I was a big fan of the Flatshare, so I was excited to get my hands on another Beth O'Leary book! This was a cozy heartwarming holiday read. The rivarly between Izzy and Lucas builds for great tension, and we see it turn into a slowburn romance as they team up to save the hotel. Nothing too complicated, making it a perfect feel good read

I love Beth O'Leary. She tackles these really tough themes so well. And she sprinkles in just enough rom-com cheesiness to distract you from the gut punches.

What more could you ask for though, really? This book is an enemies to lovers, holiday rom com set in the English countryside at an idyllic hotel. Why do Izzy and Lucas hate one another? It's a mystery even to them. Do they hate one another? Absolutely not. Do they have sizzling chemistry. Hell yes!

I almost feel bad that I keep repeating that miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes. Because the miscommunication in this book was done so well! Why did we have the confusion in the first place? Because when you're writing a declaration of your feelings for your new coworker, you should probably be sure that his name is legible! And when you happen to see him kiss your roommate under the mistletoe, maybe give him just like one second to explain that it was practically in passing before you scream about how much you hate him. And then at any point over the next year of your lives working together, you could maybe try to get some closure on the subject? But NOOOOOO. I will say. That was one of the things about a miscommunication trope that I hate, that was in this book. And it is when someone wants to actually have a conversation and the other person either outright refuses, or keeps interrupting with their own assumptions instead of using their LISTENING EARS! IZZY!

But they eventually figure it out and it's wonderful. Very romantic. Very cinematic. Highly recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

Beth O'Leary has done it again! "The Wake-Up Call" delivered the same warm, fuzzy feeling I've come to expect from her books. This delightful enemies-to-lovers story, brimming with witty banter and charming characters, was a pure joy to read.

While the romance is more sweet than steamy, the playful rivalry and well-crafted miscommunications kept me thoroughly entertained without feeling contrived. The setting, a historic inn at Christmas, was absolutely enchanting, evoking the cozy atmosphere of a beloved holiday film.

What truly elevated this book was the audiobook narration by Jessie Cave and Lino Facioli. Their alternating perspectives were perfectly executed, adding depth and nuance to the characters. I'd happily listen to anything they narrate in the future.

4 stars

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An endearing ending couldn't save this book for me. I usually love O'Leary's book but this one just fell short. I dislike the miscommunication trope--this entire book hinges on one thing that could have been solved with a conversation.

Izzy and Lucas are co-workers at the Forest Manor Hotel, sharing front desk/concierge duties. Last Christmas, Izzy gave Lucas a card declaring her feelings for him, and asking him to meet her under the mistletoe. When Izzy arrives, she finds Lucas kissing her roommate. Horrified at her misstep, their relationship at work turns contentious. Until they find out the hotel may have to close, and they embark on a mission to find owners of rings left at the hotel.

It was clear to me from the beginning that obviously Lucas didn't get the card. Or didn't read the card. Or whatever. Even after they begin to have feelings for each other, Izzy cannot get past his actions. But does she ever ASK him about it? No! She preferred to keep her grudge alive despite every action he did in the following year that showed his character.

I'm also not a fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope when used to such an extreme. Izzy comes across as flighty and incredibly immature, and she totally grated on me because of it. I'm not sure if Lucas was grumpy as such, but he just came across as flat and unfeeling, even when the chapters from his point of view showed that he was loving and passionate inside.

I'm hoping this is just a one-off dud from O'Leary and will definitely give her books another chance in the future. I usually love the humor and heart of her stories.

I love Beth O'Leary's books. From the first book I read I was hooked and knew I would read every one of them going forward. Her books are always full of emotion, with characters that are so relatable.

First things first, I think I'm the issue with this one, not the author or story because I am a HUGE FAN of Beth's writing.
However, this one was such a difficult read for me. I simply just didn't enjoy it the way I normally do O'leary's work. The characters and romance just felt ... off to me. I kept reading, hoping both would improve, but it never happened. I didn't want to DNF since I'm usually a fan of this author's work but maybe I should have. In the end, the book had potential; it just fell flat for me, but I know I will continue to read and support Beth's future work.

O’Leary delivers another charming rom-com with witty banter and endearing characters. The enemies-to-lovers trope shines here, and the cozy setting adds warmth. Light, fun, and perfect for fans of feel-good reads.

Another book where I am screaming at the main characters to JUST TALK. I loved the setting of the hotel and all the guests and staff that were amazing supporting characters. This would make a wonderful movie. I just disliked this particular miscommunication.

I love books by Beth O'Leary, like The Flatshare. The Wake-Up Call took a bit longer for me to get into, so I can understand if others felt the same way. I did end up enjoying this book once I got through the first 10%.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this with me.

How do I put it lightly that I had a strong hating of the main characters and that it was very hard to get through this book because of them? lol

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance set during the holiday season at the struggling Forest Manor Hotel. Receptionists Izzy and Lucas find themselves competing to return a collection of lost wedding rings, which leads them to confront their own feelings amidst the chaos of the hotel falling apart. Their rivalry, initially fraught with tension, gradually evolves into something deeper as they navigate their relationship while trying to save the hotel. With a blend of humor and heartwarming moments, this novel captures the magic of love and redemption during the festive season​.

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary is an enemies-to-lovers story revolving around Izzy and Lucas who both work the front desk of the Forest Manor Hotel, a charming countryside hotel that is on the verge of closing if they're unable to keep up with some costly repairs. Izzy finds some wedding rings left behind in the lost and found and the two main characters are charged with finding the owners in hopes of a nice reward. This seems like a good plan except for the fact that Izzy and Lucas cannot stand each other. They are complete opposites - Izzy is bubbly and fun while Lucas is more serious and put together. Another problem - Izzy has had a long standing crush on Lucas that she's kept hidden ever since she found him kissing her roommate.

I really enjoyed The Flat Share by this author, but I wasn't a huge fan of this one and almost didn't finish it. I thought that Izzy was very whiny and childish with all her rules and the fact that she pines over this guy but refuses to just talk to him about it (same for Lucas - who is harboring a crush on Izzy but won't open his mouth and talk about things). This book did have some fun side characters which helped keep interest, but it took so long to get to the point that I checked out and never really cared if I finished this one or not. But I might be the outlier here! Many positive reviews can be found so I think that if you like holiday romances with the enemies-to-lovers trope, you should read this.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Beth O'Leary is one of a very few “must-read” rom com authors on my list. Her characters always feel fresh and her plots are always unique. The Wake-up Call was no exception.

DNF at 20%

I loved The Flatshare and have been intrigued to continue with more of this author’s books, however, I think it is time to realize that maybe this author just isn’t for me besides the one book. I’ve been so bored while reading this. Izzy is kind of mean and Lucas is just blah. There’s so much going on but also nothing at the same time? Idk

Thank you for the opportunity

I'm a huge Beth O'Leary fan, but this one wasn't my favorite Beth O'Leary book unfortunately.

What I enjoyed:

- hotel setting, enemies to lovers
- Throughout the story, there are some really sweet and funny moments!


What I didn't enjoy:
- I felt the pacing of the book was a bit slow for me.
- I'm not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope and there was a lot of that going on and I found it to be a bit frustrating
- For a main character, I didn't love Izzy unfortunately!

If you're looking for a holiday enemies to lovers set in a fun hotel and like the miscommunication trope, you'll love this one!

I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers, and this book checked every single box. Witty characters, unlikeable characters, funny dialogue and even funnier one liners, and a great setting - a post pandemic, old and sad bnb. Beth O'Leary is a fantastic story teller, and I love that her characters are so realistic, flaws and all. 5 stars!

Just ok for me. Didn't feel like a Beth O’Leary book. There didn’t seem to be enough substance but the characters were nice enough.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of The Wake-Up Call. I love Beth O’Leary books and have read all of them so I couldn’t miss this one. It is another lovely happy book with interesting and kind characters. The main character, Izzy, is such a likable, optimistic and friendly woman. She works with Lucas, and let him know she was interested in him, only to be rejected. Even so, they still have lots of chemistry, and their love story evolves naturally as they compete to return lost wedding rings to former hotel guests. The secondary characters are also all interesting people and really put the heart in the story. I loved this book and if you are looking for a happy, light, positive book, don’t let this one pass you by.

This one was fun, but just OK for me. The romance was barely there, the book dragged in a lot of spots, and it overall didn’t have a super happy vibe to it for being a somewhat holiday romance

Loved the hotel setting which made for some fun situations. The romance wasn't bad but didn't grab me as much as I wanted.