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A review by brooke_review
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Hotels at Christmastime are one of my favorite things! I just love to see the lobbies decorated in festive fare while Christmas music is piped through the speakers, which is why I picked up Beth O'Leary's new holiday novel, The Wake-Up Call.
This Christmas-lite book follows two English countryside boutique hotel employees over the holiday season as they attempt to save their place of employment from ruin. The Forest Manor Hotel is in need of major repairs, but alas, there are no funds to start, much less complete, the project. Arch-enemies Izzy and Lucas are tasked with sorting through long discarded lost and found items and selling them to turn a profit. However, among the forgotten items are four wedding rings that were lost at the hotel and never claimed.
When Izzy is able to track down one of the ring owners and receives a sizable reward to put toward the hotel repairs in return, finding the other rings' dearly departed seems like a surefire way to make some quick cash for Forest Manor. The race is on as Izzy and Lucas compete to see who can find the rings' owners the fastest. As the rivalry between Izzy and Lucas heats up, so does the unacknowledged chemistry between the two. Despite acting as if they hold an intense dislike for the other, Izzy and Lucas, in truth, harbor secret feelings for each other. But will they act on what's brewing in their hearts?
The Wake-Up Call is a lively and spirited romp through the holiday season! The increasingly difficult challenge of returning four "golden rings" to their rightful owners adds a fun twist to this enemies to lovers rom com. The competition between Izzy and Lucas is intense as they tear each other down in their attempt to come out on top!
On the other hand, I found the pacing of The Wake-Up Call to be quite slow and the writing to be not entirely engaging. There were some quick transitions sprinkled throughout the novel, and I often found myself lost as to time, character, and location. However, the pacing and engagement factor picked up significantly toward the latter part of the book making this a redeemable read in end.
This Christmas-lite book follows two English countryside boutique hotel employees over the holiday season as they attempt to save their place of employment from ruin. The Forest Manor Hotel is in need of major repairs, but alas, there are no funds to start, much less complete, the project. Arch-enemies Izzy and Lucas are tasked with sorting through long discarded lost and found items and selling them to turn a profit. However, among the forgotten items are four wedding rings that were lost at the hotel and never claimed.
When Izzy is able to track down one of the ring owners and receives a sizable reward to put toward the hotel repairs in return, finding the other rings' dearly departed seems like a surefire way to make some quick cash for Forest Manor. The race is on as Izzy and Lucas compete to see who can find the rings' owners the fastest. As the rivalry between Izzy and Lucas heats up, so does the unacknowledged chemistry between the two. Despite acting as if they hold an intense dislike for the other, Izzy and Lucas, in truth, harbor secret feelings for each other. But will they act on what's brewing in their hearts?
The Wake-Up Call is a lively and spirited romp through the holiday season! The increasingly difficult challenge of returning four "golden rings" to their rightful owners adds a fun twist to this enemies to lovers rom com. The competition between Izzy and Lucas is intense as they tear each other down in their attempt to come out on top!
On the other hand, I found the pacing of The Wake-Up Call to be quite slow and the writing to be not entirely engaging. There were some quick transitions sprinkled throughout the novel, and I often found myself lost as to time, character, and location. However, the pacing and engagement factor picked up significantly toward the latter part of the book making this a redeemable read in end.