A fun back & forth with some great one-liners, but with my least favourite trope - miscommunication.

I did enjoy this, but not as much as I thought I would. I found myself getting annoyed with the two lead characters & their childishness, despite generally liking them. I loved Izzy's friends & hotel guests & staff all made great side characters.

This wasn't my favourite Beth O'leary & it lacked a little of the emotion that some of her other reads have had. However, an entertaining & fun read for over the festive period.

This was like a rom-com but in book form. Just what I needed in the holiday season! I loved the back and forth between the two main characters, and finding out more about their backgrounds. Also the whole ring fiasco added the perfect humor and fluffiness that I needed.

Was a bit of a slower start than other books by this author, and took me a bit to get into! But I eventually got into it and enjoyed the light read and hotel shenanigans!

4.5 stars

So Beth O'Leary is one of my all time favourite authors and it was upsetting me that I was behind on her books (I still have The No-Show to read) so I decided to pick this one up especially because it was set around Christmas!

I really enjoyed this book and I really grew to love these characters so much. Beth has an amazing way of writing realistic and relatable characters that you cannot help but root for! I found myself hooked from the very beginning and devoured it, eager to watch this romance unfold.

My only issue was the miscommunication, which is one of those tropes I really dislike. While it wasn't as frustrating in this book it really did just have me screaming at the main characters wishing they would talk! Again, this is just a me problem!

Overall, an enjoyable, addictive and light-hearted read that just confirms Beth O'Leary as an auto-buy author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Enemies to lovers? Check!
Forced proximity/workmates? Check
Slow burn? Check

Lucas and Izzy have all of the above in abundance. They cannot be any more differnt - she is quirky and fun, he is straight out serious.

And they hate each other... or do they>

I did find the whole reason Izzy hates Lucas a bit tiresome after a while, adn when we find out what happened it was all, OK, yeah I get it, but the amount of energy she puts into it was a bit OTT.

The pacing felt a bit off to me too. We go from getting ther, to the whole "ring thing" in the main part of the book dragging, to rushing to the end. But again, this is probably just a me issue.

I liked the characters that surround Lucas and Izzy (for the most part, anyways.)

The Wake-Up call is enjoyable enough,but not my favourite Beth O'Leary book.

"The Wake Up Call" by Beth O'Leary exceeded all my expectations and proved to be everything I had hoped for and more. The story, setting, and characters resonated with me, creating an experience I wished wouldn't end. This highly enjoyable and entertaining read is a gem for anyone who appreciates the romance genre.

The Forest Manor Hotel, with its intriguing description, became a place I longed to visit and an enchanting backdrop for the unfolding story. Falling seamlessly into the lives of the characters, particularly Izzy and Lucas, their rivalry, misunderstandings, and simmering chemistry were perfectly portrayed, leaving me rooting for a satisfying resolution for both.

The inclusion of the lost and found rings added an extra layer to the narrative, introducing delightful additional characters and weaving engaging tales around each attempt to reunite the rings with their owners. Overall, "The Wake Up Call" is a delightful journey filled with romance, charm, and a touch of serendipity that I would enthusiastically recommend to fellow romance enthusiasts.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Thank you for my eARC of this book. I loved the premise of this but unfortunately it didn’t hold my attention so I didn’t finish.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable read. I enjoyed the concept and storyline, and the book was engaging.

So fun and sexy and kind of unexpected for Beth O'Leary! I feel she's more of a women's fic/romance cusp girly, but this was more a straight up romance. I really felt the chemistry between the two leads, and I really loved the slight twist of a FMC leaning into her sharper, less people pleasing side for a change for a Christmas story.

Beth O’Leary is the author to turn to when you are in need of a bibliophiliac tonic. Granted, all of her books appear to be made from the same recipe of memorable female protagonist, male antagonist-turned supporter, contemporary setting and a healthy dose of upbeat humour, but this does not diminish the light-hearted enjoyment that each tome offers. In this, her latest offering, O’Leary brings us a female literary protagonist by the name of Izzy Jenkins, whose initial antagonist is Lucas Da Silva who works alongside her at the Forest Manor Hotel. The once charming hotel is now crumbling around them, and the staff have resorted to selling off the hotel’s lost property in an effort to keep their jobs beyond the impending Christmas holiday that does not conjure up much joy. When Izzy find two wedding rings, however, the incurable romantic inside her decides to trace the rightful owners. But could this bold move provide not only a cash injection to the hotel but also a romance injection to Izzy’s life?
Other readers have commented on the often infantile character of protagonist Izzy, but it highlights the comedic value of some of her encounters even more. Whereas the elliptical, grammatically incorrect writing style of O’Leary’s ‘The Flatshare’ had occasionally jarred with me, I found this novel’s writing style more more reader-friendly and suggest that anyone in need of a literary pick-me-up gives this book a chance. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for granting me a free ARC that made this book review possible.

Not my favourite of Beth's books... There was something missing that I can't put my finger on. Just wasn't for me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a DNF at 35% and not because there was anything bad about the book. The writing was good and the characters and plot were well written.

My personal tastes and preferences in my romance books interfered with my enjoyment of the book which is why I'm not continuing.

Fun a festive, this (misunderstood) enemies to loves keeps you on your toes! O'Leary brings us to a hotel on its last legs, and an adventure to find the owners of some lost rings. It's a love letter to love, whether failed or everlasting, and the twists were fun and authentic.

Having enjoyed this author’s previous books, I was excited to read her latest one. This is another great read, definitely a will they, won’t they rom com. Look forward to another page turner from this author

I have been a Beth O'Leary fan ever since I read The No-Show, and I am so excited that I have been able to add this book to my list of favorite romances! The Christmas setting was classic without being too cheesy, and the enemies to lovers vibes kept the story moving. Another hit by O'Leary!

I love Beth's writing. This took me a little while to get into, but once I was in, I was all in! Loved the characters and so wanted their story to have a happy ending. The humour, as ever, is great.

I've loved Beth O'Leary's books since I first read The Flatshare so I really enjoyed reading yet another romantic comedy written by her. I loved the premise of the book and the setting - is there a better place to fall in love than at a Manor in the New Forest? I doubt it! There's something magical about this one and although it's not one of my favourites by O'Leary... I think it's a great book to read if you're looking for some escapism!

Every book I read by Beth O'Leary has me grinning at her witty dialogue and in tears at the clever way she plays on our heart strings. This latest story continues this rich vein and fans will be quickly swept up in the complicated, crumbling nature of Izzy & Luca’s relationship.

I adored Izzy and her helpful ways, she is such a relatable, joyous character. The subplots revolving around the hotel are entertaining & engaging and a lovely counterpoint to the “will they, won’t they” storyline.

It's just marvellous.

I've loved Beth's other books, however I found this one lacking. The characters were ok, but I found the will they/ won't they a bit wearing and I was impatient for it to happen. It dragged on way too long. All the relationship stuff detracted from what was a great back story of them trying to save the fortunes of what sounds like a brilliant country house hotel. Slightly disappointing

The premise of this really spoke to me, it sounded so lovely. However, I didn't enjoy the execution. I didn't really like Izzy or Lucas as main characters, and I didn't believe in their romance at all, The hotel was lovely though, there was a real family feel to the place and I loved the other characters we meet here.