I normally love Beth O'Leary's books. Unfortunately this one was meh for me. The story itself was just not very compelling. Thank you NetGalley for the advance ecopy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary!

The Wake-Up Call is the story of two very competitive people who are running the front desk at a formerly luxurious hotel that is about to fall apart and fail financially. Izzy and Lucas are tasked with sorting through items in the hotel that can be sold to raise money to keep the hotel afloat temporarily. Sorting through things that were left at the hotel, they find five rings that guests have lost and they decide to compete to see who can get them back to their owners first. The rings lead to interesting stories and the main characters learn a lot about themselves as they manage to work together and fall in love. This was a fun, page turning Christmas read and I give it four stars. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in return for my honest review.

I love the characters and humor in Beth O’Leary’s books so much, and the depth of feeling she conveys through both. Miscommunication tropes are always a struggle, but I did think the story behind this one was well done (even if I just wanted them to talk!!!). This honestly felt like a perfect Christmas read to me, because the holiday spirit was present throughout in a subtle and perfect way. I loved this one, and really need to get around to reading her first two books now!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

Easily my favourite Beth O'Leary book after The Flatshare (though I did also very much enjoy The Switch and it comes close to this). This is a holiday romcom with cosy vibes and themes of found family - think Hallmark but with Beth O'Leary touches - but there is also enough depth to the two protagonists as well as the supporting cast to prevent it from flying away on a frothy cloud. There is a frustrating amount of miscommunication, particularly and especially from Izzy, which is a pet peeve, but the strength of this book made me put it to one side and still enjoy the ride. I will say, though, that Izzy did read younger and more immature than someone who is 28, though, as the narrative unfolded, I appreciated seeing more to her. Lucas is a well-etched character with lots of hidden depth himself and I found myself rooting for him from the start. It does feel a little long in the middle, but picks up before the end (which, I admit, I'd have liked more of, and not so rushed). I very much enjoyed it, despite all of this!

THE WAKE UP CALL is simply divine! I am a huge fan of Ms. O'Leary's books and this is magnificent! It stars two arch-rivals who are hotel receptionists at a struggling hotel. Forest Manor Hotel is a beautiful place, but needs repairs and finances bad. Izzy, a pretty girl who feels like this job is her extended family, intensely dislikes having to work with Lucas, the irritatingly handsome guy who constantly smirks at her. They discover an old collection of wedding rings while clearing out a back room. Izzy finds the owner to one of the rings and is rewarded. Izzy's manager thinks that this might be the answer to turn the hotel around this Christmas season.

So, Lucas and Izzy compete to find the rings owners. They constantly bicker and battle out, while working alongside one another. They have to put their conflict on the back burner, if they are to get anything accomplished. Do they find all the owners? Funny things come to light, surprises are revealed and guards come down. What do Lucas and Izzy discover about one another? Is their long standing feud a case of in the wrong place at the wrong time? What happens when they find out what went wrong to cause them to dislike one another? This is a fantastic story that comes full circle in the end. Will Lucas and Izzy ever really talk to one another without arguing? Are they secretly attracted to one another?

Oh my gosh, another winner from my favorite author, Beth! THE WAKE UP CALL has surprises galore! It's filled with quirky characters, a smart plot, genuine laughs, nutty scenarios, refreshing romance and so much more! I can't say to much lest I spoil it for all the readers! Let's just say, you have to read this book pronto! I love, love, loved it! Sheer reading enjoyment from beginning to end! This is a very unique, sparkling story filled with wit, charm, and heart.

The Wake Up Call by Beth O’Leary is a sweet enemies to lovers stand-alone romantic novel. It is Christmas season, at Forest Manor Hotel, with worry that the hotel is struggling. Izzy Jenkins and Lucas Da Silva share the responsibilities at the front desk, with both having major difference between them. Izzy is very outgoing, friendly, optimistic and always helping people; while Lucas is serious, stubborn and brooding, not to mention he dislikes all of Izzy’s ideas. Izzy loves everyone, but hates Lucas. Seems last Christmas, she sent Lucas a card confessing her true feelings for him suggesting that they meet under the mistletoe, and sees him kissing someone else, which will turn out to be a major miscommunication, and why she hates him.

With the hotel possibly closing after the new year, everyone is trying to find ways to pay off the debts and keep Forest Manor Hotel open; management wants Izzy and Lucas to work together to help find ways to increase finances. Izzy discovers in the hotel ‘lost and found’ many wedding rings left behind over the years, and she decides try and attempt to find the real owners; Lucas did not like the idea, thought just to sell them, but in a short period, he begins to work alongside of Izzy, with a bet who will return the most.

They begin to work closely together, and in a short period the chemistry between them escalates; though Izzy is determined to not get hurt, and Lucas knows he has fallen in love with her. This was a true enemy to lover’s story line, with the first half filled with rivalry and dislike; but everything begins to change in the second half, with lots of witty banter. Lucas is determined to prove to Izzy about his true feelings, being caring, patient and sweetness when together. I loved the last half, as the chemistry between them was sizzling, and I hoped they would stay together. I also loved all the secondary characters in this story, with Mrs. SB (owner of hotel), Mandy, Arjun, Ollie, Barty, Mr. Townsend; wasn’t crazy about Louis.

The Wake Up Call was a fun, sweet story, enemy to lover’s, great secondary characters, and so much fun with the amazing stories on those who came to reclaim their rings; though I did feel early on was a bit slow. The Wake Up Call was so very well written by Beth O’Leary.

LOVED this new book from Beth O'Leary. It did take me a couple of chapters to get into the book and gel with the characters but once I did I couldn't put it down.

A fun look at how an early misunderstanding wasn't enough to stop a love from developing between two opposites who maybe have more in common than they realize.

This is a darling book. Classic enemies to lovers, with wonderful atmospheric elements in a grand hotel and winter holidays. Beth O'Leary creates characters that you want to be friends with!

Two hotel receptionists—and arch-rivals—find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way. It’s the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel’s front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through. The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest’s lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost & found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel—and their jobs. As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?

This was a fun read, but I am just not ready to read Christmas-y / winter reads. It was a bit of a slow build. Izzy and Lucas were both interesting, well rounded characters and their enemies to lovers banter was enjoyable. The cast of characters who stayed in the hotel were a fun addition. I enjoyed the subplot of the ring thing. I think that really held the story through the first part of the book. The last 25% of the book is where I got very invested. And that epilogue was perfection! Overall I enjoyed this one!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 9/26

Genre: contemporary romance

Izzy and Lucas work at a small boutique luxury hotel called Forest Manor Hotel and Spa. Their work is at their best when they’re at each other’s throats, which has been nonstop since the Christmas party last year when Izzy confessed her attraction to Lucas in a Christmas card, and he proceeded to kiss her roommate under the mistletoe instead. Family-owned for 40 years by the Bartholemew Family, the hotel is in dire need of some investment…and then part of the ceiling collapses. Part of their plan is to sell off articles from the lost and found that have remained unclaimed for years. And then Izzy stumbles on a box of wedding rings, which she wants to return to their owners. Izzy and Lucas turn it into a competition, of course… but they learn a lot about themselves, and about the nature of love in the process.

This has unseated The Flatshare as my new favorite Beth O’Leary. Its premise is simple, which gives O’Leary the ability to play more with her character development, and it had me grinning foolishly throughout.

At the outset, I was worried that the impetus for the rivalry between Izzy and Lucas would come across as childish, because while it’s very clear that Lucas never received the card Izzy intended for him, it’s also clear that she’s been goading him rather than address it. However, I was willing to give them a little grace at that outset and trust that O’Leary would take me where I needed to go. Plus, the constant banter is great because it’s clear to literally everyone that they are attracted to one another.

I love Beth O’Leary’s style of romance: there are some light touches on harder topics, like the death of a parent, cheating, and divorce, but the book isn’t about processing those topics as much as it is about becoming the person you want to be in partnership with another. The Wake-Up Call is as heartwarming as it is funny, and with just a dash of holiday spirit, it’s the perfect book to pick up for the winter season.

Thank you to @berkleypub and NetGalley for an eARC for review. The Wake-Up Call is out 9/26/23!

Izzy and Lucas work side by side at a boutique hotel. Work has become their life and family, since Izzy’s parents passed away and Lucas’ family is in Brazil. It would be perfect if only they didn’t hate each other.

This was such a cute and fun enemies to lovers rom com! I loved the alternating chapters between Izzy and Lucas, the comical pranks and funny banter. The boutique hotel at the holidays was a charming setting and it really enhanced the story. Sometimes I felt Izzy and Lucas were a tad immature, but other times I thought their antics were hilarious. I enjoyed watching their relationship change and evolve too!

This one was a miss for me. I'm not really sure what I was expecting from it but whatever it was, it just didn't click. That doesn't mean someone else wouldn't enjoy it though!

It's confirmed: if Beth O'Leary writes it, I'm going to love it. No exception here with The Wake-Up Call. I loved the setting of an old quaint hotel, the characters (both main and side), and the plot of a rivals to lovers workplace romance. Even the miscommunication trope (not usually a fave of mine) was done in a way that felt fresh and took me by surprise. Looking forward to sharing this one with my audience post-release.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

“Some of us fall in love the straightforward way, and some of us have a more . . . winding path.”

There is nothing better than getting lost in a Beth O’Leary book. It is always a fun and romantic storyline, wonderful and unique characters, and beautiful and impeccable writing with words that fill your heart to the absolute brim.

You can’t help falling for both Lucas and Izzy, complete opposites and employees of the beautiful but struggling Forest Manor Hotel and Spa. After a major misunderstanding has made these two intense enemies, they are at odds with one another on a daily basis. They both love their jobs but love annoying one another even more. However, saving the hotel becomes a priority as their beloved home away from home is on the brink of having to close. As Lucas and Izzy continue to work together and try everything possible to save the hotel they start to realize that maybe they aren’t enemies at all.

This book is such an honest look at love, kindness, courage and most importantly how family isn’t always blood. I loved all the quirky and delightful characters and the sweet and chemistry filled romance. It ticked all the boxes for my romance loving heart.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked that this book’s setting is perfect for the fall/winter, taking place at Forest Hotel and Spa over Christmas. I loved the dual POV, alternating between Izzy and Lucas.

Honestly, I think Beth O’Leary might just not be for me. The beginning of this felt really slow, and hard to get into. I just couldn’t get invested in either of these characters, as they just didn’t feel really to me. Izzy felt immature. I really dislike the miscommunication trope— they just needed to have a conversation! However, if you’re a fan of Beth, you may have an entirely different experience with it!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

3.5 Stars!

The Wake-Up Call is a fun enemies-to-lovers romance that’s sure to get readers in the holiday mood!

It’s the busiest time of year for the Forest Manor Hotel, but unfortunately, it will take a miracle to keep this hotel afloat past Christmas. But when Izzy returns a hotel guest’s lost wedding ring, she comes up with an idea that just might save the hotel. The only problem is that Izzy will be forced to work with her enemy, Lucas. But the more time these bitter rivals spend with one another, the more complicated things become. Will Izzy and Lucas be able to save the hotel and their jobs? Will these bitter rivals be able to put their differences aside? There’s only one way to find out….

I thought this book was a fun read. I love, love, love enemies to lovers romances, so once I read the blurb, I just had to get my hands on this book. Izzy and Lucas did not disappoint and gave me the enemies-to-lovers vibes I was hoping for.

Izzy was bright and full of sunshine. She could be a bit over the top and frustrating at times. Meanwhile, Lucas gave off some very grumpy vibes. I loved seeing that there was more to him than what most people got to see. Together, these two did have some great chemistry, I just wished they would have communicated with one another better. A lot of frustration could have been avoided if they would just talk.

Overall, I thought this book was a fun and light read. It did frustrate me at times and I wasn’t a fan of the slow pacing. However, the plot and the characters made up for it and in the end, I was happy to have given this book a chance.

Enemies to lovers, a lovable hotel that needs saving, and a supportive cast of characters. What more could you want from a romance? Beth O'Leary's latest is sweet and heart warming, with a spicy Brazilian twist. I loved the setting of the hotel - I could just picture it! - and the added characters of the guests and other staff gave it romance series vibes. Can we get a Mr Townsend spin off!? I was rooting for Lucas and Izzy till the bitter end, and though miscommunication drives me crazy, I'll make an exception for this one because it was so well executed!