I guess the word I’d use is “underwhelming,” because it wasn’t bad, but I did find it a little too low stakes and easy. I’ve enjoyed several books by this author, and they’re always quick, bingeable reads, so I was excited to read a true rom com from her, especially one with vacation vibes and a fun setting. And this started off strong – I liked the grumpy/sunshine pairing, the instant tension, and the tropical feel. The heroine is a total sweetheart who is trying to find herself again after ending her only long term relationship, and the hero is a bit of a mystery. We only get the heroine’s perspective, so it was fun to try to figure out what was going on with the hero. Once we did, however, I wasn’t all that interested. The focus shifted to lots of details about their past relationships and the beach activities, and the fling scenario didn’t work for me either. I lost interest somewhere along the way, and I went from bingeing to boredom.
The story follows Eden, a school teacher who has been planning her dream vacation for what feels like forever. It was supposed to be her honeymoon, and Eden decided not to give up the trip just because her relationship imploded before they made it to the altar. Alone in an exotic location with nothing but sunshine and time, Eden meets a handsome stranger. She keeps bumping into Phillip, and they seem to be the only two who are traveling solo – so they decide to pair up for activities. Embarking on her dream vacation with a man she never expected to meet is not quite how Eden pictured the trip, but she has a lot of fun with Phillip. And when the attraction between them kicks up a notch, Eden gives in to the moment. But Phillip was never supposed to be around for Eden’s happily ever after, and she’s not sure what to do about that.
If you’re looking for something light and easy, told exclusively from the (overly sweet) heroine’s perspective, then chances are that you’ll like this more than I did. I’d say that I was intrigued and emotionally invested for the first third, but then it got a little too easygoing and mild for my personal reading tastes. Eden is the sweetest girl you’ll ever meet, and that gave this total light and fluffy vibes. I’m a big fan of rom coms, and this was just too saccharine sweet (and, no, it wasn’t a comedy). So the low stakes vibes started to turn me off (as did all the talk of their exes), and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the fling situation. Eden and Phillip don’t have a ton of chemistry, so that felt out of place to me. I get why it evolved that way, but there needed to be some more oomph there. In the end, this was “fine.” Not amazing, not bad, but kinda forgettable.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pOAgMA
Blurb:
A paradise island. Two strangers. The attraction they never saw coming…
When Eden dumped her cheating ex before the wedding, the last thing she expected was to go on their tropical honeymoon alone. But with no refunds possible, she packs her budget guidebook and broken heart, and sets off.
She plans to relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, and drink cocktails until she feels like herself again… or falls over. Whichever comes first. What she’s not expecting is the brusque, handsome stranger who sits down at her table on the first night.
Philip Meyer is a grumpy workaholic, and so irritatingly cynical that it makes her forget she’s grieving just to prove him wrong about the world. The two have nothing in common… except trying to forget who they’ve left behind.
The luxury resort isn’t too big, and fate soon pushes them together again. And again. Catamaran cruises and midnight swims give way to late night room service and whispered nothings. Maybe opposites really do attract.
But every vacation has to end, even the very best ones… Can these two opposites make it last?
This steamy romantic comedy is the perfect summer read! Great for fans of The Love Hypothesis or Beach Read, it involves a feisty heroine and the grumpy hero who reluctantly (but inevitably) falls for her charms…
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pOAgMA
About the Author:
Olivia loves billionaire heroes despite never having met one in person. Taking matters into her own hands, she creates them on the page instead. Stern, charming, cold or brooding, so far she’s never met a (fictional) billionaire she didn’t like.
A voracious reader of romance, Olivia picked up the pen a few years back and what followed was nothing short of a love affair of her own. Now she spends her days giggling at the steamy banter she’s writing or swooning at their happily-ever-afters.
Smart and sexy romance—those are her lead themes.
➡️ Want a free short story? Sign up to her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/c6v2d3
➡️ You can read more about her work at www.oliviahayle.com
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Jeeves Reads Romance 
Thank you. I was thinking of purchasing the book. Now I shall wait for the local library to pick one.
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I do generally enjoy the author’s work, this one just didn’t keep me interested. Hope it goes better for you!
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