The Wake-Up Call

I love Beth O’Leary. I really do. I did not love this book.

Izzy and Lucas work the front desk together at Forest Manor Hotel, a charming English countryside hotel that will cease to exist beyond the Christmas season without costly repairs. The improbable solution? Izzy and Lucas are tasked with tracking down and returning a handful of lost wedding rings to their owners. Izzy did it once, and the hotel was generously rewarded … maybe they’ll ALL do that! (It could happen ... right? 🤦‍♀️)

One problem: Izzy and Lucas “hate” each other. She’s bubbly … he’s stoic … apparently that’s a deal-breaker. Well, that and the fact that Izzy actually IS attracted to Lucas and his oft-mentioned muscles and wrote him a Christmas card a year ago confessing her feelings, only to find him kissing her roommate instead. 

As with almost every story like this, things aren’t as they appeared, yet the reader will spend almost the entire book suffering through Izzy’s rotating lust/resentment cycle and Lucas’ bottled-up desire for her, because neither of these grown adults will open their mouths and talk about what happened a year ago or how they feel about each other now.  (Of course that doesn’t stop them from behaving like horny teenagers when the mood strikes.)  

I read this on my Kindle while listening along to the audiobook narrated by Jessie Cave as Izzy and Lino Facioli as Lucas. In keeping with how the characters are written, Cave’s narration of Izzy made her sound petulant and immature, rather than cute and bubbly, and Facioli’s narration of Lucas made him sound about as exciting as a brick.

The saving grace? There are some great secondary characters and the holiday season and lovely setting add a nice dose of charm. The ending also turns the mood around. Had it not taken so long to get there, and if the more appealing aspects of the story had been amped up, I would’ve liked the story more. 

The good news is that many others have really enjoyed this book and you should read their reviews before deciding if this is a book for you. I’ve learned that I don’t prefer ‘enemies-to-lovers’ stories and bickering MCs. Anyone who’s ever been trapped in a car or room with two children (or adults) who won’t stop arguing over stupid things will understand!

As for Beth O’Leary? I still love her. I can’t wait to see what she writes next! 

★★ ½ 

 

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author Beth O’Leary for this digital ARC to honestly review and to my local library/Libby for the audiobook. It’s now available.