I typically love Beth O’Leary books and will read anything she writes, so I was very excited about her upcoming book! The plot sounded super cute, but I was disappointed that this book ended up being a miss for me.

I’ll start with what I liked. Firstly, the quaint countryside hotel vibes paired with its sweet owners and the small group of guests and employees was charming. I also liked the idea behind the premise: two employees race to find the owners of lost rings so they can (hopefully) get a reward to help save the hotel from going out of business. It was sweet and provided good commentary on the past and starting fresh. Lastly, I did appreciate both backstories for our MCs, Izzy and Lucas. They’ve both dealt with grief and belonging, but show how vastly different they carry themselves.

What I hard time with was Izzy and Lucas’ romance. This was a workplace, enemies to lovers romance which in theory sounds like something I’d like! But the execution of it was not my favorite.

For starters, I wasn’t a fan of their reasonings to hate each other. It felt a little immature for two grown adults and I really disliked how they just avoided each other and made rash assumptions. And the way they behaved around others, forcing innocent people to have to step into their feuds was weird to me. Sure, some of this was addressed at the end of the story, but it just seemed too far fetched for me and by the time the explanations and apologies came around, I was already over it.

There was also something about the writing and POVs of our characters that grated on me and felt repetitive. Like during Izzy’s chapters, we were always reminded of how broody and muscular Lucas was. Also being that the POVs were in first person perspective, I found their thoughts and views (mostly Izzy’s) to be super frustrating at times.

Overall, I’m sad this didn’t quite work out for me, but I can see how others may enjoy it more than I did!

I can’t say enough good things about how this book made me feel.
I adore the hate to love trope and the hotel setting felt like a vacation.
Thank you for the advanced opportunity to read this book

THE WAKE-UP CALL is the newest book from up and coming author, Beth O'Leary! I have thoroughly enjoyed O'Leary’s other books, so I was super excited to read this new romance from her. THE WAKE-UP CALL is a book filled with tons of charm and delight. I found this fast paced and really easy to read, I truly could not put this book down! I am very excited to see what Beth O'Leary writes next!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Press for the ARC. This is the story of Lucas and Izzy who hate each other! Their banter was my favorite. I fell in love with both of these characters, and love that the story goes back and forth between both of their perspectives. It is the cutest book for summer.

Perfection - Lucas and Izzy were perfect, the hotel setting was cozy, the cast of supporting characters was great. I loved it.

My bookish friends, I'm telling you politely, but with great enthusiasm, that I have a quick correction to make. I'm shouting from the top of the tallest building nearby to amplify my dramatic declaration. Hear me now: THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! You absolutely cannot afford to miss out on it! Don't even think about adding it to your ever-growing TBR list, which is already overflowing with remarkable books, without making time to read it soon.

I recently went on a book diet, meaning I had to work extensively for a few days and then took a short vacation, which disrupted my usual reading schedule (typically, I finish the first half of a book in a day). As a result of this prolonged and forced reading break, I now have at least 15 books piled up in my NetGalley library and 30 books waiting for me in my email, sent by my favorite publishing companies. They're like presents left under a Christmas tree, patiently waiting to be unwrapped one by one. Needless to say, I was thrilled to choose the perfect book to lift my spirits!

Let me explain why I adored this book so much:

-First and foremost, this is undoubtedly Beth O'Leary's best book yet!
-It's the most entertaining, laugh-out-loud read among Beth O'Leary's works, with fewer dramatic and angsty moments.
-I was hooked from the start by the enemies-to-lovers and grumpy-meets-the-sunshine tropes!
-The references to Love Actually were incredibly well executed.
-The supporting characters at Forest Manor Hotel are nothing short of perfection! From Mrs. SB and the unpredictable Mandy (who's like a wild card in the story) to Arjun and the potentially godsend Mr. Townsend (if this book ever gets adapted into a movie, please cast Bill Nighy for this role), not to mention the lively Hedgers family, Barty, and Ollie, they all make you feel like a part of their family.
I
- fell in love with Izzy, who is adventurous, original, shiny, creative, optimistic, and kind-hearted! And let's not forget about our brooding hero, Lucas, who hides behind a stubborn, serious, robotic facade, despite being a real cinnamon bun. He's caring, sensitive, and a romantic planner!

-The palpable chemistry between Izzy and Lucas, along with their witty banter, completely engrossed me in their love story. Izzy's vulnerability in opening up her feelings after being crushed by Lucas' rejection a year ago, and Lucas' efforts to make her fall in love with him, his patience, and his inner sweetness made me sigh and smile countless times.

To sum it up: I highly recommend this book not only to romance lovers but also to readers who need something to brighten their mood, warm their hearts, and restore their faith in happiness and good karma!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.