Whether you're a fan of romance novels or just seeking a poignant and beautifully crafted story, this is a must-read that will leave you with a warm and hopeful feeling, even after the final page has been turned.

This was cute, if predictable. I loved the idea of the hotel and its lively band of characters; as well as the renovations and redemption. In the end, I just didn’t love this book like I expected to.

Lucy Checks In is a cute, enjoyable beach read. It's fun and relaxing without a lot of depth of plot. Lucia "Lucy" Giannetti takes a job as a hotel manager at a historic hotel in the small town of Rennes, France. It's just the break she needs. She's been unemployed and unemployable since her former boss/lover embezzled millions from the last hotel she worked at and disappeared. Few believed in her innocence in the scam. However, Lucy has no idea what she is in for in Rennes. Instead of planning and supervising renovations, like she assumed, she will be actually wielding a paintbrush and hammer and trying not to step on the toes of the quirky hangers-on who call the hotel their home.

I did love the story, but I felt it needed more fleshed-out subplots. It seemed like a very surface-level examination of three or so story lines. I loved the quirky characters, but felt they could have been explored a little deeper as well.

All in all, this was a sweet story and I do recommend it for a light, summer read.

Dee Ernst writes such refreshingly unique romantic comedies. I feel like, as a woman in my 30s, most of the contemporary romance novels I read are about people in their 20s, or maybe they're 30s if I'm that lucky. It's rare that I pick up a book about a "woman of a certain age" like Ernst's books, which is why I enjoy them. This was a sweet summer read unlike what you'll see on most contemporary romance shelves.

I really wanted to like this as I enjoyed the premise but unfortunately it was a miss. There seemed to be something missing in the story. I feel like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop or waiting for something exciting to happen. It’s overall a cute story just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC!

Lucy Checks In is the classic tale of a woman who put far too much faith in a man - and now has to rebuild her professional life once it's fallen apart because of him.

I am not entirely sure what I was expecting going into this novel - but it felt like it was missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. I wanted more - more romance, more self love, more growth. There are an abundance of side characters who are difficult to keep straight and I felt their irrelevant stories took away from the main plot.

Overall kind of cute but nothing spectacular.

I wanted to love it. It sounded so so cute but I couldn't do it. I found myself really bored and not able to root for any of the characters. A real miss. DNF at 40%

This was about a woman trying to crawl out from under being wrongfully accused of embezzlement. She accepts a job offer from the only people that will take a chance on her, in France. She arrives to find a very old hotel in need of many repairs, and a very eclectic group of “permanent” hotel residents. It’s a very cute story about rebuilding one’s life, and found family. It makes you want to go and visit, and maybe stay for the $30 phone plan? It’s a sweet story, and a quick read.

I love the pun in the title, intentional or not. She's checking hotel guests in, rather than checking in from France!

I was introduced to Dee Ernst a couple of years ago with Maggie Finds Her Muse. Lucy Checks In had the same incredible French setting, but was an altogether different book. I love the atmosphere of this old hotel in this little French town. Ernst does a great job of painting a picture, and I can picture myself in this country town I've never been to. I'm a big fan of the save-the-small-business plot, and this book pulls it off effortlessly.

The other hallmark of Ernst's books is that the MC's aren't young and dumb. Lucy is 49 and therefore has a handful of worldly experience under her belt. So many books are about heroines in their 20s, and I often find myself frustrated with childish antics. It's refreshing to read from the POV of someone whose relationship mistakes are in the past!

I did expect a bit more romance from this book, but it was carried on its own without it. There's a hint of a flirtation between Lucy and another resident of the hotel, but it takes a backseat to Lucy's story.

I loved the ending!

Had so much potential and a great setting but ultimately fell flat for me. I think older audiences will enjoy this story though it just didn’t work in my opinion

In this novel, I found it challenging to connect with the story and its protagonist, Lucy. Her circumstances as a 49-year-old unemployed woman living with her parents set the stage for a good narrative. However, my overall impression was a disappointment, mainly due to the execution of the plot.

Lucy's downfall, resulting from her former boss and lover's embezzlement of the company's funds, created an intriguing starting point. In escaping prison but losing her savings, Lucy faced a significant blow to her self-assurance. The idea of her venturing into renovating an old hotel in France held promise for redemption and new beginnings.

Regrettably, most of the book focused on the monotonous details of the hotel renovations. Endless descriptions of floor scrubbing, wall painting, and mattress selection dragged on, leaving me yearning for more engaging content. While occasional emotional moments were scattered throughout the text, they weren't enough to salvage the tediousness.

Only in the last 25% of the book did the story pick up pace, finally presenting some meaningful action. The ending itself proved satisfying, providing a much-needed payoff. However, reaching that point felt like a long and dreary slog for Lucy and the readers.

In conclusion, I struggled to find enjoyment in this novel. Despite the potential for an intriguing premise and a satisfying conclusion, the extensive focus on mundane renovations overshadowed the story's potential. While the ending held merit, it came at the cost of enduring a slow and lackluster journey for Lucy and the readers.

I was pleasantly surprised at this and am bummed I didn’t read it sooner. However, it was the perfect book to kick off summer. This story was One Italian Summer, Under the Tuscan Sun , and You Me Everything combined into one. Not much happens in the story, it’s more following along with this old hotel renovation in France and the cast of characters Lucy meets along the way. You feel like you’re on the journey with Lucy throughout. Most of the “action” took place in the last 1/4 of the book which I didn’t love. It felt rushed, and I actually think if it had happened earlier it could have added more depth to the plot. All that aside, this is a great summer/vacation read!

I thought this was cute! Nothing groundbreaking in this genre, but I did really appreciate how the story dove into the importance of friendship (even though the friendship was slightly strange in my opinion?). Lucy was sweet and it was a fun premise.

A great read with some romance! I really enjoyed reading this middle-aged character romance. I felt like it was more of a women's fiction than rom-com, but it was still very enjoyable.

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

I wanted to like this one (I loved the synopsis), but I just couldn’t finish it. I was unfortunately… bored. I really didn’t care what happened to the characters or of the plot. It just didn’t grab me and pull me in, and I have too many books I want to read to keep reading one that doesn’t peak my interest.

This was my first read by author Dee Ernst. Our leading lady Lucy's love life comes to an abrupt end when her now ex-boyfriend and employer skips town and leaves her implicated in a major fraud case. She is utterly unemployable in the United States so when an opportunity comes along to remodel and manage a quaint hotel in Rennes France Lucy packs her bags and sets off to start fresh. However, upon her arrival, she realizes there may be more remodeling to do than managing and it is very likely she is in over her head.

This was a lovely read, I absolutely fell in love with the historic hotel and all the wonderfully unique people who call it home. The author did such a beautiful job of describing the hotel and its surroundings in great detail, you could really picture yourself there as you flipped the pages. I really enjoyed the many characters who made up the cast of this book, some were quirky, some confident, and some not so much. I found myself giggling several times at the hilarious scenes that unfolded.

While this was a very enjoyable read I did find the storyline focused more on the renovation of the hotel and detailing the beautiful scenery and the people than it did the romantic connection between Lucy and Bing. I found it a little too slow for my liking but on the flip side, the ending felt like a whirlwind. There were so many emotions I would have loved to dive into to really learn more about Lucy but it felt very quick to wrap up.

The writing itself was lovely and I would enjoy reading more titles by this author.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The story of Lucy working to find herself as she starts a new position at a hotel in France. A pleasant mix of humor, women's fictions, and romance, Lucy is a lead character you'll want to root for as she navigates her new life. The author's descriptions of the people, food, and setting will make you feel as though you are experiencing the story with Lucy.

If you’re looking for an easy read with a light love story, this is a readable book with a protagonist over 40- which seems to be rare! I went into this expecting humor, and this was more of a literary fic or straight romance read, which isn’t necessarily my favorite, but I’m sure will be great for lots of readers.

Thank you so much @Netgalley & St. Martin's Griffin

Lucy Checks In is an inspirational romantic comedy about a middle aged woman who moves to France to rebuild her life after a scandal rots her life in New York.

Lucy finds herself in the middle of a scandal that tarnished her reputation as an important and powerful woman in the hospitality industry. She moves to France when she receives a job offer to bring a hotel back to life without having seen photos of the place or visiting the town it’s in. From there she realizes how much work she has to put in while she’s there - not only in the place itself, but within herself. Lucy makes her way from being insecure to a strong woman who reclaims herself in France. Along the way Lucy deals with rebuilding her relationships with friends, family, and a new lover after the scandal left her with some trauma she needs to unpack.

This was so cute. Lucy thinks she is moving to a new country to rebuild a hotel as well as her own life. In the beginning Lucy explains how she was cheated out all her money and her love by her boss/boyfriend who ran off with all her money. To escape the shadow cast upon her, Lucy sets out to bring an old hotel back to life and find herself in the process. But, the hotel and the people who live there are not what she thought. With tenacity and heart, Lucy comes to life by making friends and finding love that will last a lifetime. The dialogue is witty and the characters are unique. all around this is a fun quick read that will having you smile throughout.