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sandysmith's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
courtnetto's review against another edition
- 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
It is soon revealed that this card never made it to Lucas and was instead given to the wrong person as Mandy, the receptionist, has difficulty reading Izzy’s handwriting and she thought the card was for Louis. Which then causes more confusion as Louis thinks Izzy was declaring her love for him, so he begins asking her out on dates… Lucas then later hears Izzy on the phone to her friend where she is talking about her and Lucas’ sex life but also mentions briefly about Louis. Lucas had been running Izzy a bath and quickly became disheartened to the point he left… Izzy then realises he has gone and is on a mission to find him so she goes back to the hotel when Mr Townsend tells her that he’s done a good deed as Lucas wanted to go home. She then drives to the airport to try and find Lucas, only to find he has already gone through his gate, so her last resort was to give him a message over the tannoy which worked as he came running back out to greet her.
It’s such a nice love story, really portrays how you never truly know how someone feels about you unless you tell them.
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Death
purplegems3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Moderate: Death of parent
quasinaut's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Pros: I loved that the main characters have other things going on in their lives. They have friends and family. They actually hang out with and talk to other people outside of work.
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Toxic friendship and Alcohol
frantically's review against another edition
- 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
–
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 – 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 🫶🏻🫶🏻) 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 – let's hope they continue to be this good!
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual content
pia_h's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
Minor: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
booksinherhead's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
p.s. thought this book technically has a Christmastime backdrop it is not a Christmas story/romance if that makes sense.
–––
My whole heart!!!! Full review TK
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Infidelity
sauvageloup's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Death of parent
nicolecurlsuptoread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • 🌶️🌶️
📌 You’ll dig this if you like
» Enemies to lovers
» Grumpy/ Sunshine
» Opposites attract
» Grand gestures
💍
It's the busiest season of the year, and Forest Manor Hotel is quite literally falling apart. So, when Izzy and Lucas are given the same shift on the hotel's front desk, they have no choice but to put their differences aside and see it through.
The hotel won't stay afloat beyond Christmas without some sort of miracle. But when Izzy returns a guest's lost wedding ring, the reward convinces management that this might be the way to fix everything. With four rings still sitting in the lost and found, the race is on for Izzy and Lucas to save their beloved hotel-- and their jobs.
As their bitter rivalry turns into something much more complicated, Izzy and Lucas begin to wonder if there's more at stake here than the hotel's future.
💍
→ Izzy made her play to Lucas last Christmas in a card, and he broke her heart when he kissed her flatmate under the mistletoe instead; this is how the hate-on started. I was dying to learn the root of the miscommunication. Sometimes it’s so obvious but Beth O’Leary kept it well hidden until she wanted us to know, and I was stunned. I loved the twist!
→ It was easy to curl up and sink into this story. The pacing was good and there was just enough tension to keep me interested without being too angsty. I recommend it for a warm, lighthearted read.
📌 What stood out
» Lucas has the big, broody, possessive/protective thing down! I love the strong, silent type in book boyfriends.
» Narration by Jessie Cave and Lino Facioli 👏 Their voices were perfectly suited to the characters.
📌 Moments
» Izzy and Lucas return a woman’s ring at her divorce party, and they stay to celebrate with her. They agree to a fresh start as their attitudes toward each other begin to shift with the help of a few drinks and a dance floor 🪩 😮💨
» Fans of Love Actually will adore the nod, which is superbly done 🙌❤️
🚫 Contains death of parents (past, off-page). Please check warnings.
Moderate: Death of parent