Reviews with content warning for Grief - The Wake-Up Call

A light, well written, easy read. The main characters have depth, both being really hurt and suffering loss, Izzy and Lucus the muscled Brazilian. It's a love-hate relationship based on miscommunication. I didn't realise that it was set mainly at Christmas time, but that didn't stop my enjoyment reading it in May. I really enjoyed the New Forest location as I live nearby so could vividly picture the realistic descriptions. You have to wait to the end of the book to understand why it's called the wake-up call. Overall, it was a very cute easy read rom com.

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frantically's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

and that, kids, is why handwritten cards are overrated

–

I loved this! Read it in one day. It took me a bit to warm up to the MCs because they're both such complex characters and they both have these really different views on their relationship and why it is the way it is but once I did, I was all in. While I could see myself more in Izzy, the romance feels were allll in in Lucas' parts. The slow realisation he loves Izzy? Amazing. Show stopping. Never been done before.

O'Leary writes romances in the best way – she writes romances about people that have *lives*. This isn't about just Izzy and Lucas. They've got friends, coworkers turned family, annoying exes, dead parents, alive parents in other countries, toxic roommates and the list goes on. While this is primarily about Izzy and Lucas getting together, it's also about (almost) everyone else in their lives seeing them getting together and rooting for them and that just gave me all the feels.

The cover didn't speak "Christmas" to me (and it still doesn't) so I was a bit surprised when this turned into a holiday romance (especially as it is May) but it was a cute surprise!

I'm always hesitant to pick up second books by authors I loved ("The Flatshare" was my favourite 2023 book 🫶🏻🫶🏻) because I'm scared they'll be bad but this one just inspired me to read all the other books Beth O'Leary has written – let's hope they continue to be this good!

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pia_h's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Beth O'Leary delivered another sweet rom-com. I loved the setting (I'd love to travel to the New Forest and stay in Forest Manor Hotel!) and the two main characters. The side characters are well-developped too. This novel is probably best enjoyed around Christmas though I read it in spring and totally loved it. I'm already looking forward to Beth O'Leary's next publication and don't want to wait another year.

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booksinherhead's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Finally an enemies-to-lovers storyline that delivers! Izzy and Lucas are work-place rivals–unable to get along since last Christmas, when Lucas scoffed at Izzy's confession of feelings and proceeded to snog her flatmate under the mistletoe instead of her. A year later tensions are high at the failing hotel where they work. But then the pair end up in a competition to return four lost wedding rings to their rightful owners and slowly start to see each other in a different light. This book has all of O'Leary's trademark heart and chemistry amongst characters. I loved the found family dynamic of the hotel crew and the wedding ring returning drama. Don't skip O'Leary–her books keep getting better and better.

p.s. thought this book technically has a Christmastime backdrop it is not a Christmas story/romance if that makes sense.

–––

My whole heart!!!! Full review TK

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sauvageloup's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

a really fun rom com frolic

pros:
- I liked how there were aspects of both characters that weren't immediately obvious and the other had to learn, and that they both tried harder to be kinder and less snappy, respectively.

- I liked that Lucas fell first and it made sense since izzy had, she believed, been so hurt by him.

- it was funny and angsty, I definitely felt for especially Lucas when he was trying so hard and it wasnt paying off.
- the writing is really gripping and the book just rolls along so well, I read it very fast.

cons:

- they did talk it out but I liked less how Lucas had to sort of seduce her without scaring her off because she couldnt face her own feelings. I felt he should have backed off or been honest, rather than, bevolently, manipulating her.

- I would have also enjoyed a bit more detail on side characters, like Mandy, Ollie, Arjun, Mrs B and Barty, etc. they're all nice but not given much detail. we do get a bit on the Hedgers and Mr Townsend, and a little on Izzy's friends so maybe I'm asking a bit much!

- I also thought the end was a little too good to be true, considering a flood in guest bookings is great, but the hotel was in such dire financial straights that they wouldnt have the cash flow. I suppose with the obvious interest, though, they could get an investor.

overall, a really fun rollicking book that I thoroughly got caught up in. and also called me single in about 300 languages.

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m_esme_rized_by_books's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, the two main characters Izzy and Lucas, had some of the best chemistry I've read in a long time. I adored the cozy setting of a (struggling) boutique hotel in the middle of a storybook forest in England; I loved the funny banter throughout; and the heart of the book came through so beautifully in the tender emotional moments. I also loved the quirky side characters (for the most part.), they added a wonderful texture to the story overall. This is such a wonderful enemies-lovers book that I will happily re-read in years to come! 🥰

the only, very small reason really, that I'm giving it just under 5 stars, is because I personally found the character of Poor Mandy, and the side plot of her being in charge of the social media side of the hotel, somewhat hard to believe and took me out of the book a wee bit, especially towards the end. It's a very minor aspect of the book overall, but it irks me the more I think over the whole story, so it unfortunately means I cant quite give it 5 whole stars. But it's really only ~just under~. Poor mandy and her unbelievable handling of the forest manor social media asides... I loved so many parts of this story - the one-bed trope had me literally kicking my feet and giggling - and the tension was *chef's kiss!!* oh and the DANCING SCENE AT THE DIVORCÉE PARTY - HELLO?? SO GOOD!! 😭💃😍 On a more serious note, I want to note that I appreciated how Lucas had some aspects of toxic masculinity to unlearn, and also that Izzy's character explored the importance in learning to properly rest and not be constantly ~on~ for other people's benefit. And I especially loved how they both helped each other with these more serious aspects of their character growth. It made them feel more realistic and their love story more beautiful to witness.

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pianokeys's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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