I was really delighted to be granted an eARC of this novel. I have enjoyed all of Phoebes previous novels, and this one was no exception. The story of the characters was fun, exciting and engaging to read.

"Too Busy for Love" by Phoebe MacLeod is a delightful contemporary romance that explores the challenges of balancing a demanding career with personal happiness. The story follows a protagonist who, despite her professional success, struggles to find time for love. MacLeod’s writing is engaging and filled with wit, creating a relatable and charming narrative. The novel deftly mixes humor with genuine emotional moments, making it an enjoyable read for anyone who appreciates romance with a modern twist and a focus on self-discovery.

First of all: I feel like this book is being mismarketed. It says it's a forced proximity romance, but there is barely either of those present in the story. The beginning was very promising but it went downhill from there.

The author was trying to do too much. I felt like it was 3 books crammed into one. The lockdown int he hotel, the tv show, the opening of a new hotel. This is probably why the side characters got more character building than the love interest, who was barely mentioned and I felt like there was no spark except for maybe the first few chapters during the "forced proximity". The main female character truly was "too busy for love" with all those different plot lines.

Besides that, I felt like a lot of the story was telling, not showing. An example, someone asks "what makes you say that" and then it continues with a vague quick summary of everything we already know. I get that is why she has to do it, but it didn't make the story very readable. I also would've liked some more atmosphere descriptions. Why did she fell in love with that city/neighbourhood/hotel? Show, don't tell!

I feel like if the author had focused on just one of the three story lines in the book it could have been better.

Thank you to NetGally and Boldwood Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and The Publisher for an advanced e-copy of Too Busy for Love, in exchange for an honest review.

'Too Busy for Love' follows Beatrice, a hotel manager whose life takes an unexpected turn after her boss's arrest. Amidst the turmoil, she finds solace in the company of the hotel's chef, Jock.

The book opens with a promising premise as we witness the budding romance between Beatrice and Jock. Their shared adventures in tourist spots create a heartwarming atmosphere. However, the story abruptly shifts as they go their separate ways.

Beatrice's subsequent journey becomes a series of disjointed episodes. She briefly works on a reality show, then embarks on a project to restore an abandoned hotel. While these experiences highlight her resilience, they lack the emotional depth and connection necessary for a compelling romance fiction.

The absence of Jock's perspective is a significant flaw. As the reader, we're left wondering about his feelings and how the separation has affected him. This missing element diminishes the potential for a satisfying love story.

'Too Busy for Love' fails to deliver on its promise as a romance fiction. While Beatrice's journey is admirable, the disjointed plot and lack of a dual perspective make it difficult to fully engage with the characters or the love story. The novel may appeal to readers interested in a tale of resilience and self-discovery, but those seeking a heartwarming romance will likely be disappointed.
3.75 Stars

I struggled a lot with this book.... It was boring, I had a hard time keeping up with the story, the characters didn't keep my interest up at all. It was just naaahhh for me...

The Dufour hotel is raided by police and Beatrice is now in a holding cell on her 29th bday. She was arrested for assessors to prostitution in the hotel. After her and Jock are released on bail, they have a set of rules to follow by police. As tension and nerves arise, Jock and Beatrice start to get closer and see each other in new ways.

The beginning half was very intriguing, but as the book progressed I wasn't as locked into the read. Personally I think a lot of the plot took away from the love interests. The ending felt a little lengthy with not a lot of action.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first by this author, and I really enjoyed it. Jock and Beatrice were great characters, who grew as the story progressed. The actual story was pretty original, very entertaining and kept my interest.

I fell for Beatrice's romanticised dream of the Mermaid Hotel, almost to the point where I wanted to go lend a hand!

It was lighthearted, warming, and good for my soul, and I'll definitely be looking out for her others.

I had high hopes for this book. I really did but unfortunately I couldn't get into it. I really was thrown off with how long it took to get to the romance part that I forgot what the beginning part was about. There were too much details that I felt the author was hyper-fixiated on that was unnecessary. I really felt like the beginning of the story was starting off pretty great so the rest of the book just threw me off.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Too Busy for Love By Phoebe MacLeod
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Boldwood Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up to 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

Oh my goodness, this book was SO CUTE!! 🥰

Told from the perspective of our female main character, Beatrice, this story was so much more than just a forced proximity rom-com about the unexpected romantic connection between Beatrice and Jock.

Though the first part of the book was all about their connection - created out of a truly unfortunate experience - the majority of the story focused less on the relationship of Beatrice & Jock and more on the hilarious ups-and-downs of Beatrice's career. Don't get me wrong, there was still plenty of the meet-cute love story you want to see. But there was also so much more to the plotline of this book!

The whole cast of supporting characters here were fantastic! Even Beatrice's parents, who are pretty cringey in their concerns about their reputation, added to my enjoyment of the book. Honestly, I kinda wanted to hang out with everyone and be a part of the magic and fun that seemed to be waiting around every corner for Beatrice on her journey to create the life of her dreams.

This book was not what I expected from a rom-com read, and I think that made it even better for me. It was a fast read that entertained me and made me smile -- I even laughed out loud at times. And the ending gave me all the happily-ever-after vibes I was hoping for!

If you're looking for a fun rom-com that's got a little more moxie to it, this book is for you. If you want to read a rom-com with a little less "rom" and a little more "com," I highly recommend you give this one a read.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. Be sure you add this rom-com to your TBR list and get yourself a copy when it's published on August 13th!!

#TooBusyForLove #PhoebeMacLeod #NetGalley #ARC #boldwoodbookclub #boldwoodbookVIP #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #romcomreads #romcoms #booklover #booknerd #bookcommunity

I was 25% into this book and all I could think of was the meme where it goes "We are happy and in love right, we are happy and in love... what is this!!!". This is the first Phoebe MacLeod book that I did not enjoy like where was the romance for a large portion of the book and also the plot did not flow well. Honestly, some of the characters annoyed me and the couple we are routing for don't even seem interesting in pursuing a relationship with one another.

Too Busy For Love is a romance novel by Phoebe MacLeod.
This was an easy read. The story was easy to follow, though a bit slow in places. Once I got past these parts I enjoyed it more. The characters felt a little bland too. An ok read that other readers might like.
💝 Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrice is shocked when the hotel where she works is raided by the police and she ends up being released on bail with only Jock, the hotel's chef, for company. When they are released without charge they go their separate ways, trying to get their lives back on track. For Beatrice an opportunity does open up for her and the story goes on from there.
I tend to ignore labels such as romcom as they invariably end up not being one thing or the other and just enjoy the book for what it is. In this case there is less of the romance and more on Beatrice's struggles to make a life for herself as her career has been tarnished by the association with the previous hotel. I did enjoy her journey, with some humorous moments and also some very sad ones along the way, and she comes across as a really lovely person, albeit with a strong work ethic. I was curious on how it would develop, and Jock come back into her life, and thought this was handled very well and I became totally involved in their story. A lighthearted read that you can disappear into and let the rest of the works pass you by.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This was such a fun read! I liked how the story started and how it turned out. I think the whole reality show scene was a bit random, but it was still fun to read! I really liked the Beatrice as a character! If you want to read something quick with not too much spice, this one is for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this arc!

Overall I liked the story but it really could have been 2-3 separate stories and they weren’t tied together as well as they should have been. But I think the last part of the book was fabulous and wish maybe that had been the plot they focused on for the whole thing. I would definitely read more books by the author as she had good character development just tried too hard to have multiple key storylines.

Easy read, enjoyed it and was easy enough to follow.. thank you for the advance read Net galley and it was worth the read, not sure if I’m the perfect demo but I think others will love

Easy read, enjoyed it and was easy enough to follow.. thank you for the advance read Net galley and it was worh a read! Wasn’t my fave from Phoebe.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.
Too Busy for Love was a fun and easy read! I was immediately drawn into the story and loved Phoebe's writing style. The book starts off really strong but then loses momentum for me. The romantic comedy feel turns more into a self-discovery journey for Beatrice about halfway through the book. I would classify this novel as contemporary-fiction rather than a romance.
I still ready enjoyed the plot and the writing style. I will read more books by Phoebe in the future for sure!

I think that if this was marketed more as a contemporary fiction or just general fiction it would make a bit more sense rather than a romcom. I guess the title does kind of point in that direction and there was some romance, but it was such a small part of the plot that I just kept waiting for romance and it didn't really meet my expectations. I think that the story was great and that not every story should revolve around romance and I think this did a good job at that but I do think I was left wanting only because I went into this thinking it was a romance when it was not.

Beatrice enjoys a perfect life managing a posh boutique hotel in upscale London, excelling due to her perfectionist nature. Her world crumbles when the hotel is raided, and she is arrested as a potential accomplice in a prostitution ring operating out of her workplace. Awaiting the investigation's outcome, Beatrice is released on bail and spends time with the hotel's chef, Jock. Together, they explore London, and romantic sparks fly, prompting Beatrice to envision a new future.

After being exonerated, Beatrice and Jock part ways to pursue new careers. As Beatrice builds her new life, she repeatedly reflects on her whirlwind week with Jock and questions whether life should be more than just work. Will their paths cross again, or is life too busy for love?

The book starts strong, hinting at a future for Beatrice and Jock, but loses momentum when they separate. The story then focuses more on Beatrice's self-discovery than their romance. Despite fond memories, neither character takes action to reconnect, making the narrative frustrating and dull after the first quarter. Beatrice’s relationships with other characters are interesting, but the story feels disconnected from its beginning, slowing the pace.

The novel shifts from romance to personal growth, with an anticlimactic reunion. While Phoebe's writing is vivid, the promising start fizzles into a less engaging narrative, focusing on Beatrice's relationships and personal journey rather than developing the initial romantic plot. Their reunion feels forced and unrealistic, given their lack of meaningful connection, leading to a disappointing conclusion.

I was actually left disappointed by this one! I expected and wanted so much more from Jock and Beatrice! It started off slow, then I could see a flicker of hope, and it disappeared right alongside Jock! The remainder of the book I keep hoping Jock would reappear, and it just made the book feel like it dragged along. Then Jock came back, and the cute romance should have been back on, but we spent so much time on the hotel stuff that it just ended with little reconnection, leaving me feeling disconnected.