Book Review: Last Call at the Local by Sarah Grunder Ruiz

About the Book:

Title: Last Call at the Local

Author: Sarah Grunder Ruiz

Page Length: 368

Publication Date: Jan. 2, 2024

Publisher: Berkley

Synopsis: Opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalize his family’s pub in the next heartfelt romance from the author of Luck and Last Resorts.

Raine Hart is used to the challenges of living with ADHD. It’s why she ditched her life in Boston to busk around Europe as a traveling musician. No boss. No schedule. No one to disappoint but herself. But when a careless mistake in Ireland leaves her unable to perform, she sees no other option but to give up her nomadic life.

Since inheriting the Local, Jack Dunne has wanted to make the pub his own. But the baggage of running a family business and the intrusive thoughts that stem from his OCD make changing things a challenge.

Over a pint with handsome, tattooed Jack, Raine accidentally insults him and the pub. Instead of taking offense, Jack, impressed by her vision of what the pub could be, offers her a job bringing it to life.

But when Raine and Jack develop feelings for one another their opposite lifestyles won’t accommodate, it becomes clear the pub isn’t the only thing that needs reinventing. As the end of their business collaboration draws near, they’ll have to find a way past the limits they’ve placed on themselves or let go of a love that could last a lifetime.

LINKS:   Goodreads   |    Amazon

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My Review:

This is an entertaining contemporary romance and a fun and heartwarming addition to the Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships series. I loved the first two books in the series and was super excited to read this one (even more so when I realized we’d see some beloved characters again!)

Raine and Jack’s friends-to-lovers romance has so much chemistry, and I love their flirty banter. They are so easy to root for, especially as you learn more about them and their pasts. They have both been through a lot, which makes their unconditional support and acceptance of each other that much more special. Raine has never felt like she fit in with her disappointed family, but the wonderful found family she gains at the bar shows her nothing but support.

The mental health and neurodiversity rep in the book is also fantastic. Raine has ADHD, and Jack has OCD, and both have relatable stories and struggles. As much as this is their love story, it’s also about Raine and Jack’s personal journeys, which they go on individually but with each other’s whole-hearted support.

The secondary characters are great too, and I was so excited that Ollie and Nina were in the story. It’s been around five years since the end of their book, so to see what has happened with them and how their lives have progressed since we last saw them is wonderful. It’s always fun to catch up with favorite characters, and their roles in this story are great. There’s also a feline friend that kind of stole the show for me. Any time a dog or cat is part of the story, I instantly fall in love with them, which totally happened with the rambunctious cat Sebastian. Love him!

Overall, I thought this was a sweet, slow-building romance with a little bit of spice and a whole lot of heart. The characters are complex and nuanced, the exploration of neurodiversity is really well done, and the found family is fantastic. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Rating: 

Favorite Parts: 

• the romance
• the found family
• the representation
• the setting

Recommendations:

• friends to lovers
• forced proximity
• found family

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