| Title | : | The Rebound |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781800195660 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 334 |
| Publication | : | First published February 14, 2022 |
It’s 7 a.m. 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 realizes 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 help her get 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…
The perfect feel-good romantic comedy that will make you laugh until you cry and fall completely in love. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, and Emily Henry won’t be able to put this down!
The Rebound Reviews
-
It's funny how Catherine Walsh went from failing not to kill her houseplants to writing books that made me instantly her devotee. Though I have to admit, there were a few fractions of Walsh's authorship that may not fit me like a glove, but at the end of the day, she always blew me away with her nebulous concept of writing style.
I thought I had it figured out with
The Rebound, especially how she started the book with being hazy towards the heroine's conflict which would usually be expounded in the conflict or resolution later. Just as what she did with
One Night Only, or so I thought...
One of my favourite aspects of this book is how it shows that miscommunication is pretty much inevitable in our lives, yet she portrays it delicately without trying to monopolize it into the overall plot, as compared to her previous work. Instead, it was borne out of the natural characterization of Abby and Luke and as much as it happened, it didn't dwell for too long to discount the experience you would have from reading this. I adore that about the book!
Another fantastic thing about romance novels is how the content is just as diverse and there will always be a book out there for everyone. Evidently, I love me a good romance but I also realized, I'm digging this genre within a genre where it infused romance and woman fiction into one. And I think it's Walsh's strength in making sure these two would be written beautifully."It sounds like you're moving on. Would you prefer to be heartbroken?"
"No"
"If you were sad, people would tell you to cheer up. You can't win. So don't overthink it"
From the title and the summary; I thought this would be Abby's story of getting out of the sadness, hurt, anger, guilt, and possibly shame related to her breakup with Tyler that she was not ready to deal with. By contrast, we get to see more of Abby figuring out a way to come clean about her broken engagement and the fact she has no backup plan after her life-saving crash with McFarlane. This book is as much about Abby's self-discovery as it is about Luke's heart, and I love watching her grow as she overcomes her pride and learns to be honest with herself.
Also, how do you first introduce a character and made readers instantly fall in love? Because that's how I feel towards Beth. Even it was apparent that her presence was merely there to create a conflict between Abby and Luke — considering that she is not deemed important to the rest of the story and was tossed to her happy ending, I still enjoyed the fanciful opening of her! All hail to Queen Beth!
As for the romance itself, it was winsome and entertaining. The slowly simmering love between them was something I avail myself of despite it being more like a subplot. And of course, to present this by walking the streets in a small village of Clonard is what makes The Rebound more head-in-this-clouds. I was just leaving in a lurch when Abby said she has been falling in love with Luke since the day he picked her up. Albeit the fact that they grew up together, she didn't know it was her childhood neighbour that night, so I can't help but cower when I realized it was probably a bit insta-love for Abby. But I'm glad it's a different case for Luke.
Regrettably (not for me though), if you read this in hoping for it to be a fluffy, adorable story — you may be disappointed with that expectation. But if you're looking for great friendships, family reconciliations, and a warm romance to sweep you off your feet, this is the book for you! Even if you don't, I urge you to give Walsh's works a try as her storytelling worth the savouring and will bedazzle you. Easily, one of my auto-read authors now! -
Loving the Irish vibes! I read Catherine Walsh’s previous book and I enjoyed it so when I saw she had a new book, I had to read it. I didn’t love this book quite as much as One Night Only, but it was still really good. The only thing I didn’t really like about this book is all of the miscommunication. Between her and her family, her and Luke, and her and Tyler, it was just a lot. I didn’t love how she wasn’t honest with her family from the beginning. It is an enjoyable, easy read but there’s nothing really memorable about this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!
Thank you Net Galley, and Bookouture, for the gifted copy in return for my honest review. -
Who says you can never go home again?
Abby Reynolds has lost it all - her job, her apartment, her fiancé. So, she leaves New York City and heads back to her hometown in rural Ireland. Just her luck, when she arrives, she learns the ride she was counting on is not running. When a handsome stranger offers her a ride home, she throws caution to the wind and accepts the ride. Little does she know that the man named Luke, is the same Luke Bailey who lived next door!
This was a fun light book about starting over, reconnecting, family, friendship and taking chances. The characters are likeable and while at first, I was skeptical, her sister grew on me. The relationships feel real as they deal with real life issues.
This was a nice light romance which kept me engaged and wanting to know how things would work their way out.
It's all about the journey and this was an enjoyable one!
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
www.openbookposts.com -
4.25 stars.
"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."
There are some spoilers, watch out!
This is my second book by Catherine Walsh (also an ARC) an by now I gotta admit that I'll read anything by Catherine. Her writing style is pretty and her female mc's are hard working women who are funny and have good feelings.
Abby is coming out of an engagement and she's returning to her hometown, Clonard, in Ireland. A few weeks ago, she had a fiancé, a job and her agenda full with things to do. Now, she has nothing. No fiancé, no job and her agenda is empty. So, Abby goes back to Ireland trying to scape from everything and everyone, even if Clonard is the place she was scaping of, in first place.
I can really relate with Abby about the desire of running away from her hometown and don't look back, to explore the world and have something better. I've been dreaming with the same thing for several years and I hope one fucking day I can leave this shithole for good, lmao. Anyways, moving on.
I liked the pacing of this book: I basically devoured it and I really missed this feeling of excitement whenever I finish a book in less than 3 days. And that also happened with One Night Only, so, you can say I really like her books.
If there's something I really like of Walsh is the way she describes Ireland and its cozy little towns. Catherine has this way of making you fall in love with the book's places and characters. I really felt like I was in Clonard, which was funny tbh.
Also, the "The Gilmore Girls" vibes were strong. Luke reminded me of... well, Luke. The fucking vibes are there.
To me, the cherry on top was Louise and Abby's relationship. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the romance between Abby and Luke, okay, bUT THE FUCKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SISTERS. Walsh said that in her first draft, she hadn't thought of Louise, but now that she is in the final results, I can say how perfect it is. Their relationship is complicated, funny and a bit emotional, which is cool and adds a lot to the story.
Tyler was okay. He was the definition of mansplaining, but at least, he wasn't the resented ex at the end of the book and didn't say anything to Abby like "you'll get back to me" or so.
I liked Beth and Jess, they were cool and also funny.
TOMASZ WAS THE FUCKING MVP, I LOVE HIM SO BAD.
The only thing that didn't make me rate this book with 5 stars was the fact that we had a fade-to-black anD HELL NO, I WANTED MY SMUTTTTT.
Overall, this book was good, okay, cozy and warm, once again. I really liked it.
previous review:
that was cozy and warm. RTC when the book comes out!
-
thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
since one night only, i liked walsh's writing, pacing, humor and characters. also, i fell for declan, and with no doubt i will fall for luke!! reading it asap -
Genre: contemporary romance, humor
Tropes: slow burn romance, coming home, childhood friend turned hot
Cliffhanger: No
Spice: little to none (0.5/5🌶)
Rating: 4.25 ⭐
I have received an ARC through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and left voluntarily. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy.
I honestly liked this surprisingly much, because at the beginning I didn't feel very drawn by it, but by the third chapter, I was all in. It was easy and cute, with enough funny moments to make it a humorous romance. The general vibe was very "Gilmore Girls"-ish, so I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes that TV show.
"There should be an automatic report when you visit home, some kind of newsletter detailing all the changes you need to know about. All the marriages and all the glow-ups, so situations like this don't happen."
》》The Plot《《
Abby Reynolds has lost everything: her fiancé, her home, her job and her fancy life in New York. The only option left? Going back to Clonard, her Irish hometown, and stay with her sister, Louise, and her husband. Something she dreaded doing for a long time for a number of reasons — for starters, she and Louise don't get along. And then there's the suffocating feeling she gets there.
But what she didn't anticipate was discovering that when you've hit rock-bottom there's no other way to go but up. And that her childhood friend and boy next door, Luke Bayley, got hot. Like illegally so. So maybe picking up the pieces and starting over isn't all that bad. And it's definitely helpful to find out what wonderful people you actually have around you along the way.
》》Characters and Relationships《《
"Luke and I are going to hang out."
"Hang out?"
"We're going to watch a movie."
"Aha!" Sinead beams at me before turning to her husband. "I win! Gimme."
"We had a bet on whether you two were secretly hooking up," Rory explains, pulling his wallet from his pocket. "I didn't think he had the guts."
First of all, we have Abby Reynolds, the MC from whose perspective we get to see the whole story. She's extremely smart and hard-working and it's easy to get drawn into her narrative. Then we get Luke Bayley, the winner of the best glow-up of the century, who is exactly that sweet but manly sort of guy ( — and again, he gave me really strong "Gilmore Girls" vibe).
Their relationship is sweet and funny, with flirting moments and grumpy setbacks that build a pretty slow burn romance. Although the title is suggesting a rebound, Abby seems okay and definitely not heartbroken over her fiancé, which is definitely not what I was expecting when I started reading this, but it didn’t let my expectations down; I was misleaded but not disappointed.
"It wasn't the best night's sleep I've had."
"You should try my bed," I say without thinking.
The banter was great, the flirting got me smiling like a chipmunk and it was overall that really cute love story you'd like to binge on Netflix for a nice evening and a cozy, hopeful vibe.
A relationship I really enjoyd following throughout this book was the one between Abby and her older sister, Louise. It had something very real and totally understandable and I found it hard to not like the two of them. Especially towards the end, when they were both so supportive and I guess it painted a pretty nice picture of family bonds.
"Her husband used to be a taxi driver. If we play nice, he might do us a favor. Can you cry on command?"
"I can for this."
And if we are talking about side characters, they were really great. Starting with Beth, the bubbly and overly optimistic new friend Abby gets when she returns to Clonard, continuing with Jess, her best friend from New York who unexpectedly shows up for a visit and proves how real friendships should go with some tough love and ending with Tyler, yes, that ex-fiancé who should be a total ass but somehow is just the perfect portrait of mansplaining. He's not really the bad guy, even though he clearly needs some relationship advice and I can in no way defend him, but he's just sooo much of that innocent toxic masculinity - and I'm saying innocent because he really doesn't see why behavior like his is not okay. Ah, and Rory! I almost forgot about Rory, Abby's first boyfriend and former adolescent best friend, who's a total laugh and has somehow managed to turn each scene with him and his wife into a humorous one, making me grin constantly.
》》Favorite Scenes《《
⭐Abby getting drunk and wanting explanations from Luke
⭐The egg hunt
"I said don't move," he says, exasperated. "You might have broken something."
"Besides my pride?"
⭐Abby and Louise clicking - I loved their relationship
⭐Abby being stuck in her wetsuit and Luke helping
⭐Jess visiting
⭐Rory - and the beach night
⭐Thar random cow on the road that lead to a backseat streaptease
⭐Tyler coming to Ireland
"What if he is going to beat him up?"
"Please don't tell me you find that attractive."
"Of course not. That's so unhealthy. "
"Right."
"I mean, I guess a little part of me wouldn't mind if — "
"Abby!"
"Well, don't put the idea in my head then!"
⭐Tyler meeting Luke
⭐ Abby and Louise following Luke's car to Tyler's hotel
》》Conclusion《《
It's a very nice romance that will both fascinate and humor its readers. It's sprinkled with cute scenes, it has banter and relatable characters and well, for me it was a total page-turner. And some situations described here are so real and usually not mentioned in books, that you really have to appreciate it as it definitely showed some originality.
"If you don't want me to be with anyone else, why is it so easy to just let me go?"
"Because it's what you want."
"But I also want you!"
"Then ask me to come with you!"
P.S. Can we appreciate the gorgeous cover? 😍 -
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book for an honest review.
I adored The Rebound and I’m so excited this author already has another book out so I don’t have to stop reading her magical words!
In this beautiful story, our main character is Abby Reynolds, who was born and raised in Clonard, a tiny village in Ireland. As a teenager, she was driven and ambitious and dreamed about leaving home and seeing the world. Her older sister Louise, on the other hand, was worried about stuff like climate change and the preservation of the local ecosystem, meaning that their interests weren’t exactly aligned.
At eighteen, Abby moved out for college and never looked back. She ended up being hired at the New York branch of MacFarlane, a huge investment bank, where she worked and earned the big bucks for years.
Now, however, MacFarlane has gone under in spectacular fashion, and its thousands of employees - including Abby - have been unceremoniously laid off all over the world. Abby, who’s about to be thirty, finds herself not only jobless, but penniless (all her money was tied up with the company) and homeless (since her fiancé dumped her three weeks before).
In a fit of desperation, Abby packs her things and goes back to her hometown under the pretense of visiting her sister before starting to look for another job. She doesn’t tell anyone about her living situation (or lack thereof) or her empty ring finger, for fear of looking like a failure after becoming something of a legend in Clonard.
The thing is, now Abby has to keep up the lie in front of Louise, with whom she can only seem to bicker, and her neighbor and childhood best friend, Luke, who grew up to be stupid hot and clearly has a crush on her.
Abby is interested in Luke from the moment they first see each other again – the question is: does she think of him as the real deal or just as a rebound?
I absolutely loved Luke and how deeply good he was to Abby and to everyone around him. I also loved Abby and Louise’s relationship and their journey to finding common ground and compromise.
This book is funny and sweet and so romantic and a definite page-turner. I loved every second! -
3.5 stars. This was a pretty cute book! But if I'm being honest, I have a weird relationship with Catherine Walsh’s books because I LOVE her writing and her characters, but I feel like the stories themselves seem to fall a little flat for me? This was still cute and fun and I def enjoyed my time reading it, but I'm hoping that one day I will *hopefully* really fall in love with one of her stories. We shall see!
CW: cheating, fertility struggles -
The Rebound by Catherine Walsh is romantic comedy novel. This is one book that is definitely aptly named as the main character is coming off an engagement and is now beginning something new.
Abby Reynolds grew up in rural Ireland but left home the first chance she had to head to New York. Abby’s life in New York had been wonderful, a thriving career and a fiance, that is until it wasn’t. Abby’s fiance broke it off and a few short weeks later she was out of a job.
Now Abby finds herself in a run down station waiting for a ride to her small town in Ireland when a stranger offers to take her after finding Abby read the schedule wrong. After arriving Abby finds out that handsome man giving her a lift was her old childhood friend, Luke Bailey and boy did he sure grow up.
The Rebound by Catherine Walsh was certainly a fun story to read as it did have me laughing over and over again. The characters were likable and the setting a very charming rural town with more wonderful people to get to know along the way. I loved that Abby’s relationship with her sister was also one involved and watching as Abby and Luke got to know one another all over again. Definitely an author that I will keep an eye on in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
https://carriesbookreviews.com/ -
I have mixed feelings about this one. I needed a romcom. I just came off a string of back to back to back deadlines (with one left to go) at work and I was looking for some fun and romance in Ireland.
Escape to the romantic emerald isle of Ireland!
Luke and Abby were adorable together in the first chapter, and I loved the sizzle between Beth and Jess! But what gives with the bouncing rubber ball that was Abby and Luke? I literally groaned and turned off my ereader when I got to that second "Oh no, we can't have sex because...." epiphany (no spoilers here!)
Abby is definitely one messed up heroine! Will they or won't they is the question you keep asking yourself throughout this story.... kind of like a few famous couples we all know and loved:
Catherine Walsh does write well, but this story was a tad unstructured. It was as if the author had pieced together a bunch of different stories and events to make one incoherent book. It took me a while to get through this one because despite the odd interesting character popping up, and the decent dialogue, the action kept getting interrupted or postponed. I have to say that the blurb made this story sound so much more intriguing than it actually was. I'm giving this a 3 out of 5 because there were a few interesting sections, and Catherine Walsh can write quite the juicy make out scene!
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. -
4.75 out of 5 stars.
-
3.5 stars rounded up.
What happens when you lose your fiancé, your home, your job, and have nowhere to go but the village you grew up in in rural Ireland, with the family you don’t particularly care for?
The Rebound, Catherine Walsh’s sophomore novel, tells the story of Abby, who after losing everything, begrudgingly returns home to stay with her sister until she is able to get back on her feet again. As she becomes reacquainted with old friends (including the boy next door who has now become the town hottie) and discovers new ones, Abby realizes coming home again is not all bad. And the family she thought she hated might be the one to put her back together.
This felt like a very typical rom com to me. Enjoyable? Definitely! Memorable? Not quite so much. Fairly predictable plotline, which I do enjoy sometimes, especially when I just want a cute, fun book to read. As for the characters, I have mixed feelings. Luke, the aforementioned town hottie, was very charming, although I don’t feel like he’s as developed as he could have been. Beth and Jess, Abby’s friends, were both adorable (can there please be a sequel?) Abby had her moments as did her sister Louise. However, Luke and Abby had a way of frustrating me immensely during huge portions of the book. Miscommunication runs rampant throughout and I found myself getting so annoyed with the various characters at times.
If you are looking for a cute rom com set in the quaint Irish countryside, I would definitely recommend this one. It’s a light-hearted, quick and easy read, perfect for a weekend afternoon. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind or you will be disappointed.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review. -
4 ⭐️ A charming rom-com that will have you daydreaming about living a small-town life in Ireland
I adored this story. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I read it in one sitting. It’s simple, light-hearted, and fun. An instant comfort read and one I’ll be recommending. ❤️
All the characters are lovable in their own way.
Abby is a go-getter whose fast-paced life has abruptly come to a halt and flipped inside down. While this change isn’t easy, if anyone can figure out how to keep moving forward, it’s Abby.
Luke is the definition of a cinnamon roll. He was the awkward boy next door who grew into an absolute hottie. But beyond his good looks, he had a heart of gold. Luke puts everyone else’s needs before his own - the definition of a small-town gentleman.
Louise is Abby’s older sister who puts up walls to protect her gentle heart. And after years of hardly speaking to each other, these two sisters end up living under the same roof and only time will break down whatever barriers keep them apart.
Beth is the kindest person in the history of fictional characters. She’s a wonderful friend and a brave businesswoman. I love how she focuses on the positive and always knows how to make someone feel better. I hope Beth gets her own book!
The romance is sweet. I love the whole ‘We used to be childhood best friends but drifted apart” trope. It always makes me feel butterflies when they see each other for the first time in years and there’s that instant spark. Abby and Luke did have some miscommunication issues, which made me roll my eyes, but the conflicts were resolved relatively quickly, so it didn’t drag on.
FYI, the sex scenes are basically a non-descriptive highlight reel. These scenes were very tasteful and well-done, but I’m not going to lie, I was hoping things would get a little dirty. If I’m reading an adult romance, especially if the characters are over the age of 25, I expect some explicit sexual content. I understand that’s not always the case but it is my preference.
The setting - a quaint Irish countryside town - filled me with wanderlust. From the descriptions of the small-town life to the beautiful landscape, it painted such a visor picture! I’ve never been to Ireland but this story makes my heart ache to visit.
The pacing is perfect. Everything about this story just flowed so perfectly. From beginning to the middle to the end, you’ll find yourself captivated and eager to see where the story takes you next!
Overall, The Rebound is a lovely rom-com with an emphasis on family, friendship, and love. It’s nothing that will blow your mind, but it’ll make you feel butterflies and warmth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own. -
This was an okay read.
My first book by this author and I would be interested in reading other books by her.
Abby comes back home to Ireland to her small town after her life in New York implodes. She needs to rectify her relationship with her sister with whom she is staying. What was supposed to be a shortstop to regroup turns out to be so much more.
The romance part was the weakest, in my opinion, because the drama between Abby and Luke is dragging unnecessarily. I disliked the constant interaction while she tried to finally tell the truth. It was way too repetitive. I feel like I needed to root for her more for me to enjoy and connect to the story.
Loved the small-town vibe. -
A clean classic Rom-Com set in a small Irish town.Checking all the boxes with family drama, blossoming friendships, small-town shenanigans, and love drizzled with a little witty banter to spice it up.
Abby loses it all, her job her fiancé her perfect life in New York. What do you do when you have nothing left? You go home of course, even if it’s the last place you want to be. So, our story begins with Abby heading home and bumping into a very hot friendly stranger perfect for are bound.
The story starts off slow with a lot of frustrating miscommunications between Abby and almost every character in the book. I wanted to like Abby but honestly, I just could not relate even though all the things she went through were highly relatable.
“Walking to birdsongs is all well and good until they’re outside your window at five am and won’t shut up.” - Catherine Walsh, The Rebound
Although it’s marketed as a romance it felt more like a story about Abby finding herself working through heartbreak, adversity, and reconnecting with family. The romance between Abby and Luke, her oh so handsome love interest felt like a side plot with only fleeting moments spent together.
The plot is well thought out with lots of twists and turns while still making sense and making the reader feel involved and invested in the story.
“You’re beautiful, he whispers. And smart and ambitious and brave and I love you.” -Catherine Walsh, The Rebound
The Irish setting of the story is whimsical and cozy just how I would imagine it, I wish Walsh added more detail and created an atmosphere for readers to relish. Overall, the story has a beautiful message about family, friendship, and love. Particularly the love between sisters, which was by far the most beautiful part.
“You find something you love, and you decide to go for it instead of settling.” - Catherine Walsh, The Rebound
The Rebound isn’t a book that will get your blood pumping or keep you up at night thinking about what’s going to happen next. But it was a lovely read with warmth and lots of feels.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
What a great publication date (14/2) for this tizzy, dizzy, fizzy romantic comedy with wonderful descriptions of village life in Ireland
Abby arrives back home from NY, tail between her legs and thinks she will never find happiness or a job or true love again…we join her on her journey to achieve all this and along the way meet ex’s and friends from America who ’pop over’ and feel her pain as she heals sibling angst and of course while she is rebounding
Its honestly perfect for a happy, no tension or irksome characters read where you can share her highs, lows and ultimately be happy as she makes her future life choices
Its light, airy, refreshing and a tonic and ultimately really smilingly enjoyable
9/10
5 Stars ( for setting out and doing as it intended ) -
This book was so cute! Abby was living the dream life, working in a successful career and engaged to a handsome man. But her world comes crumbling down when the business she works for goes under and files for bankruptcy. Then her fiance breaks up with her.
Suddenly with nowhere to stay and heartbroken, Abby finds herself on her sister's doorstep in her childhood home in Ireland.
Abby plans to stay with her sister for only a short time. But as she walks the streets of the small village where she grew up, she meets friends old and new and reconnects with her Irish roots. Along the way, she finds that the skinny shy boy that once lived next door isn't so skinny and shy anymore.
I really enjoyed this. Abby was charming and a little quirky and Luke was sweet with a sexy dose of brooding. I also really liked the dynamics of Abby's relationship with her sister Louise, as they grow closer together.
This book was a fun blend of sass, humor and just enough steam. Loved it!
The Rebound will be released February 14th, 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. -
I was captivated by the novel from the very first page, perhaps it was the inner dialogues of the characters or the literary style. The story didn't have any filler chapters, it got right into the action, and as it went along, we learned more and more about each character and how they related to one another.
The setting was a very charming rural community with more wonderful people to meet along the road, and the characters were likeable. I enjoyed learning more about Abby's relationship with her sister and seeing how Luke and Abby rekindled their romance.
A lot of twists and turns are included in the carefully thought-out plot, all of which nonetheless make sense and engage the reader in the narrative.
The pace is excellent. This story really flowed so naturally in every way. You'll be engrossed in the story from beginning to end and anxious to find out what happens next!
Overall, I like reading about the many relationship developments in this book since there were no overly dramatic or extreme situation,; instead, everything just worked out as it should have, which made reading easier and more enjoyable.
This one is unquestionably a good choice if you're seeking for a sweet rom-com set in the charming Irish countryside. It is a fun, fast book that is ideal for a Saturday afternoon. To avoid disappointment, just don't expect anything to blow your mind. -
This was such a cute and easy read
plot
Abby returns home to Ireland from New York after she loses her job and fiancé. With nowhere to go she ends up staying with her sister, Louise, who she never got along with due to the lack of communication between them over the years. It was supposed to be a temporary stay, until she finds herself a new job but after receiving rejection emails again and again her short stay turned into a long one. Frustrated at first, Abby soon realises that her coming back home wasn't such a bad idea after all, as she now gets the opportunity to improve her relationship with her activist sister, make new friends and maybe find love again through her childhood friend Luke, the awkward boy next door now turned into a selfless gentleman who is a literal Cinnabon roll.
The only question is if this thing with Luke is temporary or is he afterall just a rebound for Abby until she finds herself a new job?
final thoughts
-i loved reading about the different relationship developments here and how there were no extreme unnecessarily dramatic scenarios, everything just fell into place smoothly which made it the reading experience easier and more enjoyable.
- cried a little during Louise and Abby's bonding times.
- luke is adorable.
“I am sorry though,” I say to him. “I was in a bit of a weird mood last night.”
“You mean a flirting mood?”
“I wasn’t flirting,” I whisper, embarrassed. “I was delirious from traveling. And if I was, you were flirting too.”
“Hmm. No, I don’t think so.”
“Oh really? Then why did you—” I break off as his knee touches mine under the table. Luke picks up his water glass, the innocent expression back on his face. “Now I’m flirting,” he murmurs, taking a sip. He doesn’t move away and it’s like all the heat in my body focuses in on that one spot. “It’s much more fun when you know who I am.”
“I wouldn’t have minded,” I tell him, “if you wanted to beat up Tyler. I know that makes me a bad person, but I think I would have been flattered if I’m being honest. Maybe even a little turned on.”
“By me fighting your ex?”
received an arc through netgalley -
thank you bookouture for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! the rebound follows abby after her company shuts down and her fiancé breaks up with her. she then moves in with her sister in their hometown of clonard, ireland and is reintroduced to luke, her neighbor and childhood friend (plus the guy who gave her a ride home).
my favorite part of this story was the relationship between abby and her sister louise. it was great getting to read about a sibling relationship and the development that they both went through. i also really enjoyed the relationship between abby and luke. the ending surprised me, but i actually really enjoyed it as well.
i felt like the writing was good and i loved the descriptions of ireland and small-town life. it was also refreshing having a main character who didn’t change what she wanted for the love interest.
this was a really sweet and simple read. i’m giving four stars and i recommend it to fans of romance. -
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the digital copy in Exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 2.5
Abby had a great life in New York city and when everything falls apart, she has to return to her hometown, a little village in Ireland. She ends up meeting Luke, who she thought was just a cute stranger, but it turns out he's actually the boy next door, whom she grew up with.
Well, I was expecting to enjoy this one way more than I did because I read One Night Only recently and thought it was very fun and cute, but this one was not as good for me.
It was difficult for me to connect to Abby - even though she was going through some very relatable problems, like losing her job and breaking off her engagement - but I didn't really root for her like I was supposed to. I felt a little indifferent to her whole situation.
Luke is a very cute guy, but I felt like the author could go deeper in his character development and I definitely didn't feel a great chemistry between them which was supposed to be one of the most important things in the book.
The writing is not bad - as I said, I enjoyed her previous book - and I felt there were some nice moments, but not enough to make me really like the book. -
dnf @ 20%
I was actually enjoying it!! And then came along my most hated trope, the miscommunication trope. It was soooo irritating and stupid, I was internally screaming "JUST TELL THEM" but it just got too much, so I dnf'd it. -
i love her writing. it was easy to read
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I am still on a quest to break out of my comfort zone. I tried another romance. That said, again the story was ok. It was entertaining. But it didn’t do it for me. I think someone who is into romance would like it. I believe when you try to read outside of your comfort zone, it’s a bit like Cinderella and the glass slipper; you have to keep searching for the right fit.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. -
2.5 stars
Overall it's fine read. Characters and romance were okay but nothing remarkable.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -
This book is one of my favorites! This is my first novel by this author, and I was blown away. I had no idea how this would turn out when I started reading it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked how, despite the obvious rebound drama, you get to witness her develop her relationship with her sister and find out what she wants to accomplish with her life.
Abby Reynolds has finally returned to her hometown in Ireland, despite her reluctance. Abby has always wanted to leave her hometown since she was a child, but the idea of returning makes her anxious. She had recently been fired from her work in New York and had lost everything, to the point that she had to come home since she is broke with nowhere to go. She was not only fired but her engagement had also been canceled the week before she was sacked. As we can tell, Abby isn’t doing too good right now, and going back home to stay at her sister's place who she’s never gotten along with doesn’t sound like fun.
When she arrives in Ireland, a handsome man in the dark offers to bring her home after realizing she won't be able to ride the bus because it isn't running. Her sister invites the neighbors over for lunch the next day, and the man from last night turns up. That's when she realized she knew this man, her former best friend, Luke Bailey. Abby had been interested in him since the beginning. The only question is if she has feelings for him or if this is just a simple rebound.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review* -
Favorite Quotes:
Louise works for the Irish Oceans Association, a charity dedicated to the conservation and protection of our waters. A few Christmases ago, she gave me a certificate informing me I’d adopted a whale. The year before that it was an eel, so I like to think I’m slowly moving up in the marine world.
You know… You pretend you’re super boring but you’ve always got some little drama happening, don’t you? It’s like the time you told me you had a migraine all weekend but really you’d gone to Aspen with that Hollister model from reception.
“I tend to follow others,” she says. “Everyone thinks I’m a free spirit but I’m not. I’m a barnacle. I latch onto people. If people were boats,” she clarifies.
“How’s your moping?” Tomasz lingers in the doorway of my bedroom the next day, eating an apple. “Going well? It looks like you’re really getting the hang of it.”
My Review:
Catherine Walsh took me to Ireland and made me smirk, sigh, and flinch with this one. Her characters were distinctly Irish and although her heroine, Abby, was not always likable and I actually wanted to smack her a few times, I was engaged and invested in the tale and had hope for her. The humor was clever and well-honed, as was the character development and their unique quirks and foibles. The romance was slow burn and a secondary thread to Abby’s long-standing family drama and career stress. While the pace and emotional tone meandered at times, the perceptive quality of Ms. Walsh’s writing and her amusing wit kept me entertained, involved, and interested in the outcome. -
"How's your moping?" Thomasz lingers in the doorway of my bedroom the next day, eating an apple. "Going well? It looks like you're really getting the hang of it."
I have read Catherine Walsh's first book One Night Only and it was such a cute romantic story, so when I got approved for an ARC of her second book I was over the moon. I was not planning on reading it so soon, but the joy of being a mood reader is that you feel like you need to read that book right now, so I did. And let me tell you...I absolutely loved it.
The book actually has a lot of hallmark-movies ingredients, but it has one thing that made me speed-read through this story: a strong and ambitious woman that knows exactly what she wants and is not apologetic about it. It felt refreshing reading about a woman who has her goals set and is not afraid to reach them. And the ending is a little corny, but we all need some corniness in our lives.
Also, Walsh said that the main character's sister was not planned to be in the book, however, she was "tapping her foot in the back of the author's head" and I am so glad Louise was loud enough because we get to see a serious grumpy girl with her sunshine husband. Their dynamic was so fun to read and I love them both to death.
Catherine Walsh, you have done it again. I am now your loyal reader.
~ 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
I'm certain I had a permanent smile while reading this.
Jobless and newly single, Abby leaves her New York life behind and returns to her hometown of Clonard, Ireland for a temporary escape. Ambushed by her attraction for childhood neighbour Luke Bailey, I was absolutely hooked by their surprise meet-cute and playful banter.
Abby was such an ambitious character. Attempting to find a balance between repairing her career and newfound love, it was super lovely to see her rediscover the slow-paced charm Clonard has to offer. A touch of angst along the way, I was pleasantly surprised by her ending decision!
With a large focus on the relationship with her sister, this story stretched beyond a romance. The dynamic between Abby and Louise was really complex, filled with intense bickering and misunderstandings. But also incredibly heartwarming as the two slowly reconcile.
I adored this so much. A new favourite! -
Really cute read! Review will be up this weekend.
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This was a stunning rom com. I loved it!
We are following our MC who is going though a very rough time, everything seems to go wrong and she is in this situation where she is being forced to move back to her hometown with her sister for a while until she is able to go back to her normal life.
but in the time that she spends in this beautiful Irish town, her life seems to be going better than she expected.
This was such an easy read and one that I found myself immersed in. It has one of my favorite tropes which is childhood friends and it was so well executed that you actually feel their chemistry.
The romance was soooo cute and also so hilarious at times!
Even tho this is a romance book there was an element that was even better in my opinion, which was the sisters relationship. It felt so familiar and it really did hit close to home because it was SO relatable. I could see myself in that position where I move to a different place far away from my family and you drift apart from your loved ones.
Honestly this felt like such a nice remainder to maybe get in contact with a relative that lives in a different place because even if you don't see them that often they are still there.
I just loved everything about it, how it started, how you then get to see all of the beautiful relationships develop and how is ended, in a way it had a super happy ending but it also made me tear up a bit.
Again, a stunning fluffy contemporary that I feel like everyone would love!
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