Title: Happy Leap Day
Author: Ann Marie Walker
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication date: January 18th, 2022
304 pages
4/5 stars
Goodreads Synopsis
Friends becoming something much more in this hilarious romantic comedy from author Ann Marie Walker. A whirlwind trip to Ireland is supposed to end with a suitcase full of wool sweaters and souvenir pint glasses—not a husband you only just met!
After one-too-many whiskeys, fledgling screenwriter Cara Kennedy takes a page out of someone else’s script when she gets caught up in the Irish tradition of women proposing on Leap Day. She thought she might have dreamt everything, until she wakes the next morning with a hot guy in her bed and a tin foil ring on her finger. Her flight is in four hours, her clothes are all over the room, and she has the most important meeting of her career in exactly two days—and on top of everything else, her husband has a dog who thinks Cara is a perfect surrogate mother, despite the fact that she has never been much of an animal lover…
Deciding to work things out stateside, Finn and her new fur baby accompany her to LA, where Finn spends his days going on auditions and his nights charming his new bride, leaving Cara to wonder whether this is real love, or if Finn is another aspiring actor just after her Hollywood connections? With limited time on his tourist visa, will Finn be able to convince Cara that she’s the right girl for him, or will time run out on their Hollywood ending?
Review
As someone of Irish descent, I’m well aware of the Leap Day tradition. Also, there’s a similar movie – Leap Year that I loved (which is a controversial opinion I know). But if you, like me, liked that movie then go read this book! After her boyfriend cheats on her, Cara flies off to Ireland to take her planned trip anyway. She immediately meets Finn, the handsome Uber driver who gives her a tour of the city. Cara gets very drunk at the pub and ends up proposing to him on Leap Day – and there just so happens to be an ordained bartender who makes the wedding legit. Now Cara has to figure out how to end their marriage… but what if she doesn’t want to?
This book is fairly light and definitely an easy read. Somewhat divorced from reality, it’s a little unbelievable that the person you just met would fly to California on a whim with you and then get discovered as America’s next great actor but IT’S OKAY. It was enjoyable and frankly it just had great vibes. I loved Cara’s friends, hated her boss, and wanted the best for them as a couple. And sometimes that all you need in a rom com right?
It’s on the shorter side, just about 300 pages – but it doesn’t always feels like it. Basically it doesn’t feel rushed in plot line or pacing. I would read a follow up book about Cara’s best friend finding romance. I will definitely read more from this author, since I also liked her last one, Happy Singles Day.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Happy reading, folks!
Baltimore Bibliophile 