Absolutely loved it! Beth O' Leary has become an automatic buy/read for me. This enemies to lovers trope is a favorite of mine, and I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue. Great story

In the Wake Up Call the fractious relationship of Izzy (who is very like Bridget Jones) and Lucas (who seems like a modern Fitzwilliam Darcy) kept me questioning almost to the end of the novel if these two belong together. The story follows Izzy and Lucas, along with other various guest and staff members of the struggling Forest Manor Hotel. At every turn in the story I felt I was rooting more for the hotel than the main characters. All things considered The Wake Up Call is an engaging and entertaining read, with fun characters.

4.5 stars. Izzy and Lucas are sworn enemies, which would be easier if they weren’t also colleagues forced to work at the same reception desk of a stately but shabby hotel in the New Forest. As Christmas approaches, things are getting dire at the hotel, and the two may be forced to work together to save the place they both love.

As usual for Beth O’Leary, the story is filled out with a cast of lovable, quirky characters. The plot twists weren’t shocking, but they also weren’t really the point in this sweet holiday read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

I always seem to enjoy Beth O'Leary's works. This was another sweet story with alternating viewpoints. I think that our patrons will enjoy it and we will definitely be purchasing it.

This was a cute, Christmas-y read with a lot of popular romance tropes (sunshine/grumpy, enemies to lovers, one bed, workplace romance). I really enjoyed Lucas’ character, and how much effort and patience he continually put into the relationship. Izzy really annoyed me; she seemed petty and immature for a lot of the story, and her ‘rules’ led to so many frustrating miscommunications. I also struggled with the one night stand/hookup feelings for a lot of their relationship.

I didn’t really feel drawn in to the Ring Thing storyline until we got to the story of emerald ring towards the end. I felt like both Izzy and Lucas had really complicated pasts that I wanted to go more in depth on. Jem was one of the best characters; I loved her honesty and loyalty to her friend, through all the hardships and physical distance. I was also glad to see demisexual representation play an important part of her character. Give Jem her own book!!

This has such great holiday vibes and will be a super cute, light read around Christmas. It felt a little cheesy at times, but sometimes you are just in the mood for Hallmark movie romance and this book will be perfect for that occasion!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first ever Beth O’Leary read and although I loved the premise of the book, I just didn’t enjoy it that much.. I didn’t really love the characters and the first part of the book kind of dragged on for me personally. Also, It took me so long to finish.

Reasons I gave this 5 stars:
- Beth O'Leary is without a doubt my favourite author and I love (and will buy) anything she writes
- Dual perspectives are my fave!
- Enemies to lovers and grumpy meets sunshine (not my favourite tropes, but Beth wrote them SO WELL!)
- I love reading the perspective of main characters who find themselves living away from home and adjusting to a new culture
- The pranks Izzy and Lucas play on each other along with the witty banter was so fun to read
- The underlying mystery of the lost and found rings HAD ME. It was such a unique sub-plot that had me hooked.

The relationship between Izzy and Lucas and their shenanigans at the hotel made this one of my favorite lighthearted books I've read this year! O'Leary is already a must-buy/read author for me and this only continues that trend.

Grumpy/sunshine AND enemies-to-lovers? Sounds like a winner to me! And this one was. While I appreciate the dramatics that make this story what it is, I'm always hesitant to read books where miscommunication plays the biggest role of all. Thankfully, I was so enamoured in this story that it didn't bother me as much and I really enjoyed it!

I really love some of Beth O'Leary's previous novels but this one fell short for me. It doesn't have the charm or humor of The Switch or The Flatmate. The plot isn't as compelling, and the characters are less developed. While the novel is entertaining, it didn't warm my heart or draw me in. The plot leans on the enemies to lovers premise but other novels have done it better. Still a light and fun read, I found myself a bit disappointed by this one.

This one sure goes down easy! Likable characters, fun hotel setting, strong secondary characters and a quest involving antique jewelry? Such good fun.

Meh - this one felt like it was all over the place. Had a hard time focusing on it because there were so many characters and they were all so loud and big. As much as I love Beth O’Leary - this one was just a miss for me. There wasn’t even enough sex in it to save it. Sad.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

Can the hotel be saved? Will the enemies become lovers? Will the lost rings be reunited with their original owners? Can found family make up for lost family? These are the questions that this book works at finding resolutions for, in a very enjoyable way. This book is perhaps a bit lighter than the author's previous books, but still just as enjoyable.

Izzy and Lucas send each other mixed signals for so long that when the hotel they work for is in financial trouble and they have to start working together, it's too much. They've avoided each other but have to set aside their differences to save the day. They decide on a friendly wager, because how could that go wrong?

Fans of Jenny Colgan will love this heartwarming and cozy romance that takes place in a homey hotel with a cast sweet and funny characters.

Beth O'Leary is one of my favorite writers of feel-good rom coms, but this doesn't feel like the same level of quality as The Flatshare or The No-Show. That being said, sometimes, you just want a story that 'checks all the boxes' and delivers some fuzzy feelings. If that's what you're looking for, and if you're a die-hard grumpy/sunshine fan, this book may be for you.

Definitely gave me Hallmark movie vibes - rival coworkers trying to save their small, financially-unstable hotel. A big romantic misunderstanding. Constant bickering and the inevitable rivals-to-lovers storyline. The Wake-Up Call has the heartfelt, emotional writing of all of Beth O'Leary's books, and is perfect for fans of holiday rom-coms!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4++ stars

Beth O'Leary just makes me happy. I read her books with a silly smile on my face. This wont disappoint.

Your level of enjoyment of this one might depend on your tolerance for the oft used failure to communicate trope. As with many romance novels, this entire story wouldn’t even exist had Izzy simply asked Lucas “WTF?!?!?!?!?!” when she caught him mistletoe-ing her friend at the annual Christmas soiree. But, of course that didn’t happen so you get to spend the majority of the novel being frustrated until you get to the big “ohhhhhhhh, so that’s why” at the very end.

The good news is not only is that plot line not a dealbreaker for me but that this also features grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, a hotel in need of saving, a mission to find the owners of a lost and found Tupperware container of wedding rings and a culmination of events that all ends the following year with the aforementioned holiday event. It’s Hallmarky romance goodness and sweetly delightful. Beth O’Leary knows how to write a feel good story.

(I do prefer the cover with the hotel front desk, though.)

3.5 Stars

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is sweet and funny and a perfect Christmas read! Ironic to read it in June… but I couldn’t resist a new Beth O’Leary ARC.

As always, O’Leary’s characters are real and nuanced, and I thoroughly enjoyed this, even though it didn’t have quite the same emotional heft as some of her other books.