Reviews

Lucy Checks In by Dee Ernst

romantasylife's review

3.0

This book was definitely more chick-lit than I expected. Although, I did quite enjoy this read! I really liked that Lucy basically started her life over at 49. That gives me hope that if she can do it, I know I would be able to.

I really enjoyed the side characters the most though. They each had their own little story and I adored it.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

smalltownbookmom's review

4.0

This was a delightful second act, women's fiction story full of a cast of quirky secondary characters as Lucia Giannetti travels to France to help renovate a new boutique hotel after her career and love life in NYC went up in flames.

I loved these characters! This was such a fun story. Highly recommended if you enjoyed One Italian summer but wanted more of the mom's story or liked the movie, The exotic marigold hotel. We need more stories about women finding success and love later in life and this one is excellent.

Great on audio too narrated by Gillian Vance and perfect for fans of Maggie finds her muse (also by Dee Ernst). Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review

4.0

Attempting to make a comeback after an unexpected, catastrophic, and out-of-her-control career and romantic failure, Lucy moves to France to take a job as a hotel manager in Rennes. She signed the contract while still in the U.S.—having never visited her new place of employment—and, well, the hotel, the cast of characters involved with it, and what is covered under her job description are not what she expected.

After spending 30 years working in the North American hospitality industry and the last two years of her late 40s unemployed and living with her parents, will Lucy be able to adjust to the change of culture and pace?

And what will she do about that instant attraction and instant antagonism that she feels toward Bing, one of the hotel’s permanent residents?

Joining Lucy on this journey was definitely worth my time. I loved the found family aspects, watching her grow and regain her confidence, and the slow burn buildup between reluctant Lucy and magnetic Bing. I became invested, not just in Lucy’s story, but in the relationships and friendships surrounding her as well.

If you have a Saturday afternoon to spare, I recommend picking up Lucy Checks In.

I received an advance copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

CW: fraught familial relationships, cancer, death of a loved one, alcoholism, betrayal, divorce

halliewilts's review

3.0

this was a nice easy read about hope and the possibility of starting over. if you're looking for something light, this is a great option that i enjoyed reading!

things i liked:
- the story is set in france and it was so lovely and romantic in a way only france can be.
- i loved the message about renewal and having the courage to start again. especially since the main character is almost 50, and most fiction/romance books like this feature a much younger protagonist.
- the side characters were so fun! each had a distinctive personality and i loved their interactions.

things i didn't like:
- sometimes the pacing was strange. it would speed up at parts and a bunch of the hotel renovation would be done really quickly, which was disappointing because i enjoyed the details about the renovation process.
- it was a very slow burn romance. i would be hesitant to classify this as strictly romance. i think it's more like fiction with a dash of romance thrown in, which was lovely as well.
- sometimes the writing felt a bit clunky and unnatural. the sentences were all very short with attempts at adding detail that didn't always work.

overall this was a quick and easy read that i enjoyed! if you are looking for something simple and heartwarming, i would give this one a try. 3/5

readwithjackalope's review

4.0

I enjoyed this read! Lucy heads to France after her hotel owner boyfriend takes off with millions and leaves her holding the proverbial bag in NYC. She expects to enjoy a luxurious turn at a high-end French hotel and ends up at a rambling, quaint hotel that she is tasked with bringing back to life. The hotel has an eclectic and charming cast of characters including a brash and strong-minded artist that Lucy butts heads with. I enjoyed getting to know the characters at the hotel, as well as the main character Lucy as she settles into the hotel.

chandlerainsley's review

2.0

if you want to read a fiction book about a 50- something in france renovating a hotel, this is for you. otherwise... skip.

laurrelise's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

 I found this book to be enjoyable, just not my favorite type of book. Reminded me of a book I read last January (The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson). Dee Ernst assembled a fun cast of characters that I enjoyed reading about. Mostly, this book just made me want to get a job in France and move. Fun book, but not unmissable. 

peakeinsideabook's review

2.0

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC. I really wanted to like this book. It was just fine. I didn’t really like the main character that much. she did absolutely no research on this hotel she was moving to France to open and was just really naive. I did enjoy the hotel renovations parts. But, the rest of the story felt very underdeveloped and slow. Like, you know the main character has family issues but it’s not really that well developed. I never really bought into the romance. The first scene where they kiss/get together felt weird and too fast. It didn’t really feel like the book built up to it. And then in last 10% when this huge awful thing happened, then the story wraps up way too quickly. Also, the cover doesn’t really match the book.

merryberries's review

3.0

(3/5) This book was... fine. Charming at points but fell flat in others. That may be because I don't think I'm the target audience for this book. (Would I recommend this book to my mom, though? Absolutely.) I also wouldn't label it as romance - more contemporary fiction that was on the same shelf as a romance novel and the tiniest bit of romance rubbed off. I liked the found family aspect of this book and most of the characters were pretty endearing! Overall, I think the premise of the book but found that the pacing was a bit all over the place and had to push myself to finish it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

lindseysbooknook's review

2.0

Lucy Checks In • Dee Ernst ⭐️ - 2
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I thought this book was beautifully written and a beautiful setting but found it to be repetitive and I wish I DNF’d it.
I felt indifferent most of the time towards the main character but I really started to dislike her when one of the side characters reached out to the main character for help and the MC continues to shut her down and refused to help.

Thank you to @NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for a honest review