I really enjoy books by this author, I like the writing style and how the characters are crafted. This was a delightful read and one I’d definitely recommend

Sadly I found the storyline rather irritating. Pining for someone he met and spent only one evening with and then expecting this person to reappear 10 years later because “ that’s what they promised each other “seems rather ridiculous.

Stopped reading after the first 5 chapters. I didn't care for the writing or characters. The premise was cute not executed well unfortunately

I DNF'd it pretty quickly, I wasn't sold on the whole idea of how everyone met, and I just wasn't connecting at all. I will try to read it again in the future, but it just wasn't really for me right now.

The clock on the concourse at Waterloo Station is an iconic symbol in stories and films set in London and it serves as a believable setting to bring Nadia and Tom together. Both stood up, they befriend three other who are assembled there and form an unlikely but heartwarming friendship. With one pair getting engaged and another breaking up with her husband, there is a lot going on!

Tom amd Nadia form a fake dating pact which leads to much humour as well as the promise of romance. I particularly enjoyed Nadia's trip to Tom's family home and the events that followed. Nadia has had a series of disastrous first dates so she is keen to impress her work colleagues with her latest 'boyfriend'. Being such likeable and decent people, both Nadia and Tom soon realise that misleading their friends and families is not the way to go and then of course, their relationship gets more involved. With a wry look at romance and friendships old and new, this is an uplifting read, perfect for a weekend away.

In short: fate brings strangers togethe

You can’t go wrong with the classic fake dating trope, and Jo Lovett’s latest read doesn’t disappoint.

The scenes with the Waterloo five, and wish there could be a spin off book about the whole group from each of their perspectives.

I enjoyed watching Tom and Nadia’s friendship (aka relationship in denial) blossom, although I did find Tom’s character a bit irksome at times - especially how obsessive he was throughout about the other woman he was supposedly in love with (despite having only met her once).

My personal highlight was the scene where Nadia met Tom’s family for the first time (especially the tennis dress drama). However, it was a shame that we didn’t really get to delve into each character’s family background at all after that.

While I could easily predict where the story would end, this was still a wholesome, easygoing read that I could happily recommend to anyone looking for some light romance: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Very cute story with lovely characters. I’m not usually a fan of dual narratives but it worked well here. Wouldn’t mind reading books about the rest of the Waterloo Five. Pleasant read with a cup of tea.

I picked this book up because the synopsis had so much promise. I love fake dating, I love clandestine meetings, so this book had tropes that were right up my alley, However, with all that potential, this book fell so unbelievably flat for me that it was like pulling teeth for me to finish this story (but I did).

First off, it’s never a good idea to start a book off with a possible terrorist threat. While it’s glossed over pretty quickly, it really put a hamper on Tom and Nadia’s meeting. However if that was the only issue, it would be very easy to overlook. Both MCs were extremely dry and quite boring. They both rambled and complained about a lot of things through the book that made them hard to tolerate. Also, if I heard about Nadia’s foot issues one more time…I know what the author was trying to convey but it didn’t come off as endearing. Also, both characters rambled on with their thoughts and so much of what happened in the book was based on not wanting to upset something else rather than wanting to be together. Not the best when it comes to a romance.

Speaking of romance, there was zero chemistry between the two MCs. This was evident when they spoke about how much they didn’t have in common for the first part of the book, so when they started talking about their physical attraction, it just didn’t make sense. The final nail in the coffin was the end when Tom tells Nadia he loves her, and they dragged out the resolution through dinner because apparently saying I’m in love with you doesn’t mean he wants to be with you? Ugh.

At one point, I thought maybe it would be better to listen to this as an audiobook, that maybe I’d be more invested in this story, but that wasn’t the case. I was more frustrated for the lack of romance than anything else. I don’t know, I thought maybe it was because it was a British author set in Britain, but…nah, I’ve read plenty of romances written by British authors and this was just not it. I give it 2 stars because while it’s not for me, the writing was not bad and there is nothing offensive in the book that would warrant 2 starts. Unfortunately I need more romance in my romance books of me to like it.

**Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. While this one wasn’t for me, I appreciate the opportunity”

This is the first book I’ve read by Jo Lovett and it will not be my last! After finishing Meet Me Under the Clock, I immediately looked at her other works and bought the audiobook for Another Time, Another Place.

This was definitely a story I needed right now!

The book opens with Nadia’s point of view and she’s waiting under the clock for a blind date who is late. The next chapter is from Tom’s perspective and he, too, is waiting for someone - a woman named Lola he met ten years ago and promised to show up, under this clock, if he was single. Lola also appears to be running late. Nadia and Tom’s lives intersect when there is an announcement stating there are delays at the station.

Waiting for things to get running again, Nadia and Tom literally collide thus meeting one another and they also meet a newly engaged couple in their 70’s; two delightful women, Bea and Ruth. The two waited 60 years to be able to openly admit their love and became engaged at the clock, not wanting to be apart for one more second.
The last two people waiting with Nadia, Tom, Bea, and Ruth are Carole and Roger. They were also meeting at the clock to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary when Carole hears Roger luridly speaking to her best friend on the phone.
Roger aside, the five form an instant connection while they wait and agree to have dinner with one another when it became obvious Nadia and Tom’s dates were no-shows.
Tired of being set up and disappointed, Nadia and Tom bond over their woeful dating histories when a thought occurs to them - they can be one another’s “plus one.”
I’m a big fan of fake dating so I found this four-star read to be delightful and lovely.

Thank you NetGalley, Jo Lovett, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to find great enjoyment reading this in exchange for a review.

Nadia, who is not lucky in the love department, is set up with Dougie a friend’s roommate. The meeting is supposed to be under the clock at Waterloo Station. Ruth and Bea, in their 70’s just got engaged, Tom is waiting for Lola, someone from his past, Carole is all alone in her anniversary.
Five strangers are in the same place at the same time, and when a security threat forced them to spend the time in lockdown, they start to interact with each other.
Cute story.

A fun and lighthearted romcom! This was a quick and easy read that had me laughing out loud at times. While the plot was somewhat predictable it was still a great story. The Waterloo five characters were hysterical and a great addition to the story. Enjoyed this story by Jo Lovett. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Meet Me Under the Clock is slated as a 'romantic comedy' set in London with a friends-to-lovers love triangle. The plot is pretty predictable, and the first quarter of the book is all about one night at Waterloo Station. Nadia, a 33-year-old accountant who's unlucky in love, is set up on a blind date with Dougie but ends up stuck at the station due to a security lockdown. During this time, she meets Tom, a 35-year-old man who's been separated from his ex-wife for nine months and is waiting for Lola, a woman he had a brief encounter with ten years ago.

Along with Nadia and Tom, there are a few other colorful characters—the "Waterloo Five"—including a couple of long-time friends, Bea and Ruth, and a married couple, Carole and Roger, who are having a major fight. The five of them head to a restaurant and bond over their shared experience.

Nadia and Tom become friends and agree to be each other’s plus-ones to fend off others' questions about their love lives. While they obviously have great chemistry, Tom’s lingering feelings for Lola get in the way of him realizing how perfect he and Nadia are for each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Such a fun setup—five strangers stuck at Waterloo Station due to a suspected terrorist threat, and each of them has their own reason for being there. Nadia’s waiting for a blind date, Tom is supposed to meet someone from his past, Bea and Ruth (both in their 70s!) just got engaged, and poor Carole finds out her husband is cheating… on their anniversary. Somehow, they all end up bonding over food and stories, dubbing themselves the “Waterloo Five.”

Tom and Nadia decide to fake date to get their friends and family off their backs about being single. At first, they don’t seem like a good match, but the more time they spend together, the more things start to shift. It’s a sweet and charming story—until Tom gets cold feet and ditches Nadia to chase a woman he met once ten years ago. That part really lost me. He threw away something real for a fantasy, and I didn’t love that choice.

Still, the group dynamic was heartwarming, and I enjoyed most of the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet and easy read with a fun premise, but I found myself wanting a bit more from it overall. The idea of five strangers meeting under the clock at Waterloo Station and forming a bond was really charming, but I didn't feel much chemistry between Tom and Nadia. Their relationship felt more situational than sincere, and I just wasn’t super invested in them by the end. The pacing also felt uneven, and certain plot points—like Lola’s return—seemed rushed or underdeveloped.

Overall, it was light and entertaining, and I appreciated the diversity and the themes of unexpected friendship, but I think the romance could've used more depth and spark.

Meet Me Under The Clock - a short and sweet romance including new friendships, fake dating and friends to lovers.

All the characters meet by chance under the clock at Waterloo Station. The MFC Nadia is meeting a blind date who doesn’t show up, The MMC Tom is meeting a long lost love - Lola - who also doesn’t show up. The secondary characters Bea and Ruth are an elderly couple who have just got engaged after knowing each other for years and Carole has just split up with her cheating husband on their anniversary.
After an emergency at the station, forcing everyone to stay in place, the characters all get talking and end up spending the evening together, making fast friends and becoming ‘The Waterloo Five’.

As Nadia and Tom live on the same train line, they spend more time together with Nadia supporting Tom as he struggles with Lola dismissing him. They make a pact to ‘fake date’ to stop the pressure of family and friends trying to set them up on dates.

The book has chapters in both Nadia and Toms POVs and both start feeling attracted to each other as they spend more time together, however Tom is still hung up on Lola.

I loved the slow burn romance of Nadia trying to fight her feelings in order to preserve their friendship and Tom being confused about who or what he wants.

I found myself getting frustrated with Tom who claims he’s in love with Lola despite only spending a few hours together 10 years ago. He’s still obsessed with her despite her ghosting him and messing him around and I just wanted to scream at him to get over her.

I loved the fast friendships that were formed in the book with The Waterloo Five, supporting each other through marriages and divorce despite being people of all ages and backgrounds.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was sweet, easy to read and I’ll definitely seek out more books from this author.

I love the fake dating trope so this book did not disappoint!

Tom and Nadia randomly meet each other and 3 other friends under the clock at Waterloo Station. The group become quick friends, calling themselves The Waterloo Five. Tom and Nadia were each there to meet up with a date and end up being stood up.

Tom and Nadia fake a relationship to get coworkers and family off their backs and you know how that goes!

I did not want to put this book down and actually stayed up way too late one night to finish!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed Tom and Nadias story, it was a true slow burn and we really got to see a great friendship blossom as they grew closer and the banter was top notch!

Also if you're a fan of fake dating you'll adore this one

Highly recommend!

This was a cutsey romance story, a bit of a will they won't they.. perfect holiday reading, light and easy to read!

Nadia and Tom meet when they have both been stood up. They soon agree to be each others dates for some events, but what will happen when feelings get involved?