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In Every Possible Way
One woman’s luck changes in an instant when she hits her head and wakes up in Ireland, in this whimsical, whirlwind romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.
After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.
Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.
The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.
Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.
After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.
Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.
The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.
Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2026
About the author
Alicia Thompson
9 books1,610 followersAlicia Thompson is a writer, reader, and Paramore superfan. As a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 Hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.
Annotations:
Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps
Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.
Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/
Annotations:
Also currently under consideration for other superfan distinctions, including but not limited to: Juliet, Naked (the movie), Phoebe Bridgers, Crash Bandicoot, Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Tegan and Sara, the audiobook for Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, and taking really long naps
Does this sound creepy? You should’ve seen my face. It was really creepy.
Yes, I’ve seen an alligator in a neighborhood retention pond.
https://www.aliciathompsonbooks.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 689 reviews
May 1, 2026
thank you netgalley for providing this arc!!
oh this was so, so sweet. i absolutely adored the magical realism side to this story (as an avid ashley poston fan), and the romance was absolutely adorable. it was definitely cheesy and silly in places but i feel like that added to its charm. this was super quick to read and gorgeously paced, and the atmosphere of a cold, rainy ireland was perfect. loved this!!
oh this was so, so sweet. i absolutely adored the magical realism side to this story (as an avid ashley poston fan), and the romance was absolutely adorable. it was definitely cheesy and silly in places but i feel like that added to its charm. this was super quick to read and gorgeously paced, and the atmosphere of a cold, rainy ireland was perfect. loved this!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“I love you.”
“All the way."
"𝓘𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂.”
This ended up being a completely different reading experience than I expected—softer, stranger, and way more dreamlike. Magical realism isn’t usually my thing at all, but this one did it so well that I barely questioned it; it just felt so hazy and intimate.🫶🏼🫶🏼😌
Jess brought this nervous, rambling, overly earnest energy that made everything feel more real. She asks the questions you’d actually ask & reacts the way a normal person would. There’s something endearing about how unpolished she is.
Eamonn however, almost single-handedly kept me emotionally invested. 🙂↕️🙂↕️ The way he kept coming back to Jess, noticing tiny things about her, caring even when he didn’t really know why… it was oddly tender.
THISSSS. It was such a small confession but somehow one of the most intimate ones. It made all Eamonn’s actions before that click into place. He wasn’t just helping her out of obligation, he was already emotionally in too deep.
And when the romance actually hit, it HIT. After going through the slow burn of the getting to know each other, it wasn’t too loud or flashy. More like soft and aching and a little desperate.
Every moment felt so fragile, almost sad, because you could feel how temporary everything was. 😭
Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle, the pacing MAJORLY started to drag for me. I understood why those slower moments were there—to build the connection—but I could feel myself drifting instead of being completely immersed.
Jess and Eamonn’s connection is the kind that makes you hold your breath, wondering if it’s real or just a moment suspended in time… and honestly, I can’t tell you if it all works out. I guess you’ll just have to read it to find out. 🫣🫠
Overall, this was tender, dreamy, and quietly swoony. Even when the pacing slowed, the soft longing and the way Eamonn cared stuck with me. It’s the kind of story that leaves a faint, wistful feeling, like waking from a really nice dream.😴🩷💜
things to know about the book ↓
✨ slow burn romance
✨ magical realism
✨ life-changing encounter
✨ strangers → lovers
✨ single pov (hers)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ ✨ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
Love me some Alicia Thompson!! Never Been Shipped was a top read for me last year so I’m looking forward to this one!!
“All the way."
"𝓘𝓷 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂.”
This ended up being a completely different reading experience than I expected—softer, stranger, and way more dreamlike. Magical realism isn’t usually my thing at all, but this one did it so well that I barely questioned it; it just felt so hazy and intimate.🫶🏼🫶🏼😌
Jess brought this nervous, rambling, overly earnest energy that made everything feel more real. She asks the questions you’d actually ask & reacts the way a normal person would. There’s something endearing about how unpolished she is.
Eamonn however, almost single-handedly kept me emotionally invested. 🙂↕️🙂↕️ The way he kept coming back to Jess, noticing tiny things about her, caring even when he didn’t really know why… it was oddly tender.
“But I saw those flowers in your hair, and I wanted … I don’t know, 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹. Your hair looked so soft, and I wanted to know what it would feel like. I wanted to help you, to make something better for you, even if in a small way.”
THISSSS. It was such a small confession but somehow one of the most intimate ones. It made all Eamonn’s actions before that click into place. He wasn’t just helping her out of obligation, he was already emotionally in too deep.
And when the romance actually hit, it HIT. After going through the slow burn of the getting to know each other, it wasn’t too loud or flashy. More like soft and aching and a little desperate.
“He kissed me like I was the dream he didn’t want to wake up from.”
Every moment felt so fragile, almost sad, because you could feel how temporary everything was. 😭
Unfortunately, somewhere in the middle, the pacing MAJORLY started to drag for me. I understood why those slower moments were there—to build the connection—but I could feel myself drifting instead of being completely immersed.
Jess and Eamonn’s connection is the kind that makes you hold your breath, wondering if it’s real or just a moment suspended in time… and honestly, I can’t tell you if it all works out. I guess you’ll just have to read it to find out. 🫣🫠
Overall, this was tender, dreamy, and quietly swoony. Even when the pacing slowed, the soft longing and the way Eamonn cared stuck with me. It’s the kind of story that leaves a faint, wistful feeling, like waking from a really nice dream.😴🩷💜
things to know about the book ↓
✨ slow burn romance
✨ magical realism
✨ life-changing encounter
✨ strangers → lovers
✨ single pov (hers)
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ ✨ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
Love me some Alicia Thompson!! Never Been Shipped was a top read for me last year so I’m looking forward to this one!!
July 16, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
in every possible way was my first alicia thompson book, and i'm going to have to look into her backlist now, since i really enjoyed her writing! 😌🩵
we follow our fmc jess as she goes on a disastrous first date, only to proceed to hit her head after being robbed on the way home from said horrible date. however, instead of waking up where she was robbed, jess wakes up in ireland, where the first person she meets becomes her reluctant knight and shining armor: eamonn. the two spend the next 48 hours together exploring the irish countryside and forging an unbreakable bond…
this was a lovely magical realism romance novel, and i hope to enjoy the rest of alicia thompson’s backlist!
i absolutely loved the audiobook! the epilogue was from eamonn’s pov and i loved they had a narrator for him🙂↕️
in every possible way was my first alicia thompson book, and i'm going to have to look into her backlist now, since i really enjoyed her writing! 😌🩵
we follow our fmc jess as she goes on a disastrous first date, only to proceed to hit her head after being robbed on the way home from said horrible date. however, instead of waking up where she was robbed, jess wakes up in ireland, where the first person she meets becomes her reluctant knight and shining armor: eamonn. the two spend the next 48 hours together exploring the irish countryside and forging an unbreakable bond…
this was a lovely magical realism romance novel, and i hope to enjoy the rest of alicia thompson’s backlist!
i absolutely loved the audiobook! the epilogue was from eamonn’s pov and i loved they had a narrator for him🙂↕️
March 18, 2026
oh he has a whole collection of silvia moreno-garcia books? i’m proposing hand in marriage (and not just for the irish citizenship)
hottest thing a man can be: whatever eamonn has going on fr
manifested so hard on a date in which you said “i wish i was on a date with your brother” in jest because it was just so terrible, that you woke up on front of his apartment in ireland
for the real rom com enjoyers
thank you to edelweiss for providing the advance review copy. full review to come
Bookstagram | Blog
hottest thing a man can be: whatever eamonn has going on fr
manifested so hard on a date in which you said “i wish i was on a date with your brother” in jest because it was just so terrible, that you woke up on front of his apartment in ireland
for the real rom com enjoyers
thank you to edelweiss for providing the advance review copy. full review to come
Bookstagram | Blog
June 27, 2026
In Every Possible Way is a whimsical and endearing romance full of whirlwind tension and so much yearning. The story follows Jess, who, after a terrible first date on her birthday ending with a mugging, wakes up in Ireland with no clue how she got there, and Eamonn, a gruff mechanic who offers to show her around Dublin until she can get home.
I loved every minute of this magical and tender romance! Eamonn and Jess were just perfect together, I loved that they had an instant banter and that their connection grew as they opened up to one another. Their fast paced infatuation was perfectly balanced with all the travel and exploring they did around Dublin. I appreciated that we got a little tour and were able to explore the island while the two fell for each other and found themselves unable to stop their mutual attraction. The resulting slowburn steam was well worth the wait as their longing grew with every undeniable moment they shared and all the deep conversations they had. Filled with enchanting magic and heartfelt emotion, this swoony romance wove one of the most charming and unforgettable stories I've ever read.
~All the thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
I loved every minute of this magical and tender romance! Eamonn and Jess were just perfect together, I loved that they had an instant banter and that their connection grew as they opened up to one another. Their fast paced infatuation was perfectly balanced with all the travel and exploring they did around Dublin. I appreciated that we got a little tour and were able to explore the island while the two fell for each other and found themselves unable to stop their mutual attraction. The resulting slowburn steam was well worth the wait as their longing grew with every undeniable moment they shared and all the deep conversations they had. Filled with enchanting magic and heartfelt emotion, this swoony romance wove one of the most charming and unforgettable stories I've ever read.
~All the thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
July 1, 2026
3.7 Stars
One Liner: A sweet read (despite the spice)
Yet another date ends up as a disaster for Jess, and she decides she’s had enough. It’s not like her date was special, apart from his charming Irish accent. However, her night takes a turn for the worse when she is mugged in the parking lot and hit on the head.
Jess wakes up in Ireland, with no idea how she got there and has no phone, money, or a purse to call for help. Eamonn, a grumpy and quiet mechanic, reluctantly helps her, and they spend the next forty-eight hours traveling through Dublin and the Irish countryside. Jess doesn’t want to blink or sleep, worried that this could be a dream that would vanish. But what if it was real?
The story comes in Jess’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
A book where the FMC magically teleports to Ireland? Well, why would I resist such a premise?
The story opens with the disaster date (and god, it was awful) and the FMC all resigned and tired of everything. It doesn’t take a lot of time for her to wake up in Ireland, so a majority of the book is set there and takes place over forty-eight hours.
The last quarter moves fast, which will feel at odds with the slowed-down pacing until then. It can be a bit difficult to adjust to it. However, I could see why that had to be done. We have already spent a lot of time, and dragging the story by another 100 pages wouldn’t have been effective. We just needed some breathing space for the FMC to sort things out.
The MMC is wonderful (it makes me so happy that we get such great fictional men, though it means even higher standards for real ones to compete). He has his flaws, but is endearing and pays attention to the FMC, which is very important.
The virtual tour of Dublin and a few other places in Ireland was a fun ride. Some of it may seem like filler, but it is necessary to show how they built a connection in such a short time. As it is, we get insta-love vibes from the 48 hours. Rushing this period would make no sense.
The story is mainly focused on the MCs. While we meet a few others, they are not as important or play more significant roles. The side characters are just facilitators to keep the plot going. Not something I prefer, but it works here.
The spice is pretty hot once it starts, so maybe 3.5ish. They do make a cute pair, and oh, this is a reverse-age-gap romance. :D
There are quite a few references to Irish writers and poets. I liked most of it.
We get a solid epilogue, which I like. It takes the story to a satisfying end, though a few things are left to our imagination.
To summarize, In Every Possible Way is an entertaining read, but you will need a suspension of belief if you want logical answers. It doesn’t provide any definite explanation for the magic realism part, though you can believe what is given (if you want).
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #InEveryPossibleWay
One Liner: A sweet read (despite the spice)
Yet another date ends up as a disaster for Jess, and she decides she’s had enough. It’s not like her date was special, apart from his charming Irish accent. However, her night takes a turn for the worse when she is mugged in the parking lot and hit on the head.
Jess wakes up in Ireland, with no idea how she got there and has no phone, money, or a purse to call for help. Eamonn, a grumpy and quiet mechanic, reluctantly helps her, and they spend the next forty-eight hours traveling through Dublin and the Irish countryside. Jess doesn’t want to blink or sleep, worried that this could be a dream that would vanish. But what if it was real?
The story comes in Jess’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts
A book where the FMC magically teleports to Ireland? Well, why would I resist such a premise?
The story opens with the disaster date (and god, it was awful) and the FMC all resigned and tired of everything. It doesn’t take a lot of time for her to wake up in Ireland, so a majority of the book is set there and takes place over forty-eight hours.
The last quarter moves fast, which will feel at odds with the slowed-down pacing until then. It can be a bit difficult to adjust to it. However, I could see why that had to be done. We have already spent a lot of time, and dragging the story by another 100 pages wouldn’t have been effective. We just needed some breathing space for the FMC to sort things out.
The MMC is wonderful (it makes me so happy that we get such great fictional men, though it means even higher standards for real ones to compete). He has his flaws, but is endearing and pays attention to the FMC, which is very important.
The virtual tour of Dublin and a few other places in Ireland was a fun ride. Some of it may seem like filler, but it is necessary to show how they built a connection in such a short time. As it is, we get insta-love vibes from the 48 hours. Rushing this period would make no sense.
The story is mainly focused on the MCs. While we meet a few others, they are not as important or play more significant roles. The side characters are just facilitators to keep the plot going. Not something I prefer, but it works here.
The spice is pretty hot once it starts, so maybe 3.5ish. They do make a cute pair, and oh, this is a reverse-age-gap romance. :D
There are quite a few references to Irish writers and poets. I liked most of it.
We get a solid epilogue, which I like. It takes the story to a satisfying end, though a few things are left to our imagination.
To summarize, In Every Possible Way is an entertaining read, but you will need a suspension of belief if you want logical answers. It doesn’t provide any definite explanation for the magic realism part, though you can believe what is given (if you want).
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #InEveryPossibleWay
June 24, 2026
Jess is fresh off a bad first date in her home of Florida, and she's ready to throw in the towel when life throws her for a loop: She's mugged, she hits her head...and she wakes up in Ireland. No passport, no money, no idea how she got there or how to get home. And no contacts except Eamonn, the first man she meets there...
I am predictable: I like travel books (even if that travel is accidental), and I like books set in places I don't know well, and I like nontoxic relationships. Also, I don't always read (or remember) the entire description before I commit to reading a book, because aren't books a bit more fun with an extra element of surprise?
Fortunately, this one delivered. Jess ends up seeing a fair amount of Ireland over a short couple of days, some of it touristy and some of it a little more off the beaten path. There's a sort of dreamy sense to her experience there, because she knows full well that she shouldn't be there, that it makes no sense that she's there, that it can't last. And every so often we get a reminder from Florida that the universe, too, knows that the time can't last. (Jess tries to go to the US embassy to get things sorted out, but it is conveniently a holiday weekend, so there's time to get caught up in things.)
The romance is sweet. Jess and Eamonn have a good dynamic, initially pretty uncertain but always respectful. We have some of the typical "he thinks she's dating someone else", but they get over that reasonably quickly. The chemistry is there early, but the figuring out what to do with it is more complicated...especially for Jess, who of course knows things Eamonn doesn't.
A few quibbles: I didn't like the epilogue—in retrospect I should have just skipped it, but of course you never know that going in! Late-in-game POV shifts always throw me for a loop, and it just didn't feel necessary. I'd also like to know just what Jess would expect at the US embassy in Ireland. Contacting the embassy is the logical thing to do if you've lost your passport on vacation, yes...but imagine the questions for someone in Jess's situation! No passport, but also no record of ever entering the country...and also no record of her ever having a passport, because, well, she doesn't have a passport. I mean, obviously there's a reason the story goes off in a different direction, but I am bad at suspending disbelief (see: me being predictable), and I think I just could have used a bit more acknowledgement that as complicated as things are, they have the capacity to get much worse, very quickly.
But overall? Much fun. This is the second of Thompson's books that I've read, and it was a better fit for me than the first (which was also fine, just—it wasn't set in Ireland). Would read more along these lines.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I am predictable: I like travel books (even if that travel is accidental), and I like books set in places I don't know well, and I like nontoxic relationships. Also, I don't always read (or remember) the entire description before I commit to reading a book, because aren't books a bit more fun with an extra element of surprise?
Fortunately, this one delivered. Jess ends up seeing a fair amount of Ireland over a short couple of days, some of it touristy and some of it a little more off the beaten path. There's a sort of dreamy sense to her experience there, because she knows full well that she shouldn't be there, that it makes no sense that she's there, that it can't last. And every so often we get a reminder from Florida that the universe, too, knows that the time can't last. (Jess tries to go to the US embassy to get things sorted out, but it is conveniently a holiday weekend, so there's time to get caught up in things.)
The romance is sweet. Jess and Eamonn have a good dynamic, initially pretty uncertain but always respectful. We have some of the typical "he thinks she's dating someone else", but they get over that reasonably quickly. The chemistry is there early, but the figuring out what to do with it is more complicated...especially for Jess, who of course knows things Eamonn doesn't.
A few quibbles: I didn't like the epilogue—in retrospect I should have just skipped it, but of course you never know that going in! Late-in-game POV shifts always throw me for a loop, and it just didn't feel necessary. I'd also like to know just what Jess would expect at the US embassy in Ireland. Contacting the embassy is the logical thing to do if you've lost your passport on vacation, yes...but imagine the questions for someone in Jess's situation! No passport, but also no record of ever entering the country...and also no record of her ever having a passport, because, well, she doesn't have a passport. I mean, obviously there's a reason the story goes off in a different direction, but I am bad at suspending disbelief (see: me being predictable), and I think I just could have used a bit more acknowledgement that as complicated as things are, they have the capacity to get much worse, very quickly.
But overall? Much fun. This is the second of Thompson's books that I've read, and it was a better fit for me than the first (which was also fine, just—it wasn't set in Ireland). Would read more along these lines.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
July 6, 2026
This book kicked off with a strong premise that had me hooked. Imagine this: the female main character, Jessica, is on an absolutely awful date with a guy who is a total, disrespectful, toxic red flag. The date is utterly terrible and torturous, but at one point, he mentions his brother. Things have hit such a low point that she thinks to herself, “Maybe I'll date his brother instead…” Next thing you know, the forces of magical realism ensue—she gets robbed, falls into a coma, and wakes up in Ireland! ✨️✈️🇮🇪
Overall, I thought this book was really fun! I genuinely enjoyed the magical realism and the elements of adventure. There are strong themes woven throughout the story, including regret, career dissatisfaction, and self-discovery. I love stories that explore following your heart, finding what makes you happy, and learning to pursue your bliss. At 37 years old, Jessica feels like she's a bit stuck in life, and wistfully remembers how much she used to love making art when she was younger. Although she went to school for art, fast forward to the present day, and she finds herself working as an administrative legal assistant doing a lot of receptionist duties. Because of her deep passion for creativity, she’s really struggling with a lack of fulfillment and feeling stuck in her career.
I've never been to Ireland, so I can't compare it to the real thing, but I absolutely loved the sense of travel, romance, and adventure. Jessica does, in fact, meet Eamonn, the actual brother of the guy from her terrible date. Next thing you know, he's acting as her tour guide, giving the book a fun, light, travel-romance feel as he shows her around. As he takes her to major landmarks and historical sites, I loved the deep dive into the culture, from the literary references to the historical tidbits. I loved the scenes featuring the library and the bookstore, and overall, the city sightseeing was so much fun to read about.
Tone-wise, it maintains a fairly light atmosphere overall, though there are heavier moments relating to Eamonn's past and Jessica's internal conflict regarding her life path. Personally, I felt there was a much greater emphasis placed on her internal struggles and less on the male main character's backstory. This book is written from a first-person perspective. I feel like I read a lot of dual POV in contemporary romance books, and this one was a bit different, focusing on a single point of view from the female main character, Jessica.
I was initially a bit nervous about the pacing—and because she's in a coma, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect or how the ending would unfold—but I was very happy that it concluded with a happily ever after!
There is a portion of the book where she is literally in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re a seasonal reader looking for something with St. Paddy's Day vibes, this would be a perfect pick!
Audiobook Thoughts
I listened to the audiobook version of this, and I do have one critique. The audiobook credits both a female and a male narrator, which is a bit misleading because the book is almost entirely narrated by the female voice. The male narrator only gets a very small portion at the very end, which was a bit confusing. I think the production would have been much stronger if they had used a true duet or dual-narration style where they alternated during dialogue, or if they had simply included more of the male narrator's perspective throughout.
If you enjoy a bookish, relatable protagonist who loves reading romance, you'll appreciate all the literature references and nods to major authors scattered throughout the book.
This was my first book by Alicia Thompson, and I found her writing style very accessible and easy to read. She uses beautiful imagery to describe the environment. As someone who hasn't traveled to Ireland but really wants to one day, I felt like I was transported there right alongside the characters. I loved being able to sightsee through the pages!
Perfect if you love:
❤️ Romance stories with magical realism
✨️ Artist FMC (Jessica)
❤️ Irish MMC (Eamonn)
✈️ Travel romance vibes
🇮🇪 Sightseeing in Ireland
📚 Characters who love literature and books!
✨️ First-person perspective (FMC)
💛 Single point of view
If you love books and authors like:
❤️ Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
✨️ The magical realism style of Ashley Poston
💖 Tropesick by Lauren Okie
🌍 Travel romances like Seven Days in Madrid by Eliana Vazquez
⏳️The Midnight Library or The Midnight Train by Matt Haig - for those similar themes of job dissatisfaction, dealing with regret, and choosing your own path.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book for review consideration. I am writing this review voluntarily, and these are my honest opinions.
Overall, I thought this book was really fun! I genuinely enjoyed the magical realism and the elements of adventure. There are strong themes woven throughout the story, including regret, career dissatisfaction, and self-discovery. I love stories that explore following your heart, finding what makes you happy, and learning to pursue your bliss. At 37 years old, Jessica feels like she's a bit stuck in life, and wistfully remembers how much she used to love making art when she was younger. Although she went to school for art, fast forward to the present day, and she finds herself working as an administrative legal assistant doing a lot of receptionist duties. Because of her deep passion for creativity, she’s really struggling with a lack of fulfillment and feeling stuck in her career.
I've never been to Ireland, so I can't compare it to the real thing, but I absolutely loved the sense of travel, romance, and adventure. Jessica does, in fact, meet Eamonn, the actual brother of the guy from her terrible date. Next thing you know, he's acting as her tour guide, giving the book a fun, light, travel-romance feel as he shows her around. As he takes her to major landmarks and historical sites, I loved the deep dive into the culture, from the literary references to the historical tidbits. I loved the scenes featuring the library and the bookstore, and overall, the city sightseeing was so much fun to read about.
Tone-wise, it maintains a fairly light atmosphere overall, though there are heavier moments relating to Eamonn's past and Jessica's internal conflict regarding her life path. Personally, I felt there was a much greater emphasis placed on her internal struggles and less on the male main character's backstory. This book is written from a first-person perspective. I feel like I read a lot of dual POV in contemporary romance books, and this one was a bit different, focusing on a single point of view from the female main character, Jessica.
I was initially a bit nervous about the pacing—and because she's in a coma, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect or how the ending would unfold—but I was very happy that it concluded with a happily ever after!
There is a portion of the book where she is literally in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re a seasonal reader looking for something with St. Paddy's Day vibes, this would be a perfect pick!
Audiobook Thoughts
I listened to the audiobook version of this, and I do have one critique. The audiobook credits both a female and a male narrator, which is a bit misleading because the book is almost entirely narrated by the female voice. The male narrator only gets a very small portion at the very end, which was a bit confusing. I think the production would have been much stronger if they had used a true duet or dual-narration style where they alternated during dialogue, or if they had simply included more of the male narrator's perspective throughout.
If you enjoy a bookish, relatable protagonist who loves reading romance, you'll appreciate all the literature references and nods to major authors scattered throughout the book.
This was my first book by Alicia Thompson, and I found her writing style very accessible and easy to read. She uses beautiful imagery to describe the environment. As someone who hasn't traveled to Ireland but really wants to one day, I felt like I was transported there right alongside the characters. I loved being able to sightsee through the pages!
Perfect if you love:
❤️ Romance stories with magical realism
✨️ Artist FMC (Jessica)
❤️ Irish MMC (Eamonn)
✈️ Travel romance vibes
🇮🇪 Sightseeing in Ireland
📚 Characters who love literature and books!
✨️ First-person perspective (FMC)
💛 Single point of view
If you love books and authors like:
❤️ Good Spirits by B.K. Borison
✨️ The magical realism style of Ashley Poston
💖 Tropesick by Lauren Okie
🌍 Travel romances like Seven Days in Madrid by Eliana Vazquez
⏳️The Midnight Library or The Midnight Train by Matt Haig - for those similar themes of job dissatisfaction, dealing with regret, and choosing your own path.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book for review consideration. I am writing this review voluntarily, and these are my honest opinions.
June 7, 2026
4.25 ⭐️
words that probably aren’t regularly used to describe a romance book but nail this one: calm & steady
idk if it was the mental state i was in while reading this, other factors, or what - but this story just felt so calm. The exact brand of calm that I’d have if I was looking out over a still lake when it’s a little chilly & cloudy but in a good way?? Does that make any sense???
readers who like Ashley Poston books will love this I think
things to know:
- contemporary romance with a dash of magic
- she gets hit in the head in Florida & wakes up in a field in Ireland
- enter hot moody Irishman
read this!
the only reason this wasn’t 5 stars for me is because the FMC is supposed to be 37 but acts like she’s in her 20s. no hate no shade - I loved my 20s!!! but there is just something DIFFERENT (affectionate) about women in their thirties
words that probably aren’t regularly used to describe a romance book but nail this one: calm & steady
idk if it was the mental state i was in while reading this, other factors, or what - but this story just felt so calm. The exact brand of calm that I’d have if I was looking out over a still lake when it’s a little chilly & cloudy but in a good way?? Does that make any sense???
readers who like Ashley Poston books will love this I think
things to know:
- contemporary romance with a dash of magic
- she gets hit in the head in Florida & wakes up in a field in Ireland
- enter hot moody Irishman
read this!
the only reason this wasn’t 5 stars for me is because the FMC is supposed to be 37 but acts like she’s in her 20s. no hate no shade - I loved my 20s!!! but there is just something DIFFERENT (affectionate) about women in their thirties
July 7, 2026
This was a solid 4.5 stars for me! I loved the originality of it and the theme of magical realism. I am normally not an insta love girlie, but I liked how Alicia put her own spin on that here. It wasn't instant love, but it was quite FAST given the timeframe between the two MCs was short. I really liked both of these characters. Jessica was so hilarious given the fact that she thought she was in a dream during her time with Eamonn. She wasn't overthinking things. She was pondering life out loud. She was being her true self not someone she would try to be on a first date. And then there was Eamonn. Yall I LOVED Eamonn!! He was just delicious in every sense of the word. You could feel the connection between these two from the beginning, but neither of them wanted to acknowledge HOW Jessica ended up in Ireland the morning after being on a date with Eamonn's brother. Eamonn was SUCH a good listener. He was a wonderful tour guide for Jessica. He made her feel safe. He was one of those men where silence is comfortable. He opened up more to Jessica than he had to anyone in a while. He knew something was off about their situation but wanted to explore it. I loved the way this felt like a slow burn because things didn't really start cooking between these two until past the halfway mark BUT at the same time everything happened between them within a span of 2 days! I loved how the experience truly changed Jessica and how minor communication fails made it where they weren't able to reconnect until months after their first connection.
Jessica has been on the hunt for her special someone for a minute. How can that be such a hard thing to find in a world with so many people? And how did she say yes to this man that she is on a date with now? A man who puts her down in a sort of polite way. Whatever, she is done with love. But then she thinks she is getting mugged and somehow she wakes up in Ireland. A place she has ALWAYS wanted to visit. And to confirm that she is in fact in a dream, she immediately meets Eamonn who just happens to be the man from the disaster date's brother. She decides to roll with this being a dream and tour the town. It happens to be St Patricks Day weekend why not take advantage. Somehow she dodges Eamonn's questions on how she got her and he decides to play along as tour guide. She tries to rack her brain on why she would be here of all places. And how everything looks and feels like she is in fact in Ireland. How Eamonn feels so safe. How she can talk to him about anything. How he lifts her up instead of putting her down. How after one day with him she feels like she KNOWS him. How they end up dancing and she feels a connection that she hasn't felt in a while. How she has to clarify that she is NOT in fact dating his brother. That she has been looking for true love that people talk about and hasn't found it. How she talks about dreams and questions why she has been living in the rut she is in. How she decides to live in the now and bask in Eamonn's desire for her. How he makes her feel. She doesn't know how long she has here but she finds herself wanting more. And then somehow she is awake after being in a mini coma. She is devastated. She wanted more TIME. She wants Eamonn to be real. But after searching for him she realizes she knows him so so well but she doesn't know his last name or even the town they were in together. She decides this was just a chunk of time in her imagination. Until Eamonn shows up and says he has been searching for her just as hard as she has been searching for him. And everything feels right in her world.
I can't recommend this book enough yall! I found myself smiling almost the whole time I was reading it. At first, I was a little lost on where we were going but once I felt more connected to these two it all clicked. The pacing was perfect. The setting was perfect. The way that Jessica was so much herself around a stranger because she thought it wasn't real. The way that Eamonn opened up to her and WANTED someone like he hadn't in so long. How they made each other whole in their short time together. GAHHHH. It was just truly magical! As much as I wanted to hear from Eamonn, because I am a dual POV lover, the story was perfect without it - especially because we got a tiny glimpse of his at the end which was chef's kiss! Thanks to my BF Ginger for the buddy read once again :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jessica has been on the hunt for her special someone for a minute. How can that be such a hard thing to find in a world with so many people? And how did she say yes to this man that she is on a date with now? A man who puts her down in a sort of polite way. Whatever, she is done with love. But then she thinks she is getting mugged and somehow she wakes up in Ireland. A place she has ALWAYS wanted to visit. And to confirm that she is in fact in a dream, she immediately meets Eamonn who just happens to be the man from the disaster date's brother. She decides to roll with this being a dream and tour the town. It happens to be St Patricks Day weekend why not take advantage. Somehow she dodges Eamonn's questions on how she got her and he decides to play along as tour guide. She tries to rack her brain on why she would be here of all places. And how everything looks and feels like she is in fact in Ireland. How Eamonn feels so safe. How she can talk to him about anything. How he lifts her up instead of putting her down. How after one day with him she feels like she KNOWS him. How they end up dancing and she feels a connection that she hasn't felt in a while. How she has to clarify that she is NOT in fact dating his brother. That she has been looking for true love that people talk about and hasn't found it. How she talks about dreams and questions why she has been living in the rut she is in. How she decides to live in the now and bask in Eamonn's desire for her. How he makes her feel. She doesn't know how long she has here but she finds herself wanting more. And then somehow she is awake after being in a mini coma. She is devastated. She wanted more TIME. She wants Eamonn to be real. But after searching for him she realizes she knows him so so well but she doesn't know his last name or even the town they were in together. She decides this was just a chunk of time in her imagination. Until Eamonn shows up and says he has been searching for her just as hard as she has been searching for him. And everything feels right in her world.
I can't recommend this book enough yall! I found myself smiling almost the whole time I was reading it. At first, I was a little lost on where we were going but once I felt more connected to these two it all clicked. The pacing was perfect. The setting was perfect. The way that Jessica was so much herself around a stranger because she thought it wasn't real. The way that Eamonn opened up to her and WANTED someone like he hadn't in so long. How they made each other whole in their short time together. GAHHHH. It was just truly magical! As much as I wanted to hear from Eamonn, because I am a dual POV lover, the story was perfect without it - especially because we got a tiny glimpse of his at the end which was chef's kiss! Thanks to my BF Ginger for the buddy read once again :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2026
I might’ve liked this more if the story had been allowed to breathe. The romance escalates within hours, and the heroine’s habit of spinning Wattpad-style fantasies out of minimal interactions feels more pathetic than endearing. Less self-inflicted cringe and a stronger epilogue might have salvaged it for me.
June 28, 2026
4.75 ☆I’ve always been curious about Alicia Thompson’s books, but when I saw that her newest novel was a magical realism romance, I knew it was the perfect way for me to start with her books.
The first thing that caught my attention was the writing style. At first I was a little put off by it, but within the first 10% I got used to it and it turned out to be one of the highlights of this book.
Here we have a single POV (I’m finding out that maybe I don’t love dual POV as much as I thought I did), and it worked perfectly for the story. I also loved how Jess’s thoughts and feelings are portrayed, some paragraphs were lengthy, but it didn’t bother me because it felt true to her character.
The romance got me worried, because I’m a slow-burn girl and here we have a story that takes place over such a short period of time. But how can I explain that this book takes place in two days and is also a slow-burn? You have to read it to understand, because the answer lies in how the romance was portrayed and developed (splendid, I might say).
When a book stretches time, making us spend chapters and chapters covering only an hour, sometimes the result is pure boredom. Here, that never happens, I was always invested in the story, paying attention to every dialogue, lingering glances and inner monologues. I absolutely loved how the author used the story to make us get to know Ireland alongside Jess, making me feel like I was there too and making me feel homesick for a place that I’ve never been to.
I really hope Alicia continues to write magical realism, but I know I’m going back to her backlist while I wait for her next novel. Hopefully, that one is going to be a favorite too.
_______
Thank you to Berkley for providing this eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
July 22, 2026
Release date: 06-23-26
Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
Narrated by: Michelle Sparks and Éanna Hardwicke
Jess went out with Niall, a man she found from the dating app, but their first date was doomed from the start and it was clear that their first date will be their last date. To make things worse, Jess gets mugged in a parking lot and wakes up not in a Florida hospital, but in ... Ireland. To her surprise, the first person she meets there is Eamonn, a guy who happens to be a younger brother of the guy she just had that terrible first date with. Jess has to figure out how she got to Ireland, but she also gets a chance to take a journey through picturesque Dublin and the Irish countryside.
I was intrigued at first but at some point I lost interest. I could not connect with Jess, her self-deprecating kind of humor wasn't for me. She was 37, mature enough, but I had a feeling that she had lost at least 10 years from her age when she "teleported" to Ireland. She lacked maturity and sass. The hero Eamonn, was 8 years younger than Jess but at 29 sounded older than Jess. Wasn't very fond of either of them. I am also not big fan of insta-love and in this story everything happened super fast. 2 days and they were crazy in love. Really? Besides I didn't understand how
I listened to the audiobook and sadly the narrator's performance didn't help to like this story. I recently listened to A Day Like This and that story had amazing narrator. BTW: in A Day Like This the heroine also found herself in completely different place in her life, and that journey was more interesting and heartfelt to follow.
Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
Narrated by: Michelle Sparks and Éanna Hardwicke
It was probably a bad idea-spending my thirty-seventh birthday on a first date-but I admit I'd let myself daydream. It would make a great story, wouldn't it? If we ended up together forever?
Jess went out with Niall, a man she found from the dating app, but their first date was doomed from the start and it was clear that their first date will be their last date. To make things worse, Jess gets mugged in a parking lot and wakes up not in a Florida hospital, but in ... Ireland. To her surprise, the first person she meets there is Eamonn, a guy who happens to be a younger brother of the guy she just had that terrible first date with. Jess has to figure out how she got to Ireland, but she also gets a chance to take a journey through picturesque Dublin and the Irish countryside.
I was intrigued at first but at some point I lost interest. I could not connect with Jess, her self-deprecating kind of humor wasn't for me. She was 37, mature enough, but I had a feeling that she had lost at least 10 years from her age when she "teleported" to Ireland. She lacked maturity and sass. The hero Eamonn, was 8 years younger than Jess but at 29 sounded older than Jess. Wasn't very fond of either of them. I am also not big fan of insta-love and in this story everything happened super fast. 2 days and they were crazy in love. Really? Besides I didn't understand how
I listened to the audiobook and sadly the narrator's performance didn't help to like this story. I recently listened to A Day Like This and that story had amazing narrator. BTW: in A Day Like This the heroine also found herself in completely different place in her life, and that journey was more interesting and heartfelt to follow.
July 20, 2026
4.75 stars
Delightfully whimsical, adventurous, unique, emotional and deep. Look at me actually enjoying a single POV romance. Pigs are flying! lol This pulled at my heartstrings in ways I wasn't expecting. I'm surprised given how the story really sucked me in at the 60% mark when the characters finally act on their feelings. I go weak at the knees when the hero just can't take it anymore and grabs the heroine and kisses her. That's my kryptonite and wish more romances would play that culminative moment so explosively. For the most part I was engaged with the story because the writing flows so easily and seeing the hero and heroine explore Ireland was interesting and cozy but this did feel at times more like a CF than CR as the romance aspect felt a bit stagnant and not as prominent until....suddenly it was at the very front and the angst kicked in and I was invested. This went from a 3 star to 5 star because of that. I'm probably being a bit generous with that last star but it's been a couple of long dry months in reading slump purgatory so this felt like an oasis in a dry fucking desert. Honestly this read like a movie. All the elements are there, you have the intrigue, the magical mystery, the adventure and the quiet feelings that become bigger. Oh Eamonn, how I adore you. 😍 I love star crossed hopeless situations so I really wanted to know how this would play out considering the hero has no idea that the heroine is not visiting as a "tourist". lol The premise was so interesting and wild. Imagine walking to your car and getting mugged and hitting your head and waking up in Ireland with no passport, no phone, no wallet, nothing. What would you do? You meet a brooding Irish mechanic and end up falling for him but terrified you'll wake up and he's not real. Is it a dream? Is it real? I could not stop reading.
My only negative is I wish the epilogue was a little longer only because I wanted to actually see It's a high compliment when you keep swiping right on your kindle cause you don't want the story to end. That and I still wanted more clear answers as to how But we didn't really get an answer to that beyond kismet. But I looooved the emotional beats where a lonely reformed bad-boy Irishman who doesn't believe he deserves good things helps a lost American find herself and find each other. This had 2 things I normally am not a fan of but it worked here and honestly is high praise for the writing. The heroine Jess is 7 years older than the hero Eamonn which I'm usually not a fan of but here I didn't mind it because both characters are likable and mature. And as I mentioned before this entire story is given from the heroine's POV (a writing style I normally loathe and rarely wins me over) but Thompson's immersive, self-aware, human writing is so engaging and charming that it sucked me in. Both Jess and Eamonn felt so layered and vulnerable. And a small detail that bugged me was when So yeah, really enjoyed this and recommend it if you are in the mood for a wanderlust romance with a bit of magical realism.
“I think you’re the kind of person to inspire big emotions,” he said.
Delightfully whimsical, adventurous, unique, emotional and deep. Look at me actually enjoying a single POV romance. Pigs are flying! lol This pulled at my heartstrings in ways I wasn't expecting. I'm surprised given how the story really sucked me in at the 60% mark when the characters finally act on their feelings. I go weak at the knees when the hero just can't take it anymore and grabs the heroine and kisses her. That's my kryptonite and wish more romances would play that culminative moment so explosively. For the most part I was engaged with the story because the writing flows so easily and seeing the hero and heroine explore Ireland was interesting and cozy but this did feel at times more like a CF than CR as the romance aspect felt a bit stagnant and not as prominent until....suddenly it was at the very front and the angst kicked in and I was invested. This went from a 3 star to 5 star because of that. I'm probably being a bit generous with that last star but it's been a couple of long dry months in reading slump purgatory so this felt like an oasis in a dry fucking desert. Honestly this read like a movie. All the elements are there, you have the intrigue, the magical mystery, the adventure and the quiet feelings that become bigger. Oh Eamonn, how I adore you. 😍 I love star crossed hopeless situations so I really wanted to know how this would play out considering the hero has no idea that the heroine is not visiting as a "tourist". lol The premise was so interesting and wild. Imagine walking to your car and getting mugged and hitting your head and waking up in Ireland with no passport, no phone, no wallet, nothing. What would you do? You meet a brooding Irish mechanic and end up falling for him but terrified you'll wake up and he's not real. Is it a dream? Is it real? I could not stop reading.
My only negative is I wish the epilogue was a little longer only because I wanted to actually see It's a high compliment when you keep swiping right on your kindle cause you don't want the story to end. That and I still wanted more clear answers as to how But we didn't really get an answer to that beyond kismet. But I looooved the emotional beats where a lonely reformed bad-boy Irishman who doesn't believe he deserves good things helps a lost American find herself and find each other. This had 2 things I normally am not a fan of but it worked here and honestly is high praise for the writing. The heroine Jess is 7 years older than the hero Eamonn which I'm usually not a fan of but here I didn't mind it because both characters are likable and mature. And as I mentioned before this entire story is given from the heroine's POV (a writing style I normally loathe and rarely wins me over) but Thompson's immersive, self-aware, human writing is so engaging and charming that it sucked me in. Both Jess and Eamonn felt so layered and vulnerable. And a small detail that bugged me was when So yeah, really enjoyed this and recommend it if you are in the mood for a wanderlust romance with a bit of magical realism.
July 19, 2026
3.5 stars
March 21, 2026
Alicia Thompson likes to take risks with her writing and I'm here for it. This is an unconventional magical contemporary romance. I went into this expecting Before Sunrise but in Ireland...and it is, to a large degree. But it's also not because Jess is mugged after a bad date where she lives in Florida and when she comes to, she's somehow been transported to Dublin. She doesn't seem to be dreaming but she doesn't have an explanation for her whereabouts either.
Luckily for her, she runs into Eamonn, a gruff mechanic with a heart of gold, who can't help but make sure she's okay after their initial encounter. Thus ensues a ramble around Dublin during St. Patrick's Day weekend. Ireland is my favorite country so this quite the various treat for me. I adored watching them get to know each other better whether they were popping into a bookstore or visiting Eamonn's childhood home.
At the same time, I was worried about the pacing and how this could have a satisfying HEA. If they're together but she's really in a coma, then is she imagining all this? How will she find Eamonn again once she wakes up? If he doesn't know her then, are they going to have to fall in love all over again?!
Or maybe I just desperately want a non-magical version of Before Sunrise in Ireland. Two things can be true!
In any case, Jess and Eamonn are well-suited for one another and all's well that ends well.
Characters: Jess is a 37 year old white American law firm receptionist and artist. Eamonn is a 29 year old white Irish mechanic and vegetarian. This is set in Florida and Dublin, Ireland.
Content notes: panic attack, MC in coma, tourists grope statue of Molly Malone, mugging, physical assault, past incarceration (car theft and arson), minor skin burn, past abortion, sexism, diet culture, past death of MMC's mother, past parental divorce (MMC's father was alcoholic), past shoplifting, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention; MMC says he'll pull out), on page sex, boss-employee role play, restraint, edging, alcohol, past recreational drug use, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from Berkley.
Luckily for her, she runs into Eamonn, a gruff mechanic with a heart of gold, who can't help but make sure she's okay after their initial encounter. Thus ensues a ramble around Dublin during St. Patrick's Day weekend. Ireland is my favorite country so this quite the various treat for me. I adored watching them get to know each other better whether they were popping into a bookstore or visiting Eamonn's childhood home.
At the same time, I was worried about the pacing and how this could have a satisfying HEA. If they're together but she's really in a coma, then is she imagining all this? How will she find Eamonn again once she wakes up? If he doesn't know her then, are they going to have to fall in love all over again?!
Or maybe I just desperately want a non-magical version of Before Sunrise in Ireland. Two things can be true!
In any case, Jess and Eamonn are well-suited for one another and all's well that ends well.
Characters: Jess is a 37 year old white American law firm receptionist and artist. Eamonn is a 29 year old white Irish mechanic and vegetarian. This is set in Florida and Dublin, Ireland.
Content notes: panic attack, MC in coma, tourists grope statue of Molly Malone, mugging, physical assault, past incarceration (car theft and arson), minor skin burn, past abortion, sexism, diet culture, past death of MMC's mother, past parental divorce (MMC's father was alcoholic), past shoplifting, unsafe sex practices (no condom for penetrative sex without discussion of STI or pregnancy prevention; MMC says he'll pull out), on page sex, boss-employee role play, restraint, edging, alcohol, past recreational drug use, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around addiction
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from Berkley.
July 12, 2026
3.75/5
Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley, and the author for the gifted eARC copy of the book!
A soft, wonderful romance with lush descriptions of vivid landscapes, and reminiscent of Ashley Poston's stories with a magical realism kick.
If you (like me) are beginning to slowly prefer stories set around protagonists in their late 20s and 30s, this one will likely hit the mark for you. Jess and Eamonn may have a reverse eight (?) year age gap, but somehow they automatically understand each other on a deeper scale - something which often leads to deep conversations and a softness in their interactions. The pacing of their love story felt like a dichotomy of slow-burn and fast paced, considering the entire book pretty much happens over the span of two days. What I did like was the descriptive tour of Dublin and Irish countryside, told entirely from Jess' first person POV. There were a few spicy chapters, which can be skipped for those looking for a clean read. I adored the character of Eamonn, who is flawed but constantly working on himself (men written by women!!), is respectful, and was so easy to like throughout the book.
Perhaps a minor complaint from me would be to reduce the internal monologues of Jess, since I felt it overpowered the dialogue very often. There are also sadly no memorable side characters, the only one of value being Jess' best friend and maybe Eamonn's brother (who Jess goes on a bad Hinge date with at the very start). Like most magical realism books, this one also skims over the actual reasoning behind Jess being transported to Ireland, focusing instead on the characters and their bonds themselves.
Overall, recommended for fans of the Leap year movie (enjoy the return to scenic Ireland towns), and those that prefer sweet romance stories with mature protagonists!
Thank you to Berkley, Netgalley, and the author for the gifted eARC copy of the book!
A soft, wonderful romance with lush descriptions of vivid landscapes, and reminiscent of Ashley Poston's stories with a magical realism kick.
If you (like me) are beginning to slowly prefer stories set around protagonists in their late 20s and 30s, this one will likely hit the mark for you. Jess and Eamonn may have a reverse eight (?) year age gap, but somehow they automatically understand each other on a deeper scale - something which often leads to deep conversations and a softness in their interactions. The pacing of their love story felt like a dichotomy of slow-burn and fast paced, considering the entire book pretty much happens over the span of two days. What I did like was the descriptive tour of Dublin and Irish countryside, told entirely from Jess' first person POV. There were a few spicy chapters, which can be skipped for those looking for a clean read. I adored the character of Eamonn, who is flawed but constantly working on himself (men written by women!!), is respectful, and was so easy to like throughout the book.
Perhaps a minor complaint from me would be to reduce the internal monologues of Jess, since I felt it overpowered the dialogue very often. There are also sadly no memorable side characters, the only one of value being Jess' best friend and maybe Eamonn's brother (who Jess goes on a bad Hinge date with at the very start). Like most magical realism books, this one also skims over the actual reasoning behind Jess being transported to Ireland, focusing instead on the characters and their bonds themselves.
Overall, recommended for fans of the Leap year movie (enjoy the return to scenic Ireland towns), and those that prefer sweet romance stories with mature protagonists!
March 25, 2026
ARC Review- preview received from Netgalley (ty!)
The magic of birthday wishes really comes alive in this book! Itwas everything I hoped for from her and more. I laughed out loud so many times, mostly because of how relatable the main character’s inner conflicts were—messy, funny, and completely human. This is a sweet, slow-burn romance that I’d absolutely recommend. It’s the kind of story you want to sink into and stay with for a while!
I really loved the music references sprinkled throughout the story as well as the poetry and books. Even the song of Molly Malone had me smiling! One of my favorite parts was how vividly Dublin was brought to life—I felt like I was walking the streets right alongside the characters, so shoutout for the immersive setting and the free tour ;)
“It’s hard to feel jaded when the daffodils are out.”
The magic of birthday wishes really comes alive in this book! Itwas everything I hoped for from her and more. I laughed out loud so many times, mostly because of how relatable the main character’s inner conflicts were—messy, funny, and completely human. This is a sweet, slow-burn romance that I’d absolutely recommend. It’s the kind of story you want to sink into and stay with for a while!
I really loved the music references sprinkled throughout the story as well as the poetry and books. Even the song of Molly Malone had me smiling! One of my favorite parts was how vividly Dublin was brought to life—I felt like I was walking the streets right alongside the characters, so shoutout for the immersive setting and the free tour ;)
“It’s hard to feel jaded when the daffodils are out.”
July 20, 2026
3.5, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of In Every Possible Way! This review represents my honest perspective.✨
In In Every Possible Way, our FMC, Jess, is struggling in her mid 30's - she's given up a hobby she's passionate about in favor of a dull and predictable career where she feels unseen, she's been on yet another dud of a date, and to make matters worse, she just got mugged in the parking lot after the aforementioned terrible meal. She remembers being conked over the head, but when she wakes up she's inexplicably in ... Ireland. Eamonn, a young mechanic, comes upon Jess and offers to help her to put together the pieces of what happened to her - except he has no idea that before the world went black, she was halfway around the world.
The tropes you'll find inside:
☘️ magical realism
☘️ strangers-to-lovers
☘️ man with a (delicious) accent
☘️ age gap romance
☘️ travel romance
This sweet romcom full of lots of banter and dreamy Irish men doing dreamy things will likely be a major hit with most readers - as it should. Alicia Thompson is a talented romance writer and I think this book should get more hype than it is, honestly. That being said, despite this novel falling squarely into the magical realism realm, there was some magic that was missing for me personally.
I appreciated the tension and how it built naturally over time - it never felt insta-lovey and the third act was built out nicely, which is a real point of contention in romcoms for me. The two characters were well written and both presented as complex, mature, and thoughtful. They built what felt like a genuine connection based on curiosity and circumstances. There were some vulnerable, swoon-y moments between the two main characters and the steamy scenes were surprisingly hot and quite well done.
The backdrop of Ireland and all the cultural references and landmarks really lent a nice sense of place to this novel. There's something about Ireland that already feels so steeped in magic and lore, and the author did an excellent job grounding the characters in the setting and also pulling out pieces of Irish history and folklore to add something extra to the story. As the reader, I learned a lot about Irish history and felt like I was immersed in a miniature tour of Dublin, which was a genuine delight. Again, a really thoughtful way to tie disparate pieces of the book together.
I think my qualm was that the concept itself felt far fetched - and not the magical realism piece, to be clear! I think I struggled with the fact that Jess and Eamonn are working to form a genuine bond with one another while Jess conveniently dodges every single question that would explain her sudden appearance outside his auto repair shop with no phone, no money, and zero connection to the world around her. I was waiting the entire time for Eamonn to truly confront Jess and demand some sort of answer, and for Jess, in turn, to find a moment to trust him and explain what was happening. But they exist in each other's presence - and fall in love - over the course of 48 hours without really addressing the circumstance of Jess's arrival in Ireland in any meaningful way. There was a distinct lack of conflict throughout, which also at some point made the book feel a bit low stakes.
I do think this book would work for fans of Ashley Poston and similar novels, and I will recommend it to others who are interested in magical realism romance. I just unfortunately didn't connect with it in the way I was hoping to.
✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC of In Every Possible Way! This review represents my honest perspective.✨
In In Every Possible Way, our FMC, Jess, is struggling in her mid 30's - she's given up a hobby she's passionate about in favor of a dull and predictable career where she feels unseen, she's been on yet another dud of a date, and to make matters worse, she just got mugged in the parking lot after the aforementioned terrible meal. She remembers being conked over the head, but when she wakes up she's inexplicably in ... Ireland. Eamonn, a young mechanic, comes upon Jess and offers to help her to put together the pieces of what happened to her - except he has no idea that before the world went black, she was halfway around the world.
The tropes you'll find inside:
☘️ magical realism
☘️ strangers-to-lovers
☘️ man with a (delicious) accent
☘️ age gap romance
☘️ travel romance
This sweet romcom full of lots of banter and dreamy Irish men doing dreamy things will likely be a major hit with most readers - as it should. Alicia Thompson is a talented romance writer and I think this book should get more hype than it is, honestly. That being said, despite this novel falling squarely into the magical realism realm, there was some magic that was missing for me personally.
I appreciated the tension and how it built naturally over time - it never felt insta-lovey and the third act was built out nicely, which is a real point of contention in romcoms for me. The two characters were well written and both presented as complex, mature, and thoughtful. They built what felt like a genuine connection based on curiosity and circumstances. There were some vulnerable, swoon-y moments between the two main characters and the steamy scenes were surprisingly hot and quite well done.
The backdrop of Ireland and all the cultural references and landmarks really lent a nice sense of place to this novel. There's something about Ireland that already feels so steeped in magic and lore, and the author did an excellent job grounding the characters in the setting and also pulling out pieces of Irish history and folklore to add something extra to the story. As the reader, I learned a lot about Irish history and felt like I was immersed in a miniature tour of Dublin, which was a genuine delight. Again, a really thoughtful way to tie disparate pieces of the book together.
I think my qualm was that the concept itself felt far fetched - and not the magical realism piece, to be clear! I think I struggled with the fact that Jess and Eamonn are working to form a genuine bond with one another while Jess conveniently dodges every single question that would explain her sudden appearance outside his auto repair shop with no phone, no money, and zero connection to the world around her. I was waiting the entire time for Eamonn to truly confront Jess and demand some sort of answer, and for Jess, in turn, to find a moment to trust him and explain what was happening. But they exist in each other's presence - and fall in love - over the course of 48 hours without really addressing the circumstance of Jess's arrival in Ireland in any meaningful way. There was a distinct lack of conflict throughout, which also at some point made the book feel a bit low stakes.
I do think this book would work for fans of Ashley Poston and similar novels, and I will recommend it to others who are interested in magical realism romance. I just unfortunately didn't connect with it in the way I was hoping to.
May 20, 2026
Ahhhhh this was so so cute and so dreamy! I’m such a sucker for magical realism romance and this was done so well! It’s so incredibly atmospheric all of the descriptions of Ireland make you feel like you’re really there! You can tell that Alicia did her research when right this book; it’s very well done!
I love books about books and that mention books! I love the mentions of Irish folklore and the importance it plays in the story! I feel like it added the much more to the story and I really enjoyed that edition!
Eamonn was a big sweetheart! He was so willing to drop everything to help Jess and it was so sweet! I genuinely think he’d do the same for anyone else and that it is just in his nature to help! We love a man who reads! I loved all the mentions of all of the books he has around!
Jess is tougher than me tbh. All of coworkers are booo the worst! I wish she would’ve just freaked out at them about not doing anything for her birthday she deserves better. ALSO the first date at the beginning of the book was sending me. Good for being like mmm I’m gonna date the brother instead 😂 I also love her “whatever happens, happens” attitude. Her whole thought process of I wouldn’t typically do this, but I might be in a coma so…. 🤷♀️ like yess queen I strive to be as free.
I loved their fun couple dynamic and how comfortable they were able to get with each other despite only knowing each other for a short amount of time! They were able to joke around together and it was so nice to see. They were a breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed them as a couple!
I highly recommend this book! If you need me I’ll be busy planning a trip to Ireland!
Read if you like:
🍀 magical realism
🍀 age gap
🍀 he falls first
🍀 strangers to lovers
🍀 forced proximity
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Alicia Thompson for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
I love books about books and that mention books! I love the mentions of Irish folklore and the importance it plays in the story! I feel like it added the much more to the story and I really enjoyed that edition!
Eamonn was a big sweetheart! He was so willing to drop everything to help Jess and it was so sweet! I genuinely think he’d do the same for anyone else and that it is just in his nature to help! We love a man who reads! I loved all the mentions of all of the books he has around!
Jess is tougher than me tbh. All of coworkers are booo the worst! I wish she would’ve just freaked out at them about not doing anything for her birthday she deserves better. ALSO the first date at the beginning of the book was sending me. Good for being like mmm I’m gonna date the brother instead 😂 I also love her “whatever happens, happens” attitude. Her whole thought process of I wouldn’t typically do this, but I might be in a coma so…. 🤷♀️ like yess queen I strive to be as free.
I loved their fun couple dynamic and how comfortable they were able to get with each other despite only knowing each other for a short amount of time! They were able to joke around together and it was so nice to see. They were a breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed them as a couple!
I highly recommend this book! If you need me I’ll be busy planning a trip to Ireland!
Read if you like:
🍀 magical realism
🍀 age gap
🍀 he falls first
🍀 strangers to lovers
🍀 forced proximity
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Alicia Thompson for an eARC in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
June 7, 2026
In Every Possible Way took my breath away. It is a story I consumed, inhaled, devoured in practically one sitting. I fell right into the heart of the story and nestled myself so comfortably in it. This book reads like a movie playing in my mind. Like I need this to become a movie now, y’all! It’s that serious for me! But gosh, guys, gosh…this story is true love. I swooned endlessly all throughout. I was blissfully charmed by the chemistry of Jess and Eamonn and kept every finger and heck even toe crossed that whatever was this magic, dream, hallucination, happenstance would result in a happily ever after. Because no one deserves it more than Jess and Eamonn.
One second Jess is being mugged after leaving a disastrous date in Florida, the next she’s waking up in Ireland and meeting her bad date’s younger brother. What on earth is happening?! It doesn’t really matter, not when the heart of the story isn’t about how Jess ended up in Ireland, but how Ireland changes Jess. The beautiful, potentially magical connection formed between Jess and Eamonn is nothing short of extraordinary. They are mere strangers, it should be an easy manner of the Irish man sending the confused American woman on her way, but instead they simply fall into step with one another. Exploring Ireland and its folklore and somehow falling in love over the course of a weekend. It shouldn’t make sense, but it does. Oh how it does! This is a love story that will have you yearning for dreams to come true.
And for Jess and Eamonn to be true love.
Quick sidenote, I love a romance where the fmc is the older half! And it’s not a big deal (at least not to Eamonn). Jess is 37 to Eamonn’s I believe 29. And it doesn’t change anything about their compatibility, because let me tell you…these two? Dynamite. Absolute dynamite together. And it’s crazy how well they mesh together with so little time spent together! That’s why I think it’s extraordinary. All of this story, including the romance, is extraordinary to witness. Like Jess is literally one second in Florida, then she gets mugged, and is suddenly in Ireland?! We do get some hints at what’s happening and yet that doesn’t detract or distract from the here and now. Ireland. Eamonn. Romaaaance! There’s such an ease in which Jess and Eamonn connect.
There’s also a very healing element to this work. Jess is tired of raising her hopes in love just to have them crushed. And right when she’s throwing in the towel, her entire life is turned upside down. It’s total confusion and yet, dare I say, it's also totally liberating. Jess doesn’t know what the future will bring, if she will close her eyes and suddenly be back home, but I love how she embraces her present situation and allows it to change her positively. She comes to realize the beauty of striving for dreams, of wanting things, and doing one’s best to attain it. To obtain change in life for the better. Jess gets to live in a way she never had before. Which is ironic since we have no idea if she’s truly living given the whole her-head-suffered-an-injury-upon-being-mugged, but gosh, the time she spends with Eamonn in Ireland is seeing Jess explore every possibility. Whether it’s to dance wildly as she did in her younger years or to simply live love in a way that is unabashed. It’s gorgeous to witness, especially in how she shares this with Eamonn who joins her on her unexpected journey. Eamonn is someone who doesn’t think himself very deserving of anything good. Not even a pet dog. He blocks his own path to a happy ending, preferring to wallow alone. But Jess illuminates his world. Absolutely illuminates it. We don’t need his POV to feel that effect. Their connection is mutually transformative. Jess is one a transformative journey that results in the most stunning of transformative human connections.
It’s crazy amazing how this story had me believing in a love born in under 48 hours. But I did. I believed it wholeheartedly. I cheered for it wholeheartedly. I desperately yearned to see it make it to the finish line, so wholeheartedly.
I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again and again: In Every Possible Way is utterly, exquisitely, beautifully breathtaking.
Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily .
One second Jess is being mugged after leaving a disastrous date in Florida, the next she’s waking up in Ireland and meeting her bad date’s younger brother. What on earth is happening?! It doesn’t really matter, not when the heart of the story isn’t about how Jess ended up in Ireland, but how Ireland changes Jess. The beautiful, potentially magical connection formed between Jess and Eamonn is nothing short of extraordinary. They are mere strangers, it should be an easy manner of the Irish man sending the confused American woman on her way, but instead they simply fall into step with one another. Exploring Ireland and its folklore and somehow falling in love over the course of a weekend. It shouldn’t make sense, but it does. Oh how it does! This is a love story that will have you yearning for dreams to come true.
And for Jess and Eamonn to be true love.
Quick sidenote, I love a romance where the fmc is the older half! And it’s not a big deal (at least not to Eamonn). Jess is 37 to Eamonn’s I believe 29. And it doesn’t change anything about their compatibility, because let me tell you…these two? Dynamite. Absolute dynamite together. And it’s crazy how well they mesh together with so little time spent together! That’s why I think it’s extraordinary. All of this story, including the romance, is extraordinary to witness. Like Jess is literally one second in Florida, then she gets mugged, and is suddenly in Ireland?! We do get some hints at what’s happening and yet that doesn’t detract or distract from the here and now. Ireland. Eamonn. Romaaaance! There’s such an ease in which Jess and Eamonn connect.
There’s also a very healing element to this work. Jess is tired of raising her hopes in love just to have them crushed. And right when she’s throwing in the towel, her entire life is turned upside down. It’s total confusion and yet, dare I say, it's also totally liberating. Jess doesn’t know what the future will bring, if she will close her eyes and suddenly be back home, but I love how she embraces her present situation and allows it to change her positively. She comes to realize the beauty of striving for dreams, of wanting things, and doing one’s best to attain it. To obtain change in life for the better. Jess gets to live in a way she never had before. Which is ironic since we have no idea if she’s truly living given the whole her-head-suffered-an-injury-upon-being-mugged, but gosh, the time she spends with Eamonn in Ireland is seeing Jess explore every possibility. Whether it’s to dance wildly as she did in her younger years or to simply live love in a way that is unabashed. It’s gorgeous to witness, especially in how she shares this with Eamonn who joins her on her unexpected journey. Eamonn is someone who doesn’t think himself very deserving of anything good. Not even a pet dog. He blocks his own path to a happy ending, preferring to wallow alone. But Jess illuminates his world. Absolutely illuminates it. We don’t need his POV to feel that effect. Their connection is mutually transformative. Jess is one a transformative journey that results in the most stunning of transformative human connections.
It’s crazy amazing how this story had me believing in a love born in under 48 hours. But I did. I believed it wholeheartedly. I cheered for it wholeheartedly. I desperately yearned to see it make it to the finish line, so wholeheartedly.
I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again and again: In Every Possible Way is utterly, exquisitely, beautifully breathtaking.
Thank you Berkley Romance and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily .
June 23, 2026
4⭐️
In Every Possible Way is my favorite Alicia Thompson book so far!! As a lover of magical realism in books, I loved how it was woven into this sweet sweet romance. Jess hits her head and wakes up and finds herself in Ireland with Eamonn, a quiet gruff mechanic. The romance that develops between them was really sweet (silly at times too) but just a heartwarming read! Ireland added a wonderful backdrop to the story with incredible atmosphere and I just loved this!! If you are a fan of Ashley Poston books, I think you will love this!!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review!
In Every Possible Way is my favorite Alicia Thompson book so far!! As a lover of magical realism in books, I loved how it was woven into this sweet sweet romance. Jess hits her head and wakes up and finds herself in Ireland with Eamonn, a quiet gruff mechanic. The romance that develops between them was really sweet (silly at times too) but just a heartwarming read! Ireland added a wonderful backdrop to the story with incredible atmosphere and I just loved this!! If you are a fan of Ashley Poston books, I think you will love this!!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my review!
July 6, 2026
This was truly just Jess and Eamonn gallivanting around Dublin and the countryside. It's a very soft, slice-of-life kind of story, and while the scenery and pit stops were lovely, I was beyond bored by the meandering pace and conversations. Their feelings also developed incredibly fast. We're talking "I love you" after only a couple of days together. Eamonn had an interesting backstory with his criminal record, but I just didn't feel enough chemistry between them to buy into such an intense emotional connection after so few days. The spice was also absolutely not for me.
As for the magical realism aspect, I loved the inexplicableness of it, but it almost felt unnecessary? It mostly serves to bring Jess and Eamonn together, with no other real purpose. After her warranted initial shock at being magically teleported to Ireland, Jess just seems to roll with it. I kept waiting for some sort of conflict to emerge, but there really wasn't much tension. Given their circumstances, the anticipation of seeing how they'd arrive at their HEA kept me going, but even that ended up feeling a little anticlimactic.
(spice level: 4 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As for the magical realism aspect, I loved the inexplicableness of it, but it almost felt unnecessary? It mostly serves to bring Jess and Eamonn together, with no other real purpose. After her warranted initial shock at being magically teleported to Ireland, Jess just seems to roll with it. I kept waiting for some sort of conflict to emerge, but there really wasn't much tension. Given their circumstances, the anticipation of seeing how they'd arrive at their HEA kept me going, but even that ended up feeling a little anticlimactic.
(spice level: 4 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 21, 2026
I had a grand time reading this book! It made me want to pack my bags and go to Ireland!
I really adored how many deep and intimate conversations our FMC and MMC had. Their romance never felt rushed. While they had only just met recently, by the end of it, you’d think they knew eachother for a lifetime. It was so genuine!
The writing was so easy to get lost in. Magical realism is one of my favorite tropes/ genres in contemporary romance. It just adds such a fun element to the story and this was done beautifully.
This is my first book of Alicia’s but it will not be my last!
You’ll find…
🍀Ireland setting
✨magical realism
💜 age gap (she’s older)
🌿 broody MMC
Thank you Berkley for the ARC!
I really adored how many deep and intimate conversations our FMC and MMC had. Their romance never felt rushed. While they had only just met recently, by the end of it, you’d think they knew eachother for a lifetime. It was so genuine!
The writing was so easy to get lost in. Magical realism is one of my favorite tropes/ genres in contemporary romance. It just adds such a fun element to the story and this was done beautifully.
This is my first book of Alicia’s but it will not be my last!
You’ll find…
🍀Ireland setting
✨magical realism
💜 age gap (she’s older)
🌿 broody MMC
Thank you Berkley for the ARC!
June 28, 2026
i really enjoyed this book!! it starts off kinda weird, and i couldn't put it down once jess ended up in ireland. jess is such a relatable fmc, and i really enjoyed watching her rediscover her love for life. the connection between her and eamon was cute, and the magical elements added a really different touch here. it’s a feel good story with a beautiful takeaway 🙂↕️💗
July 5, 2026
**ARC Review**
In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I could not put it down!
It was charming, romantic, and whimsical with a touch of magic.
Jess's 48 hours in Dublin with Eamonn were full of tension, chemistry, and longing. They were effortless and perfect together, even though they had just met. I was simply enchanted by them, and it killed me not knowing if any of it would be real in the end, or if would be just a life-changing hallucination. Though the romantic in me was certainly hoping for an HEA.
In the end, I think some things in life just can't be explained, but love is always worth wishing for.
5⭐️ 2.5🌶
Thank you to author Alicia Thompson and Berkley Pub forbthe eARC via Netgalley. These are my honest thoughts
In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson
This book had me hooked from the beginning. I could not put it down!
It was charming, romantic, and whimsical with a touch of magic.
Jess's 48 hours in Dublin with Eamonn were full of tension, chemistry, and longing. They were effortless and perfect together, even though they had just met. I was simply enchanted by them, and it killed me not knowing if any of it would be real in the end, or if would be just a life-changing hallucination. Though the romantic in me was certainly hoping for an HEA.
In the end, I think some things in life just can't be explained, but love is always worth wishing for.
5⭐️ 2.5🌶
Thank you to author Alicia Thompson and Berkley Pub forbthe eARC via Netgalley. These are my honest thoughts
July 14, 2026
★★★★★
ꕮ .☘︎ ݁˖ [ 5 stars !! ] ⟢
i loved, loved, loved this book.
and lemme just say, i wasn't gonna write a review for this until i realized i. could. not. stop. thinking. about. it.
idfk what it was guys but istg this was AMAZING??? like i genuinely don't know how to explain this book without sounding insane???
so basically a girl gets mugged, hits her head, wakes up in ireland, meets a man, falls in love, and somehow the author made me sit there and go "yeah this makes complete sense actually."
this book felt like a fever dream in the best way possible. it was sweet, a little whimsical, occasionally emotional, and honestly just a really comforting read, in general. the ireland vibe was just so fairytale-esque and gosh i really needed a book like that. i mean the plot requires a certain level of suspension of disbelief, but once i stopped questioning it and just went with the vibes, i ended up having a LOT of fun.
(also guys i knew so much of this irish lingo bcs of boys of tommen, i was genuinely feeling so proud of myself and lowk like im an irishman who just came home from war and heard his language again 😭)
the surprising part is that romance develops over literally two days, which NORMALLY would've had me rolling my eyes, but there was something so....genuine?? about the way jess and eamonn connected?? also they didn't just flirt, they actually talked. which, you'll be surprised to hear, is rare in today's books for some reason.
˙ . ꒷ Jess . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
jess was so painfully relatable at times.
like she's constantly overthinking, constantly questioning herself, and spends way too much time worrying about how other people perceive her. as someone who has a phd in creating problems that don't exist, i got her on some soul level tbh.
i liked that she wasn't written as some effortlessly confident fmc and she felt ... messy and insecure and just human? sure, sometimes she frustrated me, but honestly that's probably because i saw too much of myself in her 😭
˙ . ꒷ Eamonn . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
your honor, i fear i have once again been defeated by a fictional man.
eamonn isn't one of those super flashy romance heroes who says some life changing one liner every five pages. instead, he's just... nice. like genuinely nice.(and the epitome of my type)
he's patient, dependable, funny when he wants to be, and has that whole "quiet guy who actually listens when you talk" thing going for him. also he's just the perfect balance of endearing and ahem iykwim. (you'll know the scene once you get to it, trust 🤭)
which, unfortunately for me, works every single time.
this man fixed cars, had an irish accent and blushed. alicia thompson knew exactly what she was doing with him, i fear.
˙ . ꒷ Jess and Eamonn . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
my favorite thing about them was how... easy they felt together? i knew they were soulmates from page one, you can say, and i don't even beleive in that much so imagine how much they had to impress me for this.
there wasn't a ton of unnecessary drama or any miscommunication that made me wanna rip my hair out so that's always a plus. they just spent time together and got to know each other and their relationship just... felt comfortable from the beginning.
they gave off major "i could talk to you for hours and not get bored" energy.
˙ . ꒷ Final Thoughts . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
i get why this didn't work for everyone because the premise is absolutely ridiculous if you think about it too hard. but if you're willing to ignore logic for a little while, accept that its magical realism for a moment and just enjoy the story, it's a really really cute read. it had me grinning and kicking my feet at so many parts guys please read this book its genuinely rainy weather + wandering around somewhere unfamiliar + accidental self discovery + and falling for someone when you least expect to.
also, if someone could arrange for me to wake up in ireland and meet a sweet mechanic, that would be great.
ꕮ .☘︎ ݁˖ [ 5 stars !! ] ⟢
i loved, loved, loved this book.
and lemme just say, i wasn't gonna write a review for this until i realized i. could. not. stop. thinking. about. it.
idfk what it was guys but istg this was AMAZING??? like i genuinely don't know how to explain this book without sounding insane???
so basically a girl gets mugged, hits her head, wakes up in ireland, meets a man, falls in love, and somehow the author made me sit there and go "yeah this makes complete sense actually."
this book felt like a fever dream in the best way possible. it was sweet, a little whimsical, occasionally emotional, and honestly just a really comforting read, in general. the ireland vibe was just so fairytale-esque and gosh i really needed a book like that. i mean the plot requires a certain level of suspension of disbelief, but once i stopped questioning it and just went with the vibes, i ended up having a LOT of fun.
(also guys i knew so much of this irish lingo bcs of boys of tommen, i was genuinely feeling so proud of myself and lowk like im an irishman who just came home from war and heard his language again 😭)
the surprising part is that romance develops over literally two days, which NORMALLY would've had me rolling my eyes, but there was something so....genuine?? about the way jess and eamonn connected?? also they didn't just flirt, they actually talked. which, you'll be surprised to hear, is rare in today's books for some reason.
˙ . ꒷ Jess . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
jess was so painfully relatable at times.
like she's constantly overthinking, constantly questioning herself, and spends way too much time worrying about how other people perceive her. as someone who has a phd in creating problems that don't exist, i got her on some soul level tbh.
i liked that she wasn't written as some effortlessly confident fmc and she felt ... messy and insecure and just human? sure, sometimes she frustrated me, but honestly that's probably because i saw too much of myself in her 😭
˙ . ꒷ Eamonn . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
your honor, i fear i have once again been defeated by a fictional man.
eamonn isn't one of those super flashy romance heroes who says some life changing one liner every five pages. instead, he's just... nice. like genuinely nice.
he's patient, dependable, funny when he wants to be, and has that whole "quiet guy who actually listens when you talk" thing going for him. also he's just the perfect balance of endearing and ahem iykwim. (you'll know the scene once you get to it, trust 🤭)
which, unfortunately for me, works every single time.
this man fixed cars, had an irish accent and blushed. alicia thompson knew exactly what she was doing with him, i fear.
˙ . ꒷ Jess and Eamonn . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
my favorite thing about them was how... easy they felt together? i knew they were soulmates from page one, you can say, and i don't even beleive in that much so imagine how much they had to impress me for this.
there wasn't a ton of unnecessary drama or any miscommunication that made me wanna rip my hair out so that's always a plus. they just spent time together and got to know each other and their relationship just... felt comfortable from the beginning.
they gave off major "i could talk to you for hours and not get bored" energy.
˙ . ꒷ Final Thoughts . 𖦹˙— .☘︎ ݁˖
i get why this didn't work for everyone because the premise is absolutely ridiculous if you think about it too hard. but if you're willing to ignore logic for a little while, accept that its magical realism for a moment and just enjoy the story, it's a really really cute read. it had me grinning and kicking my feet at so many parts guys please read this book its genuinely rainy weather + wandering around somewhere unfamiliar + accidental self discovery + and falling for someone when you least expect to.
also, if someone could arrange for me to wake up in ireland and meet a sweet mechanic, that would be great.
June 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️💫(2.5)
Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for the books! #PRHAudioPartner
After a disastrous first date on her birthday, hopeless romantic Jess is mugged and wakes up in Ireland with no passport, phone, or way home. As a gruff mechanic helps her navigate Dublin and the countryside, a whirlwind connection develops over forty-eight unforgettable hours. But if this magical journey is only a dream, what happens to the romance they’ve shared?
48 hours seems a lot longer in this story—the plot, setting, character development, and effervescent atmosphere are drawn out to create a meandering romance. Meaning: the two very things I didn't love about this book. It was too slow and felt draggy, yet the whirlwind romance felt too insta-love. Contradictions, I know, but accurate nonetheless.
Age gap is one of my very favorite tropes because it's so fun to watch the characters figure out how to support one another anyway! However, Jess acted like she was in her mid-twenties instead of 37, so the age gap felt like it was just stated and not actually shown. There wasn't enough maturity difference between them to make it feel believable (if anything, Eamonn felt older!).
I read this via audio, and while I didn't hate it, the narrator seemed to be trying a little too hard to sound seductive/suggestive/sultry, and it kept taking me out of the story.
If you're a fan of Ashley Poston's magical realism and sentimental romances, add this to your TBR! It wasn't a hit for me, but I think it'll be a favorite for readers who enjoy ethereal, wistful insta-love romances.
Perfect for you if you like:
Strangers to lovers
Leap Year/ Ireland
Magical realism
Similar:
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Boston
Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner (I have not read)
🌶️chapters 23, 29, 32 & 33 contain explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️explicit language, all non-graphic: panic attack, she’s in a coma, mugging, physical assault, past incarceration, previous abortion, previous death of a parent
Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for the books! #PRHAudioPartner
After a disastrous first date on her birthday, hopeless romantic Jess is mugged and wakes up in Ireland with no passport, phone, or way home. As a gruff mechanic helps her navigate Dublin and the countryside, a whirlwind connection develops over forty-eight unforgettable hours. But if this magical journey is only a dream, what happens to the romance they’ve shared?
48 hours seems a lot longer in this story—the plot, setting, character development, and effervescent atmosphere are drawn out to create a meandering romance. Meaning: the two very things I didn't love about this book. It was too slow and felt draggy, yet the whirlwind romance felt too insta-love. Contradictions, I know, but accurate nonetheless.
Age gap is one of my very favorite tropes because it's so fun to watch the characters figure out how to support one another anyway! However, Jess acted like she was in her mid-twenties instead of 37, so the age gap felt like it was just stated and not actually shown. There wasn't enough maturity difference between them to make it feel believable (if anything, Eamonn felt older!).
I read this via audio, and while I didn't hate it, the narrator seemed to be trying a little too hard to sound seductive/suggestive/sultry, and it kept taking me out of the story.
If you're a fan of Ashley Poston's magical realism and sentimental romances, add this to your TBR! It wasn't a hit for me, but I think it'll be a favorite for readers who enjoy ethereal, wistful insta-love romances.
Perfect for you if you like:
Strangers to lovers
Leap Year/ Ireland
Magical realism
Similar:
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Boston
Wish I Were Here by Melissa Wiesner (I have not read)
🌶️chapters 23, 29, 32 & 33 contain explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️explicit language, all non-graphic: panic attack, she’s in a coma, mugging, physical assault, past incarceration, previous abortion, previous death of a parent
June 23, 2026
Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars. I found Jess's story to be relatable and really sweet. Her chance encounter with Eamonn was crazy, but I loved how they both just rolled with it. Their journey through Dublin was fun and I enjoyed seeing how they got more comfortable with one another as time went on. I wished this unfolded over a longer period of time, I'm usually not a fan of instalove. There were so many great passages that I highlighted throughout the book, and I can't wait to share them. I wasn't sure how the story was going to end but Alicia did a great job with the ending.
*Magical realism
*Chance encounter
*Forced proximity
*Age gap
*Ireland
Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley, Alicia Thompson, and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!
*Magical realism
*Chance encounter
*Forced proximity
*Age gap
*Ireland
Format: ebook
Thank you NetGalley, Alicia Thompson, and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC!
July 5, 2026
I loved this so much and want every single person in the world to read as it and love magical realism as much as I do.
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