A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James is a captivating, heartwarming and humorous romance story that was completely and utterly adorable.
A fun and lighthearted story with the best characters.
I truly enjoyed reading this one.

A Five Letter Word For Love by Amy James

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Pub Date: Today!!!

A Five Letter Word For Love is centered around Emily and John who both work in an auto shop and form a friendship when he notices her playing World. The friendship then turns into more as Emily starts to bring John out of his shell.

I absolutely adored this concept and was super excited when I received the ARC! While I have rated it 3.5 stars (round up to 5 on GoodReads), I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed how Emily and John communicated through their Wordle guesses. I loved all of the side characters (except Shelley…IYKYK). Emily and John are a clear grumpy x sunshine. Emily is so sunshine-y that I probably wouldn’t like her if I knew her in real life. But I enjoyed these characters because their story felt normal. They weren’t extraordinary, they were just people who have jobs and are figuring things out as they go.

My reason for rating this a 3.5 ⭐️ instead of a solid 4 ⭐️ is because the pacing was a little off in the beginning and around the 75% mark. Slight adjustments would have made a huge difference. It was still a quick an easy read that I read in 2 days and made me laugh.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an e-copy of A Five Letter Word For Love!

Publication date: December 3rd, 2024

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I adored this book!

A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James is a charming and intelligent tale of friendship, self-discovery, and the complexities of young love. The protagonists work together in an auto shop and are particularly engaging. Both of the main characters play Wordle on their breaks at work but don't get along until they find out they both play Wordle and need help with it.

Emily harbors a dream and is unraveling her life's aspirations and she is creative, while John, with his passion for cars, also navigates his future. The side characters are equally endearing, and I loved every moment spent with this book!



Thank You Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the realness of feeling like there are so many different paths in life, and sometimes you choose one, and it's not quite right, but it all works out in the end. James was a funny MC, with his dryness and lack of emotion. He is the perfect opposite of Emily, who is whimsical and wears her emotions on her sleeve. Their story feels very realistic in the first half with them getting close and building their relationship over time.
Sometimes I think that the pace was a bit back and forth with being slow at the beginning and then speed up and slowed down at random times throughout. I loved the side characters and their meddling in the story because it is just the best when you don't just love the main character but also fall in love with the entire cast of character.
The book didn't feel modern and maybe thats because I associate Wordle with 2020 and the pandemic and its just too soon to have that sort of setting but if I kinda just ignored that and focused on the setting of small town of Prince Edward Island it was quite good.

I was really excited to read this book , the cover and title are really cute . The book had me hooked in the beginning but towards the middle I started to get bored and felt really repetitive with the wordle concept. I also felt like the female main character was so brattt towards everything and almost selfish in a way .. it made me feel bad for the male character.

This book had such a cute unique concept! I've never heard of authors incorporating these kinds of games into books so i was so excited; unfortunately it was a let down because the writing was really hard to get through and read. It felt like it was written by a wattpad author. Overall this book was a huge disappointment from the high expectations I had set for it.

4.5⭐
.5🌶️
Tropes: grumpy sunshine, coming of age/finding your place, city girl/country boy
Single POV 1st person

This was such a cute book! It was so sweet and heartwarming, and definitely had me laughing right out of the gate. Using Wordle was such a great framework for Emily and John’s relationship too. I will say it was hard for me to completely connect with the FMC- I do remember that lost feeling and trying to figure out her place/find her way as a young adult, but it was so long ago for me. I ended up sort of viewing the FMC as if she were my daughter and not my peer. I also really enjoyed the writing style- almost as if the FMC is talking directly to you.

My only complaint is that I agree with John about being happy, but I feel like he’s not being fair to Emily toward the end. I can’t say more without giving away spoilers but I think Emily was doing what he said was the right thing, and then telling her she wasn’t

Thank you NetGalley Avon and Harper Collins Publishers and the author Amy James for this ARC.
Emily, our FMC, feels like her life is lacking of purpose and excitement. John, is her grumpy co worker and the only thing they have in common is that they love to play Wordle. I like when the main characters have eccentric hobbies, but I felt tihs wasn´t enough.
I liked it in general. I liked the setting in the small tonw of Prince Edward Island (I always appreciate the small town romance trope), I like the work place romance and opposites attrac tropes but I felt that there wasn´t enough chemistry between Emily and John. He was always there to help her, but somenthing was missing and at the end, this story feels more like a self-discovery journey than a romantic story.
I like the eccentric side characters, but at some point the "Barrel museum" plot was a little bit flat for me.
This was a nice read, but I was looking for a better relationship development and depht in the romance story.

Well this was such an entirely impressive concept of a book - the entire book actually centered around the game, Wordle. I love playing Wordle, and continue to play it each day! John and Emily are such adorable characters; and the chemistry was off the charts from the very first meeting which I absolutely adored. Their interactions, the wholesome conversations surrounding wordle each day just truly were beyond perfect in this story. The ending was overall underwhelming and it all just could have been written a bit differently. in order to make it far better. Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A romance between opposites

My Review: A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James is a 2024 gen-fic romance.

About the Book: "A heartwarming and humorous romance in which an unlikely couple fall in love over Wordle."

A young woman who aspires to be more, to have more, to do more meets a seemingly ho hum, car mechanic/enthusiast at the auto shop they work for in their small town. Their once stale interactions become a bit more when they connect over Wordle. Life interruptions, personal choices, impactful relationships, advancements forward, doses of reality, and more are a part of their story.

My Final Say: I was attracted to this story because of the Wordle angle. The underlying themes were notable. Obviously, much growth had to happen with the leads. In the end, what needed to be realized was.

Other: This read very much like a NA.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A
Status/Level: 👍
Special Notation: This novel might do better as an audiobook. The reviewed format was somewhat challenging, regarding pacing. Also, the continuous chat streams were slightly offputting at times.

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this work. The words I have shared are my own and have been submitted voluntarily.

3.5 Stars.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

And super apologies for being late to review, but HEY I did it before pub day (tomorrow lol). I went back and forth on what to rate this read, and ultimately settled on 3.5 Stars.

Things I liked:
- Josh. I LOVE a strong, silent bob-the-builder type BF and he hit the mark. He was so steady and dependable, and he was constantly showing his love through actions.
- The setting-- I loved the small Canadian town vibes and the house.
- The old people. Enough said here, they were a great addition.

Things I didn't like:
- Emily. It is rough to read a book where you don't like the FMC. While she did grow on me as I read, I just couldn't get over how self-important she was while also being the least ambitious and flimsy person ever. The first 25% of the book was hard for me to get through because I could not stand her. TBF other readers may not have this issue, but for me it was a big one.
- They NEVER SAY I LOVE YOU! What kind of romance doesn't say I love you out loud to each other??? GAHH

I thought I was going into a small town romance but there was no romance. It severely lacked between Emily and John. Unfortunately this read was very dull, repetitive and Emily’s inner monologue could be a bit too much at times. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

3.5/5

I enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the concept of using Wordle to bring two people together. John was a man of few words. He didn’t really care to talk to others or share about himself. He wasn’t necessarily the nicest to customers at the auto shop where he worked.

Emily was the exact opposite of John. She loved talking to people and hearing their stories, especially those of the elderly, She worked as a receptionist at the auto shop John worked at. Unlike John, who was happy working at the shop, Emily felt like there were bigger things out there for her. I did enjoy reading about her attempts at finding her dream job.

It was cute seeing their thought process when it came to finding their daily word. I loved their first date and how John helped Emily see that she could be happy in their small town. However, I didn’t feel like they had a ton of chemistry between the two. There were some decisions and comments made that made me feel bad for each of the characters at some point in the book. Overall, I did think it was cute and I did read it fairly quickly.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Amy James for the ARC for an honest review.

I’ll admit- I was the most skeptical about a wordle based romance novel, but I love wordle enough to give it a chance. This book warmed my small town in a big city heart. Emily was a character I saw myself in so deeply— she’s trying so hard to figure out life, navigate changing relationships, and figure out how to live this life she’s always dreamed she should have. Her battles are very normal and the conflict is mostly in her own head, which was refreshing in a cozy way. I don’t know if this book will be everyone’s cup of tea, it is very niche, but it was the perfect read for me.

I enjoyed this fun, light-hearted romance. I have been on a run of purported romcoms that weren't very funny lately, so this one was refreshing. I actually laughed quite a bit at Emily's way of looking at the world. She reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones -- somewhat dreamy and unsettled but truly kind and generous. She stays true to herself while becoming a better version of herself. John is a great match for her, and there are plenty of Anne of Green Gables allusions in here (hint). I loved the small-town setting and side characters. The Wordle parts were woven in well and provided a fun way to move the plot forward. I would read this again.

This charming, feel-good rom-com delivers a perfect blend of small-town warmth and playful wordplay, centered around the beloved game of Wordle. While the game itself takes center stage, the story is really about personal growth and the journey to finding true happiness, even when life offers up a multitude of distractions and choices.

Though the plot has its hiccups—some unresolved threads and the classic third-act breakup—it's easy to overlook because the heart of the story shines through. We all knew where the characters' paths would ultimately lead, and the sweet, satisfying conclusion makes it all worthwhile.

*ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and truthful review.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Amy James for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this book but the chemistry was missing for me for most of the book. It seemed like they didn’t like each other for a year, then sort of bonded over Wordle, realized they had some incorrect assumptions and then suddenly understood each other deeply.

Emily has a lot of personal growth and self discovery to do. Maybe that was why the first part of the book was slower for me - I didn’t find her incredibly likable although her worries and situation was realistic and relatable.

I enjoyed how confident and content John is in his life, his decisions and his goals. He did come across kind of bland but that might have been partly due to it being told from Emily’s POV.

Single POV
Closed door.
Dislike to lovers.

As a daily Wordle player, I was super intrigued by the premise of "A Five-Letter Word For Love," but the book ultimately fell flat. Although the book features plenty of romance tropes, the characters were flat and their chemistry was dull, and aside from both playing Wordle daily and living in the same small town, they had nothing in common. The side characters were very surface level and didn't add much to the story. To me, this story read more as a self-discovery than a romance, and even that is a stretch.

Emily, the main character, works a temp job as a receptionist for an auto-repair shop where John is a mechanic. Emily is obsessed with her NYT games Wordle streak and plays daily, and learns on a particularly challenging puzzle day that John does, too. Despite John being grumpy, passive, and rarely saying more than a word to her, his Wordle playing suddenly flips a switch in Emily's brain, and she reconsiders her attraction to him. (As someone who also plays NYT daily and knows plenty of people who do too, and just...no. There are many people who I have nothing in common with and Wordle is simply not enough to change that.)

In the midst of her developing crush, Emily is also starting a caregiving business for elderly neighbors, volunteering at a small museum in town, and applying for grad school and an internship in another country. This girl has a lot going on, and no clear direction, and the many plotlines (museum, romance, small-town move, grad school, auto shop, feel chaotic and half-baked. Rather than being relatable for a young 20-something, though, her character comes across as whiny, disorganized, and "woe is me" at times. Again, it feels more like it should be a self-discovery novel; John reads like a side-character with no depth, he's just good at Wordle.

I thought the happy ending, third act reunion would be enough to earn the book 3-stars, but Emily giving up her Wordle streak at the end like it was nothing (after a solid 1/3 of the book being devoted to the game) really did me in. Overall, I give it 2.5 stars rounded up.

This book pits small town vibes with big city dreams. Emily has newly relocated to small-town Prince Edward Island, Canada. Yet she dreams of living in New York City. Or Paris. Or somewhere else where she can have a career she loves and the excitement she craves. She’s on a mission to discover which artsy career is her dream. But in the meantime, she’s not one to sit still so she dives into small town life, checking in on her elderly neighbors and planning events for the local museum. And falling for her coworker, John. But he loves small town life. Will her big dreams destroy their love?

The two main characters in this one were opposite in all most every way. From personality, to interests, to goals. But this isn’t an enemies to lovers. They didn’t dislike each other. They just had to discover that despite their varied interests, they could still enjoy each other’s company. I liked both their characters and found things I could relate to in both.

I really loved the plot in this one. Most small town vs big city books make big cities out to be terrible—the wrong choice. But this one shows the advantages and drawbacks of both ways of living. And shows that you can find happiness in both.

I have to mention Wordle. It plays a major part in bringing the two MCs together. And Emily sees the answers as prophetic for her life. She’s determined to complete one year of playing every day. It’s a fun plot device that I’ve never seen in a romance novel!

Thank you to @Netgalley and @Avonbooks and @HarperVoyagerUS for the chance to review this ARC.

Huge thank you to @avonbooks @harpervoyagerus @netgalley and @amyjamesbooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Wordle romance for this Wordle lover … SOLD.

Emily is struggling to find her dream life, but she’s pretty sure it starts with her “dream job” - if she can figure out what that is. She rents a cute house in a small town and takes a temporary job. She’s going to work on paying off her student loans, continue her Wordle streak, and definitely not pay any attention to her handsome, grumpy co-worker. ;)

I can’t believe this is a debut, it was so good! Grumpy/sunshine. The small-town romance. The found family. The slow burn. The side characters were fantastic. This was so much more than a romance, I loved seeing Emily build a life she loved. I had a great time. :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️.5

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