“You’ll know what to do. If you really like her, it’ll come to you, because if you’re make for each other, you’re made to heal her when she’s hurting.”

I fell in love with Beth O’Leary’s writing when I read The Flatshare. O’Leary has the type of writing that makes you kick your feet and squeal under the covers, blushing as if you’re receiving swoon-worthy lines from hot Brazilian hotel receptionists instead of the quirky British lead. While The Flatshare embodied the one-bed trope, The Wake-Up Call is the epitome of enemies to lovers.

Synopsis:
Izzy and Lucas have two things in common: they both love their job working reception at Forest Manor, and they both hate each other’s guts. After a fabulous display of miscommunication and broken hearts at the hotel’s Christmas party the year prior, Izzy and Lucas entered the New Year determined to make each other’s life hell.

But as the new Christmas season approaches, Izzy and Lucas find themselves in a bind; after spending most of the year on opposite shifts and battling each other through Poor Mandy (the third receptionist), they are being forced to work side-by-side five days a week in an attempt to save Forest Manor from closing. Following a severe lack of funds during the pandemic and then the unfortunate costs of repairing the fallen-in roof, the owners of Forest Manor are desperate to keep doors open, which not only means pairing Izzy and Lucas at reception, but also leaving them in charge of selling items from the lost and found, a last-ditch attempt to gain money.

When Izzy finds a collection of lost wedding rings, she is determined to return the rings to their rightful owners, rather than sell the sentimental jewelry for a profit. While initially skeptical, her bosses encourage the idea once the first returned ring brings the hotel a reward of £15,000. Of course, the new stakes added to the Ring Thing as Izzy calls it forms a competition between her and Lucas—who can return the most rings, and who can bring in the most money.

However, as these situations often do, heated competition leads to something even more heated, and Lucas and Izzy quickly find themselves questioning the hatred and vitriol they’ve been spitting at each other all year. In fact, the hate may be turning to lust—and maybe even tolerance? Crushes? Good God—could the two sworn enemies actually like each other?

My Thoughts:
I always love Beth O’Leary’s stories. I don’t know what it is about the UK at Christmas, but this story felt especially cozy, despite the constant bickering between the two leads. I loved having dual points of view from Izzy and Lucas, allowing me to get to know each of their backstories and groan at their constant miscommunication and misunderstandings. I also really enjoyed the setting of Forest Manor. O’Leary did a beautiful job describing the ornate hotel and its folklore-esque surrounding woods. This is the perfect book to read while listening to Folklore and Evermore on repeat, and I can’t wait to recommend it to people as Christmas gets closer.

Overall:
If you’re a fan of enemies to lovers, workplace romance, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry, the Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon, or any of O’Leary’s previous novels, this is a must-read.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Izzy poured her heart out in last year's Christmas card, and Lucas laughed when he read it. This was the event that marked the beginning of a tense relationship between the two. When they learned that Forest Manor was on the brink of bankruptcy, they joined forces (sort of) in a quest to save the hotel. Their mission was to reunite the owners with their lost rings, but would Izzy and Lucas be able to overcome their hard feelings to get the job done?

I am still trying to figure out the connection between the story and the title, but regardless, this was another marvelous book from Beth O'Leary. As I hinted, there was this BIG rejection that started all the trouble between Izzy and Lucas. I don't know about you, but I thought for sure that there was more to THAT story. If the miscommunication trope is one you don't enjoy, you may struggle with this book. I was sure that if they just discussed that night, all would have been quickly resolved. But regardless, I rather liked the way the truth unfolded.

With that out of the way, I want to share some highlights:

• The Ring Thing - There's something so romantic about reuniting a person and their lost token of love. Some of the stories weren't quite the epic romances I was expecting, but all were super entertaining, and others were really touching too. These Ring Thing adventures usually precipitated some fantastic rom-com antics as well which amused me and made me smile.

• The Forest Manor Hotel - I was so taken by this place. It may have been a bit rundown, but the hotel was not about its structure or the furnishings, it was about the people. It was an especially important place for Izzy, and its inhabitants had become Izzy's family. I could feel the love and support inside that building and adored all the people who called the hotel "home".

• Izzy and Lucas ❤️ - This was such a great grumpy-sunshine pairing. Izzy's default was sunshine smiles, but she wasn't all that sweet to Lucas. Not mean, but she challenged and needled him. She would call him robotic, and one of my favorite parts of this story was when Lucas set out to change her mind. He was such a sweetheart, and like all the heroes that win my heart, he was a man of action. I collected all those precious things he did, those small acts of kindness, and I put them in my heart. Needless to say, my heart was almost full to bursting by the end of this story.

Overall, The Wake-Up Call was a rollicking good time for me. This grumpy-sunshine/enemies-to-lovers romance was so much fun while also extremely touching and heartwarming. Fantastic characters, a great setting, delicious chemistry, witty banter, some mad-cap capers, and a holiday party made this a solid hit for me. I was left with lots of laughs and happy tears, and I greatly enjoyed rooting for Lucas and Izzy as they attempted to save the hotel while falling in love.

This is a cute holiday romance - it gives you the warm, cozy vibes of a Hallmark movie! It was terribly predictable, but kept your interest! The plot was fun - it's about to rival hotel receptionists who can't stand each other until they have to come together to save the hotel they work at. There's a plot with finding the owners of lost wedding rings?

I don't know, there was just too much going on in these books. There were so many subplots and things going on, I felt like the ending was rushed.

And while there is some spice, it's not graphic, so I'd give it a one chili pepper.

Enemies to lovers? Check!
Forced proximity/workmates? Check
Slow burn? Check

Lucas and Izzy have all of the above in abundance. They cannot be any more differnt - she is quirky and fun, he is straight out serious.

And they hate each other... or do they>

I did find the whole reason Izzy hates Lucas a bit tiresome after a while, adn when we find out what happened it was all, OK, yeah I get it, but the amount of energy she puts into it was a bit OTT.

The pacing felt a bit off to me too. We go from getting ther, to the whole "ring thing" in the main part of the book dragging, to rushing to the end. But again, this is probably just a me issue.

I liked the characters that surround Lucas and Izzy (for the most part, anyways.)

The Wake-Up call is enjoyable enough,but not my favourite Beth O'Leary book. I do look forward to more from her in the future though

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.

Fun little rom-com, and O'Leary/s fans will lap it up. #TheWake-UpCall #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

Izzy and Lucas work together at a charming but finacially challenged hotel. Izzy and Lucas can not stand each other and delight in making each others life at work difficult. When managment decides to sell off the lost and found items to raise some money, Izzy and lucas must find a way get along and get the job done. A contest to find the owners of lost rings puts their relationship to a test. Great characters, funny moments and misunderstandings make this a delightul novel. One roots for Izzy and Lucas to figure out just how things between them got so bad and find a way forward.

Beth O'Leary writes romcoms for the big screen, and I mean that as a true compliment. It's just so easy to picture her settings, characters, even their mannerisms. Once you get a feel for her characters you can really identify with them, even the ones that might not match your personality. All this to say this is a very cute Christmas love story. I'm not the biggest fan of miscommunication tropes, so it was a little difficult for me to buy into this one. These coworkers had been at odds for a year over something that could have been taken care of with a very simple conversation. But... I can see how it would have played out this way. After all this is a romcom, and quirky love stories are what we're looking for!

i love an enemies to lovers trope and i love a good rom com with good banter. but dear god do i hate plots where things can be easily solved if they literally just sit down and have a ten minute conversation about it. the 'enemies' part feels forced and written as plot device and it just doesn't become enjoyable then.

but beth o'leary's writing is so fantastic and funny and smart. love her, didn't love love the plot.

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!