This book had so much potential but I'm afraid it fell a little flat for me. In a fantastic opening, Eve comes home early to find her boyfriend in the shower with his co-worker. The exchange was funny in a terrible, poor Eve way. Then we meet Joe who is not only attractive and kind, he's in love with Eve (you know these trifectas don't really exist). The two help out their employers by chasing down 5 rings and delivering them in time for Christmas.

I wish Joe's character was a bit more "manly" since he's described as hot and parades his half naked body for women's bachelorette parties - he's too much of a Christmas loving sap. I couldn't connect. Fortunately for the plot, Eve does connect and falls for Joe in what might seem to be a completely unrealistic way. I think unbelievable plot lines with a background of Christmas, snow and fairy lights are what makes Hallmark movies so popular for a narrow audience. 3.5 stars rounded up because I'm in the holiday spirit.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

This is fun romp of a read which starts with Eve’s three year relationship in tatters upon the discovery her boyfriend has been cheating but despite that this is 100% about love with the hand delivery of five wedding and engagement rings just before Christmas, each of which has quite a story attached. Joe has been tasked by the jewellers he works for to support his workmate Eve through her heartbreak and they find themselves assisting the jewellers by doing some last minute ring deliveries, none of which turn out to be the simple task they expected. There’s some crazy shenanigans but whilst this is a wacky but warm Christmas read unlike most others there’s a lot of fun and love in many forms.

Ho, ho, ho! (that’s Santa laughing, not me calling you bitches, btw). We, Kristen Bailey fans, must have been really good this year, cause we got not one but two wonderful stories. If a few months ago we received a master class in Sex Ed, now she’s back with a sweet love story that has become MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY ROMANCE EVER! (yes, all in caps, it was that good). I can definitely say that Christmas came early this year.

The first day of Christmas brought Eve, a naked woman on her knees, noshing off her boyfriend of three years (and it rhymes! Am I a poet now?). Devastated, she goes to her employers to get some sympathy, who will put her, along her colleague Joe, on a very special task: delivering five rings destined for Christmas proposals and weddings all across the city.

Five Gold Rings was the perfect blend of comedy and romance. Not as spicy as her other books, it was completely adorable from start to finish, making it a truly heartwarming and festive read filled with love, laughs and some willy jokes (I mean, it’s KB, there has to be some!). We share the same kind of humor so she always cracks me up.

Eve and Joe were like a dream come true. Their chemistry and their easy banter will have you falling in love with them right from the get go.

Eve was pretty relatable. Everyone who has ever been cheated on will easily step into her shoes. The anger, the desire for revenge, the questioning of herself, the frustration…were all so familiar. Even though she was at her lowest and her heart was broken into pieces, she was still rooting for love.

Joe was absolute perfection. He was such a nice guy! Not a hint of toxic masculinity and pretty easy on the eye. And with shorts! (I’m gonna dream about his jingle balls, I mean, bells! 😏). I loved how he listened to Eve and offered his support without trying to take advantage of her being heartbroken. He’s gonna be my book boyfriend for forever!

They were so frigging cute, together and separately, and I adored how they could be their true selves around each other, tears, snot and vomit included. I was truly sad to see this end, so I really hope we’ll get a sequel some day.

Their adventure will take us to some really funny, hilarious and ridiculous scenarios, brought vividly to life thanks to her light and engaging prose. It will show us five different kind of relationships (old love, young love, straight, gay…), but with one thing in common: true love. As Celine Dion would sing, I was all ready to learn the power of loooove.

It was fantastic to see all those cameos from old friends. I like how all the characters from her novels live in the same universe, making an appearance when you least expect it (that epilogue got me all teary 🥹).

Five Gold Rings is infused with all the holiday cheer and lots of heart. It would cheer up even the Grinch so, if you’re in the mood for some holiday read, Five Gold Rings is the perfect choice.

Thanks to Storm Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review and to Kristen for allowing me to take off her massive blog tour.

If you want to get into the holiday spirit, this is a great book to start the season with! It’s silly and heartwarming, the ideal combo for a winter read.

I love a good friends to lovers, and there were some really cute, touching, and funny moments, buuuuut the romance fell a tad flat for me. The dialogue was just kind of bland and it felt rushed given the timeline of Eve’s breakup.

That being said, the thing I loved most about this book was the plot. The Christmas backdrop was the perfect setting for the story—which was one of the best premises for a holiday book I’ve read. The mission the main characters had to take on was so fun and festive! I think in writing, some moments came across kind of gimmicky and felt overdone or cheesy, but I could see it playing out like a movie in my mind! This could easily be a successful holiday staple on the big screen.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Such a lovely warm-hearted funny book. I expect nothing less from kristen bailey fast becoming 1 of my favourite authors. A great festive book

FIve Gold Rings is a hilarious laugh-out-loud kind of story.

A story of 2 perspectives (Eve - who was blindsided when she found her boyfriend in the shower with a woman on her knees) and Joe (Eve's workmates who freelances as a sexy elf in his downtime).

The perfectly funny Christmas romance - exactly what you've been asking Santa for!

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Colder temperatures are coming, Mistletoe Marketplace is this week…so I was ready for a Christmas book! And this one is super cute. Eve is fresh out of a broken engagement and tasked with delivering five engagement rings with her co-worker, Joe.
Together these two elves set off on a mission across London to save Christmas. (Their bosses give off a Mr. and Mrs. Claus vibe.) There were times I laughed out loud reading this one. It is kind of like a Hallmark movie but with some alcohol and a little bad language thrown in. Think PG-13 rating. I loved the characters and their fun banter. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Never wanted this book to end. Love the romance, humor, setting and sparkling banter! Joe and Eve are on a mission to delivered wedding rings in London on a madcap adventure that is moving, hilarious and smart. Eve has walked in on her boy friend of three years very graphically cheating on her, and wants distraction. Joe just wants Eve. The chapters alternate between the two of them so we get inside their heads during the same moments, seeing how they interpret the same situations and learn of their history. It’s an absolutely charming and entertaining read! By my favorite contemporary Christmas read.

Five Gold Rings was such a perfect little holiday rom-com! It was my first Christmas book that I've read and I really enjoyed it! If you're looking for a friends-to-lovers romance with lots of banter that will be sure to make you chuckle; I recommend making this book your next read! I look forward to reading more books by Kristen Bailey

Five Golden Rings by Kristen Bailey is the perfect Christmas read! I love a holiday quest set in beautiful London with a coworker will they won’t they thrown in for good measure!

Eve catches her cheating boyfriend in the act and after trashing his stuff agrees to deliver five rings in time for Christmas with her handsome coworker. Will they make weddings and engagements possible or will Eve be a crying Christmas mess?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Five Gold Rings tells the story of Eve who comes home from a trip to find her boyfriend of 3 years cheating on her with a coworker in the shower. Eve works part time at a jewelry store and as an attempt to distract her from the sadness of ending her relationship, the owners of the shop pair her with another jewelry store employee, Joe, who happens to have been in love with Eve for years, to help deliver 5 golden rings around London before Christmas. This book had some funny and sweet moments but I didn't feel a strong connection between Eve and Joe as she drinks quite a bit in the book to drown her sorrows and the whole book takes place over only a few days. If you are looking for a quick holiday themed romance, this might be worth checking out, but I definitely have other holiday reads I would recommend first.

Zero spice. If you're looking for a sweet, fluffy rom-com ... this is your book. Chris is the ex we love to hate, Eve the sweetheart we want to root for, and Joe the good guy that we never quite see for ourselves but definitely want for the main character. Think of those holiday rom-coms we love: Love, Actually or The Holiday or The Family Stone. This book would fit right in.

And the five gold rings quest is a fun theme for this book that adds a fun scavenger-hunt element to the main relationship dimension. So get ready for a cozy read to curl up with your hot cocoa and enjoy the Christmas moments abundantly sprinkled throughout.

"Five Gold Rings" by Kristen Bailey is a side-splitting Christmas rom-com that delivers non-stop laughter and unforgettable holiday hilarity. A must-read for those seeking a dose of Christmas cheer and humor.

Calling all Love, Actually fans! If you love that movie (like me), I think you’ll really love this book, too!! It was so much fun! After dramatic opening scene that the author manages to make funny… Eve and Joe set off to hand deliver 5 important rings before Christmas. Tons of LOL moments, lots of swooning over Joe (the sweetest guy!), fun road trip style romance - it’s a great one to add to your holiday reading!!

This was such a fun and lighthearted Christmas romantic comedy. I was laughing out loud at scenes throughout - it definitely gives you the feel good factor.

When Eve discovers her boyfriend of three years, Chris, is cheating on her with his work colleague... in their shower... a couple of days before Christmas, she is distraught. Going on a rampage of Christmas gifts under their tree, she finds an engagement ring. Chris was going to propose... while having an affair on the side.

She visits the jewelers where she works part time to investigate the engagement ring he bought - but this turns out to be the beginning of the best Christmas for Eve. Eve and her colleague, Joe, are tasked in delivering five engagement rings on Christmas Eve. These ring deliveries aren't all that simple, but neither are Joe and Eve's feelings for each other.

'I'm starting to think that it's some sort of conspiracy that none of these ring deliveries have been simple drop-offs'.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This was such a 'makes you feel cosy inside' read, and definitely gets you in the mood for the festive season. The delivery of the rings were hilarious, every time they would deliver one, they would be invited to stay and get up to all sorts of whacky things. It had be snorting in some places of the things Joe and Eve were getting up to!

I loved seeing Joe and Eve's friendship, how Joe was making sure Eve was okay - while hiding the feelings he's had for her for years. But spending the time together, Joe being there for her and helping her to have a great time.. during a really rough time, makes Eve realise that Joe is the one she wants.

'It started off so badly, but somehow, it's turned into the best memorable Christmas ever'.

Also, was great to see Ed from Sex Ed at the end of the book! I was reading and thought, wonder if that is him, and then reading the letter from the author - it was him! Love the crossover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this copy. This review is voluntary.

I adored this book! Five Gold Rings is the first book I’ve read by Kristen Bailey and I immediately knew I was going to love it. I loved getting to know the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the humour – there were many laugh out loud moments throughout the book. I also enjoyed the more emotional side of the characters and the relationships they had with friends and family. Eve and Joe felt very real to me and I could really relate to both – such a fun, sweet romance with moments that pull at the heart strings.
I have already recommended this book to my daughter and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good laugh. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author and have some waiting on my Kindle already.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kristen Bailey for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was great! So funny, which I expected from this author based on another book of hers I'd read. The ridiculous situations in this book are plentiful and the characters (in dual POV!!) were realistic. The timeline of things on her side felt a tad quick to me to be realistic BUT it's a Christmas romcom and I can suspend disbelief for those! Heartfelt parts woven in very well along with what I would call recognizable British humor, which I appreciate! That said, though the humor could lean blue, there is no spice explicit or otherwise. Thanks NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC! It comes out tomorrow, Oct 30th. 4.5 stars

Five Gold Rings by Kristen Bailey💍🎄

genre: romance
format: epub arc
pages: 248
times read: 1
date (dd/mm/yy): 28/10/23
would reread: yea
tropes: workplace romance, sunshine x sunshine, boy obsessed, friends to lovers, forced proximity
rating: 4.6⭐

review:
i came across this book on Netgalley and the cover rly caught my eye so i had to request it and yesterday i decided to give it a go and let me tell you, i don't regret reading this.

this book had me laughing like a lunatic, almost as much as the love hypothesis (if we're close yk i laughed my ass off with that book). this book was a mix, and i mean a fucking mix of emotions, we had CHAOS, this book shouldve been called Five Gold Rings of Chaos bcs Eve and Joe couldn't catch a break, we had anger, i fucking hate you Chris, Joe is my G for stealing his turkey

when i tell you i loved this book like ughh. the characters were just so 🫶🏻🫶🏻 and the interactions too like.

Eve is my girl lile, fucking love how she handled the whole situation with Chris, oh so you're getting a blowie from some other hoe in my shower and you also want to propose to me? ill just put your ugly ass ring on airplane mode and throw it out of the window and since we're at it your phone can join it. Chris was such a bitch like he had the audacity to send her the bill for the damages like bffr. anyways, i love Eve and she belongs with Joe. Joee my bby, my part time stripper part time jeweler he's so bbg, this man is so in love with Eve he memorizes every little thing about her and makes her feel seen and safe and is always there for her like Eve wife him up already or I will. when i tell you this two had be laughing like crazy like jfjfjf. that scene with Henriette at that caffé or whatever it whas was so funny, this old lady was so unhinged and pretended to only speak french like and the fact that JOE SPEAKS FRENCH *slams card on the table*

it was so wholesome watching Eve develop feeling for Joe like jfjffj at first she was like, he's Joe, i can't like him, not him, not Joe. and then shes like well shit i might love this fucker djfnfn

thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

My first Christmas book of the year and it did NOT disappoint ❄️

What a wonderfully emotional read. I won’t lie, I went into it thinking that it was going to be a run of the mill soft romance, and whilst it definitely fell under that category, the author managed to craft a lovely, feel-good story that encouraged genuine connection with the main characters and their families & friends.

The rhythm of the story was spot on and I thoroughly enjoyed the different tangents that the storyline took whilst Eve & Joe were delivering the rings. I loved that we got an insight into the minor characters’ lives and the whole book had a cosy feel to it that I expect from a holiday romance.

Admittedly, I didn’t enjoy Eve’s character as much as I did Joe. I found her to be altogether too selfish for my liking and I felt almost sorry for Joe at certain points; however, the overall connection between them was sweet and it certainly didn’t sour my enjoyment of the book.

I’m very happy that this was my first seasonal read of the year and I would definitely recommend it to others!

Rating: 5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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This book is literally everything and will quite possibly be my favorite holiday read. I’ve only read a few so far but guys, this book is just amazing.
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This story focuses on Eve and her coworker Joe as they attempt to deliver five gifts after a mishap at work. This story takes place over three days and in a dual point of view of Eve and Joe. Joe is unbelievably swoon worthy and I think I just found my new favorite book boyfriend. Eve is such a sweetheart who is overcoming heartbreak.
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This book is the definition of romcom. Guys, I was CACKLING at parts of this book. There were so many parts that I found myself actually laughing out loud and a few times I almost spit out my drink at what was said/what happened. My favorite was the part at a Christmas party (IYKYK).
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This is a clean romance and this one has some great tropes within the romance genre. I noted close proximity / friends to lovers / miscommunication. All of these meshed so perfectly together. This book was such a bingable read that I read this one in one sitting. It was so addicting. Five Gold Rings has it all, a heartwarming story, some heartbreaking parts, some laugh out loud moments and overall a truly beautiful story of love.
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I listened to this one while reading along with it. It was narrated by Harrie Dobby and she was great at playing both roles, though my personal preference is to have dual narrators when there are dual POVs. But she did keep my attention.
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Overall this is the perfect holiday read and I cannot rave about it enough! Seriously, if this book doesn’t become a series or movie on Netflix or Hulu or something I am going to rage - I need this to be brought to the screens. Five Gold Rings was everything I needed. Do not for a second wait on this read - Five Gold Rings just releases on 10/30 - GET IT!!!
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Huge thank you to NetGalley, Kristen Bailey, Dreamscape Select and Storm Publishing for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review. This one was truly a pleasure to read.