I would like to thank NetGalley for this ARC of A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James
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I went into this book with high hopes and unfortunately it fell just below what I was hoping for. I know this book is based all around the word game, Wordle, but I think they could have mentioned it a little less.

Emily and John are great characters and I did enjoy the moments between them.

All in all, this was a fun book and if you go int it looking for 'fun' then you may enjoy this. :)

As someone who still starts her morning with a hot cuppa and a cheeky round of Wordle (yes, even when the cat’s meowing and the toast is burning), I was instantly charmed by Amy James’ A Five Letter Word for Love. Add in the setting—Prince Edward Island, the very soil that gave us Anne of Green Gables—and I was sold before page one.
This story felt like a warm cardigan on a chilly day. Emily, our heroine, is stuck in a job she doesn’t love—receptionist at a local auto shop—while dreaming of museum halls and curated exhibits. It reminded me so much of the TV show Shifting Gears with Kat Dennings, where Riley returns home and finds herself working in her dad’s garage, unsure of what she truly wants. Emily’s journey mirrors that same heart-tugging question: what if your dream isn’t out there, but right here?
The spark in this tale comes from an unexpected place—Wordle. Emily and John, a quiet mechanic with a knack for puzzles, bond over their shared love of the game. Their connection grows from playful guesses to something deeper, and soon the story shifts from career angst to romantic possibility. But just as things start to bloom, Emily is offered her dream internship in New York. Cue the classic dilemma: chase the big city dream or stay in the small town that’s slowly winning her heart?
Amy James writes with a gentle charm that makes you want to curl up and read with a blanket and a biscuit. The romance is sweet without being syrupy, and the Wordle angle adds a quirky twist that feels fresh and relatable. I found myself rooting for Emily—not just in love, but in finding peace with where she is.
This book is perfect for anyone who’s ever felt torn between ambition and home, or who’s found unexpected joy in the simplest things—like a five-letter word that means love. Thanks to HarperCollins NZ for the paperback copy that now sits proudly on my shelf.
💌 Verdict: A delightful read that will warm your heart and maybe even reignite your Wordle obsession.

A book and romance set around the game Wordle was an interesting concept, but didn't wow me as much as I thought it would.

I didn't connect with the characters as much as I thought I would, as the conversations seemed a bit surface-level. I did feel like John was potentially a bit too passive. Did I appreciate how normal the characters felt, though? I absolutely did. Some of the opportunities Emily passed up on during the book confused me, but her character was just trying to figure out her career.

It was a cute and easy to read, but maybe I didn't understand the hype because I didn't play Wordle.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story line of this book. It was super cute. I struggled at the start but eventually it started to pick up and once it did, I couldn’t put it down!

*4.25 star rating

This small town girl picked this book up because I was intrigued by a romance book centred around wordle and honestly it was so much more than I expected <3

As someone studing and working within the information professional industry, I really considered dnfing this early on bc of Emily's whimsy and ignorance of her 'dream job' fantasies, and found her a tad immature (is she really though? or is that me being overly judgemental?); but somewhere along the line I found myself really relating to Emily and her struggles. I loved the small town, and people, the numerous Anne of Green Gables references, and the little peeks into museums. I liked the romance and the chemistry progression between Emily and John for the most part, and Emily's individual character arc.

Probably wouldn't recommend for no- or low-level enthusiasts of Wordle, unless you want to be converted to a daily Wordle player. It is a very promient recurring event lol

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me access to an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All feelings and statements are my own.

DNF at 42% - as excited as I was to read this book, if I was to read the word ‘wordle’ again I was going to poke my eyes out.

The continued explanation of wordle rules and lack of plot/character development in the first few chapters lost me.

Thank you to HarperCollins Aus and NetGalley for this ARC.

The corporate girlie in me normally prefers big city books but this small town romance hit the spot and I can 100% see a film adaptation coming through!

Emily, our 27yo fmc, works in a job that isn’t relevant to her degree and dreams for bigger things as she struggles to make new friends as an adult (super relatable) - I loved her journey to self discovery and speaking up for herself.

John is similar aged and has dude/bro dialogue but his humour grew on me. He is a mechanic with overalls pulled half way down and I feel this should have made it onto the cover🔥.

Speaking of covers, this one does not do the book justice because the story is set in beautiful Prince Edward Island and littered with Anne of Green Gables vibes. The location is so picturesque and I just wish some of it came through.

This is a book heavily centred around the game Wordle with a sprinkle of a small town, slow burn romance. It felt a little repetitive at times but I think that accurately captures the concept of Wordle which is something you do once a day, everyday until it just becomes part of your daily routine.

It had a sweet storyline and although I wasn’t invested in the romance at all, I did enjoy reading about Emily’s self discovery journey. You can see her character growth go from a girl lost in a world of unrealistic dreams to finding something she is genuinely happy and passionate about.

This was a fun and light read that I flew through in a day.

I loved the novel premise of the wordle streak and the way it brought John and Emily together. I did find the first person tense took a little getting used to, but it did fit Emily’s story and her journey of self discovery. Her push to find her dream job and move to a big city, and her reluctance to ‘settle’ were very relatable. I think the impact of this on her relationships with her uni friends and John will also resonate with many readers.

I particularly loved Emily’s relationships with the elderly residents of the town, and her respect and interest in their stories. The Prince Edward Island setting and small town vibes were just the cherry on top for me.

A great read for anyone looking for contemporary romance with a lot of heart.

Thank you HarperCollins Australia for an early copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James is a funny and light rom com. Emily, a self-confessed Wordle-fanatic working at a job she doesn't love, keeps persisting through each day, fueled by her Wordle streak, before falling in love.

While I thought this was a fun book and a great in-between of heavy reads, I found the tenses too jarring, and in the first few chapters couldn't fully sink into the story as the reader was constantly pointed out/breaking the forth wall (book edition).

A solid 3 star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-Arc!

This was a really sweet little romance. Cost small town vibes. I enjoyed the fact that wordle played a part in the plot, such a cool idea. I would have liked to get to know him a bit better, but overall I really enjoyed this. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC copy of this book!

3.5 stars rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thought this was a really cute and cosy read.
I immediately got into the pacing of the book and thought it was a good mix of funny and relatable.

As the romance started to develop between Emily and John, there were genuinely moments where I found myself smiling at the screen because it was so cute.

The problem for me was the second half. Emily became more pedantic and John seemed very one-dimensional in his personality, even during conflict he was giving me ✨nothing✨

But I still wanted them to be together and I’m glad Emily finally saw sense in the end. The Wordle thing was cute and being that this is a debut novel, I think it’s a pretty great start.

Excited to read more from this Author!

A Five Letter Word For Love is the first novel by Canadian author, Amy James. For a year now, twenty-six-year-old Emily Evans has lived in a totally cute house in the town of Waldon on Prince Edward Island, paying an almost nominal rent, and working as a receptionist at Martin Auto.

She sees the job as temporary: her Bachelor of Science degree didn’t result in the dream job, something creative and arty, she’s decided, something that will quickly pay off her student loan, something in a city like London or Paris or New York.

Meanwhile, she looks out for her next-door-neighbour, watches Heath Ledger movie marathons, and waits for inspiration. Her Uni friends are spread far and wide, busy with their own lives, her parents are vacationing overseas, and of the mechanics at work, Dave is older, a nice man with adult children, while John, her age, is only interested in racing cars and is virtually taciturn when she tries to engage.

Emily is a Wordle enthusiast: it’s something she can succeed at much better than crosswords, and her current streak is over three hundred days when she looks like being stumped. John has already come to her rescue when her car beaks down; as they sit waiting for his mate to bring a truck, he surprises her by coming to the rescue again with a subtle clue to maintain her streak. John does Wordle: who knew! Perhaps there are unknown depths to this silent colleague.

Even though Emily doesn’t plan to stay, she somehow falls into a private carer job looking after her next-door-neighbour (and a few others), and volunteers at the Barrel Museum in her spare time. Her enthusiasm for each of these draws comment from John: “You are weird”. But they keep sharing their Wordle efforts, and when, despite the museum manager’s disinterest, Emily begins coming up with promotional ideas: school excursions, care home outings, a new, interactive exhibit, an open day, John offers to help out.

They end up dating, even though she definitely doesn’t want to end up with a mechanic who has settled for a small-town existence. Courses, internships and the big city are still calling her…

Emily might initially strike the reader as a bit shallow, with a somewhat warped sense of priorities, but she quickly shows herself to be kind-hearted, to show initiative and some creativity, even if she appears to occasionally be oblivious to what others plainly see. Oh, and Wordle enthusiasts might find her approach to the puzzle a little irritating.

While the plot is fairly predictable, the journey to the happy-ever-after is a very pleasant one; the characters are appealing, and James gives them some insightful observations about life. This is a sweet and enjoyable debut, and more from Amy James will be most welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia.

I loved this book, it was so sweet to read. I love the concept and literally started playing wordle daily. For my contemporary romance lovers I recommend reading!!

I feel like this book had so much potential but the female main character just ruined it for me. The plot was lacking so, I felt like it was going in circle with a few little side quests. Also a lot of mistakes both in the plot, the process of things and grammatical
1.5

Emily is trying to find her dream job after she realised she doesn’t want to do anything with her degree. She finds herself in a small town as a receptionist at an auto shop with a 300+ day streak on wordle.

A five letter word for love incorporates wordle into the story of Emily and John and they use this game as a foundation to their relationship and you find out little things about their lives with each days starting word. This is a super easy light hearted read about self discovery and finding your place in the world.

Thoughts:
There was chemistry between Emily and John no doubt, however I do wish John had more of a personality. I KNOW I KNOW. They are very opposites attract, Emily is so out there and has to fill in every silent moment and John doesn’t talk if he doesn’t want or need to. Just as the reader I found him a bit boring but I understand why he was great for Emily! However, for the entire book Emily wanted a big life with meaning and I didn’t understand the ending but at the same time it makes sense. Emily found joy in a small town, friends, two careers and a boyfriend. It was a lovely happy ending regardless and that’s what we love

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summed Up: SWEET is the Wordle of the day!

- - -
Yes, this is a rom-com. Yes, it’s Wordle themed and yes, I gave it five stars! 😍✨

I know this is a wild card in my usual reading lineup but I honestly adored every bit of it.

As a devoted Wordle fan, the cover pulled me in and the references to the daily guessing game kept me hooked. Now I’m 100% convinced I need to match the daily five letter word to everything in my life!

This book is all about small town, slow burn romance with adorable characters, warm vibes and funny moments.

There weren’t any shocking twists, but that’s the beauty of it. It was a cosy, feel good meet-cute perfect for curling up with. If you’re in the mood for love with a side of five letter puzzles, this one is for you! 💌

A big thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the sneak peek of this book out 3rd December

Thank you to Netgally for providing me with this ARC

This was such a cute romance book that focused around the game Wordle. I do love a cute, cliche romance every now and then. I enjoyed this for the most part, however it wasn't a stand out read. Would still recommend

I actually really enjoyed this book. It is cheesy and cliche, and surprisingly not just another romance novel. I’m a huge fan of Wordle and just a bit of a nerd in general, and I loved that it was the premise of this book, and I really enjoyed the style of humour between the main characters. I agree that Emily comes off as very immature and flighty, but I can see aspects of her in myself, and she really just strikes me as a small town girl with big dreams and aspirations and absolutely no idea of how to get there.

John, the MMC, comes off as aloof and a little rude in the beginning, but as Emily begins to break down his walls, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, and we all know what happens next. I read this in a day because I became invested, mostly in the Wordle of all things 🤣 but it’s actually a really cute read, and focuses on Emily’s character development and navigating the confusion and uncertainty she’s facing in her life.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the ARC. This review is of my own thoughts and has been left voluntarily.

Thank You Harper collins for the ARC

A Five Letter Word for Love was a kinda cute and slightly dull read. I was more interested in the side characters then i was with the main two and their relationship and this book was so predictable two or three chapters in and i knew exactly how the whole thing was going to play out. If you like Halmark films you will probably like this book.