Beth O'Leary is an auto-read author for me. I loved this version of enemies to lovers, where you understood why there was friction but also why there was an attraction. Izzy and Lucas were dynamic whether they were bickering or kissing! I should have seen a few of the plot points coming but I almost never do, and I was charmed by the story and the many side characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC!

During a Christmas celebration at the hotel where she works, Izzy sends her coworker, Joshua, a love letter. When she goes to meet him, she finds him kissing her roommate. After that incident, they sniped at each other for a whole year. When they find out that their beloved hotel is financially in trouble, they slowly get close.

Their romance is like the pacing of a waltz: quick, quick, slow. Izzy and Joshua like each other, but this significant misunderstanding holds them back. It’s quick to figure that Joshua didn’t get the love letter, then laugh at it, then kiss Izzy’s roommate. He’s too kind to be that cruel. Yet, Izzy, still in love with Joshua, fights this attraction because she was hurt and is still hurting to ask him about the letter.

In between the tension of finding out the truth of the letter, the story of finding the people who owned lost wedding rings is a fun romp.

This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided through Netgalley for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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.

📍 Read if you like:
• Workplace Romance
• Enemies To Lovers
• Grumpy/Sunshine
• Found Family
• Fade To Black

This was such a fun and quick fade-to-black romance. I usually tend to enjoy workplace romances so I was excited when I got this on NetGalley. There’s also an enemies-to-lovers trope, which is probably my all-time favorite trope.

When Izzy and Lucas are forced to be on the same shift at Forest Manor Hotel, they decide to save their job and hotel by returning the lost rings. They put aside their distasteful feelings and end up teaming up to save what they love.

I didn’t realize this book had a Christmas touch to it until I began reading it. I actually thought it was fun and interesting. The rivalry between the two wasn’t as strong as I was expecting and the banter wasn’t as appealing.

I honestly loved both characters and I’m glad there were Dual POVs. However, I feel like the book was way too slow. It took me a while to get through this book just because I kept losing interest. There was also a trope mixed in that annoyed me.

Overall though, this was a fun and quirky romance. I enjoyed the hotel setting and the adventures both characters took. They were both interesting in their own way, I’m excited to pick more up from this author.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

•𝗧𝗪/𝗖𝗪: Death Of Parent, Grief, Sexual Content, Infidelity, Toxic Relationship

I absolutely adore this author. I don’t remember where I came across her first but since I read her first book every time I see that she has one coming out, I either request to read the ARC or buy the book when it comes out. So when I saw that she had a new book out I was about to get it as an ARC, however, life and my new job got in the way of reading it in time for publication. However, in my mind, better late than never.

Izzy works at the reception desk of a local “mom and pop” hotel in England. With her works the every so annoying and disgusting Lucas, who is from Brazil. The thing is, Izzy had at one point an absolute crush on Lucas until she poured her heart out to him in a Christmas card and he just never responded. What ensues next is a classic enemies-to-lovers scenario. Ok, I will say the beginning is a slowish burn. But once the book gets going it’s a steady clip of a storyline. I will say this author has once again knocked it out of the park for me. It made me giggle, made me ugrrrhhhh out of frustration for Izzy and her weird quirks that she has that hold her back at times.

I loved how she wrote Lucas. It was the fact that she peppered his speech with Portuguese words. Honestly, if that was me I would have swooned and the book would have been over. The way the author wrote the whole misunderstanding was good. Izzy wasn’t willing to talk about it and Lucas had no idea what was going on. It was a classic of crossed wires and it was one of the better ones I have read. I loved Izzy’s friends. They became her family and stepped in when her parents passed away. She had that support system still and it was nice to see. Lucas’s family needed work, the author painted a picture of a family opposite of Izzy’s. It was interesting to see how they interacted with their families. All in all, it was just a good book. I binge-read roughly 45% of it in one night. I will be waiting patiently for the author’s next book to come out, when it does I’ll pounce on it.

It’s that time of year when the day is unclear, I sink into the couch a little earlier than usual and read more than I have in months. I read The Wake-Up Call this week to keep the cozy feelings alive. Beth O’Leary is one of my favorite rom-com writers and I’ve read her books to date. The Flatshare remains my favorite, though I enjoyed The No Show, The Road Trip, and The Switch.

The Wake-Up Call is told from alternating points of view and follows Izzy and Lucas, two feuding receptionists at Forest Manor Hotel, which is, quite literally, falling apart. This is a heartfelt story about two people who lean into disliking each other because they each think the other hates them. It’s a quick read and I enjoyed the “save the hotel!” plotline. My only qualm is this features a trope I don’t particularly enjoy. That aside, I still really liked it and would recommend it if you like O’Leary!

3.5 rounded down.

This has an interesting twist on the miscommunication trope, which is usually the trope I loathe but this was cute! I also loved reading this around Christmas as the past & current events of the story do happen mostly at Christmas. It wasn't quite five stars for me as I wasn't sold on the love interest unfortunately but it was enjoyable.

Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare is one of my fave romances, so I was very eager to read this one. A perfect holiday romance, this has enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine vibes. I wasn't crazy about the miscommunication-- there were a lot of times when I wanted to shake the main leads into talking to one another, but once we got over that hump, I enjoyed it a lot more. All in all, a solid romance! Thank you so much to Berkley for giving me a chance to read and review this arc!

Rating: 3.5/5

Thank you to Berkley and PRH for access to this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Beth O'Leary is fully a hit or miss author for me with this one being a bit meh. I did really love the concept of this book and enjoyed a big part of the novel but I was not invested in the couple at all.

I absolutely adored the setting and all the side characters. I loved the save-the-inn storyline and connecting with former guests. Each ring being returned to their owner was so sweet. This was a heartwarming story to read during the holidays.

For the romance: their miscommunication, enemies to lovers style vibe, could have be solved with one conversation. I wanted these two to clear the air earlier, it could have been so simple and it was frustrating for me to listen to at times.

The wake up call by Beth O’Leary

The wake up call byBeth O’Leary is a wonderful holiday romance and the perfect grumpy meets sunshine trope. I loved all the laugh out loud moments so reminiscent of a good Beth O’Leary classic.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Please read it you’ll thank me later..

As a big fan of The No-Show last year, I was equal parts excited and hesitant to read this book. How could Beth O'Leary possibly follow up to one of my favorite books of 2022? Well, I'm happy to say that she has done it! The Wake-Up Call is the most perfect feel good, holiday romance.

We start by meeting our two main characters, Izzy and Lucas, in the midst of the Christmas season. They both work the front desk (and many other odd jobs) at an old Inn. While Izzy is all about Christmas, stringing decorations everywhere, Lucas is not in a festive mood. The Inn is financially in trouble and Lucas and Izzy have different ideas on how to save it, which starts the bet. Throughout the book, our two main characters' wildly different personalities put them into some sticky (and steamy) situations that are very entertaining for the reader.

I loved how the author included backstory that really fleshed out the characters and explained the reasoning behind their moods, actions, and hang-ups, as opposed to leaving us with a simple grumpyxsunshine cliché romance.

All in all, if you're looking for heartwarming, fun holiday romance with a slightly less serious tone than the author's previous novel, I would highly recommend this book. It is the perfect book to read curled up under a blanket with a hot chocolate in hand.

Read if you like:
- grumpy x sunshine
- scenes filled with tension
- fade to black
- fun side characters
- rom-com style airport chases

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The passive-aggressive business at the front desk made me crazy, but once they joined forces, I was totally invested!

Izzy loves her job working at Forest Manor Hotel. Even though the place has fallen on hard times, she’s determined to help bring it back to life. Lucas is a Brazilian ex-pat working at the hotel, and Izzy’s arch nemesis. He’s the stern to her bubbly, the realist to her optimist. In order to pay for renovations they decide to go through the lost and found and sell what they find. Except Izzy can’t bring herself to sell any of the lost wedding rings. As they work to return them, they learn more about each other and realize they really aren’t all that different deep down inside.

I love Beth O’Leary and honestly, in my opinion this is her best yet. While the miscommunication trope isn’t always my favourite it’s kind of in the background with this one. Izzy and Lucas compete as to who can return the most lost rings and slowly learn more about each other. Their falling in love makes sense and like the characters surrounding them, we can all see it. The dual POV really works, and with Christmas as the backdrop it’s a holiday romance with substance.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve liked Beth O’Leary in the past (specifically The FlatShare) but I’m afraid this one was a bit of a miss for me.

First off, Miscommunication as a trope, is an immediate Nope from me. I spend the whole book muttering, “Y’all need Jesus and Brene Brown.”

Second, while I love (LOVE LOVE) Enemies to Lovers, I found these characters particularly unlikeable.

Third, I side-eyed this whole plot. Maybe, instead of a road-trip, have a YARD SALE.

I did, however, love some of the banter, and there’s nothing I love more than an old hotel, so this wasn’t an entire waste of time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this ARC.

Beth O'Leary really knows how to create cozy and heartwarming novels you want to curl up next to the fire with. I loved the aspect of finding lost rings original owners and discovering the love story behind each one. It was lovely to go on the journey with Izzy and Lucas, and watch their enemies to lovers story evolve as well. This was a smile until your checks hurt, hug the book at the end novel that I highly recommend to romcom lovers.

This was my first Beth O’Leary and it may be my last… I just felt very bored throughout and although the beginning and the premise were cute it draggggedddd for me.

The hotel that Izzy and Lucas work at is in trouble and after a disaster before the Christmas season takes place the stakes are even higher for the two to not only keep their jobs but a place they call home. They find a couple of rings in lost and found and after the first “found ring” is returned with a reward they hatch their plan to save the hotel!

This is a Women's Fiction. I really try to get into this book. I picked up this book several different times and every time I ended up getting so bored I DNF it. I have finally given up on this book. I could not connect to the book or the characters. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

A fun enemies to lovers holiday read which takes place at a struggling countryside hotel.

Izzy and Lucas are enemies (but you can immediately feel the attraction) but both want to save the hotel.

I loved their snarky banter. Didn't love the miscommunication. But overall a fun read!

Thank to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The writing is fantastic and I love the voice, but unfortunately the story didn't grip me. Not for me, but I'm sure this will resonate with other people.

This was a sweet quick read. I just love Beth O’Leary’s books. This is a great weekend or holiday read.

I couldn’t really get into this one. I’m not really sure what it was, but it wasn’t for me. I think I’d like to try it again in the future. In the meantime, thanks to the publisher for my review copy!