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elle_reads_a_book_a_day's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ok I kind of loved this? It was sweet and funny and very unbelievable and yet I ate it up?
Not gonna lie, I very much identified with the “unlikeable” grinchy woman who worked at a law firm and did not like Christmas. Also, working at a law firm myself (not as a lawyer, thank god) I totally get the partner track mindset that she had. And kind of 100% agreed with her. I’m also a little mad that we didn’t find out if she made partner or not (because despite what the moral of the story was trying to say: IT MATTERS, DAMNIT) but I’ll allow it for the cute epilogue.
Also: why the hell wasn’t this marketed as the Christmas romcom it so obviously was? The cover makes no sense at all. Either way, read it.
Not gonna lie, I very much identified with the “unlikeable” grinchy woman who worked at a law firm and did not like Christmas. Also, working at a law firm myself (not as a lawyer, thank god) I totally get the partner track mindset that she had. And kind of 100% agreed with her. I’m also a little mad that we didn’t find out if she made partner or not (because despite what the moral of the story was trying to say: IT MATTERS, DAMNIT) but I’ll allow it for the cute epilogue.
Also: why the hell wasn’t this marketed as the Christmas romcom it so obviously was? The cover makes no sense at all. Either way, read it.
amym84's review against another edition
5.0
The holiday season has long-ago lost the shine and luster for Katherine. She's even been called The Grinch around her office at this time of year due to her penchant to want to work more than celebrate. It's just as well, she's got no one to spend the holidays with and nothing else to do. Then Katherine gets into an accident, and wakes up in the hospital with the last person in the world she wants to see: her ex-husband.
Tom is already running late to the airport. Hoping the weather cooperates so his flight can actually leave on time, the last thing he expects is to receive a call from his ex-wife's work saying that he's still her emergency contact. Showing up for Katherine means he misses his flight. Not only that, but turns out that Katherine is suffering from a concussion and must have someone with her for the next 48 hours. Regardless, Tom's holiday plans include more than spending time with his family. He's set to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
Reluctantly, Katherine agrees to accompany Tom to his family's Christmas. Should have been an easy trip from New York to Chicago. But as they battle the weather, cancelled flights, and each other, feelings they thought were over come bubbling to the surface again.
This was seriously the perfect read (or listen) going into the holiday season. It evokes everything I look for in a rom-com and in listening to the audiobook it was so easy to "watch" it play out in my mind. I like that we got a narrator for each Katherine and Tom. They both did a great job of really getting into the emotions of these characters and the vulnerabilities, but also played well off one another when it came to the bantering. I could oftentimes feel the frustrations
I'm a true sucker for the second-chance romance trope and it's played perfectly here. The deep feelings that are clearly still between Katherine and Tom are perfectly felt and the animosity they bring out in each other is full of many laugh out loud moments.
I liked how the story unfolded as it went along. You know, it starts out with Katherine being dubbed The Grinch but we slowly peel back the layers and see why that might be. Similarly, we peel back the layers of Katherine and Tom's failed relationship.
I know it's fiction and I know that some of the circumstances are a little heightened to account for that drama, but it really felt plausible that all these situations could happen. Nothing felt too over the top where it pulled me out of the story. The fact that the story takes place over the course of two days makes this a super quick read (or listen). Something you can start and end within the same amount of time. Honestly, if the story would have been longer, I wouldn't have been upset. I liked spending time with Katherine and Tom and seeing them figure out their complicated feelings for one another.
I've been a long-time reader of Lauren Layne. I think I've read almost all of her books, but this is the first where she's got a co-author and he just also happens to be her husband Anthony LeDonne. I think they write really well together.
If you're looking for a fun read to kick off the holiday season, Emergency Contact is the perfect fit.
Tom is already running late to the airport. Hoping the weather cooperates so his flight can actually leave on time, the last thing he expects is to receive a call from his ex-wife's work saying that he's still her emergency contact. Showing up for Katherine means he misses his flight. Not only that, but turns out that Katherine is suffering from a concussion and must have someone with her for the next 48 hours. Regardless, Tom's holiday plans include more than spending time with his family. He's set to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
Reluctantly, Katherine agrees to accompany Tom to his family's Christmas. Should have been an easy trip from New York to Chicago. But as they battle the weather, cancelled flights, and each other, feelings they thought were over come bubbling to the surface again.
This was seriously the perfect read (or listen) going into the holiday season. It evokes everything I look for in a rom-com and in listening to the audiobook it was so easy to "watch" it play out in my mind. I like that we got a narrator for each Katherine and Tom. They both did a great job of really getting into the emotions of these characters and the vulnerabilities, but also played well off one another when it came to the bantering. I could oftentimes feel the frustrations
I'm a true sucker for the second-chance romance trope and it's played perfectly here. The deep feelings that are clearly still between Katherine and Tom are perfectly felt and the animosity they bring out in each other is full of many laugh out loud moments.
I liked how the story unfolded as it went along. You know, it starts out with Katherine being dubbed The Grinch but we slowly peel back the layers and see why that might be. Similarly, we peel back the layers of Katherine and Tom's failed relationship.
I know it's fiction and I know that some of the circumstances are a little heightened to account for that drama, but it really felt plausible that all these situations could happen. Nothing felt too over the top where it pulled me out of the story. The fact that the story takes place over the course of two days makes this a super quick read (or listen). Something you can start and end within the same amount of time. Honestly, if the story would have been longer, I wouldn't have been upset. I liked spending time with Katherine and Tom and seeing them figure out their complicated feelings for one another.
I've been a long-time reader of Lauren Layne. I think I've read almost all of her books, but this is the first where she's got a co-author and he just also happens to be her husband Anthony LeDonne. I think they write really well together.
If you're looking for a fun read to kick off the holiday season, Emergency Contact is the perfect fit.
junediarys's review against another edition
2.0
i wanted to like this; some parts were funny and angsty, but a good chunk of it was either irritating or boring. miscommunication trope (& zero communication trope...) seems to follow me everywhere. even though the book spanned over a few days, it dragged on. don't even get me started on tom. this was a hot mess.
courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
This book was absolutely spectacular! From the first page to the last word of the epilogue, it had my whole heart. This is also the very first full-length rom-com I’ve ever listened to on audio and it was fantastic. The narration was done by the authors, and I truly enjoyed every minute.
Our story follows Katherine and Tom, who once we married but are now divorced, as they navigate their way to Chicago after Katherine is in a really bad cab accident on Christmas Eve in NYC. She’s a hardworking, successful attorney who just never found time to change her emergency contact, so when her work calls Tom - who is heading home to propose to his girlfriend Lolo for the holidays- hijinx ensue.
I loved Katherine and Tom; Katherine especially. She’s struggling to find happiness while she tries to make partner at her law firm while navigating life without a family (her father died on Christmas while she was in law school). Tom comes from a big family and despite his claims to hate Katherine, he still drops everything to come to her rescue on Christmas Eve.
Lots happened in this book, but it was just the overall feelings this book gave me that had me loving it. Grumpy-sunshine, second chance romance, Christmas, and a cross-country trip - it was perfect. And it was my perfect introduction to rom-coms on audio.
Five stars. Loved.
Our story follows Katherine and Tom, who once we married but are now divorced, as they navigate their way to Chicago after Katherine is in a really bad cab accident on Christmas Eve in NYC. She’s a hardworking, successful attorney who just never found time to change her emergency contact, so when her work calls Tom - who is heading home to propose to his girlfriend Lolo for the holidays- hijinx ensue.
I loved Katherine and Tom; Katherine especially. She’s struggling to find happiness while she tries to make partner at her law firm while navigating life without a family (her father died on Christmas while she was in law school). Tom comes from a big family and despite his claims to hate Katherine, he still drops everything to come to her rescue on Christmas Eve.
Lots happened in this book, but it was just the overall feelings this book gave me that had me loving it. Grumpy-sunshine, second chance romance, Christmas, and a cross-country trip - it was perfect. And it was my perfect introduction to rom-coms on audio.
Five stars. Loved.
jun_andtonic's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gilded_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
aram0608's review against another edition
5.0
I’m so glad I stumbled across this! It totally put me out of my reading slump. It was funny, cute, and I was rooting for the characters the whole time. I even teared up towards the end. Really enjoyed this read!
katie_chandler's review against another edition
3.0
It was not intentional, but I finished this book ten minutes before midnight on Christmas Eve and that felt appropriate.
I knew going into this book that it wouldn’t be a typical rom com, as the main characters are divorced from each other, but I was surprised by my mixed feelings about this relationship. The miscommunications were evident, especially with alternating perspective chapters. It seemed unreasonable then that there could be a shift in the relationship in less than 48 hours.
The holiday aspect of this book feels like watching the Griswolds transport their newly cut Christmas tree. It reads like a movie, which makes sense since its origin is as a screenplay.
I knew going into this book that it wouldn’t be a typical rom com, as the main characters are divorced from each other, but I was surprised by my mixed feelings about this relationship. The miscommunications were evident, especially with alternating perspective chapters. It seemed unreasonable then that there could be a shift in the relationship in less than 48 hours.
The holiday aspect of this book feels like watching the Griswolds transport their newly cut Christmas tree. It reads like a movie, which makes sense since its origin is as a screenplay.
loloreads94's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sophierachel's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0