A newly single girl. A tall dark handsome stranger. What could go wrong? It’s 7am on a Monday morning and Abby Reynolds isn’t where she wants to be. She wants to be in her beautiful loft apartment in Manhattan, drinking a coffee with her fiancé. Instead, she’s heading back to the childhood home in rural Ireland she swore she’d never return to, with some big old secrets. Namely that she’s suddenly found herself unemployed, homeless and absolutely 100% single. She’s feeling all out of luck. Until the first person she meets after she touches down is an absurdly hot guy called Luke, who offers her a lift home. Gazing deep into his sparkling emerald-green eyes, Abby knows instantly that he’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off everything. The perfect rebound. It’s a flawless plan. Until the next day, when Abby realises who he actually is. Not just a stranger. He is, in fact, Luke Bailey, aka the boy next door. Luke Bailey who—so help her God—she’s pretty sure she once shared baths with, back when they were kids. Not that she can allow herself to imagine him in a bath now, not without blushing from head to foot. And judging by the smirk on his face, the same Luke Bailey who’s known exactly who she was the whole time… And who, like everyone in the village, still thinks she’s a high-flying New Yorker… who’s getting married next year. Abby is certain getting under Luke will get her over her ex. But the truth is stopping her. Can she admit to everyone back home that she’s single and has lost everything? Because, if she wants the boy next door, she may just have to…

It's a contemporary romance + small town vibes. I enjoy it just fine. It's good but I can't say that this book is so good. It's fine. If you like contemporary romance, please do read.
Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC

DNF - ughhhhh breaks my heart when i have to dnf a book i was so excited to read! could not get into this and had to put it down :(

This was my second read by Cat Walsh. I really enjoyed One Night Stand last year and this was a perfect second novel that built on the work she had already. When I started the novel, I struggled to get into the first 10% of the story because I didn’t fully understand the stakes and the conflict between Abby and her sister Louise. However, during one sleepless night, I managed to read almost half the book and I was hooked!

I love the descriptions of her small town life and the events that were organised within this close knit community. I understand Abby’s inner conflict between feeling forced out of New York and her independent life abroad and to come back to live with her difficult sister in their childhood home. With her broken off engagement still on the down low and a childhood crush popping up in the most convenient of places, there’s plenty of opportunities for some romantic tension.

I thought this book subverted and played into some well known and loved romcom tropes, including childhood friends to lovers, which I’ve been loving in books recently! I also love the female friendships in this story and how they develop into stronger bonds that withstand all the usual drama and miscommunication that normally severs them in romcoms. I thought Beth was such a sweet character that dealt with the conflict she was involved in with such grace and Jess was such a fireball, which could get tiring but she was a conduit for some much needed healing for other relationships and character development.

I would highly recommend this book and as soon as it’s out in print, I need to get my hands on a copy! This has become my favourite read of 2022 so far and I’m so excited to see what Cat Walsh has got coming up!

Friends to lovers troupe here! I'm a huge fan of RomCom but to be honest this was more like a contemporary romance to me. Also, the writing was absolutely fantastic! The story was more about the MC with her career than with Luke, but I liked it, I'm all about career growth. The epilogue of this story was sweet and the ending felt a little rushed but overall really good.

I enjoyed this slow-burn romance between childhood friends Abby & Luke.
Catherine Walsh is a new to me author and I will definitely have to check out her pervious novel for sure, and will be keeping an eye out for future ones to.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for so kindly gifting me this copy.

For some reason I just could not get into this book.

From the minute I read the synopsis I was sure this was going to be one I loved but for some reason I just felt no connection to the characters or the story.

This was definitely a 'me' problem because everyone else has loved it! I might try the author's other book!

A side-splittingly hilarious Irish-set romantic comedy, readers will fall in love with Catherine Walsh’s latest novel, The Rebound.

Abby Reynolds has reinvented herself in Manhattan. Having sworn that she would never ever set foot in rural Ireland ever again, Abby had transformed herself into a high flyer with a gorgeous fiancé and an even more gorgeous loft apartment in New York. Abby was living the dream and her life was as close to perfect as it was possible to get – until it all came crashing down around her ears. Abby is now single, unemployed and homeless and has nowhere to go other than back home to Ireland. Abby feels as if her luck is running out – until she touches down in Ireland and gets offered a lift home by a gorgeous stranger called Luke. Could things finally be looking up for Abby?

A no-strings rebound fling is just what the doctor ordered – until Abby wakes up the next morning and realises that her perfect stranger is actually somebody who is very familiar! Luke was her next door neighbour growing up and judging by that heart-melting smirk on his face, it seems that he knew who she was all along. Only, Luke thinks that she’s a big-shot who is now a high-flying New Yorker about to marry the love of her life next year – not someone who is down on her luck and very, very single!

As Abby and Luke begin to get closer, she begins to wonder whether coming back home might have been the best decision she had made in a long time. Only Abby has some very big secrets. Secrets which could have serious repercussions on her future if they are ever revealed…

Catherine Walsh’s The Rebound is a fun read that cheered up a dull and dismal grey weekend. Catherine Walsh’s books are full of verve, brio and gusto and will delight and entertain readers looking for a warm, witty and heartwarming romantic comedy. The Rebound has got it all: a terrific heroine, a gorgeous hero, rib-tickling humour, emotional intensity and a fantastic love story that will leave readers with a massive smile on their face.

Uplifting, feel-good and irresistible, Catherine Walsh’s The Rebound is absolutely perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and Beth O’Leary.

This book was so fun to read. Not only did it get me everything I want in a romance, but the side characters brought this book to life. Exploring Abby's friendships and family dynamics made me invested in her success. I flew through this book.

THIS BOOK I FOUND TO BE REALLY SWEET AND I WAS NOT IN A HEADSPACE FOR A FLUFFY BOOK WHEN I READ IT, ALTHOUGH THAT SAID, I STILL ENJOYEED READING IT.

INSIDE ARE SOME LUSH LITTLE PEARLS OF WISDOM LIKE 'EVERYONE WORTH ANYTHING THINKS THEY'RE TOO OLD OR TOO YOUNG OR TOO WHATEVER AT SOME POINT, BUT THEY'RE NOT. YOU'RE NOT. YOU SHOULDN'T DOUBT YOURSELF LIKE THAT.

THE PACING OF THE BOOK IS GOOD, THE SETTINGS ARE DESCRIPTIVE AND WARMLY WRITTEN, THE CHARACTERS ARE DEVELOPED WELL AND ALL IN ALL ITS JUST A SWEET LITTLE STORY.

3.5 stars, rounded up.
I loved the setting of this book- I am a sucker for all UK settings, honestly. And while I liked the characters, the story did fall a bit flat for me, That being said, i was so happy that the ending was not what I initially expected- that Abby would give up everything to stay in Clonard- and she and Luke struck out on their own. That was a nice twist.
There were some delightful side characters, and I enjoyed watching Abby and her sister/ brother-in-law reconnect and grow their relationships. Plus new and old friends that came in and out throughout the story added some fun. But obviously, I am reading a romance for the couple. There was such great, instant chemistry between Luke and Abby at the beginning when he drove her home to Clonard. But then it seemed like there was more back and forth, miscommunications and issues that really necessary. The first couple issues, okay. But after that it was like...really??? Again??? And frustrated me as a reader. I wanted them to get out of their own ways and get together already!
While overall it was an enjoyable rom-com, I wouldn't put it down as a favorite.

This is a wonderful book full of fun and emotion. Abby is a character that took a bit of time to get to know because she is so guarded with her true feelings but once the character started to open up I really enjoyed getting to know her. She is trying so hard to be what she thinks she should be but, hopefully, on this trip home she can find out who she really wants to be. Luke is a fun character but is also guarding his true feelings because he is worried about getting hurt. They make a fabulous couple that you cannot help rooting for to get together. The supporting characters and setting are invaluable for what they add to this fantastic book. I feel in love with this town and their people.
If you are looking for a heartwarming romamtic comedy in a fabulous setting look no further than this book! I am so grateful to Bookouture and Netgalley for an egalley of this lovely book in exchange for a honest review.

Loved this! The Rebound is a great rom-com of a woman who has lost everything and has to go back to Ireland to escape it all and live with her sister. This book had a little bit of everything - a boy next door that grew into a total hottie, family relationships that need fixing, a small town with a new friend to be made, and an ex-fiance who keeps trying to be in contact. I really enjoyed the characters and the story in this one and Luke made me swoon.

The rebound was a quick easy read. I enjoyed watching Abby work through the devastation of losing her job and life in New York and making the journey back to her hometown. I liked the struggle that Abby went through with coming to terms to life back in her hometown and as someone who left home for education and career I can relate to the awkward struggle of having to come back home when things do not work out. I also enjoyed watching Abby and Louise relationship and how deep beneath all their misunderstanding there was a mutual sisterly love. Although I felt like Abby and Lukes romance was second to her growth I still enjoyed their second chance love. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!

I had high hopes for this one but was sadly underwhelmed.
This sounded like a cute romance- I usually enjoy small town, cozy vibes but ugh..
I couldn't deal with the strong miscommunication theme because one of the characters can’t just speak!!
This was just okay for me.

This was such a lovely book!
The Rebound by Catherine Walsh is a childhood-friends-to-lovers romance that had me swooning. This was so well done for a trope I always end up picking apart. While there weren't flashbacks to rely on a set friendship, the tone between the characters sets a perfect scene. It was on the realistic side of a romance book which I loved to see. This book was such an ease to read, and I can't wait to pick up more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Abby Reynolds has just walked out of her perfect life in Manhattan and returned home to Ireland. She has found herself unemployed, homeless, and absolutely 100% single. All of these facts she is hiding from her family.

When she touches down in Ireland she rekindles the friendship with her old best friend, Luke, but now he is definitely a changed man.

When Liv’s lies m catch up with her will she be able to admit her feelings to Luke without losing everything?

I read this book in one sitting it was just so good.

This slow burn romance honestly had me swooning, its beautifully written and pulled me right into the characters relationship. Their relationship is sweet, with funny moments and the flirting was amazing. I've never read from this author before but I'm for sure going to check out their other book, can't wait to read more from them in the future as well!

This was such a wonderful fast paced book. The romance was so sweet and feel good. I’d definitely recommend for someone looking for an easy romance.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved getting to know the characters and the setting! It was well written and a fast read. I liked the plot too! It was great!