Last Call at the Local was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024. This book made me feel ALL the things. I smiled, I laughed, I learned, and I even shed a few tears. Even though my life experiences vary significantly from Raine and Jack (Nina & Ollie as well), Sarah’s endearing characters deal with relatable challenges; I root for every couple she creates. Cat Dad, Jack Dunne, with his charming “Bad Boy Aesthetic” was the softest, sweetest male lead.

There were so many things I loved about this book:
•Irish setting
•ADHD (Raine) and OCD (Jack) rep.
•A unique nickname, “ciaróg”
•Forced proximity
•Text exchanges
•Updates from Nina & Ollie

Things that I didn’t like:
•As much as I loved the ADHD and OCD rep, at times the book felt heavy.
•I would have loved to see more of Jack’s recovery process towards the end of the book. The reader was immersed in his OCD experience, but then the details began to taper out towards the end.
•I would have liked a more concrete HEA.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this series and look forward to reading whatever Sarah writes next! Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the e-ARC; all thoughts are my own.

This book scratched the itch for a sweet international romance! I will purchase it for a display about "like this movie / read this book" I think it's perfect for fans of Maid of Honor and Leap Year. I especially appreciated the representation of mental illness Ruiz provided.

Ollie’s younger brother Jack is the focus of the third book in the Love, Lists & Fancy Ships series and it’s set in Ireland!

Jack and Raine are strangers-to-friends-to-lovers that have an instant connection and amazing chemistry that makes it easy for them (and readers) to forget why they wish to remain just friends. Jack’s OCD and Raine’s ADHD play huge roles in their life decisions. Their relationship progression and the ending perfectly fits them.

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 is not all lighthearted and does many heavier topics, such as parental expectations, domestic abuse when young, and A LOT of mental health issues. I realize that not everyone’s experiences are the same, but it was eye-opening that OCD could presented itself in such a harmful way. The ADHD representation was also extremely well done. I’m thankful for the author for this representations in her characters.

This was such a beautiful beautifuuuuuul, loving romance. It felt like such a warm hug. I adored Jack and Raine so much! They were so imperfectly perfect for each other. Ugh, when you find your person! They both were each other's rocks and helping stones yet the biggest cheerleaders for each other too. I was kicking my feet 5% in when they first met. The banter?! The conversations! The black cat! A trifecta of things I loved.

The ADHD and OCD rep was amazing and truly stood out to me. I learned so much yet feel so seen with this and I know SO many people will too. I was rooting for them individually and for their relationship, their adventures, and just seeing their growth- it's so special to see. Raine's relationship with her sister was also very relatable! I loved all the side characters and the setting of being in Cobh, Ireland. The pacing of the book is exactly what I love in my reading experience and I cannot wait to read more from Sarah again! 🥰

"How can you think you're too much, when I can't get enough of you?" Jack to Raine!!!

"You can't be responsible for everyone, Jack. You'll kill yourself trying. You've got to live with a little uncertainty."

After her instruments are stolen, American singer-songwriter Raine finds herself sitting at a local pub in Ireland. Pub owner and tattoo artist, Jack, offers Raine a temporary job as event coordinator to help liven up the pub.

Raine and Jack were great characters with lots of chemistry. I always enjoy a book with good banter and character growth. Issues of OCD and ADHD were realistic and I like the way the author shared Jack's inner thoughts and struggles. Raine and Jack were so supportive of each other in this heartwarming story. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

You had me at Irishman with tattoos. Very cute book! I love when I have dual POV, and the metal Health representation was great and seeing both of them guide and help each other. The small town (albeit small pub) setting was lovely, and the story itself was just such a relaxed vibe. It got a little slow in beginning, but that didn’t take away from the book I think it just made for more leisurely reading. Gotta go book a flight back to Ireland now :)

I really loved the setting and the characters in this one but you all know I'm not a fan of insta-love and this one definitely had that vibe. But bring me back to Ireland anytime because I was crushing on tattooed Jack pretty hard! I was really interested while reading about Raine’s experience with ADHD and Jack’s experience with OCD - I think mental health representation is always needed and I love how it's done very organically and through 2 people in a relationship. While this can definitely be read as a standalone, I loved characters from the previous books popping up in this one! Found family books always warm my heart and that's an element I really enjoyed in this book. The audiobook narration was wonderful - definitely recommend on audio!

This might be one of my first books read this year, but I can already tell that it will make my top books of the year list. This book is everything! I absolutely loved the romance between Raine and Jack. The way they supported and loved each other throughout the story was so beautiful. And the mental health representation is so well done. Especially Jack's. So many people think having OCD is just being clean and tidy, like Jack says in the book. However, it is so much more than that and seeing Jack struggle through it was so realistic to my own experience. It definitely made me emotional. The way Raine and Jack grew as individual characters and in their relationship was so beautiful.

I also loved the side characters, and hope we get to see more of them in future novels.

I highly recommend this romance. Please go and read it!

2.5 Stars

Raine suffers from ADHD and decides to go backpacking through Europe playing her guitar. This is the perfect distraction from her life, but things are not as smooth as she had hoped. When she lands in Ireland, she doesn’t have any of her belongings and is a bit lost. She finds herself venting to a perfect stranger at a pub who offers her a solution.

Jack is the owner of the pub, and has his own set of issues. He is left to run his family’s business but his OCD and anxieties are getting in the way of accomplishing that goal. Raine is full of ideas and charm so he decides to help her out by hiring her. She needs a place to stay and a bit of cash and he could use the help. It is not like she will be there long. Or will she?

This is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed it at times but then again, I kind of felt bored by the whole storyline. This should have ticked my boxes but somewhere along the way, I found myself just not caring as much as I had hoped to. Jack and Raine are both good characters and they do fit each other well they just lacked the excitement that I needed for this to be a perfect romance.

The realistic way that the author wrote the main characters and their issues should be applauded. She really got into details of how someone with ADHD and OCD would behave. Jack and Raine actually have a very healthy relationship. They took time with each other to fully understand what the other would need. However, the passion and excitement did not rev up at any point. The slow burn was a bit too slow for my taste.

The scenery and cozy vibes the author paints of Ireland make the perfect backdrop to the story. I think that is became too much of a focus just as ADHD and OCD took over. It kind of spiked a bit of tension in me as I just wanted them to fall in love and be done with it.

Overall, I would still recommend this book for fans who need a quiet, low-angst contemporary romance.

~ Samantha

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a sweet heartwarming romantic novel. We meet Raine Hart, our heroine, who quit med school, setting off on her own journey, since it was her family that pressured her to become a doctor. Raine travels throughout Europe as a traveling musician/songwriter; enjoying her love of music; preforming for tips in major cities. To her dismay, Raine discovers that someone stole her belongings, which includes her guitar. She ends up in a small Irish town, with very little money; despondent that she probably will need to go home to Boston. Raine ends up in a pub, The Local in Cobh; hoping to be able to charge her phone; and meets the pub owners, Jack and Ollie.

Jack Dunne, our hero, sits next to Raine, learning about her stolen goods, and when she impresses him about her visions to fix up the pub, he offers her a job. Jack wants Raine to help revamp the pub and temporarily plan events, bringing new life in the pub. Raine accepts the job, which gives her a chance to save money for the next few months; enabling her to continue her journey.

In a short time, both Raine and Jack begin to have feelings for each other, as they not only had great chemistry, but wonderful banter between them. They made a great couple, but Jack had his own issues, as he has OCD, which hinders him to not help with pub or his love of doing tattoo’s. Raine, who had some experience from her med school days, would try and help Jack; with both supporting each other.

I really loved Jack and Raine together, as they had a sweet swoony romance. The secondary characters were all awesome, especially Ollie, Nina, Clara, Aoife, Roisin; not to mention the adorable Sebastian (black cat)

With Raine’s time coming near, she makes her plans to continue her journey through Europe, and promote some of her songs. Jack knows Raine will leave, but also knows he needs to work at handling his OCD. Raine will continue to text him daily about her music, and when Jack is ready to resume his love of doing tattoo’s, the love they have for each other will bring them back together.

Last Call at the Local was a wonderful, sweet, charming, endearing story, with a great couple, wonderful secondary characters and a captivating journey. Last Call at the Local was so very well written by Sarah Grunder Ruiz. I wholly suggest you read this book.

This book was all good vibes for me. Totally heartwarming and a great start to my 2024 reading. The plot was kind of the dream, right? Visit an Irish pub, meet the owner, fall in love? Sign me up. The book has the cozy and inviting atmosphere that you’d want out of a Irish pub.

Raine and Jack were so loveable! They seemed tailor made for each other, with the perfect give and take between their messy brains. SGR wrote this slow burn romance with so much care. So much of its focus was on ADHD and OCD, and it taught me a lot about what those thought processes can be like.

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Thank you for the free book @berkleyromance!! #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram

𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

What if you love traveling but somehow along the way you fell in love with a local? Would you stay in his hometown or give up traveling?

If you relate to this dilemma, you have to read this book!

This one takes us to a small town in Ireland plus all these tropes:
☕️ renovating a family business: Irish pub
☕️ shameless flirting
☕️ workplace romance
☕️ friends with benefits
☕️ tattooed men
☕️ music
☕️ OCD and ADHD rep
☕️ sibling rivalry
☕️ cats
☕️ adorable small town with all the quirky side characters

This was my last read of 2023 and it did not disappoint! I enjoyed reading this one even if I haven’t read the other two books — I didn’t even know it was part of a series so definitely can work as a standalone!

This comes out today and definitely worth the read if you’re looking for a travel romance with some spice!

💭 How did you guys spend New Year’s?
☕️ We didn’t drink/ party NYE because we wanted to go to the gym. So we did that then had dairy queen after making a blizzard my first meal of 2024 😂

Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a heartwarming and comforting book that embraces its readers. Raine and Jack, the main characters, are truly endearing individuals whom I have had the pleasure of encountering. Their love, filled with affirmation and compassion, was an absolute delight to experience within the pages of this remarkable novel.

I love Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s previous works and was excited to read her newest romance novel, especially because it is set in Ireland. While I still enjoyed this story for the most part, it is my least favorite of the series.

Raine is a traveling musician who spends her time busking around Europe. After her guitar and other equipment gets stolen, she finds herself unsure what to do while she sits in an Irish pub. There she meets Jack- the young, handsome, tattooed pub owner. Sparks fly quickly, but will this traveling musician want to put roots down in Ireland?

Let’s talk about what I liked: the mental health rep (OCD, anxiety, ADHD), the setting (I love romances set in Ireland), Nina and Ollie (from books 1 & 2). Now let’s move on to what I didn’t like: the lack of conflict, the pacing, and the abrupt ending. Overall this book was enjoyable for the most part, but it was not my favorite couple or romance. But bonus points for the black cat sidekick.

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

In the 3rd book of the Love, Lists and Fancy Ships series, we’re introduced to Jack Dunne, brother of Ollie from book 2, and Raine Hart, a med school dropout and musician who was busking her way around Europe until she had her equipment stolen (including the prized Gibson guitar from her grandfather) right out from under her in colorful, picturesque Cobh, Ireland. Left with only the clothes on her back, her phone and passport, and the spare change in her pockets, she stops into the Local pub for a pint. Shortly after, she meets the charming, handsome Jack and the attraction is instantaneous. After asking her opinion about what the pub needs to draw more traffic and listening to her constructively critical suggestions, he reveals that he’s co-owner and that he wants to offer her a job as their new events coordinator. It’s a temporary arrangement, only until she can earn enough to replace her equipment and revamp the pub. Of course, that’s more than enough time for them to give into their growing feelings for each other.

What elevates this heartwarming romance over other friends-to-lovers offerings are the challenges both main characters face. Jack, after years of physical abuse from his father, suffers from intrusive thoughts due to OCD and that, combined with having to move home to take over the pub following his death, caused him to give up his tattooing career. Raine has ADHD and has always felt she was a disappointment to her doctor parents, especially after she quit medical school to become a full-time itinerant musician. Neither one of them is confident in their talent, but they bond over their mental health issues, see in each other what they fail to see in themselves, and lovingly accept what makes them different. Ruiz has chosen a dual POV which enables her to use her characters’ own voices to describe what goes on in their brains that keeps them from trusting themselves to be in a relationship and sharing their talents.

Although this is only Ruiz’s third book, she has already established herself as a thoughtful writer who tackles everything from grief to mental illness with sensitivity, makes liberal use of humorous banter, and treats her characters with dignity. Fans of Chloe Liese and Talia Hibbert will love her books. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkley Romance in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

was so excited to be invited on the tour for Last Call at the Local. I loved the Luck and Last Resorts books so this was on my TBR. It is the story of a free-spirited American woman who ends up in a family owned local pub in Ireland after her belongings were stolen. It was the sweetest romcom mixed in with a very honest look at mental health issues. I loved the characters, I loved the look at life in Ireland, I loved the banter and the texting, I loved the cat (and I am not a cat person). And I loved the reference to the yacht series. It was heartwarming and fun.

Incredible, amazing, one of a kind, beautiful, brilliant. I loved this book with my whole soul. I truly don’t know why I haven’t gotten to know Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s books before but now I definitely will.

Author Sarah Grunder Ruiz has been hit and miss with me, the first book in this series was a total hit and the second a total miss, but I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. This author’s books are always full of surprises and while a relationship is always a part of the story, the books are about so much more and that is the case with Last Call At The Local. This was not an easy story; it was raw and moving and did not sugar coat the problems the neurodivergent characters dealt with on a daily basis. At times it was so brutally honest it was hard to read, yet it was also compelling and I didn’t want to put the book down. Is this a typical romance? Not by a long shot, but it is a story of two people living life with obstacles, taking control of their own destiny, and finding love along the way and I loved it very much.
After fighting her way through two years of medical school, Raine decided to live life on her own terms and gave into her urge to travel and busk her way through Europe. Her ADHD brain often leaves her a bit scattered and so when she’s the victim of theft of most of her belongings she dreads having to call her family for help. A stop at a pub called The Local – Cobh in Cobh, Ireland she is surprised it doesn’t have the happy and upbeat feel of most pubs she’s been in and she’s disappointed this will be her last pub experience before she has to return to Boston. When a good looking, charming and tatted man sits next to her, she shares her feelings about the pub only to find out that Jack is one of the owners. When he finds out about her misfortune he offers her a job to help the pub bring in more people and become a better place.
I loved the chemistry between these two from the start and both characters had well developed though Jack a bit more so. I adored Raine and how music centered her; while she was aware of how ADHD affected her life she didn’t let it run her life. She was upfront and honest in how it affected her daily, but worked hard to not let it impact those around her. I would have liked to know more about her relationship with her family and hoped when her sister showed up that would have been explored more. Jack’s story really packed a punch; living with his OCD and the thoughts he had throughout his day. Jack was such a nice guy but his struggle every day to keep the intrusive thoughts at bay was exhausting. His OCD impacted every facet of his life and I hurt for him and wanted nothing more than to see him win in all aspects of his life.
One of the very best parts of this book was the way Raine and Jack accepted each other completely without judgment. I appreciated how much they supported one another even when it was hard.
Last Call At The Local was a slow burn romance and that worked for these two people who very much needed someone who knew, understood, and accepted them just as they are. It was an incredible story and one I won’t soon forget.

This book pulled on all my heartstrings and I read it in less than 12 hours.

The things I loved:
The mental health representation and how realistic it was.

The love story.

The fast pace.

All the minor characters.

Just everything was so fun and different than anything I’ve read before.

This book is amazing and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

4.25 glowing stars!

Last Call at the Local, the third installment in the Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships series by Sarah Grunder Ruiz, lives up to the previous installments: Characters who jumped off the page, a memorable setting, and a charming romance that kept me turning pages.

I read the two previous books in the series out of order, reading the second one first when I received it as an ARC, but I adored it. I think it still remains my favorite overall. But I couldn’t wait to go back and pick up the first one. Reading the series out of order didn’t effect my experience at all. While there are overlapping characters, each book can be read as a standalone. In the first book we meet Jo, who is a stewardess on a yacht, although more time is spent off the yacht. The next book focuses on Nina and Ollie, Jo’s fellow employees and friends, and most of this one takes place on the yacht, which I adored. In Last Call, we meet Raine and Jack, and Jack is Ollie’s younger brother. It is almost entirely set in a pub in Ireland, so no yachts in sight, but plenty of charm.

Ruiz does a wonderful job of keeping things light while tackling some very serious subjects. In Last Call, Jack’s intrusive thoughts caused by his OCD, the root of which stems from a difficult childhood, seems to be resurfacing when Raine, who is living with ADHD, shows up at the pub in a bit of a bind. What ensues is an adorable meet-cute and a budding friendship. Plus there is an adorable precocious cat named Sebastian.

The author handled the mental health issues with grace and if you know anyone living with these challenges, you will probably recognize the character traits.

I enjoyed seeing Nina and Ollie again, quite a few years after the ending of Luck and Last Resorts. We don’t spend a lot of time with them, but they remain in the background of the story throughout.

I adored Raine and Jack, and I loved that they adored each other from the beginning. They were open and honest, no issues of miscommunication here, which was refreshing. And they accepted each other, embracing all their flaws, as well. Ruiz succeeded in painting a picture of what a healthy relationship between two people struggling with mental health issues can look like.

This one is a dual point of view with a very open door romance, so much positivity and joy, and an ending that satisfies! Be prepared to fall for adventurous Raine and cinnamon roll Jack as these two steal your hearts and make you long to own a pub in Ireland.