Cute. My favorite part was the older people and how they shared their stories. I appreciated the growth of the main character throughout the book. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for review.

Lacking something. The love story seemed instantaneous and it took me forever to get into the story. Just didn’t hold my interest and didn’t read as a romance novel as much as a coming of age story of sorts. Not my cup of tea unfortunately.

A Five Letter Word for Love was the perfect light-hearted book for any Wordle or puzzle type reader. It brought me back to my Wordle playing days and definitely brought nostalgia from when we all played and compared answers.

Cute, small town setting with quirky and endearing side characters. More of a coming of age story for the main character than an actual romance, although the male protagonist did lean in heavy with the wooing. The romance felt instantaneous rather than developed. Funny moments with side characters keeps the book light and airy. Low spice.

Thank you for allowing me to listen to this audiobook. I'm not trying to be harsh nor do I enjoy giving bad reviews but you asked for my honest opinion. The narrators voice was rather annoying and there wasn't much variation to her. Typically, I enjoy small town romances but this just wasn't for me. The characters don't have much depth to them nor does story. The 2 main characters relationship is nonexistent. I found myself being rather bored.

The vibe of the book was very informal, which I liked. I think given the, somewhat cringey, premise, the informal tone and the breaking of the fourth wall made it all feel cohesive. I also appreciated there not being any serious traumatic back story that is furthering the plot, and instead continued with the largely light story. I read this very quickly, and it was the perfect afternoon audiobook to listen to while I baked cookies. That being said, I thought the romance plot was generally lacking. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Emily and John, particularly because while I know John’s character was intended to be subdued, I instead found him to just not have a lot of depth. Some points when he was refusing to engage with Emily, instead of being shy or charming, instead came across as rude or uninterested. I would’ve loved a more indepth development of their relationship, and more of a focus on it, instead of the vast majority of the book being about Emily’s day to day at the museum.

That being said, I really loved all of the side characters of the story, and the town of Waldon. I also loved the random barrell museum, and it felt very reflective of the funky museums that rural small towns have.

Overall I would definitely read a book by this author again, as it was a very easy, light book. I loved the narrator, and thought she did a fantastic job capturing Emily’s voice and it felt very fitting to the story.

This was enjoyable most of the time but it also went on a little too long. I think both leads had a lot of growing to do and the story captured it.

I recently listened to A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James, and while it wasn’t my personal favorite, I can see it being a hit with many of my library patrons. The story has a lot of charm, with its clever crossword-themed hook and a lighthearted romance that unfolds in a sweet, predictable way. The main character’s love of puzzles brings a unique angle, and the setting has that cozy, small-town vibe that so many readers enjoy. The audiobook narration was solid, bringing personality to the characters and making it an easy listen. While I didn’t connect as much with the characters as I hoped, I think fans of feel-good romances with quirky themes and slow-burn love stories will really enjoy this one. It’s a perfect recommendation for readers who want something light, fun, and full of heart.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it!!! There was so much heart written into the pages of this book and I even had a teary moment when a side character passed on. I really resonated with the FMC as a person who also can’t seem to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and I’m in my 40’s! Super twists and turns that I didn’t expect and I would certainly read another book by this author in the future based off of this NetGalley early read!

"A Five-Letter Word for Love" by Amy James is a charming romance that explores unexpected connections over a shared love of Wordle—a game I hadn’t tried until reading this book! The story follows 27-year-old Emily as she navigates life and her budding relationship with coworker John.

James’ engaging writing captures small-town life and the complexities of human relationships. The integration of Wordle adds a relatable and fun touch, especially for fans of the game.

This heartfelt debut explores themes of self-discovery, pursuing dreams, and the surprising paths to love, all while highlighting the importance of community. A delightful read for fans of contemporary romance, it’s perfect for anyone seeking a blend of humor, romance, and personal growth.

Cute and fun theme idea for a book! I enjoy Wordle myself so I was excited to read and see what the author did with that. However, the story felt like it was more about Wordle than the romance.

Overall, the book was cute and the characters were not over the top. This actually had a more normal relationship without any unbelievable moments. It felt like more of a personal growth journey and less of a romance.

It did get very long in the middle and seemed repetitive. I will have patrons that will enjoy this book!

This was a cute, timely romance, but I can't help but feel like it was lacking something.
I know that the characters were talking about all of these locations that they were in or were visiting, but the only setting I could somewhat visualize was the home the MC was renting. She spent to much time describing it, and not enough about any other location. It felt like she was floating from place to place sometimes.

If you like to play WORDLE, then you might enjoy this book! I loved the small town cozy romance of this book. It was charming and sweet. I love that WORDLE was so ingrained into this book. I know how popular it has been and there are still people years after it came out that are still playing. I recommended this book to those I know who are still playing.

Cute, cute, cute! There is a difference between making a living and making a life and that's just what happened...a life was made! I loved the cast of characters, the grumpy co-worker vibe and the setting. It was a great weekend read!

This was a cute, light-hearted, low-angst, small town, single POV romance set in PEI that has a young woman struggling to figure out what she wants to do in life and bonding with a mechanic over a shared enjoyment of the game, Wordle. I thought this was a fun premise and enjoyed the Canadian setting and (many) Anne of Green Gables references but the romance itself didn't grab me or have me fully invested. I wanted a touch more emotional depth, growth and heat from this if I'm totally honest. Still a solid debut and I look forward to reading what the author writes next. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!