As a longtime Wordle enthusiast who recently downloaded the NY Times Games App, I was excited to dive into this fun and relatable twist on a romance novel. While I appreciated the Wordle elements, the romance and overall plot didn't quite hit the mark for me. The romantic aspect failed to capture my interest, and the storyline quickly became repetitive and lackluster, leaving me bored and struggling to stay engaged through much of the book.

I have been charmed by a romance book based on Wordle.

Do y’all remember the word game that took over the internet during the pandemic? That’s what this book is based on: a young woman named Emily, adrift in life, unfocused but convinced she’s destined for greatness, and her love for Wordle.

I don’t like reading books in one day, but I started A Five-Letter Word For Love on Day 1 and finished it on Day 2, thoroughly enjoying every minute and always wanting to find out what happened next. I found Emily’s narrative voice very engaging and entertaining, and I was intrigued by her character development: she’s convinced she’s better than anyone who chooses to live in a small town, including the boring mechanic she works with who ends up being the love interest.

And I really enjoyed this romance! I was engrossed by the main character’s subtly changing attitude and feelings towards the mechanic who, surprising no one, actually turns out to not be boring. It wasn’t filled with drama or bullying, and I especially love how he took influence from her friendliness and tried to be friendlier instead of mr blunt and direct all the time, and she took influence from him and learned to stand up for herself.

I really felt for Emily as she was at an age where all of her friends lived far away, had careers and relationships, and she felt behind by being single and living in a small town with a dead-end job after deciding not to pursue the career she went to university for. I think the author really encapsulated that feeling that can happen to a lot of young people, especially women, before their careers are established or before they get married (if that’s what they want). I was hit especially hard by Emily’s loneliness when she went home alone after work and didn’t even have a pet to keep her company. I was incredibly pleased to see her making friends throughout the book.

While I really did enjoy basically everything about this novel, I only thought that if it had ended a bit earlier, it would have made a fantastic women’s fiction instead of a romance, where a young woman, determined to change her life, elects to leave the temporary happiness she found in search for something she’d been dreaming of and planning for. While I’m ok with the ending specifically because it is a romance and must have a HEA, I’m not convinced Emily would really be happy with how things ended up. That’s because ultimately, I don’t think the man she left her dream for for was truly compatible. Full disclosure: I, too, dated a racecar driver and broke up because our lives were not compatible, and I did not want to spend my life around cars and fishing (I found myself a gamer instead, which gives me time to read). And it felt like she’d spent the entire novel chasing her dream career in her dream city only to give up when it wasn’t perfect, which um… happens in relationships, too.

I loved the side characters and I cried during some especially sad moments.

I am totally charmed by Amy James’ writing and I would definitely love to check out her next book.

Thanks to Netgally, publisher and author for the ARC of this book.

I was keen to read this as was based around the game wordle which was unique.

Unfortunately I found no character development and a lack of wholeness or fullness to way written .

Although it was nice, quick and easy to read. As I only took a few days to read.

I did enjoy the wordle idea.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers Australia and the author Amy James for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Five-Letter Word for Love is a light and easy, rom-com style book. It was a bit of a slow burn and there were so many characters that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. I enjoyed this read, I rated it a 3/5⭐️.

The book followed Emily, a vibrant young woman who was determined to find her dream job. While she was trying to find her dream job, she was working as a receptionist in an auto shop which is where she meets John, a reserved, slightly rude mechanic.

The idea of Wordle being included in a book really drew me in and let me tell you, there was times where I was kicking my legs with some of the ways that the Wordle was included 🥹 This also goes hand in hand with the cover, it stood out due to the Wordle aspect.

I would have loved a bit more depth to John’s character, I think the story would have been better from a dual POV, especially since we don’t know much about John apart from surface level information for majority of the book. As well as this, there were so many different aspects of the book, where at times I felt like it was tricky to keep up but by the end of the book, it ended with such a great note and it didn’t feel overcrowded and I felt at peace with the ending.

I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a rom-com, slight grumpy x sunshine, small town romance with a Wordle aspect 🫶🏼

"I could go to culinary school. That would be fun, wouldn't it?
Like going to school, but your homework is cookies."

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review

A Five-Letter Word for Love is a light, easygoing read—perfect for when you're in the mood for something relaxing. While it doesn’t serve up any surprising twists or unexpected moments, it offers a straightforward and charming narrative that stays in its lane.

The story follows Emily, a bubbly and determined young woman, who finds herself working as a receptionist at an auto shop. There, she meets John, a gruff and somewhat standoffish mechanic. Their romance slowly develops, with some cute Wordle shenanigans sprinkled in, all while Emily is on a quest to figure out her ~dream job~

One thing I would have appreciated is more depth to John’s character. The story would have benefitted from a dual POV, especially since John starts off as a pretty reserved and bland character and doesn’t evolve much beyond that. We learn that he’s sweet and thoughtful—definitely a acts of service kind of guy—but beyond that, he lacks distinctiveness. He’s the type of character you’d struggle to pick out of a lineup.

Overall, it’s a cute and enjoyable book, even if it didn’t quite hit "favorite" status for me.

Who knew wordle could start a romance? For Emily life isn’t exactly going to plan. She’s 27 and working the reception desk at a garage on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. She did the college thing but a life in science was not something she could thrive doing. Her friends have moved on without her – onto fulfilling careers or growing their families. But Emily feels stuck. After yet another failed tinder date, Emily finds new common ground with the surly yet handsome mechanic John – they both enjoy finding a few minutes each and every day to play wordle. Could a love of words form the basis to more?
There’s a lot I liked about this book. Like so many others in the world I too played wordle during the pandemic (and got more upset than I should have when my streak broke). I liked how the game threaded around Emily’s life and how she would use words for her current mood or situation to start her guesses for the day. I love any book set on PEI – Anne of Green Gables, the new Carley Fortune, honestly, I would read anything with that setting – and the small-town vibes were felt throughout this book.
But I found myself thinking that if the author had changed one thing I would have enjoyed this book so much more. Emily is 27. She’s been to college and tried to make a go of adulting in the past decade or so. But the character feels so much younger than her years. If she had been just finished high school or even completed her first year or two of college I would have understood her better. Rather she felt like she was naïve and on a gap year from reality. Her dream job lists felt juvenile. Her impulsiveness felt more suited to a younger character than someone who is almost thirty. I feel I could have forgiven her for a lot more and identified with her most strongly had she been younger and newer to the world of adult responsibilities and ramifications of her actions.
It is a cute book. I liked the characters we met along the way as Emily found her place in the world. The romance was a little undercooked for my liking. It felt more superficial than some of the other relationships Emily forged in the book. This is more of a coming of age and into her own power kinds of books than a romance in my eyes. Overall it was a pleasant read but more of a new adult story than someone in their late twenties.

2.5/5 stars

Five letter word for love is a debut novel by Amy James. This sweet rom com is about Emily , 27 year old, who dreams for a big city life with creative job ends up in a small town, works as an auto receptionist.

I know, her life is exactly the way it sounds, boring and flat for someone with big dreams. John, her grumpy co-worker, who was sure that his life is settled in the small town, hardly had any conversation with Emily, untill he noticed she plays Wordle.

I would say, we got a new genre here, ‘a wordle romance’. 💕 This is such a cute concept, where the book moves around wordle.

Their daily interactions, with small details with 5 letter words made me part of their play and felt like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. Just like the leads, it’s important that every character had their own story and this book definitely done its job. Loved the relationship Emily had with everyone around her with more realistic views and the romance between John and Emily was so natural and smooth.

There’s no extra drama here, the little world that Emily creates and having a ‘dear diary’ (well, not actually) kind of pov made this book an easy and fun read.

Need a break after reading a heavy or dense book? This is the one, a perfect length with smooth and fun language which will give you a fresh sense of taste.

This cover of this book is what drew me in at first then when I read the description I thought this is my kind of book. The story starts off a bit slow but when it picks up I found myself not wanting to put it down. I like the slow burn genre and this doesn’t disappoint. Though the main character isn’t my favourite and at times I found her to be a little bratty, I still really enjoyed reading the evolution of the story and various relationships. For a lighthearted read I would recommend this book.

A Five Letter Word for Love by Amy James: 3.5 stars!
This book was such a sweet, light, fluffy and easy read. It followed a very predictable contemporary romance formula, but had moments of me giggling and swooning with the FMC.
It was an light read (a great palate clenser between heavier books!), with plenty of very relatable moments for young women who don’t quite know what they want to do with their lives or if they are on the right path!
I just felt the story could have had a little more depth, and character development (the MMC fell very flat for me), I may have been a little on the "older" side to relate to the characters!
Thank you to Net Galley, HarperCollins Publishers Australia and the Author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“A Five Letter Word for Love” by Amy James:
This book is a sweet, cute funny, light and simple romance book that has me giggling, blushing, smiling and kicking my feet. It delves into the idea of a “dream job” and wanting to do so much with your life, with many parts being very relatable.
The book was so beautifully written, with so many lovable characters (exactly what you want in a small town romance book).
Emily, the FMC is goofy, idealistic, full of dreams, loves wordle, so lovable and one of my favourite FMCs from any book. The book was told from her perspective, almost as if she was telling the story. I found it very easy to relate to her. One quote that stood out about her was “‘That’s so random’, he says. ‘Yes, well. Welcome to my brain!”
John, the MMC is the dream guy. Thoughtful, sweet, patient and passionate. Two quotes from the book about him: “His full name is John Smith. (Because his parents knew how boring he would grow up to be I guess)” “He is seriously such a weirdo. (A weirdo who likes me) (a weirdo I have a date with)”
The book was also filled with lovable side characters.
Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:
“I was trapped in a catch-22. I couldn’t get a job with no experience and I couldn’t get any experience without getting a job.”
“The ultimate revenge, making her accidentally like me”
“I was feeling all giddy and squiggly”
“Like seeing a penguin I in a desert”

Mini Review! A Five Letter Word For Love by Amy James - Releases 3 December 2024

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emily is living on a small island in Canada, but longs for the big city life and hopes that one day she will find her dream job. Whilst living on the Island, Emily begins a romance with her car-obsessed co-worker, John. As their romance progress Emily wonders whether she is destined to live on the island for the rest of her life or whether there is something bigger and better out there for her. Which pathway will Emily ultimately choose?

I really enjoyed this book and found it to be such a fun, easy read. I think it is also a very relatable book for many young women who don’t quite know which pathway they want to take in life or whether they are on the right track.

Thank you @HarperCollinsAustralia for my Digital Advanced Readers Copy!

#harpercollins #harpercollinsitalia #afiveletterwordforlove #amyjames #minireview #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram

This was a SWEET and HAPPY read. I enjoyed how the writer, Amy James, wove the game of Wordle throughout the story. The characters had good development and growth. The love story was cute and felt very natural. I always enjoy stories with found family and this story had great supporting characters. The settings and occupations in this book were unique and I enjoyed the journey Emily went on to discover her place in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for the eARC.

An unexpected romance blooms between two people with a passion for maintaining their streak on Wordle, Emily and John. Emily, a late-twenties woman working as a receptionist, and John, work at the same auto shop on Prince Edward Island. Emily longs for a creative, vibrant life, while John is a man of few words, T

hey have a lovely dynamic and connection, but their overall relationship and the plot of the story lacked the excitement to really keep me engaged in what was going on. John is a passive character, but is too passive in the sense that he really doesn't do much. Additionally, the secondary characters didn't really add much to the story.

Overall, it was a fine contemporary romance, that follows the formula we are all used to. However, it just needed a little more depth and passion to really hit the mark for me.

"A Five-Letter Word for Love" is a charming and heartwarming novel that follows the journey of twenty-seven-year-old Emily, whose life seems to be stuck in a rut. Emily's longing for a creative career, a vibrant city life, and close friendships contrasts sharply with her reality as a receptionist in a small-town auto shop on Prince Edward Island. Her only solace is a remarkable 300+ day streak on the New York Times Wordle.

While the premise is delightful and the characters are likable, the novel sometimes falls into predictable patterns. Emily's transformation, although touching, feels somewhat rushed and the plot occasionally lacks the depth that could have made her journey more compelling. Additionally, the secondary characters, particularly Emily's coworkers, could have been more fleshed out to add more layers to the narrative.

Overall, "A Five-Letter Word for Love" is an enjoyable read that offers a sweet, if somewhat formulaic, love story. It's a perfect pick for fans of light romance and anyone looking for a feel-good story about finding love and happiness in unexpected places.

Emily, 27, is a receptionist in a small Prince Edward Island town, annoyed by car enthusiasts.
- She escapes with a 300-day Wordle streak in the New York Times.
- When she gets stuck on a tough Wordle guess, she reluctantly asks coworker John for help.
- They team up to hit a 365-day streak, leading to an unexpected romance.
- Emily starts to see John differently and rethinks her ideas about happiness, success, and love.
- The book focuses on Emily and John's relationship, which often lacks excitement.
- John is a quiet guy who shows love through actions but is a pretty passive character.
- The romance feels forced and lacks natural chemistry and depth.
- Emily's lack of interest in her dream life and her pretentious reflections make her unlikeable.
- The book has unappealing characters and a confusing plot.
- The Wordle aspect, initially charming, becomes disconnected from the main story.
- There's too much explanation about Wordle that could have been cut.
- The narrative loses focus, making the book feel long and disjointed.
- Final rating: 1 stars.
- Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"A Five-Letter Word for Love" by Amy James tells a funny story where an unexpected romance blooms between two Wordle enthusiasts, Emily and John. Emily, a twenty-seven-year-old at a career crossroads, works as a receptionist in a small Prince Edward Island town surrounded by car fanatics who annoy her. Her daily escape is her impressive 300-day Wordle streak in the New York Times. When she hits a tough Wordle guess, Emily reluctantly turns to John, a coworker she finds bothersome. As they team up to conquer Wordle together and aim for a 365-day streak, Emily starts seeing John in a new light. Their journey leads to a surprising connection and a romance that exceeds her expectations, challenging her views on happiness, success, and love in an unexpected adventure.

Regarding the book itself, the focus is on Emily and John's relationship, which lacked excitement most of the time. John, portrayed as a man of few words, rarely opens up about himself. While he shows love through actions, his passive role in the narrative could have been way more engaging. The story might have worked better if it was solely focused on Emily's personal journey rather than a romance, as the chemistry was lacking and felt severely forced. Their love seemed artificial rather than naturally unfolding, and their relationship lacked depth. Emily also shows little interest in her supposed dream life, and her reflections on her importance come off as pretentious, which made me dislike her character.

Overall, this book is filled with unappealing characters and confusing plot points. While I initially enjoyed the charming Wordle element, it started to feel disconnected from the main story halfway through. There's too much unnecessary explanation about Wordle that could have been cut. As I read on, the narrative lost coherence and I was just eager for the book to wrap up.

My final rating is 1.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.