3.5 stars

While this book was not the romance novel I was expected, it was still a very enjoyable read. The romance definitely is only a small part at the beginning and end of the novel, with the rest focusing and the FMC's personal journey. There are slight mentions of the relationship between the two main characters, but there are minimal interactions. Also, definitely would not have called this forced proximity.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beatrice’s dream job at a London boutique hotel is turned upside down when a police raid lands her out on bail and stuck in the city with only the hotel chef, Jock, for company. As she loosens up and explores London with Jock, she unexpectedly enjoys the spontaneity and his company, despite the looming threat of prison. Once released without charges, Beatrice tries to refocus on her career, but she can't shake her feelings for Jock. It turns out, maybe you can't ever be too busy for love.

I get what this book was trying to be, I really do. there were three separate parts to this book that had the weakest of links between them and were all rushed and underdeveloped. the characters felt like strangers to one another, and there were so many tropes and moments that were given about three seconds of air time. this is marketed as a 'forced proximity romantic' which I think is misleading from every angle. the characters had no humour or romance between them, and the forced proximity was a choice for a few nights in the first chapter or so of the book. if this was marketed using the interesting parts of the plot such as the hotel industry and Beatrice's journey to fulfil her dream, I feel like the book would reach who I think is the target audience. the book was also littered with some extremely outdated and lukewarm takes on sex workers, and strange comments regarding 'illegals' and the exploitation of workers felt icky to be included in what is meant to be a lighthearted book.

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

this book was definitely not what I was expecting. If you are expecting a typical romcom this isn't it but that isn't a bad thing. I loved the focus on Beatrice and who she is as an individual. It really hops all over the place but I enjoyed her adventures and the focus in the hospitality industry. I enjoyed the nods to Love Island but wished the ending could have been drawn out a bit more. Overall, an enjoyable read that I recommend!

It’s hard for me to review this book since I wasn’t necessarily a fan. It is fast paced which was good so I pulled through and the beginning was more than amazing. But it soon took a turn and everything felt a bit rushed and I noticed I started to care less for the characters. And even though it is supposed to be a romance book it felt like the romance part became a subplot at some point and you were only reading fiction.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Too Busy for Love in exchange for an honest and independent review.

Beatrice is living a perfect life of contentment as a manager of a posh boutique hotel in upscale London. Her days are predictable and her perfectionist nature allows her to excel in her craft. All of this quickly comes crashing down when the hotel is raided by police and Beatrice is taken into custody as a potential accomplice in an upscale prostitution ring being run out of her place of employment. As evidence is collected that will either exonerate her and prove her innocence or condemn her to a prison sentence, Beatrice finds herself released on bail with only the company of the hotel's chef, Jock, to pass the time with. Beatrice is able to finally let her hair down and explore the city of London with Jock at her side as they both await their fate in the investigation. Over the course of the week, sparks fly between Beatrice and Jock in this forced proximity romance as Beatrice starts to imagine a future outside of these hotel walls that suddenly includes Jock and a world she is only starting to explore.

As fate would have it, both Jock and Beatrice are exonerated and forced to go their separate ways in search of a new career path. As Beatrice sets sail in building a new life, she cannot help but come back to the whirl wind week she had with Jock over and over again and begins to question if life is really worth living when you're only living to work. Will circumstance allows their paths to cross once more, or is life really too busy for love?

Although this book started well and kept me wanting to explore the possibility of a future for Beatrice and Jock, it all ends quite suddenly when they are once again forced to go their separate ways. The rest of the novel really focuses on Beatrice's journey to self discovery and is really less of a love story and more of a personal journey. Beatrice reflects fondly on her time with Jock, but throughout the entire novel, neither character really takes any action to explore things further, which was incredibly frustrating and made things rather dull after the first quarter of the book. While it was interesting to see how Beatrice's relationships with other characters unfold, it felt so far removed from how the book started and the pace was much slower and less interesting.

While Beatrice and Jock did keep in touch during their time apart, there was nothing from either party that showed any interest in pursuing their relationship any further. When they finally do come back together, it all seemed a bit forced or unrealistic to me seeing as neither have tried to make any sort of meaningful connection with one another. Phoebe's writing is incredible and her ability to convey emotion and scenery are top notch, but I feel that this one just fell short for me. The first quarter of the book was so promising, but I felt that the rest was just filler to what could have been a much more interesting love story. Although the premise started off strong, I quickly ran out of the desire to keep reading to see what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book surprised me! Strong start, then it dwindled a bit. But then things took a turn I didnt expect. The pace was really good and it was a romance book that wasnt too cheesy. It was something different, with the aspect of hospitality weaved into it. It was original and I enjoyed the story as well as all the side characters.

The premise is good but it's not a book for me, I don't know if I really liked the protagonist, Beatrice, and her relationship with Jock. Even though I liked him individually, I couldn't root for them to be together.

However, the beginning of the book is very good and in general it was very fast paced so it’s worth reading.

For Beatrice, working at one of London’s boutique hotels is a dream come true. She doesn’t need a social life. She just needs an ordered diary, crisply folded sheets and happy guests. But Beatrice’s routine comes to an abrupt halt when her hotel is raided by the police. Suddenly she finds herself released on bail, and trapped in London, with only the hotel chef Jock for company.

The flow of this book is so different to what I would have expected and I am here for it. This book delivered on all fronts. It is a funny rom com with the ending we always want. There is so much going on, but not too much that it gets confusing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC of "Too Busy for Love".
Oh, this book was fun to read. I really loved the chemistry of the two main characters. And I loved the cameos and the link to the previous stories. But in my opinion, the ending felt a bit too rushed. But overall still an amazing read.

The book was really interesting and fun to start with the whole arrest was quite a shock but done well, the week Jock and Beatrice spend together under house arrest was quite fun but afterwards so many things were added into the mix which didn't really work for me personally. I do love that Beatrice get her wish to run the hotel and the 'Love Island' part was quite fun as well but the whole thing with the celebrity chef wasn't for me, especially because Beatrice did not put up more of a fight, we all know she's capable of it so it just didn't feel right. I did absolutely love her interactions with Reginald.
Overall this was an okay read, a good quick read for the beach or by the pool.

This was a jam packed book filled with lots of drama and excitement. With nods to Love Island and at times, the Hotel Inspector, it was relatable and enjoyable.

Phoebe, the main character was super likeable and it was great to follow her on her adventures.

I did feel that at times, the book could have been condensed a little but was still a feel good read, perfect for summer.

I want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this ARC.

I have a lot of thoughts about this one. The beginning was perfect. So cute. The forced proximity was giving. The banter was serving. I couldn't wait for more. And then the trial ended, and they went their separate ways, and we didn't really see Jock at all for most of the book. I honestly think this book is being marketed wrong. It's not really a romance novel, in my opinion. It's more of a women's fiction that has some romance in it.

I also had a hard time keeping up with the storyline. We were jumping all over the place to different things, and it made it hard to follow along with the events. One minute, we're on house arrest, and then we're on a daring show, and then we're opening a hotel. I couldn't keep up.

Overall, not my favorite book. There were several parts that were hilarious, but I just couldn't keep up with everything that was going on.

Title: Too Busy for Love
Author: Phoebe MacLeod

Talk about too busy, this book was packed with stuff happening.

Beatrice works as a hotel manager at the Hotel DuFour, which she finds out on her birthday, is low key being run as a brothel. The police put her and the cook, Jock, essentially on hotel arrest as they conduct their investigation, leading to some budding forced-proximity feelings. But after they're cleared from any wrongdoing, they have to go their own ways. Will they find their way back together?

This would have been an amazing book even if it had finished there. But that was just the first segment. Then there's a reality tv show, car damages, social media scandal, a rundown construction site, big dreams, lots of wine. I was probably at the edge of my seat the whole time wondering where the heck this author was taking me next--in a good way. Really enjoyed this book, would highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and entertaining read with a great set-up to start it all off. The main protagonists fall for each other easily but the obstacles are driven by their respective work choices. The jump in settings, whilst believable, make the narrative a bit disjointed. After a few hurdles, a satisfactory ending for the couple is achieved.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This is a fun book, Beatrice, the manager and Jock the chef, work together in a hotel, but all is not what it seems, and they get arrested. They are bailed and have to stay in the empty hotel together, and get to know each other better, and share their dreams for the future.
They go their separate ways, and we find out what happens to Beatrice, who has exciting jobs and ideas, and meets some interesting and influential people. She still misses Jock but isn't sure about his feelings for her, and is torn between following her career and her heart. Beatrice is a lovely character, sensible, kind, hard-working and thoughtful. I particularly liked her friendship with Reginald.
A good beach read.

This book starts off with a bang - the FMC Beatrice finds herself in jail as an accomplice for her boss running a secret brothel, and ends up on a kind of house arrest with a curfew while it is investigated further. Of course, this curfew is shared with the chef Jock 😏 but what happens when they get back to their “normal” lives?

This was a cute read (not spicy, only fade-to-black). However the romance is split in the middle with other plots and side characters, including a reality TV show, and I missed Jock during that time. Beatrice was a little bit frustrating at times and I didn’t really understand why she did some things later in the book. Some of the characters were also a bit shallow and their entire personalities were based around their jobs, which felt a bit one dimensional, but it might just be that I didn’t really vibe with the writing style.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC.

I love a good Rom com and this one was no different! I zoomed through this book as it was the perfect comfort read.

I am only giving it 4 stars as I thought the plot could have been shortened down as it felt like there was too many plot arcs but apart from that I would recommend.

This book is perfect for a quick escape and an easy read. Nothing triggering, nothing dramatic or life altering just a nice little rom com about a girl trying to find romance and herself set in the world of hotels and a little in the world of reality tv. The author tries to mix in a few too many stories and ideas and unfortunately the love interest is lost for most of the second half of the book but ultimately it’s a breezy little romp that can be read by a body of water and enjoyed. Thank you for the early access.

ARC Book Review: *Too Busy for Love* by Phoebe MacLeod

Rating: 5/5🌟

Phoebe MacLeod's *Too Busy for Love* is a delightful and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that effortlessly combines humor, heart, and a touch of chaos. Fans of Sophie Ranald and Sophie Kinsella will find themselves thoroughly entertained by this charming story.

Beatrice is a meticulous and dedicated employee at one of London’s boutique hotels. Her life is perfectly organized, from her crisply folded sheets to her meticulously ordered diary. However, her orderly world is turned upside down when the hotel is unexpectedly raided by the police, and she finds herself released on bail with the hotel chef, Jock, as her only companion.

MacLeod’s portrayal of Beatrice is both endearing and relatable. Watching her transition from a tightly-wound workaholic to someone who embraces the unpredictable joys of life is a joy. Her interactions with Jock are filled with wit and warmth, and their chemistry is undeniable. Jock's easygoing nature and zest for life are the perfect counterbalance to Beatrice's structured existence, making their dynamic both entertaining and heartwarming.

The backdrop of London adds an extra layer of charm to the story. As Beatrice and Jock explore the city together, their adventures are both hilarious and heartwarming. MacLeod captures the essence of London beautifully, making the city feel like a character in its own right. The various escapades they embark upon are filled with humor and provide the perfect setting for Beatrice's transformation.

The narrative takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity interspersed with touching and poignant scenes. MacLeod's writing is sharp and engaging, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The dialogue is snappy and realistic, adding to the overall charm of the story.

One of the strengths of *Too Busy for Love* is its exploration of the theme of finding balance in life. Beatrice’s journey towards realizing that there’s more to life than work and routine is both inspiring and relatable. The book underscores the importance of letting go, taking risks, and being open to new experiences—especially when it comes to love.

The resolution of the story is satisfying and leaves readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Beatrice's growth as a character is evident, and her decision to embrace love and spontaneity feels well-earned and authentic. The ending is both heartwarming and hopeful, wrapping up the story beautifully.

Overall, *Too Busy for Love* is a fantastic read that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page. Phoebe MacLeod has crafted a delightful romantic comedy that is perfect for anyone looking for a fun, feel-good read. Highly recommended for fans of rom-coms and anyone who believes that life is best enjoyed with a little bit of chaos and a lot of love.



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