The story of Simone and Jasper. After meeting in passing, she ends up doing her community service at the homeless shelter where he works. I didn't really like her, but I guess that was the point, but even at the end I felt she hadn't really changed and redeemed herself.

Community Service by Sal Thomas is a wild ride! I wasn't quite sold on the plot line at first..... but I hadn't read anything like it before, so I decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did! The wickedly hilarious one-liners and witty banter totally sold me on this book! I actually called my husband several times to read him quips of the book! I would definitely read this author again.
I also appreciate that this book brought light to the homelessness epidemic and some of the struggles that are faced. It's funny with a noteworthy cause!

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for early access to read Community Service in exchange for an honest review. It is an entertaining read, don't let the negative reviews detour you!

I think this book had a few good moments and quippy one liners and I enjoyed the overall message! Unfortunately, I don’t think this one was for me.
The opening scene was a bit too vulgar for me, and took me out of the book and some scenes after didn’t make it better. I did begin to like the main character a bit as time went on, but I didn’t for a while and that also took me out of it.
I don’t think it’s a bad book, I just think it wasn’t for me!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review.

Could finding herself in trouble mean finding herself in love?

PR exec Simone Stephens mistakes a real cop for a cosplay reveler and ends up sentenced to volunteer at a local homeless shelter. Far from her slick, cynical world, she repeatedly embarrasses herself in front of the handsome resident psychologist, Jasper. Despite a rocky start, Simone finds her feet and begins to make a difference. Sent there to atone, she might also find herself—and maybe even love—in the process.

At first, I found it hard to connect with Simone. She seemed shallow and overly focused on her looks and career. But, like Scrooge, her time at the shelter slowly makes her rethink her life choices, especially as her interest in Jasper grows and their banter becomes more fun. The book also does a great job showing how big businesses hide negative publicity. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Simone’s past, which made me unexpectedly sympathetic towards her.

Be warned, there are some spicy moments, including an affair with a married man. Despite my initial reservations, I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. It reminded me to always give a book a chance, even if I’m unsure at first.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter.

Community Service by Sal Thomas was an enjoyable journey.
I really enjoyed reading this story. The author writes very well with truly engaging characters.
This was a funny and realistic story that I truly enjoyed.

Thank You NetGalley and One More Chapter for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

An extremely cynical thirty something PR exec finds herself sentenced to complete community service at a local homeless shelter and there she finds meaning to her prior somewhat pointless existence. It’s a world away from her polished, cynical world, but she’s going to put her head down and get through it. That is until she has a meet cute with Jasper, who is a psychologist at the shelter and we get to see her growth throughout the story. Simone soon finds herself immersed in the lives of the residents and wanting to make a difference and finding it giving her own life a purpose and even unexpected love.
There’s loads of clever and witty banter, sarcasm (my fav!) and steam 🌶️
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

PR exec Simone finds herself in trouble when she mistakes a real cop for a cos play one, ending up helping out at a homeless shelter as her community service.
Initially I really couldn't take to Simone, she comes across as shallow, obsessed with her looks and career driven at the expense of anyone else. In a Scrooge-like way her experience at the shelter gradually makes her question her lifestyle choice, especially as her interest in Jasper, the resident psychologist, grows with the banter between them. It is probably more true to life than I would like to think in the way it describes how big business manages to hide any negative publicity. As the story develops you find out the reasons for how she is and start to feel sympathy for her, something I couldn't imagine at the start. Be warned there are several very spicy moments, including an affair with a married man.
In the end this is a book that I ended up enjoying more than I thought at the start, reminding me to always give a book a chance even if initially I really want sure about it.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This was an ok read, it’s got a few red flags. I think the topic is relevant and enjoyed reading about it.

Simone has just assaulted a police officer and needs to do community service in the homeless shelter. Hunky Jasper works there and she’s excited. It’s not what she planned to do in her holidays from work, but that is life.

I liked the plot, but it’s a bit crude and full of swears which was off putting. Simone is not the friendly character I hoped she would be, she’s bitter and thinks men all want one thing. She lacks self confidence. I liked the homeless shelter and I think it’s good to write about this subject.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and really thought it would be like the last one, I’m hoping the next book will have less swearing, sex and crude talk. A 3.5 read.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Unfortunately this just wasn’t the book for me, I thought it was a whole lot of words and a whole lot of nothing. I didn’t connect with the main character and just found the whole book a bit boring.

★
———————
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to review this book.

I’m sorry but this is not the book for me…
I normally don’t mind bad language or anything else in that matter but something about how this one started off just turned me away from it asap. I tried to read more but I just can’t.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me the arc & the publisher.

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐚𝐦-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐦, 𝐬𝐞𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫. 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝! 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥; 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐲𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐑 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒮𝒶𝓁 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓈, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝒰𝒦, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

Review to Come

I love the cover design ❤️
The description peaked my interest…
This is a new author to me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

I'm going to start by saying this wasn't the light and easy read I expected when I requested it. The subject matter of homelessness and Simone's adjacency to it via her court mandated community service makes it difficult for it to be a light and fluffy romance book.
Yes, there is a romance subplot but I honestly thing that the emphasis is on Simone's character growth throughout the book.
Overall I did enjoy the book even though it was a heavier read than I had anticipated.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Der Klappentext dieser britischen contemporary romance hörte sich außergewöhnlich und sehr frisch an, da habe ich mit Begeisterung zugegriffen. Doch beim Lesen wurde mir leider recht schnell klar, dass die Ausrichtung des Liebesromans nicht ideal für mich ist.

Schon den Einstieg in das Buch fand ich eher befremdlich als unterhaltsam. Ein paar Szenen im Buch erinnerten mich an TV - Serien wie "Sex & the City”, was in meinem Fall leider nicht positiv zu verstehen ist, da ich kein großer Fan der Serie bin. Im Leben der Heldin ist auf allen Ebenen so einiges los und manches wirkte auf mich etwas übertrieben, verwirrend und wenig anziehend. Auch funktionierte der Humor für mich zu selten.

Es fiel außerdem mir schwer, die Hauptcharaktere ernst zu nehmen und sie mir als echte Personen vorzustellen. Auch war mir die Heldin nicht in jeder Szenen sympathisch.

Zudem konnte mich die Liebesgeschichte leider überhaupt nicht packen und mein Interesse an den Geschehnissen nahm nach ein paar Kapiteln erheblich ab.

Schade, aber das Buch war definitiv nicht mein Fall.

Keine Bewertung, da abgebrochen.

Für wen?

Wer britische Liebesromane mag, die einen leicht eigenen Humor haben und in denen so einiges los ist, für den könnte “Community service” einen Versuch wert sein. Mögt ihr zusätzlich noch Serien wie "Sex & the City”, könnte das Buch für euch vielleicht sogar super sein.

I enjoyed reading this book but I couldn't connect with the characters and I found Simone mean and irritating. Honestly I don't think this story was for me but I can understand that some people would like this book!
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this arc

I loved Thomas' first book and was so excited to read Community Service. This one was every bit as enjoyable! Simone doesn't start out likeable, but as she begins her character journey it's lovely to watch her grow and change. I was grinning by the end of this one. Loved it!

Community Service by Sal Thomas
Rating: 3.5/5
Release Date: 14 June 2024

When PR executive Simone Stephens mistakes a genuine cop for a costumed attendee at an immersive cinema event, she lands in front of a judge and receives a sentence: volunteer at a local homeless shelter.

It's a world apart from the polished, cynical environment Simone is accustomed to, but after some initial stumbles—especially in front of the charming resident psychologist, Jasper—she starts finding her rhythm and making a positive impact she can truly take pride in.

Sent here to make amends, Simone wonders if, amidst her journey of redemption, she might also discover herself... and perhaps even find love along the way.

“Community Service” by Sal Thomas is a comedic gem that had me giggling non-stop. PR exec Simone Stephens finds herself in this hilarious predicament, leading to community service at a local soup kitchen.

Simone’s antics are uproarious, especially as she clumsily navigates her new reality, often embarrassing herself in front of the charming psychologist, Jasper. Despite her blunders, I couldn’t help but root for Simone.

Thomas excels at crafting characters who are both lovable and eccentric. Simone’s transformation from stilettos to compassionate caregiver is not just about romance; it’s about self-discovery.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter, and the author, Sal Thomas, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I loved the author’s debut novel The Accidental Housemate, so was excited to see she had a new book out. I read what it was about and thought this one sounded good too. On first starting it I must admit, after two or three chapters in, I didn’t think this was going to be a book for me. It felt like it was written for an American market, it was maybe too young for me. I was disappointed because I was really looking forward to something at least recognisable from the first book. I read a few reviews and noted that some readers felt the same way. I persevered, mainly because there wasn’t any other book calling to me at the time so decided to carry on.

As usual, perseverance pays off and by the time Simone had started her community service it had started to grow on me. There is a lot of very dry humour which is perhaps not every one’s cup of tea but a bit of sarcasm and cynicism is fine with me.

On the face of it Simone comes across as an ambitious, hard nosed, somewhat materialistic person, yet it’s a shell to protect her vulnerabilities and as the book moves on she becomes a likeable character as her true self starts to shine through. I really enjoyed this book once I’d got past the initial shock of how very different it is from the author’s debut. I found it reasonably fast paced, as it never dwelt too long on any one particular situation or dialogue. Shortish chapters and changes of scene kept me wanting to read more.

I thought it was a thoughtful, perceptive story and reflective of current modern day challenges.

“Community Service” by Sal Thomas is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that had me chuckling from start to finish. Imagine mistaking a real cop for a cosplay character at a movie event—sounds like something I would do, right? Well, that’s exactly what lands PR exec Simone Stephens in hot water, and subsequently, community service at a local homeless shelter.

Simone’s misadventures are a riot, especially when she tries to navigate her new reality while repeatedly embarrassing herself in front of the charming psychologist, Jasper. It’s like watching someone juggle spaghetti—messy but hilarious. The more she stumbles, the more I found myself rooting for her, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

Sal Thomas has a knack for creating characters that are as endearing as they are quirky. Simone’s journey from high heels to helping hands is not just about finding love; it’s about finding herself, and maybe a new pair of sensible shoes. The book is a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life come from the most unexpected places—like love in a soup kitchen.

For those who follow my bookish escapades, you know I have a soft spot for stories that make me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. “Community Service” checks all the boxes and serves up a hearty dose of humor with a side of romance. It’s the perfect read for anyone who’s ever had a ‘face-palm’ moment and thought, "Well, it can only go up from here!.

Such an interesting story. I definitely enjoyed the characters and their foibles and how they find their happiness. I really went in blind and just enjoyed the ride.