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Meet Me Under the Clock
Sometimes love happens when you least expect it…
When Nadia and Tom are both unceremoniously stood up by their dates under the clock at Waterloo Station, fate throws them together in the most unusual of circumstances.
What starts as a brilliant story for future dinner parties soon turns into a wonderful friendship, and both Tom and Nadia realise they’ve found the perfect partner in crime.
Tired of dating but always needing a plus one for weddings, parties, and the like, they agree to fake date each other. But as their pretend relationship starts to feel more real, Nadia and Tom begin to wonder if there’s more to their connection than convenience.
Could the relationship they’ve been faking be the one they’ve been waiting for all along?
When Nadia and Tom are both unceremoniously stood up by their dates under the clock at Waterloo Station, fate throws them together in the most unusual of circumstances.
What starts as a brilliant story for future dinner parties soon turns into a wonderful friendship, and both Tom and Nadia realise they’ve found the perfect partner in crime.
Tired of dating but always needing a plus one for weddings, parties, and the like, they agree to fake date each other. But as their pretend relationship starts to feel more real, Nadia and Tom begin to wonder if there’s more to their connection than convenience.
Could the relationship they’ve been faking be the one they’ve been waiting for all along?
- GenresRomanceContemporary
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2025
482 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
March 6, 2025
Love it when a coincidental meeting sparks a bit of fake dating and plenty of confused feelings!
Five people are coincidentally under the clock at Waterloo Station when a lockdown occurs. Two are celebrating an engagement. One is reeling from finding out her husband was cheating on her. And the other two... both stood up by their prospective dates.
Nadia and Tom end up with a friendship that takes on a different guise as they both find themselves unhappy with their current situations.
Step forward the friends and their fake dating idea. Never the best idea, though!
As with any good romance, it was clear from the off to the reader, but not to the MCs, that they were going to be perfect for each other, but the journey they took to get to that end point was very entertaining. There was an obvious chemistry between Nadia and Tom, and I was willing it to finally spark from the beginning!
Plenty of laugh out loud awkward moments as well as those 'will they? won't they' ones to keep you on your reading toes, and a lovely bunch of supporting characters.
I enjoyed this light-hearted story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Five people are coincidentally under the clock at Waterloo Station when a lockdown occurs. Two are celebrating an engagement. One is reeling from finding out her husband was cheating on her. And the other two... both stood up by their prospective dates.
Nadia and Tom end up with a friendship that takes on a different guise as they both find themselves unhappy with their current situations.
Step forward the friends and their fake dating idea. Never the best idea, though!
As with any good romance, it was clear from the off to the reader, but not to the MCs, that they were going to be perfect for each other, but the journey they took to get to that end point was very entertaining. There was an obvious chemistry between Nadia and Tom, and I was willing it to finally spark from the beginning!
Plenty of laugh out loud awkward moments as well as those 'will they? won't they' ones to keep you on your reading toes, and a lovely bunch of supporting characters.
I enjoyed this light-hearted story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
March 31, 2025
Perfect, short romcom! The book was easy to read and at points made me laugh out loud. While the storyline was predictable, I still immensely enjoyed the book. One of the main parts of this book include the "Waterloo Five" - five random strangers who became friends at the very beginning of this book. I thought this detail was perfect and enjoyed seeing their friendships bloom in addition to Tom and Nadia's budding romance.
Thank you to Jo Lovett, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the eARC!
Thank you to Jo Lovett, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the eARC!
April 27, 2025
3.5 stars.
Reviewed for Dear Author.
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/o...
Reviewed for Dear Author.
https://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/o...
April 15, 2025
Five strangers wind up coincidentally under the Waterloo Clock when a critical situation lockdown takes place. Two of them are celebrating an engagement, one is dealing with finding out that her husband has been cheating on her and the other two have each been stood up be their respective dates.
Nadia and Tom are the main characters, and the singles that get stood up. They end up with an interesting friendship that gives them the idea to fake date so that their friends and family will leave them be as they're both tired of the dating scene. It was clear to the reader that they'd be perfect for each other, but of course, part of the story was the characters finding that out for themselves
There's lots of laughter to be had and the lovely supporting chats to round out the story I adore Jo Lovett's books and this was no exception.
Thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
Nadia and Tom are the main characters, and the singles that get stood up. They end up with an interesting friendship that gives them the idea to fake date so that their friends and family will leave them be as they're both tired of the dating scene. It was clear to the reader that they'd be perfect for each other, but of course, part of the story was the characters finding that out for themselves
There's lots of laughter to be had and the lovely supporting chats to round out the story I adore Jo Lovett's books and this was no exception.
Thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review
March 30, 2025
I think the overall premise of the book is very cute but it missed the mark in a lot of places for me.
I felt both Tom and Nadia lacked humor in their personalities and that made it boring for me. And that’s some of my own personal taste that wasn’t satisfied.
There were a lot of British terms that I didn’t know and had to look up and that kinda made me feel disconnected. Idk I think the whole thing for me had a sort of cultural barrier I couldn’t get over.
I felt both Tom and Nadia lacked humor in their personalities and that made it boring for me. And that’s some of my own personal taste that wasn’t satisfied.
There were a lot of British terms that I didn’t know and had to look up and that kinda made me feel disconnected. Idk I think the whole thing for me had a sort of cultural barrier I couldn’t get over.
April 14, 2025
Firstly thank you @theboldbookclub for letting me read this book. It an easy short rom com read. While the book was predictable I still enjoyed the characters. Worth a read.
July 18, 2025
So easy to read, needed to read a romance after some thrillers, so an easy plot with predictable storyline was exactly what was needed. Love a fake romance, and friendship was lovely.
June 26, 2025
BRO ITS A FAKE DATING AU!!!!
A very chill and sweet read on a comfy Sunday.
I adore Nadia.
Nadia girl she cool she slays she holds and gives her ground at the right moments. She slots right into the family. To be a gal that can just easily adapt and chat casually to others!
I kinda hate Tom.
No cap tho this guy is pathetic... you've met this other girl basically once, you know nothing about her. Make it make sense really. Also guys I need y'all to be in touch with your feelings way better.
But I get you Nadia…
that princess carry was the game changer huh!!! That would do things to me too.
The friendship group is very wholesome.
It was actually really sweet how the newfound friends met and made an unexpected friendship with each other and that continued onwards!!
All in all very sweet, light and predictable read that was just what I needed at the time.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
A very chill and sweet read on a comfy Sunday.
I adore Nadia.
Nadia girl she cool she slays she holds and gives her ground at the right moments. She slots right into the family. To be a gal that can just easily adapt and chat casually to others!
I kinda hate Tom.
No cap tho this guy is pathetic... you've met this other girl basically once, you know nothing about her. Make it make sense really. Also guys I need y'all to be in touch with your feelings way better.
But I get you Nadia…
that princess carry was the game changer huh!!! That would do things to me too.
The friendship group is very wholesome.
It was actually really sweet how the newfound friends met and made an unexpected friendship with each other and that continued onwards!!
All in all very sweet, light and predictable read that was just what I needed at the time.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 22, 2025
Meet Me Under the Clock is Jo Lovett’s newest cozy romantic comedy set in London. It’s a friends-to-lovers love-triangle story with a very predictable plot. The events of a single night account for the first 20 percent of the book.
33-year-old Nadia is an accountant who is unlucky in love. She is a very capable and caring woman who is overlooked by others. After six terrible dates from an app, she is set up on a blind date with a co-worker’s roommate, meeting Dougie under the clock at Waterloo Station. When she arrives wearing a red dress, no one is there who meets Dougie’s physical description. After waiting awhile, the station is locked down for over an hour due to a security threat. During this time, Nadia makes conversation with three women and a man who was also waiting for his date to arrive.
35-year-old Tom has been divorced for nine months and is lonely. He recently reached out to a woman, Lola, who he met ten years earlier and spent two hours with. While he felt that he loved Lola after their initial meeting, she was pregnant and felt that she should try to make things work with the father of her child. While Tom is waiting for Lola, who he hasn’t seen in ten years, Waterloo Station is locked down and he begins talking with four women who are standing nearby.
Bea and Ruth are long-time friends who hid their romantic love for each other for 50 years. Now they are open about their lesbian relationship, getting engaged, and encouraging others to not waste their lives. Carole and Roger are supposed to be celebrating their wedding anniversary, except that Carole discovered Roger’s communication with his lover. They feud loudly and Roger leaves. Tom, Lola, Bea, Ruth, and Carole declare themselves The Waterloo Five and go to a nearby restaurant.
Nadia and Tom quickly become friends and agree to become each other’s’ plus-one in order to get others off their backs. While Nadia doesn’t care that Dougie blew his chance with her, Tom is very worried about Lola’s no-show and lack of contact. As Nadia and Tom spend more time together, it’s obvious that they are very compatible and should form a romantic connection. However, the specter of Lola hangs around.
While Meet Me Under the Clock is a well-written story, I feel like it would have been a much better story had it been written or marketed differently. The story as written had too much emotional angst regarding Lola for it to be labeled as a romantic comedy. Tom’s insta-love for Lola made zero sense, and the reader knew that she was “no good.” Tom spent more time with Nadia in the evening when they met than he did with Lola in ten years. He absolutely should have recognized what a treasure Nadia is and gotten over his fantasy obsession with Lola much sooner. The camaraderie between The Waterloo Five is what makes Meet Me Under the Clock a special story. It’s a celebration of friendship, and familial, romantic, and platonic love.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
33-year-old Nadia is an accountant who is unlucky in love. She is a very capable and caring woman who is overlooked by others. After six terrible dates from an app, she is set up on a blind date with a co-worker’s roommate, meeting Dougie under the clock at Waterloo Station. When she arrives wearing a red dress, no one is there who meets Dougie’s physical description. After waiting awhile, the station is locked down for over an hour due to a security threat. During this time, Nadia makes conversation with three women and a man who was also waiting for his date to arrive.
35-year-old Tom has been divorced for nine months and is lonely. He recently reached out to a woman, Lola, who he met ten years earlier and spent two hours with. While he felt that he loved Lola after their initial meeting, she was pregnant and felt that she should try to make things work with the father of her child. While Tom is waiting for Lola, who he hasn’t seen in ten years, Waterloo Station is locked down and he begins talking with four women who are standing nearby.
Bea and Ruth are long-time friends who hid their romantic love for each other for 50 years. Now they are open about their lesbian relationship, getting engaged, and encouraging others to not waste their lives. Carole and Roger are supposed to be celebrating their wedding anniversary, except that Carole discovered Roger’s communication with his lover. They feud loudly and Roger leaves. Tom, Lola, Bea, Ruth, and Carole declare themselves The Waterloo Five and go to a nearby restaurant.
Nadia and Tom quickly become friends and agree to become each other’s’ plus-one in order to get others off their backs. While Nadia doesn’t care that Dougie blew his chance with her, Tom is very worried about Lola’s no-show and lack of contact. As Nadia and Tom spend more time together, it’s obvious that they are very compatible and should form a romantic connection. However, the specter of Lola hangs around.
While Meet Me Under the Clock is a well-written story, I feel like it would have been a much better story had it been written or marketed differently. The story as written had too much emotional angst regarding Lola for it to be labeled as a romantic comedy. Tom’s insta-love for Lola made zero sense, and the reader knew that she was “no good.” Tom spent more time with Nadia in the evening when they met than he did with Lola in ten years. He absolutely should have recognized what a treasure Nadia is and gotten over his fantasy obsession with Lola much sooner. The camaraderie between The Waterloo Five is what makes Meet Me Under the Clock a special story. It’s a celebration of friendship, and familial, romantic, and platonic love.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 6, 2025
📚 3.5 stars – A charming, slightly chaotic romcom that’s equal parts heartwarming and mildly frustrating! 💘💭
Okay, so Meet Me Under the Clock had big potential, and honestly? I was fully on board for the premise. Like yes please, two people getting stood up under the Waterloo clock and ending up in a fake dating situation?? Iconic setup. Very Richard Curtis, very You’ve Got Mail meets fake dating tropes and I was HERE for it. 🙌
Let’s start with the good stuff, yeah?
💫 Nadia and Tom? Adorable. They’ve got this really sweet, awkward chemistry that almost gave me butterflies. And their banter? Kinda cracked me up. It’s got that very British, dry humour that just hits right.
Also the internal monologues??? Unhinged in the best way – like someone let a squirrel loose in their brains 🐿️💭 but honestly, same. If you’ve got a bit of a chaotic brain that jumps from one idea to another like it's a trampoline park, you’ll probably relate 😂
✨ The Waterloo Five = found family vibes. Were they a tad insta-friends? Yeah. Did I care? Not really. It was giving slightly unrealistic but very wholesome energy and sometimes, you just want a group of randoms who bond over being stood up and make a group chat about it. Would die for Carole btw – divorced queen living her absolute best life, sipping cocktails and serving wisdom 🍸👑
BUT... (and it’s kind of a big but 👀)
💔 Tom. Mate. What are you doing?!
The whole still hung up on Lola from TEN years ago after literally one convo thing?? Unhinged. Like, be so serious. This man had the emotional depth of a puddle when it came to her and I was just sitting there like why are we pretending this is romantic? Bro, you were like 25. Get a grip 😅
Then THAT SCENE. You know the one. No spoilers, but I honestly couldn’t look at Tom the same after that. Nadia deserved better and I wanted her to make him grovel, write a 5-page essay, AND show up with at least two apology cakes. Instead, she just kind of... let it go? And I’m sorry but no. Even Elsa wouldn’t have let it slide that easily ❄️🚫
💖 Nadia, though, was a gem. Soft girl energy with a backbone. I loved how honest and emotionally available she was – even while fake dating someone and having feelings she didn’t want to admit. Felt very real and relatable.
So overall?
👉 Cute concept
👉 Loveable supporting cast
👉 Great pacing – flew through it
👉 But Tom really tested my patience 😤 and the romance didn’t fully hit like I wanted it to.
Would I recommend it? Yeah – if you’re after something light, a bit silly, and full of heart. Just be warned that you may want to throw something at Tom at some point...
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, so Meet Me Under the Clock had big potential, and honestly? I was fully on board for the premise. Like yes please, two people getting stood up under the Waterloo clock and ending up in a fake dating situation?? Iconic setup. Very Richard Curtis, very You’ve Got Mail meets fake dating tropes and I was HERE for it. 🙌
Let’s start with the good stuff, yeah?
💫 Nadia and Tom? Adorable. They’ve got this really sweet, awkward chemistry that almost gave me butterflies. And their banter? Kinda cracked me up. It’s got that very British, dry humour that just hits right.
Also the internal monologues??? Unhinged in the best way – like someone let a squirrel loose in their brains 🐿️💭 but honestly, same. If you’ve got a bit of a chaotic brain that jumps from one idea to another like it's a trampoline park, you’ll probably relate 😂
✨ The Waterloo Five = found family vibes. Were they a tad insta-friends? Yeah. Did I care? Not really. It was giving slightly unrealistic but very wholesome energy and sometimes, you just want a group of randoms who bond over being stood up and make a group chat about it. Would die for Carole btw – divorced queen living her absolute best life, sipping cocktails and serving wisdom 🍸👑
BUT... (and it’s kind of a big but 👀)
💔 Tom. Mate. What are you doing?!
The whole still hung up on Lola from TEN years ago after literally one convo thing?? Unhinged. Like, be so serious. This man had the emotional depth of a puddle when it came to her and I was just sitting there like why are we pretending this is romantic? Bro, you were like 25. Get a grip 😅
Then THAT SCENE. You know the one. No spoilers, but I honestly couldn’t look at Tom the same after that. Nadia deserved better and I wanted her to make him grovel, write a 5-page essay, AND show up with at least two apology cakes. Instead, she just kind of... let it go? And I’m sorry but no. Even Elsa wouldn’t have let it slide that easily ❄️🚫
💖 Nadia, though, was a gem. Soft girl energy with a backbone. I loved how honest and emotionally available she was – even while fake dating someone and having feelings she didn’t want to admit. Felt very real and relatable.
So overall?
👉 Cute concept
👉 Loveable supporting cast
👉 Great pacing – flew through it
👉 But Tom really tested my patience 😤 and the romance didn’t fully hit like I wanted it to.
Would I recommend it? Yeah – if you’re after something light, a bit silly, and full of heart. Just be warned that you may want to throw something at Tom at some point...
Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2025
'Meet Me Under the Clock' has a really sweet premise, about two strangers who meet under a clock at a train station after both being stood up by their date for the evening. They end up forming a pact where they decide to 'fake date' each other in order to avoid any more romantic troubles.
This novel was certainly a 'slow burn', and our two main characters really get to know each other! I don't think I've ever read a book where two characters ask each other quite so many questions. Unfortunately, their conversations were very boring, and super awkward. They also lacked chemistry, both stating throughout almost the entire book that they had nothing in common with each other.
I could not form a connection with these characters, as I found them extremely uncomfortable people. I wanted to root for them, as they were definitely kind, but their inner dialogues, as well as their conversations, were just painful to read. They communicated entirely through small talk; with short blunt sentences that were very repetitive. Their politeness became dry to read, and caused them to lack any personality.
It wasn't just Nadia and Tom who were overly polite to each other however. Every character also had this same trait; as if they were only able to communicate using pleasantries. It felt very unrealistic to how real people talk. Conversations lacked individuality, excitement, drama, sarcasm, disagreements, and any sort of unique traits. Everyone was just too nice.
Of all the time Tom and Nadia spent together, there was a constant back and forth of indecisiveness between every decision they made. These two characters seemed as though they had a fear of stepping on the others toes, making them behave over-cautious of what they said aloud.
Both POV's personalities were also very simular. I realise it's likely the authors distinct comedic writing style, but I found it difficult to differentiate between the pair.
My last critiques are that I also found this novel to be very dialogue heavy. I think this is more a personal preference of mine to have more description of events, as a lot of contemporary novels do include a lot of dialogue. There was also a lot of 'telling' the reader what had happened rather than showing.
Although this story was heartfelt and definitely sweet, I found myself struggling to get through it and had too many issues with it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this.
*I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*
This novel was certainly a 'slow burn', and our two main characters really get to know each other! I don't think I've ever read a book where two characters ask each other quite so many questions. Unfortunately, their conversations were very boring, and super awkward. They also lacked chemistry, both stating throughout almost the entire book that they had nothing in common with each other.
I could not form a connection with these characters, as I found them extremely uncomfortable people. I wanted to root for them, as they were definitely kind, but their inner dialogues, as well as their conversations, were just painful to read. They communicated entirely through small talk; with short blunt sentences that were very repetitive. Their politeness became dry to read, and caused them to lack any personality.
It wasn't just Nadia and Tom who were overly polite to each other however. Every character also had this same trait; as if they were only able to communicate using pleasantries. It felt very unrealistic to how real people talk. Conversations lacked individuality, excitement, drama, sarcasm, disagreements, and any sort of unique traits. Everyone was just too nice.
Of all the time Tom and Nadia spent together, there was a constant back and forth of indecisiveness between every decision they made. These two characters seemed as though they had a fear of stepping on the others toes, making them behave over-cautious of what they said aloud.
Both POV's personalities were also very simular. I realise it's likely the authors distinct comedic writing style, but I found it difficult to differentiate between the pair.
My last critiques are that I also found this novel to be very dialogue heavy. I think this is more a personal preference of mine to have more description of events, as a lot of contemporary novels do include a lot of dialogue. There was also a lot of 'telling' the reader what had happened rather than showing.
Although this story was heartfelt and definitely sweet, I found myself struggling to get through it and had too many issues with it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this.
*I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) for free in exchange for an honest review*
April 14, 2025
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Meet Me Under the Clock in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Me Under the Clock is the newest closed door romance from Jo Lovett and Boldwood Books. When Nadia and Tom find themselves simultaneously stood up by their dates at Waterloo Station, an unlikely fast friendship develops between themselves and three other strangers. In this slow burn romance, Tom and Nadia hatch a fake dating plan in order to get friends and family off their backs about pursuing a new relationship. As with every fake dating trope to have ever existed, we can all guess exactly where this is headed.
The start of this book held so much promise for me and I loved the group of rag tag characters that made up ‘The Waterloo Five,” but as the story wore on, I could not connect with the characters in any way. I found the connection between characters to be nonexistent and the conversations to be rather dull. While Nadia’s character was so-so for me, Tom’s character drove me absolutely stark raving mad and I found myself just wanting to strangle him most often. I mean, he’s in love with someone he barely knew 10 years ago and is hung up on the idea of her when Nadia is literally right in front of his face. Are you mental? His pining for Lola got to the point where I just wanted to stop reading it n order to reduce my frustration levels.
On top of my annoyance with Tom was the way Nadia and he both handled the morning after situation. It was almost too immature to believe that I was reading about two consenting adults here and how they chose to essentially not deal with any of their feelings or real life in general. I wanted to feel some sort of connection with these characters, but it all just fell horribly flat for me and I wish that hadn’t been the case.
At its core, the book had so much promise and it was poised to be really well done. Sadly, I found the supporting cast of characters exponentially more interesting than our main characters and I wish that there would have been a little more substance to Tom and Nadia’s relationship. So much of the book were these long drawn out conversations between the two that were always just surface level and never really going anywhere. But then all of the sudden they realize they love each other? Rather odd if you ask me, but to each their own. This story may certainly appeal to some audiences, it just wasn’t a book that I could form a connection with, and that’s okay!
Meet Me Under the Clock is the newest closed door romance from Jo Lovett and Boldwood Books. When Nadia and Tom find themselves simultaneously stood up by their dates at Waterloo Station, an unlikely fast friendship develops between themselves and three other strangers. In this slow burn romance, Tom and Nadia hatch a fake dating plan in order to get friends and family off their backs about pursuing a new relationship. As with every fake dating trope to have ever existed, we can all guess exactly where this is headed.
The start of this book held so much promise for me and I loved the group of rag tag characters that made up ‘The Waterloo Five,” but as the story wore on, I could not connect with the characters in any way. I found the connection between characters to be nonexistent and the conversations to be rather dull. While Nadia’s character was so-so for me, Tom’s character drove me absolutely stark raving mad and I found myself just wanting to strangle him most often. I mean, he’s in love with someone he barely knew 10 years ago and is hung up on the idea of her when Nadia is literally right in front of his face. Are you mental? His pining for Lola got to the point where I just wanted to stop reading it n order to reduce my frustration levels.
On top of my annoyance with Tom was the way Nadia and he both handled the morning after situation. It was almost too immature to believe that I was reading about two consenting adults here and how they chose to essentially not deal with any of their feelings or real life in general. I wanted to feel some sort of connection with these characters, but it all just fell horribly flat for me and I wish that hadn’t been the case.
At its core, the book had so much promise and it was poised to be really well done. Sadly, I found the supporting cast of characters exponentially more interesting than our main characters and I wish that there would have been a little more substance to Tom and Nadia’s relationship. So much of the book were these long drawn out conversations between the two that were always just surface level and never really going anywhere. But then all of the sudden they realize they love each other? Rather odd if you ask me, but to each their own. This story may certainly appeal to some audiences, it just wasn’t a book that I could form a connection with, and that’s okay!
May 12, 2025
I picked this book up because the synopsis had so much promise. I love fake dating, I love clandestine meetings, so this book had tropes that were right up my alley, However, with all that potential, this book fell so unbelievably flat for me that it was like pulling teeth for me to finish this story (but I did).
First off, it’s never a good idea to start a book off with a possible terrorist threat. While it’s glossed over pretty quickly, it really put a hamper on Tom and Nadia’s meeting. However if that was the only issue, it would be very easy to overlook. Both MCs were extremely dry and quite boring. They both rambled and complained about a lot of things through the book that made them hard to tolerate. Also, if I heard about Nadia’s foot issues one more time…I know what the author was trying to convey but it didn’t come off as endearing. Also, both characters rambled on with their thoughts and so much of what happened in the book was based on not wanting to upset something else rather than wanting to be together. Not the best when it comes to a romance.
Speaking of romance, there was zero chemistry between the two MCs. This was evident when they spoke about how much they didn’t have in common for the first part of the book, so when they started talking about their physical attraction, it just didn’t make sense. The final nail in the coffin was the end when Tom tells Nadia he loves her, and they dragged out the resolution through dinner because apparently saying I’m in love with you doesn’t mean he wants to be with you? Ugh.
At one point, I thought maybe it would be better to listen to this as an audiobook, that maybe I’d be more invested in this story, but that wasn’t the case. I was more frustrated for the lack of romance than anything else. I don’t know, I thought maybe it was because it was a British author set in Britain, but…nah, I’ve read plenty of romances written by British authors and this was just not it. I give it 2 stars because while it’s not for me, the writing was not bad and there is nothing offensive in the book that would warrant 2 starts. Unfortunately I need more romance in my romance books of me to like it.
**Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. While this one wasn’t for me, I appreciate the opportunity”
First off, it’s never a good idea to start a book off with a possible terrorist threat. While it’s glossed over pretty quickly, it really put a hamper on Tom and Nadia’s meeting. However if that was the only issue, it would be very easy to overlook. Both MCs were extremely dry and quite boring. They both rambled and complained about a lot of things through the book that made them hard to tolerate. Also, if I heard about Nadia’s foot issues one more time…I know what the author was trying to convey but it didn’t come off as endearing. Also, both characters rambled on with their thoughts and so much of what happened in the book was based on not wanting to upset something else rather than wanting to be together. Not the best when it comes to a romance.
Speaking of romance, there was zero chemistry between the two MCs. This was evident when they spoke about how much they didn’t have in common for the first part of the book, so when they started talking about their physical attraction, it just didn’t make sense. The final nail in the coffin was the end when Tom tells Nadia he loves her, and they dragged out the resolution through dinner because apparently saying I’m in love with you doesn’t mean he wants to be with you? Ugh.
At one point, I thought maybe it would be better to listen to this as an audiobook, that maybe I’d be more invested in this story, but that wasn’t the case. I was more frustrated for the lack of romance than anything else. I don’t know, I thought maybe it was because it was a British author set in Britain, but…nah, I’ve read plenty of romances written by British authors and this was just not it. I give it 2 stars because while it’s not for me, the writing was not bad and there is nothing offensive in the book that would warrant 2 starts. Unfortunately I need more romance in my romance books of me to like it.
**Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. While this one wasn’t for me, I appreciate the opportunity”
April 9, 2025
2.5🌟
The premise? Gold. Two strangers are stood up at Waterloo Station, commiserate over shared humiliation, and agree to pretend-date to spare themselves further romantic disasters. Cue meet-cute potential! And I was on board for the first few chapters—Nadia and Tom had that fumbling, awkward charm that made me smile. Their internal monologues were a mess (like, "Did I just think that?!" levels of relatable), and the supporting characters (hats off to Carole, the divorced queen we all deserve) were a joy.
But... let’s talk about Tom. I don’t want to be mean but—he made it so hard to root for the romance. The man was emotionally constipated, clinging onto a girl he talked to once a decade ago like it was some life-altering love story. I kept waiting for him to grow, or apologize, or at least show he was emotionally present... and he kinda just didn’t? He fumbled the bag so hard and got away with it way too easily. Nadia should’ve made him grovel. Minimum of one handwritten apology letter and three cupcakes.
Nadia, though? Loved her. She had this soft strength to her that made her feel grounded and real. She deserved a slow-burn romance with depth and yearning—and I feel like we only got halfway there.
And their chemistry? Where was it? They spent half the book reminding us they had "nothing in common" (thank you, we had not forgotten) and engaging in the driest small talk in the history of mankind. At one point, I was even wondering if they were secretly robots who were programmed to never, ever fight. "Would you like tea?" "Oh, only if you're having some!" GIRL, JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT.
The plot moved at a rapid pace (I read through it in an instant), and the Waterloo Five side team injected some much-needed humor, but as a whole? This novel was like an excellent first date that ended with "So. wanna split the bill?"
Final opinion? Adorable idea, adorable supporting characters, but the central romance left me colder than English tea that's been left out too long. If you're in the mood for something light and don't care about yelling at fictional men, go for it. Just. perhaps have a stress ball handy for Tom's scenes.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I wished I could love this one, but unfortunately… not every book is the one.
The premise? Gold. Two strangers are stood up at Waterloo Station, commiserate over shared humiliation, and agree to pretend-date to spare themselves further romantic disasters. Cue meet-cute potential! And I was on board for the first few chapters—Nadia and Tom had that fumbling, awkward charm that made me smile. Their internal monologues were a mess (like, "Did I just think that?!" levels of relatable), and the supporting characters (hats off to Carole, the divorced queen we all deserve) were a joy.
But... let’s talk about Tom. I don’t want to be mean but—he made it so hard to root for the romance. The man was emotionally constipated, clinging onto a girl he talked to once a decade ago like it was some life-altering love story. I kept waiting for him to grow, or apologize, or at least show he was emotionally present... and he kinda just didn’t? He fumbled the bag so hard and got away with it way too easily. Nadia should’ve made him grovel. Minimum of one handwritten apology letter and three cupcakes.
Nadia, though? Loved her. She had this soft strength to her that made her feel grounded and real. She deserved a slow-burn romance with depth and yearning—and I feel like we only got halfway there.
And their chemistry? Where was it? They spent half the book reminding us they had "nothing in common" (thank you, we had not forgotten) and engaging in the driest small talk in the history of mankind. At one point, I was even wondering if they were secretly robots who were programmed to never, ever fight. "Would you like tea?" "Oh, only if you're having some!" GIRL, JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT.
The plot moved at a rapid pace (I read through it in an instant), and the Waterloo Five side team injected some much-needed humor, but as a whole? This novel was like an excellent first date that ended with "So. wanna split the bill?"
Final opinion? Adorable idea, adorable supporting characters, but the central romance left me colder than English tea that's been left out too long. If you're in the mood for something light and don't care about yelling at fictional men, go for it. Just. perhaps have a stress ball handy for Tom's scenes.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I wished I could love this one, but unfortunately… not every book is the one.
March 15, 2025
I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book.
I'm conflicted on this book, and It's honestly the last 20-30 pages of this book that saves it a star. I loved the beginnings, and the Waterloo Five together, particularly Ruth, Bea and Carole they save this book. They're full of so much life, love and motivational quotes that really move you. I get they're probably there for a starting base and comedic relief but theyre my favourite part and they really help save this book all through it. The stories not too far fetch, I was laugh and giggling most of the way throughout but it usually was when they were all together.
However it's the main characters relationship that was ironically enough the part I wasn't enjoying. Nadia's parts were kind of over the top descriptive, that it pulled away a lot from the story, and toms felt like you were just reading Nadia's journal. There was no real differentiation between the voices of those two characters. But what kept stealing it from me, was toms parts were he kept saying how he liked her, how great of a friend she was .etc but that she wasn't his type, wasn't anything like him..... Well to keep being friends with someone they have to have something in common personality wise for that even to work. It just kind of hurt to read it, making me for the first time ever genuinely question a relationship potential in a romance book. I did love the end when he finds out the truth, it wasn't exactly where I thought it was going to go but it was good. His growth after that point was extremely realistic and is what led to saving this book for me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart again for allowing me to read this book!
I'm conflicted on this book, and It's honestly the last 20-30 pages of this book that saves it a star. I loved the beginnings, and the Waterloo Five together, particularly Ruth, Bea and Carole they save this book. They're full of so much life, love and motivational quotes that really move you. I get they're probably there for a starting base and comedic relief but theyre my favourite part and they really help save this book all through it. The stories not too far fetch, I was laugh and giggling most of the way throughout but it usually was when they were all together.
However it's the main characters relationship that was ironically enough the part I wasn't enjoying. Nadia's parts were kind of over the top descriptive, that it pulled away a lot from the story, and toms felt like you were just reading Nadia's journal. There was no real differentiation between the voices of those two characters. But what kept stealing it from me, was toms parts were he kept saying how he liked her, how great of a friend she was .etc but that she wasn't his type, wasn't anything like him..... Well to keep being friends with someone they have to have something in common personality wise for that even to work. It just kind of hurt to read it, making me for the first time ever genuinely question a relationship potential in a romance book. I did love the end when he finds out the truth, it wasn't exactly where I thought it was going to go but it was good. His growth after that point was extremely realistic and is what led to saving this book for me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart again for allowing me to read this book!
April 27, 2025
Meet Me Under The Clock - a short and sweet romance including new friendships, fake dating and friends to lovers.
All the characters meet by chance under the clock at Waterloo Station. The MFC Nadia is meeting a blind date who doesn’t show up, The MMC Tom is meeting a long lost love - Lola - who also doesn’t show up. The secondary characters Bea and Ruth are an elderly couple who have just got engaged after knowing each other for years and Carole has just split up with her cheating husband on their anniversary.
After an emergency at the station, forcing everyone to stay in place, the characters all get talking and end up spending the evening together, making fast friends and becoming ‘The Waterloo Five’.
As Nadia and Tom live on the same train line, they spend more time together with Nadia supporting Tom as he struggles with Lola dismissing him. They make a pact to ‘fake date’ to stop the pressure of family and friends trying to set them up on dates.
The book has chapters in both Nadia and Toms POVs and both start feeling attracted to each other as they spend more time together, however Tom is still hung up on Lola.
I loved the slow burn romance of Nadia trying to fight her feelings in order to preserve their friendship and Tom being confused about who or what he wants.
I found myself getting frustrated with Tom who claims he’s in love with Lola despite only spending a few hours together 10 years ago. He’s still obsessed with her despite her ghosting him and messing him around and I just wanted to scream at him to get over her.
I loved the fast friendships that were formed in the book with The Waterloo Five, supporting each other through marriages and divorce despite being people of all ages and backgrounds.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet, easy to read and I’ll definitely seek out more books from this author.
All the characters meet by chance under the clock at Waterloo Station. The MFC Nadia is meeting a blind date who doesn’t show up, The MMC Tom is meeting a long lost love - Lola - who also doesn’t show up. The secondary characters Bea and Ruth are an elderly couple who have just got engaged after knowing each other for years and Carole has just split up with her cheating husband on their anniversary.
After an emergency at the station, forcing everyone to stay in place, the characters all get talking and end up spending the evening together, making fast friends and becoming ‘The Waterloo Five’.
As Nadia and Tom live on the same train line, they spend more time together with Nadia supporting Tom as he struggles with Lola dismissing him. They make a pact to ‘fake date’ to stop the pressure of family and friends trying to set them up on dates.
The book has chapters in both Nadia and Toms POVs and both start feeling attracted to each other as they spend more time together, however Tom is still hung up on Lola.
I loved the slow burn romance of Nadia trying to fight her feelings in order to preserve their friendship and Tom being confused about who or what he wants.
I found myself getting frustrated with Tom who claims he’s in love with Lola despite only spending a few hours together 10 years ago. He’s still obsessed with her despite her ghosting him and messing him around and I just wanted to scream at him to get over her.
I loved the fast friendships that were formed in the book with The Waterloo Five, supporting each other through marriages and divorce despite being people of all ages and backgrounds.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet, easy to read and I’ll definitely seek out more books from this author.
May 11, 2025
This is the first book I’ve read by Jo Lovett and it will not be my last! After finishing Meet Me Under the Clock, I immediately looked at her other works and bought the audiobook for Another Time, Another Place.
This was definitely a story I needed right now!
The book opens with Nadia���s point of view and she’s waiting under the clock for a blind date who is late. The next chapter is from Tom’s perspective and he, too, is waiting for someone - a woman named Lola he met ten years ago and promised to show up, under this clock, if he was single. Lola also appears to be running late. Nadia and Tom’s lives intersect when there is an announcement stating there are delays at the station.
Waiting for things to get running again, Nadia and Tom literally collide thus meeting one another and they also meet a newly engaged couple in their 70’s; two delightful women, Bea and Ruth. The two waited 60 years to be able to openly admit their love and became engaged at the clock, not wanting to be apart for one more second.
The last two people waiting with Nadia, Tom, Bea, and Ruth are Carole and Roger. They were also meeting at the clock to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary when Carole hears Roger luridly speaking to her best friend on the phone.
Roger aside, the five form an instant connection while they wait and agree to have dinner with one another when it became obvious Nadia and Tom’s dates were no-shows.
Tired of being set up and disappointed, Nadia and Tom bond over their woeful dating histories when a thought occurs to them - they can be one another’s “plus one.”
I’m a big fan of fake dating so I found this four-star read to be delightful and lovely.
Thank you NetGalley, Jo Lovett, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to find great enjoyment reading this in exchange for a review.
This was definitely a story I needed right now!
The book opens with Nadia���s point of view and she’s waiting under the clock for a blind date who is late. The next chapter is from Tom’s perspective and he, too, is waiting for someone - a woman named Lola he met ten years ago and promised to show up, under this clock, if he was single. Lola also appears to be running late. Nadia and Tom’s lives intersect when there is an announcement stating there are delays at the station.
Waiting for things to get running again, Nadia and Tom literally collide thus meeting one another and they also meet a newly engaged couple in their 70’s; two delightful women, Bea and Ruth. The two waited 60 years to be able to openly admit their love and became engaged at the clock, not wanting to be apart for one more second.
The last two people waiting with Nadia, Tom, Bea, and Ruth are Carole and Roger. They were also meeting at the clock to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary when Carole hears Roger luridly speaking to her best friend on the phone.
Roger aside, the five form an instant connection while they wait and agree to have dinner with one another when it became obvious Nadia and Tom’s dates were no-shows.
Tired of being set up and disappointed, Nadia and Tom bond over their woeful dating histories when a thought occurs to them - they can be one another’s “plus one.”
I’m a big fan of fake dating so I found this four-star read to be delightful and lovely.
Thank you NetGalley, Jo Lovett, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to find great enjoyment reading this in exchange for a review.
March 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Boltwood Books for inviting me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m not one to do a long synopsis on a book, so we are going to make this one short and sweet. Tom and Nadia were both meant to meet other dates under the clock at WaterlooStation. They both get stood up, there’s a potential terrorist attack which shuts down the station, and they meet three other lovely people that are nearby the clock and they all form a bond. That premise of the book was super exciting , and there was such a diverse representation of people included in that. I loved the personality of Carol, and Ruth, and Bea, but I found that Nadia and Tom’s character is really didn’t have a lot of chemistry nor personality.
I think the idea for this book was very unique, however, I just don’t think it was executed properly. I feel like the writing was a little clunky at times, and it is very British and if you have no experience with British people, British terms, British lifestyle, this book may be a tiny bit confusing for you, which is fine. That’s not a big deal nor anything I would take a star off for. I also found that putting Lola in again towards the end was just an afterthought. I understand the reasoning for it, but I just feel like if they were going to do it, they should flesh it out more thoroughly. It was really awkward and weird.
I think all in all, I just did not connect with this book, and that’s OK. Not every book that we meet is meant for us to read and connect to, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to be read by others and beloved. If you read the premise, and you’re interested, I say go forth and read this book.
I’m not one to do a long synopsis on a book, so we are going to make this one short and sweet. Tom and Nadia were both meant to meet other dates under the clock at WaterlooStation. They both get stood up, there’s a potential terrorist attack which shuts down the station, and they meet three other lovely people that are nearby the clock and they all form a bond. That premise of the book was super exciting , and there was such a diverse representation of people included in that. I loved the personality of Carol, and Ruth, and Bea, but I found that Nadia and Tom’s character is really didn’t have a lot of chemistry nor personality.
I think the idea for this book was very unique, however, I just don’t think it was executed properly. I feel like the writing was a little clunky at times, and it is very British and if you have no experience with British people, British terms, British lifestyle, this book may be a tiny bit confusing for you, which is fine. That’s not a big deal nor anything I would take a star off for. I also found that putting Lola in again towards the end was just an afterthought. I understand the reasoning for it, but I just feel like if they were going to do it, they should flesh it out more thoroughly. It was really awkward and weird.
I think all in all, I just did not connect with this book, and that’s OK. Not every book that we meet is meant for us to read and connect to, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not going to be read by others and beloved. If you read the premise, and you’re interested, I say go forth and read this book.
March 29, 2025
"Meet Me Under the Clock" by Jo Lovett is a sweet romance comedy that charms with the novelty of chance encounters. The premise is about Nadia and Tom, who find themselves stood up by their blind dates under Waterloo Station's iconic clock. This is initially supposed to be an entertaining story to tell at future dinner parties, but it morphs into an intense friendship and a pretend-dating setup. When their make-believe relationship begins to feel real, the story touches on issues of love, friendship, and self-inflicted surprises in the fabric of fate.
At first, Nadia is guarded and standoffish because of previous heartaches in love. Her path is one of recovery from vulnerability and learning to believe in others again. As she moves deeper with her pretend date with Tom into actual feelings for him, she starts to destroy the walls that she has put up, hoping for true love.
Tom begins as being okay with staying within his comfort zones and maintaining emotional distance. He comes to challenge his own fears of emotional intimacy and commitment through his dealings with Nadia. His metamorphosis involves being open to the uncertainties of a relationship, its joys, and challenges.
Their paths are neatly woven together, highlighting how their relationship assists each of them to overcome their nightmares and accept new things. The writing of Jo Lovett has been commended for its warmth, humor, and realistic characters. Readers of slow-burning romances and inspiring stories are bound to appreciate this book. It is the ideal choice for readers who enjoy Beth O'Leary's and Sophie Kinsella's books.
At first, Nadia is guarded and standoffish because of previous heartaches in love. Her path is one of recovery from vulnerability and learning to believe in others again. As she moves deeper with her pretend date with Tom into actual feelings for him, she starts to destroy the walls that she has put up, hoping for true love.
Tom begins as being okay with staying within his comfort zones and maintaining emotional distance. He comes to challenge his own fears of emotional intimacy and commitment through his dealings with Nadia. His metamorphosis involves being open to the uncertainties of a relationship, its joys, and challenges.
Their paths are neatly woven together, highlighting how their relationship assists each of them to overcome their nightmares and accept new things. The writing of Jo Lovett has been commended for its warmth, humor, and realistic characters. Readers of slow-burning romances and inspiring stories are bound to appreciate this book. It is the ideal choice for readers who enjoy Beth O'Leary's and Sophie Kinsella's books.
April 12, 2025
Meet Me Under the Clock is a cute fake dating/fake relationship novel. Two strangers, both stood up, bond with three others also under the clock at a train station. A quick friendship is formed among the Waterloo Five.
Nadia is a wonderful character who has had no luck finding love. Her latest attempt at a blind date has her standing alone. Tom is a great character (mostly) who is attempting to reconnect with a woman from his past. He, too, ends up standing alone. While waiting at the train station, they encounter three others and a friendship is born. Nadia and Tom, tired of the games, make a pact to become each other's plus one for events while they figure out how they each want to move forward, separately, in the romance department.
As with all fake dating tropes, real feelings start to creep into the arrangement. Nadia walks through the field of feelings with a bit of trepidation and hope until she realizes that Tom doesn't feel the same. Tom largely ignores the feelings, pining for the woman who stood him up. He makes some pretty despicable decisions and I found myself unsure of where these characters were going to end up. Tom was a bit of a downer in places and I felt Nadia deserved much better.
The story was enjoyable and Tom and Nadia did have chemistry, despite his inability to leave the past in the past. He was so caught up in what could have been that he in danger of losing the chance to get caught up in the what could be. The author wrote the story with realism and emotion. The characters weren't dull or flat. I teared up in a few places near the end.
Nadia is a wonderful character who has had no luck finding love. Her latest attempt at a blind date has her standing alone. Tom is a great character (mostly) who is attempting to reconnect with a woman from his past. He, too, ends up standing alone. While waiting at the train station, they encounter three others and a friendship is born. Nadia and Tom, tired of the games, make a pact to become each other's plus one for events while they figure out how they each want to move forward, separately, in the romance department.
As with all fake dating tropes, real feelings start to creep into the arrangement. Nadia walks through the field of feelings with a bit of trepidation and hope until she realizes that Tom doesn't feel the same. Tom largely ignores the feelings, pining for the woman who stood him up. He makes some pretty despicable decisions and I found myself unsure of where these characters were going to end up. Tom was a bit of a downer in places and I felt Nadia deserved much better.
The story was enjoyable and Tom and Nadia did have chemistry, despite his inability to leave the past in the past. He was so caught up in what could have been that he in danger of losing the chance to get caught up in the what could be. The author wrote the story with realism and emotion. The characters weren't dull or flat. I teared up in a few places near the end.
August 27, 2025
Jo Lovett’s Meet Me Under the Clock is a warm, funny, and heartfelt rom-com that proves the best relationships often begin in the most unexpected ways.
When a false alarm shuts down Waterloo Station, six strangers—each dealing with their own personal drama—find themselves stranded under the clock. Among them are Nadia, an accountant unlucky in love after a string of disastrous dates, and Tom, a recently divorced dad still hung up on the woman who ghosted him a decade ago. Both are stood up, and both are weary of trying. But when the group bonds through shared circumstance, a surprising new friendship blossoms—the “Waterloo Five.”
For Nadia and Tom, that friendship deepens into a pact: they’ll be each other’s plus-one to dodge the endless questions and matchmaking schemes from family and friends. It’s the perfect plan… until fake smiles and staged hand-holding start to feel a little too real.
Lovett layers the story with warmth and wit, balancing laugh-out-loud banter with tender, emotional beats. The slow-burn romance between Nadia and Tom is equal parts sweet and frustrating—you’ll want to shake Tom at times, but you’ll root for them all the same. What makes the book shine, though, is its sense of community. From Bea and Ruth, the newly engaged septuagenarians, to Carole navigating heartbreak, the supporting cast adds richness and heart.
Meet Me Under the Clock is more than just a love story—it’s about second chances, chosen family, and the courage to let go of the past. Charming, funny, and full of heart, it’s a rom-com you’ll want to press into a friend’s hands.
When a false alarm shuts down Waterloo Station, six strangers—each dealing with their own personal drama—find themselves stranded under the clock. Among them are Nadia, an accountant unlucky in love after a string of disastrous dates, and Tom, a recently divorced dad still hung up on the woman who ghosted him a decade ago. Both are stood up, and both are weary of trying. But when the group bonds through shared circumstance, a surprising new friendship blossoms—the “Waterloo Five.”
For Nadia and Tom, that friendship deepens into a pact: they’ll be each other’s plus-one to dodge the endless questions and matchmaking schemes from family and friends. It’s the perfect plan… until fake smiles and staged hand-holding start to feel a little too real.
Lovett layers the story with warmth and wit, balancing laugh-out-loud banter with tender, emotional beats. The slow-burn romance between Nadia and Tom is equal parts sweet and frustrating—you’ll want to shake Tom at times, but you’ll root for them all the same. What makes the book shine, though, is its sense of community. From Bea and Ruth, the newly engaged septuagenarians, to Carole navigating heartbreak, the supporting cast adds richness and heart.
Meet Me Under the Clock is more than just a love story—it’s about second chances, chosen family, and the courage to let go of the past. Charming, funny, and full of heart, it’s a rom-com you’ll want to press into a friend’s hands.
March 8, 2025
Thanks, NetGalley for the arc!
This is a story about two people who were stood up by their dates and made a pact to fake date each other to appease their friends and family. I was really excited to read this book! Who doesn't love a fake dating trope? The plot sounded really good when I saw this! However, this book really wasn't my cup of tea.
I found that the characters didn't have too much personality. I found that they didn't really have much chemistry with each other and at times it felt almost forced. They agreed to fake date and then they almost instantaneously just fell in love with each other. Give us some yearning!! The author also reminds us several times throughout the book that they're just fake-dating and that they have nothing in common. I felt like that was unnecessary given the premise of the book.
I also had quite a difficult time getting through this book. The writing was clunky and really awkward. I noticed this a lot in Tom's chapter.
"But basically, yep. I was finding her physically attractive. And she's obviously easy company."
There were several quotes like this that I felt took away from the plot. I'm not sure if this was on purpose to make it seem like Tom was just a man with very few words. The author also used an odd amount of parentheses which I didn't enjoy. I think using commas or an em dash would've conveyed the same message and felt less awkward.
This book had potential! I just didn't enjoy the characters or the writing in this book.
This is a story about two people who were stood up by their dates and made a pact to fake date each other to appease their friends and family. I was really excited to read this book! Who doesn't love a fake dating trope? The plot sounded really good when I saw this! However, this book really wasn't my cup of tea.
I found that the characters didn't have too much personality. I found that they didn't really have much chemistry with each other and at times it felt almost forced. They agreed to fake date and then they almost instantaneously just fell in love with each other. Give us some yearning!! The author also reminds us several times throughout the book that they're just fake-dating and that they have nothing in common. I felt like that was unnecessary given the premise of the book.
I also had quite a difficult time getting through this book. The writing was clunky and really awkward. I noticed this a lot in Tom's chapter.
"But basically, yep. I was finding her physically attractive. And she's obviously easy company."
There were several quotes like this that I felt took away from the plot. I'm not sure if this was on purpose to make it seem like Tom was just a man with very few words. The author also used an odd amount of parentheses which I didn't enjoy. I think using commas or an em dash would've conveyed the same message and felt less awkward.
This book had potential! I just didn't enjoy the characters or the writing in this book.
March 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re looking for a rom-com with heart, humor, and a touch of chaos, Meet Me Under The Clock by Jo Lovett is a solid pick. It all starts with a botched meet-up at a train station—Nadia and Tom both get stood up, and in the middle of the awkwardness, a misunderstanding ropes in three other strangers. From that moment on, their lives are unexpectedly intertwined.
This newly formed crew is a mix of personalities: a woman dealing with the ultimate betrayal (her husband and best friend? Really?!), two incredible ladies in their seventies who just got engaged, and of course, Nadia and Tom, who come up with a brilliant (or maybe ridiculous) plan to fake-date. Their goal? Keep meddling friends and family at bay. The problem? Catching real feelings wasn’t part of the deal.
The book delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, a few well-placed tugs at the heartstrings, and some wonderfully awkward interactions that make everything feel authentic. Sure, the pacing gets a little clunky here and there, but honestly, that just mirrors the reality of dating and making new friends—it’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes downright weird.
At the end of the day, this is a feel-good read with lovable characters, sharp banter, and a storyline that keeps you hooked. If you love rom-coms with a side of found family, this one’s worth a spot on your TBR list!
4 Stars!
#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #MeetMeUndertheClock, #JoLovett
If you’re looking for a rom-com with heart, humor, and a touch of chaos, Meet Me Under The Clock by Jo Lovett is a solid pick. It all starts with a botched meet-up at a train station—Nadia and Tom both get stood up, and in the middle of the awkwardness, a misunderstanding ropes in three other strangers. From that moment on, their lives are unexpectedly intertwined.
This newly formed crew is a mix of personalities: a woman dealing with the ultimate betrayal (her husband and best friend? Really?!), two incredible ladies in their seventies who just got engaged, and of course, Nadia and Tom, who come up with a brilliant (or maybe ridiculous) plan to fake-date. Their goal? Keep meddling friends and family at bay. The problem? Catching real feelings wasn’t part of the deal.
The book delivers plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, a few well-placed tugs at the heartstrings, and some wonderfully awkward interactions that make everything feel authentic. Sure, the pacing gets a little clunky here and there, but honestly, that just mirrors the reality of dating and making new friends—it’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes downright weird.
At the end of the day, this is a feel-good read with lovable characters, sharp banter, and a storyline that keeps you hooked. If you love rom-coms with a side of found family, this one’s worth a spot on your TBR list!
4 Stars!
#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #MeetMeUndertheClock, #JoLovett
April 7, 2025
Meet Me Under the Clock by Jo Lovett is a sweet and easy read.
After being stood up at Waterloo Station, Nadia and Tom meet by chance and form a close friendship - along with Carole, Bea and Ruth (The Waterloo Five). I loved this meet cute!
Tired of attending events alone and being nagged about their relationship status, Nadia and Tom agree to fake date as each other's plus-one. However, as their pretend relationship deepens, they begin to question if their connection is more than just convenient.
The story is told from both Nadia and Tom's perspective which works well. It's very simplistically written which makes it a quick and easy read. However it is quite repetitive throughout. And Tom and Nadia's dialogue is so polite, it almost feels like how you would write speech opposed to sounding like natural dialogue between two friends.
I like both the MCs however I wanted to bash their heads together - Tom especially! But that's a sign of a good will they/won't they.
I do wish their was more showing us and allowing us to feel their connection instead of just telling us. But that's just my preference.
I love the supporting characters and let me tell you I'd love to be invited to one of Carole's parties!
The book is available from Aprill 11th 2025.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After being stood up at Waterloo Station, Nadia and Tom meet by chance and form a close friendship - along with Carole, Bea and Ruth (The Waterloo Five). I loved this meet cute!
Tired of attending events alone and being nagged about their relationship status, Nadia and Tom agree to fake date as each other's plus-one. However, as their pretend relationship deepens, they begin to question if their connection is more than just convenient.
The story is told from both Nadia and Tom's perspective which works well. It's very simplistically written which makes it a quick and easy read. However it is quite repetitive throughout. And Tom and Nadia's dialogue is so polite, it almost feels like how you would write speech opposed to sounding like natural dialogue between two friends.
I like both the MCs however I wanted to bash their heads together - Tom especially! But that's a sign of a good will they/won't they.
I do wish their was more showing us and allowing us to feel their connection instead of just telling us. But that's just my preference.
I love the supporting characters and let me tell you I'd love to be invited to one of Carole's parties!
The book is available from Aprill 11th 2025.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2025
Overall cute but it dragged out for so long. There was a lot of potential with this plot line but it just fell flat for me. Tom and Nadia both are lost souls that need more love in their life but were too focused on finding the one that things were not working in their favour.
The characters didn’t do much growth - they just more or less ignored their issues at hand (aka love). And then all of a sudden they realized their feelings and started dancing around that too. That said, I felt like the reveal of feelings and growth happened so fast at the end, all shoved into the last two chapters.
Tom did frustrate me a lot with how hung up he was on a women he spent ONE SINGLE evening with TEN YEARS AGO???? And then I felt like Tom’s situation completely overshadowed Nadia’s. Yes her resolution was to not date for six months but I felt that Tom was not as wiling to help her grow in that time as she was for him. There was a lot of give on Nadia’s side and I felt like Tom took her for granted :(
I think the style of writing just threw me off as well - lots of thoughts within parentheses even in the middle of dialogue, lots of inner monologue that ran on. I think this could make for a good vacation read - something lowkey and lovely to enjoy over the course of a few days.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
The characters didn’t do much growth - they just more or less ignored their issues at hand (aka love). And then all of a sudden they realized their feelings and started dancing around that too. That said, I felt like the reveal of feelings and growth happened so fast at the end, all shoved into the last two chapters.
Tom did frustrate me a lot with how hung up he was on a women he spent ONE SINGLE evening with TEN YEARS AGO???? And then I felt like Tom’s situation completely overshadowed Nadia’s. Yes her resolution was to not date for six months but I felt that Tom was not as wiling to help her grow in that time as she was for him. There was a lot of give on Nadia’s side and I felt like Tom took her for granted :(
I think the style of writing just threw me off as well - lots of thoughts within parentheses even in the middle of dialogue, lots of inner monologue that ran on. I think this could make for a good vacation read - something lowkey and lovely to enjoy over the course of a few days.
Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
July 13, 2025
In this heartwarming new romance novel from Jo Lovett, readers meet Nadia and Tom when they are both stood up by their respective dates under the clock at Waterloo Station. While their chance meeting starts out as a great story, it soon turns into a wonderful friendship and a fake dating relationship for weddings, parties, and other events requiring a plus one. As they use their friendship to avoid uncomfortable questions, Nadia and Tom both realize that the relationship is starting to feel more real than fake, making them wonder if this connection is just more than coincidence and convenience. With its excellent use of tropes and emotion to show the evolution of their relationship, this novel really pulls readers in through the tropes and characters. Their relationship is natural and endearing, while their two backstories, personalities, and character arcs really complement each other as the book progresses. The use of tropes helps build up the rom-com nature of the book, while the pacing, setting, and background characters allow Nadia and Tom to really shine as the book’s protagonists. Great characters, fun tropes, and an entertaining plot, romance readers will love the evolution of Tom and Nadia’s relationship in this deeply enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
April 11, 2025
Meet Me Under The Clock by Jo Lovett
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When Nadia and Tom are both unceremoniously stood up by their dates under the clock at Waterloo Station, fate throws them together in the most unusual of circumstances.
What starts as a brilliant story for future dinner parties soon turns into a wonderful friendship, and both Tom and Nadia realise they’ve found the perfect partner in crime.
Tired of dating but always needing a plus one for weddings, parties, and the like, they agree to fake date each other. But as their pretend relationship starts to feel more real, Nadia and Tom begin to wonder if there’s more to their connection than convenience.
Could the relationship they’ve been faking be the one they’ve been waiting for all along?
My Opinion
Jo Lovett is an author that I really enjoy reading so I am always delighted when I see a new release. Meet Me Under The Clock is such a sweet read. From the beginning I knew this was a book I would be unable to put down. An entertaining, slow-burn romance with some great characters.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When Nadia and Tom are both unceremoniously stood up by their dates under the clock at Waterloo Station, fate throws them together in the most unusual of circumstances.
What starts as a brilliant story for future dinner parties soon turns into a wonderful friendship, and both Tom and Nadia realise they’ve found the perfect partner in crime.
Tired of dating but always needing a plus one for weddings, parties, and the like, they agree to fake date each other. But as their pretend relationship starts to feel more real, Nadia and Tom begin to wonder if there’s more to their connection than convenience.
Could the relationship they’ve been faking be the one they’ve been waiting for all along?
My Opinion
Jo Lovett is an author that I really enjoy reading so I am always delighted when I see a new release. Meet Me Under The Clock is such a sweet read. From the beginning I knew this was a book I would be unable to put down. An entertaining, slow-burn romance with some great characters.
Rating 4/5
December 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved the Waterloo Five! Tom and Nadia, both who had been stood up for a blind date. Carol who just broke up with her husband of twenty plus years in their anniversary and Bea and ??? Who found each other after many years apart and who had just got engaged. This group came together to boost Carol up after her sleazy husband and best friend got together.
The Waterloo five set up a group chat and became fast friends. Nadia decides to swear off men for a few months and Tom who is pining after an old girlfriend who said they’d get together after ten. Tom keeps thinking about Lola and Nadia just is trying so hard to stay away from men. But of course they keep coming together.
It was so funny when the group was together talking about their worst first date. The group came together a lot and had a great friendship. Tom and Nadia decide to fake date to help each other out. Think Mingle All the Way Hallmark movie. Tom’s family starts out trying to sabotage Nadia but soon fall in love with her. Lola was a major piece of work. Tom was better without her.
The Waterloo Five were determined to get Tom and Nadia together. I smiled through most of this book except for the Harry parts. But every book needs a villain.
The Waterloo five set up a group chat and became fast friends. Nadia decides to swear off men for a few months and Tom who is pining after an old girlfriend who said they’d get together after ten. Tom keeps thinking about Lola and Nadia just is trying so hard to stay away from men. But of course they keep coming together.
It was so funny when the group was together talking about their worst first date. The group came together a lot and had a great friendship. Tom and Nadia decide to fake date to help each other out. Think Mingle All the Way Hallmark movie. Tom’s family starts out trying to sabotage Nadia but soon fall in love with her. Lola was a major piece of work. Tom was better without her.
The Waterloo Five were determined to get Tom and Nadia together. I smiled through most of this book except for the Harry parts. But every book needs a villain.
April 11, 2025
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
At the start of the book, Nadia and Tom are both waiting for someone at Waterloo Station. They both have a date, but soon realise they have both been stood up by the person they were supposed to meet. They talk to one another, and a friendship ensues. Nadia and Tom enjoy each other's company, and both of them need a plus one for social events, so they have a fake dating arrangement which suits them both… until they both start to question how they really feel.
I found this both funny and heartwarming. I enjoyed the scenario that brought the two characters together, like a wonderful little accident. Both Tom and Nadia made me smile, and I connected with them both while reading. I enjoyed their conversations, and seeing their connection develop. Some of the other characters, like Carole and Marisa, also made me smile. This book also made me think about how the most meaningful connections can begin in unexpected ways.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
At the start of the book, Nadia and Tom are both waiting for someone at Waterloo Station. They both have a date, but soon realise they have both been stood up by the person they were supposed to meet. They talk to one another, and a friendship ensues. Nadia and Tom enjoy each other's company, and both of them need a plus one for social events, so they have a fake dating arrangement which suits them both… until they both start to question how they really feel.
I found this both funny and heartwarming. I enjoyed the scenario that brought the two characters together, like a wonderful little accident. Both Tom and Nadia made me smile, and I connected with them both while reading. I enjoyed their conversations, and seeing their connection develop. Some of the other characters, like Carole and Marisa, also made me smile. This book also made me think about how the most meaningful connections can begin in unexpected ways.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
April 15, 2025
The premise of Meet Me Under the Clock seemed really sweet. Nadia and Tom are meeting their respective dates under the clock at Waterloo Station and they both get stood up. Due to a potential terrorist attack (really?) the station goes into lockdown and Nadia, Tom along with three other ladies - Carole, Bea and Ruth all have to stay put under the clock. Carole has just found out that her husband has been cheating on her and elderly couple Bea and Ruth have just gotten engaged. They all strike up a friendship, go out for tapas and call themselves The Waterloo Five. I absolutely loved this little group and their camaraderie.
However, the book fell flat for me mainly due to the lack of chemistry between Nadia and Tom. Nadia was fun and vibrant and I loved how she had many hidden talents. But Tom, can we all agree that Tom was very bland and just seemed to have no personality? He moped for Lola until almost the very end and it was infuriating.
This could have been a really cute read had there been some chemistry and sans Tom's doormat personality.
NetGalley and Boldwood Books provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
NetGalley and
However, the book fell flat for me mainly due to the lack of chemistry between Nadia and Tom. Nadia was fun and vibrant and I loved how she had many hidden talents. But Tom, can we all agree that Tom was very bland and just seemed to have no personality? He moped for Lola until almost the very end and it was infuriating.
This could have been a really cute read had there been some chemistry and sans Tom's doormat personality.
NetGalley and Boldwood Books provided me with this book in exchange for an honest review.
NetGalley and
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