Another gorgeous gorgeous read from Rebekah Crane, featuring family rivalries, a beautiful island in Ireland, handsome men and PUBS! More books should be set in pubs. This is a lovely story, stunningly written and full of charm. Highly recommend.

I went into this book thinking it would be a fun, upbeat romcom -- and for a fairly good portion it was. However, this book does discuss heavy content, i.e., grief and health issues.

This book is extremely fast paced and falls into the 'insta-love' category, this made it a struggle for me to really connect with the love the two main characters shared. I found the rivalry between the two mc’s to be the main plot point of the book, so much so that there were a few loop holes (the debt and her relationship with Sonya) throughout majority of the book that had to be closed very quickly at the end. I don't enjoy a third act breakup at all, however, this one was well done as it was really needed to bridge the gaps.

I was pleased by Maeve's growth throughout the story. Her insecurities did not rule as much of her life by the end of the book which was great to read. Her relationship with her father and Irish heritage was also touching.

I loved the relationship of the side characters with the main characters, they felt really apart of the story - for such a fast paced book -- without delving into a long winded recap of their past. I loved the relationship between Hugh, Briggs and Aofie.

At times, the book felt a bit silly but for a romcom it works. If you are in need of a quick love story pick me up - this is the book for you.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

The cover and setting are what drew me in to this book.

I could not really connect with the main characters. The personality traits that were described throughout the book did not feel very well written and felt a little bit cliché to me. However, I did enjoy the characters growing together and I would still read other books by this author.

I’m not comfortable with how this is marketed as YA, as it most definitely is not in my opinion. So many innuendos and explicit scenes were written in this story, which is fine for me! But it should not be marketed to people as a YA book if there’s explicit scenes, even if they are not detailed.

This story did have a lovely epilogue that I felt really tied the whole thing together, which was nice.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.

Last Call for Love is about Maeve, who inherits a bar in a small town in Ireland from her deceased estranged father. I enjoyed the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ plotline, as there is a rivalry between her family and another who own a bar next door, owned by our MMC, Briggs.

Going in, I was very excited to read this book as the premise sounded very interesting. However, I did not like the way the story was executed and I felt very detached from the characters.

I think the main factor in how I felt about this book was the writing style. It felt disconnected from the storyline, possibly due to being written in third person (personally, I do not enjoy this style of writing) and it was not engaging. The book focused more on the rivalry between the bars rather than on the romance between Briggs and Maeve and I felt that events were often rushed. (For example, the scene where the main characters met was very insta-love, and there was not much build up to the big plot reveals). I wish we could have seen more backstory for both characters, in order to allow me to feel more connected to them.

Furthermore, their relationship felt very physical, rather than a genuine emotional connection. This leads me to disagree with the ‘YA’ label placed on this book. Because of this, I believe this book should be catered more towards adults rather than teens.

Despite this, I really enjoyed the way the setting of Inishglass was described, and the nature of the people there was very refreshing to see. There were many funny moments, whilst there also being an emotional side to this book.

Overall, this was not a very enjoyable read for me, although I think others may enjoy it more than I did.

Maeve is a control freak and in a financial pickle when she finds out that her biological father, whom she has never met, left her a substantial inheritance. To find out what it is, she has to travel to Ireland.
She is her father’s only heir and finds herself involved in a feud with another family on the island off the Irish mainland. Or does she? A Shakespearean unfolds.
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I sincerely enjoyed this book. All characters (except one) are likable and I found myself wanting to go to Ireland to get to know everyone. The story, while repetitive at times, is entertaining and captivating. I really liked that it is told from two POV’s which gave it a different perspective. There is room for a sequel???

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy of Last Call for Love.

Irish romances are REALLY having a moment right now, aren't they? I'm not mad about it, but the problem I'm finding with them is that they are all kind of the same. American woman shows up and falls for the Irish pub owner. Over and over I'm reading these. Guys I know there are a lot of pubs in Ireland but....?? Is that all we can come up with?

I mean, I'm still gonna read them but ya know.

Anyway - so this is a story about an American girl whose life gets upended and right then, her biological Irish dad dies and leaves her an inheritance that she has to come to Inishglass to collect. Fun!

Then it turns out, her family and another family in town have this ancient "rivalry" which is actually really just done for fun and to bring tourists to the island. It's basically the Montagues and the Capulets of Irish pubs. They play pranks. They do a kickball battle. They pretend to hate each other.

So when Maeve shows up and has a chance encounter with her Romeo (Briggs) they're off to a fun and flirty start where they prank each other back and forth. It's a little bit like two elementary kids picking on each other. But it's fun.

I wish we got MORE pranks. Like, I wanted to see more of the silly, ridiculous side of things. There's a couple, but I think this book could have been stronger if we got a good chunk of these two taking the piss out of each other, but too much of it is mixed with them becoming actual friends (which is not something I often complain about). Basically I just wish we would have leaned further into the competition while they became friends. Or had a moment where they were battling, but then they had to rely on each other or something. I just wanted a little bit MORE of everything I was given. I also didn't love the dialogue. There are some stories that have great plot, and some that have great dialogue, but rarely do I find books that have both. This one...the plot was fun, and great (though I wanted it punched up a bit) but the dialogue wasn't doing it for me.

Anyway. 3.5 stars. Hooray for Americans falling in love with Irish boys.

4.5 ⭐️

Listen, this book has everything. Good banter, a good plot, amazing diversity and characters, and it's a fast read. AND has dual POV, which is something I love.

It's somewhat a Romeo and Juliet kind of book, even though it's not forbidden love, but more of "we are from rival families that have had a feud for years that is helping the tourism on this island and I can't betray my family or the island like that". But it's sooooooo good.

It's such a good book that not only makes you laugh with the antics of the characters, but it also makes you reflect at times, and can be sad, but not full on crying, with the backstory of some of them.

I picked this book up because the pitch is great. Buttoned Up Maeve inherits a pub on a remote Irish island and has to complete a list of tasks set by her dead father before she can sell the pub-something she’s desperate to do to get out of credit card debt brought on by her ex boyfriend. There she meets a handsome and charming man who happens to own the rival pub- a very important draw to the island for tourists and a reason they keep up the ruse.

It just…didn’t do it. It tried so many things but just didn’t stick the landing. Every trope (enemies to lovers, fake dating, something about how women love accents, small town) and every side character (the bumbly chubster side kick , the wise innkeeper, the gorgeous best friend) felt tired and incredibly cliche. The debt portion of this story didn’t feel fleshed out enough. The spicy bits were good but some of the language gave me the ick.

I would recommend this to a friend who specifically like Irish Romances, but probably would not recommend to other romance readers. I think they would find it too cliche, too long, and too just okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this book!

I absolutely loved this book! Such a cute sweet love story! Based off Romeo and Juliet and set in Ireland!

A modern day take on Romeo and Juliet, Maeve finds herself plopped right into the fight between the Doherty’s and Murphy’s on a tiny island in Ireland. When her father dies and leaves her his pub, she never imagines what she’ll find when she gets there. This story had me laughing and swooning over Briggs (MMC), the town of Inishglass and the endearing townspeople. Read this story if you like small town romance, forbidden love, found family and stories where he falls first.

I was hoping for cute leap year Irish adventure.

I’m sure there will be plenty of people who enjoy this, it’s cute. There’s just no tension in it for me, Briggs liked Maeve quite quickly. Too insta-lovey for me, it always leaves me a little bored.

Just too short to have much substance which is okay for some but not me.

Thank you to netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review

LOVED THIS STORY!
Maeve is going through a terrible time. Break up, debt, and life at a standstill. She receives a letter regarding her biological father and travels to Ireland to see what she's inherited. Only to find out it's a pub and a feud.
The chemistry between Maeve and Briggs was perfection. There's a lot of will they, won't they. The side characters brought this story and the small Irish village to life.

Last Call for Love was a really cute story. I noticed there were some not so great reviews but I really enjoyed this book. My go to genre is normally dark romance so this was a different pace for me and I was pleasantly surprised. This is a Romeo and Juliet retelling with a happy ending. I wasn’t sure at first how right Maeve and Briggs would be for each other but they say opposites attract and they certainly did. Prepare for the emotions to hit, this made me cry but also had me laughing at the banter between the two. Most of the side characters were just as much of a delight, except for one but you’ll have to read to find out who. Such a feel good love story.

Honestly, this wasn't for me. I liked the book but the writing style made me not enjoy it so much. Overall, a 3.5 stars read for me

I discovered Rebekah Crane years ago by happenstance. Her first book, "The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland" was one of the Kindle First Reads books and I devoured it. Ever since, I've read every Rebekah Crane novel as soon as I could.

This one did not disappoint. I loved the premise and the execution. The characters were relatable and fun and the storyline was fascinating. I just wish there had been "more" of everything. I liked Maeve but I felt like I didn't really know her. She had a whole life in Chicago that she left but I felt like I didn't know much about her backstory other than that of her birth.

I enjoyed the characters but would have liked to see them more fleshed out. More about Aiofe and her relationship with Eoin. More about the townspeople -- because in my mind the town was made up of only 4 buildings - their pubs, the yarn store, and Aiofe's coffee shop. There wasn't anything mentioned about the rest of the town or its residents.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read.

Last Call for Love was the Romeo and Juliet book I have always longed for. It's set on a small island off of Cork, Ireland, where an American named Maeve inherits an Irish pub from a father she's never met. She must choose between moving into the life of a father who chose to not be in her life, or her debt-ridden Chicago life. On the island, she meets a cast of characters that help her to better understand her father, and herself. Including Briggs, the dreamy Irishman from the rival pub.

I loved the premise of the book. There was enough interest and action to keep me invested in the story and what she would eventually do with the pub. Two things that brought me a bit out of the story: I was convinced Briggs was a dreamboat that would make her fall in love at first site, but I wasn't convinced she would stand out against the hundreds of American women throwing themselves at him. He immediately put aside his playboy ways, and it felt like there could have been more needed to turn his head. The other thing was how many references to "Romeo and Juliet" there was in the book. After the fourth time, each reference didn't feel like they added anything new.

What I loved: the emotional depth in the book. My dad died when I was 3, and I really never knew him. I I was really able to get in the shoes of Maeve trying to understand who her dad was, and grieving over someone she will never get to meet. There were some really beautiful moments, and I think those are going to stick with me for a long time.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and will be recommending it to others! 4.5 stars

I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed this book and the main characters, Maeve and Briggs. I recently visited Cork and a few other places in Ireland so I enjoyed envisioning the island. I would definitely enjoy spending time in either the Morring or the Thatch and I’m dying to have a pierogi! I may also take up knitting now too!
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for allowing me to read the Arc!

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for allowing me to review this copy of Last Call for Love.

After a terrible breakup has left her dejected and broke, Maeve Kominksy finds out she's been left an inheritance by her estranged biological father. The only catch? She has to travel to an island off the coast of Ireland to claim it. What she hopes will be a quick trip goes on longer than expected and her life is fundamentally changed by the people she meets on the island.

This is an absolutely lovely feel good novel that I found myself purposely slowing down so I could savor it properly. The "love" in this novel is more than just romantic love. It's the love of family and family and friends. This book is about more than just finding a boyfriend. It's about figuring out where you fit in the world. You may start this book for the swoony Irish heartthrob, but you'll stay for the bromance he has with a half Irish, half Chinese friend with a family of ten. Really, all of the secondary characters in this book are a total delight.

My only critique of this novel is less of a critique and more of a head's up. It is a little racier than the typical YA/teen novel. Honestly I think it could probably be enjoyed by anyone over the age of sixteen and will probably recommend it to a few adult friends of mine.

Maeve lives in Chicago with her best friend when she finds out her biological father left her a "significant inheritance." Maeve hopes to sell whatever she's inheritanced to pay off the credit card debt her Ex left her with. The catch is that she must stay in Ireland and accomplish 3 tasks set by her father, before she can sell.

In the process, she meets people who knew & loved her father, including Briggs, the owner of the rival pub on their tiny island. He falls hard when he sees Maeve. It's too bad their families are enemies, so she's off limits. Love was never his plan but maybe plans can change for both of them.

I read some of the other reviews and I'm actually pretty surprised at what I've read. I really enjoyed this book. I was drawn to the book because of the setting, and I'm so glad I didn't judge it by the reviews. I found myself laughing at some parts and getting emotional at others. I started connected to the characters by the end of the book.

I enjoyed reading how Maeve and Briggs evolve throughout the story. Maeve, as she meets new people and has new experiences outside her comfort zone, and Briggs, as he starts to care for Maeve.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, light-hearted romance.

Last Call for Love is a beautiful story that touches on both love and grief. We follow Maeve as she travels to a small town in Ireland to find out what “substantial inheritance” her biological father has left her. Maeve knows nothing about her father or about the island, but since she is currently in tremendous debt she decides to use this inheritance to solve her debt problems and move on with her life.

I feel in love with the little island and all its quirky inhabitants right along side Maeve. Her journey was beautiful. The writing if this story was fantastic. The plot was compelling and propulsive as you feel like you are plopped into the middle of the characters’ lives and then you continue to learn more and more about their histories and motivations.

🌶️🌶️
5/5