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Love Me or Leave Me

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‘Welcome to the Hope Street Hotel – where you check in married, and check out single.’

Two years ago Chloe Townsend was dumped at the altar and had to leave behind everything that mattered to her. Even now she’s finding it hard to move forward. That is until she lands an incredible job, running a brand new boutique hotel. Suddenly she’s starting to put her life back together, and, apart from the fact that her hard-to-please new boss is breathing down her neck, things are looking good.

But what goes on in the Hope Street Hotel is a far cry from anything she’s ever dealt with before. This is a pioneering ‘divorce hotel’ designed to make every aspect of breaking up efficient and pain-free. In one single weekend, Chloe’s team promises to take care of everything – legal, technical, emotional – and guests check out carefree and single.

No one is better qualified than Chloe to understand what couples need when their relationship is at breaking point, but she soon finds herself having to tackle the heartbreak she’s tried to bury. In particular three couples need her help – Jo and Dave, Lucy and Andrew, and Kirk and Dawn – and the opening weekend is full of revelation, trouble, memories happy and sad, facts that need facing, and some very big surprises.

It’s time to move on. And it soon becomes clear that some endings are, in fact, very exciting new beginnings …

424 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2014

165 people are currently reading
2272 people want to read

About the author

Claudia Carroll

42 books454 followers
Claudia was born in Dublin and is a graduate of UCD, the College of Music and of the Gaiety School of Acting. Since then she has worked extensively as an actress on the Irish stage, but is probably best known for her role as TV’s Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, ‘Fair City.’

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
600 reviews118 followers
September 16, 2020
An addictive read from start to finish. I was most drawn to Jo's story but they all kept my interest and blended well together.
Profile Image for Megan.
470 reviews184 followers
September 16, 2014
I have all of Claudia’s previous novels and I had devoured them with so much joy and excitement – and so I was thrilled to start her new book.

Chloe Townsend was dumped at the altar two years ago, leaving her devastated and having to leave everything behind. Then she lands an incredible job – running a brand new boutique hotel. But this isn’t just any ordinary hotel – but the Hope Street Hotel – a pioneering ‘divorce hotel’ designed to make everything about breaking up with someone efficient and pain free. In a single weekend, Chloe’s team can take care of everything – from the legal to the emotional, leaving guests to check out free and single. Chloe is fully qualified to understand what couples need when their relationship is at breaking point after all she has been through, but she soon finds herself with three couples that need her help, and perhaps having to tackle her own heartbreak in order to begin to help these couples….

I really enjoyed this! I liked Chloe from the beginning, having been through heartbreak herself she is very sensitive and empathetic to other people and their needs, and I was gripped wanting to know how her life would go.

A divorce hotel is something that never would have entered my mind in a million years – and I must admit I was REALLY intrigued by this concept – could you really have a hotel for couples that would take care of everything they needed? I was absolutely fascinated by this and I was eagerly turning the pages to find out just how Chloe planned to help these couples.

I loved meeting the three couples – Lucy and Andrew, Jo and Dave, and Kirk and Dawn. They were all as couples very different from each other, and though they were all there for the same reason – their individual personalities shone through and showed that no two relationships are the same – and each comes with ups, down, sad times and happy times too. I really felt as though I connected with them, and I think many readers will too – there are things about these couples that make you feel for them, and other aspects that are very relateable too.

I particularly liked that I had no idea what way the book would go, I wanted to know why the couples had come to the hotel, I wanted to know if they could work things out or if their relationships had reached their end, and I desperately wanted to know how Chloe’s journey would turn out. For me, Love Me Or Leave Me was a surprise of emotions, relationships, suspense and with a fantastic array of characters. Make sure you buy a copy!
Profile Image for Jill.
273 reviews14 followers
August 26, 2015

Love Me or Leave Me is the first book I have read by Claudia Carroll, but it won't be my last! I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Warm, funny, emotional and romantic this ticked all my boxes for an engrossing, feel good read. I vey audibly found myself drawn to the characters and their journeys.

The book tells the story of Chloe who has been dumped, but is determined to get her life back on track. She goes to work at Hope Hotel, a new and intriguing concept where couples who are breaking up visit to sort out their divorces as quickly as possible, in a weekend whilst staying there. Chloe was instantly likeable and I felt Claudia bought her to life in a real way where I could imagine the hotel and her life truly existing. She is a strong, brave character who you really want to cut loose and find happiness in whatever form that is for her.

I loved how the couples at the hotel were all so different and with back stories which slowly emerged as the book developed. It kept some suspense and interest in them alive for me throughout. As with all people, some characters I was rooting for and others I wanted to come unstuck. I won't say what happens in the end but it left me with a smile planted on my face.

Love Me or Leave Me is a great dose of escapism that draws me in as a reader and left me engrossed right up until the end. A great holiday read, or perfect for idling away some time with a group of people who will make you smile and cheer on as they find out who they are and what they really want next from life.
Profile Image for Kim.
2,120 reviews64 followers
November 18, 2014
Chloe was jilted a couple of years ago and it left her devastated. She then takes over running a new hotel which deals with divorce.
Three couples check in and she helps deal with their emotional and legal problems. The Hope Street Hotel is designed to make the divorce as smooth as possible. It’s a really unusual concept and as such an interesting read!

Will the opening weekend run to plan – or will her boss and her ex fiancé wreck things for her?

Many thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book to review.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,324 reviews571 followers
September 15, 2014
Absolutely loved the concept of a divorce hotel, and seeing it from being built to the completion of its opening weekend was very interesting.

The focus was on Chloe the general manager and no stranger to heartbreak herself, and then 3 couples, all of which were very different from each other, and all very entertaining.

Very compulsive read, which was very entertaining.
Profile Image for Jenks .
406 reviews12 followers
July 13, 2018
Not my normal genre choice.

An easy beach holiday reach. I liked the idea of a divorce hotel and it made for a good read. I would of liked a bit more from the main characters back story / future but as I said for a holiday read it’s one of those novels you can pick up and put down and don’t need to invest much time .
Profile Image for Shelleyrae at Book'd Out.
2,613 reviews558 followers
October 14, 2014

"A divorce hotel. Where you check in married and check out single....This would be a place where two unhappy souls could quickly tie up loose ends and where something that had long been a source of acute pain to both, could gently be eased out if its misery. At least that was the general idea."

Claudia Carroll's 11th book, Love Me or Leave Me, is a lively romantic comedy about love, betrayal, divorce and new beginnings. Chloe Townsend is certain she has the professional experience, and personal empathy as a jilted bride, to make Dublin's newest luxury niche hotel catering to amicably divorcing couples a success and she is determined to ensure its opening weekend will prove it. But true love, and its dissolution, never runs smooth, and with her boss hovering over her shoulder, and her ex-fiance making an appearance, the honeymoon period might be over before its even begun.

The narrative unfolds from the perspectives of Chloe, and three of the guests, Dawn, Jo and Lucy, who slowly reveal why they believe their short marriages have reached crisis point. Dawn, young and heartbroken, can't forgive her husband, Kirk, who is embroiled in an affair; Jo, a control freak struggling with infertility, regards Dave, an often out of work actor, as irresponsible; and supermodel Lucy believes her marriage to Andrew has disintegrated due to his grown children's sabotage. Of course none of the women are entirely blameless, and almost uniformly the men are reluctant partners in the divorce.

"There is his story, her story and then somewhere in the middle lies the truth."

As the weekend develops, the couples are forced to confront each other and deal with their mistakes and misunderstandings. Carroll presents their issues sensitively but also with plenty of humour. There is a frisson of suspense built up as reconciliation seems possible for some of the couples, and plenty of drama, from screaming arguments to medical emergencies.

With well drawn characters, and plenty of humour and heart, Love Me or Leave Me is an engaging and entertaining novel where everyone gets their happy ever after.
Profile Image for Fabulous Book Fiend.
1,194 reviews175 followers
September 18, 2014
Review: what a fabulously original storyline! I love when a book throws up something completely different, but the idea of a divorce hotel? Amazing! I really liked the structure of the book as well. Each couple is dealt with from an individual perspective but then we get to see everything through the eyes of manager Chloe as well, and boy does she see more that goes on than the guests really think. She can't seem to see what's right in front of her nose though and this is a whole other storyline-just wonderful.

The different couples in the book mean that there are plenty of people to root for. Some to love, some to hate and its interesting how this wonderful author changes your opinion of characters as the book goes on. I really felt for couple Jo and Dave, their story really saddened me. The story of Dawn and Kirk was really relatable and Andrew and Lucy were just so sweet and trying so hard with everything that was against them. I really felt for all of these couple but that didn't mean that I didn't want them to get divorced, that's the beauty of this writing.

Chloe is a fab character too. She is such a strong person and has really made it for herself. I really admired her and she seemed to do everything with a smile. But then big boss Rob comes along an throws somewhat of a spanner into the works, this provides a whole other storyline as I've said, something to distract the reader from all the bickering couples.

The writing in this novel is beautiful, everything is described with opulent vocabulary and you really feel that you are right there in the hotel with the characters! The plot keeps you guessing every second page and the structure makes it very clear exactly what is going on! Overall I think fans of Claudia Carroll won't be disappointed with her latest offering and if you've not read anything by this author before, this would be an excellent starting point. It is warm and fuzzy but at the same time very realistic and very relatable. I really enjoyed its originality and would definitely add this to your reading list now!
Profile Image for Agi.
1,676 reviews105 followers
October 27, 2014
"Love Me or Leave Me" is Claudia Carroll's 11th book. I haven't read all of her works and out of those that I've read some I liked and some, unfortunately, not. This is why I started reading this book with some kind of shyness, feeling very unsure. I wanted to love this book, I really did. I was really scared about the idea of the story, I mean, divorce hotel, and what I was expecting were couples full of grudges and a lot of negative feelings, and I wasn't really sure if it's going to work out for me. Divorce hotel? What the hell is it?
Well, it seems that there really is a Divorce Hotel in Holland! But this one, the Hope Street Hotel, is thought to make everything simple and very quick: the couples check in as married and check - out as divorced. Very single and very free. See? Quick, efficient and pain free. I personally still am not sure how it works but well, I'm not planning a divorce :) But IF, just imagine, in a single weekend, with everything taken care for, from the legal to feelings issues... But. Is really every person that enters the Hotel married going out as single?

At the beginning I thought the story is going to concentrate at Chloe, being jilted at the altar. Still in shock, Chloe fled from Dublin to London and after three years hears that a divorce hotel is going to be opened back in Dublin and they are looking for a General Manager. But as the story continues, we get to know three other couples who are going to stay in the hotel at its first opening weekend and get a divorce. And Chloe is the best girl for this job, after all she knows how it is to have a broken heart. And it turns out that she's really perfect for this job: she's not only managing the whole hotel with iron hand but also with a lot of feeling, and she's the best person for the guests to turn to when they need to talk. Chloe wants to prove to her boss that she's really capable to run this hotel single - handedly and his very often phone - calls or unexpected visits start to throw her off - balance. Could there be more to those visits? Is Chloe ready for new relationship?

I loved how the book began, with three very different invitations to three weddings, and those were the invitations of the couples that now don't see a way to live together anymore and check in the Divorce Hotel. The invitations were as different as they could be, the same as people who were then getting married. As we then gradually get to know those people we see how various they are and how much those invitations mirrored their personalities and their style of life. But what did go wrong that they are now facing divorce?

The book concentrates then mostly on the three couples. During the weekend in the hotel we get to know them, their history, their background, what happened that they want to divorce now. I can't say that I had my favourite couple, as all the stories were really great and original, they didn't feel too forced, there was not a single low moment in their stories, they were interesting and hooking. To be honest, all their stories tugged at the right heartstrings and I felt for our characters. They all have their own personalities and you will really quickly find yourself engrossed in their stories.

The narrative unfolds and the story is told from Chloe's or three of the guests' point of views, as they slowly reveal what happened and what was the reason for their marriages to come to this point. Jo is a total control freak, all the time flying the world and communicating with her husband Dave usually only via email. They are struggling with series of ineffective IVFs but it was not the reason why their marriage is at its end. Dawn, the youngest and most naive out of all the guests, can't come to terms with her husband's Kirk betrayal. Supermodel Lucy has married much older Andrew but it was in fact his family that destroyed their marriage, especially his grown twins. Of course there are always two sides to each story and we slowly get the whole picture.
This a great mix of very eclectic characters, really great, I enjoyed every single one of them, and their differences, their various personalities, very different life experience made them much more believable and likeable. As I already said, I didn't have any favourites, and they were written in a brilliant way, I just followed the story and enjoyed it. I think that the strength of the characters lies in the fact that each of us can relate to them in some way

So, this book really surprised me. First I was not so sure about the idea of the divorce hotel, and I was really expecting a lot of fighting, feuding couples, unfair tricks. However, I found this book was much more than only about divorce hotel. It was about people and how they found themselves in this situation, it was about the fact that sometimes it is really worth to fight for your love, it is about the fact that sometimes no matter how impassive and dispirited you feel, there is still a chance to find a way out of this deadlock. There was not a single moment of the story that felt flat or slow, no, it was packed with actions, from screaming arguments through fire alarm and running into ER. I enjoyed how Claudia Carroll built the tension, built the whole story and how much twists and turns was she able to put in the book as well to surprise us. She has created a very unique storyline, very likeable characters and written this book in a very understanding, non - judgemental way. She shows that no relationship is like any other, that people can be - and are - different, and that every relationship has its ups and downs, downs which sometimes are worth to fight. Despite being about really important issues in our lives, it was a light, engaging read and although I didn't love it as much as I'd like, I still liked good enough to recommend it.

Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Trish at Between My Lines.
1,138 reviews332 followers
May 23, 2014
I went into this book with trepidation expecting lots of feuding couples and bitter fights over who should get what. However despite the fact that this book was about a divorce hotel, the book was a whole lot sweeter than I expected. And I was more than ok with that, it ended up being a hopeful read that made me smile.

First Line of Love Me or Leave Me:

“Shh, shh, shh,” I can hear my best friend Gemma saying, as she hands me a fistful of Kleenex and purposely avoids hugging me, so as not to crumple the wedding dress.

My Thoughts on Love Me or Leave Me:

I loved the way this book started! You saw the wedding invitations of different couples and just from those sneak peeks, you could see how very different all these couples are. Each couple is planning the day of their dreams and each invite tells it own story. And knowing that they will all end up at the inaugural weekend of the divorce hotel makes reading them bittersweet. And also intriguing, how did it all go so wrong?

This book kept up the suspense really well. The stories kept you guessing, with a few hints along the way as to why the marriages are in trouble. I’m not going to spoil you with any details but just be aware that all may not be as it seems and maybe some of those marriages are not quite doomed yet. The book is told from the different women’s point of view and I always know a book is working when I groan at a pov change but then immediately get engrossed in the new pov.

As I was reading this book, I was reminded I love books about hotels. It has been a long time since I read one but the inner workings and all the preparation and panicking that goes on as a new hotel opens just really entertains me. And this hotel sounds fab with all its careful details to ensure that your every need is anticipated and met. I would so stay there if :

1. It wasn’t a divorce hotel! I’m not in the market for that right now! :) 
2. It wasn’t fictional!


The manager of the hotel Chloe is a sweetheart. Having dealt with her own heartache, she is has spades full of empathy and is exactly the kind of practical, supportive person that this hotel needs. We see her at her lowest and we see her climb back to a life she deserves and I loved watching her succeed.

Overall this book has lots of compelling characters and has you covered if you are looking for an fun read. There is no over the top drama instead it is made up of individual stories that feel realistic. And they all pull together to make this a very entertaining, enjoyable read. It gets the Trish stamp of approval!

Who should read Love Me or Leave Me?

If you are a fan of realistic storylines, romantic feels and strong characters that you want to root for then I’d highly recommend this one to you. If you like authors like JoJo Moyes, Cathy Kelly and Marian Keyes then I think you’d also like this one.

Thanks to Claudia for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Profile Image for Rosie Read.
237 reviews11 followers
September 23, 2014
Our entirely loveable heroine Chloe was left at the alter two years ago, still putting herself back together she lands a dream job of running a new boutique hotel. The team at the Hope Street Hotel, headed by Chloe, promises to deal with every aspect of a couple's break up over one quick and efficient weekend.

Over the course of the book Chloe and her team come to the aid of three couples, Jo and Dave, Lucy and Andrew, and Kirk and Dawn. The novel is told from the point of view of the women in each relationship which means that each of the couples is clearly established and differentiated from each other. The romantic suspense, as it were, is well paced throughout the novel and Carroll drops a few subtle hints here and there about the troubles each of her couples are facing and whether, in fact, their relationships are doomed after all.

I did enjoy the level of detail that Carroll goes into in Chloe's everyday life of running the hotel, the things that her and her team put up with really do make you wonder. With each relationship carefully examined and featured by Carroll you seen get caught up in the couples' relationships and begin to root for your favourites. Facing break ups every day at work means that Chloe soon has to confront her own heartbreak too.

If you enjoy some wonderfully woven and realistic romantic story lines that examine love and romance after the HEA then you're sure to enjoy Love Me or Leave Me. Not only are the story lines rich and engrossing, Carroll's characters are also sure to win over your heart. I was particularly fond of young Dawn, although all the characters are equally well developed with clear and distinct personalities, and I was pleased that we got to accompany Chloe as she got back on her feet after her own heartbreak.

Love Me or Leave Me was a thoroughly enjoyable read that really piqued my interest, it's not often you have a book centred around divorce after all.

Full review at Rosie Reads Romance
Profile Image for Natalie TBGWP.
401 reviews24 followers
December 8, 2014
When I first read the blurb for Love Me or Leave me I couldn't wait to get a copy. As soon as it arrived I dove straight in and was submerged into a world full of bitterness, infidelity, heartbreak, secrets, lies, and love. I was in my element.

We start of with a small introduction to heroine Chloe Townsend on her wedding day. Then we are whisked off and given three wedding invitations for three extremely different couples.
1) Jo and Dave, or the bitch and the actor.
2) Lucy and Andrew, or the model and the old rich man.
3) Dawn and Kirk, or the lost child and the hippy stoner.
We then follow each couple exactly three years later as they embark on a journey of self discovery and divorce. All three couples are booked into the new and exclusive Divorce Hotel, which is run by our very own jilted bride Chloe Townsend.

The one thing I absolutely loved about this book was the diversity. I adored the fact that we get four separate stories, and they that all combine and give us an original and refreshing read. I have to admit there were a few things that niggled at me throughout which did spoil it a bit for me. They are the stopping and starting of conversations from one couple to the next. Which was supposed to keep you dangling in suspense but didn't have that affect on me unfortunately, it kind of frustrated me. The pace to the book is a mild flow, and I found I could put it down easily and not be in a rush picking it up again. I needed it to have a mixture of fast and exciting, and slow and steady for me to be fully gripped by it. It's such a shame because the whole thing should work for me as a whole. I don't for one minute think this book will not be a huge success because I really did enjoy it. It has some great features, and some brilliant characters.

I'd definitely recommend this book to you though as it's original, quirky, very Irish and in fact a sweet book.

3/5
Profile Image for Paris Baker.
112 reviews3 followers
December 19, 2014
Originally posted on Paris Baker's Book Nook.

Thank you to Avon UK for a review copy via NetGalley.

This is the first book I’ve read by Claudia Carroll, but the gorgeous cover instantly grabbed my intention, and I was very intrigued by the idea of a divorce hotel. I wasn't entirely sure how that could work, but I was eager to find out!

What I loved the most about this book was the diversity. Chloe was a fantastic character, and I loved reading her own story and wanted things to work out for her, but there was also so much to love about the different couples in the Hope Street Hotel, that each character added their own flavour to the book.

It focuses on 3 couples in particular, all of whom are such different characters with very different relationships and situations. There’s Jo, the stern cold-hearted business woman, and her struggling actor husband Dave. There’s Andrew, the rich older husband with his young model wife, Lucy, and sweet, young Dawn and her ethereal hippy husband, Kirk.

I found myself emotionally invested in each different storyline, and I think Claudia did a fantastic job of intertwining the stories. We are dripped bits of information about each couples past as the story progresses, slowly getting to know the full story – from both sides – which builds the tension wonderfully and makes for some great plot twists. As always, first impressions are not always right, and things are not always as they may seem.

It was a really enjoyable read that I highly recommend to any chick lit lover.
Profile Image for Clare.
411 reviews42 followers
April 29, 2015
I liked Chloe, if her and Robb had more time I might have liked this book more. But unfortunately the book was spread too thin, it told the stories of at least four different couples. And whilst I liked the majority of the characters there simply wasn't enough time for me to get to know all of them.

Even bearing that in mind this would have been a 3 star book except for the rather annoying attitude to bisexuality. This is a personal gripe and may not affect the enjoyment of the book for other people but I didn't appreciate bisexuality being labelled as made up and selfish. That kind of offended me.
Profile Image for Lena.
434 reviews30 followers
July 15, 2021
2.5 ⭐
Really enjoyed the plot. All the characters got their own little story arc and I think each one was wrapped up nicely. They were all interesting and flawed in their own ways....however, some were a little TOO flawed. Some of these people are genuinely insufferable and I think everyone should have just gotten divorced. In fact, none of them should have gotten married in the first place.

Dave straight up sucks, Andrew is a pushover who treats his adult offspring like children, Kirk is literally vibing so hard that he transcended the human realm and can no longer function in normal society, and Dawn and her sister are biphobic pieces of shit. Men are mostly the problem with this book, much like they are in real life. The women were problematic too though, don't worry! I guess everyone gets a little problematic when you decide to stay at a divorce hotel though...
(Except Chloe. Chloe's a literal angel who can do no wrong.)



Also, I probably shouldn't fault the book for being too British, but if I have to read the word "feck" one more time, I will gouge my fecking eyes out.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
Author 4 books148 followers
December 23, 2014
Originally posted on Becca's Books ~ http://beccasbooooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Firstly, I'd like to say a massive thank you to the fabulous publishers Avon UK, for providing me with a digital copy of Love Me or Leave Me by Claudia Carroll via NetGalley. I'd also like to say thank you to the stunningly-talented author Claudia Carroll! Love Me or Leave Me is the very first book by Claudia that I've had the pleasure of reading, and it gives me great satisfaction to now announce that I absolutely bloody loved it! From the very first page to the very last, it was everything that I adore and more. Romance, humour, drama... Fabulously splendid in every which way imaginable!

For the first time in forever, it wasn't the cover for Claudia's Love Me or Leave Me that beckoned me towards this book, which is crazy if you know me and my book habits. I'm guilty of admiring gorgeous covers, and even though the cover for this book was gorgeous, it turned out that it was the blurb that caught my attention first. When I read it, and found out all about the Hope Street Hotel, and about it's intended purpose, my interest immediately piqued! I can honestly say, hand on heart, that a divorce hotel is something that I've never read about before, so I couldn't wait to get started! I love when authors have genius ideas, and to me, Claudia was spot on with this one!

Chloe Townsend is back in Dublin, after fleeing her previous life and settling down in London, away from the mortification of what happened on her wedding day. After landing herself a job in a brand-spanking-new hotel, she's about to embark upon the opening weekend of the Hope Street Hotel. What I adored most about Chloe was her determined character and spirit. It was clear that she'd had an incredibly rough time of it back in Dublin, but despite that, she came back fighting and seriously put her all into the opening and running of the Hope Street Hotel. Claudia did such a brilliant job when it came to the narratives within the book. When I was reading from Chloe's point of view, I was reading in first person. When I was reading from one of the three other main characters' point of view, I was reading in third. It was absolutely amaaaazing, and really opened my eyes to all of the many different goings-on and pasts of the couples. There was one thing that all of the hotel guests had in common though, and that was that they all found Chloe to be a kind, warm-hearted person, and as the story progressed, each person began letting Chloe in on the parts of their pasts that they really didn't want to face head-on yet again. Chloe was definitely seen as the perfect person to reveal all of your woes to. She was a fantastic listener, offered the best advice, and even had the experience of her own ruined wedding day, as well as constantly being at the top of her game when it came to ensuring that the Hope Street Hotel was running smoothly. Chloe was just such a lovely, endearing character that I instantly found myself wanting to become friends with. One of those people who would actually put down their mobile phone to really listen to what you had to say, do you know what I mean?

As well as Chloe Townsend, there were, of course, the Hope Street Hotel's guests. Again, how vividly real Claudia managed to make these people seem was just out of this bloody world! There were a ton of other guests, but Claudia decided to focus in on three main couples. Dawn and Kirk, Lucy and Andrew, and Jo and Dave. Let me tell you something readers, by the time I'd finished reading Love Me or Leave Me, I felt like I knew each of these couples inside out. Throughout reading, I'd been invited into their troublesome pasts, I'd seen what had happened to make them check into the hotel, and I'd known most of these things before even Chloe had. I loved how the couples each had their own unique problems; some that would haven't crossed your mind. I suppose once I was aware of their individual problems, it made me realise that you truly don't know what goes on behind closed doors, and that things are not at all as they may seem. I don't want to spoil the ultimate pleasure of getting to know these characters for yourselves, so I won't say too much more, other than you are in for SUCH a treat, you won't even believe it! These characters may have been coupled up, but they were just so detailed and worked upon, I felt like they were standing right in front of me, that's how clear they were to me, despite being entirely fictional. And isn't it crazy how an author can achieve that? Ahh, the magic of writing!

Of course, the opening weekend of the Hope Street Hotel doesn't go as smoothly as Chloe would have liked, and when her boss, none other than the well-known Rob McFayden, keeps popping up all over the place, it makes things even more difficult! Over the course of just one weekend, Chloe is faced with all manner of problems, from drunk and disorderly guests to having to evacuate the building due to a fire-alarm ringing off in the middle of the night! There are warring couples, tender moments of truth, and attempts to win back broken hearts. Honestly bookworms, Love Me Or Leave Me has it all! It's not only a perfect recipe for chick-lit, but it's emotional, uplifting, and by the end of it, my spirits were soaring! Claudia has created a gorgeous setting in the Hope Street Hotel, along with the most colourful collection of engaging, lovable characters that you'll probably ever meet, and despite the hotel being there for divorce reasons, by the last page, you begin to realise that actually, it's a whole lot more than just that. Claudia, thank you SO MUCH for such a fantastic read! I will be recommending this to everyone! I'm only sorry that I didn't have the chance to get around to it sooner, but better late than never, right? Thanks again to Avon UK, you're fab! I think it's obvious what rating I'll be handing over to Love Me or Leave Me by Claudia Carroll today, don't you?
Profile Image for Laura.
313 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2018
It was okay. I liked it. Didn't love it. It dragged a bit towards the end. Storyline is a bit convoluted. I found myself having a hard time keeping track of who was married to whom. Enjoyable enough if it was a quick read. However, it dragged so it disqualified it from being a "quick" read. However, with that said, I would still read more of this author's books.
Profile Image for Isabell.
239 reviews70 followers
October 8, 2014
First posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes

I kindly received Love Me or Leave Me in exchange of an honest review by the publisher via Netgalley.

Love Me or Leave Me tells the story of Chloe Townsend who has been dumped by her fiancé in front of the altar. Devasted and heartbroken she left everything behind and moved to London, trying to rebuild her life. While she was looking for a new job in London her way leads back to Dublin to manage the Hope Street Hotel. It's not just an oridinary hotel, it's a divorce hotel. A divorce hotel to make something complicated, simple. In a single weekend you go through the divorce process efficent and pain free. Then, just after four days you check out as single and free. After all Chloe had been through, there couldn't have been someone better for this job. She knows what the guest needs to help them go through their heartbreak. All of the guests adore and appreciate all she does for them. Chloe gets involved with each guest and is on hand to make sure their stay runs smoothly and keep her job safe. The more she gets involved with the couples the more she realise that she needs to tackle her own heartbreak and make a fresh start.


Love Me or Leave Me was the first book I've read by Claudia Carroll. I was not quite sure what to expect of the book because Carroll is a new author to me. Frankly to say, I was very sceptical in the first place about the idea with the divorce hotel. Could that really work? It did. Claudia Carroll greated such a fantastic and unique storyline which I very enjoyed.


The story is not only told out from Chloes point of view also from of three out of twelve couples who checked in for the opening weekend. All of the characters are well developed and as you go on the journey with then towards their divorces you continue to learn more and more about them. I liked following all those different characters, they had some great stories to tell.

There’s a great mix of characters: Andrew, a rich banker who is married to Lucy, a super model who is just a few years older than Andrews twins. They make Lucy's life a living hell because Andrew married her right after he divorced from his childs mother. Then there are Jo and Dave. They are total opposites. Jo, a tough marketing director. Dave, an out of work actor looking for a job. They trade vicious texts and emails with one another to make sure Dave will checking in to the hotel. Last but not least my favourite couple: Dawn and Kirk. Dawn married her friend and lover, much to the chagrin of her close friends and family. It turns out they were right. Dawn leaves him due of disloyalty. Just a brilliant mix.

Love Me or Leave Me is an amazing, uplifting romantic comedy that chick lit fans will love.
Profile Image for Tria.
659 reviews79 followers
July 13, 2015
4 stars.

This book surprised me. I'm not normally into what's generally described as "chick lit", and this book is undoubtedly aimed to fall squarely in said genre (such as it is; I'm not keen on sexism as a genre definition, no matter how I feel about the books involved).

Anyway, I was lucky enough to be one of ten people to win a copy of "Love Me Or Leave Me" from Avon Books UK (a Random House subsidiary) on Twitter, and even luckier to be one of the three people who also won a bag of Hotel Chocolat champagne truffles (which I (re-?)gifted to my lovely morning carer C, for various reasons including the fact I can't have alcohol) and a Sanctuary Spa shower gift set, the last of which being what I wanted most of the lot. I've a thing for treating myself in the shower - the way I see it is, if my showers *must* be with carer assistance & I can probably never again take one alone for the rest of my life, I'm at least going to use nice shower stuff, and I'd never tried Sanctuary Spa. Too expensive for me usually! Well, there's body lotion, shower gel with moisturising beads, body scrub, all with jojoba, and a brand new shower puff, and even the puff smells gorgeous!

Anyway! Enough about the gift set, right? Well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book that was the main focus of the competition, and unexpectedly so.

The framing character, Chloe, was drawn as a lively and vivacious young businesswoman managing to bounce back from huge personal disappointment and go on to bigger and better things - she could have been a walking cliché, but she wasn't. From the blurb you'd also expect her to be the main character, but in a way she's not that either. You'll see.

There are plenty of POV switches, and these had the potential to be very confusing at first, but the individual character voices are well varied and feel significantly different from each other, with the odd minor exception of a moment or two (nobody's perfect, of course). Carroll manages to tell their individual and collective stories clearly and well, and the book, while not one I'd ever find myself getting through in one sitting, was an entertaining read, and that's what counts.

I think I'll be looking up more of Claudia Carroll's work after this - though she's not turned me onto any of the "chick lit" authors she's been compared to in her blurb and cover lines, not just yet.
Profile Image for Verity Wolfe.
140 reviews2 followers
October 19, 2014
This is a very unique premise for a book, a hotel that deals with couples wanting to easily and quickly get divorced, but some how it works.

The book is told from the perspective of four women, Chloe, Jo, Dawn and Lucy. Chloe is the General Manager of the hotel, and the perfect person to understand what these women are going through due to her own history of heartbreak. Lucy has checked in, even though she is still very much in love with her husband. Dawn has checked in because she has no other choice. And Jo has checked in, even though her husband is very much against the idea.

There are three simple rules of the hotel, but it quickly becomes apparently that all of them have been broken by these couples. What says cordial like an argument that can be heard by everyone. What says at the right time like banging down your wife's bedroom door, or drinking your weight in alcohol at the bar to give you the strength to get through the weekend. What says discretion like a general manager and hotel owner wanting to know just why the guests have checked in.

My favourite couple in this book has to be Jo and Dave. Their emails are just pure comedy as the hatred and spite spirals the more they go back and forth between each other. The entirety of Chapter five is the best of the book!! Dave's are just dripping with sarcasm.

As unique as a divorce hotel is, this book was really enjoyable. Each of the four women has experienced happy times and sad times, their relationships are all so different, but they have one thing in common. How do you get through the hardest moments of your life? The ending gives the reader the resolutions you hope for. Hearts are mended, futures are forged, and pasts forgiven. The Hope Street Hotel is a very special healing balm.

The only thing that kept me from giving it the full five stars, the way it was edited in places. I don't know if this was just because I got a copy through the goodreads giveaway, but at times I felt that sentences had been put in that were intended to be edited, words seemed in a mixed order, and were forgotten about. It's a little something, but something I did notice.

Overall though, a very good read.
Profile Image for Suze.
1,884 reviews1,299 followers
January 10, 2015
Chloe has applied for her dream job. She has the chance to become the manager of a brand new boutique hotel. It isn't just a regular hotel, it's a special place where couples can check in to get a speedy divorce. Chloe has to get everything ready for their grand opening and she can't wait to meet her first guests for the second time. She's screened them all carefully. While she's doing her very best to make things go as smoothly as possible her very rich and well known boss is checking up on her regularly to see how things are going. The opening seems to be a big success, but there are three couples that have unforeseen problems. Lucy is a well known model who's married an older businessman. The children from his former marriage have made their life a living hell. Jo is a businesswoman who's working all over the world, she's at the hotel to divorce Dave, an actor who has been out of work for most of their marriage. He still loves her very much and isn't ready to let her go. Dawn is way too young to be a guest of the hotel, but Kirk has broken her heart and she is certain their marriage is over. Will she be able to get over their horrible breakup? Each guest has to fight a battle to be able to start over and fortunately there's Chloe who's offering understanding, advice and guidance every step of the way.
Love Me or Leave Me has an original concept. It's a book about love while the setting is a divorce hotel. That intrigued me straight away. Why are people getting divorced and what has happened to their love? Claudia Carroll managed to describe everyone's flaws and faults without ever making them lose their dignity or likability, which I think is very clever. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen to each of the couples. There's also Chloe's story to find out more about, she's such a sympathetic main character. I loved reading all the different point of views and each time the chapters ended with a great cliffhanger. I think Love Me or Leave Me is a very enjoyable read. It's romantic with a nice twist and interesting characters, which makes it a perfect novel for a long winter evening.
Profile Image for Kathryn Laceby.
307 reviews3 followers
January 10, 2015
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes

Love me or leave me left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand I was intrigued by the concept of the hotel for facilitating easier divorces (what an odd business premise) and I quite liked Chloe’s evolvement as hotel manager.

I was just a bit unsure about the Chloe of the past. There was something about the start of the novel that didn’t give me enough to make me sympathise with her. It was also confusing for me to have the wedding invitations at the start of the novel. It would have made more sense to me to have them at the start of the chapters introducing each couple or, failing that, more information presented with the invitation. On their own they didn’t draw me in and they were the opening pages of the story- which then made it hard for me to relate to Chloe

Once you meet all the couples at the hotel though, and their stories unfold, they are really quite intriguing. The well-established story lines are melded into a novel that kept me interested. I wasn’t even sure until the end if any of them would manage to save their marriages- I wanted them all (ok not all!) to rediscover each other or at least come to appreciate the other’s point of view. It was really carefully put together in that respect- enough detail to keep you reading while still exploring the other marriages.

I really believe that I would give this novel a 5 star if I hadn’t found the beginning so muddling. It stuck with me unfortunately. Regardless, I think a lot can be appreciated with Carroll’s writing and there were so many interesting concepts and original characters together that Love Me or Leave Me was well worth the read.


Thank you to Harper Collins UK for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
Profile Image for Aoife.
1,483 reviews652 followers
April 1, 2020
Chloe Townsend is back in Dublin a year after being left at the altar. Now she is the manager of a brand new hotel with a difference - the guests are all going through a divorce, and by the time they leave the hotel, their divorce will be complete. It's a divorce retreat of sorts. Chloe ends up meeting a lot of different couples, including some who still seem to love one another.

This was a sweet contemporary romance that I really enjoyed reading as it was set in Dublin City and the hotel itself was situated on the exact same street I work on, and that I walk on every single day! I really enjoy reading modern books set in Dublin and recognizing the different landmarks and being able to picture everything. This probably comes from reading so many books set in the UK and US and not always feeling familiar with setting. Sometimes it's nice reading a book set at home and where all the characters talk like you and your friends.

I enjoyed the different couples in this book a lot but unfortunately their stories completely overshadowed Chloe who was suppose to be the main character but was just so boring compared to everyone else. While she was a nice character, there wasn't anything particularly interesting about her (except her being jilted at the altar). There was nothing in her storyline that was surprising and I knew exactly how everything would work out with her and the person who she would clearly end up with. Her storyline with her ex also wrapped up really quickly and while it was satisfying, there was very little there to explain why she was with him in the first place.

There was also a very dated moment in this book when a character's bisexuality was completely erased as just "a step" towards fully coming out as gay which we all know is bs. This book wasn't written that long ago that I feel like this is okay and I was really surprised by it.
Profile Image for Anne.
2,440 reviews1,171 followers
September 17, 2014
Love Me or Leave Me was a great surprise to me. I had expected a story of bitterness and bitching, as the story is set in a 'divorce' hotel, but instead it's a novel full of wonderfully warm characters, each with a great back story. It's one of those reads that becomes quite addictive; where you say to yourself 'oh just one more page', until before you know it you've read through to the end!

Chloe fled Dublin two years ago, she left her job and her home and took her shattered heart to London. Chloe had been dumped at the alter, in full view of her friends, her family and her work colleagues.

When Chloe is offered the job as General Manager of the Hope Street Hotel, back in Dublin, she
knows that she is perfect for the job. Hope Street Hotel is going to be a divorce hotel, the guests will be couples who are about to divorce. The hotel will be five star luxury, with professional services from lawyers, mediator and estate agents coming as part of the package. Hope Street Hotel will facilitate civilised divorces in luxury surroundings.

The story follows Chloe and three of the couples who stay at Hope Street on the opening weekend. Claudia Carroll has expertly given each couple's back story, starting with their individual wedding invitations which reveal so much about each of the couples.

Expect the unexpected, this is a quirky story with a unique setting. It's not full of hate and bitterness, nor is it overly sentimental. It exposes the faults of these couples and delves into their reasons for being at Hope Street. There is humour, there are mishaps and misunderstandings and there is hope.

I enjoyed this well written story very much, the characters are fabulous and the hotel is wonderfully described.
Profile Image for Lisa.
159 reviews6 followers
August 10, 2014
Chloe is no stranger to heartache, but when the opportunity arises for her to manage the Hope Street Hotel, a niche hotel where couples come to sort out their divorce in a weekend,, she cannot turn it down despite the fact that it may dredge up her past again. The couples who arrive to stay for the opening weekend are a diverse and surprising bunch, and Chloe finds she may have somewhat of a challenge to keep them all in check and keep her job safe.

I am a big fan of Claudia Carroll, and I wasn't disappointed by this book. Written in her usual light hearted style, this book was another example of why Claudia is so good at this genre of writing. We are thrown into Chloe's life when she is at her lowest ebb, and we follow her story as she prepares for her new job as General Manager of the newly opened divorce hotel,. The story is also told from the point of view of three of the couples who are checking in for the opening weekend. All of the characters are well developed and as you go on the journey with then towards their divorces you continue to learn more and more about them, and I found my opinions of them changed throughout the course of the novel, particularly Jo who came across as standoffish at first but as we learn more about her my sympathy for her grew.

Overall I enjoyed this book, I was intrigued by the premise of the divorce hotel and I felt it was well thought out, with well written characters and a good pace of plot.
Profile Image for Catalina.
162 reviews
October 18, 2014
Love me or Leave me is the first book I read by Claudia Carroll and it will probably not be the last. She is a talented author who was able to create strong, well-formed and likable characters. I was a bit unsure when I read the blurb, but intrigued nonetheless – a book about heartbreak, loss, pain and divorce.
The main character is Chloe Townsend, a twenty year old girl who was dumped at the altar and had to leave behind everything that mattered to her so she could move away and start a new life. She moves to London and works there for a few years, in the hotel industry. Luckily for her, one day, after a stressful interview, she lands the job of her dreams – General Manager in a Divorce hotel. From this moment on life changes for her, for the best.
The plot of the book revolves around the hotel and 3 main couples – Lucy and Andrew, Jo and Dave and Dawn and Kirk. Each chapter presents the story of these couples using different voices, mainly, Chloe, Jo, Dawn and Lucy. This technique can be frustrating at times, but it’s a great literary devise meant to keep you engaged and curious. I have devoured each page wanting to know why each couple was there in the first place, why were they getting divorced?
I have really enjoyed this book and I am glad I gave it a chance.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Profile Image for AmandaEmma.
336 reviews41 followers
May 6, 2015
Firstly I have to say that I think this is a really pretty cover that suits the story nicely.

I had a hard time in the beginning of this book because I couldn't get in to the story, I still enjoyed the beginning, it just took me quite a while to read it because of it. When I reached the halfway point it started to pick up and it just kept going up until the end. It ended perfectly and I think the last 10% is the reason it got 4 stars and not 3.

I quite liked following that many characters (6-8 I think), in the beginning it was confusing but you get used to it pretty quickly. I really enjoyed getting to know all these characters and not just seeing it from Chloe's (the main character and manager of the hotel) perspective. It gave some depth to this book and I loved it - even if it is tough to follow in the first 20%.
My favorite character was probably Dawn, she is so young and I think her 'divorce-story' is what surprised me the much - I laughed a bit, sorry. My favorite couple was probably Lucy and Andrew! Jo and Dave really surprised me though.

Profile Image for Lizzie.
7 reviews
December 29, 2014
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway, and I won't lie, for the first few chapters I wasn't entirely sure! Carroll has quite a few different story lines going on here, all linked by the 'divorce hotel' around which Love Me or Leave Me centres. With a bit of perseverance though, about a quarter of the way in past all the initial scene setting, I was pretty hooked. Every novel has it's scene setting, and I suppose the more plot lines you have the more setting there is to do, but bearing with all the introductions is well worth it. I won't go in to much plot detail, it would be hard to without many spoilers! Chloe the heroine is extremely likeable and easy to empathise with, and as the plots start to come together the whole tale really gathers momentum. Love Me or Leave Me genuinely left me with that 'ahhhh' feeling you get at the end of a really good romantic comedy, and certainly brightened what had been quite a dismal day! My only quibble would be with the character Dawn, who is a little too forgiving in the end for my liking. All in all though, much praise for Claudia Carroll, she has stuck her neck out on a more unusual idea and made it work beautifully. An excellent one for a good laugh and making that bad day just a little bit brighter.
Profile Image for Lisa F.
572 reviews12 followers
November 11, 2014
this is one of then chick lit books that will leave a massive smile on your face.

3 very different couples with different problems that have lead to divorce.
Chloe is the new manager of a new hotel that's just opened which caters for couples who are getting divorced, they have mediation and also a divorce solicitor on hand to help make it as pain free as possible.
of course this isn't going to be an easy ride,
so Chloe plus 3 couples not having an easy divorce one weekend what could happen ay???
I really enjoyed this and also I loved that the author didn't give away the reasons why each couple was heading for divorce until the end but we got bits and pieces along the way.
I really loved the couple's and it made me laugh and also in a few places made me a little sad. I loved the ending when we got to see them 6 months on and what's going on in everyone's lives and the HEA

a bit that made me laugh when sweet little dawn had a go at her ex to be Kirk.
nice easy read that I really enjoyed
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