3.5 ⭐⭐⭐💫
Island Affair is the first in a new series and starts right off with Sara, social media influencer, being stood up by her boyfriend for a week long vacay in Key West with her super successful family...after she's already arrived at the airport. She happens to bump into a Key West firefighter that was just leaving the airport firehouse from visiting his brother, and he was just told by his captain to take a week off. There were insta sparks and a lot of cheesiness that had me eye rolling. For me, it was just all a little too fast and coincidental, but I've also watched many romcoms that start off the same way and I still thoroughly enjoy the for what they are: Light and comedic entertainment. Basically, go into it knowing it's for entertainment, just let yourself go along for the ride.
The details of Key West and it's visual beauty and delicious Cuban food came through the pages beautifully. It was nice being transported from a dreary, rainy, couple of days to a paradise like Key West. It was fun to learn a little more about the Cuban culture. I thought Oliveras did a fantastic job of adding some Spanish to the book without me having to actually KNOW Spanish, and I think that having some added in there was pretty important for the cultural aspect.
There was a ton of chemistry between Sara and Luis, and I especially enjoyed all their witty banter. I wasn't sure if I'd like how family driven it was, but that seemed to work well for this story. Two big, complicated families, totally opposite, shows how real some struggles can be for both the "black sheep" of the family, or for anyone marrying into them. Luis, well, I went back on forth on how I felt about him. I think overall, I just sum it up hi feeling a bit too immature. But I'm smitten for his family!
As for most people/couples, Sara and Luis have issues to resolve and I wasn't totally feeling the way they were resolved was really as well done as I would have liked. I did, however, really like the way the eatig order was written about.
Overall, I'd give this 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐💫 It really was a good escape from currant affairs, I think this would be great for anyone who loves a big family driven, fake dating trope, insta romance.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for the arc and the opportunity to provide my honest, unbiased thoughts.
Island Affair is the first in a new series and starts right off with Sara, social media influencer, being stood up by her boyfriend for a week long vacay in Key West with her super successful family...after she's already arrived at the airport. She happens to bump into a Key West firefighter that was just leaving the airport firehouse from visiting his brother, and he was just told by his captain to take a week off. There were insta sparks and a lot of cheesiness that had me eye rolling. For me, it was just all a little too fast and coincidental, but I've also watched many romcoms that start off the same way and I still thoroughly enjoy the for what they are: Light and comedic entertainment. Basically, go into it knowing it's for entertainment, just let yourself go along for the ride.
The details of Key West and it's visual beauty and delicious Cuban food came through the pages beautifully. It was nice being transported from a dreary, rainy, couple of days to a paradise like Key West. It was fun to learn a little more about the Cuban culture. I thought Oliveras did a fantastic job of adding some Spanish to the book without me having to actually KNOW Spanish, and I think that having some added in there was pretty important for the cultural aspect.
There was a ton of chemistry between Sara and Luis, and I especially enjoyed all their witty banter. I wasn't sure if I'd like how family driven it was, but that seemed to work well for this story. Two big, complicated families, totally opposite, shows how real some struggles can be for both the "black sheep" of the family, or for anyone marrying into them. Luis, well, I went back on forth on how I felt about him. I think overall, I just sum it up hi feeling a bit too immature. But I'm smitten for his family!
As for most people/couples, Sara and Luis have issues to resolve and I wasn't totally feeling the way they were resolved was really as well done as I would have liked. I did, however, really like the way the eatig order was written about.
Overall, I'd give this 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐💫 It really was a good escape from currant affairs, I think this would be great for anyone who loves a big family driven, fake dating trope, insta romance.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for the arc and the opportunity to provide my honest, unbiased thoughts.