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Emergency Contact
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne--and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne--comes a new holiday romcom that is sure to warm even the coldest heart.
Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for 48 hours to make sure it doesn't get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to update her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
A delightful meet-cute between The Proposal and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Emergency Contact is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.
Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for 48 hours to make sure it doesn't get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to update her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
A delightful meet-cute between The Proposal and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Emergency Contact is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.
350 pages, Paperback
First published October 24, 2023
347 people are currently reading
12007 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Layne
61 books10.5k followersLauren Layne is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Hot Asset, Hard Sell, and Huge Deal in her 21 Wall Street series, as well as her Central Park Pact series. Her books have sold more than a million copies in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,659 reviews
December 20, 2024
I knew I could trust Lauren’s books to get me out of my slump🙂↔️ I enjoyed it sm!! rtc
ᝰ🗽pre-read: ᯓᡣ𐭩୭˚.
This is me on the search for a good book😭 it's been over 2 years since I've read any of Lauren's books but I used to like them a lot so fingers crossed I enjoy this🤞🏻 and it’s second chance!!!🤭
ᝰ🗽pre-read: ᯓᡣ𐭩୭˚.
This is me on the search for a good book😭 it's been over 2 years since I've read any of Lauren's books but I used to like them a lot so fingers crossed I enjoy this🤞🏻 and it’s second chance!!!🤭
December 4, 2023
Audible 7 hours, 30 minutes
Narrated by Tim Paige and Brianna Cohen
🎄 Seasonal Read 2023 🎄
Lauren Layne--and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne--grab some inspiration from the 1987 Holiday Classic “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and deliver a new holiday romcom just in time for Christmas 2023!
Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, forgot to update her emergency contact information after her divorce, so when she is injured in a taxi 🚕 cab accident on December 23rd-the person called by the hospital staff is her ex-husband, Tom.
Unable to be left alone for 48 hours after being diagnosed with a concussion, and out of options, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays, unaware that his girlfriend Lolo is already there, and that Tom is preparing to propose to her on Christmas Eve.
So they set off in a blizzard, determined to make it there on time.
Unfortunately, they will get kicked off of their flight for Katherine’s narcissistic behavior, ✈️-forcing them to attempt to get there next by train 🚊. When that doesn’t work out, they will have to spend the night in the disgusting “Blue Shell Motel” (the blue hell mote), before missing another flight ✈️ after an “UBER” 🚙 mishap, enduring additional weather related ❄️ ✈️ flight cancellations and finally making it to his parents home by the most “unconventional” means possible…..🤫
Yep-Sounds like the holidays!!
Of course, this adventure will give THEM plenty of time to finally be honest about their feelings past and present, and their playful banter and entertaining mishaps will give US, plenty of laughs along the way!
But, to earn 5 stars, a romance has to make me cry (or at least get me choked up!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
AVAILABLE NOW!
Narrated by Tim Paige and Brianna Cohen
🎄 Seasonal Read 2023 🎄
Lauren Layne--and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne--grab some inspiration from the 1987 Holiday Classic “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and deliver a new holiday romcom just in time for Christmas 2023!
Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, forgot to update her emergency contact information after her divorce, so when she is injured in a taxi 🚕 cab accident on December 23rd-the person called by the hospital staff is her ex-husband, Tom.
Unable to be left alone for 48 hours after being diagnosed with a concussion, and out of options, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays, unaware that his girlfriend Lolo is already there, and that Tom is preparing to propose to her on Christmas Eve.
So they set off in a blizzard, determined to make it there on time.
Unfortunately, they will get kicked off of their flight for Katherine’s narcissistic behavior, ✈️-forcing them to attempt to get there next by train 🚊. When that doesn’t work out, they will have to spend the night in the disgusting “Blue Shell Motel” (the blue hell mote), before missing another flight ✈️ after an “UBER” 🚙 mishap, enduring additional weather related ❄️ ✈️ flight cancellations and finally making it to his parents home by the most “unconventional” means possible…..🤫
Yep-Sounds like the holidays!!
Of course, this adventure will give THEM plenty of time to finally be honest about their feelings past and present, and their playful banter and entertaining mishaps will give US, plenty of laughs along the way!
But, to earn 5 stars, a romance has to make me cry (or at least get me choked up!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
AVAILABLE NOW!
November 25, 2023
Update: I did a reread via audiobook and although the audiobook is a lot of fun, I prefer this story via physical book or ebook. There are a few errors in the audio (they don’t detract though) and ultimately felt more connection via the text.
When attorney Katherine, known to be a bit of the Grinch, suffers a concussion days before Christmas and must be monitored, it falls in the unfortunate hands of her emergency contact - who just so happens to be her ex-husband. As Tom prepares to head home for the holiday, in part to propose to his new girlfriend, he is forced to take Katherine along with him in a trip that leads to one misadventure after another. Soon old feelings are awakened forcing them both to figure out what they really hope the new year will bring.
You know those books that you finish reading and immediately want to go back and reread? This is definitely one of those books. I knew going into this one that it was a holiday read, however, I had no idea it was going to become my *favorite* holiday read.
Lauren Layne is easily one of my favorite authors. In fact, she is the very reason I stumbled into book reviewing. Her books are insanely bingeable with swoon worthy romance I almost always connect with (cue the emotional lump in the throat that occurs with each and every third act breakup). It is therefore no surprise that her second holiday romance, featuring the addition of her husband Anthony Le Donne as writing partner, was absolute perfection. From the pitch perfect holiday humor to the travel chaos and the fantastic chemistry in between, this book was insanely fun from start to finish.
Told in dual POV, both main characters were fully fleshed out, multifaceted characters who provide the perfect counterbalance. I found Katherine to be a bit of a hot mess to be frank, but also entirely relatable to anyone overworked, overstressed and over-processed come the holidays. She has reason to hate the holidays, and she shows it in every way possible. Tom, on the other hand, is her polar opposite. The bickering and bantering that ensues as a result of their dynamic, is in many ways, the best part of the story.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
•holiday romance
•second chance
•forced proximity
•opposites attract
•witty banter
•planes, trains, & automobiles
If you only get a chance to read one holiday book this Fall/Winter season, make it this one. I know you won’t regret it.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
When attorney Katherine, known to be a bit of the Grinch, suffers a concussion days before Christmas and must be monitored, it falls in the unfortunate hands of her emergency contact - who just so happens to be her ex-husband. As Tom prepares to head home for the holiday, in part to propose to his new girlfriend, he is forced to take Katherine along with him in a trip that leads to one misadventure after another. Soon old feelings are awakened forcing them both to figure out what they really hope the new year will bring.
You know those books that you finish reading and immediately want to go back and reread? This is definitely one of those books. I knew going into this one that it was a holiday read, however, I had no idea it was going to become my *favorite* holiday read.
Lauren Layne is easily one of my favorite authors. In fact, she is the very reason I stumbled into book reviewing. Her books are insanely bingeable with swoon worthy romance I almost always connect with (cue the emotional lump in the throat that occurs with each and every third act breakup). It is therefore no surprise that her second holiday romance, featuring the addition of her husband Anthony Le Donne as writing partner, was absolute perfection. From the pitch perfect holiday humor to the travel chaos and the fantastic chemistry in between, this book was insanely fun from start to finish.
Told in dual POV, both main characters were fully fleshed out, multifaceted characters who provide the perfect counterbalance. I found Katherine to be a bit of a hot mess to be frank, but also entirely relatable to anyone overworked, overstressed and over-processed come the holidays. She has reason to hate the holidays, and she shows it in every way possible. Tom, on the other hand, is her polar opposite. The bickering and bantering that ensues as a result of their dynamic, is in many ways, the best part of the story.
ʀ ᴇ ᴀ ᴅ ɪ ғ ʏ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ :
•holiday romance
•second chance
•forced proximity
•opposites attract
•witty banter
•planes, trains, & automobiles
If you only get a chance to read one holiday book this Fall/Winter season, make it this one. I know you won’t regret it.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 17, 2023
Rolling along with a fun Christmas in October read and a whacky road trip. Kate and Tom are trying to get from NYC to Chicago for Christmas. They take a plane, a train, a bus, try to take an Uber, and more. Meanwhile these two might find that they shouldn't be divorced after all. Loved the She said, He said alternating chapters and squeaky clean content. 🎄
December 12, 2023
the setup…
It’s a few days before Christmas in New York and everyone has either left town for the holidays or is making their way out. That is except Katherine, a successful and highly ambitious attorney who is the ultimate grinch about the holidays. She’s waiting for “the call” from her law firm’s senior partner, the one he makes around this time to announce the new partner. Katherine leaves work, intending to go home and ignore the holidays, then gets in a taxi that gets broadsided. She wakes in a hospital with a concussion and a wound on her back. She hears a voice that is all too familiar but one she hasn’t heard in almost four years…her ex-husband Tom! Turns out, she hadn’t changed her emergency contact. And, she can’t be left alone with a concussion. Her choice…stay in the hospital or go home with him to Chicago for the holidays with his family.
the heart of the story…
Katherine and Tom’s parting of ways was acrimonious to put it mildly. There was a lot of hurt underneath all those barbs they threw at each other. They’re witty, sometimes funny, but always meant to hit the target. From the moment they left the hospital, it was one calamity after another as they tried to get to Chicago, mostly caused by Katherine. Did I also mention a blizzard is descending on the city? But throughout their banter, I got a sense of who both of them are, what they really felt about each other and what broke them apart.
the narration…
Both narrators did a great job giving voice to their characters and handling all that fast-paced banter. I’m glad I chose to listen to the story as they made it even livelier.
the bottom line…
I had a lot of fun listening to this story, even when I wanted to throttle Katherine for her singleminded focus. But once I learned the reasons behind her behavior, my heart ached for her. I loved Tom and his infinite patience with this woman, hoping he’d find a way back to her. This was all I’d hoped it would be.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
It’s a few days before Christmas in New York and everyone has either left town for the holidays or is making their way out. That is except Katherine, a successful and highly ambitious attorney who is the ultimate grinch about the holidays. She’s waiting for “the call” from her law firm’s senior partner, the one he makes around this time to announce the new partner. Katherine leaves work, intending to go home and ignore the holidays, then gets in a taxi that gets broadsided. She wakes in a hospital with a concussion and a wound on her back. She hears a voice that is all too familiar but one she hasn’t heard in almost four years…her ex-husband Tom! Turns out, she hadn’t changed her emergency contact. And, she can’t be left alone with a concussion. Her choice…stay in the hospital or go home with him to Chicago for the holidays with his family.
the heart of the story…
Katherine and Tom’s parting of ways was acrimonious to put it mildly. There was a lot of hurt underneath all those barbs they threw at each other. They’re witty, sometimes funny, but always meant to hit the target. From the moment they left the hospital, it was one calamity after another as they tried to get to Chicago, mostly caused by Katherine. Did I also mention a blizzard is descending on the city? But throughout their banter, I got a sense of who both of them are, what they really felt about each other and what broke them apart.
the narration…
Both narrators did a great job giving voice to their characters and handling all that fast-paced banter. I’m glad I chose to listen to the story as they made it even livelier.
the bottom line…
I had a lot of fun listening to this story, even when I wanted to throttle Katherine for her singleminded focus. But once I learned the reasons behind her behavior, my heart ached for her. I loved Tom and his infinite patience with this woman, hoping he’d find a way back to her. This was all I’d hoped it would be.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
October 13, 2023
Is there really such a thing as a foolproof plan?
Tom Walsh is about to find out that karma has different plans for him!
NetGalley synopsis:
Katherine, an ambitious New York City attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for forty-eight hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to updated her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with him for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
My thoughts:
I absolutely LOVED Katherine and Tom’s story and binge-read it after dinner last night. If you need a good laugh and love sarcasm or simply love a great, clean read, you’ll want this one on your holiday reading list. I enjoyed this one so very much that I’m buying a copy for each of my sisters and my mom and popping it in their stockings this Christmas.
It’s good for us to be reminded that the holiday season isn’t so jolly for everyone and that the simple act of reaching out can have lasting effects. Katherine Tate discovers that the past doesn’t always come back to bite us in the a$$ but sometimes offers a hand up.
It’s also good for us to have a reality check every once in a while: What is it that we want? Why are we working so ‘hard’? Is what we’re doing getting us there or are we sabotaging our future?
Finally, I loved reading about second chances. We all need a do-over at some point in our life.
I saw so much of myself in Tom…so much…and I think I was meant to read this book as the year comes to a close. Perhaps learning to be a little less scheduled is something I can work on for 2024!
You’ll be laughing and wiping tears and as you reach the final page, you’ll be glad you added this one to your pile!
I was gifted this copy by Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Tom Walsh is about to find out that karma has different plans for him!
NetGalley synopsis:
Katherine, an ambitious New York City attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for forty-eight hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to updated her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with him for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
My thoughts:
I absolutely LOVED Katherine and Tom’s story and binge-read it after dinner last night. If you need a good laugh and love sarcasm or simply love a great, clean read, you’ll want this one on your holiday reading list. I enjoyed this one so very much that I’m buying a copy for each of my sisters and my mom and popping it in their stockings this Christmas.
It’s good for us to be reminded that the holiday season isn’t so jolly for everyone and that the simple act of reaching out can have lasting effects. Katherine Tate discovers that the past doesn’t always come back to bite us in the a$$ but sometimes offers a hand up.
It’s also good for us to have a reality check every once in a while: What is it that we want? Why are we working so ‘hard’? Is what we’re doing getting us there or are we sabotaging our future?
Finally, I loved reading about second chances. We all need a do-over at some point in our life.
I saw so much of myself in Tom…so much…and I think I was meant to read this book as the year comes to a close. Perhaps learning to be a little less scheduled is something I can work on for 2024!
You’ll be laughing and wiping tears and as you reach the final page, you’ll be glad you added this one to your pile!
I was gifted this copy by Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 13, 2024
4.25⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance, Christmas fiction
Setting ~ NYC to Illinois
Publication date ~ October 24, 2023
Est Page Count ~ 284 (38 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 27 minutes
Narrators ~ Tim Paige, Brianna Cohen
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ slow burn, divorced to enemies to lovers, second chance, no steamage
Katherine (36) & Tom divorced a few years ago, but find themselves spending the holidays together when he offers to watch over her when she has a concussion. The problem is that he's supposed to be in Chicago getting ready to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve. So they set off on an adventure that tests their patience with each other. If something can go wrong it does and I was all for the chaos of it all.
Katherine hates Christmas, understandably so. She was a little much with her workaholic~ness and bickering with Tom, and he made some valid points of why they got divorced. He was really sweet. The banter was good! You just can't help but root for these two to get back together. Overall, a wonderfully fun holiday read.
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
I don't have any complaints, except Tim's female voice is not great, which I've been saying for ages.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ contemporary romance, Christmas fiction
Setting ~ NYC to Illinois
Publication date ~ October 24, 2023
Est Page Count ~ 284 (38 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 27 minutes
Narrators ~ Tim Paige, Brianna Cohen
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ slow burn, divorced to enemies to lovers, second chance, no steamage
Katherine (36) & Tom divorced a few years ago, but find themselves spending the holidays together when he offers to watch over her when she has a concussion. The problem is that he's supposed to be in Chicago getting ready to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve. So they set off on an adventure that tests their patience with each other. If something can go wrong it does and I was all for the chaos of it all.
Katherine hates Christmas, understandably so. She was a little much with her workaholic~ness and bickering with Tom, and he made some valid points of why they got divorced. He was really sweet. The banter was good! You just can't help but root for these two to get back together. Overall, a wonderfully fun holiday read.
I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
I don't have any complaints, except Tim's female voice is not great, which I've been saying for ages.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
February 13, 2024
feb 2024: having to edit my review because people are being rude in my replies x love that!
—
let me preface this by saying it truly pains me that i didn't like this book, because i really, really wanted to like it, and i hate being mean right before christmas. my issues are with the book, not with the people who liked it, and most certainly not with the author(s). okay? okay. cool.
i like my heroines unlikable. i don't like them absolutely insufferable with no redeeming qualities.
i like my golden retriever heroes. i don't like them without a semblance of a backbone. i also don't like emotional cheaters.
shout out to the side characters, who somehow felt more fleshed out than the ones i was meant to root for
—
let me preface this by saying it truly pains me that i didn't like this book, because i really, really wanted to like it, and i hate being mean right before christmas. my issues are with the book, not with the people who liked it, and most certainly not with the author(s). okay? okay. cool.
i like my heroines unlikable. i don't like them absolutely insufferable with no redeeming qualities.
i like my golden retriever heroes. i don't like them without a semblance of a backbone. i also don't like emotional cheaters.
shout out to the side characters, who somehow felt more fleshed out than the ones i was meant to root for
Want to read
February 12, 2023second chance romance between divorcées you’ll always be famous !!!
November 13, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“I didn’t mean to fall in love with you,” I say slowly {...} “I sure as hell didn’t intend to stay in love with you,” I continue. “But I’ve learned . . . lately, that the best things in life aren’t the ones you plan.
The best things in life aren’t easy.”
I was a bit wary that Emergency Contact would follow the amnesia trope path, but thankfully, it went in another direction that while, I can tolerate it slightly lesser, but this time around, it wasn't all that bad. For as much as I adore Steve Martin and John Candy, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles isn't one of my favorite films. 😞
“I don’t have a lot of options, sweetheart,” I say gently. “This huge storm has wreaked havoc on an already busy travel time.”
She lets out a little laugh and runs her fingers through her blond hair. “And to think, Planes, Trains and Automobiles was one of my favorite movies growing up. I’ll never watch it the same way now.”
Why, you ask? Because I really feel bad for that one character, 'the part of the duo that’s stuck with an unwanted someone'. Here, it's Tom, Katherine's ex-husband, who gets called to the hospital on Christmas Eve to be by her side after an unfortunate collision, simply because he was the first name labeled under her Emergency Contact. And oh boy, when they reunite, the sparks are flaring instantly and the air is palpable with unresolved feelings that were still left unaddressed. Noting how much they still remember about each other - the faults and their foibles, along with what made them special or endearing. At times, Katherine was so neurotic - obsessed with her job and finding out if she got the promotion or not, but I liked how Tom still tried to see beyond that - that this was the woman he once loved, 'the love of his life who broke his heart'. 💔
Tom definitely appealed to my delicate sensibilities a lot more than Katherine. I DID feel bad for her - seeing how lonely she is, knowing that she gave up the best thing that has ever happened to her - but, there were so many times that I was so fed up with her self-righteous standards and her expectancy that Tom would just follow her whims so easily! The exasperated frustration Tom endured at her antics - I sympathized with him wholeheartedly! Even more so, when there were a few surprise reveals here and there, that I would have definitely been less forgiving of. I even kept picturing John Candy's face every time Katherine poked fun at Tom. 😅 She really pushed his buttons, never deliberately, mind you, but Tom can't help but remember fondly the good times, so how can he not offer a helping hand when humanity does kick in, regardless of how it would affect his own carefully laid-out Christmas plans? 🤷🏻♀️
“Tom is one of the few people who knows why I hate Christmas. One of the few who understands. It makes his kindness all the more unbearable.
“Come on,” he says again, his voice soft. “We can survive each other for forty-eight hours. Can’t we?”
I squint my eyes. “Honestly? I don’t know.”
The dynamic between the two was written well; it was engaging and sharp, biting and with a quick tempo of exchanging snark and quips with a quick repartee that made me appreciate the light-hearted humor. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The jokes never felt forced and flowed very easily into the storyline. It was also clear that there were still some lingering feelings between them - an undercurrent of yearning from both sides - that came into light in some of the lighter moments of tenderness. Tom was so concerned for Katherine's well-being after her injury - caring for her so tenderly. I loved that slow realization that dawns on her of how her 'darkest secret remains safely hidden: That I want a place on his spreadsheet. I always did.' How they still remembered the little details that defined their personality, the meaning of Christmas and how it's a special time for both of them - staying true to tradition, no matter what. 🥺
I loved traveling across the United States with them - it really captured the chaos of rushed activities, harried travelers, and the seeping in of Christmas snow and cheer as everyone rushes to get home to be with their families- how 'loneliness? It cuts the deepest at Christmas.' 🥺 But, despite my appreciation of how the relationship was portrayed, there were still a few points to the writing that didn't sit well with me. Be it movies or books, I really hate it when for the sake of avoiding messy confrontations - things are glossed over - never to be addressed. So, I felt a bit cheated that we didn't get the awkward break-up between Lolo and Tom - and to make it so very convenient that there was already wavering hesitancy from both sides. I didn't like that it was brushed off so easily, just to get to the romantic closure of the book. 🙎🏻♀️ I also could have done without the countdown inclusion at the start of each chapter; it felt like a ticking time bomb, for every few minutes we're reminded how we're getting closer to the Christmas deadline of dreams. IMO, it could have been just as impactful without it, because at times, it really was a bit distracting. 🙍🏻♀️
Apart from my own personal grievances, this was a heart-warming second chance holiday romance. Tom and Katherine were an interesting pair, and even if it was a predictable conclusion, it's always sweet to see people get another chance at love - in whatever way it comes their way. 🤍
“I didn’t mean to fall in love with you,” I say slowly {...} “I sure as hell didn’t intend to stay in love with you,” I continue. “But I’ve learned . . . lately, that the best things in life aren’t the ones you plan.
The best things in life aren’t easy.”
I was a bit wary that Emergency Contact would follow the amnesia trope path, but thankfully, it went in another direction that while, I can tolerate it slightly lesser, but this time around, it wasn't all that bad. For as much as I adore Steve Martin and John Candy, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles isn't one of my favorite films. 😞
“I don’t have a lot of options, sweetheart,” I say gently. “This huge storm has wreaked havoc on an already busy travel time.”
She lets out a little laugh and runs her fingers through her blond hair. “And to think, Planes, Trains and Automobiles was one of my favorite movies growing up. I’ll never watch it the same way now.”
Why, you ask? Because I really feel bad for that one character, 'the part of the duo that’s stuck with an unwanted someone'. Here, it's Tom, Katherine's ex-husband, who gets called to the hospital on Christmas Eve to be by her side after an unfortunate collision, simply because he was the first name labeled under her Emergency Contact. And oh boy, when they reunite, the sparks are flaring instantly and the air is palpable with unresolved feelings that were still left unaddressed. Noting how much they still remember about each other - the faults and their foibles, along with what made them special or endearing. At times, Katherine was so neurotic - obsessed with her job and finding out if she got the promotion or not, but I liked how Tom still tried to see beyond that - that this was the woman he once loved, 'the love of his life who broke his heart'. 💔
Tom definitely appealed to my delicate sensibilities a lot more than Katherine. I DID feel bad for her - seeing how lonely she is, knowing that she gave up the best thing that has ever happened to her - but, there were so many times that I was so fed up with her self-righteous standards and her expectancy that Tom would just follow her whims so easily! The exasperated frustration Tom endured at her antics - I sympathized with him wholeheartedly! Even more so, when there were a few surprise reveals here and there, that I would have definitely been less forgiving of. I even kept picturing John Candy's face every time Katherine poked fun at Tom. 😅 She really pushed his buttons, never deliberately, mind you, but Tom can't help but remember fondly the good times, so how can he not offer a helping hand when humanity does kick in, regardless of how it would affect his own carefully laid-out Christmas plans? 🤷🏻♀️
“Tom is one of the few people who knows why I hate Christmas. One of the few who understands. It makes his kindness all the more unbearable.
“Come on,” he says again, his voice soft. “We can survive each other for forty-eight hours. Can’t we?”
I squint my eyes. “Honestly? I don’t know.”
The dynamic between the two was written well; it was engaging and sharp, biting and with a quick tempo of exchanging snark and quips with a quick repartee that made me appreciate the light-hearted humor. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 The jokes never felt forced and flowed very easily into the storyline. It was also clear that there were still some lingering feelings between them - an undercurrent of yearning from both sides - that came into light in some of the lighter moments of tenderness. Tom was so concerned for Katherine's well-being after her injury - caring for her so tenderly. I loved that slow realization that dawns on her of how her 'darkest secret remains safely hidden: That I want a place on his spreadsheet. I always did.' How they still remembered the little details that defined their personality, the meaning of Christmas and how it's a special time for both of them - staying true to tradition, no matter what. 🥺
I loved traveling across the United States with them - it really captured the chaos of rushed activities, harried travelers, and the seeping in of Christmas snow and cheer as everyone rushes to get home to be with their families- how 'loneliness? It cuts the deepest at Christmas.' 🥺 But, despite my appreciation of how the relationship was portrayed, there were still a few points to the writing that didn't sit well with me. Be it movies or books, I really hate it when for the sake of avoiding messy confrontations - things are glossed over - never to be addressed. So, I felt a bit cheated that we didn't get the awkward break-up between Lolo and Tom - and to make it so very convenient that there was already wavering hesitancy from both sides. I didn't like that it was brushed off so easily, just to get to the romantic closure of the book. 🙎🏻♀️ I also could have done without the countdown inclusion at the start of each chapter; it felt like a ticking time bomb, for every few minutes we're reminded how we're getting closer to the Christmas deadline of dreams. IMO, it could have been just as impactful without it, because at times, it really was a bit distracting. 🙍🏻♀️
Apart from my own personal grievances, this was a heart-warming second chance holiday romance. Tom and Katherine were an interesting pair, and even if it was a predictable conclusion, it's always sweet to see people get another chance at love - in whatever way it comes their way. 🤍
November 7, 2023
This was so disappointing. The story of two people who are pulled together years after giving up on each other too easily hit me in the feels multiple times. I cried while I learned that she had still loved him when he asked for a divorce and she gave one to him without asking for anything more.
I had hopes that this would lead to touching honesty as well as relationship and character growth. Sadly, this early promise flattened out and the book never went deep.
This ended up feeling so shallow with them being attracted to each other and not much else. There's a moment that the heroine thinks "we're so good together"... but there's no evidence of that. They fight and fail all the way through the book. They do not seem good together or good for each other. At no time do they delve into their issues and truly work them out.
Add to that, there are several things that don't make any sense.
1. The info about law firms seems so ill researched, it's ridiculous. A lawsuit doesn't have "a defense attorney" nor does it have a prosecutor. Those are for criminal cases. And the prosecutor is a public servant, not someone in a private law firm.
2. The heroine is injured pretty badly with an 8-inch gash that needs stitches in her back and a major concussion. And somehow, she's running around the country (sometimes literally) and getting on planes, trains, automobiles, and semi-trucks. How she has the energy to do this and isn't laid up in bed is beyond me.
3. The hero is about to propose to his girlfriend of a year. He's moved on... but the heroine has continued to love him. Thankfully, we don't hear about him sleeping with her, and the heroine has slept with others since their marriage broke up... but it still makes me a little sad.
I had hopes that this would lead to touching honesty as well as relationship and character growth. Sadly, this early promise flattened out and the book never went deep.
This ended up feeling so shallow with them being attracted to each other and not much else. There's a moment that the heroine thinks "we're so good together"... but there's no evidence of that. They fight and fail all the way through the book. They do not seem good together or good for each other. At no time do they delve into their issues and truly work them out.
Add to that, there are several things that don't make any sense.
1. The info about law firms seems so ill researched, it's ridiculous. A lawsuit doesn't have "a defense attorney" nor does it have a prosecutor. Those are for criminal cases. And the prosecutor is a public servant, not someone in a private law firm.
2. The heroine is injured pretty badly with an 8-inch gash that needs stitches in her back and a major concussion. And somehow, she's running around the country (sometimes literally) and getting on planes, trains, automobiles, and semi-trucks. How she has the energy to do this and isn't laid up in bed is beyond me.
3. The hero is about to propose to his girlfriend of a year. He's moved on... but the heroine has continued to love him. Thankfully, we don't hear about him sleeping with her, and the heroine has slept with others since their marriage broke up... but it still makes me a little sad.
November 2, 2023
THIS is the holiday romance I’ve been waiting for! It’s got a Christmas-hating heroine with a tender heart, and I love the way the story addressed how we tend to vilify grumpy women yet obsess over grumpy men in books and TV.
After an accident lands Katherine in the hospital, the last person she expects to arrive as her emergency contact is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be alone with her injuries, Tom begrudgingly forces Katherine to accompany him on his flight back home for Christmas.
Of course, things don’t go as planned. As Tom attempts to get them back quickly—with a Christmas Eve proposal planned for his current girlfriend, I should add—it’s filled with a string of hilarious disasters along the way. I couldn’t get enough!
The snappy banter between Katherine and Tom is the kind I physically crave from a second chance + enemies-to-lovers romance. Although these two had absolutely zero filter while picking apart their failed marriage, it was perfectly executed with an obvious tension that these exes were still madly in love.
Funny, heartwarming, and (so far) my favourite 2023 Christmas romance!
(heat level: kissing only)
After an accident lands Katherine in the hospital, the last person she expects to arrive as her emergency contact is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be alone with her injuries, Tom begrudgingly forces Katherine to accompany him on his flight back home for Christmas.
Of course, things don’t go as planned. As Tom attempts to get them back quickly—with a Christmas Eve proposal planned for his current girlfriend, I should add—it’s filled with a string of hilarious disasters along the way. I couldn’t get enough!
The snappy banter between Katherine and Tom is the kind I physically crave from a second chance + enemies-to-lovers romance. Although these two had absolutely zero filter while picking apart their failed marriage, it was perfectly executed with an obvious tension that these exes were still madly in love.
Funny, heartwarming, and (so far) my favourite 2023 Christmas romance!
(heat level: kissing only)
August 13, 2023
"Mostly, I try not to think about her in her office next door, because there’s no doubt in my mind that’s exactly where she is. It’s where she always is."
Lauren Layne is back and this book surely reminded me of why I love her books so much! The lighthearted yet emotional feel she puts into her writing always captivates me! Since the moment this book was announced, I was eager to get my hands on it and I'm so glad to say that it did not disappoint! Kate & Tom go through a series of mishaps during their journey all while old feelings are slowly resurfacing. The entire plot focuses on everything going wrong yet having Kate & Tom together in the middle of it felt so right! Kate had such a unique and humorous personality, I literally laughed at anything that came out of her mouth. She and Tom couldn't be anymore opposites but they just somehow belonged together. And Tom's family was the best! I loved how they cared about Kate and welcome her like she was never apart. Overall, this was such a delightful read. Left me feeling happy and warm. The epilogue was perfect but I wanted to be prolonged because I was so hooked and I couldn't get enough of Tom & Kate together!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
Lauren Layne is back and this book surely reminded me of why I love her books so much! The lighthearted yet emotional feel she puts into her writing always captivates me! Since the moment this book was announced, I was eager to get my hands on it and I'm so glad to say that it did not disappoint! Kate & Tom go through a series of mishaps during their journey all while old feelings are slowly resurfacing. The entire plot focuses on everything going wrong yet having Kate & Tom together in the middle of it felt so right! Kate had such a unique and humorous personality, I literally laughed at anything that came out of her mouth. She and Tom couldn't be anymore opposites but they just somehow belonged together. And Tom's family was the best! I loved how they cared about Kate and welcome her like she was never apart. Overall, this was such a delightful read. Left me feeling happy and warm. The epilogue was perfect but I wanted to be prolonged because I was so hooked and I couldn't get enough of Tom & Kate together!
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review
November 17, 2023
this just did absolutely nothing for me 🫥
December 27, 2023
if you're looking for a romance book that'll give you the feels of a late 90's-early 2000's romcom, this is it. that alongside it being set on christmas? the perfect holiday romcom in your hands!
ever since knowing LL would publish a book with her husband i'd wondered how that would look, if we'd still get that magic LL feel we get in her books. i'm happy to say every single page i was aware i was reading a book by her, with comedy elements being more present—which i loved!
since the very first page katherine and tom's story captivated me and i just couldn't put it down, even making myself stay up later than i should and reading when i shouldn't because i was just so incredibly hooked. the banter, the tension, the more angsty moments, every single mishap... i found myself laughing, feeling emotional and getting all that warm feelings in my chest we want when reading a good romance. i loved every single second of it!
the second i reached ‘the end’ i knew this book would join my evergrowing list of LL's books i'm constantly rereading, and i just can't wait for the next time reading it!
i don't know if lauren and anthony have plans to write another romance book together, but after finishing emergency contact i really really am rooting for them to do it.
also, i know this was originally written as a screenplay, and i really hope we still get to see it on screen someday, because i know it'll become a comfort movie—just like emergency contact quickly became a comfort book for me.
ARC kindly provided by Blackstone Publishing.
ever since knowing LL would publish a book with her husband i'd wondered how that would look, if we'd still get that magic LL feel we get in her books. i'm happy to say every single page i was aware i was reading a book by her, with comedy elements being more present—which i loved!
since the very first page katherine and tom's story captivated me and i just couldn't put it down, even making myself stay up later than i should and reading when i shouldn't because i was just so incredibly hooked. the banter, the tension, the more angsty moments, every single mishap... i found myself laughing, feeling emotional and getting all that warm feelings in my chest we want when reading a good romance. i loved every single second of it!
the second i reached ‘the end’ i knew this book would join my evergrowing list of LL's books i'm constantly rereading, and i just can't wait for the next time reading it!
i don't know if lauren and anthony have plans to write another romance book together, but after finishing emergency contact i really really am rooting for them to do it.
also, i know this was originally written as a screenplay, and i really hope we still get to see it on screen someday, because i know it'll become a comfort movie—just like emergency contact quickly became a comfort book for me.
ARC kindly provided by Blackstone Publishing.
January 20, 2024
3.75
Katherine has been waiting to become partner at her firm every year. Her boss usually calls whomever makes partner on Christmas Eve. Katherine lost her father on Christmas and has always been fairly self described “Grinchy” about Christmas.. A car accident in a taxi lands her in the hospital with a concussion and her emergency contact is her ex husband, Tom.
Tom is ‘tasked’ with taking care of Katherine and making sure she doesn’t sleep, the only problem is he has big plans to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
He reluctantly takes Katherine with her and their journey home is a little bumpy
I really enjoyed this! It was fun. Sometimes heavy but mostly light.
Thank you NetGalley. A fun listen in between heavier books.
I look forward to more from
This author
Katherine has been waiting to become partner at her firm every year. Her boss usually calls whomever makes partner on Christmas Eve. Katherine lost her father on Christmas and has always been fairly self described “Grinchy” about Christmas.. A car accident in a taxi lands her in the hospital with a concussion and her emergency contact is her ex husband, Tom.
Tom is ‘tasked’ with taking care of Katherine and making sure she doesn’t sleep, the only problem is he has big plans to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
He reluctantly takes Katherine with her and their journey home is a little bumpy
I really enjoyed this! It was fun. Sometimes heavy but mostly light.
Thank you NetGalley. A fun listen in between heavier books.
I look forward to more from
This author
2nd-chance-not-celibate
November 27, 2025note : mmc initiated the divorce, years later he had fully moved on with a gf that he was planning to propose to, then when the fmc got into an accident. He then had the audacity to take her home to his gf where he was planning to propose, then and ended up emotionally cheating on the gf with the fmc
PASS
PASS
December 5, 2024
I enjoyed the first part, but in the second, the mmc's indecisiveness started to get really annoying. And for almost the entire book, he was planning to propose to another woman!
July 25, 2023
A husband and wife writing duo write about second chance romance between divorcées . How fun.
Emergency Contact definitely has a healthy dose of angst and raw emotion because it centers on a second chance romance , there’s also a nice balance of fun and flirty moments as Katherine and Tom are forced spend time together.
Filled with smart dialogue,interesting characters, and a very relatable and second chance romance, this book has a little something for every romance fan.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Emergency Contact definitely has a healthy dose of angst and raw emotion because it centers on a second chance romance , there’s also a nice balance of fun and flirty moments as Katherine and Tom are forced spend time together.
Filled with smart dialogue,interesting characters, and a very relatable and second chance romance, this book has a little something for every romance fan.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2023
more like a 3.5 but this is so much better than her recent releases. mother is slowly coming back to form.
January 5, 2026
3.5 🌟
I actually enjoyed this book so much. It was an emotional ride throughout the book. The author has perfectly balanced humour and emotional moments with beautiful words.
It was a bit of a different (good different) book. Usually there's always the MMC at fault for a broken marriage, workaholic, misunderstood and emotionally guarded but in this book it was the fmc at fault. I liked the concept and reading the nostalgic journey of their broken marriage.
He thought she only cares about work and is unaffected by their married life which was slowly collapsing and she thought he was unhappy and wanted out of their marriage when he asked for divorce. Both failed to understand each other.
I loved the writing style and the tender way their past life was mentioned. But the thing which stopped me from giving it 4🌟 or more was the wasted potential of the storyline. Nothing hurts and disappoints more than reading a book and knowing it had so much more potential to become something extraordinary.
The repetitive mention of missing out flights, bus and trains got annoying at a point. It felt like hurrying.
But overall I liked it so much and would definitely check out other books from the author.
I actually enjoyed this book so much. It was an emotional ride throughout the book. The author has perfectly balanced humour and emotional moments with beautiful words.
It was a bit of a different (good different) book. Usually there's always the MMC at fault for a broken marriage, workaholic, misunderstood and emotionally guarded but in this book it was the fmc at fault. I liked the concept and reading the nostalgic journey of their broken marriage.
He thought she only cares about work and is unaffected by their married life which was slowly collapsing and she thought he was unhappy and wanted out of their marriage when he asked for divorce. Both failed to understand each other.
I loved the writing style and the tender way their past life was mentioned. But the thing which stopped me from giving it 4🌟 or more was the wasted potential of the storyline. Nothing hurts and disappoints more than reading a book and knowing it had so much more potential to become something extraordinary.
The repetitive mention of missing out flights, bus and trains got annoying at a point. It felt like hurrying.
But overall I liked it so much and would definitely check out other books from the author.
December 20, 2023
I'm conflicted. Hear me out. He's practically engaged to another woman for the entire book. This other woman is his ACTUAL GIRLFRIEND, whom he has been dating for over a year. He's even planning to propose! He was already married to his ex wife and it didn't work out. They've been divorced for a while. The book takes place over the course of a few days.... Days! They seem to have way too many previous issues for this to work out. But she was able to stay off of her phone for a few hours, so I guess that everything will be well in the future????
That man is not dependable. Tom is not a hero. He is fickle. What is his job that he can afford a custom engagement ring from Tiffany?
But I did enjoy the writing and would read more books by the author. I just can't get over the emotional affair that he allowed to happen.
That man is not dependable. Tom is not a hero. He is fickle. What is his job that he can afford a custom engagement ring from Tiffany?
But I did enjoy the writing and would read more books by the author. I just can't get over the emotional affair that he allowed to happen.
November 13, 2023
Such a fun duo narration audiobook! I really enjoyed it! Holiday second chance romcom.
February 1, 2024
can i say this??? i don't know if i can but i should so i will...okayy.....if i was lolo i would kill myself wtfff
Read
December 24, 2023 2.5 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise and the disastrous trip.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of reasoning for their divorce that I'm still confused by
The Bad: The last 1/5ish. The romantic connection.
Overall: This was disappointing. The humorous adventure and premise was good! The execution, not so much. I didn't feel any romantic connection (felt like maybe bickering siblings instead) between the mcs. I was very frustrated with the ending. The "ILYs" even felt out of nowhere even though they'd been on page together pretty much the whole book. I think that says something! I felt like the ending was way too easy and vague. They didn't really work anything out except that , and this was 4 years later?! Ended up being one of the most frustrating cases of miscommunication!!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Katherine and Tom's story. Katherine finds herself alone for Christmas, just the way she likes it. Tom is headed home to Chicago to propose to his girlfriend in a family honored tradition on Christmas Eve. Only Tom gets a call that his ex wife has been in an accident and he is her emergency contact. To remain on good conscience, he cannot leave Katherine because he knows she doesn't have anyone else. Planes, trains, automobiles, busses, and semis help them get to Chicago after many disasters. There is some cute banter, some past baggage unpacked, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Katherine and Tom's in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. At least in the romance department. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: No, but there are some residual feelings when they reunite...kind of?
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Tom. He was alright.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Katherine. She was just alright too.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: N/a.
Descriptive sex: No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes, kind of
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not IMO
Separation: Yes, technically
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends abruptly and not nearly enough closure for me. I was very frustrated with the ending if I'm being completely honest! I would call it a HEA, begrudgingly
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise and the disastrous trip.
The Not-So-Good: The lack of reasoning for their divorce that I'm still confused by
The Bad: The last 1/5ish. The romantic connection.
Overall: This was disappointing. The humorous adventure and premise was good! The execution, not so much. I didn't feel any romantic connection (felt like maybe bickering siblings instead) between the mcs. I was very frustrated with the ending. The "ILYs" even felt out of nowhere even though they'd been on page together pretty much the whole book. I think that says something! I felt like the ending was way too easy and vague. They didn't really work anything out except that , and this was 4 years later?! Ended up being one of the most frustrating cases of miscommunication!!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Katherine and Tom's story. Katherine finds herself alone for Christmas, just the way she likes it. Tom is headed home to Chicago to propose to his girlfriend in a family honored tradition on Christmas Eve. Only Tom gets a call that his ex wife has been in an accident and he is her emergency contact. To remain on good conscience, he cannot leave Katherine because he knows she doesn't have anyone else. Planes, trains, automobiles, busses, and semis help them get to Chicago after many disasters. There is some cute banter, some past baggage unpacked, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Katherine and Tom's in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Not the best. At least in the romance department. I never skimmed though.
Instalove: No, but there are some residual feelings when they reunite...kind of?
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Tom. He was alright.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Katherine. She was just alright too.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: N/a.
Descriptive sex: No
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes, kind of
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Not IMO
Separation: Yes, technically
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends abruptly and not nearly enough closure for me. I was very frustrated with the ending if I'm being completely honest! I would call it a HEA, begrudgingly
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers
November 7, 2023
**I would like to thank NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Lauren Layne & Anthony Ledonne for an ARC of this book! This is available as of 10/24/23**
I was really excited for this book and it was the holiday romance I was looking forward to the most. Set in the Big Apple, Katherine gets in a car accident, landing in the hospital. She never changed her Emergency Contact after her divorce, so Tom is called in. When they find she can't be left alone and with no one else to help, Tom reluctantly brings her on his journey home to his family. Confusing feelings are brought up and Tom is in a race against time and weather to propose to his girlfriend, who is waiting for him (them) at his parents.
The flow of the writing and storyline read much more like a movie than a good novel. There's lots of transportation issues and other scenes that I think would depict well in a movie. The whole time I was reading, all I could think is I'd actually rather watch the movie than read it.
The characters didn't do much for me. Katherine was incredibly unlikeable to the point that I didn't enjoy reading about her. It felt like the only defining trait for Tom was that he is Kate's ex-husband, other than that, he was totally flat. You know what else was flat? The entire journey of their relationship. Over the course of a couple days (max of 3),
You also can't blame me for wanting to take a star off for them naming their child Gorby... after a truck driver that they met for a couple hours one night. I would maybe support the "naming after someone who helped bring them together" but the fact that it was Gorby is so far fetched to me.
I've seen a lot of people like Lauren Layne, but this book honestly didn't make me want to read anything else by her.
Also, I understand that this was an ARC and it goes under final revisions and proof reading, but I have never ever been given a book with as many errors as this. Duplicate words, misspellings, completely wrong words, etc. I'm not going to factor this into my review, but it was super disappointing to have such poor quality work distributed.
I was really excited for this book and it was the holiday romance I was looking forward to the most. Set in the Big Apple, Katherine gets in a car accident, landing in the hospital. She never changed her Emergency Contact after her divorce, so Tom is called in. When they find she can't be left alone and with no one else to help, Tom reluctantly brings her on his journey home to his family. Confusing feelings are brought up and Tom is in a race against time and weather to propose to his girlfriend, who is waiting for him (them) at his parents.
The flow of the writing and storyline read much more like a movie than a good novel. There's lots of transportation issues and other scenes that I think would depict well in a movie. The whole time I was reading, all I could think is I'd actually rather watch the movie than read it.
The characters didn't do much for me. Katherine was incredibly unlikeable to the point that I didn't enjoy reading about her. It felt like the only defining trait for Tom was that he is Kate's ex-husband, other than that, he was totally flat. You know what else was flat? The entire journey of their relationship. Over the course of a couple days (max of 3),
You also can't blame me for wanting to take a star off for them naming their child Gorby... after a truck driver that they met for a couple hours one night. I would maybe support the "naming after someone who helped bring them together" but the fact that it was Gorby is so far fetched to me.
I've seen a lot of people like Lauren Layne, but this book honestly didn't make me want to read anything else by her.
Also, I understand that this was an ARC and it goes under final revisions and proof reading, but I have never ever been given a book with as many errors as this. Duplicate words, misspellings, completely wrong words, etc. I'm not going to factor this into my review, but it was super disappointing to have such poor quality work distributed.
October 25, 2023
I’m just going to come right out and say it:
The Grinch was misunderstood.
Emergency Contact was an emotional forced proximity, second chance, adult romance that will easily steal your heart. With Christmas in the air and ordeals at every turn, this book was so easy to read in one sitting! So grab a box of tissues and a warm festive drink to enjoy this story. It brimmed with emotions that were raw and real, was filled with characters who were flawed and relatable, and Emergency Contact easily became one of my favorite holiday books!
I would never admit it to a single soul. I can barely admit it to myself. But . . .
I’ve thought about this moment.
Thought about the next time I’d see her.
When Katherine was in a car accident, her ex-husband Tom was notified since he was her emergency contact. Katherine needed to be monitored because of her concussion and taken care of because of the stitches on her back, so she found herself joining Tom on his way home during the holidays. Yet little did Katherine know that Tom was planning to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve. From the moment they started their adventure, no part of it was easy from New York to Chicago. Physically and emotionally. Yet with old feelings resurfacing, second chances may just be what Santa was bringing them for Christmas!
I swallow.
I should not be here.
Doing this.
With her.
But right now I don’t want to be anywhere else, doing anything else, with anyone else.
Katherine was fierce, independent, quick witted and had dubbed herself as the Grinch. She was utterly alone, didn't mince words, and hated Christmas. And as we got to know Katherine, it's understandable why she hated the holidays and was also driven to make partner. We also got to see how that latter aspect ultimately destroyed her marriage to Tom. But do you know that feeling in the back of your throat where you're two seconds away from crying and desperately trying not to?! That was what Katherine's thoughts kept doing to me. Understanding Katherine broke my heart. So I was cheering her on every step of the way as she showed us her heart. It was there. Hidden underneath so much pain. So Katherine could say she was the Grinch all she wanted, and even act like him, yet those Cindy Lou Who moments were there. And those moments were directed at Tom.
The rumble of the approaching train captures his attention, and I exhale in relief that my darkest secret remains safely hidden:
That I want a place on his spreadsheet. I always did.
Tom was a planner with a capital P! He was focused on his timeline for being engaged and having kids, and it seemed like he found a woman who would help him achieve his spreadsheet filled with his personal life goals. Even if he was second guessing being with that woman. So while Katherine's desire to become partner broke them apart, Tom's checklist is what ultimately separated them. Yet when he saw the situation Katherine was in, he couldn't leave her. Tom had the hugest heart ever and always tried to give everyone his best side. He tried to be cheer, hope, happiness and love all rolled into one beautiful man. Yet on that journey home, Tom was still hurting form the past and could be provoking to Katherine. Not to mention he was keeping the hugest secret of all from her, that he was going to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
Every last drop of horrible that’s happened today? All on me.
I glance down at the phone in my hand, and for the first time in my life, really truly ask myself:
Is it worth it?
This obsessive fixation on making partner . . . where has it gotten me, exactly?
As the story alternated between Katherine and Tom, I was shocked at how bitter they were towards one another. Their banter was filled with barbs. Their hurt and pain ran so deep. And it almost felt like hatred simmered between them. So they both had huge journeys of growth from that first page to the last. And I was grateful that as we got further into the story, there were moments of laughter. Also times that will make you smile and melt your heart. Plus those scenes where we got to see both Katherine and Tom realize all of the reasons they fell in love with one another to begin with. And through it all, their trip was one misadventure after another. It truly was a crazy ride! Yet they did it all together. Also, while there was no steam in this story, and I love her books that have steam!, I felt like that aspect worked perfectly with Emergency Contact. So good luck not crying, because their story was an emotional one I'll always remember.
“Come on. It’ll be an adventure,” Katherine says over her shoulder.
“I think I’ve had enough adventure,” I call after her, even as I start to follow.
I’m a little surprised to find I’m actually smiling. Even more surprised to realize . . . there’s nobody I’d rather be on this adventure with.
While Emergency Contact took us on a spellbinding adventure, it also took us on a heartbreaking one that had me sobbing in public. And for Lauren Layne fans, it had so much of what we love and resonate with in her previous books. The characters we fall for, the story that's so easy to devour, and an ending that leaves us oh so happy. Yet there was another level to this book. There was a hurt that festered throughout that then turned to hope and love. So while I have definitely cried reading LL's other books, this pain seemed to cut so much deeper. It was impossible not to sob, even when they were happy tears too. Ohhhh and that epilogue?! It was absolutory perfect and everything I could have wished for and more!
“Cuz, I gotta say ,” he continues when neither of us reply. “The two of you together. You’ve got a real . . . what’s the word I’m lookin’ for?”
“Hostility? Animosity? Mutual-loathing?” Katherine provides.
“Energy!” Gorby proclaims. “That’s the word I was thinkin.’ Or was it synergy? You two kind of crackle? You know?”
I do know. I know all too well.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
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December 25, 2023
This easily zoomed straight to the top of my favorite 2023 holiday romances when I first read it!!
All the rave reviews so far for this book are completely warranted. If there's just one holiday book you pick up this year definitely consider this second chance, dual POV story between two exes forced to work together to make it home for Christmas.
Great on audio and full of emotional depth with an ending that had me crying happy tears. If you enjoy reverse grumpy/grinchy stories, stories about second chances and rekindling lost love, you don't want to miss this one!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!!
All the rave reviews so far for this book are completely warranted. If there's just one holiday book you pick up this year definitely consider this second chance, dual POV story between two exes forced to work together to make it home for Christmas.
Great on audio and full of emotional depth with an ending that had me crying happy tears. If you enjoy reverse grumpy/grinchy stories, stories about second chances and rekindling lost love, you don't want to miss this one!!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!!
April 16, 2025
PERFECTION!!! Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
OH MY CHRISTMAS STARS🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!! WHAT AN EMOTIONAL, MEANINGFUL, POWERFUL, COMPLICATED, HEARTWARMING, WHOLESOME, IMMERSIVE, HUMOROUS, ADORABLE AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN HOLIDAY ROM-COM THAT WILL TUG AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS!! I FOUND MYSELF SWOONING, CRYING OR LAUGHING CONSTANTLY!! THE AUTHOR HAS CREATED SUCH A TOUCHING SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE WITH SO MUCH DEPTH AND CHARACTERS WITH REAL LIFE STRUGGLES AND RAW EMOTIONS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND ADORED IT SO MUCH!! HANDS DOWN ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BOOKS EVER🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!
Katherine, an aspiring NYC attorney, hopes to become a partner at the firm she has been at for ten years. Two days before Christmas, Katherine is in an accident which leads to the hospital notifying her emergency contact. Regrettably, she forgot to update that information on her paperwork. When her ex-husband, Tom, shows up at the hospital he is informed that she cannot be left alone due to her concussion and medical treatment needed. Tom needs to go home to his family in Chicago for the holidays and reluctantly agrees to take Katherine with him. Because of a blizzard they find themselves on an adventure of a lifetime!
Everything seemed to go wrong almost like fate was intervening. As the story unraveled, I found myself extremely invested in Katherine and Tom's adventures from planes, trains, cabs, Uber and a big rig truck! The more time they spent together the old feeling resurfaced and the "spark' was evident. All the angst, tension, banter and chemistry was top notch. Not to mention, the grand gesture was just perfect!! This is a clean romance (only kissing) and I did not miss the spice🤭.
Overall, I was incredibly hooked from start to finish! I cannot encourage you enough to add this one to your Christmas TBR!!! It deserves a million stars!!!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵☃️☃️☃️☃️☃️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
OH MY CHRISTMAS STARS🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!! WHAT AN EMOTIONAL, MEANINGFUL, POWERFUL, COMPLICATED, HEARTWARMING, WHOLESOME, IMMERSIVE, HUMOROUS, ADORABLE AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN HOLIDAY ROM-COM THAT WILL TUG AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS!! I FOUND MYSELF SWOONING, CRYING OR LAUGHING CONSTANTLY!! THE AUTHOR HAS CREATED SUCH A TOUCHING SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE WITH SO MUCH DEPTH AND CHARACTERS WITH REAL LIFE STRUGGLES AND RAW EMOTIONS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND ADORED IT SO MUCH!! HANDS DOWN ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BOOKS EVER🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!!!
Katherine, an aspiring NYC attorney, hopes to become a partner at the firm she has been at for ten years. Two days before Christmas, Katherine is in an accident which leads to the hospital notifying her emergency contact. Regrettably, she forgot to update that information on her paperwork. When her ex-husband, Tom, shows up at the hospital he is informed that she cannot be left alone due to her concussion and medical treatment needed. Tom needs to go home to his family in Chicago for the holidays and reluctantly agrees to take Katherine with him. Because of a blizzard they find themselves on an adventure of a lifetime!
Everything seemed to go wrong almost like fate was intervening. As the story unraveled, I found myself extremely invested in Katherine and Tom's adventures from planes, trains, cabs, Uber and a big rig truck! The more time they spent together the old feeling resurfaced and the "spark' was evident. All the angst, tension, banter and chemistry was top notch. Not to mention, the grand gesture was just perfect!! This is a clean romance (only kissing) and I did not miss the spice🤭.
Overall, I was incredibly hooked from start to finish! I cannot encourage you enough to add this one to your Christmas TBR!!! It deserves a million stars!!!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵☃️☃️☃️☃️☃️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
December 29, 2023
It’s the day before christmas eve and she gets in an accident so they called her emergency contact which is her ex-husband from 4 years ago and she just forgot to update her information. When he got there doctor told him she can’t be left alone and someone has to help her with her wounds therefore he decides to stay with her and help her but he has to travel to Chicago to his family for christmas eve so he decides to take her with him but they never expected to have a winter storm that would make them get stuck but are trying everything they can to leave for Chicago but what she doesn’t know it’s that HE has someone waiting for him at home for a family tradition…
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Spoilers//
I really liked the way they were slowly connecting with each other again after each tragedy like when you thought it couldn’t get worse for them it did but every time they shared something with each other that made them realized they were on different pages at the time they were married but it wasn’t for lack of love they divorced and more for lack of communication skills between them
This book is not advertised as a christmas book but i feel like it could totally be for the timeline of the book when i was reading the book I felt like I was watching a romcom and it would be so fun to see this book turn into a movie.
It was a fast, cute, easy read and i recommend it to everyone that is trying to finish their reading goals during this time of the year 😊
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Spoilers//
I really liked the way they were slowly connecting with each other again after each tragedy like when you thought it couldn’t get worse for them it did but every time they shared something with each other that made them realized they were on different pages at the time they were married but it wasn’t for lack of love they divorced and more for lack of communication skills between them
This book is not advertised as a christmas book but i feel like it could totally be for the timeline of the book when i was reading the book I felt like I was watching a romcom and it would be so fun to see this book turn into a movie.
It was a fast, cute, easy read and i recommend it to everyone that is trying to finish their reading goals during this time of the year 😊
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