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cattheteawitchfairy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A fabulous romp of a romantic comedy, I thoroughly enjoyed my reading time. It was frustrating at points due to the heavy use of the miscommunication trope but i enjoyed my time nonetheless. The lack of explicit scenes was surprisingly refreshing, with the writing sharing the passion and electricity between the characters without being sexual. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and would recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
eligru's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
quasinaut's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Mixed reaction to this one! There's something about how Beth O'Leary writes characters that makes me like them even when they're unlikable. Izzy was naive and impulsive, and I was frustrated that she didn't communicate better with Lucas about their year-long miscommunication, especially once she started to get to know him. I understand why he didn't want to push it, but it didn't make sense to me how absolutely hostile and antagonistic Izzy could be. Plus, the rampant unprofessionalism from both of them really bugged me.
Pros: I loved that the main characters have other things going on in their lives. They have friends and family. They actually hang out with and talk to other people outside of work.
Pros: I loved that the main characters have other things going on in their lives. They have friends and family. They actually hang out with and talk to other people outside of work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
frantically's review against another edition
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
β
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 β 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 π«Άπ»π«Άπ») 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 β let's hope they continue to be this good!
β
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 β 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 π«Άπ»π«Άπ») 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 β let's hope they continue to be this good!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
pia_h's review against another edition
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sauvageloup's review against another edition
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.
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.
- 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:
- 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!
overall, a really fun rollicking book that I thoroughly got caught up in. and also called me single in about 300 languages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Pandemic/Epidemic
m_esme_rized_by_books's review against another edition
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! π₯°
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 DIVORCΓE PARTY - HELLO?? SO GOOD!! πππ 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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Pandemic/Epidemic
pianokeys's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
aseel_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was fun and an easy read, I liked how main plot conflict was resolved
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship