A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James is a beautifully written heartwarming contemporary romance that follows the journey of two people named Mia and Logan, as they navigate the process of love, self-realization, and second chances. Mia is a bookish woman who has a passion for words and the meanings behind them, Logan on the other hand is a charming man who has his guard up, both have what I would say a complicated history. This novel explores how they reconnect after years of separation, working through some miscommunications and misunderstandings, creating a new stronger relationship between the two. As the two rekindle their relationship, they realize that just like love, similar to a word with five letters can have various meanings, and even just the small gestures and moments are the things that matter the most.

Something that I loved and found interesting would be the dynamic that Mia and Logan have. The chemistry that the two have is undeniable and shown through parts in the book. Their dynamic shows some struggles die to unresolved issues that are brought up from their past. What I really loved was how their connection evolves — moving from pure akwardness to tenderness as they start and continue to rediscover each other and themselves.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book was the small, tender romantic gestures that Logan and Mia share throughout the story. Amy James does a wonderful job of highlighting the little things that make a relationship feel real and meaningful. Whether it’s Logan leaving a note for Mia or Mia taking time to understand Logan's quiet way of showing affection, the author captures the true essence of love in these moments. These gestures are not grand declarations or flashy moments, but instead subtle expressions of care that made me feel like their love was grounded in something truly sincere.

A Five-Letter Word for Love was a wonderful read, full of depth and emotion. The chemistry between the leads, the quiet yet meaningful romantic moments, and the slow, satisfying development of their relationship made it a heartfelt journey. I really appreciate how the author included themes of self growth and second chances, showing that love isn't always about perfection — sometimes, it's about taking the time to understand, heal and overlal help and support each other. Thid book was an amazing read with uplifting romance that will leave you feeling so many emotions, feeling hopeful and content.

A sweet story about a couple of co-workers in a small town who end up connecting and dating over the game Wordle.

Thank you net galley for the arc!

4.5 stars!
This book is so good! When I first saw that this book had to do with the game Wordle, I was nervous about how the author would be able to pull that off and make it an interesting read, but she achieved it! I was laughing and really enjoying my time reading this. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to the publisher for the earc!

I love reading romance books between heavier fantasies and honestly this one is a perfect plate cleanser! I really enjoyed the whole setting, and it was such a pleasant surprise that
we’re in Canada! My bucket list was already long, but now I just added Prince Edward island
to it. Unlike Emily I’m a hardcore small town girl, so I'd love to live in a place like this!
Speaking of Emily, I could relate to her a lot. Especially when she said there are so many
professions to choose from and how are you supposed to do that?! That’s me. And this was
one of the reasons why I ended up getting a degree in library science and why it also took
me YEARS to come by this decision.
The romance was good, I loved that Emily and Josh started bonding over Wordle, it was way
too adorable. Sometimes it felt a bit rushed, but they knew each other for about a year, and
Emily admitted she had a crush on John for a while in the beginning, so overall it felt real.
And there were no spicy scenes, which I’m really grateful for. This book is proof that you can
have a good romance without unnecessary spice.
I loved all the side characters, I wish I had a group of friends like Emily does by the end of
the book. Although, I find it a bit strange that she went from no friends to a solid group in just
a matter of weeks, but that’s just me.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and if you’re looking for a quick and easy read, definitely
give this one a try!

I tried so hard to like this book, especially given the premise and the location of the plot, but sadly it was not enjoyable for me.

I found the main character unlikable and felt that she never showed any growth. The romance also left me wanting.

I won’t be posting a review for this on Goodreads because I’m sure others won’t feel as strongly as I did and I don’t want to influence other readers.

2.5 - rounded up to 3 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Amy James for an ARC copy of this book!

I really don't have much to say for this one, sadly. I really wanted to love it, especially as an avid Wordle player , but it just fell really short for me. I felt like Emily and John were two of the last intelligent characters I had ever read in a book before. They just lacked any common sense and also their communication skills were some of the worse I encountered in a book. Their romance just felt very, very forced. I will say a workplace romance is also one of my least favorite tropes to read, unfortunately. The story line also felt a little all over the place. Emily had no idea what she wanted to do with her life and was bouncing around between 4 or 5 different jobs and school during the entire book. It was hard to keep up. This one just didn't hit for me the way I wanted it to.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was really interested in how a word game would be incorporated into a book about romance, but you get a sense of Emily's personality when you see her using letter math to answer the daily puzzle. She is rational, superstitious, and idealistic all at once. John is more of a mystery as the grumpy love interest with little words. This book is made even better by the supporting characters, who make significant contributions to the plot and have excellent conversation. All things considered, Emily and John's journey to rediscover each other is heartwarming and inspirational, making it the ideal choice for anyone who enjoys a deep love story with a unique twist.

So fun! This was released last month and I finally jumped in. Loved the Wordle elements, setting on Prince Edward Island and the museum pieces. My first from this author, will read more.

As a Worlde-fanatic, I had to shoot my shot at getting this ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for my (long overdue) review :)

This book was such a pleasant surprise! Grumpy x Sunshine is one of my favorite tropes, and I was giggling and kicking my feet throughout the book, but the journey of self-discovery that the FMC goes through is what sealed the deal for me. Like any twenty-something-year-old, Emily is at a crossroads in her life. A Five-Letter Word for Love allows the reader to follow her journey of self-discovery, so much so that I'd label this book as "fiction" instead of "romance."

Emily has fallen into a pattern many of us have been in before: being complacent with our lives, wondering if there's something more out there, but being too afraid to try. She constantly struggles with the overwhelming number of career paths, the pressure to figure out the right one, and feeling stuck when the decision becomes too difficult. Reading through Emily’s personal growth in her career and her relationships (both romantic and platonic) was so easy to relate to. James' playful narration style helped make the novel engaging and optimistic despite Emily's inner turmoil of chasing after her "dream life." And yes, a lot of Wordle is included throughout the book, but it never got repetitive, which was nice!

Another pleasant surprise was the diversity of this book; despite Prince Edward Island being a small town (er...island?), we're introduced to various characters of different ages, races, and sexualities.

A Five-Letter Word for Love was the perfect cozy read that I'd definitely recommend!

Emily is a 20-something lost in thought, and you get to hear all of them in this first-person POV. The premise of the book is that Emily and John bond over their common love of Wordle, and Emily (and the reader) tries to find something else interesting about herself. The romance is non-existent in this book; John has no personality, and there is no chemistry between the two main characters.

There are interesting sub-plots, like Shelley and the museum. That's what kept me going for 368 pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager US for this eARC.

I very much enjoyed this tale of Emily and John and the year-long Wordle streak. It was a very cute, small town romance about how opposites attract. I also enjoyed the introspective nature of the book, a cozy question of how do we make a life we love and maybe the answer is not always what we had imagined. Overall I really enjoyed this read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a digital ARC from Avon via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A cute, fun little romcom! Loved how obsessed they became with Wordle and keeping their streak going!! 😂 I’ve felt the same disappointment breaking my Kindle reading streak!

This was a cute read! The Wordle aspect is what initially drew me in (I play almost daily with my daughter), and the themes of choices, life, and happiness were sweet. But the main characters felt a bit mediocre, so while I enjoyed it, it didn’t completely win me over.

This is a cozy story of Emily finding her way in the world. The title is a bit misleading as it is more of a “finding one’s self” story rather than romance novel. Spice level 1/5.

Do you still wake up with a cup of coffee and the daily wordle? Do you also love a cute grumpy/sunshine, small town, find your purpose in life rom-com? Then “A Five Letter Word for Love” by @amyjamesbooks is exactly what you need.

This book follows Emily as she tries to reach her 365 day wordle streak, which is nearly lost until John (her perpetually grumpy co-worker) saves the day. She’s found new passions in helping her elderly neighbors and working at the local barrel museum, but quickly feels like she is destined for more than what her small coastal town can offer.

I liked the concept and the slow pace of this book but it did feel a bit more about self-discovery and acceptance than romance.

Emily was pretty relatable in the sense that she kept dreaming of something bigger and always felt like she should be doing something more with her life. Those feelings are pretty common, especially for people in their mid/late 20s who have been taught to always strive for more: more success, more money, more things, more promotions, etc. and her Wordle obsession shows how addicted to success, routine, reward people can be. John is pretty much her opposite and is a very steady presence. He likes his life and doesn't think less of it just because he's not out there saving lives or becoming rich. He has dreams, though he is a little too lax about trying to reach them, but I still liked his calm demeanor and kinder outlook on life, success, and happiness. Emily was annoying at times because she basically thinks she's better than everyone in the small town she's currently living in and she makes that known regularly, I'm not sure how John put up with it but I like that he did call her out on it too. If you look at it as her not meaning to offend but more so looking for contentment in her own life, it's easier to let it go. And while I did like John for being his grumpy, broody, quiet self, I would have loved a bit of passion from him. The side characters are quirky and fun, each with their own little pieces of wisdom to impart. I definitely found myself attached to some of them throughout the book and I love when I'm made to care about more than just the MCs. The Wordle competition aspect was cute because she's so clearly obsessed and he's so clearly enjoying helping her/having something in common with her with a much more laidback approach. Overall, it's cute and definitely gives perspective for people who feel like they're constantly reaching for something more and may be missing all the good things they already have/opportunities already within their reach.

It's very opposites attract, slow burn, small town romance so if you like those things (and/or are a daily Wordle player) you should check this one out!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a digital ARC from Avon via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was prepared for this to be the lamest book I’ve read all year (and was fine with that!) but it actually held up! It was definitely a cheesy, fast read, but it was cute. Heavy on the Wordle focus, but billed as such. My main criticism is that both the characters and the writing were very juvenile so it read like YA, but I don’t think it was supposed to based on their ages and experiences. Easy 3 stars for a light read.

This was a cute and cozy read. Overall, I enjoyed it and had a couple of good takeaways from it. I did struggle a bit to like the main character and understand the sudden attraction/relationship between Emily and John. This book did inspire me to do the worldle a couple of times. Pretty good for a debut novel!

What a fun take on the game Wordle. This was just a cute romance of two co-workers. I liked how there was growth in the relationship and they didn't just jump into anything

Emily is a Wordle enthusiast, excelling at it far better than she does with crosswords, and her streak has been going strong for over three hundred days when she’s suddenly stumped. John, her quiet colleague, has already helped her out once when her car broke down, and as they wait for his friend to bring a tow truck, he surprises her again—this time with a subtle clue to keep her streak alive. Who knew John played Wordle? It seems there are hidden layers to this reserved colleague.

Though Emily never intended to stay, she unexpectedly finds herself taking on a private caregiving job for her next-door neighbor and a few others, while also volunteering at the local Barrel Museum. Her enthusiasm for both endeavors catches John’s attention, and he quips, “You are weird.” Still, they continue sharing their Wordle scores, and when Emily, despite the museum manager’s indifference, starts pitching creative ideas—school excursions, care home outings, a new interactive exhibit, and an open day—John offers to pitch in.

Their relationship grows into a romance, even though Emily is determined not to settle for a small-town mechanic when bigger dreams of courses, internships, and the city still call to her.

At first, Emily might come off as a bit superficial with her skewed priorities, but she quickly proves herself to be kind-hearted, resourceful, and occasionally oblivious to what others can plainly see. Wordle enthusiasts might also find her approach to the game a bit irritating.

While the plot follows a predictable path, the journey to their happy ending is thoroughly enjoyable. The characters are charming, and Amy James adds insightful reflections on life throughout. This sweet and delightful debut has plenty of heart, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next from the author.