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btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Racism and Death
Minor: Toxic relationship, Sexism, Grief, and Death of parent
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lucy Checks In was not what I expected, but once I got over that, it was a very touching story of having to start over.
Lucy was the manager of a very fancy hotel in New York City, at least until her former boss and lover stole millions when he left, and she he very nearly took the fall. While she managed to avoid that, her entire reputation was ruined, leaving her with no career opportunities. When she sees the chance to be the manager of a boutique in Rennes, France, she jumps. And then learns that the hotel is... exactly as reported: it needs to be renovated from the wallboard studs out. Lucy thought it would be much easier to get the hotel open and ready for online bookings in a much shorter time. Except, she has to do everything, including setting up a website.
The hotel also has several permanent residences, some of whom help more than others with the renovations. Claudine is very willing to break laws to get her hotel ready, even when Lucy isn't willing to. There's a very serious subplot to the book, involving Lucy's alcoholic brother, which does come to a head. I was very worried about the ending, afterher brother dies in a accident while driving drunk, leaving her as the guardian of his two children , but I really enjoyed how Ernst played that out. Excellent character development.
All in all, Lucy Checks In is an excellent study in character development and learning to fight for what you want.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free eARC.
Lucy was the manager of a very fancy hotel in New York City, at least until her former boss and lover stole millions when he left, and she he very nearly took the fall. While she managed to avoid that, her entire reputation was ruined, leaving her with no career opportunities. When she sees the chance to be the manager of a boutique in Rennes, France, she jumps. And then learns that the hotel is... exactly as reported: it needs to be renovated from the wallboard studs out. Lucy thought it would be much easier to get the hotel open and ready for online bookings in a much shorter time. Except, she has to do everything, including setting up a website.
The hotel also has several permanent residences, some of whom help more than others with the renovations. Claudine is very willing to break laws to get her hotel ready, even when Lucy isn't willing to. There's a very serious subplot to the book, involving Lucy's alcoholic brother, which does come to a head. I was very worried about the ending, after
All in all, Lucy Checks In is an excellent study in character development and learning to fight for what you want.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free eARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Grief, Addiction, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Cancer, and Racism
bringmybooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thank you to Edelweiss, St. Martin's Griffin, & Macmillan for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
While this book wasn't *bad*, per se, it also very much wasn't for me. (Major case of "shoulda coulda wish I woulda DNFed) I would estimate that about 80% of it was descriptions of the walls, linens, and furniture that was going in the renovated hotel - which did paint a pretty picture, but also, I mean, I got the gist about 15 sentences ago, you know?
The most interesting thing I got out of this book was while researching what one would call a MC in her 50s - it's quinquagenarian, if you were wondering. That being said, our MC is a quinquagenarian at a crossroads, both professionally & personally, and makes her way to France to restore a old chateau into a hotel, finding both personal and professional peace along the way.
There was a motley cast of characters (sometimes charming and sometimes annoying), a white cat named Napoleon Bonaparte, and a friendly ghost haunting the gardens. There were also really weird scenes that didn't make any sense, like when they realize they need to take pictures for the hotel website so go around Paris in the dead of night stealing potted plants in decorative urns from houses they felt wouldn't miss them. (No, seriously.) (Wild wacky Frenchmen, whaddya gonna do?)
The romance was meant to be sweet, but I never connected to it. There was also a major plot point that, while it's set up throughout the book, kinda comes out of left field at 89% but ends up wrapping everything up in a nice bow.
I'm not sure exactly who to recommend this to, but I can say if you get 25% into it and you're still interested, I think you're safe.
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
While this book wasn't *bad*, per se, it also very much wasn't for me. (Major case of "shoulda coulda wish I woulda DNFed) I would estimate that about 80% of it was descriptions of the walls, linens, and furniture that was going in the renovated hotel - which did paint a pretty picture, but also, I mean, I got the gist about 15 sentences ago, you know?
The most interesting thing I got out of this book was while researching what one would call a MC in her 50s - it's quinquagenarian, if you were wondering. That being said, our MC is a quinquagenarian at a crossroads, both professionally & personally, and makes her way to France to restore a old chateau into a hotel, finding both personal and professional peace along the way.
There was a motley cast of characters (sometimes charming and sometimes annoying), a white cat named Napoleon Bonaparte, and a friendly ghost haunting the gardens. There were also really weird scenes that didn't make any sense, like when they realize they need to take pictures for the hotel website so go around Paris in the dead of night stealing potted plants in decorative urns from houses they felt wouldn't miss them. (No, seriously.) (Wild wacky Frenchmen, whaddya gonna do?)
The romance was meant to be sweet, but I never connected to it. There was also a major plot point that, while it's set up throughout the book, kinda comes out of left field at 89% but ends up wrapping everything up in a nice bow.
I'm not sure exactly who to recommend this to, but I can say if you get 25% into it and you're still interested, I think you're safe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Death of parent
Alcoholism, Death by Drunk Driving, Toxic Family, Chauvinismmidnightbelles's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the Arc! Here is my honest review.
I really struggled to get into this at first, I'm not entirely sure why but it took me considerably longer to get through this than it typically takes me to finish a book. However, I'm happy that I did finish. I really enjoyed this book.
Lucy is a well-known hotel manager who lost her job and fame because the man that she fell in love with stole all of the money from their famous hotel and ran away. Unable to find another job in America she jumps at the chance to work at a hotel in France and goes there with high expectations. Unfortunately, the hotel was run down and didn't exactly offer her the same amenities that she was used to receiving. Despite feeling lied to about the condition of the hotel she decides to stay and help renovate the hotel and in the process begins to grow and open up to new possibilities in her life.
I did go into this thinking it was a romance and while the romance that was present was nice, this is not a romance book (slow burn romance is sprinkled into the story here and there). Despite that, I did enjoy this. Reading about the progression of the hotel and seeing Lucy begin to open up was really heartwarming and lovely. I also really enjoyed the relationship she had with everyone and just how much they were like a tight-knit family. It was also really interesting reading about an older mc when I'm used to reading about teenagers or people in their early twenties. (and Bing, I absolutely adore him despite his moments where he's a pain in the butt lol). I will probably read this again, especially since it's a fast-paced book, and I'm already adding it to the list of books I need to purchase when they're finally published.
I really struggled to get into this at first, I'm not entirely sure why but it took me considerably longer to get through this than it typically takes me to finish a book. However, I'm happy that I did finish. I really enjoyed this book.
Lucy is a well-known hotel manager who lost her job and fame because the man that she fell in love with stole all of the money from their famous hotel and ran away. Unable to find another job in America she jumps at the chance to work at a hotel in France and goes there with high expectations. Unfortunately, the hotel was run down and didn't exactly offer her the same amenities that she was used to receiving. Despite feeling lied to about the condition of the hotel she decides to stay and help renovate the hotel and in the process begins to grow and open up to new possibilities in her life.
I did go into this thinking it was a romance and while the romance that was present was nice, this is not a romance book (slow burn romance is sprinkled into the story here and there). Despite that, I did enjoy this. Reading about the progression of the hotel and seeing Lucy begin to open up was really heartwarming and lovely. I also really enjoyed the relationship she had with everyone and just how much they were like a tight-knit family. It was also really interesting reading about an older mc when I'm used to reading about teenagers or people in their early twenties. (and Bing, I absolutely adore him despite his moments where he's a pain in the butt lol). I will probably read this again, especially since it's a fast-paced book, and I'm already adding it to the list of books I need to purchase when they're finally published.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Car accident, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Racism
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