This was a cute book but it moved slow for me. So it took me longer to read than books typically do. I thought the premise of this book was great but it just felt a little off to me. Something was just missing.

The book’s description felt off from the book itself. It’s not really a romcom (the romance was a small part and there wasn’t much that was comedic or funny). It’s really more of women’s fiction or contemporary fiction (which is how I’m reviewing it).

The majority of the book is short looks into the day-to-day life of Cassie, who is in her late 30s and trying to change her life. After being broken up with, she leaves London to return home to Dublin in need of a job, place to live, and to mend her broken heart. All of which happens over time but in a slightly chaotic fashion. There is also a surprising focus on pregnancy and children - several of her friends are pregnant, the rest of her friends have kids, and the guy she starts seeing has three children. All of the above is fine, just not what I was expecting when I read the summary.

Unfortunately, I didn’t like Cassie which made the book challenging to enjoy. For the first third of the book, her character felt inconsistent, fluctuating between decisive & confident, go with the flow, and overthinking & indecisive. For all of the book she came across self absorbed (e.g., doesn’t consider what Josie might need and only focuses on her issues, wanting an apology from her sister for their past issue when Cassie was who dramatically messed up). And for all Cassie said she needed to learn from losing herself in her previous relationship, it felt like she never really established herself (both in her relationship with Finn and in general).

Thank you to Isobel Mahon, Embla Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn't bad. There were parts of Cassie and Finn's story that I got that warm cozy vibe.
However, the book felt very slow. I had a bit of a hard time staying engaged due to the pace. I will admit this almost made me DNF. Thankfully the redeeming pieces of the book were okay enough that I pushed through. I did feel the amount of F words used in the writing was a bit excessive. I am not one to say to censor language, but it got annoying.
Miscommunication is also hard to read if done well and I just feel it was done well in the case of this plot.
I didn't find much humor, or if there was, clearly I didn't catch it. However, when something is so written so slowly, I have a hard time regardless.
It may be great for some, just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

DNF

After reading almost 50% I just couldn’t go on. It was so slow & pretty pointless. I didn’t want to waste another minute on it. Not funny, no substance, didn’t make me want to read on to see what happened next, lots of *F-Bombs. Just not cute or funny IMO

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to use one word to describe this book it would be “meh.” It was just slow and generally uninteresting - like watching the day in the life of typical everyday happenings. Blah. It was so dull I have very little to say about it. It made me feel nothing but a bit flabbergasted.

The title and description had potential but ultimately it fell really flat. There really was no chemistry, Finn was kind of awful imo (why do girls do this?!) - I found myself annoyed by him and his weakness. The story lines of any character just didn’t make me want to read more. And, despite the publishers blurb, it did not one time make me laugh out loud.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

🌶️ a little spice but basically closed door
Lots of f* bombs
Divorce
Pregnancy
Drag

3.25 ⭐
The premise of this book was very interesting to me. I think that some parts were really fast and some parts were slow. I feel like I was waiting for the other foot to drop when it came to the ex wife but for some reason it didn't happen, even though I felt like that's what her character would do. I feel like there was a lag in the middle then it ended abruptly. There didn't feel like a resolution with the kids and we didn't find out how the kids felt about their mothers relationship and addition or how they felt about our FMC in the end and what she added to the family at the end of the book. I felt like even though the book description never mentioned anything about pregnancy, it seemed to be the main theme in this book. Everyone was pregnant, had kids or both. I loved our side characters though!

This was a cute read on self discovery and personal growth with a bit of romance in there. I personally would've liked to have had more romance though. The humor was spot on!

This book offers a breezy, heartwarming escape, filled with witty banter, endearing mishaps, and just enough chemistry to keep the pages turning. The love interest is suitably charming, with enough depth to make their dynamic engaging, even if some of their conflicts feel a bit predictable.

While the book excels in humor and sweet moments, the protagonist’s personal growth occasionally takes a backseat to the romantic plot. A deeper exploration of their emotional journey could have added more weight to their happily-ever-after.

That said, the supporting cast adds plenty of fun, and the romantic tension is well-paced, making it easy to root for the central couple. The writing is light and engaging, perfect for readers looking for a feel-good story with a few laughs along the way. If you don’t mind a little predictability and enjoy banter-filled romance, this book is a charming pick—just don’t expect too much introspection between the meet-cutes and grand gestures.

This is a dogged four-star read. I found this one a little challenging, I enjoyed huge swathes of the story, but there were bits that did drag on a little and just grated. I loved the premise, and the character’s, even when they were annoying, they were still loveable. There are some real challenging moments, as we all know how difficult teenagers can be, and sometimes Cassie felt like a teenager, but it also gave the story a freshness. Overall this was a good story, and one I enjoyed.

Cassie, after a horrible breakup, has left London and returned to Ireland. Living with her mom has some perks, but also some not. Meeting up with her old friends (didn't find them friendly) and meeting someone new makes the story. I did want to like this more, but being over 60 I found some of the angst and lifestyles a bit eye rolling. Still though, would be a good summer read and would recommend.

A humorous, lighthearted, feel good read with a strong emotional message of self-discovery. Perfect for escaping into for an afternoons reading. Brilliantly written and unputdownable. Romance, adventures and all the feels, what more could you ask for!

Sinopsis en español:


Todo el mundo sabe que no terminas una relación por mensaje de texto. Bueno, excepto Gavin, el hombre-hinto, parece. Cuando su mensaje llega después de otra audición fallida, Cassie sabe que solo hay un lugar en el que quiere estar... de vuelta a casa en Dublín, con su mamá trayéndole un sinfín de tazas de té.

Pero en el primer día de su nuevo trabajo de pasear perros para la manada de pequeños Pomerania de su tía, es aplastada por el propio Sabueso de los Baskerville. De espaldas en el barro, Cass sabe que ha tocado fondo.

Entonces, de nuevo, ¿tal vez la única manera es hacia arriba? Porque, desde donde está de pie (vale, mintiendo), el dueño de este saco gigante es en realidad bastante lindo.

Y resulta que Finn no solo es extremadamente lindo, sino que es encantador y dulce y, sobre el café de disculpa, ¿en realidad parece escuchar?

Podría ser una gran historia para contarles a los nietos algún día, pero incluso después del encuentro perfecto, Cassie se da cuenta de que el camino hacia el amor verdadero nunca es sencillo.




Reseña:

No resultó para mí, tanto Cassie como Finn no me cayeron bien.

Everyone knows you don't end a relationship over text. Well, except Gavin the man-child, it seems. When his message arrives after yet another failed audition, Cassie knows there's only one place she wants to be . . . back home in Dublin, with her Mam bringing her endless cups of tea.

But on the first day of her new dog-walking gig for her aunt's pack of tiny Pomeranians, she's flattened by the Hound of the Baskervilles himself. Flat on her back in the mud, Cass knows she's hit rock bottom.

Then again, maybe the only way is up? Because, from where she's standing (okay, lying), the owner of this giant mutt is actually pretty cute.

And it turns out, not only is Finn extremely cute, but he's charming and sweet and, over apology coffee, actually seems to listen?

It could be a great story to tell the grandkids one day, but even after the perfect meet cute, Cassie realises that the path to true love is never straightforward . . .

My thoughts:

I really enjoy how light hearted and easy to read this was. I loved Cassie and Romona. However I really struggled with the mam, some of the things she said were a little odd to me. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Meet Cute is a chaotic story with humour, romance and a dash of dogs! It felt like a warm hug in a book. It had me smiling like a big goof! I enjoyed how easy and simple the plot is. It couldn't have been done any better that is why I love this book.

Sometimes, you just need a book that feels like a warm hug, and this romcom delivers exactly that. With equal parts humour, heart, and a dash of chaos, this Irish romance is a delightful escape into love, self-discovery, and the power of a well-timed cup of tea. Cassie, our lovable and slightly down-on-her-luck FMC, is having a rough couple months, dumped over text, struggling with her acting career, and now back home in Dublin, trying to piece things together. Enter Finn: handsome, kind, and the owner of the giant dog that literally knocks her off her feet. Their meet-cute is the romcom dream, but the journey to happily ever after isn’t as simple as it seems. The book shines with humour and genuine emotion, and while some moments of miscommunication might test your patience, they only add to the charm. If you love a fast-paced, witty, heartwarming romance with a strong sense of place, this one’s for you. Thank you NetGalley for this wonderful arc!

Cassie, a sus 37 años, es la única de su grupo de amigas que sigue estancada en su sueño de ser actriz, mientras sus amigas tienen trabajos estables, familias y vidas consolidadas. Ella, por su parte, se conforma con trabajos temporales y acaba viviendo con su madre. En medio de su crisis personal, conoce a Finn, un hombre recién divorciado con hijos, con quien comienza a salir. Sin embargo, Cassie se siente insegura de su relación, ya que no le gusta la idea de compartir a Finn con su familia, y su inmadurez la hace celosa de los hijos de él.

A pesar de todo, Cassie comienza a madurar y a encontrar sentido a su vida, mientras que Finn, aunque encantador y dulce, parece no cambiar. Ella se da cuenta de que el amor verdadero no es un camino fácil y que el destino tiene mucho más preparado para ella.



La verdad no me gusto.


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

The Meet Cute is a well-written mix of humor, heart, and self-discovery. At its core, it’s a story about navigating love, relationships, and unexpected turns in life. With sharp wit and relatable characters, Mahon captures the chaotic beauty of human connection and personal growth, making it a feel-good read with surprising emotional depth.

I flew right thriugh this one! I love romantic women’s fiction with a lighthearted touch and I loved Cass’s story. I think every woman could relate and when one door closes most like something better always comes along even if you don’t see it at the time. Enter Finn …I also am a sucker for any type of romance feature a dog so that just added to the magic of this book! Absolutely adorable. Highly recommend