What a fun trip to Ireland and a tour through an ADHD brain. I have ADHD and it's nice to see more representation and relatable characters. Raine and Jack have great chemistry and I thoroughly enjoyed their banter. Bringing life back into a pub and bringing a village together at the same time brought this romance full circle and I loved the camaraderie. I listened to the audiobook narrated by one of my favorites, Karissa Vacker, and Gary Furlong and they do a fantastic job of bringing the story to life.

A wonderful story about traveling and OCD. Through these neurodivergent characters readers will laugh and feel emotional throughout the story.

The cat, Sebastian, is epic but so is Jack (his owner) and Raine’s love story, struggles, and triumphs.

✨ Review ✨ Last Call at the Local, by Sarah Grunder Ruiz; Narrated by Gary Furlong, Karissa Vacker

The third book in this series by Grunder Ruiz (and less obviously so since it doesn't take place on a ship!!) moves us to Ireland to Ollie's brother Jack (they co-own a bar called The Local) and to Raine (short for Lorraine), a traveling musician who ends up at The Local after getting all of her bags and musical equipment stolen. Jack offers Raine a job for 12 weeks livening up the bar and a place to stay, and like all of Grunder Ruiz's books the characters have great banter and conversation throughout.

The book also tackles and destigmatizes topics of mental health -- Raine has ADHD and Jack has OCD, anxiety, and ADHD. Grunder Ruiz also received an ADHD diagnosis as an adult and this experience really shines through in this book. I also loved the portrayal of Jack, but admit that sometimes it spiked my anxiety a bit listening through his voice.

I really enjoyed the narration - Furlong and Vacker did a great job. I was sucked in and listened to this over the course of a day because it was so engaging.

I'm not sure this story was quite as catchy as the previous two but I still really enjoyed it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.25 stars)
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
Setting: Cork County Ireland
Pub Date: Jan 2, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ black cats & tattoos
⭕️ Ireland
⭕️ musicians
⭕️ mental health representation

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Thank you so much to @berkleyromance for my gifted copy of Last Call at the Local, by @sarahgrunderruiz. This fabulous book is out TODAY, and is not to be missed. It’s one of my (many) most anticipated of 2024, and was worth the wait.

The setting was phenomenal (the details! Wow), and the love story was great, but what really blew me away was the mental health representation, and how that was portrayed. ADHD and OCD were both present, and Grunder Ruiz did an amazing job of showing us both the ins and the outs of each one. I, personally, learned a lot about each.

Pub Day Review: Last Call at the Local

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
[TW: mental health struggles, thoughts of harm]

Is it the 2nd day of 2024 and I have already found my newest book boyfriend? Yall I think that's if I ran into Jack Dunne IRL my husband may be old news 😂 Irish, sensitive, tattooed and family oriented??! Whew child, count me in.

Okay, but in all seriousness. I absolutely adored this novel with all of the serious mental health representation and discussion plus the cute as hell romance. The Bauer was top notch, the romance was swooney as hell and the sexual tension and build up was *chefs kiss* perfection.

More than anything, the mental health rep in this novel is what makes this a 5⭐️ read for me. There are so many open conversations about the impact of stigmatized diagnosis on a persons well being - both positive and negative impacts - as well as looking at these diagnoses outside of the box that we often put them in.
A definite must read for fans of romance.

This is a heartwarming read with charming characters and an Irish setting. It’s a friends to lovers romance with both MC’s dealing with mental health issues.

Raine is a free spirited American musician, traveling through Europe. She’s dealing with the challenges of having ADHD and finds herself in an Irish pub after all her belongings were stolen, including her guitar.

Jack is co-owner of the Irish pub and he’s trying to overcome his fears and anxieties that coincide with his OCD.
The romance is slow and gradual, but realistic. I love the support they have for each other. It was such a sweet read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

Last Call at the Local is Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s third book and another great read. The characters felt very real. I have never met anyone with extreme OCD, so I was caught off guard with the inner turmoil. It also made me want to wrap Jack in a big hug. Raine’s ADHD is something I relate too, and often feel that “hot mess” feeling she talks about. I love how accepting and understanding they are of each other.

I also loved that Raine and Jack did their own thing for their relationship. So many books end in a “happily ever after” kiss with the characters growing old in their porch rocking chairs. I don’t see Raine and Jack doing that and still being perfectly happy. This is hard for some to accept…but I say “Go you!”

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #prhaudio #ltbreaderteam #lastcallatthelocal #sarahgrunderruiz

Welcome to Cobh, Ireland, home of The Local and bar owners Jack and his brother, Ollie.

Raine, an American traveling musician bursts into town, finds herself stranded, and is folded into the found family of The Local.

Last Call at the Local was such a treat to read and absolutely unputdownable! I adored Jack and Raine’s connection and how they just got each other.

“Aithníonn ciaróg, ciaróg eile,” he says. “It’s an Irish proverb. Roughly translated, it means, One beetle recognizes another.”

Jack has OCD and ADHD and Raine has ADHD and their representation seemed authentic and really resonated with me. Raine worked hard to accept herself, Jack worked hard to get back to himself. There were such wonderful side characters, with my favorite of course being Sebastian, the Local’s floofy cat.

I recommend this book to fans of found family, authentic neurodivergent rep, and finding love through unexpected circumstances. I Received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

In Last Call At the Local (set in Ireland) we have Jack, the pub owner, and Raine, the American traveling musician who gets stuck there after her guitar (and other possessions) are stolen.

They’re immediately attracted to each other, and Jack even listens to Raine’s suggestions about his bar, hiring her.

But can a man with OCD— who’s tied to his bar—and a woman who’s nomadic make a romance work? Is love enough, even with the inevitable distance?

As someone who (like Raine) has ADHD, I immediately felt seen from reading this. By Raine, and by Jack, who’s calming to both me and to her.

These characters are so good, earnest, with Jack’s love for cats and Raine’s love for music that reminds me of Ed Sheeran.

This also reminds me of the film Once, except with a longer timeline and an HEA that left this romance reader wholly satisfied.

With a cast of characters who are so lovable, you’ll want to read all of the author’s other books, I highly recommend this.

That is, if you like a slow-burn that starts from sweet flirtation and turns into an unexpectedly strong connection. And two characters who decide their fates rather than letting anyone or anything determine it for them.

Happily, this is my first recommendation for 2024!

Oh, and did I mention Jack’s tattoos? Tattooed cinnamon roll, he is— and I’m here for it!

Thank you again to Berkley Romance for the gifted book! My opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the first two books in the Love, Lists & Fancy Ships series so was really excited to read Last Call at the Local. The first two books are set on a yacht, but this book brings us to a pub in Ireland run by Ollie from Luck and Last Resorts and his brother, Jack. Jack meets traveling musician, Raine at The Local one night and hires her to help spruce up the pub.

Last Night at the Local was my last read of 2023, and it did not disappoint! Sarah Grunder Ruiz writes realistic characters that are dealing with mental health issues. In this book, Raine has ADHD and Jack has OCD. The author does a great job of incorporating the disorders into her characters while educating her readers about them without making it overly clinical. I really enjoyed Raine and Jack and how their chemistry and feelings for each other naturally progressed throughout their story.

I adored Nina and Ollie in Luck and Last Resorts so I was excited they were in this book often. You don’t need to read the first two books in the series to read this one, but I highly recommend it since they’re both really good. The dual perspectives worked really well, and helped us to understand what both Raine and Jack were going through. There was fantastic banter between the main characters, and their chemistry was undeniable.

If you’re looking for a romance with realistic characters, witty banter, some spice, an Ireland setting, and mental health rep, than I highly recommend you check out Last Call at the Local.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz.

This was a really cute book that included (IMO) well-executed representation. I thought Jack's intrusive thoughts and his OCD were especially well-executed and unlike anything I had really read before! Raine has ADHD, and I also thought her character did a really good job showcasing what it's like to struggle with that illness everyday. I think for people who don't understand neurodivergent/representation, this story is a really good tool to utilize to help educate.

I also liked Jack and Raine's flirty banter, chemistry, and romance. I did feel liker interactions lacked chemistry at some points, though, but I think that was honestly the trade-off between romance and representation in the story...so not necessarily a bad thing, but there was definitely some give/take to the story to make room for the representation in my opinion.

Overall, I thought this was a good slow-burn romance!

Rating: 4⭐️

Sometimes I feel like a feral little human. I daydream of running wild, biting ankles and yelling at people to stop interrupting me .

Side note, this is my pet peeve. I hate being interrupted.

I have always had a lot to say in addition to an immense amount of excitement in everything I blurt out, so when someone interrupts me, they are killing my vibe .

Last Call at the Local

I’m here to tell you about this peachy little book I read last night that had me ranting and raving over morning coffee with my book bestie this morning .

“Can you believe that butt hole? What was he thinking!”

“And she did what!!!”

Yes! I’m guilty as charged, I have just read two back to back “romance-y” books and I need you to NOT kill my vibe. I’m chasing rainbows and planting trees over here.

I’m obsessed with Raine and I don’t care how crazy y’all think I am, she exists out there and we’re meant to be besties.

Jack, jack, jack…. I became very protective over Raine but Jack found a way to squirrel into my heart.

This is by far one of the best romance-y, books I have had the luxury of reading. My heart was completely stolen and I hung on Ruiz’, every word. This lovely little lady is headed straight for the bestsellers list.

Am I starting to believe in happy endings?

Stay tuned .

Check out this teaser :

Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family's pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.

Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.

Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.

But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.

Big Thank You to Berkley, NetGalley and Sarah Grunder Ruiz for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review.

Last Night at the Local is out 1/2/2024 and you do not want to miss it!

This is the third SGR I've read, and the third SGR I've loved! Jack and Raine were BOTH my favorite kind of main characters—the ones I just want to give a hug. I adored the mental health rep and (from what I could tell at least) I thought it was done really well.

I particularly enjoyed the through-line that neurodivergent people do not need to be "fixed" to be loved, nor is love some magical cure as it can sometimes be in books with mental health rep. Everyone deserves to be loved, whether they "get better" or not, and I think that part of both stories was handled beautifully.

Thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for the ARC! I flew through this one and loved every minute of it.

I switched from audio to print of this book. The narrators did an excellent job and were perfect for the characters. An Irish narrator fo an Irish character- the accent was perfect. The alternating points of view made the dual narration perfect.

This is the third book in the Love, Luck, and Fancy Ships series, but can be read as a stand alone. that said, I loved the first two, and recommend you pick them up.

this had strong mental health representation, in particular with ADHD and OCD (with an emphasis on intrusive thoughts). Raine has ADHD and is a traveling musician. Her equipment gets stolen in a small Irish town and she ends up at the Local, Jack's pub. Jack has a good feeling about her and offers her a job as an entertainment coordinator until she earned enough money to replace her instrument.

Jack has been in treatment before for his OCD and is trying to manage it on his won, even though he can tell he's relapsing.

Jack and Raine together do such a nice job of normalizing and even celebrating how their brains work differently and figuring out what they need to be successful. Their connection was so nice. This was really more character and relationship development than action, and it really worked for me.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.

I love when a romance brings two perfectly imperfect characters together and this one absolutely did!

Raine dropped out of medical school to pursue musical. She's travelling the world busking for money while writing her own songs and trying to gain confidence to record. When she's robbed in Cobh, Ireland, she finds herself sitting at the bar at The Local, hoping to find a way to not have to call her parents for money for airfare back to Boston.

Jack ends up on the bar stool next to her. They easily fall into conversation and she tells him her predicament. He's part owner of The Local and convinces her to stay and work as their entertainment manager, at least until she can make enough to replace her instruments and such. He promises to be the "most professional coworker" ever.

It doesn't take long for them to catch feelings. But both Raine and Jack deal with struggles - her with ADHD and him with OCD. They share with each other and are open as to why maybe a relationship isn't a good idea. But the connection is there. I loved the way the author handled this, sharing all of the real and raw parts.

I was rooting for Raine and Jack! Also, I didn't know this was a series. It read fine as a standalone, but now I definitely want to read the others. The other characters were fabulous and I need their stories too,

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

Thank you Berkley Publishing for this ARC!

Representation? Check
Opposites attract? Check
Set in Ireland? Check

Honestly, the perfect recipe for a charming book! This is my first novel by Sarah Grunder Ruiz and I’m sad that I haven’t found her sooner!

Raine Hart finds herself in a bit of a predicament. She’s been busking her way across Europe but has recently been divested of her belongings, and as a result, also of her livelihood.

When she sits down at the bar of Jack Dunne’s pub in Cobh, Ireland, and gives him her unfiltered opinion of his establishment and what it could become, Jack wants to hire her on the spot to implement her vision. There’s an attraction between the two, but he vows to be her “most professional coworker”.

There’s an undeniable connection between them, but he’s her boss and there’s an end date scheduled for her stay in Cobh.

Read it for
- The mental health rep (ADHD and OCD with anxiety and intrusive thoughts)
- The MMC with the bad boy aesthetic who loves art, loves to read, and wants to take care of everyone
- The creative whirlwind of an FMC who brings life back to the pub
- The cat, Sebastian (AKA Princess Ugly)
- The glimpse into Ollie and Nina’s life together post-Luck and Last Resorts
- The feeling of being loved and accepted just as you are
- The understanding that everyone deserves joy and everyone deserves to be loved
- The understanding that others don’t have the right to define what love, happiness, and relationships should look like for the ones in love

This book made me feel seen. It’s Sarah Grunder Ruiz’s best one yet.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Note: While not absolutely necessary, I highly recommend reading this series in order. Luck and Last Resorts gives background on the Dunne family and their pub.

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the authentic OCD and ADHD rep in this book. Sarah has a way with creating fully fleshed out characters and stories and I was here for it. I loved seeing Ollie and Nina make appearances and Jack work through his triggers and dark days. Just all around a book that will make you emotional in the best way.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Last Call at the Local is the third and final of Sarah Grunder-Ruiz's Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships trilogy. This book features Jack Dunne, Ollie's brother, and it's entirely set in Ireland.

Raine ends up in Cobh, Ireland when her possessions are stolen during a sidewalk busking performance. She visits the Local, as she decides what to do next. And Jack convinces her to stay for a bit to work as the pub's entertainment manager while she tries to get back on her feet.

I really appreciated the love of travel and music that shine through this book. And both Raine and Jack are such fabulous covers. Sarah Grunder-Ruiz wrote each so well with special attention to the nuances of OCD and ADHD. This is one of the first romances I have seen address accommodations, and I was so impressed.

I also really enjoyed the exploration of family, and especially the bond between siblings, for both main characters. Add in a delightful cat and an amazing set of locals at the pub. This was such a lovely story.

Karissa Vacker is one of my very favorite narrators. She was joined by Gary Furlong. Together, they gave an amazing performance, and I was enthralled by all the Irish accents.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you @prhaudio for my copy of THE LAST CALL AT THE LOCAL

This was a quick listen, and I have read a previous novel by Ruiz in the past, so this one can also be read as a stand-alone.

I really appreciated a novel with ADHD, OCD and others bringing awareness for those less familiar.

I had trouble connecting with the FMC, Raine and her sister (she was actually frustrating to me). I really adored Jack, the MMC, he accurately portrays his diagnosis and I felt deeply connected with his struggles. I’d recommend reading this one for his storyline and thoughts alone.

If you’re looking for mental health representation in a novel, this is one you can add to your list, as long as you don’t mind heavy Irish swearing.