Phoebe MacLeod’s Too Busy for Love is a delightful rom-com that effortlessly blends humor, romance, and the unexpected joys of letting go of control. With a likable protagonist, a sizzling chemistry between the leads, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this book is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Sophie Ranald.

The novel follows Beatrice, a meticulous and career-focused woman who has built her life around her job at a boutique hotel in London. Her structured world is turned upside down when a police raid at the hotel lands her in an unexpected predicament—released on bail and confined to London with none other than Jock, the hotel’s ruggedly charming chef. This unlikely pairing sets the stage for a series of misadventures and self-discoveries, as Beatrice begins to let her guard down for the first time in her life.

MacLeod does an excellent job of developing Beatrice’s character. At the start, Beatrice is a woman who thrives on routine, order, and career success. Her life revolves around her job, leaving little room for socializing or relationships. However, when the unexpected happens and her world of predictability is shattered, she’s forced to step out of her comfort zone. Jock, the complete opposite of Beatrice in every way—spontaneous, fun-loving, and laid-back—serves as the perfect foil to her structured nature. Their interactions are filled with witty banter, and their growing attraction feels both natural and inevitable.

What makes Too Busy for Love stand out is its balance between humor and heart. MacLeod infuses the story with hilarious situations and lighthearted moments, particularly during Beatrice and Jock’s “quarantine” in London. Their escapades across the city—trying new foods, exploring sights, and even indulging in some light mischief—give the novel a fun, breezy feel. But beneath the humor, there’s an emotional depth as Beatrice starts to question her life choices and whether her obsession with career success has left her missing out on love and happiness.

The romance between Beatrice and Jock is the beating heart of the novel, and MacLeod builds their connection with care. While their relationship begins under unusual circumstances, it grows slowly, allowing Beatrice to open up in ways she hasn’t before. Jock’s warmth and easygoing personality complement Beatrice’s cautious nature, and the way they balance each other out adds a layer of sweetness to their romance. It’s clear that Jock helps Beatrice rediscover parts of herself she’s long buried beneath her professional ambitions.

However, just as things start to heat up between them, reality rears its head. The police investigation is resolved, and Beatrice finds herself released without charge, free to return to her career and neatly organized life. This shift forces Beatrice to confront her feelings for Jock and decide what truly matters to her. The tension between pursuing her career dreams and the possibility of love gives the story emotional stakes that will keep readers invested in the outcome.

MacLeod’s writing is engaging and full of charm, with vividly drawn scenes of London and a cast of memorable supporting characters. From Beatrice’s overbearing boss to Jock’s cheeky sense of humor, the book is filled with quirky moments and interactions that add to the overall enjoyment. The pacing is tight, and while the story is light and fun, it also offers some deeper reflections on work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and the idea that it’s never too late to find love.

Final Thoughts:
Too Busy for Love is a charming, funny, and heartfelt rom-com that proves even the most organized of lives can be upended by love. Phoebe MacLeod has created a delightful romance with relatable characters and a story that will leave readers smiling from start to finish. Beatrice’s journey from a workaholic to someone who allows herself to embrace spontaneity and love is a joy to follow, and her chemistry with Jock provides plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Fans of light, witty romances with a dash of emotional growth will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Absolute delight! This charming rom-com follows Beatrice, a dedicated hotel worker whose orderly life is turned upside down when she gets caught up in a police raid and finds herself spending unexpected time with Jock, the hotel’s chef. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching Beatrice let her hair down and embrace life’s unpredictability is both heartwarming and hilarious.

Macleod’s writing is witty and engaging, making it easy to fall in love with the characters and their journey. The story is a perfect blend of humor, romance, and a touch of drama, proving that no matter how busy life gets, there’s always room for love. If you’re looking for a feel-good read that will leave you smiling, “Too Busy for Love” is the book for you!

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fast paced rollercoaster of a romance. I love these romances with a strong highly driven but workaholic heroine who is forced to re- evaluate her priorities after a disaster hits. Some of the events are a little unusual but the plot works and the characters are great. I loved it.

My Thoughts: Too Busy For Love is the epitome of a romcom, it had me laughing right from the off when our main characters get caught in the middle of a scandal when the high end hotel they work at gets raided by the police and is found to be a brothel! – that definitely threw a spanner in the works of Beatrice’s life of order and perfection, poor Jock is shocked but just starts rolling with the punches..

Now their lives and careers have completely fallen through and with the possibility of a criminal record hanging over their heads they now have to try and carve out a new path.

Beatrice throws herself into being part of a reality show and Jock finds himself a chef at the equivalent of a greasy spoon.

With the help of some larger than life side characters Beatrice and Jock realise they need and want more from life & they both have a dream they want to achieve..

I really loved the fact that the romance wasn’t the main focus of this story, it was more about finding yourself and realising your worth and what your capable of.

I think this is the first book of Phoebes that I have read but it definitely won’t be the last.

📚Book Review: "Too Busy For Love" by Phoebe MacLeod
📚Genre: RomCom
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

🔍Too Busy For Love by Phoebe MacLeod is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and self-discovery set against the bustling backdrop of London. The story follows Beatrice, a workaholic hotel manager whose meticulously ordered life takes an unexpected turn when her boutique hotel is raided by the police, leaving her stranded in the city with only the charming hotel chef, Jock, for company.

💡Why You'll Love It:
❤Romantic Tension: The chemistry between Beatrice and Jock is palpable, filled with witty banter, heartfelt moments, and the undeniable attraction that keeps you turning the pages.
🏨Work-Life Balance: Beatrice’s struggle to maintain control over her work-life balance will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to juggle career ambitions with personal happiness. It’s a relatable tale of realizing that sometimes, the best things in life happen when you least expect them.
😂Humor and Heart: Phoebe MacLeod's signature humor shines through, making this not just a romance but a feel-good story that will leave you smiling.

🎯 Perfect For:
✨Fans of contemporary romance with strong, career-focused heroines.
✨Readers who love stories about opposites attracting and finding love in unlikely places.
✨Anyone who enjoys a good laugh, a bit of London charm, and a whole lot of heart in their romance novels.

🌟 Don’t be too busy to fall in love with this delightful romance! Whether you’re juggling a hectic schedule or just looking for a sweet escape, Beatrice and Jock’s story will steal your heart. 💼❤Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources and @netgalley for the #ARC #BlogTour

#TooBusyForLove #PhoebeMacLeod #BookReview #WorkLifeBalance #OppositesAttract #ContemporaryRomance #RomCom #ReadersOfInstagram #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity #Netgalley

Too busy for love was a super cute romantic comedy, I loved the way the author captured the unique characters. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice light hearted read.

Beatrice works as a hotel manager, and on her birthday she’s arrested and finds out the hotel she works at is being run as a brothel. How could she have not known? That’s what the police want to know. But when head chef Jock also appears clueless to the ongoings in the hotel, they are both released.

Now Beatrice needs to find another job and go her separate ways from Jock. Will they find their way back to each other or will they both find the careers they desperately want elsewhere.

This book was just so busy, there were so many different story lines at some points I wasn’t sure what could happen next. But I did enjoy how fast paced it was and how much it kept me on my toes.

Thank you Phoebe MacLeod, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrice finds herself in a jail cell on her birthday. The hotel she has been managing is found out to be a brothel, and the police aren’t convinced she wasn’t a part of it. Out on bail with a curfew, her and the head chef Jock spend a magical week together before they are released.

So so so much more to the plot than this. And because so much happens there’s very little detail about anything. I felt little to no connection between Beatrice and Jock, and their connection, to them, begins immediately even thought they have worked together for years and barely had a working relationship. This makes the rest of the story a little less, because I don’t feel their connection or pull to one another.

I thoroughly enjoy MacLeods writing and it’s an easy and quick read. However, this plot didn’t do it for me.

Thank you for the ARC from Netgalley. The beginning of this book instantly got me hooked it was quick paced and the story kept me wanting to read more. Beatrice cant stop thinking about Jock after they were both held in custody. Considering their circumstance and where they go from here, she wants her career to take off... BUT what about Jock....
I liked this book, and recommend.
4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I think Jock and Beatrice had such a sweet chemistry and my heart broke for them a few times during the course of the story. I also loved watching Reginald's story opening up. The only thing I would change would be to have a little more detail between Jock moving to Margate and the hotel being open. I'd love to watch them navigate the running of the hotel as a couple. I really hope there will be some form of sequel!

Thanks for giving me this opportunity . Talk about a packed book, this was definitely interesting. This was different, I enjoy and had a good time with it , but didn’t love it. But a good read nonetheless

I have loved everything from Phoebe MacLeod, and this was no exception. This was a fun and easy read I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

*Too Busy For Love* by Phoebe MacLeod is a light, fun read that’s perfect for a weekend when you want something easy and breezy. The story revolves around a workaholic protagonist who finds herself unexpectedly tangled up in a romance she didn’t see coming.

The characters are likable, if a bit predictable, and the plot follows a familiar rom-com formula, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re in the mood for something comforting. MacLeod’s writing is engaging, and there are some genuinely funny moments scattered throughout the book.

However, I found some parts a little too convenient, with conflicts resolved almost as soon as they arise. While this makes for a stress-free read, it also means the story lacks a bit of depth and tension that could have made it more compelling. The romance is sweet, but it didn’t quite hook me as much as I’d hoped.

Overall, *Too Busy For Love* is an enjoyable read for when you’re looking for something lighthearted and easygoing, but it might not leave a lasting impression. A solid three stars.

Thank you Phoebe MacLeod, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

I love the cover of this book, it is exactly the type of book I’d pick off the shelf.

The book felt a bit like two books in one with the first small section being the Hotel Dufour issues and beginnings of a romance with Jock when that suddenly ended and Beatrice joins a reality tv show in Mallorca before going back to Jock towards the end.

Overall I liked the characters and the storyline. It was an easy to read novel and I enjoyed reading it.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ Force Proximity
✨ Romcom
✨ Two Different background




✨ The first chapter was a rocky start for me😫 I know it’s just me that I thought it was a thriller book.🤣
Beatrice is the main character in this story. She was in prison for questioning about what is happening to her work place and they let her go with a warning.
Along side when she came back, a Scottish chef was in there too. They never actually speak at times until the police raid the hotel.
Both of them are very work minded but Jock is starting to fall inlove . Beatrice is still having business vibes and it took a while before she realise it aswell.
It was a good ending ,, very casual romance .. Great for a feel good moment book.

✨ writing is great. I could read it anytime but unfortunately the audiobook (narrator) sorry but the diction and voices ruined it abit. Not liking it at all.



✨Thankyou @boldwood publishing for the opportunity to read this book for a honest review.



🫶🏼shaye.reads

Too Busy for Love is my third venture into a book by MacLeod and a third that I've really enjoyed.

It's a fun romcom that had me laughing out loud in several places and suspending disbelief in others.

Beatrice is brilliant, she's the friend we all aspire to have! She's also a little bit of me as I'm very much a routine and list person too. Some of the situs she found herself in were hilarious, especially when she realised the hotel was sidelining as a brothel.

Combining tropes of forced proximity and opposites attracting, Too Busy for Love is itself a moderately paced, busy read with an entertaining plot.

I just love this author’s books and this book was no different. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from the start.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a romantic comedy book.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early.

Phoebe MacLeod's Too Busy for Love is a delightful romantic comedy that blends the charm of London with the unexpected twists of life. Beatrice, a dedicated and orderly hotel employee, finds her world turned upside down when her beloved workplace is raided by the police. Suddenly, her structured life is thrown into disarray, and she’s forced to spend her time with the hotel’s chef, Jock, while they wait for the legal mess to clear up. What begins as a situation fraught with tension quickly turns into an adventure as Beatrice steps out of her comfort zone and starts exploring both London and her feelings for Jock.

The chemistry between Beatrice and Jock is heartwarming, and MacLeod does a fantastic job of developing their relationship against the backdrop of an uncertain future. Beatrice's journey from a career-focused individual to someone who embraces the unpredictability of life—and love—is both relatable and endearing. Too Busy for Love is a charming reminder that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need. The story is light-hearted yet filled with emotional depth, making it a perfect read for those who enjoy a good love story with a dash of humor and a lot of heart.

Perfect for a curl-up-and-read weekend this fall, this story follows a young woman who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it sets off a life-changing adventure for her! Mix in reality tv, a revolving cast of characters, and some really intriguing history around a cute hotel, and it's a story that continually evolves, leaving the reader interested and involved in these characters' lives. It's a quick read that's full of drama, adventure, hijinks, humor, and romance, and perfect for a cozy autumn read.