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Last Call for Love
For an American woman on an impromptu summertime trip to an Irish island, life changes in a heartbeat in a refreshing romance by the author of June, Reimagined.
The last thing Chicagoan Maeve Kaminski expects to inherit from her estranged biological father is a pub. Now thousands of miles from home, Maeve is on a remote Irish island and the new owner of The Moorings. Charming? Yes. Practical? No. The bright side: Maeve is in debt, and off-loading a famous pub for a pretty penny could be the gift she’s been waiting for.
Briggs Murphy is suffering from a broken heart. Literally. Recently diagnosed with the same condition that killed his father, he’s not looking for love. But when Maeve shows up with her color-coordinated datebook and striking blue eyes, he falls hard. Too bad she’s off-limits. According to familial legend, they’re enemies. And for the sake of the island, they better stay that way.
Love was never the plan. But for Briggs and Maeve, it might just save them both. To make it work, they’ll have to rewrite history…before it’s too late.
The last thing Chicagoan Maeve Kaminski expects to inherit from her estranged biological father is a pub. Now thousands of miles from home, Maeve is on a remote Irish island and the new owner of The Moorings. Charming? Yes. Practical? No. The bright side: Maeve is in debt, and off-loading a famous pub for a pretty penny could be the gift she’s been waiting for.
Briggs Murphy is suffering from a broken heart. Literally. Recently diagnosed with the same condition that killed his father, he’s not looking for love. But when Maeve shows up with her color-coordinated datebook and striking blue eyes, he falls hard. Too bad she’s off-limits. According to familial legend, they’re enemies. And for the sake of the island, they better stay that way.
Love was never the plan. But for Briggs and Maeve, it might just save them both. To make it work, they’ll have to rewrite history…before it’s too late.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
638 people are currently reading
8110 people want to read
About the author
Rebekah Crane
10 books606 followersRebekah Crane is the author of The Odds of Loving Grover Cleveland and other young-adult novels. She found a passion for this genre while studying secondary English education at Ohio University. She is a former high school English teacher, a yoga instructor, and the mother of two girls. After living and teaching in six different cities, Rebekah finally settled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to write novels and work on screenplays. She now spends her days tucked behind a laptop at seventy-five hundred feet, where the altitude only enhances the writing experience.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
May 17, 2025
I like Ms Crane's novels for younger people more than her adult ones, as is the case here. Mixed bag, lots of fun on a small Irish island with competing pubs that have had a long standing feud between them and the owners. Now that Maeve has inherited The Thatch from her absent, but recently dead father, and Briggs, who has been running the rival Moorings since his own father's death. So romance and mayhem ensue, but none of it really makes sense or worked for me. Nice HEA, just a messy, uneven presentation. 2.5 stars.
September 8, 2025
3.5 Stars for Last Call for Love (audiobook) by Rebekah Crane read by Kevin Marron and Lauren Ezzo.
Maeve finds out that her biological father has left her something in his will. She’s never met the man but maybe whatever it is could have pay off some of her debt. But the crazy guy has made it so she has to go all the way to this little island in Ireland to receive her inheritance. Why would he put her through so much trouble? What could he be up to?
Maeve finds out that her biological father has left her something in his will. She’s never met the man but maybe whatever it is could have pay off some of her debt. But the crazy guy has made it so she has to go all the way to this little island in Ireland to receive her inheritance. Why would he put her through so much trouble? What could he be up to?
April 8, 2024
I loved this book!! At first I was skeptical but I was totally surprised by this book! I loved Briggs and Maeve and the feud was so good. This book made me feel all of the emotions…I even shed a few tears. If you love enemies to lovers, small town romance, found family then you need to read this book!
February 29, 2024
When I first saw this book I wanted to read it because it sounded a good and cute one but I've ended up disappointed while reading it so in the end I would say that it wasn't for me!
The story's about Maeve and Briggs our 2 owners of a rivals pubs on an island in Ireland and to sustain their business they have to continue the family feud they have going on but then there is a call from love :)
The premise was good but the writing wasn't fo me and while I was reading this the story I wasn't very into it and so I lost the excitement I had at the start! Another thing I didn't enjoy was the relationship between the two main characters in my opinion the relationship was more a physical thing
Least but not last I would like to thank to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The story's about Maeve and Briggs our 2 owners of a rivals pubs on an island in Ireland and to sustain their business they have to continue the family feud they have going on but then there is a call from love :)
The premise was good but the writing wasn't fo me and while I was reading this the story I wasn't very into it and so I lost the excitement I had at the start! Another thing I didn't enjoy was the relationship between the two main characters in my opinion the relationship was more a physical thing
Least but not last I would like to thank to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 2, 2025
*Listened via KU audio.
*TW parental death
I would rate 4.5 truly but bumped it up because it’s been a while for a book to elicit laughter, enjoyment, concern, and the need to want to consistently listen till I finished! Loved this little piece of Irish fun. I truly think I enjoyed it so much due to the audio- great narration and the Irish brogue sealed the 5 star deal. If you have KU I highly recommend this option, you will not be disappointed.
The story starts a little meh for the first two chapters, however that’s typical for me when I pic up a rom- com. I’m so happy I decided to stick with it. Story line was entertaining, easy to follow, moved quickly- I dislike nothing more than a rom com filled with misunderstandings that take an entire novel to sort out. The supporting cast was even better than the main characters. The comedy! Truly enjoyable read.
There is a lot of reference from start to finish regarding both MC’s father’s deaths. Essentially the book revolves around this fact. Which is why I mention as a TW. However the deaths are not meant to be sad, as they happened before the book takes place, and the story picks up with the MC learning how to truly ‘live’ as their fathers would have wanted. (This is the essence but there is so much more to this sweet and fun story!)
And the bonus… all of the Chicago references!!!
Hope you enjoy listening and laughing as much as I did!
*TW parental death
I would rate 4.5 truly but bumped it up because it’s been a while for a book to elicit laughter, enjoyment, concern, and the need to want to consistently listen till I finished! Loved this little piece of Irish fun. I truly think I enjoyed it so much due to the audio- great narration and the Irish brogue sealed the 5 star deal. If you have KU I highly recommend this option, you will not be disappointed.
The story starts a little meh for the first two chapters, however that’s typical for me when I pic up a rom- com. I’m so happy I decided to stick with it. Story line was entertaining, easy to follow, moved quickly- I dislike nothing more than a rom com filled with misunderstandings that take an entire novel to sort out. The supporting cast was even better than the main characters. The comedy! Truly enjoyable read.
There is a lot of reference from start to finish regarding both MC’s father’s deaths. Essentially the book revolves around this fact. Which is why I mention as a TW. However the deaths are not meant to be sad, as they happened before the book takes place, and the story picks up with the MC learning how to truly ‘live’ as their fathers would have wanted. (This is the essence but there is so much more to this sweet and fun story!)
And the bonus… all of the Chicago references!!!
Hope you enjoy listening and laughing as much as I did!
May 19, 2024
3.25⭐️
Maeve es representante de ventas, se enamoró de un tipo que resultó ser un estafador, necesita dinero para pagar las deudas que le dejo la rata traidora. Entonces, cuando se entera que su donador de esperma murió y le dejó algo, con mucha resistencia acepto ir a cobrar la herencia a Irlanda.
Briggs es el dueño de un pub, es un mujeriego y se acuesta con sus clientas para evadir su dolor y evitar volver a caer en el alcohol porque cree que le pasará lo mismo que a su papá: que enfermerá y morirá. No quiere desarrollar sentimientos y que esa persona después sufra por su muerte.
Los Doherty y los Murphy era familias enemigas y se hizo famosa su rivalidad, lo cual atrae al turismo, sin embargo, en la actualidad ya no se odian, pero tienen que fingir y hacerse travesuras para que la gente siga yendo.
Lo único que no me gustó fue como se manejo el tema del donador de esperma. No entiendo como Maeve llegó a quererlo si nunca lo conoció y aunque él tipo se arrepintió de decir que no quería estar en su vida, nunca hizo algo por acercarse.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Maeve es representante de ventas, se enamoró de un tipo que resultó ser un estafador, necesita dinero para pagar las deudas que le dejo la rata traidora. Entonces, cuando se entera que su donador de esperma murió y le dejó algo, con mucha resistencia acepto ir a cobrar la herencia a Irlanda.
Briggs es el dueño de un pub, es un mujeriego y se acuesta con sus clientas para evadir su dolor y evitar volver a caer en el alcohol porque cree que le pasará lo mismo que a su papá: que enfermerá y morirá. No quiere desarrollar sentimientos y que esa persona después sufra por su muerte.
Los Doherty y los Murphy era familias enemigas y se hizo famosa su rivalidad, lo cual atrae al turismo, sin embargo, en la actualidad ya no se odian, pero tienen que fingir y hacerse travesuras para que la gente siga yendo.
Lo único que no me gustó fue como se manejo el tema del donador de esperma. No entiendo como Maeve llegó a quererlo si nunca lo conoció y aunque él tipo se arrepintió de decir que no quería estar en su vida, nunca hizo algo por acercarse.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 1, 2024
Another moving, heartfelt, dual POV new adult romance from a fav author! This was great on audio narrated by Kevin Marron and Lauren Ezzo and sees American Maeve discovering she's inherited a pub from the Irish birth father she never met.
Deep in debt, native Chicagoan Maeve sees the inheritance as a way to make a quick buck but upon arriving on the small island she realizes her father has left a list of tasks she must complete before she can sell the pub.
Maeve also finds herself caught up in an ages old feud with rival pub owner, Briggs Murphy, who himself is grappling with a recent diagnosis of HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Unable to resist their instant attraction, the two spend the summer feuding and falling in love only to struggle with whether they can make a life together work long term.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is perfect for fans of authors like Emma Lord or Lynn Painter and does contain some open door scenes so would be better for older YA readers.
CW: chronic illness, OCD, panic attacks
Deep in debt, native Chicagoan Maeve sees the inheritance as a way to make a quick buck but upon arriving on the small island she realizes her father has left a list of tasks she must complete before she can sell the pub.
Maeve also finds herself caught up in an ages old feud with rival pub owner, Briggs Murphy, who himself is grappling with a recent diagnosis of HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Unable to resist their instant attraction, the two spend the summer feuding and falling in love only to struggle with whether they can make a life together work long term.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is perfect for fans of authors like Emma Lord or Lynn Painter and does contain some open door scenes so would be better for older YA readers.
CW: chronic illness, OCD, panic attacks
August 30, 2024
Who doesn't love a modern day Romeo and Juliet!
When Maeve finds out her sperm donor has died and he has left her an inheritance, Maeve has no chocie but to go to Ireland to find out what it is. It's a pub on an island.. And it makes it business by its rivaly with another pub owned by Briggs.
As Maeve and Briggs build up more and more pranks, the closer they find themselves getting, even when they are supposed to be mortal enemies...
I loved this book. I laughed, I cried and I needed this book more than I realized. It's a cute and witty enemies to lovers with adorable irish accents. If that doesn't convince you, nothing will and I loved this retelling of Romeo and Juliet and no one dies yayyy.
4.5 stars
When Maeve finds out her sperm donor has died and he has left her an inheritance, Maeve has no chocie but to go to Ireland to find out what it is. It's a pub on an island.. And it makes it business by its rivaly with another pub owned by Briggs.
As Maeve and Briggs build up more and more pranks, the closer they find themselves getting, even when they are supposed to be mortal enemies...
I loved this book. I laughed, I cried and I needed this book more than I realized. It's a cute and witty enemies to lovers with adorable irish accents. If that doesn't convince you, nothing will and I loved this retelling of Romeo and Juliet and no one dies yayyy.
4.5 stars
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March 1, 2024First off, I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book just wasn’t really for me. I think one of the biggest things that bothered me was the writing and especially the lack in variation of sentence structure. A huge proportion of sentences started with “Maeve” or “Briggs” and I felt like that impeded the general flow of the writing. Definitely took away from the enjoyment of the reading experience since I couldn’t help but notice it.
Another thing I noticed was how quickly Briggs started liking Maeve. It was kind of insta-lovey which is personally a trope I really dislike. I feel like their relationship progressed so fast because the book is so short, and there was a lack of depth in their relationship - more physical than emotional in my opinion.
A pretty big issue I have with this book is how it's marketed as YA. This is most definitely not YA...so many innuendos and explicit scenes. Should not be marketed as YA in my opinion.
I see the concept, but to me were just so many things happening in such a short book that it felt rushed and lacked a lot of detail. And a strong personal preference in the genre is depth in relationships which I didn’t see much of in this book.
Note: This was posted without a rating which I will add after the book is published, as I am aware that some publishers/authors do not want any ratings below 4 stars to be posted before the book is released.
This book just wasn’t really for me. I think one of the biggest things that bothered me was the writing and especially the lack in variation of sentence structure. A huge proportion of sentences started with “Maeve” or “Briggs” and I felt like that impeded the general flow of the writing. Definitely took away from the enjoyment of the reading experience since I couldn’t help but notice it.
Another thing I noticed was how quickly Briggs started liking Maeve. It was kind of insta-lovey which is personally a trope I really dislike. I feel like their relationship progressed so fast because the book is so short, and there was a lack of depth in their relationship - more physical than emotional in my opinion.
A pretty big issue I have with this book is how it's marketed as YA. This is most definitely not YA...so many innuendos and explicit scenes. Should not be marketed as YA in my opinion.
I see the concept, but to me were just so many things happening in such a short book that it felt rushed and lacked a lot of detail. And a strong personal preference in the genre is depth in relationships which I didn’t see much of in this book.
Note: This was posted without a rating which I will add after the book is published, as I am aware that some publishers/authors do not want any ratings below 4 stars to be posted before the book is released.
March 6, 2024
In the quaint embrace of an Irish island, where the sea whispers secrets and the air carries the scent of forgotten love, "Last Call for Love" by Rebekah Crane unfolds. Known for her evocative storytelling, Crane weaves a tale that transcends time, family feuds, and the boundaries of the heart.
Meet Maeve Kaminski. She’s a Chicagoan with a penchant for color-coordinated datebooks, never expected to inherit a pub from her estranged biological father. Yet, life has a way of surprising us when we least anticipate it. As Maeve steps onto the Irish soil, she's greeted by the salty breeze and the promise of new beginnings.
Meet Briggs. He’s the rugged owner of a renowned pub and a man whose heart is as guarded as the ancient cliffs surrounding the island. Recently diagnosed with the same condition that claimed his father's life, Briggs isn't seeking love. But fate, with its whimsical brush, paints a different picture. When Maeve's striking blue eyes lock with his, something shifts. Their connection defies familial legend; they're meant to be enemies, yet destiny insists otherwise.
The chemistry between Maeve and Briggs crackles like a bonfire on a chilly night. Their banter dances between wit and vulnerability, and as they navigate the intricacies of their shared history, the island itself seems to hold its breath. Crane's prose captures the essence of Ireland: the rolling hills, the cozy pubs, and the ancient folklore that clings to every stone.
The pacing is exquisite. Each chapter unfurls like a delicate petal, revealing layers of longing, regret, and hope. The tension between Maeve and Briggs is palpable, their stolen glances and accidental touches igniting sparks that leap off the page. And oh, the kisses! I mean the kind that taste like salt and redemption, like promises whispered across centuries.
But this isn't merely a romance. It's a story of redemption, of rewriting history before it's too late. As Maeve and Briggs grapple with their pasts, they unearth buried secrets, confront family legacies, and discover that love isn't always convenient—it's messy, inconvenient, and utterly transformative.
Crane's characters are flawed and achingly real. Maeve's vulnerability is a balm for the soul, and Briggs's stoicism hides a well of tenderness. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative. And let's not forget the pub itself, an old soul with its own stories to tell.
The island becomes a character in its own right and is a witness to love lost and found, to rivalries that span generations. As Maeve and Briggs grapple with their feelings, the waves crash against the cliffs, echoing their inner turmoil. The setting is vividly rendered, inviting readers to sip a pint of Guinness and lose themselves in the magic of the Emerald Isle.
"Last Call for Love" is a symphony of emotions, from the crescendo of longing, the delicate notes of forgiveness, and the final chord of acceptance. Crane's prose is lyrical, painting scenes that linger like the taste of whiskey on the tongue. And when the last page turns, you'll find yourself believing in second chances, in love that defies logic, and in the healing power of a well-poured pint.
This book is a five-star masterpiece. It’s a love letter to Ireland, to lost dreams, and to the resilience of the human heart. So raise your glass, dear reader, and toast to love, redemption, and the magic that awaits when we least expect it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Meet Maeve Kaminski. She’s a Chicagoan with a penchant for color-coordinated datebooks, never expected to inherit a pub from her estranged biological father. Yet, life has a way of surprising us when we least anticipate it. As Maeve steps onto the Irish soil, she's greeted by the salty breeze and the promise of new beginnings.
Meet Briggs. He’s the rugged owner of a renowned pub and a man whose heart is as guarded as the ancient cliffs surrounding the island. Recently diagnosed with the same condition that claimed his father's life, Briggs isn't seeking love. But fate, with its whimsical brush, paints a different picture. When Maeve's striking blue eyes lock with his, something shifts. Their connection defies familial legend; they're meant to be enemies, yet destiny insists otherwise.
The chemistry between Maeve and Briggs crackles like a bonfire on a chilly night. Their banter dances between wit and vulnerability, and as they navigate the intricacies of their shared history, the island itself seems to hold its breath. Crane's prose captures the essence of Ireland: the rolling hills, the cozy pubs, and the ancient folklore that clings to every stone.
The pacing is exquisite. Each chapter unfurls like a delicate petal, revealing layers of longing, regret, and hope. The tension between Maeve and Briggs is palpable, their stolen glances and accidental touches igniting sparks that leap off the page. And oh, the kisses! I mean the kind that taste like salt and redemption, like promises whispered across centuries.
But this isn't merely a romance. It's a story of redemption, of rewriting history before it's too late. As Maeve and Briggs grapple with their pasts, they unearth buried secrets, confront family legacies, and discover that love isn't always convenient—it's messy, inconvenient, and utterly transformative.
Crane's characters are flawed and achingly real. Maeve's vulnerability is a balm for the soul, and Briggs's stoicism hides a well of tenderness. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative. And let's not forget the pub itself, an old soul with its own stories to tell.
The island becomes a character in its own right and is a witness to love lost and found, to rivalries that span generations. As Maeve and Briggs grapple with their feelings, the waves crash against the cliffs, echoing their inner turmoil. The setting is vividly rendered, inviting readers to sip a pint of Guinness and lose themselves in the magic of the Emerald Isle.
"Last Call for Love" is a symphony of emotions, from the crescendo of longing, the delicate notes of forgiveness, and the final chord of acceptance. Crane's prose is lyrical, painting scenes that linger like the taste of whiskey on the tongue. And when the last page turns, you'll find yourself believing in second chances, in love that defies logic, and in the healing power of a well-poured pint.
This book is a five-star masterpiece. It’s a love letter to Ireland, to lost dreams, and to the resilience of the human heart. So raise your glass, dear reader, and toast to love, redemption, and the magic that awaits when we least expect it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 14, 2024
Thank you to net galley for this book! this is more a 3.5 but I rounded up rather then round down. I really enjoyed the central relationship and the aspects of this book that take place in Ireland. I loved those characters and would gladly read books about them as well. However I found the Chicago aspects of this book (her parents, her best friend, her best friends gf who bullied them in high school? Her scammer ex) super under developed. They caused conflict and we were supposed to care about them but we did not spend enough time or characterization on them for it to hit.
Overall a charming romance with a nice underlying storyline about grief.
Overall a charming romance with a nice underlying storyline about grief.
April 2, 2024
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance in exchange for my honest opinion.
Last Call for Love is about Maeve, who inherits a bar in a small town in Ireland from her deceased estranged father. I enjoyed the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ plotline, as there is a rivalry between her family and another who own a bar next door, owned by our MMC, Briggs.
Going in, I was very excited to read this book as the premise sounded very interesting. However, I did not like the way the story was executed and I felt very detached from the characters.
I think the main factor in how I felt about this book was the writing style. It felt disconnected from the storyline, possibly due to being written in third person (personally, I do not enjoy this style of writing) and it was not engaging. The book focused more on the rivalry between the bars rather than on the romance between Briggs and Maeve and I felt that events were often rushed. (For example, the scene where the main characters met was very insta-love, and there was not much build up to the big plot reveals). I wish we could have seen more backstory for both characters, in order to allow me to feel more connected to them.
Furthermore, their relationship felt very physical, rather than a genuine emotional connection. This leads me to disagree with the ‘YA’ label placed on this book. Because of this, I believe this book should be catered more towards adults rather than teens.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the way the setting of Inishglass was described, and the nature of the people there was very refreshing to see. There were many funny moments, whilst there also being an emotional side to this book.
Overall, this was not a very enjoyable read for me, although I think others may enjoy it more than I did.
Last Call for Love is about Maeve, who inherits a bar in a small town in Ireland from her deceased estranged father. I enjoyed the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ plotline, as there is a rivalry between her family and another who own a bar next door, owned by our MMC, Briggs.
Going in, I was very excited to read this book as the premise sounded very interesting. However, I did not like the way the story was executed and I felt very detached from the characters.
I think the main factor in how I felt about this book was the writing style. It felt disconnected from the storyline, possibly due to being written in third person (personally, I do not enjoy this style of writing) and it was not engaging. The book focused more on the rivalry between the bars rather than on the romance between Briggs and Maeve and I felt that events were often rushed. (For example, the scene where the main characters met was very insta-love, and there was not much build up to the big plot reveals). I wish we could have seen more backstory for both characters, in order to allow me to feel more connected to them.
Furthermore, their relationship felt very physical, rather than a genuine emotional connection. This leads me to disagree with the ‘YA’ label placed on this book. Because of this, I believe this book should be catered more towards adults rather than teens.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the way the setting of Inishglass was described, and the nature of the people there was very refreshing to see. There were many funny moments, whilst there also being an emotional side to this book.
Overall, this was not a very enjoyable read for me, although I think others may enjoy it more than I did.
August 10, 2024
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was such a good read! I absolutely loved it.
I really enjoyed the back story of the main FMC and I found the family rivalry in the small town in Ireland to be so much fun.
I was instantly hooked when the MMC was introduced and I loved the instant attraction between the two main characters.
There were so many feels with this one and I found that it gave the story so much substance and helped me fly through this one in one day.
You get:
• Spicy
• Dual POV
• Contemporary Romance
• Enemies To Lovers
• Secret Relationship
• Family Rivalries
• From USA to Ireland
I highly recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
This was such a good read! I absolutely loved it.
I really enjoyed the back story of the main FMC and I found the family rivalry in the small town in Ireland to be so much fun.
I was instantly hooked when the MMC was introduced and I loved the instant attraction between the two main characters.
There were so many feels with this one and I found that it gave the story so much substance and helped me fly through this one in one day.
You get:
• Spicy
• Dual POV
• Contemporary Romance
• Enemies To Lovers
• Secret Relationship
• Family Rivalries
• From USA to Ireland
I highly recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.
September 29, 2024
Fun read that did not really motivate me to finish but still I enjoyed.
I especially liked the banter between Maeve and Briggs. The setting of an Irish island was great and the group of secondary characters were a joy to hang out with.
Some elements were a bit crass and raised my eyebrows somewhat. But the emotional bits weighed up to that.
The third act breakup had me rolling my eyes. The MMC believing his enemy (who hurt his best friend) and storming off? The FMC was better off without him honestly.
Still, their reunion was cute and made for a lovely ending.
Shoutout to the cute cover!!! (Though I wonder if the colours of the pubs are correct?)
3.5 stars rounded up for the Irish vibes.
I especially liked the banter between Maeve and Briggs. The setting of an Irish island was great and the group of secondary characters were a joy to hang out with.
Some elements were a bit crass and raised my eyebrows somewhat. But the emotional bits weighed up to that.
The third act breakup had me rolling my eyes. The MMC believing his enemy (who hurt his best friend) and storming off? The FMC was better off without him honestly.
Still, their reunion was cute and made for a lovely ending.
Shoutout to the cute cover!!! (Though I wonder if the colours of the pubs are correct?)
3.5 stars rounded up for the Irish vibes.
August 26, 2024
Exactly what’d you expect from looking at the cover and reading the synopsis. Broken woman meets sexy Irish man, big decisions have to be made, a series of misunderstandings, happy ending!
February 17, 2024
“Last call for love” is a lovely story full of insightful moments that will make you experience different emotions with every chapter. Expect to be charmed not only by the protagonists but also the other characters around them.
This romantic story is about two people who met in the middle of a quaint little island in Ireland. Briggs is the owner of a famous pub and Maeve is the stranded daughter of the deceased owner of the rival pub in this small island. The historic rivalry of the two families that own each pub is what sustains the island and the rest of the businesses. So, when Maeve out of nowhere inherits a property from a father she never met, she’s forced to travel to Ireland in order to sell the place and continue with her life. Destiny however has something else plan for her.
I always love books with epilogues but this particular one was perfect. The best end for a lovely story. It sums every question you may have at the end of the last chapter plus a very insightful note to reflect upon. 100% recommended!
Thanks for allowing to have an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.
This romantic story is about two people who met in the middle of a quaint little island in Ireland. Briggs is the owner of a famous pub and Maeve is the stranded daughter of the deceased owner of the rival pub in this small island. The historic rivalry of the two families that own each pub is what sustains the island and the rest of the businesses. So, when Maeve out of nowhere inherits a property from a father she never met, she’s forced to travel to Ireland in order to sell the place and continue with her life. Destiny however has something else plan for her.
I always love books with epilogues but this particular one was perfect. The best end for a lovely story. It sums every question you may have at the end of the last chapter plus a very insightful note to reflect upon. 100% recommended!
Thanks for allowing to have an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.
February 26, 2024
Last Call for Love is a cute twist on Romeo and Juliet with a HEA. This is told is third person POV with dual perspective from Maeve and Briggs.
Themes/Tropes: bad boy x clumsy control freak girl, Romeo and Juliet, forbidden love, dual POV, too good to be true, he falls first
Synopsis: Maeve never knew her bio dad. Imagine her surprise when she finds out she has an inheritance. So what’s the catch? She has to go to Ireland to find out what her inheritance is so she can get out of debt and finally close that chapter of her life. Maeve arrives in Ireland and is now the new owner of a famous pub on a remote island. Everyone knows all about her, and she’s launched into the Murphy VS Doherty feud. No one knows how it started, but everyone loves to see what will happen next with it! There’s only one problem: Briggs Murphy. They were never supposed to fall for each other, and Briggs Murphy falls fast.
Likes: the banter, the small town “it takes a village” community, the thoughtfulness of Liam, the reviews from tourists. Normally I don’t like social media or technology bits of our reality, but it was done well. Others mention that it was “too much” in the romance department.. I personally think it’s a lot tamer than most romance novels I read.
Dislikes: the formatting of texting/emailing. It didn’t flow well at times to distinguish whose dialogue was whose. There was a lot of details and events within a two month period. It flowed well, but I can see how it could be information overload for some.
All in all, I liked the book, especially the epilogue. It made for a sappy resolution. This book would be enjoyable for those who love cheesy romances with good banter where he falls fast.
Themes/Tropes: bad boy x clumsy control freak girl, Romeo and Juliet, forbidden love, dual POV, too good to be true, he falls first
Synopsis: Maeve never knew her bio dad. Imagine her surprise when she finds out she has an inheritance. So what’s the catch? She has to go to Ireland to find out what her inheritance is so she can get out of debt and finally close that chapter of her life. Maeve arrives in Ireland and is now the new owner of a famous pub on a remote island. Everyone knows all about her, and she’s launched into the Murphy VS Doherty feud. No one knows how it started, but everyone loves to see what will happen next with it! There’s only one problem: Briggs Murphy. They were never supposed to fall for each other, and Briggs Murphy falls fast.
Likes: the banter, the small town “it takes a village” community, the thoughtfulness of Liam, the reviews from tourists. Normally I don’t like social media or technology bits of our reality, but it was done well. Others mention that it was “too much” in the romance department.. I personally think it’s a lot tamer than most romance novels I read.
Dislikes: the formatting of texting/emailing. It didn’t flow well at times to distinguish whose dialogue was whose. There was a lot of details and events within a two month period. It flowed well, but I can see how it could be information overload for some.
All in all, I liked the book, especially the epilogue. It made for a sappy resolution. This book would be enjoyable for those who love cheesy romances with good banter where he falls fast.
March 7, 2024
3 stars!
Despite a case of insta-love (at least on part of one of the main characters), Briggs and Maeve were definitely cute together. I loved the fun competition storyline of their two taverns and the exploratory island adventures that Maeve embarked upon. The supporting cast was a lot of fun, and the setting could not be beat. Like, I want to get on a plane (and then ferry) and head to Inishglass right now! I also loved all the tavern reviews sprinkled throughout the book – I considered these to be a highlight for sure.
I will say a little bit of the MMC commentary gave me the "ick" and a few of the conflicts in the book were not well-flushed out. I got a bit of whip-lash with how quickly certain conflicts escalated.
This was a quick read and perhaps we can get another story about Isla, Hugh, or Aoife?
This bit does not impact my rating at all, but I definitely think this book is misclassified. I do not consider it YA. It’s pretty explicit in some parts and heavy on the innuendo throughout the book. While that doesn’t bother me, I imagine it will be a big concern for people looking for a legitimate YA book.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Despite a case of insta-love (at least on part of one of the main characters), Briggs and Maeve were definitely cute together. I loved the fun competition storyline of their two taverns and the exploratory island adventures that Maeve embarked upon. The supporting cast was a lot of fun, and the setting could not be beat. Like, I want to get on a plane (and then ferry) and head to Inishglass right now! I also loved all the tavern reviews sprinkled throughout the book – I considered these to be a highlight for sure.
I will say a little bit of the MMC commentary gave me the "ick" and a few of the conflicts in the book were not well-flushed out. I got a bit of whip-lash with how quickly certain conflicts escalated.
This was a quick read and perhaps we can get another story about Isla, Hugh, or Aoife?
This bit does not impact my rating at all, but I definitely think this book is misclassified. I do not consider it YA. It’s pretty explicit in some parts and heavy on the innuendo throughout the book. While that doesn’t bother me, I imagine it will be a big concern for people looking for a legitimate YA book.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 7, 2025
As I read this, I kept trying to figure out what was bugging me so much and then it clicked. This book was categorized (at least on Netgalley) as “teens and YA” and that categorization is not correct. This is decidedly not a young adult book. Not only are the open door scenes and innuendo very over-the-top, but the ages of the characters do not fit the young adult age group (they are in their late 20s). I think I was expecting something a little more… sweet? Innocent? Speaking of sexual content—for me, it was just too much all the way around. The whole relationship between the two characters went from “enemies” to being “the best thing that’s ever happened to me” very quickly, with only physical attraction between the two. 🙄 Clearly I am not the audience for this book. The storyline with the dad was ok, but there was so much else I didn’t like that I eventually DNF’d at 70%. 🤷♀️
To end on a positive note, parts of this felt like a mashup of P.S. I Love You and The Ugly Truth (Gerard Butler seems to fit the description for Briggs pretty well actually). So if you’re ok with sexual content on the page and that sounds intriguing, you might really like this. It just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
To end on a positive note, parts of this felt like a mashup of P.S. I Love You and The Ugly Truth (Gerard Butler seems to fit the description for Briggs pretty well actually). So if you’re ok with sexual content on the page and that sounds intriguing, you might really like this. It just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.
April 24, 2024
Ah, to have an estranged father leave you a pub as an inheritance on a picturesque island in Ireland... Sounds like a dream, right? Unfortunately, I couldn't suspend my disbelief for long enough to stop rolling my eyes at every page. Maybe I'm just a cynical hater, but I just couldn't fully get into this.
First off, the third-person dual POV, cringy conversations, and the narration in general didn't work for me. Then, we have the issue of the most stereotypical romance characters ever: her, a clumsy control freak, and him, a playboy sex god. It's a no from me.
Maybe I'm too quick to judge. Maybe I read one book too many with a similar plot and tropes. Or maybe this just isn't the original, enticing romance I was looking for.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First off, the third-person dual POV, cringy conversations, and the narration in general didn't work for me. Then, we have the issue of the most stereotypical romance characters ever: her, a clumsy control freak, and him, a playboy sex god. It's a no from me.
Maybe I'm too quick to judge. Maybe I read one book too many with a similar plot and tropes. Or maybe this just isn't the original, enticing romance I was looking for.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2024
Oh man this audiobook got me right off thr bat! I LOVED THE NARRATORS!! They were fantastic at portraying all the characters and emotions and Irish / American accents. Great job!
But the story was so compelling and such a fun one to listen to especially with all the shenanigans that went on! Briggs and Maeve were 😍😍😍😍😍 urgh the chemistry from that first night was amazing! And i must say a few tears were shed too….
I was also really hoping that Owen was going to end up being a misunderstood side character but nope! He’s through and through a D- bag 😂
I hope you all go have a listen to this one! I really enjoyed it!
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🧡Enemies to Lovers
🧡Small Town romance
🧡Lost Parent
🧡Found Family
🧡Secrets
🧡Dual POV
🧡Open door
I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
But the story was so compelling and such a fun one to listen to especially with all the shenanigans that went on! Briggs and Maeve were 😍😍😍😍😍 urgh the chemistry from that first night was amazing! And i must say a few tears were shed too….
I was also really hoping that Owen was going to end up being a misunderstood side character but nope! He’s through and through a D- bag 😂
I hope you all go have a listen to this one! I really enjoyed it!
𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🧡Enemies to Lovers
🧡Small Town romance
🧡Lost Parent
🧡Found Family
🧡Secrets
🧡Dual POV
🧡Open door
I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 24, 2024
ARC read 💫
🍺rival families
🍺Secret relationship/sneaking around
🍺pranks and banter
🍺found family
🍺small town romance
Romeo and juliet retake set in Ireland? Sign me up. Maeve finds herself in the middle of the Murphy versus Doherty family feud when she receives a letter about her father's will. In order to resolve the contents of the will, she must spend time on Inishglass island and complete a list of tasks. There's pranking, kickball games, cliff jumping, and love ❤️
I thought this book was so wholesome. The supporting characters were just as amazing as Briggs and Maeve and made the story that much more special. The pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but once the book got going, it was hard to put down.
Releases 8/6/24
🍺rival families
🍺Secret relationship/sneaking around
🍺pranks and banter
🍺found family
🍺small town romance
Romeo and juliet retake set in Ireland? Sign me up. Maeve finds herself in the middle of the Murphy versus Doherty family feud when she receives a letter about her father's will. In order to resolve the contents of the will, she must spend time on Inishglass island and complete a list of tasks. There's pranking, kickball games, cliff jumping, and love ❤️
I thought this book was so wholesome. The supporting characters were just as amazing as Briggs and Maeve and made the story that much more special. The pacing was a little slow at the beginning, but once the book got going, it was hard to put down.
Releases 8/6/24
October 7, 2024
This book was SO cute! Not my usual type of read but it was witty and had some emotional depth. Also, there is a character with a heart condition so that tugged at my heart strings 😉♥️
April 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Last Call for Love opens up with our FMC, Maeve, finding out her estranged father has passed away and has left her an inheritance. In order to collect it, she must travel to a remote Irish island. When she gets there, she finds that her inheritance is a pub, The Moorings. One of Maeve’s defining characteristics is that she is very organized. This is brought up so many times that it feels like the only part of her personality. At one point, Maeve is shopping in a store on the island, starts to rearrange and color code the whole store and is the confused why the owner is upset with her. It was a bit much.
We then meet our MMC, Briggs, who runs a rival pub on the island. Briggs and Maeve’s families have been feuding for generations, just like in Romeo and Juliet. Or at least that is what those on the island want the tourists to think. At the open, Briggs receives some news related to his health that has him in a bit of a personal spiral. He has been diagnosed with the same heart condition that killed his father 10 years ago. (Side note: let’s make a drinking game for the amount of times Briggs and his friend/roommate Hugh refer to the size of women’s breasts by comparing them to cantaloupe, cabbages, and grapefruit. You will be sloshed by chapter 5.)
Irish romances are really popular at the moment and I was excited to read this and hopefully get swept away. However, this was a little too “insta-love” for me. The MCs meet once and almost immediately make out. From that point the MMC is obsessed with the FMC. I wish we had seen or been given some more development on their relationship. Give me a little build up and tension. WHY do they connect? Is it just physical? Or is there something there? When the idea of the two pubs pranking each other came up, I was excited and expected pages and pages of hijinks. In the end, we had two pranks. I wanted MORE. Give me the shenanigans!
The premise for keeping Maeve on the island is this fake feud between the two families. Apparently, the whole island will fall apart if she sells the pub? On top of that, if she wants to sell the pub, her estranged father had set up some strange list of impossible tasks for Maeve to complete first. But this premise also seems to go to the wayside before it even gets a chance to begin. I found it all to be a bit outside of reality, even the warped and stretched reality that is a romcom.
The overall writing style left the characters feeling rather juvenile, even though they are almost all in their mid to late 20’s. I also found Briggs to be a rather unlikable guy. At the start of the book Briggs is happy to be sleeping with every tourist who walks into his pub, leering at the women, and making crass jokes. But we don’t really get to see him be “redeemed” from that behavior. And why are there so many dang Americans on this small Irish island? Maeve is from Chicago, Hugh is from Detroit, and Barb and Linda from the knitting store are both from New York.
When the writing switches to texts between characters, or online Yelp! reviews of the two pubs, I found it difficult to follow who what saying what and to who. Then in the middle of the texts it would switch to the character’s internal monologue. Very confusing. The book could benefit from formatting the type differently to flow like text message boxes (left or right justified) or some other style.
Around 3/4 of the way in, the story seemed to better find its footing. But I am not sure it was enough to balance out the rest. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it. I wavered between 2 and 3 stars and ended up on 3.
Last Call for Love opens up with our FMC, Maeve, finding out her estranged father has passed away and has left her an inheritance. In order to collect it, she must travel to a remote Irish island. When she gets there, she finds that her inheritance is a pub, The Moorings. One of Maeve’s defining characteristics is that she is very organized. This is brought up so many times that it feels like the only part of her personality. At one point, Maeve is shopping in a store on the island, starts to rearrange and color code the whole store and is the confused why the owner is upset with her. It was a bit much.
We then meet our MMC, Briggs, who runs a rival pub on the island. Briggs and Maeve’s families have been feuding for generations, just like in Romeo and Juliet. Or at least that is what those on the island want the tourists to think. At the open, Briggs receives some news related to his health that has him in a bit of a personal spiral. He has been diagnosed with the same heart condition that killed his father 10 years ago. (Side note: let’s make a drinking game for the amount of times Briggs and his friend/roommate Hugh refer to the size of women’s breasts by comparing them to cantaloupe, cabbages, and grapefruit. You will be sloshed by chapter 5.)
Irish romances are really popular at the moment and I was excited to read this and hopefully get swept away. However, this was a little too “insta-love” for me. The MCs meet once and almost immediately make out. From that point the MMC is obsessed with the FMC. I wish we had seen or been given some more development on their relationship. Give me a little build up and tension. WHY do they connect? Is it just physical? Or is there something there? When the idea of the two pubs pranking each other came up, I was excited and expected pages and pages of hijinks. In the end, we had two pranks. I wanted MORE. Give me the shenanigans!
The premise for keeping Maeve on the island is this fake feud between the two families. Apparently, the whole island will fall apart if she sells the pub? On top of that, if she wants to sell the pub, her estranged father had set up some strange list of impossible tasks for Maeve to complete first. But this premise also seems to go to the wayside before it even gets a chance to begin. I found it all to be a bit outside of reality, even the warped and stretched reality that is a romcom.
The overall writing style left the characters feeling rather juvenile, even though they are almost all in their mid to late 20’s. I also found Briggs to be a rather unlikable guy. At the start of the book Briggs is happy to be sleeping with every tourist who walks into his pub, leering at the women, and making crass jokes. But we don’t really get to see him be “redeemed” from that behavior. And why are there so many dang Americans on this small Irish island? Maeve is from Chicago, Hugh is from Detroit, and Barb and Linda from the knitting store are both from New York.
When the writing switches to texts between characters, or online Yelp! reviews of the two pubs, I found it difficult to follow who what saying what and to who. Then in the middle of the texts it would switch to the character’s internal monologue. Very confusing. The book could benefit from formatting the type differently to flow like text message boxes (left or right justified) or some other style.
Around 3/4 of the way in, the story seemed to better find its footing. But I am not sure it was enough to balance out the rest. I didn’t love it, but I also didn’t hate it. I wavered between 2 and 3 stars and ended up on 3.
March 14, 2024
The first thing I want to say is that this book was labeled teens & ya. While there aren’t any detailed explicit scenes, there is lots of sexual language and innuendos all throughout this book. A lot. Including constant talk about other people’s bodies. So I’m not sure I’d consider this YA.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I want to start by saying I didn’t hate it but I didn’t quite love it either.
I read the premise of the book and expected something different. I expected a little more back and forth tension between the two MCs. The rivalry part with both pub’s success depending on it to keep tourists coming just never really made much sense to me. I feel like if the rivalry aspect hadn’t been as much of a focus and there was more focus on just Maeve it would have made more sense and had more emotional impact on the reader. She had a terrible breakup, she was on this new island with a bunch of people who knew her father when she never even met him, and she now owns a pub she has to learn how to run. There was a lot of potential storyline to develop there but for me it never fully did.
I also never fully connected with the main characters. A lot of their personality traits were discussed but they didn’t feel quite authentic throughout the book. They were a bit cliche and lacked depth. Because of that, I felt like all the relationships formed also lacked depth.
Overall, I enjoyed the parts about Maeve finding herself and learning about Liam. Liam’s letters were the best part for me. It was also a quick read. I would still read other books by this author in the future.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I want to start by saying I didn’t hate it but I didn’t quite love it either.
I read the premise of the book and expected something different. I expected a little more back and forth tension between the two MCs. The rivalry part with both pub’s success depending on it to keep tourists coming just never really made much sense to me. I feel like if the rivalry aspect hadn’t been as much of a focus and there was more focus on just Maeve it would have made more sense and had more emotional impact on the reader. She had a terrible breakup, she was on this new island with a bunch of people who knew her father when she never even met him, and she now owns a pub she has to learn how to run. There was a lot of potential storyline to develop there but for me it never fully did.
I also never fully connected with the main characters. A lot of their personality traits were discussed but they didn’t feel quite authentic throughout the book. They were a bit cliche and lacked depth. Because of that, I felt like all the relationships formed also lacked depth.
Overall, I enjoyed the parts about Maeve finding herself and learning about Liam. Liam’s letters were the best part for me. It was also a quick read. I would still read other books by this author in the future.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
April 28, 2024
3.75⭐️
There is a sprinkle of spoilers in this review - Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in return for an honest review.
Maeve Kaminski is a very OCD 24-year-old young lady who just got her heart broken by a boyfriend who used her name to open up a credit card and rack her up in debt. Tragic. While this is happening, Maeve learns that her biological dad (whom she never met) has passed and has given her his pub in a small town in Ireland. Maeve travels to Ireland without letting her family know the situation (I could never). How her mom never asked where she was the whole first 3/4 of the book surprises me (well, she was on a cruise, but still). She discovers in this town, there are only two pubs, and they are rivals. Now, based on this, you can tell what the trope will be—enemies to lovers. You can’t go wrong with that. In my opinion, they aren’t necessarily “enemies,” but they are in a family/pub rivalry that turns into a love story. Briggs (who we find out has the same heart condition as his deceased father) is the owner (after his father passes) of the other pub in town. Long story short, they meet and instantly have crushes on each other. But God forbid you both ruin the rivalry and fall in love.
As the book goes on, Maeve stays longer than anticipated and is debating on selling the pub as she can’t run it because her whole life in Chicago is waiting for her. My job would have fired me if I had been gone that long. In order to sell the pub, her father has made it difficult by creating a checklist (before death) she must complete to get the blessing to sell. She is working with a very annoying man, Eoin O’Connor (a giant piece of work), who is in charge of the will/overseeing the pub falling to Maeve.
About 60% into the book, Maeve and Briggs finally communicate and tell each other how they feel…except Maeve hasn’t told him she plans on selling the pub and moving back home. At this point, you can guess what will most likely happen: he finds out, they stop talking, she goes home, one of them runs to the other and says they can’t live without them, yada yada yada. And if you guessed that, you’re right. There isn’t much of a plot twist in this ending as it would if you were reading another romance novel.
Maeve does learn that one of the items on the list was, in a way, a trick and discovers her dad left her his apartment as well. To me, the list was a distraction and a way for her to know the town more and the people to make her, in the end, want to stay. When she finally learns about the apartment from sweet Barb, she finds a letter he wrote. I will say I did tear up a bit reading the letter. In the beginning, you see the biological dad as a bad guy, but in the end, he’s not so bad and had reasons for never communicating.
Fast forward, we get to them being all lovey-dovey. First of all, this is labeled as a YA book; I wouldn’t categorize it as that at all. There are too many things that make it not YA. Second of all, if a man starts tickling me and blowing raspberries on my stomach, I’m getting up and walking out the door, never to return. Good lord, LOL. I usually cringe a lot during romance novels, but that made me physically ill, haha. He asks her to be his girlfriend, and they hide the relationship for apparent reasons. They go to Cork on a date where the whole town can’t see them and stir up drama. During this time, she meets her grandfather, who she recently learned was still alive. I teared up again. Briggs also tells her he loves her, and she hits him with a “thank you for telling me that” line like it’s The Bachelor. They get back, and everything is fine. At this point, the next chapter throws me off as she determines she’s staying in Ireland, but she is still trying to check off the last item on the list to sell the pub. In my mind, she’d want to keep the pub if she’s staying. After she gets back from this excursion, Briggs is waiting for her, freaking out cause he couldn’t get a hold of her in the storm. Because of this, he goes off on a rant about how he can’t do this anymore blah blah blah, and then proceeds to propose to her which she tells him to wait. By 80% of the book, she still hasn’t told her family about anything (ex-boyfriend/debt included) or told Briggs the whole truth (ex-boyfriend and selling the pub). She gives herself 48 hours to get all the secrets and situations cleared.
And then it all falls apart. Within a couple of pages, that little prick Eoin shows up and ruins a housewarming party and dumps all her secrets about the list and selling the pub to everyone in the room. Briggs is upset and storms out, feeling betrayed. Somehow, Maeve’s text messages haven’t been coming in, and she’s just now getting messages. Turns out her mom knows she’s in Ireland and is livid. Part of it is her best friend’s fault (who she argued with earlier in the book. Not too critical). She’s shocked and doesn’t know what to do. If I could punch Eoin through the book, I would.
The next day, Briggs gets to his senses and runs back to the bar/apartment, but she’s gone back to Chicago. Because of all the running and the stress, the chapter ends with him collapsing from too much push on his heart condition. Maeve has been in Chicago for a couple of weeks now, all depressed and mopey. She finally goes back to her apartment, and guess who shows up? No, not Briggs. The scammy ex-boyfriend to pay her back for the debt. Later, she gets an email from nasty little Eoin with her dad's letter for when she completed the list. It turns out I was wrong, and he did want her to sell it and not feel like she had any regrets. He wants her not to feel trapped like he did and to have her live her life.
Now it's Maeve's turn to come to her senses. She finally realizes she doesn’t want to sell the pub and needs to return to Ireland ASAP. At the airport, she gets a text about something wrong with Briggs. He had the surgery he was putting off and is doing better. He planned on going to Chicago to chase after her, but she beat him to it. They catch up, and she tells him she’s staying and running the pub. The book ends happily, with them together and obviously in love.
In the epilogue, Maeve writes her deceased dad a sweet letter catching him up on the last year. She talks about her and Briggs finally getting engaged, her not selling the pub, and many other things—a perfect way to end the book without it being 600 pages.
Overall, this was a cute book. I didn’t love it, but I liked it.
There is a sprinkle of spoilers in this review - Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in return for an honest review.
Maeve Kaminski is a very OCD 24-year-old young lady who just got her heart broken by a boyfriend who used her name to open up a credit card and rack her up in debt. Tragic. While this is happening, Maeve learns that her biological dad (whom she never met) has passed and has given her his pub in a small town in Ireland. Maeve travels to Ireland without letting her family know the situation (I could never). How her mom never asked where she was the whole first 3/4 of the book surprises me (well, she was on a cruise, but still). She discovers in this town, there are only two pubs, and they are rivals. Now, based on this, you can tell what the trope will be—enemies to lovers. You can’t go wrong with that. In my opinion, they aren’t necessarily “enemies,” but they are in a family/pub rivalry that turns into a love story. Briggs (who we find out has the same heart condition as his deceased father) is the owner (after his father passes) of the other pub in town. Long story short, they meet and instantly have crushes on each other. But God forbid you both ruin the rivalry and fall in love.
As the book goes on, Maeve stays longer than anticipated and is debating on selling the pub as she can’t run it because her whole life in Chicago is waiting for her. My job would have fired me if I had been gone that long. In order to sell the pub, her father has made it difficult by creating a checklist (before death) she must complete to get the blessing to sell. She is working with a very annoying man, Eoin O’Connor (a giant piece of work), who is in charge of the will/overseeing the pub falling to Maeve.
About 60% into the book, Maeve and Briggs finally communicate and tell each other how they feel…except Maeve hasn’t told him she plans on selling the pub and moving back home. At this point, you can guess what will most likely happen: he finds out, they stop talking, she goes home, one of them runs to the other and says they can’t live without them, yada yada yada. And if you guessed that, you’re right. There isn’t much of a plot twist in this ending as it would if you were reading another romance novel.
Maeve does learn that one of the items on the list was, in a way, a trick and discovers her dad left her his apartment as well. To me, the list was a distraction and a way for her to know the town more and the people to make her, in the end, want to stay. When she finally learns about the apartment from sweet Barb, she finds a letter he wrote. I will say I did tear up a bit reading the letter. In the beginning, you see the biological dad as a bad guy, but in the end, he’s not so bad and had reasons for never communicating.
Fast forward, we get to them being all lovey-dovey. First of all, this is labeled as a YA book; I wouldn’t categorize it as that at all. There are too many things that make it not YA. Second of all, if a man starts tickling me and blowing raspberries on my stomach, I’m getting up and walking out the door, never to return. Good lord, LOL. I usually cringe a lot during romance novels, but that made me physically ill, haha. He asks her to be his girlfriend, and they hide the relationship for apparent reasons. They go to Cork on a date where the whole town can’t see them and stir up drama. During this time, she meets her grandfather, who she recently learned was still alive. I teared up again. Briggs also tells her he loves her, and she hits him with a “thank you for telling me that” line like it’s The Bachelor. They get back, and everything is fine. At this point, the next chapter throws me off as she determines she’s staying in Ireland, but she is still trying to check off the last item on the list to sell the pub. In my mind, she’d want to keep the pub if she’s staying. After she gets back from this excursion, Briggs is waiting for her, freaking out cause he couldn’t get a hold of her in the storm. Because of this, he goes off on a rant about how he can’t do this anymore blah blah blah, and then proceeds to propose to her which she tells him to wait. By 80% of the book, she still hasn’t told her family about anything (ex-boyfriend/debt included) or told Briggs the whole truth (ex-boyfriend and selling the pub). She gives herself 48 hours to get all the secrets and situations cleared.
And then it all falls apart. Within a couple of pages, that little prick Eoin shows up and ruins a housewarming party and dumps all her secrets about the list and selling the pub to everyone in the room. Briggs is upset and storms out, feeling betrayed. Somehow, Maeve’s text messages haven’t been coming in, and she’s just now getting messages. Turns out her mom knows she’s in Ireland and is livid. Part of it is her best friend’s fault (who she argued with earlier in the book. Not too critical). She’s shocked and doesn’t know what to do. If I could punch Eoin through the book, I would.
The next day, Briggs gets to his senses and runs back to the bar/apartment, but she’s gone back to Chicago. Because of all the running and the stress, the chapter ends with him collapsing from too much push on his heart condition. Maeve has been in Chicago for a couple of weeks now, all depressed and mopey. She finally goes back to her apartment, and guess who shows up? No, not Briggs. The scammy ex-boyfriend to pay her back for the debt. Later, she gets an email from nasty little Eoin with her dad's letter for when she completed the list. It turns out I was wrong, and he did want her to sell it and not feel like she had any regrets. He wants her not to feel trapped like he did and to have her live her life.
Now it's Maeve's turn to come to her senses. She finally realizes she doesn’t want to sell the pub and needs to return to Ireland ASAP. At the airport, she gets a text about something wrong with Briggs. He had the surgery he was putting off and is doing better. He planned on going to Chicago to chase after her, but she beat him to it. They catch up, and she tells him she’s staying and running the pub. The book ends happily, with them together and obviously in love.
In the epilogue, Maeve writes her deceased dad a sweet letter catching him up on the last year. She talks about her and Briggs finally getting engaged, her not selling the pub, and many other things—a perfect way to end the book without it being 600 pages.
Overall, this was a cute book. I didn’t love it, but I liked it.
May 10, 2024
3 stars!
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!
I’m going to be honest, I went into this book with some high expectations for a cutesy little irish romance book, which this definitely still is but there were definitely things that had me a bit… underwhelmed.
There was just so much miscommunication in the book that it became annoying. The book would have been a lot shorter if all the characters actually spoke and said what they had to.
The first half of the book and the second felt like two separate books to me in ways that i can’t really explain.
The main characters relationship didn’t feel genuine and i just found it really hard to root for them as a couple. I was more interested in the pubs, the characters friends and the plot about her dad. Like if they ended up being just friends I would not have been upset in the slightest.
[SPOILERS]
•
•
•
Her ex showing up to apologise & explain why he did what he did in regard to the debt and offering to pay her back was just so unrealistic that it was laughable, it was just so oddly convenient for the plot in the sense of just wrapping up that story like last minute.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!
I’m going to be honest, I went into this book with some high expectations for a cutesy little irish romance book, which this definitely still is but there were definitely things that had me a bit… underwhelmed.
There was just so much miscommunication in the book that it became annoying. The book would have been a lot shorter if all the characters actually spoke and said what they had to.
The first half of the book and the second felt like two separate books to me in ways that i can’t really explain.
The main characters relationship didn’t feel genuine and i just found it really hard to root for them as a couple. I was more interested in the pubs, the characters friends and the plot about her dad. Like if they ended up being just friends I would not have been upset in the slightest.
[SPOILERS]
•
•
•
Her ex showing up to apologise & explain why he did what he did in regard to the debt and offering to pay her back was just so unrealistic that it was laughable, it was just so oddly convenient for the plot in the sense of just wrapping up that story like last minute.
March 9, 2024
This book wasn’t really for me. I’m also confused if it’s marked correctly for age range? It says teens, but I don’t necessarily think it’s appropriate for teens. It talked about orgasms and sex. I mean, there are worse things, but this seemed more adult range? I would move the age range to new adult if that can still be done.
The phrases were pretty repetitive, and I’m not a fan of the clumsy somewhat ditzy girl trope. I think the editing could have been stronger- it would help the writing not feel as choppy due to sentence length. I think some editing could make this a stronger novel.
The phrases were pretty repetitive, and I’m not a fan of the clumsy somewhat ditzy girl trope. I think the editing could have been stronger- it would help the writing not feel as choppy due to sentence length. I think some editing could make this a stronger novel.
April 18, 2024
4/5⭐️
A jolly good time!
This book follows Maeve and Briggs who are rival pub owners on a remote Irish island. Briggs, with his own struggles, is not looking for love. But he cannot help himself. The question is, can they afford to mix business and pleasure?
Firstly, I really loved the writing. It was funny, romantic and emotional as well. Also, the ending was so heartwarming and wholesome! I teared up reading it.
Although there were no explicit scenes in the book, there were quite a few highly suggestive scenarios. Personally, I wasn't bothered by it.
I also loved the setting and feel of the book. It made me feel like I was living in that world. It was a very picturesque and well written book overall!
I received an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A jolly good time!
This book follows Maeve and Briggs who are rival pub owners on a remote Irish island. Briggs, with his own struggles, is not looking for love. But he cannot help himself. The question is, can they afford to mix business and pleasure?
Firstly, I really loved the writing. It was funny, romantic and emotional as well. Also, the ending was so heartwarming and wholesome! I teared up reading it.
Although there were no explicit scenes in the book, there were quite a few highly suggestive scenarios. Personally, I wasn't bothered by it.
I also loved the setting and feel of the book. It made me feel like I was living in that world. It was a very picturesque and well written book overall!
I received an ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2024
3 stars
I liked certain elements in this book, like the fake hate and the "pranks," and Maeve was a wonderful fmc, and it was a delight to follow her journey, but the mmc? He was a bit smarmy, especially at the beginning, with him sleeping with his clients. I didn't like that.
Still, this was a fun read that kept me entertained from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked certain elements in this book, like the fake hate and the "pranks," and Maeve was a wonderful fmc, and it was a delight to follow her journey, but the mmc? He was a bit smarmy, especially at the beginning, with him sleeping with his clients. I didn't like that.
Still, this was a fun read that kept me entertained from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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