, ironic, sweet, sassy pseudo friends to lovers love story. This story while parts were a bit slow was quite good. The setting in Ireland was fun end eventful. The scenes were beautifully described and the characters were realistic and some a bit quirky, which I love because they remind me of my friends.

The Rebound tells the story of Abby who after a job loss and a breakup ends temporarily moving back to small town Ireland from Manhattan New York. Abby finds herself a new friend, an old and new neighbor, and builds a better relationship with her sister. She also confronts her old life a few times and finds herself while in Ireland. And as one might expect she finds herself a rebound relationship. . .but does the rebound go anywhere?

Read this great story to find out! I want to write so much more and give you all the juicy fun details but then you wouldn't need or want to read the novel. . .

What a great little gem! Written well and I enjoyed the story. Loved the second chance aspect between two elementary school friends and the sizzling to smoking chemistry that builds. I’m this was a great quick and easy read and if I could change anything about you would have wished to have read it in a beach because it would be the perfect beach read!

DNF @ 60% - these characters were just not likable or realistic, and I felt like the MC was just making one bad decision after another in order to keep herself happy.

I was so excited to see another release from Catherine Walsh as I loved One Night Only and this didn't disappoint. I devoured this book in two days. I loved every character (apart from Tyler) including Jess, who I really didn't think I'd like. I love the whole storyline of your world faling apart and going back to your home town, reconnecting with old friends and really finding yourself. Abby and Luke's story is one that will have you smiling (and swooning) until the last page.

I had high hopes for this, but was underwhelmed from the beginning.

While I love a small town setting for the cast of characters, interpersonal relationships, and a cozy vibe, the setting lacked any atmosphere and could have taken place anywhere.

Miscommunication was a strong (and frustrating) theme throughout the story, because it stemmed from Abby not sharing information which is infinitely more annoying than our characters just not being on the same page or coming to different conclusions.

Overall, I found the relationships to lack development and chemistry. I wanted to love this, but the story was pretty flat.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Abby Reynolds has been recently dumped - first by her fiancé who decided he just doesn't see himself marrying her, then by her job when the whole company implodes, taking her career and life savings with it. She's left her carefully curated life in New York City to crawl home to rural Ireland with her tail between her legs. It's at this lowest moment when she runs into Luke Bailey while trying to catch the non-existent bus to her childhood home. Not recognizing him as a local, she's immediately attracted to him and flirts with him, thinking he would make the perfect rebound. Only to realize at lunch with her sister and their next-door neighbors that he is Luke, her childhood best friend and next-door neighbor. Now she has to either admit that maybe the false façade she's been putting on is just that, or risk losing her chance to making a real life for herself.

This romance book has it all - small town, second chance, miscommunication, humor, and a little bit of heat. I fell in love with all the characters, hoping for more chapters to stay with them a little longer (please give us a Jess + Beth sequel!) If you like Sophie Kinsella or Meg Cabot, you'll love The Rebound!

Abby life seems to be falling apart. Her fiancé dumps her right after she loses her lucrative job in NYC. She makes her way back home to Ireland where she will love with her sister for a bit while she figures things out. Unfortunately, her relationship with her sister has never been the best and she has no idea where to start when figuring out her next step. Enter Luke…Abby’s childhood friend that she hasn’t seen in many years. Maybe he can help her figure out where to goin life??

After reading some heavy books lately this little romance was a breath of fresh air! Abby and Luke are fun to follow throughout the book and you just want to root for them! A fun, quick read!

It was so entertaining! I enjoyed so much this story of Abby, Louise and Luke.
It is amazing how besides is a "love story" the author included the relationship (or the lack of relationship) of two sister and their persuit of getting know each other.
I really fancy the struggles that you will find in the book, such as the new begginings. How not matter your age can find your dream and go for it, just like happend to Luke.
Also, how when everything feels bad and you feel like there is not a way out, life can surprise you and give you one of the most wonderful gift: know what you really love.

It was good to share with abby all her ups and downs, how she find love not only with men but with her sister. All the character are so powerful it demand a book for each.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley, Catherine Walsh and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

If you're looking for a hallmark romance, this is the book for you. Girl lives in the big city, life falls apart, moves back to her home time and reunites with an old friend who has grown into a good looking man... and it's to be published on valentine's day! Perfect!

I wasn't overwhelmed by it but it was everything I was expecting which was nice.

Abby had the perfect life in New York city until everything fell apart. With no more engagement ring on her finger, out of her job and her ex’s apartment, and her savings gone, she has no choice but to return to her hometown, a tiny village in Ireland where the first person she connects with is Luke, a hot stranger who offers her a ride. Except, he’s not really a stranger. Far from it.

Having just recently One Night Only, which I thoroughly adored, I was so eager for this one that it left me a little disappointed. Ha… expectations. They can do cruel things. The story is perfectly fine, and I’m sure had I not loved One Night Only so much, I would have liked this one much better. I still read it in less than half a day, so there’s that too.

Like Catherine Walsh’s first novel, this one is filled with humorous situations, great multi-layered characters and some amazing, lively dialogue. But I connected less to Luke and Abby, sometimes finding myself annoyed at their childlike behaviors. Worse, I sometimes doubted their love, or at least didn’t feel the spark I was supposed to feel.

I’ll keep an eye out for Walsh’s new book nonetheless, because if there’s one thing I did feel about this book, it’s that it’s totally relatable.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

We follow Abby as she travels back home to Ireland from NYC after losing her job, apartment, and fiance! Once home, Abby runs into her childhood neighbor, and their relationship grows from there. I appreciated the general story but wasn't blown away. There seemed to be a little too much tension when Abby got back to town. Also, I could help but wish Abby had clarified her engagement so much earlier! Thank you, NetGalley!

Abby has lost her job, her home and her fiance. Technically he called off their engagement. She finds herself flying back home overseas, moves in with her sister and brother- in- law and is now looking for a new job. She misses her friends and old job back in New York. One day she comes across Luke Bailey, the boy next door. Their families were always good friends. Abby and Luke start a friendship which soon leads into more. Abby was also never close with her activist sister but soon they start to bond and become closer than they ever were.
I enjoyed this story. The characters were likeable. The chemistry wasn't too forward and it wasn't too insta love either.

Thank you net galley for sending me this Arc in return for my honest review ;)

Release date: February 14 2022

I wanna start this off by saying CATHERINE WALSH DID IT AGAIN. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Catherine’s first novel ‘ one night only’ which is one of my favorite books of all time and if you haven’t read it GO READ IT.

This book is a roller coaster it is amazing. Out main character is Abby who seemingly has a perfect life, has the perfect fiancé, perfect job in NYC what could go wrong? Well when her fiancé breaks off the engagement only a couple weeks before her company gets accused of fraud and she loses her job and is forced to move back to Ireland and live with her sister who she frankly can not stand. But there might have been a bright side to this when she meets a handsome funny stranger at the bus stop. Only to find out that it is her childhood neighbor only 10x hotter!!

I loved this book I ate it up, I even read it during my lessons and muted my teachers. If they ever find this I deny deny deny. This book was such an easy read and it was so funny. Abby is the most comedic person ever and her reactions to everything are just amazing. AND LUKE brooo her and look gave me life like there relationship was so cute and he was so adorable. Louise and Tomasz need there own book as they are grumpy/ sunshine who doesn’t love that??

I swear to god every character in this book is so likable and it’s just a light book and it’s so wholesome it feels like a warm hug in a very cold night like the hug is so good it’s enveloping you. That’s how this book is and I will buy this as soon as it hits the selfs because I loved it that much

Abby has returned home to Ireland from New York after both her job and her relationship have broken down. After accepting a lift home from a friendly stranger, Abby realises he is her childhood next door neighbor Luke, and the relationship that follows between the two takes all sorts of twists and turns.

As I've said before on this page, I'm really not a big romance person when it comes to books (which is strange because I love rom-com movies). However, my enjoyment when reading this book just totally went against everything I've previously thought about the genre.

Walsh's writing in bringing the characters of this book alive was great, and I loved the sister dynamic in it. Abby's older sister Louise was someone I connected with right away (I'm not sure if that was the intention) and I just fell in love with Luke in every possible way. The author's storytelling and the way she brought rural Ireland to life really reminded me of so many Cecilia Ahern novels I read and loved when I was first getting into adult fiction as a teenager.

I'm still breaking into this genre but I think The Rebound was a great book to help me do that. It's got an entertaining storyline and would be a great read in the airport/on holidays. I've heard wonderful things about Catherine Walsh's other book, so will definitely be picking it up at some stage now that I know I like her writing.

You can pre-order this book now, and it will be released on Valentine's Day! 💕 Thanks to @catwalshwriter @bookouture @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

After losing her fiancé, who broke up with her only a few months after proposing, her fancy job and her apartment, Abby Reynolds is forced to leave New York to go back to Clonard, living with her sister, with whom she never got along, in their childhood home. Upon arriving to Ireland she meets a very attractive man - none other than her childhood friend and neighbour - who offers to drive her to Clonard.
Whilst in Clonard, Abby tries to rebuild her life and it's not as bad or as painful as she tought it'd be thanks to the help of her sister, her new and old frieds and thanks to Luke.

The characters were likeable, the story was light and funny and the writing very easy to follow.

The romance was a bit lackluster at points: first of all I didn't understand what the title had to do with the story between Abby and Luke. Luke is not Abby's rebound. While reading I did not feel like Abby was heartbroken about losing her fiancé...more like embarassed to admit it to her family than anything else, which felt like she was not actually in love with her ex. Second of all, Luke’s feelings for Abby came a bit out of the blue...especially since nothing ever happened between the two of them up to that point. I get having a crush on your childohood friend and neighbour, but the angsty and kind of tortured behaviour was a bit too much.

However I really really really enjoyed Abby and her sister Louise trying to rebuild their relationship and grow closer to each other. I also liked how carefully and respectfully Louise's infertility was handled.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a cute small town contemporary rom-com!

***Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the e-ARC of The Rebound in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

This was a cute read! My favorite part was the banter between Abby and Louise tbh. I found them really funny, and even Abby's interactions with Luke were comical at times. I enjoyed the childhood friends-to-lovers trope in this one, but I wish I would have seen more connection building between the two and have learned more about their childhoods together.

The reader also gets a nice taste of Ireland, which I adored. Instead of taking place in a famous city, the setting here is the small town of Clonard. I love the small town setting, but I especially liked how Abby came to appreciate the town in its own way while still acknowledging that she will always be a city girl at heart.