An unexpected plot, a bit of angst that will have me reading the last chapter in a flash - this is the only way I can describe a jo Lovett book.
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I read one book a few years ago, and every time I learn of a new one, I have to have it on my kindle and plan wich day of the week I’m going to sleep the least. Beacauses I can’t just leave it at a random chapter. I need to know how it’s going to be resolved. And the ending is so organic and perfect, it keeps me going back to the best parts in my head again and again.
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Nadia and Tom are just two of six strangers stranded at Waterloo Station, under the clock, when a false bomb alarm triggers the protocol. During that brief time, they manage to form a close friendship.
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They were both stood up for their dates. Tired of dates and family expectations, they make a strange agreement to be each other's plus-one in social situations. From this growing friendship, new emotions and new ideas about what each wants in a partner emerge.
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This book had me on the edge of my seat for several chapters, especially knowing and fearing that Tom's date would show up at some point and cause a lot of trouble. But I enjoyed every part, and I only hated Tom a little, just a little bit for a brief moment.
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I know I say this often, but it's true with every Jo Lovett book: "They would be great romcoms movies, ones I would watch again and again."
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Thanks to Jo Lovett and her team for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

This was such a cute read! An accidental meeting of 5 people, great descriptive writing by the author, and great narration of a slow burn romance. It all starts with a classic twist of fate—Nadia and Tom both get stood up under the iconic clock at Waterloo Station, and end up stuck together during a surprise lockdown. Along with three strangers, they form the quirky and lovable “Waterloo Five,” and what begins as a fake-dating pact between Nadia and Tom slowly turns into something much more real. The book is full of warmth, witty dialogue, and that comforting found-family feeling, leaving you feeling cosy inside. There are some parts (especially Tom’s lingering ex issues, and the overly polite way some dialogue was presented) that felt a bit not real/believable/fitting, but overall it was an uplifting romance that I enjoyed quite a bit.

This was auch a cute read. I really had fun reading it.
Love the mcs soooo much
Big thanks to netgally for this book

In this heartwarming new romance novel from Jo Lovett, readers meet Nadia and Tom when they are both stood up by their respective dates under the clock at Waterloo Station. While their chance meeting starts out as a great story, it soon turns into a wonderful friendship and a fake dating relationship for weddings, parties, and other events requiring a plus one. As they use their friendship to avoid uncomfortable questions, Nadia and Tom both realize that the relationship is starting to feel more real than fake, making them wonder if this connection is just more than coincidence and convenience. With its excellent use of tropes and emotion to show the evolution of their relationship, this novel really pulls readers in through the tropes and characters. Their relationship is natural and endearing, while their two backstories, personalities, and character arcs really complement each other as the book progresses. The use of tropes helps build up the rom-com nature of the book, while the pacing, setting, and background characters allow Nadia and Tom to really shine as the book’s protagonists. Great characters, fun tropes, and an entertaining plot, romance readers will love the evolution of Tom and Nadia’s relationship in this deeply enjoyable read.

Are you a fan of a coincidence meeting or a fake dating romance? If so this is possibly one you’ll like!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Nadia and Tom are both stood up by their dates, under the clock at Waterloo station, they get thrown together under the most unusual circumstances. What begins as a good story, slowly starts to develop into something more…

They both agree to help each other out by pretending to date, but when it starts to feel real, they both start to wonder if there is something more there.

Alongside the romance in this story, I really enjoyed the dynamics of the Waterloo five (no spoilers!). Their friendship throughout the story really adds another layer. However this was a fun quick read that’s very easy to pick up! Definitely good for anyone who loves a fake dating trope.

Thank you Jo Lovett, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of Meet Me Under the Clock in exchange for an honest review.

BRO ITS A FAKE DATING AU!!!!
A very chill and sweet read on a comfy Sunday.

I adore Nadia.
Nadia girl she cool she slays she holds and gives her ground at the right moments. She slots right into the family. To be a gal that can just easily adapt and chat casually to others!

I kinda hate Tom.
No cap tho this guy is pathetic... you've met this other girl basically once, you know nothing about her. Make it make sense really. Also guys I need y'all to be in touch with your feelings way better.

But I get you Nadia…
that princess carry was the game changer huh!!! That would do things to me too.

The friendship group is very wholesome.
It was actually really sweet how the newfound friends met and made an unexpected friendship with each other and that continued onwards!!

All in all very sweet, light and predictable read that was just what I needed at the time.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

A fun and enjoyable read from start to finish.

Nadia and Tom are both down to earth people and are brought to life by the fantastic supporting characters. who added colour and humour along the way. I wanted to be their friend too. I enjoyed the dual POV from both of them which added more depth to the story.

Meet Me Under the Clock is such a cute and clever romance filled with lovable characters and cutesy found family vibes!

I really enjoy books by this author, I like the writing style and how the characters are crafted. This was a delightful read and one I’d definitely recommend

Sadly I found the storyline rather irritating. Pining for someone he met and spent only one evening with and then expecting this person to reappear 10 years later because “ that’s what they promised each other “seems rather ridiculous.

Stopped reading after the first 5 chapters. I didn't care for the writing or characters. The premise was cute not executed well unfortunately

I DNF'd it pretty quickly, I wasn't sold on the whole idea of how everyone met, and I just wasn't connecting at all. I will try to read it again in the future, but it just wasn't really for me right now.

The clock on the concourse at Waterloo Station is an iconic symbol in stories and films set in London and it serves as a believable setting to bring Nadia and Tom together. Both stood up, they befriend three other who are assembled there and form an unlikely but heartwarming friendship. With one pair getting engaged and another breaking up with her husband, there is a lot going on!

Tom amd Nadia form a fake dating pact which leads to much humour as well as the promise of romance. I particularly enjoyed Nadia's trip to Tom's family home and the events that followed. Nadia has had a series of disastrous first dates so she is keen to impress her work colleagues with her latest 'boyfriend'. Being such likeable and decent people, both Nadia and Tom soon realise that misleading their friends and families is not the way to go and then of course, their relationship gets more involved. With a wry look at romance and friendships old and new, this is an uplifting read, perfect for a weekend away.

In short: fate brings strangers togethe

You can’t go wrong with the classic fake dating trope, and Jo Lovett’s latest read doesn’t disappoint.

The scenes with the Waterloo five, and wish there could be a spin off book about the whole group from each of their perspectives.

I enjoyed watching Tom and Nadia’s friendship (aka relationship in denial) blossom, although I did find Tom’s character a bit irksome at times - especially how obsessive he was throughout about the other woman he was supposedly in love with (despite having only met her once).

My personal highlight was the scene where Nadia met Tom’s family for the first time (especially the tennis dress drama). However, it was a shame that we didn’t really get to delve into each character’s family background at all after that.

While I could easily predict where the story would end, this was still a wholesome, easygoing read that I could happily recommend to anyone looking for some light romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Very cute story with lovely characters. I’m not usually a fan of dual narratives but it worked well here. Wouldn’t mind reading books about the rest of the Waterloo Five. Pleasant read with a cup of tea.

I picked this book up because the synopsis had so much promise. I love fake dating, I love clandestine meetings, so this book had tropes that were right up my alley, However, with all that potential, this book fell so unbelievably flat for me that it was like pulling teeth for me to finish this story (but I did).

First off, it’s never a good idea to start a book off with a possible terrorist threat. While it’s glossed over pretty quickly, it really put a hamper on Tom and Nadia’s meeting. However if that was the only issue, it would be very easy to overlook. Both MCs were extremely dry and quite boring. They both rambled and complained about a lot of things through the book that made them hard to tolerate. Also, if I heard about Nadia’s foot issues one more time…I know what the author was trying to convey but it didn’t come off as endearing. Also, both characters rambled on with their thoughts and so much of what happened in the book was based on not wanting to upset something else rather than wanting to be together. Not the best when it comes to a romance.

Speaking of romance, there was zero chemistry between the two MCs. This was evident when they spoke about how much they didn’t have in common for the first part of the book, so when they started talking about their physical attraction, it just didn’t make sense. The final nail in the coffin was the end when Tom tells Nadia he loves her, and they dragged out the resolution through dinner because apparently saying I’m in love with you doesn’t mean he wants to be with you? Ugh.

At one point, I thought maybe it would be better to listen to this as an audiobook, that maybe I’d be more invested in this story, but that wasn’t the case. I was more frustrated for the lack of romance than anything else. I don’t know, I thought maybe it was because it was a British author set in Britain, but…nah, I’ve read plenty of romances written by British authors and this was just not it. I give it 2 stars because while it’s not for me, the writing was not bad and there is nothing offensive in the book that would warrant 2 starts. Unfortunately I need more romance in my romance books of me to like it.

**Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. While this one wasn’t for me, I appreciate the opportunity”

This is the first book I’ve read by Jo Lovett and it will not be my last! After finishing Meet Me Under the Clock, I immediately looked at her other works and bought the audiobook for Another Time, Another Place.

This was definitely a story I needed right now!

The book opens with Nadia’s point of view and she’s waiting under the clock for a blind date who is late. The next chapter is from Tom’s perspective and he, too, is waiting for someone - a woman named Lola he met ten years ago and promised to show up, under this clock, if he was single. Lola also appears to be running late. Nadia and Tom’s lives intersect when there is an announcement stating there are delays at the station.

Waiting for things to get running again, Nadia and Tom literally collide thus meeting one another and they also meet a newly engaged couple in their 70’s; two delightful women, Bea and Ruth. The two waited 60 years to be able to openly admit their love and became engaged at the clock, not wanting to be apart for one more second.
The last two people waiting with Nadia, Tom, Bea, and Ruth are Carole and Roger. They were also meeting at the clock to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary when Carole hears Roger luridly speaking to her best friend on the phone.
Roger aside, the five form an instant connection while they wait and agree to have dinner with one another when it became obvious Nadia and Tom’s dates were no-shows.
Tired of being set up and disappointed, Nadia and Tom bond over their woeful dating histories when a thought occurs to them - they can be one another’s “plus one.”
I’m a big fan of fake dating so I found this four-star read to be delightful and lovely.

Thank you NetGalley, Jo Lovett, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to find great enjoyment reading this in exchange for a review.

Nadia, who is not lucky in the love department, is set up with Dougie a friend’s roommate. The meeting is supposed to be under the clock at Waterloo Station. Ruth and Bea, in their 70’s just got engaged, Tom is waiting for Lola, someone from his past, Carole is all alone in her anniversary.
Five strangers are in the same place at the same time, and when a security threat forced them to spend the time in lockdown, they start to interact with each other.
Cute story.

A fun and lighthearted romcom! This was a quick and easy read that had me laughing out loud at times. While the plot was somewhat predictable it was still a great story. The Waterloo five characters were hysterical and a great addition to the story. Enjoyed this story by Jo Lovett. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Meet Me Under the Clock is slated as a 'romantic comedy' set in London with a friends-to-lovers love triangle. The plot is pretty predictable, and the first quarter of the book is all about one night at Waterloo Station. Nadia, a 33-year-old accountant who's unlucky in love, is set up on a blind date with Dougie but ends up stuck at the station due to a security lockdown. During this time, she meets Tom, a 35-year-old man who's been separated from his ex-wife for nine months and is waiting for Lola, a woman he had a brief encounter with ten years ago.

Along with Nadia and Tom, there are a few other colorful characters—the "Waterloo Five"—including a couple of long-time friends, Bea and Ruth, and a married couple, Carole and Roger, who are having a major fight. The five of them head to a restaurant and bond over their shared experience.

Nadia and Tom become friends and agree to be each other’s plus-ones to fend off others' questions about their love lives. While they obviously have great chemistry, Tom’s lingering feelings for Lola get in the way of him realizing how perfect he and Nadia are for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.