Community Service

by Sal Thomas

Could finding herself in trouble… mean finding herself in love?

When PR exec Simone Stephens mistakes a real cop for a cosplay reveller at an immersive cinema experience, she finds herself in front of the judge and sentenced to volunteer at a local homeless shelter.

It’s about as far away as Simone can get from the slick, cynical world she normally inhabits, but after a rocky start that sees her embarrass herself time and again in front of gorgeous resident psychologist, Jasper, she finds her feet and begins to make a difference even she can be proud of.

She was sent here to atone, but is it possible that she might also find herself … and maybe even love in the process?

386 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 14, 2024

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Community Service is the second novel by British author, Sal Thomas. Thirty-five-year-old Simone Stephens works for a reputation management and PR company and, just when she should be on annual leave, swanning around the US with her totally vacuous best friends, she’s been assigned by the court to work at a homeless shelter for three weeks. It was the kick to the cop’s privates, in a sort of mistaken identity, that did it.

Simone intends to just get through the three weeks, after all “it was still surprising that people gave up their own time to volunteer. Where was the sense in inducing your own misery to observe the misery of others? Wasn’t the net effect simply more misery?”

And then she’ll get back to her real life: getting a promotion to director ahead of her spoiled upper-class rival, enjoying plenty of sex with her married lover, and nights out drinking with her best friends. But she hasn’t counted on interactions with the residents. Or with Dr Jasper Adams, the centre’s psychologist, whose comments make her want to prove she’s not as superficial as he seems to believe.

She quickly discovers the bureaucratic hurdles of getting entitled benefits when a person is homeless, doesn’t have a bank account, an online account or documents to confirm identity. She’s shocked by the standard of accommodation offered to a vulnerable teenaged girl. She’s checked on her attitude to a vulnerable refugee exhibiting paranoia, and learns more about homelessness during an outreach with Jasper.

Simone recognises that her two best friends are totally vacuous, but never challenges them about anything that matters. She does use their social media following when it comes in handy for her cause, though. When one of them observes, about the homeless “They can’t be that smart to have ended up on the street, can they?” she doesn’t think a lot of it. She’s often sarcastic and not particularly likeable.

Unfortunately, a rather sordid sex scene in the first paragraph sets tone for the first half this novel: while the premise is excellent, the novel’s potential high rating is dragged down by the unnecessary inclusion of a copious number of expletives, foul language and smutty wordplay, gratuitous and explicit sexual descriptions.

Sadly, Thomas self-sabotages a rather important message: “Making people normal isn’t the only way. Accepting difference. Learning to live with it. Acknowledging people as they are. He’s just a man. Sure, his life choices and experiences are different from ours, but that doesn’t make him less worthy of our love and attention. Same goes for anyone. We’re all just a little bit lost, trying to find our way as best we can” with this tackiness. This is not a patch on her first novel. Disappointing.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter.

[julia]

dnf 61% ˖⁺‧✮

i tried my best to finish the book however i promised myself that i won’t be finishing books unless i like them.

the idea was really exciting and that’s why i applied for and arc, but the story had no hooks and i am not interested in it. it is really plain and maybe it’s just a long beginning, but i still can’t bring myself to continue it.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for approving my request

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Community Service by Sal Thomas is a wild ride! I wasn't quite sold on the plot line at first..... but I hadn't read anything like it before, so I decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did! The wickedly hilarious one-liners and witty banter totally sold me on this book! I actually called my husband several times to read him quips of the book! I would definitely read this author again.
I also appreciate that this book brought light to the homelessness epidemic and some of the struggles that are faced. It's funny with a noteworthy cause!

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for early access to read Community Service in exchange for an honest review. It is an entertaining read, don't let the negative reviews detour you!

[Emily | bookwhispererem · Rating 4 out of 5]

ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀

ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐚𝐦-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐦, 𝐬𝐞𝐱, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫. 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝! 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥; 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐲𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐑 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒮𝒶𝓁 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓈, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝒰𝒦, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

[Nora · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you harper collins ,one more chapter and netgalley for sending me this arc.
after i read the accidental housemate i only had good ,nay great, hopes for this and they were all crushed
granted i didn’t hate it i just wouldn’t go out of my way to read it again
it pains me to say it truly but this was boring , simone sucked so i couldn’t even root for her
so many wrong things i fear

[Barbara Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extremely cynical thirty something PR exec finds herself sentenced to complete community service at a local homeless shelter and there she finds meaning to her prior somewhat pointless existence. It's a world away from her polished, cynical world, but she's going to put her head down and get through it. That is until she has a meet cute with Jasper, who is a psychologist at the shelter and we get to see her growth throughout the story. Simone soon finds herself immersed in the lives of the residents and wanting to make a difference and finding it giving her own life a purpose and even unexpected love.
There's loads of clever and witty banter, sarcasm (my fav!) and steam
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[Lisi Bee (Beth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this story in exchange for my objective review. Some mild spoilers are included in this review, proceed with caution. This was a quick read with a satisfying ending, great supporting characters, anice romantic interest that (rightfully) didn't take center stage. Our fmc Simone works in PR, she is delightfully quippy but generally unhappy. She has a meet-cute with the mmc Jasper at the beginning of the book, who we discover is a psychologist at a local homeless shelter. Their relationship builds when she ends up fulfilling the titular community service at his workplace. There is a happy ending, although it took a while to get there. It takes a bit to warm up to Simone, she's damaged (but aren't we all?) and unlikable in the beginning: jaded and a bit shallow, and despite having a boat-load of attitude her self-esteem is so low. She has a hard time letting go of her thinking that she deserves what happens to her, and her status quo of transactional relationships with men (not a surprise given her upbringing and her toxic, misogynistic workplace). Her thinking made me sad at times. I did finally warm up to her and I was glad to see her eventually realize she was powerful all along. Working at the shelter definitely humanized her, showing her a different perspective even if she was slow to appreciate it. It was hard though to wait for Simone to finally come to the conclusion to use her PR skills for good. (Even if I thought her fundraising concept was borderline insulting to the people she's helping, and Jasper really should have redirected some of her plans because I'm pretty sure some of those ideas would violate his professional code of ethics as a psychologist. I know, I know, "Suspend disbelief!" At least Simone acknowledges that some of it was "a little distasteful.") I liked Jasper but he was kind of benign as an mmc, more like a supporting character. Which makes sense, this book is more about Simone finding her humanity and self-worth than it is a love story.

Overall, solid story with enough to keep me interested until the end although Simone was hard to like at first. Nice romantic pairing (even if it felt kind of secondary to the main plot), and a great supporting cast. Worth a read! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

[Laura A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simone is helping out at a shelter, which is the last. This book was a quick read.

[The Bookish Narwhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Community Service” by Sal Thomas is a delightful, whip-smart romcom that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Thomas weaves a hilarious and heartwarming tale that captures the essence of love, redemption, and unexpected connections.

Meet Simone Stephens: a savvy PR executive who finds herself in an unusual predicament. After mistaking a real cop for a cosplay enthusiast at an immersive cinema experience, Simone lands in front of a judge and is sentenced to volunteer at a local homeless shelter. It's a far cry from her polished, cynical world, but Simone dives in, determined to make a difference.

Meet Jasper: the handsome resident psychologist at the shelter. Despite Simone's initial awkwardness and embarrassing moments, she soon finds her footing. As she immerses herself in the lives of the shelter's residents, she discovers a sense of purpose she never knew existed. But could this newfound purpose also lead her to unexpected love?

Thomas's writing is witty, charming, and utterly relatable. Simone's journey from self-absorbed executive to compassionate volunteer is both heartwarming and hilarious. The chemistry between Simone and Jasper crackles off the pages, and their banter is pure gold. Thomas deftly balances humour, romance, and genuine emotion, creating a story that resonates long after the last page.

Watching Simone evolve from a self-centred professional to someone who genuinely cares about others is a joy. Her character arc is beautifully crafted. Prepare to chuckle, giggle, and snort as you follow Simone's misadventures. The humour is spot-on.

Oh, Jasper! He's not just a handsome face; he's compassionate, intelligent, and utterly swoon-worthy. His interactions with Simone are electric. Beneath the laughs lies a deeper exploration of empathy, second chances, and the power of community.

“Community Service” is an absolute gem. Thomas has created a romcom that tugs at your heartstrings while keeping you in stitches. This book deserves a spot on your reading list and a large “Bravo!” from all.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lauren Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The fact that you happened to get lucky with your skin suit counts for nothing around here."

This book is being marketed as a romance, with the little blurb on the front about it, but this book is about 8% romance and 92% belated coming-of-age.

Simone lives in a cynical bubble, one where the only spots of optimism are her surface-level influencer friends, the man for whom she is his mistress, and her promotion at the PR firm on the horizon. She knows she's pretty, she knows she's smart and quick with a comeback, and that's enough to let moral dubiousness slide past. That bubble pops when she mistakes a real cop for a cosplayer at an underground fete, and the judge wants to make an example of Simone by sentencing her to community service for a few weeks. Thus begins her journey with a shelter for unhoused people. It starts really rough, putting away the book due to second hand embarrassment rough, but she slowly learns how to be more human and more humane to those around her.

There are a lot of times that you will REALLY hate Simone, but she grows. This novel does a pretty good job of reminding readers that the residents of this shelter are not responsible for Simone's journey of growth, only she is. But she does learn! She does atone! You'll start to root for her (more than you'll root for the romance, ope), and when she backslides, you'll root for her to better herself again.

There's a good dose of humor in this book, particularly in the extensive wordplay and quips. I could definitely see this being a good beach or vacation read. Simone is a worthy character to spend time with.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[L Powers (Bookish_Mum) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Community Service by Sal Thomas
Rating: 3.5/5
Release Date: 14 June 2024

When PR executive Simone Stephens mistakes a genuine cop for a costumed attendee at an immersive cinema event, she lands in front of a judge and receives a sentence: volunteer at a local homeless shelter.

It's a world apart from the polished, cynical environment Simone is accustomed to, but after some initial stumbles—especially in front of the charming resident psychologist, Jasper—she starts finding her rhythm and making a positive impact she can truly take pride in.

Sent here to make amends, Simone wonders if, amidst her journey of redemption, she might also discover herself... and perhaps even find love along the way.

“Community Service” by Sal Thomas is a comedic gem that had me giggling non-stop. PR exec Simone Stephens finds herself in this hilarious predicament, leading to community service at a local soup kitchen.

Simone’s antics are uproarious, especially as she clumsily navigates her new reality, often embarrassing herself in front of the charming psychologist, Jasper. Despite her blunders, I couldn’t help but root for Simone.

Thomas excels at crafting characters who are both lovable and eccentric. Simone’s transformation from stilettos to compassionate caregiver is not just about romance; it’s about self-discovery.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter, and the author, Sal Thomas, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

[Crystal Boyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Community Service” by Sal Thomas is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that had me chuckling from start to finish. Imagine mistaking a real cop for a cosplay character at a movie event—sounds like something I would do, right? Well, that’s exactly what lands PR exec Simone Stephens in hot water, and subsequently, community service at a local homeless shelter.

Simone’s misadventures are a riot, especially when she tries to navigate her new reality while repeatedly embarrassing herself in front of the charming psychologist, Jasper. It’s like watching someone juggle spaghetti—messy but hilarious. The more she stumbles, the more I found myself rooting for her, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

Sal Thomas has a knack for creating characters that are as endearing as they are quirky. Simone’s journey from high heels to helping hands is not just about finding love; it’s about finding herself, and maybe a new pair of sensible shoes. The book is a reminder that sometimes, the best things in life come from the most unexpected places—like love in a soup kitchen.

For those who follow my bookish escapades, you know I have a soft spot for stories that make me laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. “Community Service” checks all the boxes and serves up a hearty dose of humor with a side of romance. It’s the perfect read for anyone who’s ever had a ‘face-palm’ moment and thought, "Well, it can only go up from here!.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the author’s debut novel The Accidental Housemate, so was excited to see she had a new book out. I read what it was about and thought this one sounded good too. On first starting it I must admit, after two or three chapters in, I didn’t think this was going to be a book for me. It felt like it was written for an American market, it was maybe too young for me. I was disappointed because I was really looking forward to something at least recognisable from the first book. I read a few reviews and noted that some readers felt the same way. I persevered, mainly because there wasn’t any other book calling to me at the time so decided to carry on.

As usual, perseverance pays off and by the time Simone had started her community service it had started to grow on me. There is a lot of very dry humour which is perhaps not every one’s cup of tea but a bit of sarcasm and cynicism is fine with me.

On the face of it Simone comes across as an ambitious, hard nosed, somewhat materialistic person, yet it’s a shell to protect her vulnerabilities and as the book moves on she becomes a likeable character as her true self starts to shine through. I really enjoyed this book once I’d got past the initial shock of how very different it is from the author’s debut. I found it reasonably fast paced, as it never dwelt too long on any one particular situation or dialogue. Shortish chapters and changes of scene kept me wanting to read more.

I thought it was a thoughtful, perceptive story and reflective of current modern day challenges.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could finding herself in trouble mean finding herself in love?

PR exec Simone Stephens mistakes a real cop for a cosplay reveler and ends up sentenced to volunteer at a local homeless shelter. Far from her slick, cynical world, she repeatedly embarrasses herself in front of the handsome resident psychologist, Jasper. Despite a rocky start, Simone finds her feet and begins to make a difference. Sent there to atone, she might also find herself—and maybe even love—in the process.

At first, I found it hard to connect with Simone. She seemed shallow and overly focused on her looks and career. But, like Scrooge, her time at the shelter slowly makes her rethink her life choices, especially as her interest in Jasper grows and their banter becomes more fun. The book also does a great job showing how big businesses hide negative publicity. As the story unfolds, we learn more about Simone’s past, which made me unexpectedly sympathetic towards her.

Be warned, there are some spicy moments, including an affair with a married man. Despite my initial reservations, I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. It reminded me to always give a book a chance, even if I’m unsure at first.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

PR exec Simone finds herself in trouble when she mistakes a real cop for a cos play one, ending up helping out at a homeless shelter as her community service.
Initially I really couldn't take to Simone, she comes across as shallow, obsessed with her looks and career driven at the expense of anyone else. In a Scrooge-like way her experience at the shelter gradually makes her question her lifestyle choice, especially as her interest in Jasper, the resident psychologist, grows with the banter between them. It is probably more true to life than I would like to think in the way it describes how big business manages to hide any negative publicity. As the story develops you find out the reasons for how she is and start to feel sympathy for her, something I couldn't imagine at the start. Be warned there are several very spicy moments, including an affair with a married man.
In the end this is a book that I ended up enjoying more than I thought at the start, reminding me to always give a book a chance even if initially I really want sure about it.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[callistoscalling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @harpercollinsuk, @onemorechapterhc, and @netgalley for the eARC of Community Service by @salthomasauthor in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Being a woman is tough. It’s hard to put into words but Sal Thomas does a pretty great job in her new novel, Community Service. As a single woman in London, Simone, a PR exec, knows this all too well. While some situations she encounters may seem over the top, they are a reality for so many and her cynicism might not be that unwarranted. That hilarious yet edgy attitude does not bode well for Simone when she does not realize that she is interacting with real police officers and not actors at a film festival. She lands in a world of trouble in front of the judge and she gets community service. There are very few opportunities more humbling than volunteering at a homeless shelter and this time provides a huge opportunity for self-reflection for Simone. Community Service is a witty read that combines humor and humility in a brilliant fashion.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read The Accidental Housemate last year and gave it a 5 star review. I wrote ‘I absolutely loved every page of this book! It made me laugh out loud and was so uplifting. A fabulous read that I can definitely recommend. I’ll be searching out more books from this talented author.’
What went wrong in Community Service? For a start, Simone came across as a ‘not very nice’ person. The way she spoke to people with all that foul language was just not necessary. There was also too much attempt throughout the book to be funny. The plot was OK if it hadn’t gone on for so long, but the thing that really got to me was the sex scenes. I am not a prude by any means but some of the descriptions turned my stomach. In her acknowledgements the author states that at least 30% of her friends and family secretly thought that the book was a bit too sweary/a bit too different to her first book/a bit too cringe in the sex scene department. Add me to that 30%. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this early copy and I’m sorry I can’t give it a glowing review.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ok read, it’s got a few red flags. I think the topic is relevant and enjoyed reading about it.

Simone has just assaulted a police officer and needs to do community service in the homeless shelter. Hunky Jasper works there and she’s excited. It’s not what she planned to do in her holidays from work, but that is life.

I liked the plot, but it’s a bit crude and full of swears which was off putting. Simone is not the friendly character I hoped she would be, she’s bitter and thinks men all want one thing. She has no self confidence. I liked the homeless shelter and I think it’s good to write about this subject.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and really thought it would be like the last one, I’m hoping the next book will have less swearing, sex and crude talk. A 3.5 read.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Community Service by Saul Thomas we watch Simone as she gets community service in through it not only find love but becomes a better person at the same time. I’m going to be honest and say I did not like Simone at the beginning of the book and had it not been so lol funny I would’ve stopped reading it very early on but everything from the homeless guy to the rivalry with her coworker and on anon was so funny I kept reading it just for that reason it wandered up being very heartwarming and by the end I really liked the person Simone was becoming I would love to say I love her as a character but that would not be true. But if you love funny stories with great character development and a pretty good romance and you will probably like this book. I want to thank the publisher for my free art copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawn to Community Service for the plot; stayed for the humor and banter between complex characters. Simone isn’t particularly likable at the beginning of Community Service, which enables us to see her growth as she is educated on a variety of topics through her court-ordered community service. Author Sal Thomas brings to light societal issues while Simone is working with individuals experiencing homelessness. Characters are written in such a way that they feel real to harbor an emotional connection to them. Community Service is a perfect read for those looking for a romance with emotional depth and hard-hitting themes.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for an advanced copy of Community Service in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly Heslip · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose this is aimed at the current young crowd with wanting to drink their cares away and get into some raunchy situations. While I can see the humor that was meant to uproariously land in the reader's face, it just did not hit home for me. Simone is in a business where it is dog eat dog, and she finds herself in situations no young woman should be in. There are some redeeming factors as she undergoes growth and finds herself helping others, as well as finding love in the most unusual of places.

Overall, Community Service is a sarcastic view of life and love. I've enjoyed other entries by Sal Thomas, but this one was not for me.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed The Accidental Housemate and was hoping to enjoy this however I really don’t know how I feel about it… the beginning was so crude that I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue! I’m glad I did as the story does pick up when Simone goes to work at the Shelter however she was really hard to empathise with, I know that we find out slowly the reasons that she behaves the way she does but I still don’t feel satisfied!
I really liked the homeless characters and this was my favourite part of the story,

Too much unecessary sex and references, however I appreciated the story and tenderness regarding Tashas story and how Simone slowly unravels to become a (slightly) better person!

[KDRBCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Community Service by Sal Thomas, published by Harper Collins / One More Chapter, is the second book I enjoyed reading by this author. The previous one was the Accidental Housemate.
But back to CS.
Simone is single, living in London and works as PRexec. She's cynic, edgy and this character traits bring her in trouble and before a judge - getting Community Service at a shelter. Not exactly her kind of experience.
A witty and fun read combined with some serious topics too. I loved the bicker and banter, the story and the beautiful writing.

[Anna Goudeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never laughed so hard from a book than I did with this one. The dialogue was incredible and so well written, and I found myself rereading so many conversations because of how cleverly funny they were. If you're on the fence on this one, go ahead and hop right over because you won't regret this one! The romance is a nice bonus, but it is definitely not the sole focus of the story. Our mfc has a major character arc and learns a lot of valuable lessons throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

[☆Laura☆]

DNF

Lo intenté, pero no pude pasar del capítulo 18.

Por más que me obligue a leer otro capítulo más no me engancho la historia, me aburrió y en momentos me exasperó. Se supone que hay comedia y las escenas que se suponen son graciosas, no lo son.

Simone, la protagonista es odiosa, ensimismada y con el carisma de una piedra.

Nota para mi:
No intentes volver a leerlo, no hay nada rescatable y sería una perdida de tiempo.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slower start for me, but once I got into it, I was completely hooked. There are so many funny, witty moments. There are lots of great one-liners and banter.
There's some really tough topics discussed and referenced throughout, and I was surprised to see that in what looked like it might just be a light-hearted romcom from the cover.
There's plenty of bad language and a few sexy scenes, so this is not for the easily offended!
This is a really fun, easy, quick read that I'm sure many will enjoy!

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

The précis of this book looked so promising. However from the outset the style of writing really put me off. Maybe if I’d been able to see through this I might have given it my full attention. The main character, Simone, was irritating and did nothing to bring me round to liking her. Sorry, Sal Thomas, this novel just wasn’t for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins One More Chapter for the ARC for an honest review.

[Sapphyre Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to start by saying this wasn't the light and easy read I expected when I requested it. The subject matter of homelessness and Simone's adjacency to it via her court mandated community service makes it difficult for it to be a light and fluffy romance book.
Yes, there is a romance subplot but I honestly thing that the emphasis is on Simone's character growth throughout the book.
Overall I did enjoy the book even though it was a heavier read than I had anticipated.

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book had a few good moments and quippy one liners and I enjoyed the overall message! Unfortunately, I don’t think this one was for me.
The opening scene was a bit too vulgar for me, and took me out of the book and some scenes after didn’t make it better. I did begin to like the main character a bit as time went on, but I didn’t for a while and that also took me out of it.
I don’t think it’s a bad book, I just think it wasn’t for me!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book and I was so excited to read it, but the execution fell flat. It was so hard to get into and I didn’t love the main character. It just sadly wasn’t for me.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, NetGalley and Sal Thomas for the complimentary ARC. All opinions expressed above are my own.