Wait For It by Jenn McKinlay is a quick read. It talks about serious topics but at the same time, it's such a lovely story about a woman trying part with what was her life before. It's about a man overcoming his accident and trying to be a better person for not only himself, his health, and for everybody.

Lovely this book for sure!

As soon as I saw this cover, I was immediately drawn to this book! Not going to lie, I expected it to be set in Palm Springs, but I thought it was cool that it was set in Phoenix as I haven't read much set there. I liked the set up, with the heroine coming out west to try something new and breakaway from her ex-husband. I liked a lot of Nick's characteristics--I'm usually very drawn to characters who are a bit broken and damaged and Nick is definitely dealing with some struggles that I thought were interesting. But while I liked the characters individually, I didn't really like them together as much as I wanted to. I wanted them to spend more time together on the page, and I thought they went from enemies to lovers way too quickly for it to really hit for me. So while I enjoyed the story overall, it felt a bit short of being a five star read.

When Annabelle is offered her dream job in Phoenix, she leaves Boston winter behind and finds herself enjoying sunny weather and a fresh start. She's working with her best friend and she has a great living arrangement in the guesthouse of a mysterious man she's never met. He keeps leaving her letters, though. About not using the pool, having guests over, etc. She's determined to meet this curmudgeon and win him over.

Nick has been holed up in his house since the incident that left him in a wheelchair. He's not interested in going outside, let alone getting to know his enticing new tenant. But unfortunately, she has other ideas.

This was sweet and funny, but also wrenchingly emotional at times. I was never really surprised at the plot twists, but I enjoyed reading the book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

What's the last book you read in 24 hours or less?? It was Wait For It, this weekend, for me. I gobbled this book up. When I read the synopsis I looked at my sister and said "I feel like this book is going to make me cry" and ....it did. I loved this book. The way Mckinlay explored trauma, mental illness, disability, grief, etc. was powerful and believable. Every time I read a book like this I am reminded about the way that romance is doing important things from mental health & I AM HERE FOR IT. I loved loved loved this book. I don't want to say too much because I genuinely think it should be experienced.

I thought this was a quick little read!
While it does have some heavy content (stroke recovery, anxiety, ptsd, workplace intimidation) woven through, I appreciated the juxtaposition of Nick and Annabelle.

Annabelle is fun, whimsical and colorful. She is looking for a change in her life, and one of her best friends, Sophia, gives her a design job she can’t pass up. In a comical way, Annabelle ends up choking on the plan (LOL if you’ve read this then you know what I mean!) and heads to Arizona, STAT!

Once she reaches sunny Arizona from freezing cold Boston, Miguel and Sophia set her up in a 6 month lease of a cute little cottage on Mr. Daire’s property.

What ensues is a fun little “letter on the door” comical envisioning of the old curmudgeon Nicholas Daire. Again, if you’ve read it, you know. ;)

Nick and Annabelle have this lovely little banter between the two of them including their own struggles along the way.

McKinlay has created some great supporting characters, and I fully hope to see them again in a future novel! Jackson is a physical therapist helping Nick and his blunt honesty and ability to read Nick’s true intentions is worthy of novel #2! Nick’s sister, Lexi, is just the best little sister character plus embodying a strong female- put her in novel #2 as well! :) Annabelle’s cast of supportive colleagues at Vasquez Squared all fit into the equation (see what I did there??) well.

I enjoyed the subplot at Annabelle’s job, Vasquez Squared. It was the right mix of characters and shows her ability to grow as a female in a leadership position. Only thing I didn’t like: a 30ish year old woman who can’t set an alarm and get to work on time. To me that isn’t “just part of her character” it is disrespectful to those great supporting characters and that best friend that brought her to Arizona to begin this adventure. I digress though- it was a small portion that annoyed me as a female in her 30s.

The one thing I didn’t like? Carson. UGH. He was the WORST. Having said that, it is a tribute to McKinlay’s ability to craft the most abysmal villain character. To that point, I sadly believe him to be a representation of someone many of us have encountered in our working careers at some point.

Thank you to the publisher for my #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

There aren’t many books that take place Arizona but you can bet I get excited when I find one. Wait For It could have taken place anywhere and I still would have loved it!! It is the adorable story of Annabelle, a twenty-something, twice divorced woman who accepts her dream job across the country in Phoenix to get a fresh start. Annabelle gets hooked up by her best friend with a guest house to rent by a very elusive landlord and the dynamic between Annabelle and her mystery landlord is absolute romcom perfection. I was laughing out loud and snorting starting with the first chapter and it just kept going. It was a perfect combination of workplace drama (my fave), slow burn romance, a little intrigue, lovable characters, witty humor and some self-introspection and growth. A little predicable? Of course. But in a comforting kind of way. This is the perfect summer read.

This book has many of the elements that have made Jenn McKinlay one of my go-to authors. It's brimming with humor and charm but isn't afraid to go deeper into emotionally sensitive issues. I'm not sure how I would classify it; it's kind of a blend of women's fiction and romantic comedy, with heart-tugging emotion, a solid romance, and plenty of humor sprinkled throughout.

Nick and Annabelle are characters I was immediately drawn to. They engaged my emotions and it didn't take long for me to become invested in their happiness. I'm a pushover for a grumpy-sunshine pairing and they are so that. They're vividly depicted, complex characters with significant emotional baggage to be unpacked and dealt with. I loved the friction between them, the snappy dialog, and especially the notes exchanged back and forth. Who knew snarky notes could be such delicious foreplay?

The romance develops gradually, at a perfect tempo for these two considering where they are emotionally at the beginning of the book. Each has a wonderful growth arc that makes their eventual relationship believable and one to celebrate. At first, I thought the growth emphasis would be on Nick (and his is significant) but Annabelle's self-reckoning is just as important. It's immensely satisfying to watch both of them evolve.

The secondary cast is vividly depicted and adds a great deal of richness to the overall story. The villain is someone most of us have probably had the misfortune to work with at some point in our lives. Watching him handed his just desserts is deliciously satisfying. Nick's relationship/friendship with his physical therapist made me laugh and gave me warm fuzzies at the same time. McKinlay nails that male "are you my friend or just a pain in my ass" dynamic. Then there's an unexpected family situation, a surprising revelation from Annabelle's BD (Big Disappointment a/k/a ex-husband #2), a young boy whose interactions with Nick brought me to tears, and more. McKinlay seamlessly weaves them all together to create another heart-tugging story that made me laugh out loud, wipe away more than a few tears, and enthusiastically cheer the final outcome.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Where to start?
The cover. I mean! So pretty!
And while I would love to float on that pool with a hot guy and a cocktail... I don't think I would want to do that in Arizona! I'd rather float on an outdoor pool in wintery Boston! I hate the heat! I already started sweating when Belle arrived at the Phoenix airport! LOL!
But I stayed with her all through that desert-heaty story!
And it was such a beautiful story!
I just loved Belle and Nick!
And all the other people - except one! 🤣

This was a great love story with so many great moments. Funny ones. Sparky ones. HOT ones (only weathery or sexy? I'm not telling!🤣). Heartbreaking and emotional ones. Mysterious ones. Serious ones. Dangerous ones. Want-to-hit-him-with-my-kindle ones. So many beautiful moments.
I just loved reading this.
Beautiful love story set in a beautiful place. I could almost smell the citrus trees and hear the blubbering of the hot tub. I loved this story and I wouldn't mind seeing it on Netflix one day!

WAIT FOR IT was such a beautiful love story! A story about healing and family and finally finding your person and place in the world. I loved reading this! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Nicky - this one is MINE!!

Did you know cozy mystery author Jenn McKinlay also writes romantic comedy? If you want to enjoy the great storytelling ability of McKinlay without the dead bodies, then you need to pick up her newest book Wait For It.

After reading Paris is Always a Good Idea last summer, I was excited to read her new book. I don't read a lot of romance as I'm very picky about what I like in the genre (and I don't like most of the books in this genre).

I immediately liked the main female character, Annabelle. If you've read Paris is Always a Good Idea you might recognize her as Chelsea's sister. Don't worry, though, if you haven't read it. I didn't realize the Chelsea mentioned in Wait For It was the same character as the one from the previous book - I learned of the connection by reading the Acknowledgments at the end of the book.

Annabelle is impulsive and reckless which translates more to being quirky and fun-loving rather than truly self-destructive. She has been married and divorced twice and she's not even thirty but that is the only remotely "self-destructive" example of her personality.

I had a harder time with the lead male character, Nick. He reminded me of Will Traynor from Joyes Moyes's Me Before You. I dreaded his chapters in the first half of the novel. I felt like I was being hit over the head with his self-loathing and contempt for all people. It was not enjoyable to read and I got his personality from his first chapter. it was also clear from the start for everyone except Nick that he was suffering from panic attacks. Some of the early chapters didn't add anything and felt like filler to make the novel longer.

I didn't particularly like the workplace plot of a jealous, vindictive co-worker. I've been in workplaces where someone is happy to help you fail and I think it just triggered some of my own feelings about conflict in the workplace. I felt his resentment was a little over-the-top particularly since we were really given a reason for his feelings. I really thought it was going to come out in the end that he was in love with Miguel (the co-founder of the graphic design firm).

If you've read a few of my reviews of romance novels you know I strongly dislike sex scenes. If you like your romantic comedies to be on the steamy side, then you will enjoy Wait For It. There were a couple of sex scenes that were way too detailed for my liking. And they aren't just a paragraph or two.

I really liked the more fun character interactions - the happy hours with co-workers, the star gazing with Nick, the cute cat, etc. There are some great secondary characters that didn't get enough page time. Now knowing that Annabelle is a spinoff character from Paris is Always a Good Idea, I wonder if we will see one of these secondary characters in a future book.

Unlike many romantic comedies, there isn't a contrived wedge between the two main characters. It is more of a question if they can get the relationship going in the first place and realistically portrayed bumps in the road of a new relationship. They both have some relationship-related baggage and must figure out how to move on from that if they want to have a successful relationship.

Even with the things I didn't like, overall I enjoyed the novel. Really the things I liked balanced out the things I had problems with. It is a light read - great for a late summer read.

My review is published at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2021/08/wait-for-it-by-jenn-mckinlay-review.html

Thank you so much Net Galley, Jenn McKinlay, and Berkley for an advanced copy of Wait for It in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: August 10, 2021
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wait for It is a solid read, and I found many parts of it enjoyable. I enjoyed, for the most part, the main character’s story arcs as well as their character development throughout the story. I thought the plot was enjoyable, and I was intrigued by the characters, their attitudes, and their choices throughout the story.

But, truth be told, this book did not wow me. I found the prose monotonous at times, and I just didn’t connect to these characters. Normally I enjoy multiple viewpoints in a story, but I wish this book had been written in third-person instead. I think that would have improved the monotony of the prose, honestly. I didn’t enjoy Nick’s viewpoint at all, and I found him a difficult character to like or root for. The story was very much revealed in layers, but I thought the plot really dragged at parts.

If you’re looking for something to keep you entertained, this book might fit the bill. For me, I was hoping for something a bit more, and this book really left me hanging.

Impetuous graphic designer Annabelle Martin jumps at an opportunity to be a creative director at an up-and-coming design studio in Arizona. The fact that her ex-husband was getting ready to propose to her again may have also helped in her decision-making. Once there, Annabelle begins to enjoy office life again, after years spent working as an independent contractor. The thing she doesn't miss about the office setting: disgruntled employees. Especially those who feel like Annabelle stole their promotion right out from under them. And if dealing with antagonistic co-workers wasn't enough, there's also her mysterious temporary landlord whose list of rules would make anyone immediately "get off his lawn". Come to find out, Nick Daire isn't the cantankerous old man Annabelle assumed he was, but a young, rather attractive man.

Not being able to help herself, Annabelle learns that Nick - once renowned in the local construction industry - suffered a stroke almost a year ago. Since then he's withdrawn himself completely from the public eye. Despite Annabelle's promise to her best friend to stay away from Nick, she can't help herself. What Annabelle sees in Nick is a chance for something special, something meaningful. The problem is figuring out if they can both set aside their fears to make that happen.

I was hooked on this book from the getgo. Despite finding Annabelle a little difficult initially (just due to some differing viewpoints) she quickly grew on me as the story progressed. It was really Nick's introduction that pulled me in. Having this character who had gone through what he did made me want to see how things would end up for him on the other side of this story.

I enjoyed seeing Annabelle and Nick figuratively dance around one another for a good portion of the book. I don't think they actually meet until close to halfway so that prospective in-person interaction really drives the story forward. It's when they actually meet up that it's so satisfying. They're both dealing with long-term grief and/or trauma. Annabelle from losing her mother which was a precursor to her impetuosity and Nick from his unstable family life he learned that he can only count on himself, but with the stroke, he is now in a constant state of questioning his body, waiting for it to happen again. I like seeing how they both help each other deal with those problems that you know you have, you know you have to address. They take up space in the back of your mind, but you try really hard to suppress them and hoping that eventually, things will work out for the best. Of course, that's never the best course of action.

Aside from Nick and Annabelle together, we also get the workplace dynamic in which Annabelle finds herself upon her move to Arizona. I liked seeing Annabelle excel at her job especially when she gets pushback from employees who have been there longer, Annabelle takes everything in stride. I love seeing her unapologetic confidence in her abilities.

I just think that Jenn McKinlay did a great job of handling some potentially heavy topics, but not making the book feel weighed down. Still keeping that lightness and hope, but also offering a seriousness that is due.

Now, I did not read Jenn McKinlay's previous book Paris is Always a Good Idea although it seems like it follows Annabelle's sister Chelsea. Now that I know what I'm missing out on, I'll have to get to reading that one sooner rather than later. This book was a bit of a surprise for me, but it was a wonderful one!

I have to admit, this book surprised me in many ways. I think Sarah (@kerosene.lit) phrased it this way: but I thought this was going to be primarily a women’s fiction with a romance side plot. But it wasn’t!

When Annabelle gets a phone call from her best friend to move her entire life to Arizona for a new job, she was on the fence. Then, after a close call with her ex-husband, she decided to take the risk. She moves into a guest house with an extremely uptight landlord.

Nick Daire has his reasons for trying to control every possible aspect of his life. After a sudden stroke knocks this 30-year old out, he decides to stay down and just deal with it. But his beautiful, rule-breaking new tenant is going to quickly show him how little control he really has.

This book was much more emotional and intense than I was expecting. It has some super heavy sub-plots that I think were handled really beautifully. Annabelle and Nick have a really beautiful relationship and they both do a lot of maturing together. There’s a lot to this beautiful book, set in the desert of Arizona. This book is definitely not a rom-com but it is a romance with a guaranteed HEA.

If you’re looking for a low-steam, emotional read, I loved this one, and think you will too!

CWs: stroke, PTSD, anxiety, parental abandonment - linked with substance abuse, toxic work environment.

Thank your to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

WAIT FOR IT is a fast-paced read that has a good flow. There are a lot of storylines being woven together seamlessly. The main characters have a depth to them, and the supporting characters add another layer to the story.

This is Nick and Annabelle’s story, and even though she has a short-term lease to rent the cottage on his property, at first, they aren’t destined to meet except through letters. And what interesting letters they are! Nick spells out all the things she can’t do while renting and living on his property. Their verbal interactions are often playful, other times heart-wrenching, and in the end, when they finally meet, steamy as well.

Annabelle relocates from Boston to Arizona—where she meets Nick—to become the creative director at a design firm. She has a lot of ideas but is used to freelance work, working on her own. Having a disgruntled team member who is doing everything he can to sabotage her is frustrating.

Nick has a lot of secrets. He’s retired from the company he created since he had a stroke. (Annabelle thinks he’s a curmudgeon and not someone close to her age since her friends don’t give her much info when they rent the cottage for her.) He’s very closed off, emotionally, and has a tough time connecting with his only family, whom he hasn’t seen in a long time. But he’s also extremely protective.

I enjoyed learning about the couples’ various friends and family members. There are a lot of beautiful descriptions about the setting, and the author does a wonderful job of making the relationships and romance come alive. The story has nice closure and a lovely happily ever after.

WAIT FOR IT is a terrific book that kept me engaged from the first page to the last, laughing, crying, and involved to see what Nick and Annabelle’s next interactions would be like.

The synopsis of Wait For It had me requesting it and I’m glad I did, while it was more women’s fiction than a true romance, there was enough romance in it that I wasn’t disappointed. While the characters were mostly in their late 20’s to early 30’s, there was a maturity to them that I appreciated. Flawed characters that show growth throughout with an engaging plot that was funny yet emotional, Wait For It was thoroughly enjoyable.

After an awful and embarrassing proposal from her ex-husband #1 goes awry, Annabelle Martin decides to accept a job from her best friend in Phoenix, Arizona and leave the cold of Boston behind. After free lancing for most of her career, she soon remembers her dislike of office politics and office bullies and she’s embroiled in a stand-off of sorts with her mysterious landlord, one she wants to meet but hasn’t yet. Renting his guest house because he owes her best friend’s husband a favor, Annabelle was warned to steer clear of the reclusive Nick Daire, but the more rules he reminds her of the more she decides to challenge him.

The last thing Nick Daire wanted was a tenant on his property but he owed Miguel a favor and it was only for 6 months. Between his trainer Jackson, and the caretakers Juan and Lupita he wouldn’t have to deal with her or so he thought. Using the hot tub, signing loudly and drunkenly after 9 p.m., throwing a party and using the pool, and a cat? All against his rules and with each note he sends to remind her of them, she sends back beautiful artwork with hers.

This book had a lot of layers which I actually loved and why I wasn’t completely angry about the romance kind of being on the back burner. The beginning on the book we see Annabelle trying to get use to working in an office setting and honestly not doing well, she’s late more often than not, the guy who wanted her job is harassing her, and while she feels she’s managing her team well and even likes most of them, she’s promised a bring in a big client, one she doesn’t have. Meanwhile Nick is still trying to figure out why he’s still not back to one hundred percent nine months after his stroke at age 35. While the doctor’s say physically there’s nothing wrong, he’s had episodes where his leg gives out, his brain goes fuzzy, and he collapses. While many have suggested he has PTSD and needs a therapist he is adamant that it’s physical and continues to be a recluse other than when he leaves for doctor’s appointments.

While I’ll admit Annabelle was a bit reckless in the way she drew Nick out considering she didn’t have other living arrangements, it was effective. There was a connection between them from their first meeting, actually before that in the correspondence they shared. I liked that she challenged Nick and while concerned for his health she didn’t pity him. Annabelle did have a problem with trying to take care of Nick when he didn’t want or need his help. While their relationship heats up, he helps her solve her crisis at work by connecting her with his long lost sister who needs help and he’s willing to foot the bill for it.

I liked that these characters layers were peeled back slowly throughout the story, as they learned about each other so did the reader and as they realized their own shortcomings the reader was privy to their thoughts and feelings. My one complaint is that I feel the ending was a bit rushed, I would have liked to see Annabelle and Nick spend more time together as a couple before big decisions were being made.

Well written, charming, and the perfect balance of comedy and emotion, Wait For It was an absolute delight to read.

For this one, I think I'm leaning towards a 3.5 star review!

I had already started to read my e-ARC but once I got my hands on the audiobook after pub day, I just flew through the rest of the book! It was really sweet and enjoyable but super duper insta-love. I think that in some instances insta-love works really great for the narrative and it kind of worked in this one? But it also just seemed to happen very out of the blue solely based on a physical attraction. I did enjoy the very real conversations that our MCs had though! They were very raw, honest, and real which only served to add more to the story.

Overall, I thought the story was really sweet and pretty fast-paced. If you're looking for a quick romance that gives you all the butterflies right off the bat - this one is for you!

Huge thank you to Berkley Romance & Berkley Publishing for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own!

I love reading books set near me! This book was automatically a hit because of that.

This book is actually super unique. I definitely love the fact that one of the main love interests is in a wheelchair and the other is twice divorced.

I tend to lose focus with too much description and start to speed read. I know some people love description but I’m more of a dialogue driven reader.

This grumpy/sunshine romance was sort of a mixed bag for me. I loved the premise and the characters, but the first half felt a little drawn out, considering the “twist” of Annabelle’s mysterious landlord isn’t really a twist to the reader. Getting to their big meeting/reveal felt frustratingly slow. Once it happened, things certainly picked up and I was invested to see how Annabelle and Nick would help each other out, plus the side plot of Annabelle’s work drama was infuriatingly compelling. I liked it well enough, but overall it was not super memorable.

3.75 stars

I enjoyed this much more than I thought. Annabelle moves to Arizona to work at her friend's company on a six-month trial basis and while she's there, she stays in the guest house of a reclusive millionaire.

I was so glad when I learned this was dual point-of-view—the smartest thing the author could do for this story. Annabelle was a flighty and creative main character and it was a joy to read from her perspective, especially when she thought Nick was an old man and not a man in his 30's—even though he was grumpy enough to be an old man. Their rapport back and forth was fun and flirty through clever notes back and forth. They don't even meet face to face until close to halfway through the novel, but you can already feel their chemistry.

Annabelle and Nick were able to relate to each other in ways you wouldn’t expect through there past experiences—feelings of shame and inadequacy. I liked that they didn't rely on the relationship to fix the issues they were dealing with personally. A lot of romance novels have their characters—especially the female—heavily rely on the love interest to fix everything for them instead of letting them be able to stand on their own two feet

I felt that there were a few plot lines that got dropped during the novel and then hastily tried to come back together again at the climax. I would have enjoyed to see more of Nick's sister Lexi—she was a great character with not enough screen time. My biggest pet peeve was the ending. Really the last two pages—a major eye roll.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect summer read! From the very beginning, this novel had me laughing out loud. I devoured this novel in one day !! It is such a great romcom, that brings awareness to more serious topics without it being too heavy. The MC were relatable and found it easy to connect with them.

It’s a grump/sunshine, enemies to lovers, & slow burn romance. I absolutely loved the chemistry & banter between Nick & Annabelle. I also loved how their love and connection came naturally. Even though they both have some type of baggage, they’re just what they needed.

Here’s what to expect:

* Enemies to lovers
* Landlord/tenant relationship
* Laugh out loud romcom
* Based in Arizona
* Mental health awareness
* Reconciliation between siblings

If you’re looking for a new beach or poolside read, then you don’t have to wait for it any longer!

Annabelle needs a fresh start, so when she’s offered her dream job, she says farewell to her life in Boston and heads to Arizona. There, she becomes intrigued by her reclusive landlord, Nick, and his ridiculous rules. Annabelle is also dealing with a jealous coworker who’s trying to sabotage her career and wonders if she was better off working for herself. But as she gets closer to finding out who’s behind all the restrictive rules and starts to shine in her job, she learns to embrace her new life.

I loved Annabelle even though I thought she was impulsive and a bit irresponsible. She was a genuinely kind person and a total ball of sunshine! Nick was a control freak, but underneath his closed off exterior, he was a decent man with a good heart. There were so many great side characters too (Carson not included), but Jackson was my favorite! He was loyal, caring, and funny, and definitely the kind of friend you want in your corner.

I always enjoy a good grump/sunshine trope, but I loved that this book also focused on personal growth, coping with trauma, and mental health. Nick is a stroke survivor and had a very difficult childhood, while Annabelle lost her mother at a young age. They were both flawed and realistic characters who grew as individuals and learned to trust and let each other in. I can’t talk about some of my favorite scenes without giving spoilers, but I highly recommend this sweet, emotional, heartfelt, and uplifting book!