•~Book Review~•
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" He smirks, dipping his head to kiss me softly. " You're beautiful", he whispers." And smart and ambitious and brave and I love you. I want to wake up to you every morning and talk to you everyday. I want to take you to dinner and meet your friends and teach you to drive. I want you, Abby Reynolds. All of you. For as long as you want "
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🍃The Rebound is a romantic comedy written by Katherine Walsh, filled with family drama, love, friendship and most of all it is a story of an ambitious woman who wants live her life on her own terms.
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Abby Reynolds is an officer ina well reputed wealth farm McFarlane crunching up figures for her livelihood. Trouble befalls when McFarlane goes bankrupt rendering Abby jobless, penniless and homeless. She comes back to her hometown Clonard to her sister Louise and her husband Tomasz to live with them. On the day of arrival, she's given a lift by a handsome stranger named Luke whom she finds irresistible. Back in home Unable to live her extravagant life and mingle with her sister she falls into the depth of despair. She soon befriends a local woman Beth and gets to meet several of her childhood friends. She also later comes to know that Like Bailey is just not an handsome stranger but her childhood friend and next door neighbour. To top it up,s he gets to know that Luke always had crush on her. Sparks fly and so does trouble brews. Will Luke and Abby fall on love? Will they be able to come out of all the troubles that barged on them?
Read the book to find out.
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The book had the mixed punch of romance , comedy, family drama and office drama that kept me entertained thoroughly. I laughed out loud and felt anxious for the main characters at some pages. There was a little bit of spiciness in the book but not a lot of it. But it was completely fine. The plot was well built and the characters were bubbly.
I totally recommend this book.
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3⭐️

This was well-written but as a romance it just didn’t capture my heart much. It was a bit Bridget Jones-y but not as funny and it was actually a little dull in places? I think the main issue was that I didn’t like any of the characters and I think in a romance novel you have to want the two love interests to get together – I didn’t really care about Luke and (oh my gosh I don’t even remember her name).

I think the other thing that didn’t work was that the story did not deliver on the blurb. The blurb made it sound like she had a one night stand with a hot guy and then discovers that actually he’s her childhood best friend and neighbour etc and things get conflicted what with all her secrets. That just wasn’t the set-up at all and I was disappointed that there turned out to be very little tension and instead heaps of miscommunication. Also, the whole name etc of The Rebound and her formulating a ‘plan’ mentioned in the blurb is just not present at all? She doesn’t calculatingly decide to have a fling to get over her ex and she explicitly says he’s not a rebound – so I guess I feel the marketing/branding for this book was way off. Also, it sounded like it would be spicy and it just wasn’t.

All in all, I would rather have read about Beth & Jess.

Overall, a well-written and okay read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookoure for the ARC!

Things are not going well for Abby. When we first meet her, she’s recently lost her fiancé, her job, and her apartment… and she’s stuck waiting on a bus that isn’t coming. Seeing no other option, she ends up accepting a ride from a stranger who ends up being her childhood friend, Luke. In this funny, sweet story, Abby embarks on a journey to self-discovery, learning to love herself, and opening herself up to taking a chance.

I really enjoyed this story! I read most of it in one sitting, and it was pretty easy to follow. I liked watching Abby’s own character development unfold, while she nurtured relationships with her sister, Luke, Beth, and the other residents of small town Clonard, Ireland. The humor was witty and fun to read, but I wish there had been more banter! This is a great book if you like childhood friends to lovers or mending family relationships.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot: ☘️☘️☘️☘️
Writing: ✏️✏️
MC: 👩🏻🧑🏻👩🏻🧑🏻
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️


This is a cute an adorable Romance novel set in Ireland!
The plot was GREAT, but the writing has some transition flaws that confused me more than once. It has really great potential and a few jaw dropping & laughable moments! If you can look past the transitions, I would say it’s worth the read!

After losing her job & Fiancè, Abby moves back to Ireland to live with her sister until she figures out her next step. On the first day itself she bumps into Luke, who happens to be her childhood friend, whom is apparently couldn't recognize. So begins a journey of self discovery, love, second chance & reconnecting with family members.

Just like the first book by Catherine Walsh, this too had the magical rolling hills backdrop of Ireland.
I loved how easy going & comforting the plot was.
Luke & Abby's banter was hilarious & very cute; perfect & in sync with each other.

The side characters were amazing especially Beth. She was such a sweetheart & I couldn't get enough of her.
Abby mending her relationship with her estranged sister was the most heartfelt part of the book! Their bond was so lovable.

This is a cute rom-com. I typically love these types of books. About halfway through this one, I became disinterested, though. It couldn't really grab my attention. I love a good "rise above hard times book" and that may be more what this is versus a rom-com.

Thanks for the advanced copy!

This story jumped out and grabbed me in a really low key way. It was a little slow moving at times, but I still looked forward to saving some time to read it.

4 stars— I’m giving it 5 stars on here because I think it’s worth more than some of the 2 star reviews. Besides, I’m an American who is biased to Irish love stories and stories set in Ireland. I loved Normal People and since then I haven’t gotten enough of these fun Irish writers.

This is a cute Irish love story set in Clonard, Ireland. The writing is great. So great that we bookmarked that region to try to whisk ourselves off to an Irish village someday. I loved the characters and loved as she reconnects with her hometown… And her childhood buddy. Overall this is a quick fun read. A little slow at times, but I still looked forward to picking it up and diving into the cute little village and these characters.

Slow burn romance alert!

Thanks NetGalley!

I absolutely adored The Rebound and have found a new favorite in author Catherine Walsh. The lively and loveable characters felt like close friends right away, and her depictions of the Irish scenery and culture felt like a mini vacation. My favorite relationship (although I absolutely loved Luke and Abby) was Abby and her sister Louise. Learning to love and appreciate family members as adults vs children can be difficult, but I really appreciated the arc and growth that both women had as they grew to understand each other better. All in all, I really enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend it to those looking for a relatable and realistic story of love an family.

In Catherine Walsh's "The Rebound", Abby is having an awful year. Her company has shut down due to embezzlement and bankruptcy, and her fiancé has broken up with her, leaving her homeless as well. She has no choice but to move back to her Irish hometown and move in with her grumpy sister. Not everything is bad, though. Her childhood friend and dorky next door neighbor, Luke, has grown up to become a handsome and driven man. The sparks fly while Abby is still trying to discover who she is and what she wants to do with her life, and things heat up quickly.

I really enjoyed several things about this book: the chemistry between Abby and Luke, the healing relationship between the sisters, and the charming townspeople. I thought this was a really cute book, and I like that the man was the one having to make the big sacrifices, rather than the woman. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was such a fun read! It shows that things might not be going as planned but it all works out for the best in the end! I loved the love story and the self development in this book!

I have mixed feelings about this book.
There were some things that I really enjoyed. The whole concept was an interesting one and I liked seeing Abby out of her comfort zone.
I also liked the small town Ireland setting.
The writing style was also really easy to read and enjoyable.
It reminded me of Lindsey Kelk's and Sophie Cousens' in a way, which was a good thing.
But the back and forth between Abby and Luke got real frustrating really quick.
Considering they could have avoided all of it if Abby had just spoken to Luke and been truthful, it was pretty annoying seeing her push him away and him feeling pushed away by her actions.
I wouldn't really say that it's completely a romance or rom com but more of a story about someone attempting to rebuild their life (relations with their family, coming back home, finding a job, etc.) rather than just being all about the romance.
It was also rather predictable but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
I am still interested in reading more from Catherine Walsh and have my eye on her first book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet and simple book. Very predictable. Characters were cute. Story had some good laughs out loud moments.

Highly recommend this book! This was my first book to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters and the story stay with you long after you finish the book. One of the best books I have read in a long time.

4.5 stars

It's been months since I've read an ARC, and in attempt to rid myself of the slump I decided to pick this up. It did not let me down. I rarely read books in one day anymore, but this book left me no choice. I was utterly engrossed in this story, the characters felt so real, and I now feel as if I'm a resident of the town of Clonard.

There was so much I loved about this book that I'm not even fully sure what to write about first. The characters are what truly made this an almost 5 star read for me. Abby's personal development throughout the story was so beautifully done, being able to see her overcome what she was faced with and rebuild was so refreshing. The sister dynamic between Abby and Louise was another amazing part of this story. I feel that sibling relationships are sometimes overshadowed in this genre, but the author did an amazing job of showcasing the development they went through as sisters, and wrote it fantastically. I can't forget Luke. He might just be my favorite character in this novel. I loved the way his relationship with Abby was written, the author did a great job of showing the immediate attraction, while also straying from insta-love. They fit into so many good tropes?? Childhood friends?? Neighbors?? The attraction between them was so present throughout, and their ending was so nice. It wasn't what I expected, but I think that made me love it even more.

Catherine Walsh did a great job expressing the imagery and descriptions of Clonard. I had such a clear image of it in my head while reading. The atmosphere and vibe of the town was projected so well, and I don't think anything was left underdeveloped when it came to Clonard. The environmental sub-plot was also an amazing addition, I have a lot of personal interest in the topic, and seeing it thrown in an already amazing book, made it that much better.

I wouldn't say there's any exact reason I didn't give this 5 stars. There's definitely not anything about this book that I hated. It just didn't connect with me the way my five star reads have. Nevertheless, it was still a great read that I will be thinking about for months. This was such an easy and quick, but also beautiful and powerful read.

Thank you Bookouture for providing me with this ARC (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review! I had a great time reading this and will definitely be requesting books from this publisher in the future. I definitely recommend checking this book out when it releases on 2/14/22! This review will be posted to my Goodreads and BookBub.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance read of this title being published on 14th February 2022.
A quick easy fun read. It is well written with likeable characters with a satisfying ending. I particularly liked that the story was based in a small village in Ireland. I giggled my way through this. I will be recommending this book, its perfect for curling up with on Valentines day. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The storyline was very predictable and familiar to alot of other romcoms I've read. It had the opportunity to have something more to it. The ending felt somewhat rushed and I wish the conflict was explored more?

This was a fast-paced romance, it was cheerful and uplifting. I liked the evolution of the relationship between Abby and Louise, and the relationship between Abby and her brother in law.

This was a quick, easy read that I would recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, pushlisher and author for this ARC.

A swoon-worthy, rom-com set in Ireland, what more could you want? I finished this novel in 12 hours! I loved the relationships between the main characters but my favourite was between sisters Abby and Louise. HEA guaranteed!

<i>*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *</i>

<b>3.75 stars</b>

The Rebound is a cute rom-com, where Abby moves back home to Ireland after losing her job, her apartment and her fiancé breaks up with her. There, she meets her childhood neighbour Luke, who has gotten rather more attractive since his awkward teenage years.

Overall this was a fun, quick read, and a lot of the themes (like feeling a bit lost when you feel like everyone around you has your life together) did seem well written.

I did also like the aspect of Abby slowly fixing her relationship with Louise, but somehow the whole back-and-forth between Abby and Luke did get a little tiresome at times, and honestly their lack of communication got on my nerves sometimes.

This is definitely a delightful book, but I have mixed feelings. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, but as the story progressed I couldn't connect to the characters anymore. It started feeling like a drag.

Overall, I feel like this book didn't live up to the expectations I had when I first read the blurb.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the eARC!

A quick, easy and adorable read that was really fun to read. Good writing and good characters along with a story that was funny and heartwarming. The perfect cosy read.