I recently finished reading The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary, and I must say it pleasantly surprised me. I’ve always enjoyed stories with a touch of humor and heart, and this book delivered both in spades. As someone who loves the dynamic of opposites finding common ground, I was immediately drawn in by the story of Izzy and Lucas—two people who begin as sworn enemies, forced to work together in a failing hotel.

What I appreciated most was how O'Leary managed to make even the most contentious interactions feel genuine and engaging. The setting of Forest Manor Hotel is so vividly brought to life; the sense of community among the staff and guests felt real and warm, despite the looming threat of closure. As Izzy and Lucas are forced into cooperation, I found myself rooting for them, not only to save the hotel but to overcome their personal conflicts.

The way the author weaves humor into the narrative without undermining the emotional stakes is truly masterful. I loved how the characters evolved—what started as mutual disdain slowly gave way to an unexpected bond that promised the possibility of love where neither of them thought it could exist. It’s a reminder that sometimes the people we clash with the most might just be the ones who help us grow.

Overall, The Wake-Up Call is a delightful read that managed to balance conflict, comedy, and romance. It’s a book that not only entertained me but also left me with a sense of hope and a smile on my face. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted story of transformation and unexpected connections.

This was definitely an easy, fun read although a little slow at the start. Some laugh out loud parts and a great storyline. It you need to escape then this will definitely help.

Thank you Netgalley.

Oh, the banter! The aching desire! The enemies to lovers rivalry! The miscommunication! The blistering tension! The chemistry! Lucas!!

LOVED #TheWakeUpCall.

#ThatRingThing.

'A fine line between pissed off and turned on'

'Weak with wanting'

absolute loved, beth o leary has done it again. Couldn't put it down, a brilliant enemies to lovers book.

Another solid romance by Beth O'Leary - a quick, easy read with a different take on the genre. Perfect for a beach holiday!

Another great book from Beth O’Leary, brilliant rom-com with great characters and entertaining storyline. Loved it!

Another great book by Beth O’Leary, you can’t really go wrong with her books.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This book is an absolute joy to read. As a reader you feel part of the family and invested in the outcome. I loved every chapter! Feel good and funny with a huge dollop of sexy shenanigans and romance. This book cannot fail to entertain. And make you feel happy. Read it now!

Thank you Netgalley

Beth O'Leary's writing just gets better and better. This is excellent. Brilliant characters and believable interactions. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall this was a solid read which was fun read with relatable characters. I thought the pacing was good and there are moments that keep you hooked, but others draghed on a tad to long which made it hard to stay fully engaged.

As always, Beth's writing style is breezy and modern, which made it an easy read to get through. The romantic elements was very enjoyable, but the chemistry between the characters felt a bit forced at times. It's a good pick for a sunday reading session or a beach read where you just want something easy and chill to pass the time. 3.5 stars but I will ALWAYS read whatever Beth brings to the table.

This book was a middle of the road one for me. I found the story a bit slow to develop, and some parts of it I found hard to get on board with (would a hotel in financial hardship be able to put up an extravagant Christmas party? Sometimes Izzy was hard to root for, but overall, it's a good story

"The Wake-Up Call" by Beth O'Leary is a quintessential romantic comedy, perfect for fans of the genre looking for a light-hearted read. The novel follows a familiar "will they, won't they" dynamic, which, while charming at times, can feel drawn out. The subplot involving the lost property wedding rings adds a delightful twist, providing some of the book's most enjoyable moments. However, the overall pacing might not keep all readers on the edge of their seats. This book is best suited for a holiday read when you're in the mood for something easy and entertaining, rather than a gripping, page-turning story.

I love Beth O'Leary's writing, she's a mastermind at writing messy complicated relationships. Would recommend to anyone.

I enjoy this author's books, and this was a fun read too. I don't know how memorable it will be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Such a cute festive romance. The dual stories of saving the hotel with all the characters pitching in and the emerging romance of enemies to lovers, Izzy and Lucas is so heartwarming.

The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Quercus and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Two hotel receptionists--and arch-rivals--find a collection of old wedding rings and compete to return them to their owners, discovering their own love story along the way.

It's the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel's front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.

The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost & found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel--and their jobs.

As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?

My Opinion

Whilst set around Christmas, this book is more about trying to save the hotel than festivities. Firstly, I have to say that I love the banter between Izzy and Lucas and in places I found myself getting frustrated with the pair. This was a light-hearted, lovely read. Of course, this is a predictable read but sometime predictability helps me enjoy a book. A great read if you need to relax.

Rating 4/5

This was just such a wholesome treat of a book. I've been a fan of Beth O'Leary since the very beginning and she just goes from strength to strength. Cannot wait to see where she goes next!

I'm a huge fan of Beth O'Leary, so was eager to rip into this one. It did not disappoint. There's a lot here to tick my boxes - a festive setting, likeable 'found family' work environment, and two protagonists that are easy to root for. What makes this slightly different from O'Leary's other books is just how *hot* and *sexy* this book is. She really lets loose with this one and it was absolutely fabulous escapism. Another surefire hit on her hands.

It’s a well known fact around Forest Manor Hotel that Izzy and Lucas don’t get on, he’s uptight and aloof she’s frivolous and needlessly friendly, it’s oil on water, it’s grumpy versus sunshine, it’s enemies to lovers but when their beloved hotel is in trouble differences must be set aside for the greater good. I read this a while ago and have been extremely tardy in writing a review so I’m a bit fuzzy on the details I’ll admit. I did enjoy this though it was a lot of fun, I did find Izzy slightly annoying but as a natural grump I always find sunshine a difficult one to get right. Also the original cause for their enmity was a bit thin I think. I did enjoy the ring competition element and the permanent resident storyline. A nice Christmassy story.

I was nervous about this one! I absolutely adored The Flatshare, didn’t love The Switch or the Road Trip but then I really enjoyed The No Show. It was hard to tell where this one would end up. The first half for me felt like a slow burn, I wasn’t invested in Izzy or Lucas to begin with. That took a turn just over half way through and I felt like I flew through the remainder of the book. I wasn’t a fan of what I’ve seen called the ‘miscommunication trope’ and deep down I just wanted more romance from earlier on in the book. Having said that the second half of the book really picked up for me and I did really enjoy it.