Review: The Wake-Up Call

Title: The Wake-Up Call

Author: Beth O’Leary

Publisher: 26th September 2023 by Hachette Australia & Quercus Books

Pages: 350 pages

Genre: contemporary, romance, chick lit

Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Two sworn enemies. A failing hotel. One chance to save the season...

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 lost property, 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?

My Thoughts

‘All’s fair in love, war and petty workplace feuding, right?’

This opening quote pretty much sums up Beth O’Leary’s upcoming new book. Beth is one of the ‘hot’ authors currently with everything she writes gaining attention. I loved some of her previous books (The No-Show, for me, was phenomenal) as much as I did not love her previous books. Therefore I was nervously excited to read her upcoming, The Wake-Up Call (published 26 September 2023). Once again, this was not the book I expected but in all honesty, I feel it highlights the expansive skill in Beth’s writing - no cardboard cutouts here - every book is that little bit different. 

“… life is too short for rules about what’s cool and what’s not cool; life’s for living. In full HD.”

Here is what I loved about the book:

• A lighthearted enemies to lovers romcom

• The setting: Forest Manor Hotel was a great backdrop with endearing secondary characters

• I enjoyed the ring mysteries with the shenanigans and backstories

• I really appreciated the two leads individual journey and growth. They are open to learning and appreciating themselves and their relationship differences in order to grow

• I enjoyed Lucas’ narrative best as he was open and honest from the getgo. 

Here is what I was not too excited about:

• I feel this was for a younger demographic as at times seemed a bit immature 

• There were some incredibly childish antics

• There was an excessive amount of miscommunication

• It was a little slow in places

• Whilst Izzy and Lucas ran hot and cold, fun and silly throughout, I felt their relationship was awkward and demeaning in places - they both needed a ‘wake-up call’ (Izzy more so)

• Overall I was not wowed by it especially after the creativity of The No-Show. 

The Wake-Up Call was once again different from the last Beth O’Leary book … which was different from the last Beth O’Leary book …. I am beginning to see a pattern! Despite not being the book I had originally predicted, it ended up being solid and enjoyable, sure to appeal to many. I look forward to seeing where Beth will go on her next adventure because I have given up trying to predict. 

‘You’ve got to live every moment and enjoy it.’ 

Lucas tilts his head, saying nothing. I … pause as he says, ‘No, you don’t.’

 ‘Pardon?’ 

‘You don’t have to enjoy every moment. Nobody can do that. It would be . . . exhausting.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.