I absolutely adored this book. Hazel and Ash end up on a road-trip together and their banter makes it so much fun. Add in the only-one-bed for frenemies trope and it's a hit! Such a fun read!

I absolutely loved the characters in this book, they were really well written and fleshed out. I was drawn in right away and I was hooked into this romance, it had me felling all the holiday vibes.

I love a good roadtrip-romance and this book was so cute! It made me smile, laugh and cry. I loved how everything worked out especially for Hazel, and how she reconnected with her dad and also connected with her new step-family. The Christmas setting was just another bonus <3

Take Me Home delivers a fun and festive Christmas romance with a perfect mix of tropes like frenemies to lovers, forced proximity, and a road trip adventure. Hazel and Ash are well-developed characters, and their playful rivalry adds a lot of charm to the story. The backdrop of a road trip and small-town Texas during the holidays makes for a cozy and engaging read.

While I enjoyed the romance and the character dynamics, I wasn't a fan of the miscommunication trope that popped up frequently. It felt like it slowed down their connection at times. However, the chemistry between Hazel and Ash is undeniable, and their moments together are sweet and heartwarming.

The spice level is fairly low, making it a cute and cozy read. I do wish the book had been written in the first-person point of view instead of third, as I feel it would have helped me connect more deeply with the characters. Despite that, it's still a fun read for anyone looking for a lighthearted holiday romance!

Take Me Home by Melanie Sweeney beautifully weaves together an array of engaging tropes!
It features a road trip with frenemies, unrequited love, and a small town where nothing stays hidden. Plus, the "one bed" trope adds an extra layer of charm-definitely one of my favorites! This book is perfect for curling up with on a cozy evening.
If you enjoy these themes and are looking for a delightful romance, I highly recommend this read. I'm excited to discover more from this author in the future!

Loved this! Such a sensitive portrayal of what it's like to leave your home town to find your way in the world and leave your past behind you, to realise wherever you go, your earlier years and all their pain and joy goes with you. Yes it's an enemies to lovers sort of small town romance, but it's got so much more depth than such tropes suggest. I'll be eagerly awaiting Melanie Sweeney's next read!

I wrote a whole, in depth review for this but then my computer crashed so here we are again - Take Me Home was the perfect, Christmas time romcom and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, consuming it on a single day.

Before I start, THIS IS NOT A ROADTRIP ROMANCE. There is a road trip that lasts about 30 pages, give and take, but it's more of a small town/college romance. The blurb is an incredibly misleading, so temper your expectations going in if that's what you're looking for.

Otherwise, Ash and Hazel's relationship is really heartfelt. They grow together and separately throughout the novel, overcoming the obstacles between them in a way that is uniquely human and honest. The cast of characters were full of life, and I especially loved the focus on Hazel's relationships with her female friends.

I found myself skipping through a lot of the smutty scenes and not 100% being convinced of the tension between them. The way that Ash was in love with her from their high school days should have been gut wrenching and angsty but I felt like there was something missing.

Overall, I had a nice time reading this but the lack of emotional punch has caused me to move on quite quickly. Thanks so much to HarperCollins and Netgalley for this arc!

This story hits some of the most popular tropes: forced proximity, one bed, road trip romance, with some academia mixed in.
I loved Hazel's and Ash's journey together. Their story is tender, and kinda representative of taking that step into adulthood, while they are both dealing with family stuff. I enjoyed the first half of the story more, when we get to know them. At one point, it does get repetitive until it picks up again at the last part of the story.
3.5 stars for my enjoyment of the book, +0.25 star for making me feel seen at a particular moment, and making me cry on a day that I am already feeling vulnerable.
This story will resonate with a lot of people, I'm sure.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley UK. All opinions are my own.

I can't believe this is a debut novel as it reads so well!

This was a cute read (and I'm always a sucker for a romance set at Christmas). Having dual perspectives was lovely, and Ash's family were a delight to read. I sort of wish the rivalry had been maintained for a bit longer, but enjoyed reading the development of Ash and Hazel's relationship. There was perhaps a bit too much miscommunication for me, but overall it was cheesy and sweet and a perfect light read. I'm secretly hoping we get to follow the other siblings (particularly June!) in future novels.