The chemistry between them practically leaps off the page in this captivating opposite-attracts story. Their witty banter and undeniable attraction kept me thoroughly invested in their journey.

I found myself smiling at their charming interactions and rooting for them to overcome their differences. Joss excels at creating authentic characters with real depth, This story was impossible to put down. A perfect blend of humor, passion, and genuine emotion that romance readers will adore from start to finish!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed it from start to finish!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Rheo Whitlock is the ideal adult: she has a fancy job at the UN as a translator, her own apartment in Brooklyn, and a good relationship. When she accidentally has a hot mic at work that leads to more mistakes and her boss putting her on a sabbatical, a meltdown ensues. Her relationship ends and Rheo flees to her grandmother Paddy's "pink house" to hide out for months without telling anyone. Since Paddy is unaware of Rheo's living situation, she rents out the pink house to Fletcher, a friend of Rheo's cousin Carrie. Like Carrie, Fletcher is an nature loving thrill junkie who makes documentaries about his adventures. With his doctor's orders, Fletcher has to take a few months off and let his body recuperate. Fletcher and Rheo agree to live in the house together, as long as Fletcher doesn't spill her secret to Carrie. Pretty quickly the pair become friends with benefits and spend the next 6 weeks fighting developing feelings.

Overall, this book was fine, but not something I would read again. I found it repetitive and Rheo was a very annoying FMC. Some of the writing doesn't make sense. For example, there's a scene where Fletcher has his forehead against Rheo's and then on the next page it says he rolls over to face her. I wish more of the book would have been from Fletcher's POV as I enjoyed his parts much more. I also wish there would've been an epilogue, the book just ends. I am interested in reading more from Joss Wood.

I value the opportunity I was given to read this in advance, but I still haven't read this. With so many books ahead of me, I cannot return to this title.

Rheo, a talented UN translator, is struggling with anxiety after a career mishap and decides to take a much-needed break at her grandmother's secluded cabin. What she doesn’t expect is Fletch, a thrill-seeker with a love for adventure, to show up and shake things up. Their instant attraction is undeniable, but their very different lifestyles make things complicated.

What I loved most about this book was how their opposites worked so well together. The forced proximity trope was done perfectly, and their chemistry kept me hooked. The themes of acceptance really stood out too—learning to accept each other as they are, flaws and all, was such an important part of their growth.

It’s also got some pretty spicy moments that will definitely keep you turning the pages. If you like stories about self-discovery, unexpected connections, and a little bit of heat, this one’s definitely worth picking up!

I’ve read many of the books Joss Wood has written for Harlequin’s Desire line (the series From Mavericks to Married, The Ballantyne Billionaires, and Love in Boston are a few of my favourites) but with the shutdown of the Desire imprint (a sad reality; I still really miss their Blaze and Temptation lines, too) the author has turned to writing for Harlequin Afterglow (along with many other Desire authors). Love in Translation is a delightful opposite attracts romance about a translator dealing with burnout and an adventurer taking a physical break who end up as roommates and then more.

Rheo Whitlock has always prided herself on her stable and precise career as a UN interpreter. But when a stray comment made on what turned out to be a live microphone becomes a viral moment and her career and confidence take a dive, she ends up on stress leave, holed up in her grandmother’s secluded (and currently empty) vacation home – fondly called the Pink House – in small town Gilmartin, Washington, an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. But Rheo doesn’t care about that – she’s not the outdoorsy type, and she’s just there to lick her wounds and figure out how to resuscitate her career. No-one in her family, including her grandmother, knows that she’s there, and the only person she talks to regularly and who knows of her plight is her new friend Abi, owner of a local deli and coffee shop. So when a dusty SUV pulls up and a handsome, rugged, guy knocks on her door, no-one is more surprised than Rheo is.

As a teenager, Fletcher Wright spent several months in bed suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Now he lives every day to the fullest. As an adventurer and filmmaker, he’s always looking for the next thrilling journey. But his friend and doctor, Seb, responsible for the regular medical checkups that enable him to have health insurance on all his trips, insists that he take a three month break to recover from the recent illnesses (malaria, pneumonia, frostbite) he’s endured during his hikes, mountain climbs, and other athletic endeavours. When his good friend Carrie clears the way for him to rent her grandmother’s Pink House for a few weeks as part of his recovery, a place where he can enjoy the outdoor scenery and get his hiking fixes in without overexertion, he looks forward to some rest and relaxation. What’s he’s not expecting is to find the house already occupied.

While Fletcher has the right to have the house to himself, it’s clear that Rheo is living there and from her panicked expression, doesn’t have anywhere to go. The house is big, with more than enough bedrooms for the two of them, so Fletcher offers to let her continue to stay there, at least until Rheo’s cousin Carrie shows up, by which time Rheo is going to have to confess to her family (and especially her grandmother) that she’s been occupying the house without their knowledge. The attraction between Fletch and Rheo is instantaneous and leads to some sexy times, with both knowing that there is a time limit on their vacation romance. But sharing their problems draws them closer together emotionally, leading to stronger feelings. With Rheo hoping to return to her career in New York and Fletcher unhappy staying in one place for long, is there any hope for a long-term future together?

I found both Rheo and Fletch to be likeable and empathetic characters, having unique problems to deal with. Rheo is a master of several languages but the simultaneous nature of translation duties (being able to listen to one language and speak another at the same time), in high pressure diplomatic situations requires confidence in one’s abilities and Rheo worries she won’t regain her edge. I found the description of her job quite interesting and Fletch has some ideas to help her, including doing some impromptu translation for a friend. He pushes her out of her comfort zone in an effort to help her see that conquering her fears can be done in new ways. He believes she has it in her to recover and Rheo takes his advice to heart, even though they do sometimes clash – not a surprise given their forced proximity environment and having different ideas about how to move forward.

A great opposite attracts story featuring Rheo and Fletcher. The couple had sparks and attraction from the beginning. It was charming, refreshing, and a delight to read. It was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. Joss Wood always brings out the best in her characters. I can't wait to see what comes next from Joss Wood.

First off, I want to thank Netgalley for the advanced reader’s copy of Love in Translation by Joss Wood.

Rheo is the FMC of this book, and Fletcher is the MMC. They are brought together by purely luck, and considering how different the two of them are they would have never passed each other out in the real world. The small town where Rheo’s family cottage is (it is her grandma’s) is where Rheo has been hiding out for a few months after everything at her job went in the trash. Well that’s how Rheo seen it, she is a woman who loves a schedule, follows it exactly, and likes to plan everything. So when her life becomes uprooted for the first time since she was 13 years old, she does not handle it well. Fletcher is an easy going man with a mind for adventure. He’s chronically ill, and lives his life to the fullest after enduring a bought of getting very sick during his teen years. I found this chemistry to be well documented in the book, but struggled with all of the other factors. Rheo’s parents and the trauma they left her with was a ghost hanging over Rheo’s shoulder. She was very quick to judge more than once, and Fletcher lacked communication skills that would be essential for a professional traveller. It was very true to real life with their flaws, and how some things with side characters were left unresolved. Unfortunately, the third act tainted their story for me and I wasn’t able to fully invest myself in the book after that.

3.5⭐
1.5 🌶️
Tropes: insta lust, opposites attract, forced proximity
Dual POV 3rd person
I feel pretty meh about this book. I thought the writing was choppy, and had a hard time believing the chemistry between Rheo and Fletcher. I do actually understand a lot of how Rheo feels about being the black sheep, and I get her reasons for why she does what she does but it came across as childish and she really needs therapy. Her character was annoying to me. I wish there had been more character development for Fletcher too. He seemed very 1 dimensional.
I also noticed a lot of British wording, but the MCs/story location is in America? That was confusing.
I don’t think this book was terrible and I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it either.

Ugh just no. This didn’t work out for me. From the start both main characters were really annoying. Rheo? Don’t get me started. I found this really hard to read and not enjoyable at all.

I thought I was going to love this one - I was unfortunately let down! It ended up being about a 3, maybe 3.5-star rating at best. I think in my 450 reads this year it was one of my biggest disappointments, going in with such great expectations.

Rheo (first, strange name??), made a mistake in a UN translation, made a snide comment caught on a live mic that went viral, got a brain block, lost all confidence in herself, and had to take leave from work. Her decision was to flee across the country to her grandmother’s vacant vacation cottage, and not tell anyone.

When her cousin rents it out to a friend, she winds up having to get herself in gear - first really weird thing! What woman in this day would stand to stay with a stranger who looks like this, without speaking to her cousin to vet him - even if it gives up her position? Nah, man! Not only that, but supposedly, even falls for him, pretty darn fast? Double nah!

I didn’t DNF (I have a major thing about that), but it didn’t get better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the advance copy. This is my honest opinion.

I’m so grateful to netgalley, harlequin and author Joss Wood for granting me access to this e-arc! It was such a cute, fun read that admittedly helped me get out of a bit of a reading funk! It was enjoyable and I enjoyed the characters and premise of the story yet personally I felt it was a bit too insta-lovey for me. The main character, Rhea was very relatable in her need for structure and planning which I enjoyed along with her reflective nature and character development. I do wish there was more of a romance development in the relationship between Rhea and Fletch. Overall, I’d give this read a ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 yet still think it was a fun, sweet read that was quick and enjoyable!

Ms. Wood is a fantastic storyteller. That said, this book has something that feels a little off. It looks like there's a missing piece here. Great characters and nice argument, yes, but the setting wasn't the best this author can build. Full review soon.

‘Love in Translation’ by Joss Wood might be one of the most opposites-attract romance that I have laid my eyeballs on in a very long time. Like…constantly wondering, “How on earth could these two have an HEA, they’re so dang opposite?” But phew, does it work. This was a quick & enjoyable romance read, featuring Rheo - a burned-out UN Translator who escapes to her grandmother’s empty cabin in the Pacific Northwest, seeking plenty of alone time to process & heal - & Fletcher - a Scot who makes a living adventuring around the world, who is renting out this cabin (unbeknownst to Rheo), while his doctor demands that he take time to let his body rest & recover before attempting anymore dangerous adventures. They’ve never met, they’re not expecting the other to also be staying in the cabin, & they couldn’t be more different.

What follows is a surprising instant-attraction for both Rheo & Fletch that leads to some quick heat & a ‘strangers to friends with benefits’ situation. For them, it’s a great distraction from all of the issues that they’re each dealing with & they become a safe place to land for each other, a safe space to just talk & figure things out. Haha uh oh, they catch feelings while they’re not looking. But seriously, how could this even work when Rheo usually lives a quiet, simple life in NYC & Fletch usually lives a life off the grid for months, in increasingly dangerous situations - & they’re both incredibly happy with their lives as-is…if not just a little lonely.

While this book is short, it has decent layers of depth through struggles with: family, careers, chronic illness, self-confidence, loneliness, feelings, & mental health. For tropes, it serves up forced proximity, opposites attract (obvi), & a happily ever after. How? You’ll just have to read to find out!

Thank you to Harlequin (Afterglow) & NetGalley for providing a digital advanced copy of this book for review. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own.

Love in Translation is a wonderful small town romance by Joss Wood.
This amazing spicy, opposites attract with forced proximity was such a delight.
The characters were interesting and brought a lot of life to it.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself intrigued, turning the pages quickly.

I was on the fence on this book. I liked the characters generally. But it just didn't hold my attention. It was really easy to put down. Sometimes, I love to pause reading a book because I am savoring it. Not so with this one. It was just kind of a slog. I received an ARC and wanted so much to like it. From the reviews other people loved it. So maybe it was just me.

LOVE IN TRANSLATION – Joss Woods
Harlequin Afterglow Books
ISBN: 978-1-335-57488-6
December 24, 2024
Romantic Comedy

Gilmartin, Washington – Present Day

Despite her nomadic upbringing, Rheo Whitlock has achieved the success she strived for and is a translator at the United Nations. But a hot mic moment went viral after she criticized what was going on led to her being forced into a six-month sabbatical. She has spent the months holed up at her grandmother’s vacation home, and as the time grows closer to returning to New York, she is having performance issues with her foreign language translation. Her grandmother isn’t aware of what is going on in Rheo’s life, or even that she is in Gilmartin. One day, a strange man shows up on her doorstep. It appears that he has rented the house for a few weeks. What will Rheo do now?

Fletcher Wright has spent his life living on the edge, always chasing the next high. However, after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, he has been ordered to rest. He rented the house via his good friend, Carrie, who happens to be Rheo’s cousin. Fletch is surprised to see Rheo there, but he is willing to share accommodations, especially since she tells him she will be gone soon. Just one stipulation: he can’t tell Carrie she is there. Fletch and Rheo are two totally opposite people. He’s an adventure seeker and loves to hike and run. Rheo would rather sit around and not take chances. Yet, the sparks fly between them. How long before their cohabitation leads to sharing the bedroom?

LOVE IN TRANSLATION is one of those books that will tickle your fancy. Rheo has lost her confidence after being embarrassed with the hot mic moment—and holing herself away in an isolated resort town isn’t probably the best therapy. But she wanted comfort, and this is where she landed. The arrival of Fletch throws her for a loop. The man is attractive, and she shouldn’t be thinking about jumping his bones, especially since his relationship with Carrie hasn’t been specified. Yet, they can’t resist each other. What’s a little fling before flying the coop to return to New York? But being around Fletch has Rheo putting off her return. Will she even have a job if she does return?

Fletch can hardly sit still and eventually tries to stretch his doctor’s orders of no strenuous exercise. Of course, he gets a kick out of the fact that Rheo hates exercising. He can’t help but egg her on a few times by taking her on a leisurely walk that she calls a hike. But the attraction between them is intense and the more he gets to know her, the more he likes what he sees. Yet, how can they try to form a relationship if Rheo’s job and life is in New York City and Fletch’s work is all over the world?

Readers will relate to the conflict Rheo and Fletch experience in LOVE IN TRANSLATION as they attempt to navigate this newfound attraction. They like each other a lot but is it enough for them to try to go farther with their relationship than an affair? The plot is fun, the banter deliciously superb and the sex is sensuously hot. Don’t miss this gem of a tale by picking up LOVE IN TRANSLATION.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Unfortunately, I'm not impressed by this book. Opposites attract and small town romance are great tropes and I don't think they were executed well. The writing felt choppy, pacing was off, and felt like it took forever to finish.
Rheo and Fletch hardly had any chemistry. I wasn't a fan of any of the characters, they refused to apologize to each other and ignored major issues. The best friend was the best thing there because she actually talked some sense into Rheo. I'm sad I did not enjoy it as much as I thought, I see the idea but it didn't work well, at all. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an early copy in exhange for an honest review.

Rheo’s career as a UN interpreter is interrupted after a hot mic incident leaves her anxious and unable to work. She retreats to her grandmother’s cabin for solitude, only to find her cousin has arranged for Fletcher, a thrill-seeker friend, to stay there too. Despite their contrasting lifestyles, Rheo and Fletcher quickly develop chemistry. As they navigate personal growth, family dynamics, and their evolving relationship, the book explores themes of self-confidence, facing fears, and finding balance. The story also touches on chronic illness and neurodiversity. The romance is slow-burning, and the setting is quirky and charming.

Love in Translation by Joss Wood

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Harlequin, Afterglow Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Love in Translation is entertaining from the very first chapter! Filled with wit, banter, spice, and a great overarching message.

Rheo, the FMC, is an interpreter and also a huge perfectionist. The book has great descriptive writing and you can feel the pressure Rheo is under when it comes to work. Fletcher, the MMC, lives for adrenaline and adventure instead of routine and perfection.

Their opposite personalities worked well together and kept me engrossed in the story as I was definitely drawn into their world and the tension between them which continuously escalates. The forced proximity trope added an even more exciting layer to the story overall, making their interactions intense and intriguing. The chemistry between the MCs was also certainly palpable throughout.

This book focuses on overcoming your fears and making the most of your life. It also touches on the outdoors, the role work plays in a person’s life, and the support loved ones provide. Overall, a really good book! Would definitely recommend, especially if you’re interested in a romcom with an element of the outdoors or languages!