Phoebe is visiting her sister in LA. She meets her sister’s handsome neighbor Ren and sparks fly. Can Phoebe find long lasting love in LA?

This book fell a little flat for me. It was just fine. Phoebe goes through a life change when meeting new friends and new people and I just felt some of the characters weren’t working for me.

I did think it was funny at points. I would rate it a solid 3 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

dnf 17% I cannot get into this book. It somehow feels very surface level and like every single teeny tiny detail is being described in full. There have been several instances where a single paragraph took the entire page of my kindle. I don't like the characters enough to continue. I usually really like Lindsey's books, so I may return to this one in the future, but for now I'm done.

I almost DNF’d but I’m glad I didn’t. The first half of the book revolved around quintessential LA descriptions of people and things. Every one is so beautiful, Strong Adonis man who is the most beautiful person on earth (eye roll) Everything is having a moment or is on trend. Every place she visits is AMAZING and every food she tries is the best thing ever: Boring.
But I’m glad I stuck it out. I loved Myrna (honestly she had to be my favorite character) and how after meeting her, Phoebe opened up more with everyone around her. Phoebe was wonderfully complex with a great backstory that was hidden for part of the book. I felt like i would’ve benefited from her stories about her ex and her poetry earlier in the book. Myrna was a force to be reckoned with. I love an older women who has zero tolerance for bull crap. I also liked Suzanne even though we don’t see her for half the book. She felt so realistic compared to the other characters. I did feel like Ren and Bel was an awkward pairing and lasted much longer than was necessary. The ending felt rushed and out of character for Phoebe. I still enjoyed the book as a whole though.

Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk was a sweet, sunny, friends-to-lovers rom-com!
Phoebe and Ren were amazing characters. I adored their chemistry and relationship.
I thought they fit together so well.
This book sucked me in from the very first page and kept me interested the whole way through!
Gorgeously written, with two magnetic leads and a warmth that radiates from every page.
This story was exciting, exhilarating, romantic, and fun.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and HarperCollins for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I will start by saying that I am a solid Kelk fan, however, this one wasn't my favorite of hers. Phoebe has traveled to the States to visit her sister for two weeks. Unfortunately, Samantha has a last-minute work trip that she must take leaving Phoebe alone in LA. While there, she gets to know Samantha's neighbor, Ren, her trainer, Bel, and another neighbor Myrna.

This book has a classic Kelk feel to it with lovable characters and witty banter that had me laughing out loud. I loved Phoebe and how she puts herself out there and is always willing to help others, despite being hurt in the past. Myrna, a retired Hollywood actress of the 60s, was also a delight. She is sharp and witty and had me falling in love with her from day one. The relationship she formed with Phoebe had solid "The Holiday" vibes. The part where the book lost me a bit was the way that Phoebe tries to help Bel connect with Ren. While it worked well in "Cyrano" I'm not sure it translates well for me to the modern day without having some cringey vibes. I did love Ren and the way in which he connected with Phoebe. The baseball scene in particular was great for this massive fan of the sport.

All in all, this is still a Kelk book which means you are in for a good time with lots of laughs. I enjoyed it despite some of my misgivings about the plot. I could read about Myrna all day every day. I recommend this for when you are looking for a lighter book for an afternoon read.

A rom-com set in LA has so much going for it already. The sun, the beach, the mountains, the Hollywood sign, the birds, and the beautiful neighbors. There was a little bit of everything in this new Lindsey Kelk and I quite enjoyed hanging out with Phoebe as she spends two weeks in her sister's gorgeous home in the Hollywood Hills.

Here are four of my favorite bits:
🌟Lindsey Kelk's sense of humor casts a golden light on the narrative.
🌟Phoebe's letters are beautiful. Ren's response was swoon-worthy.
🌟Myrna Moore -- a surprise in every encounter.
🌟Gentle, but effective exploration of abuse in relationships.

A couple of not so great things:
👎Bel was all over the place. Too much for me.
👎Susanne, the sister, was also not my favorite supporting character.

This title is coming out soon! If you are a Lindsey Kelk fan, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

LOVE ME DO - LINDSEY KELK

3.5⭐

PLOT - Phoebe Chapman visits her sister in LA where she can't resist playing cupid matchmaker for her handsome neighbour, carpenter Ren. But as they mingle Phoebes own feelings come to surface . Can Phoebe find her own true love in LA LA Land

MY THOUGHTS -
There was a bit of love triangle but it wasn't awkward as such. Phoebe wants to help her new friend and neighbour to fall in love but somewhere she starts developing feelings.
I really enjoyed the side characters of Myrna a faded Hollywood actress her relationship with Phoebe more. There is a subtle issue of gaslighting also mixed in the story
Overall a cute one time read

LOVE ME DO – Lindsey Kelk
Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0008619640
September 5, 2023
Romantic Comedy

Los Angeles, California – Present Day

Greetings card copywriter Phoebe Chapman arrives in Los Angeles for a two-week vacation with her sister Suzanne, only to learn that her sister is about to leave for Seattle for a business trip and will be gone “a few days.” Rather than cancel her vacation and return home where her ex is about to marry, Phoebe decides to stay at Suzanne’s house and entertain herself. Phoebe soon encounters the next-door neighbor, Ren Garcia, who is a carpenter and bird watcher. Oh, and he is drool-worthy sexy. They share a few minutes discussing birds, but Phoebe isn’t looking for a guy after her bad experience with her ex. Besides, she will be returning to England in two weeks.

The next morning, Phoebe is rudely awakened by a yoga instructor friend of Suzanne’s by the name of Bel. Bel is a little kooky and she is attracted to Ren. Phoebe decides to play matchmaker for the two of them by penning a love letter to Ren and signing Bel’s name to it. Turns out it works, and now she gets to watch the two fall in love. Unfortunately, Phoebe soon discovers that she likes Ren too. To distract herself, she explores the area on foot and runs into an elderly retired movie star, Myrna Moore. The woman is a bit eccentric, but she intrigues Phoebe. Meanwhile, Ren and Bel’s romance is rocky, and it is Phoebe to the rescue. But is her matchmaking going to end with her heart broken?

All Phoebe wanted to do was to have a nice visit and vacation with her sister in LOVE ME DO but nothing went according to her plan. Suzanne has a Type One personality, and she has to fix the issues in the Seattle office because no one else can. Phoebe’s ex is a controlling person and she got out before he emotionally hurt her further. She tried to warn his fiancée about his personality by crashing the hen (bachelorette) party, but she got labeled jealous by those who knew her. Knowing no one else in Los Angeles, Phoebe ends up becoming friends with Ren, Bel, and even crotchety old Myrna. In LOVE ME DO, there are plenty of chuckles and laughs with this odd assortment of characters. Phoebe wants to enjoy her vacation and forget the fact that her ex is getting married. What she experiences in Los Angeles is something that she will never forget.

LOVE ME DO is cute and funny, with the characters colorful and entertaining. Being in a strange country might intimidate some people but Phoebe is not afraid to experience new things, even if her body ends up exhausted afterwards. Her love notes to Ren on behalf of Bel are coming from inside her. She doesn’t realize it at first, but readers will sense it. Phoebe and Ren are perfect together as they laugh and enjoy each other’s company. But hanging over them is the fact that Phoebe doesn’t want to admit it for two reasons. One is that she considers Bel a friend and she wouldn’t betray a friend. Then there is the fact that she is leaving to return to England. How can they even think about love when she is only there for two weeks?

Prepare to chuckle and smile at the antics of Phoebe and the people around her. By the end of LOVE ME DO, you’ll be rooting for everyone to end up happy.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

Adorable rom-com. I loved the side characters so much, I would read any spin offs about them. This gender flipped Cyrano inspired story also felt a bit like The Holiday and I was here for it.

This book was just not for me. It was very hard for me to get into the book until the 20% mark. The romance is sweet but felt kind of flat and I feel like Phoebe and Ren barely spent any time together. Phoebe and Ren did not confess their feelings for each other until close to the end of the book. And then after spending the night together, Phoebe just leaves the next morning with her deciding to end things before it even becomes something. The ending felt rushed and didn’t tie up loose ends with her job and another character in the book.

Loved this story of Phoebe from England visiting her sister in LA. Phoebe arrives to discover her sister has to immediately head out for a work trip. Alone in a new town, she finds new friends that end up more like family, including an old movie star with an amazing house just down the street. It was fun to read about some of the cultural differences through Phoebe’s eyes. I enjoyed all of the characters in this fresh and delightful story! I’m going to explore Lindsey Kelk’s backlist and keep an eye out for future books by her.

Love Me Do is out September 5th! Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360 for my e-arc!

This book is the quintessential feel good #summerread.

The relationships between the characters were well written and @lindseykelk stacked the tropes sooooo perfectly. Nothing felt like it was trying to hard and was a great binge read.

I also appreciated the strong “The Holiday” with with Kate Winslet vibes (best movie ever).

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins for the ARC of this books for an honest review. Grab your copy on September 5!

Lindsey Kelk is clearly a very talented writer. With a strong beginning, I was able to get into the story right away, but the pacing after that felt off. This was a sloooooow burn. Phoebe and Ren don't get together until the 90% mark. So even though their romance should have been building for a long time (like, the whole book), the ending felt rushed and insta-lovey. I think it was a good fiction read, but the romance was so underwhelming (and the romance is what I read it for!). The romance doesn't do the ADORABLE cover justice, in my opinion.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

Love Me Do Lindsey Kelk

I loved me this book! I have never read anything by Lindsey Kelk but I will be reading her other books shortly.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. Every. single. one. How often does that happen?

I think there are some great lessons to learn from this book. It wasn't so much a romance, but the book has spice and a love story. I really loved the book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harpers Collins, and Lindsey Kelk for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

I normally love Lindsey Kelk’s books. They are cute and funny and easy to sink into. This one stressed me out. The secrets and lies were just too much for me. It’s absolutely a me thing and not a her thing.

This was not holding my attention, it wasnt bad, just a lot of characters and little actual relationship development so far, just a bunch of sise plot points. We're introduced to Phoebe, whose planned vacation to visit her sister in LA is turned upside down when her sister has to leave for a work emergency. But Phoebe quickly bonds with her sisters personal trainer Bel, who just so happens to be hopelessly in love with her hot neighbor Ren. But as Phoebe tries to help hype up her new friend, she grows closer to Ren. This is a tangled web story with lots of back and forth and it just isn't working for me.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Set in LA, but featuring a British main character, this story has a lot of The Holiday film vibes and I Heart New York (also by Lindsey) feels, with plenty of uniqueness all its own.

I love a British main character new to the US, it’s an experience I can totally relate to and I soak that up. Phoebe is a greeting card writer visiting her sister in LA. The sister has to unexpectedly leave for work, so Phoebe’s alone in this LA mansion for her holiday. But she’s not alone for long! There’s hot neighbor, Ren, Bel, her sister’s trainer, and a mysterious and reclusive octogenarian neighbor. By the first week of her holiday, Phoebe’s matchmaking Ren and Bel and developing a friendship with a queen of old Hollywood. I read this last month over the course of a day, totally immersed in this happy, escapist, funny story.


Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

One of my top reads of the year!

Phoebe travels from her lack luster life in the UK to visit her older sister in LA. There, she finds friendship, Hollywood royalty, a new type of relationship with her sister, and love all while realizing how special LA really is.

My heart broke when I finished reading this book. There is something so special about Lindsey Kelk's writing. Each scene is developed with such humor that I found myself laughing out loud the whole time. I honestly have't laughed this much reading in a long time. The pop culture references, one-liners, and downright quirky humor had me rolling. I want to be friends with Phoebe. I felt so much of my own humor in her. I could read about her all day long and not be bored. Hand down, one of my favorite FMCs. Ever.

But, this book isn't just a showcase for Phoebe. All of the side characters were unique and so well drawn out. Myrna, the faded Hollywood actress (Shirley McLaine in my head) is so deadpan yet wise. Ren, the hot, bird-loving neighbor is adorable. Bel, the ditzy wanna be actress is nice, ditzy to a T. Suzanne is the older sister we all want: fierce, independent, and accepting. They all come together to tell this modern day Cyrano de Bergerac.

Beyond the comedy, Kelk tackles the large issue of being mentally abused within a relationship. She does it with such care and your heart breaks for Phoebe and what she still has to go through to gain back some confidence from a previous relationship. Some of the best books and movies are able to tell a series story, like this, but also allow the humor to pour through. This book did that in spades! This is not one to miss.

-letters
-helping someone with love
-Old Hollywood

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. My reviews are always honest.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Love Me Do by Lindsay Kelk, and it truly captivated my heart. This delightful rom-com had me chuckling, swooning, and even cringing at times. The irresistible banter between the characters kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Lindsay’s writing style is charming and engaging, making it difficult to put the book down. The storyline follows Phoebe, whose hilarious and relatable narration had me laughing out loud. From awkward encounters to unexpected twists, Love Me Do is a rollercoaster of emotions, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.

I couldn’t help but fall in love with the well-developed characters. Each one was unique, bringing their own quirks and dynamics to the story. But must admit Myrne was my favorite!

As a fan of romance novels, Love Me Do certainly exceeded my expectations. Lindsay’s ability to blend humor, romance, and a hint of awkwardness made this book an absolute joy to read. I found myself emotionally invested in Phoebe’s journey, eagerly rooting for her happiness.

Overall, Love Me Do is a delightful and entertaining read that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a feel-good romantic comedy. Lindsay’s talent for crafting engaging stories, memorable characters, and witty dialogue has certainly won me over. I eagerly await her future works and declare her as one of my favorite authors.

I’ve always enjoyed the British rom com writing of Lindsey Kelk. She’s a must read author for me. In Love Me Do, she takes her story to LA but peppered with British flair. Phoebe comes to visit her sister after a tough breakup. Her sister immediately leaves on a business trip, leaving Phoebe to meet her friends and neighbors on her own. Enter sexy Ren, trainer Bel, and a wealthy faded actress. Will Phoebe return to her old life after her holiday or realize the sun really is brighter in LA?