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!

I had not an easy time writing this review. Usually I have a big reaction whenever I read a Beth O'Leary book, either I love them, or I can't even finish them. But with The Wake-Up Call I missed the big feelings. I'm smack dab in the middle of it. Which is a shame.

I enjoyed the enemies to lovers feeling, the slow burn and the forced proximity.
But the way it was put together, the pace, and the execution wasn't enough to pull me into the book the way it deserved.

In the end, it's a romance novel that had so much potential, even more so because it's from an author that has such a wonderful witty and enjoyable way of writing.

I'm sad to say that the author's last few books have not hit the mark for me.

But I'm ever hopeful it will change again with the next one.

I have enjoyed Beth O'Leary's books in the past, but this one fell flat for me. The main characters annoyed me and the pacing was all over the place.

The Wake Up Call is a witty, heartwarming feel-good romcom that's full of charm, with brilliant main and supporting characters that you can't help but love.
The Wake-Up Call is set in Forest Manor, a cozy hotel and spa that has been in dire straits. The two protagonists, Izzy and Lucas, both work the front desk and hate each other. They have spent the entire year getting on each other's nerves, bickering and snapping at each other, for the enjoyment - or annoyance - of colleagues, friends, and guests. But it's almost Christmas time and the hotel is in desperate need of funds - the long forgotten lost and found needs to be emptied and as far as there's anything of value sold, same as some of the manor's antiques, but what about the FIVE GOLDEN RINGS - there are five unclaimed clearly valuable rings that have been sitting at the hotel for ages - should they be put up for sale or can they be returned ?
This was so much fun, the grumpy/sunshine trope and enemies to lovers trope worked so well. the cozy setting, the comfort, the found-family aspect, the friendship groups, the secondary characters - especially super chef Arjun and Poor Mandy made me laugh out SO many times, the wit and charm, and the wholesomeness of it all! This was a fantastic seasonal book - it was so fun to read about the Christmas prep at the hotel and all the preparation that went into a beautiful Christmas party ! Forest Manor Hotel sounded so magical! The description made me feel like I was there.

I really enjoyed this one! After loving The Switch, I didn't really jive with The Road Trip or The No-Show but this definitely put a big smile on my face! This one is an enemies to lover romance and you all know by not that I do not like miscommunication tropes at all but this one worked for me! I totally bought into the story of Izzy and Lucas and the setting was just perfect! A beloved hotel during the holidays and a co-worker rivalry keep it fun and engaging. I inhaled this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think this would be a perfect read for a lazy winter day to just cozy up and enjoy the story. This was wonderful on audiobook, highly recommend!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Having worked in a hotel myself, I was sure that I would enjoy a romance based in an independent hotel – and it certainly did bring back some amusing memories of how crazy the hospitality business can be.

As Izzy and Lucas compete with each other to be the more invaluable, both needing their jobs for different reasons, we get to meet the regular guests, deal with some serious maintenance issues, and get ready for what might be the last Christmas at the resort.

If you like the idea of understanding some of the behind the scenes escapades at a hotel, and the competitiveness of the two leads in trying to save the hotel, you will enjoy this fun story. It is a nice easy read with low angst and some really amusing as well as moving moments.

I'll continue to read everything that this author writes. This wasn't my FAVORITE of hers, but I did really love it.

Not open door, but still some romance, loved that.

Enemies to lovers isn't always my jam, but I did enjoy this one!

I’m a tad bit disappointed by this one. The premise was good but just executed poorly. It seemed to take forever to get to the point and then the ending was a bit rushed. I could’ve done without some of the excessive battling and had more love story. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this copy for read and review

As luck would have it, Forest Manor Hotel is falling apart during the busiest season of all. It’s the time of year for Christmas cheer and the employees at the hotel are having a hard time keeping their spirits up. It’s very likely the hotel won’t stay open past Christmas. Yet the two employees with the biggest commitment to make it work, also CCD ant seem to get along. Lizzie and Lucas join forces to help the owners. Everyone if thinking of ways to help fix the hotel, while not spending to much money. It seems impossible but Lizzie comes up with an idea to go through the most and found items. After she finds 4 rings, her new plan is to find the owners of these rings. Izzy and Lucas have more in common to a the job they might lose. Can they make this idea work? Can they become friends? Can a miracle be pulled off? The Wake-Up Call by Beth O’Leary is a very such a cute read. It has all the things I like, in a Romcom. I have read many books by Beth O’Leary and they never disappoint. Sometimes you just need this kind of book, it has all the feels. I want to thank Netgalley & the author for my copy for an honest review. It is always a pleasure to read and review the authors books. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I’m

The Wake-Up Call centers around two arch-rival receptionists' competition to see who can return more wedding rings from the hotel's lost and found.

Izzy hasn't forgiven Lucas for an incident a year prior, but she tries to put their differences behind her to try to save the hotel they both love. I thought the catalyst to have them work together felt very realistic and I enjoyed the story immensely.

I love Beth's writing and storytelling ability. This one had a great setting and fantastic side characters. She is an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.