Cover Image: The Love List

The Love List

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Book review :
This is the first book in Hilton Head- Island Series. A book that relishes emotions , love and desire for true love.

This book focuses on Bea, divorced from Nort . Her friends encourage Bea to let loose a little and start fulfilling her Love List, which is a list of things she wants to do now that she's single. A trip to Hilton Head is arranged, and off she goes. She meets a guy in line at a smoothie shop and they survive a smoothie explosion together, and go their separate ways. When she heads to the beach house to check in, she meets Grant (smoothie guy), the property manager.

A few broken things at the beach house force Bea and Grant closer together, and then nature takes its course for a while. I was too intrigued to know will Bea finds her true love or there will be a twist in the story. To find out the story of Bea and adhere the beach sweet romance do grab this book today.

I loved reading this book and would recommend this book to all. I am thankful to netgalley and the publisher for giving me this book in return of an honest review.

Happy Reading

Was this review helpful?

Lovely book to read. Great descriptive writing. The book was very well written and flowed well. The plot was great. Everything I thought it would be from the description

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review .

Really good book, I had enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

This is a good book. The two main characters are Bea and Grant. Bea lives in Texas, divorced and a mother of three. Grant lives in Hilton Head South Carolina, divorced, and a father of one. Bea belongs to a supper club of women, who are her friends. She likes to make lists of things she wants to try. Her friends get her to talking about her lists and decides to help her make her list come true. They book her a vacation to Hilton Head, there she meets Grant, who is in charge of property management of the property she is renting. There is an instant attraction. They each have problems but together they work them out and fall in love.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book that I’ve read from this author and I’m impressed, an enjoyable easy read!
The characters all feel like they could be your friends, a warm bunch that have each other’s back!
Bea is ready to move on from a messy divorce, with the help from her ‘love list’ and friends. I really appreciated the support and positivity that female friendships give, whether you think you need it or not!
To follow the characters development in this story is an amazing journey, perfect for a lazy day of reading!
Bea’s honesty and charm are just what Grant finds appealing and it’s a pleasure to be a part of their journey!.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this wonderful book. Thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this amazing story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! Such a heart warming read and I can't wait to read more by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book.

This is the first time I have read anything by this author and all I can say is, bring on the next book! I really enjoyed this one a lot.

Bea is a recently separated lady after a long time married, luckily for her she is an extremely strong woman with a fabulous support group of friends around her. She has been living the same life for a long time and I think she is ready to spread her wings and start actually living.

All of the characters were so nice, and a group of loyal friends that anyone would love to be a part of. I adore the idea of a supper group, how much fun did these ladies have.

Grant was lovely too, he really was someone you would be proud to introduce to your family. He is the kind of guy that just fits in and gets on with everyone.

I really enjoyed the storyline to this book, it was full of fun but also real life struggles. It was set on a beautiful island for the most part, a place where it sounds lovely to visit.

Thank you so much for the chance to read this, it was an absolute pleasure ❤️

Was this review helpful?

I enjoy this author’s books and The Love List was no exception. Well written with a good plot and great character dynamics. Recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

Bea is newly divorced with three adult children. She creates a bucket list, which she quickly renames as a love list. This love list is for all the things she wants to do with her life.

Things are not going to be easy, but Bea has a fabulous attitude about all the changes she plans on making in her life. More than the wonderful friends she has in her life, friends who are the ride or die type, Bea finds that she has a second chance at love when it comes to Grant. He is a wonderful man and the time he and Bea spend together are full of warm moments and a connection neither is able to deny.

All of the characters in this book are marvelous. Obviously we have Bea and Grant, but some of her dear friends, Lauren, Joy, Sage and other wonderful women whom epitomize the true meaning of friendship.

What an uplifting book for these perilous times that we live in. What I loved most about Bea is that in one way she reminds me of myself - she has a glass half full attitude and that makes her utterly loveable as well as relatable.

Many thanks to AEJ Creative Works and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book and so glad it had a happy ending since it started on such a sad tone.
Bea and Grant are wonderful characters. The ups and downs of their life experiences were very relatable. I like that they both embraced the second chance to love again. Their family and friends were great supporting characters too. Bea’s Supper Club friends were the best friends any woman could ever wish for. They each have their own life drama to deal with but they were still supportive and great friends to each other. This was such a feel good story of second chances and the wonderful bond of family and friendships.

Thanks AEJ Creative Works via NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I've read a few books with similar themes to this, but this one was unique in its own way! I've seen Elana Johnson's books before but have never picked one up until now. The cover and the setting drew me in! Following a divorce, Bea makes a list of things she wants to accomplish in life. What she doesn't expect to find is love in Hilton Head, especially since she lives all the way in Texas! I truly loved Bea and Grant's story and I hope that we see them in future installments of this series! This is book one in the new Hilton Head series and I'm excited to see what's to come!

Was this review helpful?

I loved the premise of this book but found it so poorly written and the dialogue and situations so unbelievable that I struggled to finish it.

Was this review helpful?

When Beatrice Callahan’s divorce settlement finally comes through, she decides that she will make a ‘love list’ and note all the things she loves ranging from getting a puppy to taking a dream location. So on the first day of arriving at Hilton Head Island, she meets Grant Turner, the man whose house she’s renting for her dream vacation. Soon Grant goes from being the property manager, to giving tours to being more than just friends. So when Bea turns to her list, she is unsure whether falling in love at 45, was ever part of her plan.
The chemistry between Beatrice and Grant was well described, particularly where both were facing their fears about starting a relationship again after feeling as if the safer option was to stay single. Grant is all the things that Bea needs being calm, confident and understanding. I enjoyed the dialogue and found this a lovely romance novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and AEJ Creative Works. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I tried getting into this one. And I did somewhat enjoy it. I just felt, for me, it was missing something. Not sure what.

Was this review helpful?

Yay, a new series by Elana Johnson!

This is the first book in what I'm sure will be a great new series. The characters are 6 female friends, living in Texas, who have known each other for a very long time, are all in different stages of their personal relationships and who will support each other to the bitter end.

This particular book focuses on Bea, divorced a bit over a year ago from Nort (she should have dumped him just for that name, imho!). Her friends encourage Bea to let loose a little and start fulfilling her Love List, which is a list of things she wants to do now that she's single. A trip to Hilton Head is arranged, and off she goes. She meets a guy in line at a smoothie shop and they survive a smoothie explosion together, and go their separate ways. When she heads to the beach house to check in, yup, you guessed it, Grant (smoothie guy) is the property manager.

A few broken things at the beach house force Bea and Grant closer together, and then nature takes its course for a while. I don't write spoilers, so I won't tell you what happens, please, please read this book. It is a fast, clean, easy, fun read and gives you good insight into what the rest of the series will be like. I can't wait!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Lovely story of new divorced Bea, her sweet friends and a trip to Hilton Head! Bea meets Grant, the property manager of her beach rental and sparks fly.

Was this review helpful?

When Bea Callahan's twenty-five year marriage ends in divorce, Bea makes a list. A lot list. Things she wants to do with her life.

Visit ten national parks.
Get a puppy.
Cut her hair short.
Take a dream vacation.

With the help of her best friends, she decides to tackle the dream vacation first. A ten day trip to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

Her first day on the island, she meets the landlord of the home she's renting. Grant isn't exactly a grump, but he's not happy-go-lucky either.

When Bea asks for recommendations of things to do on the island, Grant offers to be her tour guide & friend. An soon Bea begins to wonder if she can add "fall in love at age 45" to her list?

While I'll admit I did read this one quickly, I didn't love it. It's an easy read, a multi-perspective book about love & friendship.

But insta-love is one of my least favorite tropes. I can understand how both Bea & Grant are in their 40s, have both previously been married, both have kids, and it's likely easier to know what you want at that point. But at the same time, they were both debating loving the other after knowing each other for less than 48 hours. It felt cringy and awkward.

Things I did love:
- the deep friendships of the women in the Supper Club, and how they rallied & supported each other
- multi-perspective, from Bea, Grant, and a couple different side characters that just added some layers and perspective

Overall, I'd say is a 3/5 star read. For someone who does enjoy the insta-love trope, I can see this being a good book.

Thank you to AEJ Creative Works and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! It had me hooked from the first chapter, and kept me on my toes the entire time! I fell in love with the characters and the romance!

Was this review helpful?

This book was an excellent read. A group of women met once a month and called it the Supper Club.. These women were very close and supported each other when one needed it. It had been Bea's turn to be supported as she had been going through a divorce for the last 14 months. Bea was glad it was over but now it was time to get on with the next part of her life. She was a list maker and she had quite a few things on it. The ladies renamed it the Love List. They decided she needed to go on a vacation immediately and they booked it before she had a chance to think about it. That was the start of some wonderful surprises in her life. She met new people, fell n love and thought she lost it when she had to put a halt on everything to help her parents. All of the characters in this book were great. I loved how proud she was of her daughter and how she knew her sons would find their way on their own. Grant was a welcome surprise to her and at first she wasn't sure whether to trust him or not, but he got by her trust issues easily.
I loved tthis book I got it from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Was this review helpful?