Love in Translation: A Spicy Opposites Attract Forced Proximity Romance

by Joss Wood

This could be their greatest adventure yet…

A stressed-out translator on the brink of a meltdown and a thrill seeker with a serious case of wanderlust find love outside their comfort zones.

Up until a few months ago, Rheo Whitlock had it all. Stability, self-confidence and a safe job as an interpreter for the United Nations… It was the predictable sort of existence she, as a dedicated homebody, had always dreamed of—the security she’d needed thanks to her nomadic #vanlife upbringing. But ever since an unfortunate “hot mic” moment threw her career into a tailspin, she’s been struggling—really struggling—with fear, anxiety and uncertainty. A calculated escape is in order, and Rheo knows just the place: her grandmother’s secluded hideaway in the breathtaking town of Gilmartin.

Except she won’t be alone, thanks to a random twist of fate…

Fletcher Wright lives for adrenaline, always chasing the next high. So when he learns he’ll have to share his rental accommodations with Rheo—a stranger, basically—he simply chalks it up to another challenge. It doesn’t hurt that there’s an immediate attraction between them, which neither can explain. Before long, they’re not just sharing a house and new experiences—they’re sharing a bed. But when it’s time for Fletcher to move on to the next adventure, he and Rheo will both have to decide—are they ready to take the biggest risk of all?

From showing up to glowing up, the characters in Afterglow Books are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way. Don’t miss any of these other fun titles…

The Bookbinder’s Guide to Love by Katherine Garbera

Swap and Smell the Roses by Karen Booth

Never Date a Roommate by Paula Ottoni

Meet Me in a Mile by Elizabeth Hrib

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Audiobook, Chick Lit

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 24, 2024

About the author

Joss Wood loves books and travelling— especially to the wild places of Southern Africa and, well, anywhere.

She’s a wife, a mom to two teenagers, and is bossed around by two cats and a Great Dane X the size of a baby cow. After a career in local economic development, she now writes full time.


Be sure to follow Joss on BookBub for the latest on my releases https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joss-...

Reviews

[BONNIE SMITH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got distracted by this book.
I literally accomplished nothing today because I was consumed with it.
So, here I am 8 hours later and let me take you on a little journey.
I received this book from NetGalley and the author- thank you, this made my little crazy Monday much more enjoyable. I kept putting it down and telling myself to go to chores, but my Kindle found it's way back into my hand each time. THAT's a sign of a good book, right?..One that makes you forget a rough Monday?

Rheo has also had a rough Monday. In fact, she's a lot of rough Mondays. When we meet her she is running from very tidy little life: her boyfriend, her job at the UN and her home in Brooklyn. Not a metaphysical running, but a literal run to her Grandmother's home in the PNW, which also happens to be pink. This is a quaint little detail that warmed my heart, but back to the journey...

Insert Fletcher, an outdoorsy, rugged character who makes knee jerk decisions. He just might be the exact opposite of Rheo. He's also not too hard on the eyes...
So when Fletch arrives at Grandma's house we get a rather interesting predicament of who exactly is supposed to be there.

The rest is worth the read, and includes some definite spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ action.

Schedule for release on 12/24/2024, keep your Christmas wishlist open!

[Ruta_skaito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man patiko pati knygos koncepcija, bet iki pilnos laimės pritrūko. Tikrai norėčiau pasakyti, kad įtraukianti knyga, kurios negalėjau padėti į šoną, bet...

Rašymo stilius neįprastas, truputį robotiškas. Žinot, kai mokykloje reikėjo sukurti rašinėlį ir teko pritempinėti žodžių skaičių? Tai va, būtent tokia, man pasirodė ir ši knyga.

Noriu pagirti autorę, kad pasistengė sukurti įtikinamą “priešingybės traukia” atmosferą. Veikėjų ginčai, skirtingas požiūris ir savybės suteikė istorijai kibirkšties.

Manau, patiks tiems, kas ieško lengvo, greito ir paprasto romano

[Knygų Romantikė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reikėjo šiek tiek įsibėgėti su veiksmu, bet paskui pagavo pagreitį ir viskas rutuliojosi greitai ir įdomiai. Knygos pabaiga šiek tiek sugraudino, nes jautriai apie santykius, apie lūkesčius, apie tėvus ir šeimą, apie tai, kaip turėdami stereotipinį požiūrį, klaidingai padarome išvadas. Romantiška, jautri, įdomi, lengvai ir greitai skaitėsi.

[Maddy Leigh Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

this just was not for me :((

First, thank you to Harlequin Audio & NetGalley for this ALC!!

This was very much instant attraction, insta-lust, and very spicy centered without feeling an actual connection between the characters.

Plus it genuinely felt like they were angry with each other 90% of the book. Like genuinely actually mad, where he was yelling at her??? I just could not find any chemistry whatsoever between them, so I had 0 connection to the characters.

Just not the book for me!

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this is a case of never judging a book by its cover!

When I first saw this super cute cover, I initially thought that this was going to be a sweetly tender and cutesy book - oh, boy was I wrong, yes it's sweet, but there is also spice which turns the temperature up a notch,...or ten, yup there's saucy as well as spice!

Slow-burning romances aren't always my catnip, I have nothing against them I just have a very short attention span, LOL! Despite that there is an instant attraction between Rheo and Fletcher, I felt it more to be a slower approach, there are a fair few longing glances and it takes its time, which I think benefits the story and the characters far better, there's no rushing straight to bed for a quick romp, the chemistry builds naturally and the result is a sizzling passionate (and yes quite hot) moment which neither character (or reader) will forget.

I enjoyed the journey and watching Rheo and Fletcher peel back the layers of themselves, it is a story of discovery, learning how to be yourself and finding happiness.

The opening pulled at the heartstrings, and Rheo finds herself in a pretty dark place, she's sunken into a rut and can't seem to find the motivation, or the ability to climb out. She's struggling, emotional with fear and anxiety, her world in her eyes has collapsed around her, her career at the UN is in question and she is far too in the dark to find any source of light to see that all's not as bad as she thinks!

She grabs hold of a lifeline, in the form of running away to the middle of nowhere to her grandmother's cabin in the woods, so to speak, it's a little town called Gilmartin, but hey, still the middle of nowhere.

Hiding away, finding peace amongst the notice of her head is just what she needs, to evaluate life.

But...isn't there always a but?!

This one is a rather fine specimen too!

Fletcher just happens to have rented Rheo's grandmother's house as a bit of a stopgap between his adventures, it's a bit of a twist of fate bringing two as different as can be people together to share one house for a time. Fletcher is a free spirit, chilled out and happy to go along with living at the house, after all, it's not for long. He's an instantly likeable chap and very, very easy on the eye.

Nothing will happen, neither is looking for romance, each has their agenda, one is out for the thrill of life and the other just wants to put her life together, what could go wrong?

Yup, they fall for each other!!

Love in Translation is a wonderful mix of small-town romance with forced proximity, and little opposites attract for added drama; a city girl running from life meets a rugged, rough-around-the-edges adrenaline junkie who makes her heart skip a beat!

I liked how the story flowed, the fun plot and narration kept me engaged, it's a breezy and very enjoyable read the chemistry between the characters sparkled and then turned to red-hot lust, and the ending felt satisfying and fit the story well.

Highly recommended!

[Gabija. Keista Skaitytoja · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐️
Patiko, kad trumpa istorija.
Patiko, nes visai miela istorija.
Patiko, nes lengvai skaitėsi.
Patiko, nes Rėja gale knygos pagaliau buvo drąsi.
Nepatiko, nes nespėjau pajusti pagrindinių veikėjų ryšio, kažkaip per greitai ten ta trauka tarp jų. Ir manęs tai neįtikino. Erzino ir dar keli momentai.
Tačiau bendrai - tikrai smagi, faina istorija, kurios man tikrai dabar reikėjo🥰

[Monika Gaučė · Rating 3 out of 5]

tokiais atvejais, kai knyga vidutinė ir nepaliekanti didelių įspūdžių, džiaugiuosi, kad ne pirkau, o pasiėmiau iš bibliotekos 🤭
realiai, jei neįtraukus situacijų, susijusių su šeima, knyga būtų gal tik 100psl. 😁 bet būtent tos situacijos pagyvino knygą ir padarė ją įdomesne, nes šiaip tai silpnoka 🫢

[A Bookworm Crafts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rheo is an interpreter at the UN, currently hiding out in her grandmother's holiday house after having issues at work. Fletcher is an adventurer with his own documentary series who has rented the house for a few weeks. As these very different people are thrown together, sparks fly!

I picked up this book as I'm a translator and couldn't resist the title! This was a fun opposites-attract romance that made for a pleasant read. I really enjoyed the sentences in French, Spanish, and Portuguese peppered throughout the book.

A recommended read for fans of opposites-attract romance with emotional and spicy scenes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mills & Boon for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[readingwithesmiiiieee · Rating 2 out of 5]

ORIGINAL RATING : 2⭐️
FINAL RATING : 2⭐️
SPICE LEVEL : 2🌶️



This book was ok. Nothing too special, it was not for me. Written in third person (not my favorite) the MMC was an asshole urghhh!!! He pissed me off ALOT. I am so sorry Joss Wood i tried to like it…..

[Brittany Cornelius · Rating 1 out of 5]

TOP THREE REASONS TO READ THIS BOOK

1. You love third person narratives in a romance novel.
2. You want your main characters to have no chemistry what so ever but they are in love just because they say so. I mean they see each other and described them as “not handsome enough to be on a magazine cover” and “she wasn’t conventionally pretty”. They should have just said three drinks in and you’ll do.
3. You love books that have no business being a published novel.

Luckily this book was quick but it was NOT painless.

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself completely captivated by I Like Second Chances in a Small Town. The dynamic between the outdoorsy man and the city girl was incredibly engaging, with their instant attraction sparking right from the beginning. The way their opposite personalities played off each other kept me eagerly turning the pages, as I was drawn into their world and the tension that brewed between them.

The forced proximity trope added an exciting layer to the story, making their interactions even more intense. The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and while some scenes were quite graphic, it only heightened the depth of their connection. I truly enjoyed every moment of this book and was hooked from start to finish.

[Maria Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read many of the books Joss Wood has written for Harlequin’s Desire line (the series From Mavericks to Married, The Ballantyne Billionaires, and Love in Boston are a few of my favourites) but with the shutdown of the Desire imprint (a sad reality; I still really miss their Blaze and Temptation lines, too) the author has turned to writing for Harlequin Afterglow (along with many other Desire authors). Love in Translation is a delightful opposite attracts romance about a translator dealing with burnout and an adventurer taking a physical break who end up as roommates and then more.

Rheo Whitlock has always prided herself on her stable and precise career as a UN interpreter. But when a stray comment made on what turned out to be a live microphone becomes a viral moment and her career and confidence take a dive, she ends up on stress leave, holed up in her grandmother’s secluded (and currently empty) vacation home – fondly called the Pink House – in small town Gilmartin, Washington, an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. But Rheo doesn’t care about that – she’s not the outdoorsy type, and she’s just there to lick her wounds and figure out how to resuscitate her career. No-one in her family, including her grandmother, knows that she’s there, and the only person she talks to regularly and who knows of her plight is her new friend Abi, owner of a local deli and coffee shop. So when a dusty SUV pulls up and a handsome, rugged, guy knocks on her door, no-one is more surprised than Rheo is.

As a teenager, Fletcher Wright spent several months in bed suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Now he lives every day to the fullest. As an adventurer and filmmaker, he’s always looking for the next thrilling journey. But his friend and doctor, Seb, responsible for the regular medical checkups that enable him to have health insurance on all his trips, insists that he take a three month break to recover from the recent illnesses (malaria, pneumonia, frostbite) he’s endured during his hikes, mountain climbs, and other athletic endeavours. When his good friend Carrie clears the way for him to rent her grandmother’s Pink House for a few weeks as part of his recovery, a place where he can enjoy the outdoor scenery and get his hiking fixes in without overexertion, he looks forward to some rest and relaxation. What’s he’s not expecting is to find the house already occupied.

While Fletcher has the right to have the house to himself, it’s clear that Rheo is living there and from her panicked expression, doesn’t have anywhere to go. The house is big, with more than enough bedrooms for the two of them, so Fletcher offers to let her continue to stay there, at least until Rheo’s cousin Carrie shows up, by which time Rheo is going to have to confess to her family (and especially her grandmother) that she’s been occupying the house without their knowledge. The attraction between Fletch and Rheo is instantaneous and leads to some sexy times, with both knowing that there is a time limit on their vacation romance. But sharing their problems draws them closer together emotionally, leading to stronger feelings. With Rheo hoping to return to her career in New York and Fletcher unhappy staying in one place for long, is there any hope for a long-term future together?

For more of this review please visit All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...

A copy of this story was provided by the publisher.

[Booksandchinooks (Laurie)]

Rheo’s career as an interpreter at the United Nations is temporarily derailed when she has a hot mic moment. After that she is overwhelmed with anxiety and embarrassment and makes mistakes at her job and is therefore unable to work. She heads to her grandma’s cabin to be alone. Unbeknownst to her - her cousin has arranged for her thrill seeker friend to stay there too. It doesn’t take long for Rheo and Fletcher to realize they have chemistry but they have two totally different approaches to how to live their lives. I liked seeing the personal growth of the characters and how they remained their authentic selves. The dialogue was good and their relationship was fun. It was great to learn about Rheo’s fascinating profession. Overall an engaging and interesting story.

[Megan O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two people at a crossroads- one from a mistake, one from an illness- end up sharing a house and learning to be comfortable with themselves again!

While this didn’t have a ton of ~substance~ or a deep connection in the characters that we were able to see, it was a quick and easy read that left me feeling introspective. It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you try to learn from it!

Thank you so much to Joss Wood and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

[Rowena Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Mills and Boon for sending me a ARC copy of this book.

This book is witty and funny from the first page. I’m asking from the beginning what did Rheo do?
Rheo, the FMC is an interpreter which is a pretty unusual job and she’s also a perfectionist - I can relate to that. The book has good descriptive writing, you feel the pressure Rheo is under to get back to work. You really get the sense that she feels everything is on top of her. The setting for the book, Gillmartin sounds like somewhere I want to be. There’s a forest and river and it’s described as quaint and quirky. I feel like Rheo could be a bestie = she likes food and books and she hates exercise. The MMC, Fletcher gives Sam Heughan vibes which I’m down for and the book has dual POV. It also touches on chronic illness and potentially some neurodiversity. The spice starts early on with the first full scene in chapter 7. But it’s tastefully done and isn’t in your face every single page. Ultimately this story is about facing your fear and finding your self confidence. It also touches on addressing tricky family relationships. I’d love to hear more from the Whitlock family maybe room for another book or three? I’m giving this 4.5 stars and think it is a excellent read

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 24th on kindle

[Fictionluver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story and a great little read for a palette cleanser or to help get you out of a reading slump! I loved that they didn’t change who they were just so they could be together.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute. the end revelations really brought it together for me. could have used more time to fully work thru all the personal growth.

[natalie 𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an easy, binge worthy romance read! The perfect palate cleanser 👌🏻

I really enjoyed the main characters in this book, particularly the FMC! She felt so relatable in her troubles, and I loved the character growth she had throughout the book!

what to expect:
— forced proximity
— fast paced
— opposites attract

my rating: 4⭐️

thank you so much HQ & Romance.com.au for providing a copy to read and review 💛

[Katie Hodgie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rheo is a translator with the United Nations, and Fletcher is an adventurer with a documentary series. Rheo is apparently the most boring, highly strung person ever, who only speaks languages and seems to have no other hobbies or friends. She's avoiding her family because they are bad with money and live a more adventurous life, and moves into her aunt's house when she messes up a big translation. Fletcher is entirely motivated by a bout of CFS he had as a teenager and their love story is entirely founded on lust and not having any real conversations with each other.

I feel like this book is almost all there- the storyline is good, but the characters are quite one dimensional and I feel like we end up liking the family more than we do the main two characters. I'd love to have known more about how Rheo got into languages and how she felt about more political topics with her work; Fletcher I would have like to have seen have more to his interests than wanting to do things for the level of risk. I enjoyed Rheos family and feel like we got more development of their character through her eyes than we did of her.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐
2🌶️

Remember when you were in school and you had to write a report that had to meet a minimum word count, so you over explained and reiterated things just to meet that requirement? That's what reading this felt like.

I was so excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley. I love the concept, I really do- but the execution was lacking. I wanted to be able to say that it was a real page-turner- that I couldn't out it down, but unfortunately, I couldn't stop putting it down. Let's get into it-

✨ Instant Attraction
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Opposites Attract

We have Rheo, our FMC, who I was SO excited about. She's a translator for the UN. As someone who wanted to be a linguist and has studied several languages, I was so excited to see that represented in a romance novel. Unfortunately, that's where my excitement for the character ends. She's not likeable. She's really pretty terrible. She's got an awful personality, doesn't communicate well and jumps to ridiculous conclusions about people.

Partnered with Fletch- hot adventure guy who can't be tied down because he's got mountains to climb and jungles to explore. He's almost equally unlikeable.

The writing is odd and repetitive. It almost feels robotic. The dialogue is all very unnatural. The spice had me grimacing. It wasn't a long book and it managed to feel both rushed and like it was too drawn out. (Like those essays you'd write in school. Remember? Like writing a book report when you only read the Spark Notes.) It lacked real substance.

I usually enjoy a good Insta-love/attraction as a fun, quick read- but the writing in this had me rolling my eyes and saying "are you actually kidding me right now?" to my Kindle at their first kiss.

I wanted so badly to like this book. I put it down several times and came back to it to give it a chance and to make sure it wasn't just me, but I really had to force myself through it. I'm sorry. Really, loved the idea behind it, but again- the execution just isn't there.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a huge career misstep, Rheo is "encouraged" to take a sabbatical and seeks shelter in a place that was always "home" to her - the pink house. Her grandmother's home was a safe haven to her as a teen when she tired of her parents adventure seeking, nomadic lifestyle. There she found the safety and stability she craved. Little did she know that she would be joined by Fletcher who, like her parents, was an adventure seeking nomad, and she absolutely never expected to fall in love.

I thought this was a fun book. I love languages and was drawn in by Rheo's character. How exciting to be a translator for the UN. Her hot mic moment was unfortunate and so was the way it shook her confidence. The sabbatical was Rheo's time to recover and recenter but after several months, she was still struggling to find her words. When Fletch arrived, there was a physical attraction but a HUGE fundamental difference in their lifestyles. They shouldn't work, but he had a way of making her feel safe and gave Rheo the support she needed to find her way back to herself.

There were a few other threads related to Rheo's relationship with her family, and I was happy with the way those were wrapped up. But even better was the way Rheo and Fletch worked things out. If I had to pick a theme, it was about acceptance. Rheo had to accept who her parents were, and she and Fletch had to accept each other. It was about loving the person as is and meeting them where they were, not trying to change them. I liked that.

Overall, I enjoyed watching Fletch and Rheo fall in love as they discovered a lot about themselves and their changing goals and needs.

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[jensbooknookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

I’m a sucker for a book set in the PNW. I really liked the opposite attract dynamics of this one. You have the career driven city girl who hates life going off script vs the adventure junkie who lives life to the fullest. Seeing them collide and challenge each other was fun. I don’t always like the insta lust but it works for this duo. Also huge shoutout to the narrator she did a fabulous job bringing this story to life. Her voice had plenty of variation that it felt like it was more than a one woman show.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Rheo had a moment at work go viral, she didn’t know her mic was on in the translator booth at the UN. It sent her into a spiral and she hasn’t been able to go back to work due to her anxiety. So she escaped to her grandmas pink vacation house in WA, but no one knows she’s there and about her failure.

Fletcher travels the world one adventure after another, but it’s taking a toll on his body. So his doctor needs him to rest or he won’t clear him for his next expedition. So his friend offered to rent her grandma’s house for a few months. It’s the perfect home base close to Mt. Hood for all his adventures.

Only problem is when Fletcher gets there a woman is living in the house. So they strike a deal and decide to share the pink house for the summer. But it’s more than that, they may be opposites in every way but there is an undeniable pull of attraction between them and it’s harder to resist as the summer goes on. However it can’t be more than a fling because they don’t fit in each other’s worlds.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝐬:

“Maybe the lesson we both have to learn is that we are allowed to get things wrong and that failure is a part of life and a way for us to grow.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔:

* UN Translator x Nomadic Explorer
* Opposites Attract
* Insta Attraction at First Sight
* Forced to Share a Pink House
* Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
* Roommates with Benefits
* Gilmartin, Washington
* Dual POV

💜🌲☀️🏔️💜🌲☀️🏔️💜

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWFhDHbAW...

[Zenya Weatherall · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of opposites-attract romances, this book is definitely one you’ll want to check out. It’s a cute, easy read that flows quickly and makes for a really enjoyable listen. The story follows two characters who are both trying to find their way back to the best versions of themselves—one on a forced leave from work, the other dealing with the setbacks of an injury. Watching them navigate their personal struggles while being thrown into a shared living situation adds a cozy, intimate layer to the story that makes their connection feel natural and engaging.
What really makes this book shine is the dynamic between the main characters. They couldn’t be more different, yet their chemistry works. There’s something so satisfying about seeing two opposites slowly break down each other’s walls and fall for one another. Their journey is filled with tender moments, a bit of frustration, and a lot of heart. Even when miscommunication had me wishing they would just sit down and talk things through, it still felt true to their personalities and added to the emotional tension.
The book also builds up an interesting layer of family conflict, especially surrounding Rheo’s grandmother and the expectations she’s imposed over the years. There’s a strong sense early on that this will lead to a major emotional payoff. While the resolution may feel a bit rushed and neatly tied together, it doesn’t completely take away from the overall enjoyment of the story. The same goes for some of the heavier themes—particularly the trauma involving Rheo’s parent—which are resolved more quickly than expected. It might leave you wanting a bit more depth, but it keeps the tone of the book light and accessible.
At its core, this is a sweet, entertaining romance that delivers exactly what you’d hope for in a feel-good read. It may lean a little predictable toward the end, but the journey getting there is fun, comforting, and full of charm. It’s an enjoyable story that keeps you engaged from start to finish—and one I don’t regret picking up at all.
#arc #netgalley #Loveintranslation

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Rheo Whitlock is the ideal adult: she has a fancy job at the UN as a translator, her own apartment in Brooklyn, and a good relationship. When she accidentally has a hot mic at work that leads to more mistakes and her boss putting her on a sabbatical, a meltdown ensues. Her relationship ends and Rheo flees to her grandmother Paddy's "pink house" to hide out for months without telling anyone. Since Paddy is unaware of Rheo's living situation, she rents out the pink house to Fletcher, a friend of Rheo's cousin Carrie. Like Carrie, Fletcher is an nature loving thrill junkie who makes documentaries about his adventures. With his doctor's orders, Fletcher has to take a few months off and let his body recuperate. Fletcher and Rheo agree to live in the house together, as long as Fletcher doesn't spill her secret to Carrie. Pretty quickly the pair become friends with benefits and spend the next 6 weeks fighting developing feelings.

Overall, this book was fine, but not something I would read again. I found it repetitive and Rheo was a very annoying FMC. Some of the writing doesn't make sense. For example, there's a scene where Fletcher has his forehead against Rheo's and then on the next page it says he rolls over to face her. I wish more of the book would have been from Fletcher's POV as I enjoyed his parts much more. I also wish there would've been an epilogue, the book just ends. I am interested in reading more from Joss Wood.

[Addison Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 20%. Review based on the audiobook.

I just really could not get into this book. Insta-lust doesn't do it for me, and neither of the main characters was particularly compelling. I was enticed to give this book a try because the FMC is an interpreter, and I thought by the title that languages and translation would play a bigger role in the story. Instead, the fact that Rheo speaks multiple languages is just sort of peppered throughout in little asides in foreign languages. There's also just so much going on with the backstories of each character -- Rheo's loving grandmother who would also be angry Rheo is in her house? Rheo being treated like a black sheep even though she was working for the UN? Fletcher's past experiences with CFS, malaria, and other maladies along with his unclear current health situation? I'm 20% in and already don't care whether or not these two get together because they each clearly have a lot of their own issues to sort out. Maybe other readers will find the premise here compelling enough to find out what happens, but I just lost patience.

As for the narration, I found Rheo to be voiced as pretty whiny (though some of that may have been because of the writing), and Fletcher's accent was kind of distracting. It was also weird that his accent was gone in his thoughts during his POV chapters, and only came out in dialogue. Just overall not an enjoyable listen.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and share my honest review!

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This book isn’t what I was expecting it to be but I liked it. I really liked Rheo’s character I think she made a lot of sense and was extremely well written. I would've loved to see more scenes with Rheo and her family discussing her childhood because I think that while they love her I feel like even after their discussion they didn't truly understand the effect her childhood had on her. Fletcher on the other hand I think he had the right idea about some things with getting Rheo out of her comfort zone but I think he wanted it too much for him and not what's best for her. I think he could’ve benefited from seeing a professional about his issues about staying in one place or in a confined space for too long. I also don't think he understood how Rheo's childhood affected her. Physically these two were very compatible and as a fling they worked out fantastic but since this is a romance and they need a happily ever after they really could use a lot more communication. I also think that this is one of those books where a third act breakup was a good thing, I think it helped them realize that they loved each other despite their differences and it was something they were willing to work on if the alternative was to not see each other again. This book had extremely real characters with flaws that they acknowledged and tried to work through and I really appreciated that.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!!!

[Sabilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect example of opposites attracting - a talented interpreter and a fearless explorer brought to you by Joss Wood...

On the brink of a career disaster, Rheo, a multilingual translator and interpreter has hidden herself away in the Pink House, a place where she thinks she could maintain her perfect-life back and regain her confidence, yet her life is turned more upside down when an attractive explorer, Fletcher, claims to have rented the house to him through her cousin.

Despite their opposite characters, Rheo and Fletcher cannot hide their instant attraction. Rheo is a consummate idealist and perfectionist. Her upbringing, shaped by her parents’ van life and her grandmother, who is her perfect role model, clashes with Fletcher’s adventurous spirit. His purpose in life is dedicated to explore the unexplored area, a life that Rheo hates because of her family.

I loved the way the attraction instantly sparked during their first encounter, and their decision to have an affair added a fun, spicy twist to the story. From hot and spicy moments to entertaining and unexpected situations, this book keeps you hooked.

It’s thanks to Joss Wood for letting me read it. Slow burn that becomes hot and spicy, loads of passion, the plot that flows until I didn’t realize it was over. Joss Wood’s writing kept me hooked from the beginning. If you want a relaxing read with a spicy scene, a pleasing plot and a resolved and happy ever after ending, this is absolutely for you.

[Carly Burchett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love in Translation
By: Joss Wood

- opposites attract
- forced proximity
- adventure junky + homebody
- pub date: 4/7/2026

Rheo Whitlock is a United Nations translator whose life is turned upside-down after a “hot mic” incident derails her career and confidence. Needing time and space to rethink her life, Rheo retreats to her grandmother’s secluded vacation home in small-town Gilmartin, Washington. But her quiet sabbatical takes a turn when Fletcher Wright, a thrill-seeker and adventurer on break from his high-intensity life, arrives unexpectedly as the renter of the house. Forced to share space, Rheo’s stability-needing nature clashes with Fletcher’s adrenaline junky spirit, but genuine connection follows as they help each other face fears, rebuild confidence, and consider if love could be just what each is truly needing.

I enjoyed the originality of this story but overall it wasn’t my favorite. The characters annoyed me, the steamy scenes felt too frequent & came on so quickly, and the writing felt choppy at times. I will for sure give other books by this author a chance but this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.

The narrator was good and was able to do a Scottish accent for Fletcher which was impressive!

Content/trigger warnings: difficult family dynamics, abandonment, childhood and chronic illness, career setback, scandal, keeping secrets

Thank you to NetGalley & the author for access to this ARC in return for my honest review!

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love in Translation by Joss Wood

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Harlequin, Afterglow Books, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Love in Translation is entertaining from the very first chapter! Filled with wit, banter, spice, and a great overarching message.

Rheo, the FMC, is an interpreter and also a huge perfectionist. The book has great descriptive writing and you can feel the pressure Rheo is under when it comes to work. Fletcher, the MMC, lives for adrenaline and adventure instead of routine and perfection.

Their opposite personalities worked well together and kept me engrossed in the story as I was definitely drawn into their world and the tension between them which continuously escalates. The forced proximity trope added an even more exciting layer to the story overall, making their interactions intense and intriguing. The chemistry between the MCs was also certainly palpable throughout.

This book focuses on overcoming your fears and making the most of your life. It also touches on the outdoors, the role work plays in a person’s life, and the support loved ones provide. Overall, a really good book! Would definitely recommend, especially if you’re interested in a romcom with an element of the outdoors or languages!