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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Good neurodiverse representation (ADHD and OCD). The pacing was a little weird towards the end but it kind of had to be. I ort of wish the spicy scenes had been a bit more detailed.
Anyways I really enjoyed it overall. Plus there's a lovable cat!
Anyways I really enjoyed it overall. Plus there's a lovable cat!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Cursing, and Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Closed Door Mod: Chapters 20-21 (some parts), Chapter 26 (some parts)
After having most of her equipment stolen, free-spired traveling musician Raine winds up at a family-owned pub in Cobh, Ireland. Striking up an immediate connection with one of the pub’s owners, Jack, he offers her a job at the pub as their entertainment coordinator. From there, the two have to manage their opposite lifestyles if they want a real chance for their relationship to last.
Last Call at the Local is a charming romance that brings a heartfelt connection between two neurodivergent minds. While the book addresses difficult topics as well as the challenges of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world (Raine has ADHD and Jack has OCD), Ruiz tackles these subjects with the care Raine and Jack deserve.
Personally, I felt immediate connections with both characters and it’s really great to see the representation Ruiz has in Last Call at the Local with two neurodivergent people falling in love. I also felt that in addition to a pair of well-crafted main characters, Ruiz also does a good job with creating a cast of supporting characters that bring about the story to life.
If you are looking for a opposites attract, workplace romance with two neurodivergent leads, you should definitely check out Last Call at the Local.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Ableism
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
enneirda07's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I kind of half listened to the book but the narration was really good. It was also really interesting look and different perspective at OCD that I haven't seen before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
rachminick's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
emilymazzara's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this! It is such a good story and the meet-cute is literal perfection. The representation of mental health and the spectrum of issues it can cause people in their every day lives is handled with masterful skill. You can tell the author either struggles with mental health themselves of loves someone dearly who does.
My favorite thing is that the two MCs falling in love doesn’t “cure” them. They both have compassion and empathy for each other and learn to communicate and compromise.
Beautifully done!
My favorite thing is that the two MCs falling in love doesn’t “cure” them. They both have compassion and empathy for each other and learn to communicate and compromise.
Beautifully done!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse
readwithria's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Last Call at the Local made me feel seen, and made me feel heard, and made feel all the emotions in the best way. This is a Mary Poppins book - practically perfect in every way.
This book made me giggle, and ugly laugh, and tear up so many times. Raine and Jack have such real struggles, and reading about Raine’s experience of ADHD made me feel so incredibly seen. I have never resonated so strongly with another character’s mental health struggles. Her logical leaps, her time blindness, her meandering tangents, all of it felt so familiar and I want to thank Sarah Grunder Ruiz from the bottom of my heart for creating Raine and doing her character justice.
Read this book if you love
🩵 ADHD and OCD rep
🩶 strangers to lovers
🩵 fluffy cats
🩶 cute/silly nicknames
🩵 books that feel like a warm hug
I will definitely be reading more from Sarah Grunder Ruiz. 5 stars!
Thank you Berkley Romance for sending me a free copy of this book. I never would have read this book if it hadn’t been sent to me, and I would have been missing out on something really impactful.
This book made me giggle, and ugly laugh, and tear up so many times. Raine and Jack have such real struggles, and reading about Raine’s experience of ADHD made me feel so incredibly seen. I have never resonated so strongly with another character’s mental health struggles. Her logical leaps, her time blindness, her meandering tangents, all of it felt so familiar and I want to thank Sarah Grunder Ruiz from the bottom of my heart for creating Raine and doing her character justice.
Read this book if you love
🩵 ADHD and OCD rep
🩶 strangers to lovers
🩵 fluffy cats
🩶 cute/silly nicknames
🩵 books that feel like a warm hug
I will definitely be reading more from Sarah Grunder Ruiz. 5 stars!
Thank you Berkley Romance for sending me a free copy of this book. I never would have read this book if it hadn’t been sent to me, and I would have been missing out on something really impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
kkread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
paiges_on_pages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Read if you 🩷:
• 😍 Swoon-worthy “not-so-bad boy” vibes
• 🍀 A pint and a chat with some cheeky regulars
• 🧠 Authentic ADHD & OCD representation
• 🐈⬛ Floofy, empathetic black cats that are secretly lucky
“Last Call at the Local” by Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a literary embrace that sweeps you off your feet and transports you straight into the heart of a quaint Irish pub! This new romance follows Raine Hart, a musician with ADHD, who temporarily gives up her nomadic lifestyle due to an inability to perform after a mistake in Ireland. Jack Dunne, living his life with OCD and co-owning his family’s pub, admires Raine’s vision for the pub and offers her a job. As their romantic feelings grow, they face challenges reconciling their contrasting lifestyles, making it a story of reinvention not just for the Local, but for their relationship as well.
The chemistry between these two “professional coworkers” is impossible to resist: Jack’s not your typical “bad boy,” but he’s utterly swoon-worthy! While this is technically not a standalone, the series tie-in is slyly woven, and the excellent ADHD and OCD representation adds depth. The narrative dances effortlessly between romance and plot, striking a chord that resonates long after the last page.
But “Last Call at the Local” is not just a story; it’s an invitation to a pub so cozy, you’ll want to pull up a chair, take your boots off by the fireplace, and stay forever. Beware: you might find yourself booking a flight to Ireland after this enchanting read!
Thank you to Berkley for this free copy! Though, to be honest, everyone’s been loving this one so much I definitely would’ve grabbed it on my own!
• 😍 Swoon-worthy “not-so-bad boy” vibes
• 🍀 A pint and a chat with some cheeky regulars
• 🧠 Authentic ADHD & OCD representation
• 🐈⬛ Floofy, empathetic black cats that are secretly lucky
“Last Call at the Local” by Sarah Grunder Ruiz is a literary embrace that sweeps you off your feet and transports you straight into the heart of a quaint Irish pub! This new romance follows Raine Hart, a musician with ADHD, who temporarily gives up her nomadic lifestyle due to an inability to perform after a mistake in Ireland. Jack Dunne, living his life with OCD and co-owning his family’s pub, admires Raine’s vision for the pub and offers her a job. As their romantic feelings grow, they face challenges reconciling their contrasting lifestyles, making it a story of reinvention not just for the Local, but for their relationship as well.
The chemistry between these two “professional coworkers” is impossible to resist: Jack’s not your typical “bad boy,” but he’s utterly swoon-worthy! While this is technically not a standalone, the series tie-in is slyly woven, and the excellent ADHD and OCD representation adds depth. The narrative dances effortlessly between romance and plot, striking a chord that resonates long after the last page.
But “Last Call at the Local” is not just a story; it’s an invitation to a pub so cozy, you’ll want to pull up a chair, take your boots off by the fireplace, and stay forever. Beware: you might find yourself booking a flight to Ireland after this enchanting read!
Thank you to Berkley for this free copy! Though, to be honest, everyone’s been loving this one so much I definitely would’ve grabbed it on my own!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I was so pleasantly surprised by this contemporary romance. It is told in dual-first person, present-tense POV of the love interests and set in Cobh, Ireland. It’s set within the same universe as the author’s books “Luck & Last Resorts”, & “Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships”.
The main characters & their journeys with mental health/neurodivergence are so beautifully written & fleshed out. I have ADHD so I felt incredibly seen by Raine’s journey & inner thoughts. Jack navigates OCD & both of these portrayals are so incredibly tender. Thank you to SGR for these perfectly imperfect humans, who are just as worthy & deserving of love, connection, community, dreams, and hope.
The side characters (who I am guessing are from the previous books) were just darling too. I’d absolutely watch a tv series based on this group of friends & found family. Nina & Ollie were so stern yet unserious, we met a nonbinary character Roîsin (they/them), & the group dynamic was just so precious. I loved the snark & banter between all of them — they felt authentic & representative of gen x/millennial friend groups today.
The premise of Raine & Jack’s meet-cute & romance was so fun! Raine is a street performer who just lost her grandpa’s guitar (it was stolen, along with the rest of her belongings in her 40-pound backpack), and stumbles upon Jack’s bar. She notices he has “LAST CALL” tattooed across his knuckles and he asks her what she would do to liven the pub up; Raine answers honestly, and Jack offers her the job of entertainment coordinator in hopes of revamping the pub and bringing more consistent business in. Since Raine has no money and no plans for the near future, she agrees to stay and work for the next 3 months.
All the while, she is grappling with the expectations and family she left behind in Boston, including her sister Clara (which I am wondering now if we will get her romance next👀) and Jack is missing his days as a tattoo artist and ruminating over his family trauma. Though this had some heavier content, the light and hope of Jack and Raine’s love was the glue of the story & I used my Kobo credits to buy the audiobooks of SGR’s other two books in this series of standalone romances.
Overall, I had a delightful time & I highly recommend this!
steam rating: 2/5
cw: child abuse, ableism, depictions of OCD, intrusive thoughts, and ADHD, death of a parent
I was so pleasantly surprised by this contemporary romance. It is told in dual-first person, present-tense POV of the love interests and set in Cobh, Ireland. It’s set within the same universe as the author’s books “Luck & Last Resorts”, & “Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships”.
The main characters & their journeys with mental health/neurodivergence are so beautifully written & fleshed out. I have ADHD so I felt incredibly seen by Raine’s journey & inner thoughts. Jack navigates OCD & both of these portrayals are so incredibly tender. Thank you to SGR for these perfectly imperfect humans, who are just as worthy & deserving of love, connection, community, dreams, and hope.
The side characters (who I am guessing are from the previous books) were just darling too. I’d absolutely watch a tv series based on this group of friends & found family. Nina & Ollie were so stern yet unserious, we met a nonbinary character Roîsin (they/them), & the group dynamic was just so precious. I loved the snark & banter between all of them — they felt authentic & representative of gen x/millennial friend groups today.
The premise of Raine & Jack’s meet-cute & romance was so fun! Raine is a street performer who just lost her grandpa’s guitar (it was stolen, along with the rest of her belongings in her 40-pound backpack), and stumbles upon Jack’s bar. She notices he has “LAST CALL” tattooed across his knuckles and he asks her what she would do to liven the pub up; Raine answers honestly, and Jack offers her the job of entertainment coordinator in hopes of revamping the pub and bringing more consistent business in. Since Raine has no money and no plans for the near future, she agrees to stay and work for the next 3 months.
All the while, she is grappling with the expectations and family she left behind in Boston, including her sister Clara (which I am wondering now if we will get her romance next👀) and Jack is missing his days as a tattoo artist and ruminating over his family trauma. Though this had some heavier content, the light and hope of Jack and Raine’s love was the glue of the story & I used my Kobo credits to buy the audiobooks of SGR’s other two books in this series of standalone romances.
Overall, I had a delightful time & I highly recommend this!
steam rating: 2/5
cw: child abuse, ableism, depictions of OCD, intrusive thoughts, and ADHD, death of a parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
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