As an addicted Wordle player this was a hit for me. The plot was predictable, giving off Hallmark vibes, but this did not detract from its enjoyment. (I do like Hallmark movies.) I am tired of all the novels with graphic violence, sex, and foul language being written today and this was a welcome change. A nice clean romance with only an occasional unnecessary f-bomb, it kept me engaged until the very end. 4 stars. Thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First I would like to thank Amy James and HarperCollins Publishing for the ARC of “A Five-Letter Word for Love.”

I could not put this book down, the writing was easy to read. Although, a bit repetitive at times, but isn’t that the point of Wordle? It’s something you do every day, once a day, it just becomes routine.

This book is a bit of the grumpy x sunshine romance. The main character, Emily, is super relatable (to me) with her unique outlook on life. Her coworker, John, is more closed off and content. The supporting characters are great and help move the story along. My personal favorites are Kiara, Trey, and Jim.

Overall, it’s a book about Wordle with a hint of romance.

DNF @ 20%

I thought the premise of this book was cute, but I could not gel with its execution. The main character Emily is so judgmental and unlikable, ironically the only thing she has going for her is her Wordle streak. John feels completely one dimensional. The two characters have zero chemistry.

As someone who does the Wordle every morning, I knew I had to read this book. I really enjoyed the banter between Emily and John. I also loved that John wasn't your typical romance book love interest but was so swoony in his attention and care toward Emily. The older characters were great and brought so much depth to the story. Overall this was a really cute fun read! Plus the PEI setting was great!

DNF. I REALLY did not enjoy the conversational prose style. It seemed very unorganized and just like the main character was rambling her thoughts to the reader, but not in a cute way. Also, WORDLE wouldn’t have BOWLS as a word

Spoiler: “A Five Letter Word for Love” convinced me to download Wordle!

Emily is 27 years old, working a dead-end job on Prince Edward Island with long-distance friends she is no longer connecting with. The only thing of value in her life is a 300+ day New York Times Wordle streak.

"A Five Letter Word for Love" by Amy James is a fun story addressing life's complexities, relationships, and personal growth. The FMC, Emily, is portrayed as a somewhat relatable 20-something struggling with a dead-end job and distant friendships. Her passion for the New York Times Wordle streak adds an interesting layer to her character. I loved how she chose her Wordle guesses based on what she was feeling or experiencing that day.

The book explores the theme of personal growth, portraying Emily's journey from immaturity to self-realization. In contrast to Emily, the MMC John, is content working as a mechanic in the small community on Prince Edward Island. He doesn’t seem to care what anyone else thinks about his chosen path in life because it genuinely makes him happy. While initially standoffish, John teaches Emily to set achievable goals and not succumb to societal pressures.

The writing style is engaging, the characters are likable, and their development throughout the plot makes reading easy. The romance aspect of the book is subtly woven into the storyline, adding a sweet and realistic touch to the narrative.

Overall, "A Five Letter Word for Love" is a sweet read. The writing style, character likability, entertainment value, plot, and romance elements contribute to a well-rounded and enjoyable novel.

***I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.***

Rating: 3.8 stars
WRITING STYLE: 0.7/1
CHARACTER LIKABILITY: 0.8/1
ENTERTAINMENT: 0.7/1
PLOT: 0.8/1
ROMANCE: 0.7/1

This book was adorable! Emily was bubbly, sweet and caring. She was a little flighty, but so endearing in her interactions and with how much she cared for others. John was the perfect counter part for her, with his quiet, stoic ways. But truly it was the worldle that won me over. A love story based on a word game? It was exactly what my word-nerd heart needed! My husband and I play wordle every day and have a friendly competition to see who can get the longest streak of correct solves. (He's winning, with 84 days to my 76.) Every time a reference to wordle was made, I couldn't help but smile because it reminded me of us. I highly recommend this sweet, lighthearted and fun wordle romance!

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon & Harper Voyager for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Book Review: A Five Letter Word for Love

As a Wordle fan, I was immediately drawn to the concept of love connected to the game, which added a fun and unique touch. Emily’s growth throughout the story, especially in her role as a caretaker for the elderly, was a highlight for me. The elderly characters brought a special charm, and watching Emily come to value her job was easily my favorite aspect of the book.

However, despite her growth, Emily still felt somewhat immature by the end. The chemistry between her and John lacked development, jumping from 0 to 100 too quickly for me to truly invest in their relationship. While the concept and character growth were enjoyable, the rushed romance left me wanting a bit more.

A Five-Letter Word for Love is an interesting story, like a deck of mixed playing cards. It felt the highs and lows of its protagonist Emily and found myself very much walking in her shoes.

I related heavily Emily, but I do think she will likely not be everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to protagonists. As for me, I came to appreciate and love her evolution throughout this narrative. She aspired for the sky and could not understand those who did not reach for the same heights. She could not understand small town living as being the endgame of life. It made the perception of her judgey and snobbish and narrow-minded. But at the same time, once you’re in her head you see why she wants to fly as high as those clouds. She does not feel enough. She is lonely, untethered, and unsure of her future. So she sets big dreams and goals and yearns to reach for them. But the goals are ever changing because she doesn’t have that singular spark for that one thing. Take, for example, her job. She wants more but initially cannot pinpoint exactly that something more. She doesn’t have a natural inclination or talent— but she dreams for it. And I can’t help but see that and feel it holds a mirror up to my own life. My own desires, my own wants— my own loneliness. I get Emily, and even when she was wrong and made the wrong decisions— I could always see the why behind it. It just made me want to embrace and support her.

Luckily John is there to do that for her. And I did enjoy the burgeoning friendship between them— but not their romance.

The cover and title is all about love, but that’s where I felt this narrative faltered. I never understood John as his own character, much less as a love interest. He was stoic and quiet, and I enjoyed those vibes initially, but I never thought the narrative peeled enough layers back to say I truly got him as his own character.

That said, I do appreciate the mirror he held up a mirror to Emily. How he tried to show her she could be enough and find enough just where she is and how unfair she was towards others (and herself). I do believe he became a needed and trusted friend to Emily, who helped to guide her. But their romance lacked chemistry and belief they can go the distance. There’s a moment in the final act that could have been shaped into a beautiful romantic grand gesture, instead it was just a moment made by a very pragmatic action by a character. It burst my bubble a bit, I must say.

I didn’t always like Emily, but I always got her. She made this book for me. I’ve been in her shoes— I still am!— I understand her dreams for that something more, the restless of her current now, and her uncertainty in every next step. I didn’t always like Emily, but I always, always loved her. I always rooted for her. And I always wanted to see her blossom.

And she did just that!

If you enjoy stories where personal growth takes center stage, and protagonists are relabel and tangible, be sure to pick up A Five-Letter Word for Love!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
3.5

Not me signing up for Wordle right after reading this book. Nope.
Emily is stuck. she is living in a small town trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She has a job as a receptionist at an autobody shop and lots of big dreams. She isn't sure exactly what those dreams are, but they definitely involve being in a big city and out of this town. When she discovers that her grumpy co-worker, John, also does Wordle, the two form a friendship she didn't know she needed.
As she comes out of her shell and starts volunteering at a local museum, she finds a spot for her talents to shine. Things seem to be going great for her, until she gets word that she is up for an internship at the MET in NY and can start a new program there as well. Will she leave the life she has built behind for something bigger and greater or will she realize being right where she is is enough?
I did really enjoy this and understood about following your dreams. I can understand why some people might have felt angry at Emily, but when you are stuck, getting out of it is all you can think about. John was such a great character. Loving, non toxic and just enough grumpy for me to fall for.
Thanks to Avon, Netgalley and Amy James for an early copy.

I received this as an ARC via NetGalley. The book was closed door love story. It was a cute, fun, lovable read that made my day better. Would recommend if you are looking for something light.

This book surprised me. Don’t let the cover fool you, it’s an adult, heartfelt story. There’s no contrived nonsense in the plot, and it’s one of the most realistic love stories I’ve ever read.

I loved the premise but I like my romance books with a bit of spice (at least) so finding out this book was closed door just wasn’t for me.

A Five-Letter Word for Love offers a charming romance that brings two unlikely characters together over the daily Wordle puzzle. Emily, a 27-year-old receptionist stuck in a rut, finds her small-town life on Prince Edward Island lacking in excitement. She dreams of a creative career and a more cosmopolitan existence, but for now, her greatest achievement is a 300+ day streak on Wordle.
The romance kicks off in an unexpected way when Emily’s Wordle streak is threatened, and she turns to her car-obsessed coworker John for help. What begins as an innocent puzzle-solving moment slowly evolves into a deeper connection, as Emily starts to see John in a new light. Their budding relationship, built on shared moments over Wordle, unfolds at a pleasant pace, adding a fresh and fun angle to the story.
The novel’s premise—falling in love over Wordle—is playful and unique, and the author does a great job of weaving the daily puzzle into the fabric of the relationship. There’s an undeniable sweetness to watching Emily, who initially dismisses John as just another annoying coworker, gradually open up to him. Their quirky conversations and puzzle-solving moments are heartwarming, and there’s a definite sense of growth as Emily begins to rethink her assumptions about love, success, and happiness.
That said, while the story is enjoyable, it doesn’t stray too far from the standard rom-com formula. The characters, though likable, sometimes lack depth, and the romance follows a fairly predictable path. Emily’s journey of self-discovery feels a bit rushed, and her transformation from dissatisfied small-town receptionist to someone who finds contentment in her life could have been explored with more nuance. Similarly, John’s character is a bit underdeveloped; while he’s charming and helpful, his backstory and motivations remain somewhat vague, leaving readers wanting more depth from his side of the story.
The humor in the novel is light and enjoyable, though not laugh-out-loud funny, and while the romantic tension is present, it doesn’t fully reach the intensity that some readers might expect. Still, the use of Wordle as a backdrop for the romance is a creative touch, and fans of slow-burn love stories will appreciate the gradual build-up of affection between Emily and John.
In the end, A Five-Letter Word for Love is a cozy, feel-good read that offers some delightful moments but doesn’t take many risks. It’s perfect for fans of lighthearted romances looking for a cute story with a unique twist, even if the characters and plot don’t dig as deep as they could. If you enjoy rom-coms with a quirky hook and a sweet, slow-burn romance, this one will hit the mark.

Such a fun rom-com to read. Very likable characters where you can't wait to see what happens. Fun to read for fans of wordle and happy endings! I look forward to reading more from Amy James!

B O O K R E V I E W (ARC)

Title: A Five Letter Word for Love
Author: Amy James
Rating: 4 out of 5
Spice: 1 out of 5
Publication Date: December 3rd, 2024
Duration: 368 Pages

- Slow Burn
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Work Colleagues
- Small Town Romance
- Friends to Lovers

Emily believes she doesn’t have a lot going for herself. After all, living in a small town on Prince Edward Island and working at a low-paying job as a receptionist at an auto shop was never her dream. Though she has a bachelor’s degree in science, she realized too little too late in her academic career that she really wanted a career in the arts, not in science, and she now finds her bachelor’s degree somewhat useless. But what she does have going for herself is a three-hundred-day streak on Wordle, the answer somehow always revolving around her life.
One day, after using up all but one of her guesses, Emily is forced to turn to John, her car-obsessed, tight-lipped, irritating co-worker, and Emily finds he might not be as bad as she thinks. The duo forms a sort of alliance, helping one another with the daily Wordle puzzle. Emily realizes that the puzzle may be telling her to change things in her life and follow her dreams. The new changes take her out of her comfort zone and challenge everything she believes about success and happiness.
First things first, I found myself in a Wordle hole a few years back, and when I saw the cover for this book on NetGalley, I immediately wanted to read it, but I had no idea what to expect. I am a “judge the book by its cover” reader for the most part and really went into this book blind.
I would reread this book and recommend it to others. I enjoyed this book so much and loved seeing all of Emily’s character development and relationships with the other characters in the novel. Still, I felt the book lacked a bit of romance (passion, spicy, I don't know) to make it a “romance novel.” I think it would be better to be labeled as fiction rather than romance. I believe so many people have felt stuck in their current jobs/situations and wish they took a chance to try to live their dream jobs. That’s exactly what happens with Emily; she struggles with settling into her everyday life when there’s so much in the world she could do that she believes could make her so much happier. She starts small, picking up a volunteer job with in-house elderly care, and soon finds herself making new friends and finding joy in things other people take for granted. It isn’t until every single thing in her life has changed that she realizes so many things could make her happy, not just her dream life.

This is a book about a nerdy girl who is not sure of her place in the world and how she discovers that happiness comes from doing what you love and not what you are supposed to love.

Emily thinks she has to figure out her career plan while she wholeheartedly believes the only way she can be happy is with a big, important job in a big city.

This way of thinking has had her missing out on the people around her, like John her coworker, who she believes is just a mechanic without much future for himself. But just when she starts to realize that maybe the life she wanted was the only that she already had—things get complicated.

I liked the book, and while easy to imagine what was gonna happen, it was still an enjoyable, quick read for me.

I love Wordle — I play it every day and am on a 283-day streak — so I jumped at the chance to request a romance centered around the game. Unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.

Emily is 27 years old and is a receptionist at an auto shop. She has a bachelor’s degree in a field she doesn’t care about and is thinking about going back to school to get some sort of arts degree. She’s 27, but in her first-person POV, she sounds much younger. I also found it an odd stylistic choice to have her break the fourth wall to address the reader directly. I can’t remember the last time I saw that in a book for adults.

Anyway, there’s a mechanic at the auto shop named John who’s brusque with customers and not very nice to Emily. Of course he’s her love interest, because she finds out he plays Wordle, too. The romance fell flat. There’s no tension, buildup, or chemistry. This book felt more like women’s fiction than a romance. I did like the small-town setting on Prince Edward Island and Emily’s relationships with the elderly folks in town. If this book was solely about her journey, I might have been more into it, but the romance adds nothing to the plot.

My biggest issue, though, is that the author clearly doesn’t play Wordle regularly. Wordle doesn’t allow plurals, yet in the beginning of the book one of the answers is BOWLS. If you’re going to center a book around Wordle, these incorrect details will throw readers out of the book who know better. There’s also an excruciating and repetitive amount of detail about her solving the game. And she doesn’t even play it right! There’s constant explanation of Wordle’s rules (such as “yellow means a letter is in the word but in the wrong spot”) and it’s just not fun. Explaining once or twice is fine, but the reader doesn’t need to be constantly reminded.

I hate leaving bad reviews for debuts, but this book is not it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy James, and the publisher for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.25 stars

I personally related to Emily the FMC. A woman in her late twenties trying to figure out what she truly wants in this world. Especially, when your dreams seem to be far away. I do not think the romance is perfect, it definitely moved quickly. But they complement each other.

TW: Death, Medical Content, Toxic Friendships, and Toxic boss

Sweet, small-town journey of romance and self-discovery. Emily wants more than to be a receptionist in her small town’s auto repair shop but she isn’t sure what. Her daily Wordle fix seems to be leading her somewhere. Is it to a romance with a grumpy but cute mechanic? Or is it something bigger?

This debut romance is light, fast, and fun – a lot like Wordle.

Check it out if you’re a fan of:
• Small town life
• Opposites attract/grumpy + sunshine
• Workplace romance
• Quirky side characters