Quick Summary: A romance between opposites

My Review: A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James is a 2024 gen-fic romance.

About the Book: "A heartwarming and humorous romance in which an unlikely couple fall in love over Wordle."

A young woman who aspires to be more, to have more, to do more meets a seemingly ho hum, car mechanic/enthusiast at the auto shop they work for in their small town. Their once stale interactions become a bit more when they connect over Wordle. Life interruptions, personal choices, impactful relationships, advancements forward, doses of reality, and more are a part of their story.

My Final Say: I was attracted to this story because of the Wordle angle. The underlying themes were notable. Obviously, much growth had to happen with the leads. In the end, what needed to be realized was.

Other: This read very much like a NA.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍
Special Notation: This novel might do better as an audiobook. The reviewed format was somewhat challenging, regarding pacing. Also, the continuous chat streams were slightly offputting at times.

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this work. The words I have shared are my own and have been submitted voluntarily.

3.5 Stars.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

And super apologies for being late to review, but HEY I did it before pub day (tomorrow lol). I went back and forth on what to rate this read, and ultimately settled on 3.5 Stars.

Things I liked:
- Josh. I LOVE a strong, silent bob-the-builder type BF and he hit the mark. He was so steady and dependable, and he was constantly showing his love through actions.
- The setting-- I loved the small Canadian town vibes and the house.
- The old people. Enough said here, they were a great addition.

Things I didn't like:
- Emily. It is rough to read a book where you don't like the FMC. While she did grow on me as I read, I just couldn't get over how self-important she was while also being the least ambitious and flimsy person ever. The first 25% of the book was hard for me to get through because I could not stand her. TBF other readers may not have this issue, but for me it was a big one.
- They NEVER SAY I LOVE YOU! What kind of romance doesn't say I love you out loud to each other??? GAHH

I thought I was going into a small town romance but there was no romance. It severely lacked between Emily and John. Unfortunately this read was very dull, repetitive and Emily’s inner monologue could be a bit too much at times. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

3.5/5

I enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the concept of using Wordle to bring two people together. John was a man of few words. He didn’t really care to talk to others or share about himself. He wasn’t necessarily the nicest to customers at the auto shop where he worked.

Emily was the exact opposite of John. She loved talking to people and hearing their stories, especially those of the elderly, She worked as a receptionist at the auto shop John worked at. Unlike John, who was happy working at the shop, Emily felt like there were bigger things out there for her. I did enjoy reading about her attempts at finding her dream job.

It was cute seeing their thought process when it came to finding their daily word. I loved their first date and how John helped Emily see that she could be happy in their small town. However, I didn’t feel like they had a ton of chemistry between the two. There were some decisions and comments made that made me feel bad for each of the characters at some point in the book. Overall, I did think it was cute and I did read it fairly quickly.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Amy James for the ARC for an honest review.

I’ll admit- I was the most skeptical about a wordle based romance novel, but I love wordle enough to give it a chance. This book warmed my small town in a big city heart. Emily was a character I saw myself in so deeply— she’s trying so hard to figure out life, navigate changing relationships, and figure out how to live this life she’s always dreamed she should have. Her battles are very normal and the conflict is mostly in her own head, which was refreshing in a cozy way. I don’t know if this book will be everyone’s cup of tea, it is very niche, but it was the perfect read for me.

I enjoyed this fun, light-hearted romance. I have been on a run of purported romcoms that weren't very funny lately, so this one was refreshing. I actually laughed quite a bit at Emily's way of looking at the world. She reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones -- somewhat dreamy and unsettled but truly kind and generous. She stays true to herself while becoming a better version of herself. John is a great match for her, and there are plenty of Anne of Green Gables allusions in here (hint). I loved the small-town setting and side characters. The Wordle parts were woven in well and provided a fun way to move the plot forward. I would read this again.

This charming, feel-good rom-com delivers a perfect blend of small-town warmth and playful wordplay, centered around the beloved game of Wordle. While the game itself takes center stage, the story is really about personal growth and the journey to finding true happiness, even when life offers up a multitude of distractions and choices.

Though the plot has its hiccups—some unresolved threads and the classic third-act breakup—it's easy to overlook because the heart of the story shines through. We all knew where the characters' paths would ultimately lead, and the sweet, satisfying conclusion makes it all worthwhile.

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and truthful review.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Amy James for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this book but the chemistry was missing for me for most of the book. It seemed like they didn’t like each other for a year, then sort of bonded over Wordle, realized they had some incorrect assumptions and then suddenly understood each other deeply.

Emily has a lot of personal growth and self discovery to do. Maybe that was why the first part of the book was slower for me - I didn’t find her incredibly likable although her worries and situation was realistic and relatable.

I enjoyed how confident and content John is in his life, his decisions and his goals. He did come across kind of bland but that might have been partly due to it being told from Emily’s POV.

Single POV
Closed door.
Dislike to lovers.

As a daily Wordle player, I was super intrigued by the premise of "A Five-Letter Word For Love," but the book ultimately fell flat. Although the book features plenty of romance tropes, the characters were flat and their chemistry was dull, and aside from both playing Wordle daily and living in the same small town, they had nothing in common. The side characters were very surface level and didn't add much to the story. To me, this story read more as a self-discovery than a romance, and even that is a stretch.

Emily, the main character, works a temp job as a receptionist for an auto-repair shop where John is a mechanic. Emily is obsessed with her NYT games Wordle streak and plays daily, and learns on a particularly challenging puzzle day that John does, too. Despite John being grumpy, passive, and rarely saying more than a word to her, his Wordle playing suddenly flips a switch in Emily's brain, and she reconsiders her attraction to him. (As someone who also plays NYT daily and knows plenty of people who do too, and just...no. There are many people who I have nothing in common with and Wordle is simply not enough to change that.)

In the midst of her developing crush, Emily is also starting a caregiving business for elderly neighbors, volunteering at a small museum in town, and applying for grad school and an internship in another country. This girl has a lot going on, and no clear direction, and the many plotlines (museum, romance, small-town move, grad school, auto shop, feel chaotic and half-baked. Rather than being relatable for a young 20-something, though, her character comes across as whiny, disorganized, and "woe is me" at times. Again, it feels more like it should be a self-discovery novel; John reads like a side-character with no depth, he's just good at Wordle.

I thought the happy ending, third act reunion would be enough to earn the book 3-stars, but Emily giving up her Wordle streak at the end like it was nothing (after a solid 1/3 of the book being devoted to the game) really did me in. Overall, I give it 2.5 stars rounded up.

This book pits small town vibes with big city dreams. Emily has newly relocated to small-town Prince Edward Island, Canada. Yet she dreams of living in New York City. Or Paris. Or somewhere else where she can have a career she loves and the excitement she craves. She’s on a mission to discover which artsy career is her dream. But in the meantime, she’s not one to sit still so she dives into small town life, checking in on her elderly neighbors and planning events for the local museum. And falling for her coworker, John. But he loves small town life. Will her big dreams destroy their love?

The two main characters in this one were opposite in all most every way. From personality, to interests, to goals. But this isn’t an enemies to lovers. They didn’t dislike each other. They just had to discover that despite their varied interests, they could still enjoy each other’s company. I liked both their characters and found things I could relate to in both.

I really loved the plot in this one. Most small town vs big city books make big cities out to be terrible—the wrong choice. But this one shows the advantages and drawbacks of both ways of living. And shows that you can find happiness in both.

I have to mention Wordle. It plays a major part in bringing the two MCs together. And Emily sees the answers as prophetic for her life. She’s determined to complete one year of playing every day. It’s a fun plot device that I’ve never seen in a romance novel!

Thank you to @Netgalley and @Avonbooks and @HarperVoyagerUS for the chance to review this ARC.

Huge thank you to @avonbooks @harpervoyagerus @netgalley and @amyjamesbooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Wordle romance for this Wordle lover … SOLD.

Emily is struggling to find her dream life, but she’s pretty sure it starts with her “dream job” - if she can figure out what that is. She rents a cute house in a small town and takes a temporary job. She’s going to work on paying off her student loans, continue her Wordle streak, and definitely not pay any attention to her handsome, grumpy co-worker. ;)

I can’t believe this is a debut, it was so good! Grumpy/sunshine. The small-town romance. The found family. The slow burn. The side characters were fantastic. This was so much more than a romance, I loved seeing Emily build a life she loved. I had a great time. :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5

#arcreview #fiveletterwordforlove #wordle #bookstagram #bookreview

I requested this book because Wordle saved my life during the pandemic and I thought this was a cute premise for a novel.

A Five-letter Word for Love follows college graduate Emily on her quest for personal happiness and her dream career. She meets a charming cast of characters in rural Prince Edward Island who help her find her way.

While at times Emily's mental gymnastics became repetitive and there were some unbelievable plot elements, overall the novel was adorable and I enjoyed the journey.

Recommended for readers who want a sweet story of finding love while finding oneself. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for an advance copy of this novel.

If you like books with a charming small town this is a good one. It's a cute romance with a unique premise. The male main character felt a little flat to me which was a bummer but overall it's a easy good time.

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I love this book, this book had me giggling and kicking my feet almost the entire time. One of my top reads of the year. As an avid lover of Wordle, who just sacrificed their 600 day streak and support of the strike, and someone who loves a guy named John as well. This book was made for me.

This book was your typical grumpy sunshine, third act break up, but it made all the better, happy ending. The only part that bothered me was Emily, you just kind of wanna shake her and yell at her to make up her mind. But it’s okay!! You can make up your mind and change your mind 1000 times.

Emily a receptionist at an auto shop, who has 1000 ideas to do with her life and her dream job and just doesn’t know what to do. John a mechanic for the shop who loves the small town life and likes racing cars. He’s not a man of many words, and she’s a certified yapper, the one thing that brought them together was Wordle. Throw in some adorable geriatrics and a barrel museum bake at 350 for 279 pages and you’ve great a great book with a really cute story!!!!

A Five-Letter Word for Love absolutely surprised me in some great ways. While on its surface a Wordle-themed rom-com, this book really explores finding oneself and learning to find the value of life's ordinary beauty.

Emily is a woman in her late twenties whose life is not at all what she imagined post-college. She is a dreamer and idealist, yet she finds herself working as a receptionist at an auto shop, applying for a "real job". While constantly optimistic, she also finds herself lonely and grappling with navigating the changing and having friendships of her university days and trying to find new relationships on her current life situation.

Enter John, a mechanic of few words who is perfectly (mostly) content with his life working at the auto shop he and Emily both work at on Price Edward Island. He rarely has interacted with her until a car mishap forces an interaction, which leads to more. They soon discover that what they each saw on the surface of the other was not all there was.

Meanwhile, this book also explores the value of the elderly and local history, storytelling, and recognizing that you can take many paths on life, but eventually have to choose one. Choosing isn't always settling, sometimes it's just knowing your heart.

I could have done with a little less Wordle and a little more personality from John, but the local museum subplot and the elderly people that are so well developed in this book really make this a solid read. Ultimately, this book celebrates the ordinary, and how exceptional each ordinary, well-lived life is.

this was an ok read.
I can relate to the fmc in that she’s still trying to figure out life and what she wants to do. She is in limbo and wants to find her way sooner rather than later. The beginning was fun and quirky. I liked the interactions between the fmc and mmc.

The middle of the book was slower. I wasn’t that interested in the barrel museum stuff😅 I did like how motivated Emily was though.
The wordle aspect was fun. I loved how Emily was with the older folks. It was really sweet and heartwarming.

Overall this was cute and light, but it didn’t reel me in as much as I was hoping.

A FIVE LETTER WORD FOR LOVE – Amy James
Avon
ISBN: ‎ 978-0063399013
December 2024
Romantic Comedy

Waldon, Prince Edward Island, Canada – Present Day

Emily is twenty-seven but doesn’t really enjoy her life right now. She is working in a dead-end job as a receptionist at an auto shop and doesn’t have a boyfriend or any close friends living in town. She keeps in touch with her college girlfriends, but their lives have diverged greatly from hers. It’s enough to make Emily depressed. The one thing that keeps her happy is her daily Wordle puzzle. She is currently on a 300+ daily streak. John, who is one of the mechanics at the shop, rarely says more than grunts to Emily, but one day, she discovers that he is a Wordle player also. This leads to them interacting more, and Emily begins to like John…a lot. A relationship develops.

Meanwhile, Emily has become friends with her next-door neighbor, an elderly woman who is determined to remain independent in her home despite what her daughter wants. Emily starts helping her neighbor, and it soon leads to a part-time job getting groceries and minor things for the lady. Word gets out, and Emily has several part-time jobs. She also volunteers at a local museum, and it doesn’t take long before she is thinking about events there, even if the manager is a horrid person. Emily has a lot going on, but she is the master of none. Her dream job is…what?

I found A FIVE LETTER WORD FOR LOVE to be an enjoyable read because a lot is going on. We start out learning that Emily is basically by herself in Waldon, but she hates it there. She wants to be in a big city doing a job she loves instead of working as a receptionist. However, she hasn’t decided on what kind of job she wants to do, especially since she lacks the qualifications. Emily is what one would call a “dreamer.” Enter John into her life. They fit perfectly, though she wonders why he is working in an auto shop when he could be doing something better. This tale turns out to be a journey for Emily, and a lesson that sometimes what we think are greener pastures doesn’t always work out in the end.

The other characters in A FIVE LETTER WORD FOR LOVE mix in perfectly with Emily and each other. Besides her elderly neighbor, Emily becomes friends with an elderly man she does chores for. She first met him at the museum but when he found out she did chores, he hired her. He enthralls her with stories about his late wife, etc. Things are going smoothly in her relationship with John, even as she contemplates her future. With her life full in Waldon, why is she looking to leave? That seems to be the message for readers in this tale. There is so much going on that readers will want to find out what happens next. As with life, it is up and down for Emily. But is her current happiness enough to have her give up her dreams?

A contemplative tale that will keep you wanting to find out what Emily decides in the end. Will she continue to build a relationship with John? Will her home care jobs keep expanding? Or will she end up finding a pot of gold at the end of her rainbow dreams? Find out the answer by grabbing a copy of A FIVE LETTER WORD FOR LOVE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

This had really charming, sweet moments and was entertaining to read about the characters bonding over wordle. I found aspects of Emily very relatable from her inability to complete crossword puzzles to the struggle of what she wants to do with her life/career. But the love interest, John, was super bland and even though he did have his sweet moments, I think her initial impression of him being boring still rings true. Especially when he didn't support her moving to better her career. I probably enjoyed her relationships with the elderly people she was caring for more than her relationship with John. And after the book ends, I don't see them sticking together, which kind of kills the book for me, unfortunately. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

A Wordle love story?? Iconic

Emily is currently working as a receptionist at a small-town auto shop while she tries to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She is also a dedicated Worlde player, just 60 days away from hitting a 365 day streak. Over the course of the story, she bonds with one of the mechanics at the auto shop through doing the Wordle, branches out into becoming a caregiver and a museum worker, and tries to make the most out of living in a small town.

I love how relatable Emily is; she's just a girl who has no idea what she wants to do in her life and oh my god I have never related to a character more in my life. I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and it made me feel a lot better knowing that one day I'll be able to figure it all out. For me, this really was more than just a romance novel, it was like a coming of age novel for adults who still have a lot of things to figure out.

Amy James delivers a heartfelt and original contemporary romance in A Five-Letter Word for Love. Set against the charming backdrop of Prince Edward Island, this novel follows Emily, a relatable twenty-something yearning for more than her small-town life. With her clever Wordle streak as a unique plot hook and an unexpected romance with a coworker as the heart of the story, this book offers plenty to admire.

Emily’s journey from discontent to self-discovery is both tender and uplifting. The author’s prose is warm and engaging, with sharp observations about love, ambition, and finding joy in the unexpected.

However, the novel does hit a slower pace in the middle. While Emily’s introspection provides valuable insight into her character, the extended time spent inside her head occasionally slows the story’s momentum. A tighter focus on the external action might have kept the narrative as lively as its premise.

Overall, A Five-Letter Word for Love is a promising debut that showcases the author’s ability to craft nuanced characters and a relatable story. Fans of slow-burn romance and character-driven novels will appreciate Emily’s journey and cheer her on.

If you enjoy romance novels that celebrate personal growth and the joys of unexpected connections, this book will be a delightful addition to your reading list. I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.