A lovely romance read and one I really enjoyed, I have enjoyed all of this authors books and this one was great.

This book was cute at first but really started to drag about halfway through, the characters weren’t very likable and the ending just wasn’t very good, it felt rushed the last couple chapters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for the eARC

Thank you to Netgalley, thr publishers and the author for my e-ARC.

I enjoyed Caroline's previous novel but I think this one missed the mark for me. There was too much going on a lot of the time and it felt too messy at times.

I didn't fully understand all the sacrifices Laila thought she needed to make and not pursue love to be honest. And it seemed a bit unreal how a 31 year old can be so confused about her own romantic feelings. And once you have decided on your feelings, the reluctance to do something about it rather than leaving it to fate was a bit anti climactic.
The bonding with her dad's husband felt forced to me.

Nope nope nope. This was book was so messy. This was just not it. The first 20% of the book was so boring. It was hard to feel interested in the FMC because her career is something I don’t understand. Her attitude towards her friends bothered me too. I think the idea of this story is a cute one but the execution totally missed the mark. Austin was not it. Homeboy is just too much. Edoardo was the perfect character to be the one that she doesn’t re-connect with. Mateo was EVERYTHING. I knew from their time together that he would be endgame. BUT the sudden “I gotta go back to the states to meet my gay dad’s husband and resolve my guilt and grief” ruined the entire book. First of all, the gay dad thing and “how does he identify” just felt so wrong. Do people genuinely ask that about their parents? Idk I just felt the whole grief/gay dad thing was so left field and ruined the “romance book” that this was supposed to be. And then she just goes months without talking to Mateo? Also, how did her friends not take any accountability for contributing to the drama that was the men finding out about this intervention? I’d be so mad that my friends didn’t take that into consideration. My 2 star rating is for Mateo. He was the only thing I liked about this book. Idk I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the ending, I didn’t like the story changes….. just wasn’t it for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Love Intervention is a great story about discovering yourself and allowing yourself to grab life by the horns and live it, while also learning more about yourself and what makes you happy.

Laila's two best friends "dare" her to take a three week holiday, and meet up with 3 guys from her past. What they don't know is the TRUE history between Laila and Austin, Edoardo and Matteo. And Laila doesn't know the whole truth about her friends and these three as well...

There are spicy moments, frustrating moments, tender moments, and tear-inducing moments as you go along with Laila on her journey.

I'd suggest that potential readers check content warnings as there are aspects of the book that may be difficult for some readers.

But this truly is a great read!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Canelo and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for being chosen to read an ARC of this book.

I was not able to get through the whole book, it just wasn’t for me. I just felt there was so much going on and so many guys that it just took away from the premise of the book. The plot idea was so good; it is what drew me in initially, and the main character was everything I wanted, however for me it just became too complex and hard to keep up with what was going on.

This is a book full of love, friendship, and found family. At first, the pacing of the story was a bit slow, and I thought that there may be too many storylines trying to happen at once, but the author did a great job at rolling everything into once cohesive story. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and plan to read more from this author.

Thank you to Caroline Khoury, Canelo, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was fine? Interesting idea but executed in a way I couldn’t get into. It had weird pacing, and frankly her character annoyed the crap out of me.

Also, for some reason, hated the way Edoardo was spelled. Irrational ick for me there lol.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5)
Spice: 🌶️

Review:
This book follows the story of Laila Clarke who is a clinical scientist as she goes on a vacation to meet 3 guys from her past in order to get DOSEd up (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin & Endorphins) for a change with a new adventure.

This story was very intriguing as it goes back and forth between two different timelines with 4 different characters. The present timeline where she works at the hospital and takes a vacation due to unforeseen circumstances, and the vacation was planned by her 2 best friends who were worried about her. The vacation plan was to meet with all the 3 guys, one after the other and experience life.

The past timeline is 10 years ago when she was studying in NYU. Austin was her crush in Uni, Edoardo was her boyfriend and Mateo was her bestfriend. They all lost touch after graduation.

I liked the plot a whole lot more than the execution. I wanted to see it through the end and know whom is Laila gonna fall in love with. I wanted to see her grow and make her own decisions, but that was missing. It shows her journey about healing from past trauma and finally get the courage to move on.

My most favourite character was Gregory (I won't spoil who he is for y'all, because he's not who you think he is).

The premise is definitely interesting and it is a love square, so if that is intriguing, you can give it a shot.

Thank you Net Galley for providing me with this ARC and this is my honest review.

*spoilers ahead*

At first it took me a few tries to get started. Given how ridged Leila was, I almost thought she might be high function ASD. But it took getting to 33% of the book to get to the good stuff.

Essentially, Leila's 2 best friends thought she wrung herself out and need some fun, or love. It was dumb how she was forced to take her holiday, by work which she dedicate her time and energy into that betrayed her. At any rate, she went to revisit the 3 guys she had 'a thing with' 10 years ago.

Austin
Man, I was rooting for you. You were doing everything right by my book until the last portion of the book. That really pissed me off, he was so promising. Seems like he only have eyes for Leila, knows how to take care of her, how he realized he was on a hamster wheel and know how to get out of that mindless wheel and pivot. Even thinking future with her, not to mention outdoor shower sex is hot! But her beef with that is: the future is hers not someone else's to make decision on her behalf. Fair point, but it's unfair to drudge up some Josh guy who got a promotion, proposed and expects her to move with him... that tidbit of a background to explain why she hated that idea, was flimsy at best. By gosh, the man travel across USA and the Atlantic to come see her and beg her to reconsider. The latter reason of Austin's character was a stronger argument for Leila to close that chapter.

Eduardo
The author made clear that he was never a choice because he never chose her. All in all, it's unfair because he got the least time to be with Leila, both 10 years ago, and this revisit. He's a gentleman and all, but he never prioritize her then and doesn't even when she came to visit as a guest. Also, no sexy time for you my friend. I'll give a star for you traveling to see her and not just be a jealous fool and stomps off.

Mateo
He's just a heart of gold, and the author guided you there time and again. He wants to take care of her, liked her even when they were kids at the same conference before Uni. He's thoughtful guy, and been thru hurt like she had, He's willing to be vulnerable for her, willing to wait for her to come to her own decision and not make the decision FOR her, but damn is that man patience, bless his heart.

I think I love out of all of that is her decision to see that pivotal one person in NYC. Their relationship blossomed and helped healed her so much, totally what she needed. I would venture to say, it healed them both. Mom was selfish and there's some hurt there, but glad she came to her senses and her journey wasn't an easy one either, but thank goodness to her best friends and mom talk and got to have the entire thing come to full circle.

Personally, if I have to go back 10 years to my old love to see if they were the real loves, I feel like I haven't grown as a person. I get it, a, this is.a book- that is the premise, but in reality, I would feel very different about that. b, no one so lucky to get 3 memorable loves that you wouldn't mind going back to revisit. We all have that one that got away, but 3? Not realistic. I think for this book, 2 would be ok. c, Also unrealistic to show that the 3 men have grown in their work life but not emotionally grow. Hopefully they're not all the same people they were 10 years ago, besides sex why is that part of growth not important?

Anyway, it's tough on the pacing to get going in the beginning, but hang on, once you past 33% it's worth digging into, I literally cannot stop until I'm done. There are spicy scenes, you've been warned.

Thank you NetGalley & Canelo for the ARC.

I didn't love this one. The female lead was too focused on her five year plan and the men were unrealistic. She really annoyed me and distracted me from any romance. I couldn't recommend this one.

Unfortunately this fell a little flat for me. I usually enjoy flawed characters, but something about these just didn't work for me. However, the concept was intriguing.

This was such a fun, heartwarming read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Poor Laila really went through it in the past and she's focused so hard on her career as a clinical scientist (and an ailing mother) she's forgotten how to have fun. When things hit rock bottom at work her friends decide to intervene and call a Love Intervention, namely with 3 of the men from her past (Edoardo, Mateo and Austin), and sets off on a trip to reunite with them. During the trip she deals with the demons from her past and really develops a deeper understanding of her self and what she wants from life (with some fantastic spice along the way!). I definitely found that this book gave me a lot more than I realised as it is a gentle reminder to not take life too seriously and get caught up in the same routine every day before looking back with regrets at the time wasted, and about appreciating who you have around you and standing up what is best for yourself, even with family. I also love the fact she has a career in STEM (might be biased because I am a nurse haha). It was a perfect time in my life to read this too.

I appreciated the premise, but struggled due to:
- inadequately resolved conflict
- unredeemable characters
- deliberate actions that were unthoughtful & harmful
- immature personalities & POVs (likely due to trauma, but still tough to read)

I know these are all aspects of reality, but that’s difficult to reconcile with a romance novel. You spend most of the time with characters who don’t have pure intentions, and who aren’t in love.

I would say this is more of a Contemporary novel, heavy on the family drama & self growth journey storylines.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC

This book was trying way too hard in too short a period of time.

Too much technical talk, too many characters and too many scenarios. If this would have had half of everything - and more likeable characters, it could have been a winner for me. Sadly - it was not a winner.

Maybe an intervention was needed.

I wanted to like this one so much, the concept is really fun, and maybe I’m not in the right headspace right now for me to love this book, but I ended up DNFing this one at 48%.

There are supposed to be 3 MMC and at that point I still had only met 1 and while I liked him and I like the FMC, the story just felt like it wasn’t progressing and I kept putting my kindle down (which y’all know isn’t like me)

I want to try again at a later date, but I just don’t think this one is for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for an ARC of this book!

Caroline Khoury’s The Love Intervention is a charming and uplifting romance that explores second chances, personal growth, and the power of friendships. In the story, we follow Laila, a dedicated clinical scientist whose life revolves around her work. Concerned about her well-being, her friends orchestrate a "love intervention," encouraging her to reconnect with three significant men from her past: Austin, Edoardo, and Mateo. From California to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica, Laila embarks on an emotional journey filled with nostalgia, self-reflection, and unexpected surprises.

Khoury crafts a delightful narrative that blends romance with personal growth. The novel's strength lies in its engaging premise and the vivid settings that transport readers alongside Laila on her adventures. The exploration of rekindling past relationships offers a fresh perspective in the romance genre. I find this concept unique and refreshing. However, sometimes, the pacing felt uneven, and certain emotional moments could have been explored more deeply. While the multiple love interests made for an intriguing dynamic, I wished for a bit more development in their individual storylines.

Overall, "The Love Intervention" is an enjoyable read that combines elements of romance, friendship, and self-discovery. It's a charming tale that reminds us of the importance of balancing work and personal life, and the unexpected paths love can lead us down. It is a delightful and feel-good read, perfect for those who enjoy stories about second chances and self-discovery. If you love a romance with heart and a touch of adventure, this one’s worth adding to your TBR!

Laila, a dedicated clinical scientist, has spent years prioritizing work and family over romance. Concerned for her, her best friends stage a “love intervention,” planning a three-week trip where she reconnects with three past loves—Austin, Edoardo, and Mateo.

From California to Costa Rica, Laila faces old emotions, rekindled passion, and long-buried guilt. As she navigates second chances and self-discovery, she realizes she’s been holding herself back. The novel balances romance, grief, and personal growth, with well-placed flashbacks linking past and present.

While Laila evolves, the male characters feel less developed, but this remains her journey. A fun, heartfelt read with engaging travel and emotional depth, it leaves readers eager for more.

In this contemporary romance, Laila, a dedicated medical researcher, is nudged by her friends to embark on a three-week vacation to rekindle her sense of joy and possibly find her ideal man. The journey involves reconnecting with three past love interests, which keeps readers guessing about Laila's ultimate choice until the very end. The dynamic among the trio of friends is refreshing, avoiding typical outsider clichés. The writing flows seamlessly and I enjoyed the flashbacks that helped the narrative. The plot goes beyond mere romance, intertwining themes of personal growth and familial challenges.
Scheduled for release on February 13, 2025, this novel promises a fun and easy read that you will enjoy.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Caroline Khoury for the ARC of this book.

The idea of this novel was unique, the written book was a touch boring, but I finished it. Laila, a thirty something British scientist, was so engrossed with work that she forgot to have a life, hence the intervention of her friends. It continues with her finding her lost college loves and seeing where it will lead. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.