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.

I loved Flatshare and The Switch by Beth O’Leary and hoped I would enjoy this book as well, I loved it! The story was charming and the characters lovely. I hope we see this book made into a movie on Hallmark Channel!

I loved the whimsy and back and forth of the characters in this book. I thought the "Ring Thing" was a great premise with a sweet surprise at the end. O'Leary has a way of making her main characters so down to earth and relatable. You definitely feel like you could be BFFs with them! I'm not 100& sold on the title...feels a bit forced for the book, but otherwise, great all around.

I really enjoyed this book. The main characters are multi-faceted and interesting, and the enemies to lovers romance is compelling. I really liked the chemistry between Izzy and Lucas, and how I learned as the story went on why there was bad blood between them. I love how Beth O'Leary slowly reveals key information as the story goes on. I prefer that style of story telling to info-dumping right at the beginning. I found the storyline about the lost rings really compelling and a good addition to the complexity of the plot. As always, O'Leary's antagonists are just as well written as her protagonists. Louis made me feel sick just reading about him, and I enjoyed when he got his comeuppance at the end. And of course, I love the part when Izzy and Lucas finally figure out what they mean to each other and admit they're in love.

I will read anything and everything written by Beth O'Leary, even if it's not The Flatshare or The No-Show. Even if I'm slightly over workplace romances or rivals to lovers, if it's Beth O'Leary, I will either get it on NetGalley, or make work buy it for me. I don't care. It doesn't matter that I didn't always follow the plot, because it was Beth O'Leary.

I've loved each of Beth O'Leary's books and this one is no exception. Izzy and Lucas are co-workers and enemies who don't STAY enemies. Both of the main characters have specific, compelling backstories, and I was also very taken with the hotel they work at (in the real life New Forest in Southern England, now on my travel wishlist) and the background characters, mostly guests. If you've liked Beth's previous books, I think you'll like this one (also, <i>The Hating Game</i>). Also, I do love a Christmas read in summer, but this truly reads like the BEST cozy Christmas romcom you could imagine.

Beth O'Leary has another charming romcom in The Wake-Up Call. This enemies to lovers romance will have readers rushing through the pages to polish this off in one binge. A sweet, heartfelt romance about two co-workers who can never seem to agree left me with a huge smile on my face!

This read had me screaming and pacing around my house so many times. I honestly don't think I was this up and about since watching The Office. I loved this story between Izzy and Lucas! I could relate or see happening so many of the situations. I worked in the hotel business for over 15 years and I've got some stories to tell. I haven't read a book about this kind of work that I've enjoyed as much as The Wake-Up Call.

this was so much fun! may change my rating to 5 stars later, this book was everything i wanted but because it’s hate to love i felt like their reasons for hated each other was okay, obviously rooted in miscommunication. i kinda just felt like her reasoning was just so dumb 😭 but still fun either way!