thank you harper collins ,one more chapter and netgalley for sending me this arc.
after i read the accidental housemate i only had good ,nay great, hopes for this and they were all crushed
granted i didn’t hate it i just wouldn’t go out of my way to read it again
it pains me to say it truly but this was boring , simone sucked so i couldn’t even root for her
so many wrong things i fear

“Community Service” by Sal Thomas is a delightful, whip-smart romcom that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Thomas weaves a hilarious and heartwarming tale that captures the essence of love, redemption, and unexpected connections.

Meet Simone Stephens: a savvy PR executive who finds herself in an unusual predicament. After mistaking a real cop for a cosplay enthusiast at an immersive cinema experience, Simone lands in front of a judge and is sentenced to volunteer at a local homeless shelter. It's a far cry from her polished, cynical world, but Simone dives in, determined to make a difference.

Meet Jasper: the handsome resident psychologist at the shelter. Despite Simone's initial awkwardness and embarrassing moments, she soon finds her footing. As she immerses herself in the lives of the shelter's residents, she discovers a sense of purpose she never knew existed. But could this newfound purpose also lead her to unexpected love?

Thomas's writing is witty, charming, and utterly relatable. Simone's journey from self-absorbed executive to compassionate volunteer is both heartwarming and hilarious. The chemistry between Simone and Jasper crackles off the pages, and their banter is pure gold. Thomas deftly balances humour, romance, and genuine emotion, creating a story that resonates long after the last page.

Watching Simone evolve from a self-centred professional to someone who genuinely cares about others is a joy. Her character arc is beautifully crafted. Prepare to chuckle, giggle, and snort as you follow Simone's misadventures. The humour is spot-on.

Oh, Jasper! He's not just a handsome face; he's compassionate, intelligent, and utterly swoon-worthy. His interactions with Simone are electric. Beneath the laughs lies a deeper exploration of empathy, second chances, and the power of community.

“Community Service” is an absolute gem. Thomas has created a romcom that tugs at your heartstrings while keeping you in stitches. This book deserves a spot on your reading list and a large “Bravo!” from all.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF

Lo intenté, pero no pude pasar del capítulo 18.

Por más que me obligue a leer otro capítulo más no me engancho la historia, me aburrió y en momentos me exasperó. Se supone que hay comedia y las escenas que se suponen son graciosas, no lo son.

Simone, la protagonista es odiosa, ensimismada y con el carisma de una piedra.

Nota para mi:
No intentes volver a leerlo, no hay nada rescatable y sería una perdida de tiempo.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have never laughed so hard from a book than I did with this one. The dialogue was incredible and so well written, and I found myself rereading so many conversations because of how cleverly funny they were. If you're on the fence on this one, go ahead and hop right over because you won't regret this one! The romance is a nice bonus, but it is definitely not the sole focus of the story. Our mfc has a major character arc and learns a lot of valuable lessons throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

This was definitely different to other romance books I have read which made it stand out for me. Once I warmed to Simone I really enjoyed the book overall.

I read The Accidental Housemate last year and gave it a 5 star review. I wrote ‘I absolutely loved every page of this book! It made me laugh out loud and was so uplifting. A fabulous read that I can definitely recommend. I’ll be searching out more books from this talented author.’
What went wrong in Community Service? For a start, Simone came across as a ‘not very nice’ person. The way she spoke to people with all that foul language was just not necessary. There was also too much attempt throughout the book to be funny. The plot was OK if it hadn’t gone on for so long, but the thing that really got to me was the sex scenes. I am not a prude by any means but some of the descriptions turned my stomach. In her acknowledgements the author states that at least 30% of her friends and family secretly thought that the book was a bit too sweary/a bit too different to her first book/a bit too cringe in the sex scene department. Add me to that 30%. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this early copy and I’m sorry I can’t give it a glowing review.

A completely unique romance yes please!
I loved the difference this is to every other romance it was fun, crazy and interesting.
A nice easy read which I did in nearly one sitting. I liked the characters Simone took a little longer to like. Loved the story line it was good
Full review on good reads

I did struggle with this one a bit. I didn't feel the chemistry between the characters. I felt is lacked something. Simone is sentenced to community service at a homeless shelter. At first it doesn't go very well, she isn't the person cut out for it but she defiantly does grow. People also didn't seem to respect Simone, it felt like every one was awful to her and she never really stuck up for herself. Community Service does hit some sensitive subjects that could hit hard for some people.

Community Service by Sal Thomas, published by Harper Collins / One More Chapter, is the second book I enjoyed reading by this author. The previous one was the Accidental Housemate.
But back to CS.
Simone is single, living in London and works as PRexec. She's cynic, edgy and this character traits bring her in trouble and before a judge - getting Community Service at a shelter. Not exactly her kind of experience.
A witty and fun read combined with some serious topics too. I loved the bicker and banter, the story and the beautiful writing.

Unfortunately not for me. The main characters were annoying and lacked the depth I usually like in books. I also missed any spicy elements!

Drawn to Community Service for the plot; stayed for the humor and banter between complex characters. Simone isn’t particularly likable at the beginning of Community Service, which enables us to see her growth as she is educated on a variety of topics through her court-ordered community service. Author Sal Thomas brings to light societal issues while Simone is working with individuals experiencing homelessness. Characters are written in such a way that they feel real to harbor an emotional connection to them. Community Service is a perfect read for those looking for a romance with emotional depth and hard-hitting themes.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for an advanced copy of Community Service in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @harpercollinsuk, @onemorechapterhc, and @netgalley for the eARC of Community Service by @salthomasauthor in exchange for an honest review!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Being a woman is tough. It’s hard to put into words but Sal Thomas does a pretty great job in her new novel, Community Service. As a single woman in London, Simone, a PR exec, knows this all too well. While some situations she encounters may seem over the top, they are a reality for so many and her cynicism might not be that unwarranted. That hilarious yet edgy attitude does not bode well for Simone when she does not realize that she is interacting with real police officers and not actors at a film festival. She lands in a world of trouble in front of the judge and she gets community service. There are very few opportunities more humbling than volunteering at a homeless shelter and this time provides a huge opportunity for self-reflection for Simone. Community Service is a witty read that combines humor and humility in a brilliant fashion.

Review is posted on Goodreads and will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date!

I love a good redemption story and this one was knocked yo off the park. Sal Tho as you a genius. I loved your inspiring, touching, and moving story. It truly has become e of my most favorite reads as of late. I love how sometimes we can find ourselves in unexpected circumstances not always by choice, but sometimes we land up finding ourselves in the process. I cannot wait to share my full review and thoughts on this beautiful beautiful book. I apologize due to being in the hospital unexpectedly I’ve had a bit of rough time being able to type, but definitely be on the lookout here for more, Ine More Chapter your books are absolute perfection! Please keep them coming,

Not for me. Everyone messes with Simone: her client, her colleague, her boss and her boyfriend (who happened to be married, mind you) and she just puts up with it. Of course I'm hoping she'll be turning all these sad situations around in the end, but somehow I couldn't relate to all that shitty drama or unnecessary unkindness and don't have the patience to finish this book and find out.