This easily just zoomed straight to the top of my favorite 2023 holiday romances!! All the rave reviews so far for this book are completely warranted. If there's just one holiday book you pick up this year definitely consider this second chance, dual POV story between two exes forced to work together to make it home for Christmas.

Great on audio and full of great emotional depth with an ending that had me crying happy tears. If you enjoy reverse grumpy/grinchy stories, stories about second chances and rekindling lost love, you don't want to miss this one!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!!

(3.75/5 stars)
this was a very fun read! i really enjoyed the journey of understanding the female main character, katherine, and seeing the two leads find their way back to each other. the writing was a bit choppy (y'all have quite a few typos and errors to take care of before this gets printed!) but balanced humor and all of the emotions in the story well. definitely would love to see this as a movie and i think it's a great holiday read - funny and fresh but with a lot of heart!

"Emergency Contact" is a fresh and funny take on the enemies to lovers trope. This is a genuinely enjoyable, emotional rom-com that is engrossing from the start.

Review copy courtesy of NetGalley, opinion 100% my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'd like to start by saying that I absolutely loved this book. This is by far one of the best ones I've read this year. Told from the dual POVs of ex husband and wife, Tom and Katherine, they meet again four years after their divorce when Katherine is in an accident and still has Tom listed as her emergency contact. Their banter is witty, and the tension between them is still there, while Tom has agreed to take care of Katherine for a few days while she heals. The only problem is that Tom is planning to propose to his current girlfriend on Christmas Eve and he and Katherine have to make their way from NYC to Chicago in 24 hours. Missed trains, being kicked off of planes, riding in disgusting busses, sharing a room in a hotel that feels like the inspiration for an Alfred Hitchcock novel, and even hitchhiking don't slow these two down. Will there be a reconciliation between them, or will they stay exes forever? I can honestly say, I rooted for them the entire time, and laughed my ass off along the way.

Okay, this is my first Lauren Layne book, and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this one. It was funny with great conflict to keep me reading. The plot was just plain fun. So much adventure and what's next. This book also had a lot of great emotion, deep and satisfying. I'm so glad I took a chance on new authors and got the chance to read it. I loved this holiday story. My only wAZ Qish is that it had some spice, but I still loved it. I rarely reread books, but I think I will definitely visit this one again. Huge thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book, provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I laughed so hard at this book. I lost track how many times I burst out laughing. It was an absolute joy to read, and it's hands-down one of my top books of the year. I only had one real issue, and I'm not even sure if it's an issue haha But Tom spent the majority of the book waiting to propose to his girlfriend while he took care of Katherine. Is it emotional cheating? I mean honestly, Tom and Katherine were never really over each other, and I think even if he didn't choose to spend the time taking care of Katherine, he might not have gone through with asking Lolo to marry him.

It all starts with a car crash - one where Katherine gets a concussion. But guess who forgot to change her Emergency Contact? Her ex-husband Tom, purchasing an engagement ring for his new girlfriend, is getting ready to head to his parents' house for Christmas when he gets the call. For reasons he can't explain, Tom finds himself at the hospital with a hostile Katherine. But even further, Tom decides he needs to be the one to make sure Katherine stays awake after her concussion. And what better way than to bring her along on his trip home? The one where he's going to propose to his girlfriend?

What follows can only be referred to as madcap hijinks. Like The War of the Roses meets Plane, Trains and Automobiles. It's one crazy mixed up happening after another - and I laughed the whole time. The banter between Tom and Katherine was biting and sarcastic and just plain fun. You can tell they still have feeling for each other, but don't ever want to admit it.

This is not traditional Lauren Layne fare for me, as most of what I've read of hers is steamy romance (re: details hah), but this is a slow burn with no steamy romance-y bits. And I loved every second of it. Lauren Layne is one of my favorites, and I own every single one of her books - this is one of my favorites! Watching Lauren and her husband talk about this book, and getting a feel for their dynamic has been such fun!

Katherine is a New York attorney and making partner is all she cares about. Her dad died on Christmas, and she is the biggest Christmas Grinch ever. She believes making partner will make her dad happy. She has no family or friends so when she is hit by a car her emergency contact is her ex. Tom is a planner and as her husband he felt she did not even realize he was around. They divorced and now at Christmas he has an engagement ring for his girlfriend who is at his parents’ house. He just needs to get there. Tom is a good guy and when he receives the call about Katherine, he can’t just board his plane and leave her. Katherine hates that he shows up but the doctor won’t let her go unless she has someone to care for her. And the fun begins. The obstacles include delayed flights, blizzard, bus accident, sleazy motel, and a truck driver. The banter between Katherine and Tom is priceless. Their love/hate relationship is still flourishing, and they have had time to grow and think about their relationship as they travel. Wonderful characters and great story!

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC. Available 24th October!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Super cute, fun rom-com.
This book definitely had Planes, Trains and Automobiled vibes and I loved it.
The main characters, Katherine and Tom, were enjoyable to read and developed well throughout the book.

Just in time for Christmas as this book has all of the holiday feels.
Highly recommend.

Is there really such a thing as a foolproof plan?

Tom Walsh is about to find out that karma has different plans for him!

NetGalley synopsis:

Katherine, an ambitious New York City attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for forty-eight hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to updated her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with him for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.

My thoughts:

I absolutely LOVED Katherine and Tom’s story and binge-read it after dinner last night. If you need a good laugh and love sarcasm or simply love a great, clean read, you’ll want this one on your holiday reading list. I enjoyed this one so very much that I’m buying a copy for each of my sisters and my mom and popping it in their stockings this Christmas.

It’s good for us to be reminded that the holiday season isn’t so jolly for everyone and that the simple act of reaching out can have lasting effects. Katherine Tate discovers that the past doesn’t always come back to bite us in the a$$ but sometimes offers a hand up.

It’s also good for us to have a reality check every once in a while: What is it that we want? Why are we working so ‘hard’? Is what we’re doing getting us there or are we sabotaging our future?

Finally, I loved reading about second chances. We all need a do-over at some point in our life.

I saw so much of myself in Tom…so much…and I think I was meant to read this book as the year comes to a close. Perhaps learning to be a little less scheduled is something I can work on for 2024!

You’ll be laughing and wiping tears and as you reach the final page, you’ll be glad you added this one to your pile!

I was gifted this copy by Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Let me just get this out of the way... this is a clean romance—which I did not expect, at all.

I read the blurb and was lucky enough to be granted by the publisher a ćò₱¥ ...

I mean sure, there's a little bit of pröfânït¥ and söme insinuation of n@ughtïn€$$... but man, I wish there was a $€X scene... it was almost perfect. I mean, it doesn't even have to be graphic... the other Lauren Layne books have them, why not this one??

I'm not sure if this book was written to include a younger age bracket... but yes, I feel bereft. Felt like the ending was hanging... like I was anticipating and waiting for something pivotal but...none...

I love storyline, I love every single thing... the only thing missing was that one important thing**insert w@iling face emoji**

**sigh**

That's all...

Clean holiday romance with a clever premise. Katherine’s beloved father died on Christmas Day leaving her to dislike the holiday and all that comes with it. On December 23rd she was in a car accident leaving her with stitches and a concussion. Her emergency contact is her ex-husband Tom who arrives at the hospital. She can’t be discharged without someone to watch over her so he makes the decision to take her home to Chicago. She doesn’t know that he is planning to propose to his new girlfriend at midnight.

Kate and Tom become the bickering exes as travel mayhem ensues. The trip to Chicago turns into a Planes, Trains and Automobiles type story. It is hard to have a second chance romance where the couple is divorced as there are usually serious issues to overcome. This one feels more like differences in communication and priorities. Kate was work driven trying to make partner in her law firm. Tom felt neglected and not a priority.

The story alternates between each character's POV and Kate comes off as the more clearly defined person. I’m not sure what Tom does for a living or how he tried to improve things other than leaving the marriage. But as they travel together for two days they remember not only what drew apart but what brought them together. This is sweet and entertaining. For me to give five stars I wanted them to have some honest communication supporting each other and saying how they were going to make it work this time. Too much of the ending is left to my imagination especially since he is in a serious relationship with someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

When attorney Katherine, also known to be a bit of the Grinch, suffers a concussion days before Christmas and must be monitored, it falls in the unfortunate hands of her emergency contact - who just so happens to be her ex-husband. As Tom prepares to head home for the holiday, in part to propose to his new girlfriend, he is forced to take Katherine along with him in a trip that leads to one misadventure after another. Soon old feelings are awakened forcing them both to figure out what they really hope the new year will bring.

You know those books that you finish reading and immediately want to go back and reread? This is definitely one of those books. I knew going into this one that it was a holiday read, however, I had no idea it was going to become my *favorite* holiday read.

Lauren Layne is easily one of my favorite authors. In fact, she is the very reason I stumbled into book reviewing. Her books are insanely bingeable with swoon worthy romance I almost always connect with (cue the emotional lump in the throat that occurs with each and every third act breakup). It is therefore no surprise that her second holiday romance, featuring the addition of her husband Anthony Le Donne as writing partner, was absolute perfection. From the pitch perfect holiday humor to the travel chaos and the fantastic chemistry in between, this book was insanely fun from start to finish.

Told in dual POV, both main characters were fully fleshed out, multifaceted characters who provide the perfect counterbalance. I found Katherine to be a bit of a hot mess to be frank, but also entirely relatable to anyone overworked, overstressed and over-processed come the holidays. She has reason to hate the holidays, and she shows it in every way possible. Tom, on the other hand, is her polar opposite. The bickering and bantering that ensues as a result of their dynamic is in many ways, the best part of the story.

If you only get a chance to read one holiday book this Fall/Winter season, make it this one. I do not think you’ll regret it.

ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
• holiday romance
• second chance
• forced proximity
• opposites attract
• witty banter
• dual pov
• planes, trains, & automobiles

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emergency Contact is a story about Katherine and Tom and their hilariously unfortunate journey to make it home to his family by Christmas Eve. Katie, Tom’s ex-wife gets in a car accident and they notify Tom as he’s still her emergency contact. She suffered a concussion and bad wound to her back so she had no other option but to travel with Tom to Chicago. Little does she know, Tom’s insistent on getting there to propose to his girlfriend, Lolo. Throughly a series of unfortunate setbacks, they’re forced to reminisce on the past and rehash their feelings as they fall in love once again.

Who doesn’t love a second chance at love rom-com book! I thought it was funny, entertaining and it even made me cry. I’d definitely recommend, great read.

I'm typically a big Lauren Layne fan, but this one missed the mark for me. I just couldn't get into the story of connect with the characters. I'm sure it will be a hit for some... but unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I still love LL and she continues to be a "must-read" for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Emergency Contact was the stuff romcoms dream of being! Tom and Katherine's very obvious love for each other desperately trying to be masked by their "hatred" of each other? YES PLEASE. Every single time Katherine makes a mistake along the way and Tom not only accepts but seems to appreciate it, as if he's missed every second of chaos that Katherine causes made my little heart pitter patter.

I enjoyed the feisty banter, quick wit, and sarcastic humor between Tom and Katherine and felt that they had a relationship that jumped right off the page. I read Emergency Contact until 2:30am because I simply could not put it down. It was a fun, engrossing read that's perfect for the holiday season.

Giving 4 stars only because I wish there'd been more heat between Tom and Katherine. I appreciated the intimacy of their relationship but would have loved more spice/romantic moments.

For lovers of 2000’s romcom movies—this book’s for you.


Ex-husband and wife Tom and Katherine never expected to see each other again—much less spend undivided time together. But after an accident, a call to the (not updated) emergency contact becomes the catalyst for a series of debacles. However, throughout their haphazard obstacles as they head to Chicago (where Tom is going to propose to his girlfriend), Tom and Katherine revisit why their marriage fell apart. Full of sharp banter, poignant memories, and heartwarming tenderness, Emergency Contact brings comfort and joy until the very last word.

Dual POV
Second chance romance
Romantic comedy
Forced proximity
Christmas romance
Road Trip

Katherine and Tom divorced 4 years ago but at Christmas time he gets a phone call saying she has been in an accident and he is listed as her emergency contact.

What follows is a madcap journey to get back to Tom's parents place where his family and soon to be fiance wait for him to propose on Christmas eve.

Absolutely nothing goes to plan (and plans are kind of Tom's thing so he's annoyed) and Katherine's career hangs in the balance (he career is kind of her thing so she is also annoyed) but they banter and bicker their way through it and get a second chance.

You'll get all the holiday feels from this book. It was such a fun read.

I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"Emergency Contact" by Lauren Layne is a delightful holiday romcom that managed to warm my heart, earning a solid four-star rating.

Lauren Layne's writing, as always, is top-notch. Her ability to craft fun and entertaining stories in the bustling backdrop of Manhattan is something I've come to love and expect. This book is no exception, offering a perfect escape into the world of romance and holiday magic.

The dynamic between the main characters, Tom and Katherine, is a highlight. I appreciate that their post-divorce relationship isn't a typical case of one person still being hung up on the other. Their mutual dislike for each other felt genuine, and their journey towards rekindling their connection was enjoyable to follow. The misunderstandings that led to their divorce were well-portrayed and made their second chance at love feel all the more meaningful.

However, there was one aspect that didn't quite work for me. Throughout the story, Tom is set to propose to his current girlfriend. While the book doesn't delve into emotional cheating like some others, I found it a bit challenging to fully immerse myself in the romantic tension. The slow-burn aspect is reserved for the last chapter, and I wish there had been more exploration of their feelings throughout the narrative. The one kiss that occurs in the book is, unfortunately, a fleeting moment without much depth.

In the end, "Emergency Contact" is a charming holiday romance that captures the essence of second chances. While I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Tom and Katherine's rekindled connection, I couldn't help but wish for a bit more romantic development before the book concluded. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of Lauren Layne's writing and looking for a heartwarming read, this book won't disappoint.

This was such a surprise for me! I'm not a huge fan of second chance romance, especially ex spouses. But, color me surprised, because I loved this one so much! It shouldn't surprise me that much though, because anything Lauren Layne writes I tend to enjoy. As I said, I usually avoid ex spouses in romance so this is actually my first read in that category. But, it's very likely I will seek out these kind of romances because this was done so well. This is a very clean, and cute holiday rom com. The whole situation of the entire book felt like it was an old movie. It had that zany, this can't actually be happening vibe to it and transported you to their world. Add that to the tension between these exes and it was perfection. The relationship between Tom and Katherine was definitely hard to read at times. My heart broke for all of the past stuff that lay between them. But, man, I rooted for them to make it work this time. The end was so beautiful and cathartic. I just loved this one. I would definitely recommend it.

3.5 stars
Katherine has her life rigidly planned out, according to a plan she and her late father had for her. When she's in a car accident, her ex-husband is called as her emergency contact. Unfortunately, she hasn't widened her friend circle, and she has no family, so her ex-husband is forced to care for her after a hospital stay.
This was a good second chance romance. I didn't care for how shallow Katherine and Tom both seem to be (they each casually hurt others in this story), but it did seem that they fit well together.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.