Abby Reynolds lost her fiancé, her fancy New York job, and her apartment all in a matter of weeks. She heads home to Ireland to stay with her sister and brother-in-law while she puts her life back together and figures out what she's doing next. When a handsome stranger drives her home, it seems like her luck is looking up. But as it turns out, he isn't a stranger at all. He's her next door neighbor/childhood best friend, Luke Bailey, and he is all grown up!

I loved all the characters in this book. The banter between not only Abby and Luke, but also Rory and Sinead, Rory and Abby, Abby and Louise, Abby & Luke's parents, etc. was so fun to read! The dialogue had me giggling out loud multiple times. It's not often that I enjoy the side characters just as much as the main characters, but I did in this book. I also really liked seeing Abby and Louise's relationship grow, and them learn to love each other for exactly who they are. I can't wait to read more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read a free ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story and read it in no time at all. Definitely an easy, fun and uplifting read.

Abby and Luke are both lovely characters, and although the story doesn't go too deep, there's enough detail to make a connection with the characters.

Abby's sister was brilliant too, and I loved the inclusion of her world-saving antics.

The only thing I would say is that the title and tagline don't really do it justice. They give the impression of it being quite a quick, heated and/or impulsive romance when in actual fact, this is quite a sweet slow burn between old friends. Despite not being what I expected, I liked the style and pace, and will definitely be reading more from this author.

I was really excited to read this because I loved Catherine Walsh’s previous book, one night only but sadly, this one didn’t live up. The romance felt very surface level and i didn’t feel the chemistry between Abby and Luke. Luke was hardly in the book, and I didn’t really know who he was which is why I felt disconnected to him and his relationship with Abby. I actually felt more invested in Abby’s relationship with her sister, and I enjoyed seeing them grow a little closer. I also loved the small, charming Irish town setting. I think that and the fact that Catherine Walsh’s writing style makes her books fun and very easy to read were what saved this book for me because the romance was a let down.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.

This was such a quick read and so, so cute. Abby and Luke are a funny couple, and the story was relatable and honestly just adorable. I recommend this to others, especially if they're looking for a heartwarming, quick book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.

It's a known that I will read anything Catherine Walsh writes ever since she stunned me with her debut, One Night Only, but this book was one of my favourites to end my year on! Abby and Luke being childhood friends really got me excited for the rest of the book as childhood friends to lovers is one of my favourite tropes. I look forward to more from the author!

The Rebound by Catherine Walsh
Tags: Romantic Comedy; Contemporary Romance; UK Romance; Small Town Romance; Ireland
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Great Read! I will definitely keep a copy to reread and recommend

Sometimes you have to go back to the beginning to find your way again.

Abby Reynolds was an Irish girl who had left home and made it big in NYC – fancy, high paid career, fiancé, apartment, and all the glam she could hope for. Until she finds herself out a job when her company goes down in a big way, and headed home to Ireland to stay with family. For a short break. Or so she tells them, failing to mention that in addition to her job – she’s also lost her apartment and fiancé. Now, she’s back where it all started, and reconnecting with old family, friends and acquaintances – including the old boy next door, who has turned into the local hometown hottie in her absence.

I am a big fan of UK RomComs – they just always seem to hit all the right notes for me and The Rebound was no exception (so happy to find another author to add to my list of auto-grabs!). This was a charming, delightful romcom – that leaves you smiling and feeling heart warmed. I really liked Abby as a RomCom heroine – down on her luck, looking to fix her life and forced to face the world she ran from far and fast. I thought she and Luke were really sweet together and enjoyed the banter they had as well. There ‘meet cute’ was fun, and I could definitely picture this as a romcom movie with the various situations they found themselves in.

As someone who loves small town and slow burn romance – this one really delivered. The setting in a small, Irish town just made me long to go visit one myself. I enjoyed the secondary characters as well, we didn’t get to know them as much, but I was intrigued and would read their stories too – especially Beth.

Another highlight for me was the family dynamics – I love books that show various dynamics within a family. I liked the relationship that was presented between Abby and her sister. I enjoyed seeing them come to understand each other better, and develop a better relationship, but that it felt real because they didn’t completely change or become bffs overnight. Overall, just a cozy fun read – reminded me of Gilmore Girls / Hart of Dixie vibes with the small town feel and one I’d recommend for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Lindsey Kelk, Jill Mansell and the like.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are freely given and my own.

LOVED THIS! Perfect escapism for the Christmas hols - it's nice to read a story where the characters admit they fancy each other from the get go! I must admit I didn't the title fitted with the story but this might have just been my intepretation. Would recommend!

Thank you to netgalley for sending me this ebook arc in exchange for my honest review.

To say i devoured this book is an understatement.

Picture this. Your life in New York falls apart. Your career come crashing down as the company you work for goes bankrupt. Your fiance leaves you. You have already used all your savings to buy your parents a house and now you are also officially homeless. What else is there to do but to go back home to the small town in Ireland you grew up in, with your tail between your legs to stay with your sister who you do not get along with at all and figure life out.

I mean you have me hooked there. I love a good life turns to shit trope and you need to find yourself again. I love love love that its set in a small town in Ireland. Give me small town settings all day everyday. Cute cafe as the go to place to hang for main character Abby is perfect especially with the hot landlord being her friend and neighbour from childhood. A perfect recipe for swooning.

I really loved all the different kinds of relationships this book portrayed. Romantic, friendship and family it really showed so well there is not a one sized fits all of love and friendship. I would 100% recommend this book for anyone who loves any of the aspects I have mentioned.

I read this book right after The hating game when I was looking for something to fill the void it left and this one did just that.

Loved this sweet Irish rom com read! After losing her high paying job, Abby Reynolds has to return home to her small Irish hometown, and luckily the handsome Luke lives there too now! Tons of spunky and hilarious scenarios ensue! These two are adorable together. Abby and Luke have sparks from the very beginning, and the cast of side characters are great! (Rory and Sinead! Andrew and his sabotage!)

The relationship Abby has with her sister Louise is one I really loved. It starts out so rocky but as they learn to be vulnerable and honest with each other, it morphs into something so sweet.

I loved this book, all of it.... 🤍 This book made me want to visit Ireland one day. The small town setting was wonderful.
Newly single, unemployed, homeless Abby Reynolds visiting her home town where her sister lives and they don't get along and a country she thought she would never come back to. But things start to take a turn when a tall, handsome stranger with emerald green eyes gives her a ride to home. Abby flirts with the stranger not knowing who he is. And when she finds out, it's a shock. Yess! The stranger is none other than her childhood friend, Luke Bailey.

PS: Abby hides the truth about being unemployed and people still think she's engaged.

Think Abby and Luke will be able to reconcile and explore the recent connections developed between them?
Well, go and read the book to know!

Catherine Walsh might be my new favourite author in the town!! 😍

The Rebound demonstrates that sometimes going backwards is what you need to do to move forward. Abby is lost after first losing her fiancé then subsequently losing her job, apartment, and life savings and decides that going home is her only option. Home brings her a renewed relationship with her sister and reignites her relationship with her childhood best friend, Luke.

I found this book so enjoyable simply because Abby was realistic in her plight. She rebuilt her own life to not repeat her past mistakes and learned how to advocate for herself and even her loved ones. I would recommend this book to anyone that is lost and looking for guidance on how to begin again.

I like the unrequited crush and small town trope that we got in this book, not recognizing a childhood friend is a good place to start, specially if they are attracted to each other. They were flirty, trying to figure out their lives and were willing to talk to each other. I love books with epilogues, for me the longer the better. This is my kind of romance book, but I still feel I needed more time with Abby and Luke.

This is the author's second book and I'm looking forward to reading her debut novel and what she writes next.

"You have to live your life for you, not for anyone else"

Abby Reynolds’ life was absolutely sorted – until it wasn’t. Now she’s back home with no job, no fiancé and no real prospects. She’s a bit miserable, but when she meets the handsome Luke, sparks fly. But is Luke a for-real romance or simply a very hot rebound?
Catherine Walsh is back with another romantic comedy, this time set in Ireland – and it is so much fun to read. It offers the same things that make a good romantic comedy sparkle – unconventional (but still tropey) romance, a cast of deeply charming characters and a clever sense of humour that’s got one foot in the arch.
As with One Night Only, the real joy here is getting to know Walsh’s characters. I loved Abby, a protagonist with her life in pieces, refusing to give up or fall apart – she’s a Business Bitch with a huge heart, and though I have nothing in common with her (running? To feel better? Ain’t me) she felt like a friend by the end of the novel. And it’s impossible not to fall head over heels for Luke, a love interest who strikes the right balance between wholesome and sexy while still seeming realistic.
The secondary relationship in this novel also deserves a shout out – that of Abby and her sister, Louise. I’ve read a lot of romantic comedies that seem to focus exclusively on the main couple but this relationship in all its complexity is given plenty of breathing room here. The relationship is a complex one – as many sisterly relationships are – filled with jealousy and insecurity but deep love, as well. As someone with a younger sister (and yes, I am the Louise of the situation – older, less successful and bossy as hell) I found the relationship to be sensitively and wonderfully drawn. Shockingly, I responded to Louise really well, and I’d read a novel about her and her excellent husband, as well as her crusade to save the whales, in an instant.
Sometimes you just need to read a good love story - two people falling in love in the most unlikely circumstances, where nothing goes too horribly wrong, and things work out for the best. The Rebound ticks all these boxes, with enough heft to make you think and plenty of chemistry between the two romantic leads. I absolutely loved it.

A fun, lighthearted read! I absolutely adored Abby’s character, and the chemistry between her and Luke was palpable. I also like that this story covered more than just romance - a complex family relationship, adult friendships, and navigating a tricky career path. Can’t wait to read the next one!

This book was very fun! I liked Abby a lot, and it was really easy to root for. When I read the premise, I didn't know what to expect because the concept could have made Abby really unlikable but I was relieved to see she handled everything pretty well :D I thought her and Luke had a good amount of easy chemistry and it made me believe they could be a couple. My only complaint it that maybe everything could have been developed a bit more. I wouldn't mind if the book was longer in order for the relationships to have more depth. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to my friends.

I loved the setting in this story! The details really transport you to the scene of a small town in Ireland. I liked how the story starts with Abby's character falling from the top of her career and needing to find herself again. Luke was the perfect match for her and I felt the romance unfolded at a nice pace. I didn't completely love the ending though, I was so hoping they'd decide to stay in Ireland!

A charming story about family, friendships and how returning to your childhood hometown isn't always a bad thing. I enjoyed reading about Abby as she figured out her future after being dumped and let go at her New York City job. She shows up at her sister's house (which is also their childhood home) for a vacation that ends up being much longer than anyone planned. Her connection with Luke is fun and flirty from the start, especially once she realizes how she knew him from her past. A perfect book for curling up with a cup of tea or sitting on the beach.

This felt a bit light on the romance to me, but I liked it a lot more than I usually would with similar books to this. It was fun reading about Abby and Luke along with her friendships. Fun setting in Ireland as well.

Well now….. what a fantastic read, I thoroughly enjoyed it, I read the last half in one sitting, a totally heart felt, feel good read.

I will recommend this book to all of my friends

5 stars from me 😊

I'm saddened to say this was a bit of a letdown.
I was so charmed by the blurb, Abby returning to Ireland after her posh New Yorker life comes crumbling down and reconnecting with her childhood friend Luke Bailey had me creating lots o expectations.

Unfortunately, although there are bits that are funny and interesting the overall abuse of miscommunication in Abby and Luke's relationship is just infuriating. Their conflict drags on and on based on inexistent drama.

The side characters had potential and the Irish scenery was delightful, but the plot just didn't have enough meat in it.