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sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.75
A light, well written, easy read. The main characters have depth, both being really hurt and suffering loss, Izzy and Lucus the muscled Brazilian. It's a love-hate relationship based on miscommunication. I didn't realise that it was set mainly at Christmas time, but that didn't stop my enjoyment reading it in May. I really enjoyed the New Forest location as I live nearby so could vividly picture the realistic descriptions. You have to wait to the end of the book to understand why it's called the wake-up call. Overall, it was a very cute easy read rom com.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
frantically's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
and that, kids, is why handwritten cards are overrated
β
I loved this! Read it in one day. It took me a bit to warm up to the MCs because they're both such complex characters and they both have these really different views on their relationship and why it is the way it is but once I did, I was all in. While I could see myself more in Izzy, the romance feels were allll in in Lucas' parts. The slow realisation he loves Izzy? Amazing. Show stopping. Never been done before.
O'Leary writes romances in the best way β she writes romances about people that have *lives*. This isn't about just Izzy and Lucas. They've got friends, coworkers turned family, annoying exes, dead parents, alive parents in other countries, toxic roommates and the list goes on. While this is primarily about Izzy and Lucas getting together, it's also about (almost) everyone else in their lives seeing them getting together and rooting for them and that just gave me all the feels.
The cover didn't speak "Christmas" to me (and it still doesn't) so I was a bit surprised when this turned into a holiday romance (especially as it is May) but it was a cute surprise!
I'm always hesitant to pick up second books by authors I loved ("The Flatshare" was my favourite 2023 book π«Άπ»π«Άπ») because I'm scared they'll be bad but this one just inspired me to read all the other books Beth O'Leary has written β let's hope they continue to be this good!
β
I loved this! Read it in one day. It took me a bit to warm up to the MCs because they're both such complex characters and they both have these really different views on their relationship and why it is the way it is but once I did, I was all in. While I could see myself more in Izzy, the romance feels were allll in in Lucas' parts. The slow realisation he loves Izzy? Amazing. Show stopping. Never been done before.
O'Leary writes romances in the best way β she writes romances about people that have *lives*. This isn't about just Izzy and Lucas. They've got friends, coworkers turned family, annoying exes, dead parents, alive parents in other countries, toxic roommates and the list goes on. While this is primarily about Izzy and Lucas getting together, it's also about (almost) everyone else in their lives seeing them getting together and rooting for them and that just gave me all the feels.
The cover didn't speak "Christmas" to me (and it still doesn't) so I was a bit surprised when this turned into a holiday romance (especially as it is May) but it was a cute surprise!
I'm always hesitant to pick up second books by authors I loved ("The Flatshare" was my favourite 2023 book π«Άπ»π«Άπ») because I'm scared they'll be bad but this one just inspired me to read all the other books Beth O'Leary has written β let's hope they continue to be this good!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content
sauvageloup's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
a really fun rom com frolic
pros:
- I liked how there were aspects of both characters that weren't immediately obvious and the other had to learn, and that they both tried harder to be kinder and less snappy, respectively.
- I liked that Lucas fell first and it made sense since izzy had, she believed, been so hurt by him.
- it was funny and angsty, I definitely felt for especially Lucas when he was trying so hard and it wasnt paying off.
- the writing is really gripping and the book just rolls along so well, I read it very fast.
cons:
- they did talk it out but I liked less how Lucas had to sort of seduce her without scaring her off because she couldnt face her own feelings. I felt he should have backed off or been honest, rather than, bevolently, manipulating her.
- I would have also enjoyed a bit more detail on side characters, like Mandy, Ollie, Arjun, Mrs B and Barty, etc. they're all nice but not given much detail. we do get a bit on the Hedgers and Mr Townsend, and a little on Izzy's friends so maybe I'm asking a bit much!
- I also thought the end was a little too good to be true, considering a flood in guest bookings is great, but the hotel was in such dire financial straights that they wouldnt have the cash flow. I suppose with the obvious interest, though, they could get an investor.
overall, a really fun rollicking book that I thoroughly got caught up in. and also called me single in about 300 languages.
pros:
- I liked how there were aspects of both characters that weren't immediately obvious and the other had to learn, and that they both tried harder to be kinder and less snappy, respectively.
- it was funny and angsty, I definitely felt for especially Lucas when he was trying so hard and it wasnt paying off.
- the writing is really gripping and the book just rolls along so well, I read it very fast.
cons:
- I would have also enjoyed a bit more detail on side characters, like Mandy, Ollie, Arjun, Mrs B and Barty, etc. they're all nice but not given much detail. we do get a bit on the Hedgers and Mr Townsend, and a little on Izzy's friends so maybe I'm asking a bit much!
overall, a really fun rollicking book that I thoroughly got caught up in. and also called me single in about 300 languages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Pandemic/Epidemic
pianokeys's review against another edition
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Toxic friendship
aseel_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This was fun and an easy read, I liked how main plot conflict was resolved
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Grief, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Child abuse
kaydeedickins's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic, Fatphobia, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Classism, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
idk_indigo's review against another edition
Due at the library & I didn't like it enough to actually try & finish it. Lucas is boring asf, I already hate the "jealous" aspect, I don't care if they hate each other or not I just think they need to shut up, FMC is somehow boring yet obnoxious; she's self-absorbed yet her entire personality is just her only ever doing things to help others (& we all know how fond I am of the whole people pleaser shtick -- hint: it's not at all)...also grumpy x sunshine only ever piques my interest if the grumpy = FMC because I keep thinking, "You're a man & you are hanging out with this beautiful, kind, positive woman & all you can muster up the energy for is a vibe so crusty & musty that you are universally known as the man who can only work behind-counters because of how rude he is to everyone? Shut up. Grow up. You're ugly. & you have too many muscles." Seriously, are women actually into the obscenely muscular bordering-on-bodybuilder look? Hmmmmmmm okay then...
Lots of opinion from somebody who didn't read the book but before I go, I will say that there was most definitely a reason why this was set as a "skip the line" copy on Libby (cause it's meh)
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! No but I just remembered that Izzy also mentions the pandemic every 10 pages which is not super slay of her at all (obviously it was a major thing, from a social/emotional & even historical perspective, but it's not my thing & gives me the book ick) so between that & the Lucas ick (& frankly, the Izzy ick too), this one's gonna be a naur from me folks.
Lots of opinion from somebody who didn't read the book but before I go, I will say that there was most definitely a reason why this was set as a "skip the line" copy on Libby (cause it's meh)
BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! No but I just remembered that Izzy also mentions the pandemic every 10 pages which is not super slay of her at all (obviously it was a major thing, from a social/emotional & even historical perspective, but it's not my thing & gives me the book ick) so between that & the Lucas ick (& frankly, the Izzy ick too), this one's gonna be a naur from me folks.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship
epellicci's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Beth O'leary at her best.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Grief
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