Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Last Call at the Local is another hit from Sarah Grunder Ruiz. This romance follows Raine, a free-spirited American traveling musician who stumbles into love with a pub owner in Ireland named Jack. Both struggle with mental health issues and find themselves bonding over the challenges they have faced. However, their opposite lifestyles get in the way of the burgeoning love story.

I loved how sweet and emotional this romance was. It is a very quick read, but I fell in love with both Raine and Jack. Ruiz did an excellent job with her rep of ADHD and OCD in the story. I cannot wait to see what story she comes up with next.

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

Last Call at the Local was an emotional love story about two people who feel out of place in the world until they find each other.

Raine failed to meet her parents’ expectations when her ADHD made it impossible to keep up fighting for a dream that was not hers. She quit medical school and became a traveling musician and through an unfortunate incident in which all of her belongings - including her treasured guitar - were stolen, she ends up in Ireland where she meets the future love of her life, Jack.

Jack is immediately charmed by Raine and offers her a job at his pub and although their attraction is instant he doesn't believe it would be safe to offer her anything other than a "professional coworker" relationship. Jack has OCD and suffers from debilitating intrusive thoughts that have hindered nearly every aspect of his life.

Jack and Raine are surprised by how easy it is to be themselves around one another. They both accept each other as they are with zero expectations and their love story was the sweetest slow burn. Jack is the kindest Irish cinnamon roll who takes care of Raine and in turn she makes him feel safe. Their road to a happy ending was not easy, but it was very rewarding.

Last Call at the Local made me cry and left me smiling and I loved it. It was also nice to catch up with Nina and Ollie from Luck and Last Resorts.

Last Call at the Local...oh my. Sarah Grunder Ruiz truly excelled in writing a story from the dual POV of two individuals with OCD and ADHD! Great writing is meant to help develop compassion and empathy for characters, and Ruiz truly does that for Raine and Jack working within their struggles and mindset with their often misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental chronic conditions.
That being said, I hope that there will be a content warning/resource page that will be included in the published edition of Last Call at the Local since certain chapters may be triggering for individuals who have either of these conditions.
I enjoyed the story as a slow-burn that spanned over several months! It was a great slow-burn romance! Not to mention, I have been to a few of the places mentioned in the story, and it made me a bit homesick for Ireland. I do feel that it was a bit rushed with Clara's storyline and Raine x Jack had a bit too much of an instant-love start for me. However, Last Call at the Local was a comfy, cozy, cat-filled read that I would recommend to anyone looking for an inclusive romcom that was sweet and sappy in all of the best ways!

A more extensive review to come closer to publication on Jan. 2nd! A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of Last Call at the Local in exchange for an honest review.

I could see library patrons enjoying this book. However, I felt like it could have done with a little more editing, espsecially the OCD parts with the male protagonist. However, everything was handled with care and I like that a nontraditional relationship was highlighted with a solution that fit both parties. The characters were likeable and I wish that The Local existed in real life so that I could visit it.

Adorable fmc and mmc in a pub setting. Both povs are open and vulnerable. The story is fun and it’s a fast read.

I came for the Ireland setting (Cobh!) and stayed for the characters and story line. Would highly recommend and plan on purchasing for my library,. Thank you NetGalley for the advance ecopy.

A romance with a relationship arc that seems realistic both emotionally, and time-wise can be a rarity. But Last Call at the Local was all that and more! I loved the instant connection between Raine and Jack- there's something about meeting someone in a bar and being able to bare your soul to them quicker than in almost any other situation. I appreciated the representation of both the main characters' neurodivergence. It played a significant role in the story- and I think that was warranted!
The chapters where it is just messages between Raine and Jack are so bittersweet, you can feel their love for each other even between the most mundane texts. I believe Jack's brother Ollie and his wife are featured in an earlier book-I will be going back to read it because I loved Ruiz's writing! This book was both moving and funny, an entirely enjoyable read.

I didn't realize this was part of a series but it in no way impacted my enjoyment of the book! I really thoughtful, interesting way to look at neurodivergent characters with a lovely cast of side characters!

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz
Narrators: Gary Furlong and Karissa Vacker
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 1/2

The story starts when Raine Hart’s nomadic lifestyle takes an unexpected turn in Ireland, where a chance encounter with Jack Dunne offers her a chance to put down roots. What follows is an adorable journey of opposites attracting, complete with banter, laughter, and an adorable, swoon-worthy romance. The chemistry between Raine and Jack is palpable, and their love story is heartwarming and thought-provoking.

Sarah skillfully tackles the representation of ADHD and OCD while showing not only the challenges of living with these issues but also the strengths each character has gained from it. Raine is a traveling musician, which is such a fun and unique profession! Her ADHD messiness is endearing and makes her super relatable. Jack’s OCD relapse and the way Raine helped him through it was a joy to witness. I just loved these two.

Despite the heavier themes, the book is full of laugh-out-loud humor, making it an engaging read from start to finish. The small-town setting comes alive with a vibrant cast of side characters, and the descriptions of Raine’s travels made me want to book a ticket to Ireland.

This is book 3 in a series of standalones, and while there were mentions of other characters from the previous books, I didn’t feel lost or confused. I also listened to this on audio, and the narrators did an excellent job of bringing Raine’s and Jack’s characters to life. I loved the accents, depth, and feeling they put into their work.

This book is a must-read for fans of travel romance, opposites-attract dynamics, and workplace romances. Its irresistible blend of romance, humor, and emotional depth makes it a perfect addition to any reader's collection. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Berkley Romance, and PRH Audio for my advanced copy and ALC.

Books always get a little bonus from my heart when they teach me something new. Did I expect to learn about different types of OCD when I picked up this romance novel? No, but I'm glad I did. Honestly, my biggest joy with this book was how well it handled the internal narratives of two characters who both deal with some frequently misunderstood diagnoses: ADD and OCD. It was a joy to watch these two fall for each other and then an even great joy when they realized they were *safe* with each other. Also, one of the best versions of a third act breakup that I've seen in a long time.

Raine finds herself in Cobh, Ireland having all her belongings stolen. She has been busking her way around Europe and seeing the sights. She is a black sheep in her family and a creative type. She meets charming Jack in the town pub, The Local. Since Jack and his brother have taken ownership of the pub, he has wanted to make changes, but his brain has been preventing it. Over a pint at the pub, Raine tells Jack of a vision for the pub, not realizing he is the owner, and Jack loves the vision, hiring her on the spot. Raine and Jack develop feelings for each other, but their lives could not be more different. They must decide what they want out of a relationship, life, love and whether to give each other a chance.

This story was that of deep personal growth for both Jack and Raine. They worked on themselves and defined their relationship in the best way for themselves. I like that Sarah Grunder Ruiz's books always include this lovely romance, but also the deeper, emotional and messy parts of the characters' lives. Both ADHD and OCD are depicted and they were so true and enlightening. I loved the story woven of Jack and Raine's life and how supportive they were of each other and their limitations. These two had wonderful chemistry and I loved seeing their banter and own humour about their brain chemistry wonderful.

This was such a sweet and heartwarming story. The author creates a love story that shows neurodiverse characters deserve the same love stories others have. I enjoyed this novel and its representation so much! Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

I loved the mental health representation in this book. And appreciated the no third act break up. Thank you Sarah Grunder Ruiz!

Raine came across as annoying and messy and played the victim a lot. Jack I loathed.

Pub date: 1/2/24
Genre: romance (mental health rep, workplace romance)
Series: LOVE, LISTS, AND FANCY SHIPS, book 3
Do I need to read book 1 first?: This is an interconnected series of stories that you can read out of order!

Quick summary: Street musician Raine is the black sheep of her family, and when a mistake leaves her without her instrument, she seeks shelter in Jack's bar, the Local. As the two of them work together to update the bar, they realize that the bar isn't the only thing they're rescuing.

This book was such a joy to read/listen to! I love when personal growth is a key element of a romance novel because the characters help each other through their trauma to become better versions of themselves. Both Raine and Jack had a lot to cope with - Raine's ADHD and Jack's OCD/intrusive thoughts both kept them from what they really wanted, and it was inspiring to see them work to make their lives fuller and more satisfying.

I also loved the Irish setting - such a fun armchair trip! Like the rest of Grunder Ruiz's books, this one is relatively low steam but will make you feel all the feels. Bonus: Nina and Ollie from LUCK AND LAST RESORTS also make an appearance.

If you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend the audio. Raine's voice is captured so well by narrator Karissa Vacker.

Thank you to Berkley for my e-ARC and PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH SEND ME TO IRELAND. Okay, done shouting. I just adored this whole reading experience from the opening chapter to the tension to the ending. It was perfection, and the characters felt real and their neurodivergencies were handled with such tenderness.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Sarah really knows how to write a romance!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Opposites attract
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
Friends to lovers
Sweet and heartwarming romances
He has tattoos
Ireland setting
Great banter
Daul POV

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
ADHD /OCD rep
Adorable cat
Sarah really knows how to write emotional romances with great mental health rep. I loved getting to learn more about OCD/ADHD

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I wish there had been a little more chemistry

This was absolutely my favorite book written by Sarah Grunder Ruiz.

I was able to listen to the audio - Gary Furlong was a perfect sexy Irishman Jack and Karissa Vacker was a perfect free-spirited Raine. I loved everything about Last Call at the Local and there is literally nothing about the book that I disliked.

I really appreciated how much time that we spent in Jack’s head. The fights with the intrusive thoughts was so hard for me to read because it just absolutely broke my heart - but it was so well done. I fully related to the anxiety that he felt with the intrusive thoughts. And Raine’s ADHD - I have never felt more scene. I loved how she wrote the ADHD without any apology, showing the readers that Raine has accepted that part of her life and doesn’t let it bring her down.

The story as a whole was fantastic - the third act breakup didn’t even feel like a breakup, but instead it felt like a pivotal point of the story that helped the characters really discover where they were meant to be - both in terms of where they lived & who they were meant to be with.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 41%

I’m really conflicted with this one. I don’t dislike it, but I also don’t love it. I can imagine finishing it and feeling overall positive things for it, but I could also stop reading and be fine not picking it back up. Unfortunately, I’m not feeling fully invested in the characters or plot. I think it’s better to put this one down for now.

I do want to note that the OCD and ADHD rep is amazing and isn’t something I’ve read about to this degree of detail before. I also loved seeing Ollie and Nina again and seeing them further down the road. The audiobook narration by Karissa Vacker is fantastic! She does an Irish accent so well. Gary Furlong is also wonderful, but it's Karissa Vacker who really shines.

CW: intrusive thoughts, OCD, ADHD, physical abuse from a parent (past)

*I voluntarily read and listened to an advance review copy of this book*

While I haven't read the first book in this series, I loved Luck and Last Resorts and was excited to dive into the third book in the series. I loved that this was set in an entirely new locale. Instead of on a yacht, we're brought to a pub in Ireland where a singer finds herself after most of her belongings were stolen, and she ends up having a pint with the bar owner. She ends up with a temporary job after accidentally insulting him, and the rest is a wonderful story of friendships, romance, and finding yourself.

I also loved that it tackled OCD and ADHD as well, and enjoyed having characters that were dealing with other things in their lives. While I don't have either condition, I know many who do, and the representation was great to see. I loved too that this picks up about 5 years after Luck and Last Resorts ends, and it's a wonderful continuation of the story.

Another fabulous read by Sarah Grunder Ruiz. Some day I'll go back and read the first in the series!
Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

You know that warm & fuzzy feeling after you’re done reading a book; the one that makes you sigh & give your book (or kindle) a big hug afterwards? That was Last Call at the Local for me. Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s books have quickly become favorites of mine, and this one is right up there with the others.

Sarah Grunder Ruiz has this way of writing that makes you feel comfort; like you’re talking to a friend instead of reading a book. I instantly fell in love with everything about this book the second I started reading. The way Raine & Jack meet, both of them individually, their whole story. Everything. I saw a lot of myself in Raine; her scatterbrained tendencies, her quick wit, the way she needed approval, her drive, and her intentions. My heart went out to Jack and his internal struggles; the whole book wanting to just give him a hug & tell him it will all be ok. With L&LR being one I held so near to my heart, it was so fun to see a continuation of Nina & Ollie’s life and what they’re up to today. I’m definitely giving a piece of my heart to Last Call at the Local and cannot wait to see what other amazing books SGR comes out with next.

A HUGE thank you to Berkley Pub & Sarah Grunder Ruiz for this e-arc. Check out Last Call at the Local on its pub date 1/2/24!

Sometimes I wonder if books affect me more because of my current mood. This book seemed to hit that sweet spot where it filled a need and hit my heart because of where I was mentally that week. I just loved Raine and Jack and their story grabbed me.

Ruiz does an amazing job describing Raine's ADHD and Jack's OCD while making them completely relatable and lovable. They aren't their disorders. They are regular human beings who have a lot to deal with to function in our world. They contribute so much to their lives, the lives of those around them and, of course, each other. Raine has to deal with the loss of everything she owned including the gear that she uses to support herself. Jack never wanted to run a bar but feels it's his place. His anxiety has made him feel he can't tattoo anymore so the bar is a good option. Perhaps because they each have a challenge, but I like to think these two would have been fated even if only one had an issue the other couldn't relate to. By that I mean, they strike me as the kind of people who accept others and see the good and lovable even those that don't fit societies molds..

As if there wasn't enough stress with these two, they also have to deal with misunderstandings and their own fears. These almost cause their relationship to fail soon after it finally really get started. This all adds to the interest for the reader.

I just loved these two, their challenges, their friends and family, their lives. I was so happy to see them find a working solution to their varied life goals.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.