The Wake-Up Call

                                      

Title: The Wake-Up Call

Author: Beth O'Leary

Published: Berkley, September 26, 2023

Pages: 367

Genre: Contemporary Holiday Romance

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 & 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. Can the two of them make it through the season with their hearts intact?

I love Beth O'Leary. She tackles these really tough themes so well. And she sprinkles in just enough rom-com cheesiness to distract you from the gut punches. 

What more could you ask for though, really? This book is an enemies to lovers, holiday rom com set in the English countryside at an idyllic hotel. Why do Izzy and Lucas hate one another? It's a mystery even to them. Do they hate one another? Absolutely not. Do they have sizzling chemistry. Hell yes! 

I almost feel bad that I keep repeating that miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes. Because the miscommunication in this book was done so well! Why did we have the confusion in the first place? Because when you're writing a declaration of your feelings for your new coworker, you should probably be sure that his name is legible! And when you happen to see him kiss your roommate under the mistletoe, maybe give him just like one second to explain that it was practically in passing before you scream about how much you hate him. And then at any point over the next year of your lives working together, you could maybe try to get some closure on the subject? But NOOOOOO. I will say. That was one of the things about a miscommunication trope that I hate, that was in this book. And it is when someone wants to actually have a conversation and the other person either outright refuses, or keeps interrupting with their own assumptions instead of using their LISTENING EARS! IZZY!

But they eventually figure it out and it's wonderful. Very romantic. Very cinematic. Highly recommend!

Ratings

Stars: 5/5