When Zeke and Lexi have a fun filled one night stand in a houseboat, they have no idea it is only the start of an “adventure” together. By the time thWhen Zeke and Lexi have a fun filled one night stand in a houseboat, they have no idea it is only the start of an “adventure” together. By the time they realize no one tied the houseboat to the dock the night before, they are lost at sea.
As the opposite of an adventure girlie, romance books that feature this sub-genre are never my speed. That is until this one. I don’t know how Beth O’Leary pulled me in so completely, but by the time I realized it, I too was swept away. Her originality, humor and remarkably lovable characters always make for an incredible story.
I fell completely in love with Zeke and Lexi. While there is a fairly large age gap (8 years), these two never felt like anything less than equals in every way. Zeke is an original, full of passion, heart and charisma. Lexi is steadfast and loyal but afraid to trust.
Where Lexi fell short, Zeke shined and visa versa. The way these two challenged each other under such difficult circumstances, allowing each to have their own unique growth arc, made this romance a standout. All of the characters, including Eugene (iykyk), were unforgettable and I am so happy I got to experience their adventure. Will I be rereading this one when the audio is released, yes, yes I will.
Read if you like: ▪️romantic adventures ▪️reverse age gap ▪️complicated one night stands ▪️houseboat life ▪️forced proximity ▪️found family ▪️vibrant characters
“To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.”
From the moment she witness her icon, Sheila Lin, win the olympic gold, Katarina Shaw“To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.”
From the moment she witness her icon, Sheila Lin, win the olympic gold, Katarina Shaw knew that was her destiny too. When she meets Heath Rocha, a foster care kid with no family, the two form a friendship and a partnership that will span decades.
Wow. As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I had to get my hands on it immediately. How convenient that I ended up devouring it during the Olympics, as so much of this book focuses on just how hungry these young athletes are to compete in the ultimate of sports championships, and just how much they will give up to do so. With everything you can imagine - from backstage drama to an intense love affair, beautiful friendships to bitter rivalries, this powerful and intense look inside the world of competitive ice dancing will have you on the edge of your seat at all times.
I was immediately taken with Heath and Katarina and found myself emotionally attached to each of them individually, as well as together. Because of the format and genre of this book, I had zero idea what to expect and that made the stress level as intense as the matchups that often left these characters broken and bruised. Their backstories were equally inspirational and heartbreaking and it is hard not to have a rooting interest. The formatting style is one of my favorites, and very reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six. Layne Fargo uses both first person from Kat’s POV and third person interview format from the documentary the reader is simultaneously a part of, and it helps to make the story that much more dynamic. As each interviewee describes the most intense moments, I can envision everything from the details in the room to the sequins on their costumes and everything in between.
I think this format will be absolutely perfect on audio, and will help keep the pace flowing just a tad bit better than in the ebook/physical book, which can sometimes be slowed down by the back and forth. That said, every time I picked this one up, I had a hard time putting it back down. Basically what I am saying is, the second the audiobook is released, I will be doing a reread!
Read if you like: • the olympics • ice dancing • forced proximity • friends to lovers • second chance romance • mixed media format • all the drama
Thank you Random House for the advanced copy. Pub: January 14, 2025....more
I was immediately taken by Isa Arsen’s gorgeous writing when I read her debut, Shoot the Moon, last year. I am so pleased to say that she has successfI was immediately taken by Isa Arsen’s gorgeous writing when I read her debut, Shoot the Moon, last year. I am so pleased to say that she has successfully avoided the sophomore slump with her newest.
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