Book Review: How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh

October 4, 2026March 31, 2026 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: March 10th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The newest book from bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited sensation Catherine Walsh, in which an ambitious editor travels to Ireland to help the daughter of a fantasy author legend complete her father’s final book, only to fall in love with her in the process.

Ciara Sheridan’s father has left her with three things: a sprawling and distinctly ramshackle estate on the Irish coast, the outline for the finale to his bestselling epic fantasy series that he wanted her to finish—and writer’s block.

Enter Sam Frank Sheridan fanboy and hotshot editor, sent from the New York publishing house direct to Ciara’s doorstep. Ciara was expecting a crusty old-timer, so the handsome young American is a surprise. And for his part, Sam was expecting Ciara to have written something by now.

Ciara and Sam have two weeks of the hottest Irish summer on record to write this novel together and secure Frank’s legacy—but will their own love story be the plot twist neither of them see coming?

SWEET STORY.

I’ve had a roller coaster of enjoyment of CW’s books and I have found this to be on the upside! I thought it was a sweet romance and gosh do I love the setting and audiobook narrators. It went by fast and I finished this in a day.

I loved the slow burn and genuine way Sam and Ciara learned to be in each other’s lives. I liked the chemistry and the simple nature of the plot. It wasn’t over done with drama and I enjoyed all of the side characters as well.

I don’t really have much else to add? Sometimes reviews are as simple as the book. But if you’ve been wanting to try CW’s books, here would be a good start! (Don’t forget about Holiday Romance though because that is my obsession).

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: mild
Romance: fade to black
Content warnings: anxiety, loss of a parent, grief

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Book Review: The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh

November 18, 2024October 10, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 346 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: April 18th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Katie Collins has barely ever left her tiny Irish village of Ennisbawn. Why would she? With its tightknit community, friendly local pub, surrounded by rolling hills and perfectly mysterious forests, it’s a place of peaceful beauty.

Or it was peaceful. Until Callum Dempsey turned up. A hot-shot (and, Katie has to admit, hot is annoyingly apt for him…) developer with zero eye for beauty or charm, in spite of his chiselled jaw. He’s not only building some hideous hotel just outside the village, but now he’s also planning to knock down Ennisbawn’s only remaining pub, to make way for a good view from the golf course.

It’s the final blow to the village and the last straw for Katie, who refuses to see her home disappear. Not to mention that the pub is the last connection to her parents, who had met at Ennisbawn’s once-famous matchmaking festival, both throwing coins into the wishing well that sits in the pub garden.

In an instant, Katie knows what to do. She’s going to uncover the now disused wishing well, she’s going to revive the matchmaking festival, and she’s going to single-handedly bring the town back to life again.

She might even help her two best friends find love as well. Since, heck, what’s another project when you’re taking on the world’s hottest, evilest man?

But what Ireland’s newest matchmaker doesn’t know is that even when someone’s really not your type on paper, love might be a little bit more than just a formula…

WAS THIS A ROMANCE?

I don’t feel like I had too high of expectations when I picked this up. I was just looking for a cute romance to entertain myself for an evening. And I feel like that romance was missing.

Most of this book was dedicated to Katie trying to stop a resort being built her in her small town. And while I was behind her trying to do so, it took over any other plot points and I got bored. I wasn’t interested in the multiple side scenes and kept waiting for things to actually happen.

Maybe in the second half there were a few good moments, but when you’re already feeling meh I wasn’t connecting to much at all.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: 2-3 low explicit open door
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted)

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Book Review: One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

June 28, 2024May 23, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: July 30th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

FANTASTIC READ.

I binged this book hard. I adore Catherine Walsh’s writing. She has a way of entrancing me with her words and swoony men that make me want to devour the book as fast as I can.

One night stand tropes are not really my thing. I did like how this one went about (without adding spice just because it’s this trope). There were some good forced proximity moments and I would have loved even more. I just thought Declan was the swooniest guy and needed him on page as much as possible. He really didn’t put up with Sarah’s stubbornness and I like that that made Sarah realize some things about herself too.

The third act had me a bit miffed, buuut I’m glad it worked out well. I had a good time reading this and sometimes that’s what you want most. I hope to continue reading more of Walsh’s books because they are full of swoony Irish men.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: some strong
Romance: fade to black / closed door
Violence: low
Trigger/Content Warnings: absent mother, divorce

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ALC Book Review: Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

November 1, 2023October 30, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Holiday Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Catherine Walsh
Publisher: Bookouture
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.

Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone , but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.

So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever .

Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.

But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…

A swoon worthy and utterly gorgeous romantic comedy that will make you laugh out loud and fall completely in love. Fans of Emily Henry, Sophie Kinsella and Abby Jimenez won’t be able to put this down!

Thank you Bookouture Audio for the ALC.

GREAT FOR THE SEASON.

I binged this one in a day and had a good time reading it. It took me a little to get into (which may be my own issue with reading one too many fake dating tropes), but once I started to feel the connection between Christian and Megan I was involved.

There were plenty of cute forced proximity moments and once again I adore the setting. I was feeling all of the winter and holiday vibes and was easily swept away. I liked the build between Christian and Megan and that it was dual POV!! I think we definitely needed both sides to the story to really understand all of the feelings. I thought the families were wonderful and I always love seeing those aspects. There’s some good growth and I just genuinely enjoyed this!

I do think the spice felt a little off to me. As if there was more than necessary? I didn’t love the forced vibe, but if you’re looking for a spicier holiday romance, this is Walsh’s spiciest book to date.

Overall audience notes: