Give me a good romance set in the Scottish Highlands or in Ireland and I am soldddddd. Last Call at the Local was no different, and I adored this heartfelt Irish romance.
Raine has always struggled with ADHD. After dropping out of med school she’s diving headfirst into her music and playing around Europe. When her belongings are stolen in a small Irish town, she’s out of choices and is reluctant to head back home. Stumbling upon a small pub called The Local, sparks immediately fly when she meets the owner, Jack Dunne. Dunne in need of an event organizer proposes Raine stay in Cobh until she can replace her belongings and help him turn the pub into a place people want to be. Struggling with his own OCD mental issues, Jack is wary of his instant attraction to Raine. As the two start to work more with each other, it’s obvious that attraction is mutual but they’re life paths don’t mess, and they both have convinced themselves that a long-term relationship will never succeed.
This didn’t seem like a fast read and actually took me longer to read than I thought. The heavy focus on mental health particular OCD and ADHD while interesting could have been more compact and also made this a heavier read than I anticipated. Regardless of that, I do like seeing this representation in books and though Ruiz presented it tactfully.
The relationship between Raine and Jack was wonderful. The development of their relationship felt realistic and filled with witty banter. I felt that both characters show plenty of depth, and I enjoyed seeing a ‘romance relationship’ that was more particular in their approach. The way they supported each other’s mental health journey’s but also pushed each other to be their best self just made the story for me.
Though this is the 3rd book in the Love, Lists, & Fancy Ships series, it was the first of Ruiz’ books I have read. I didn’t actually realize it was part of a series until halfway through. This can 100% be read as a standalone and (per other reviewers) reading them out of order won’t spoil anything.
If you’re looking for a romance to cozy up with the upcoming Winter weather everyone is predicted to get, then this will be a prefect romance to grab! And be sure to snuggle up with your pet, because Floof gives black cats a good name in this one!
Last Call at the Local is out now. Huge thank you to Berkley Press for my copy in exchange for an honest review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
