Island Time by Georgia Clark

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.

With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.

Island Time is another fab offering by Georgia Clark. Although steamier than her other books and not as rom-com-y, it is still an absolute delight! Always astounding is Clark's ability to balance all of the subplots and multiple points of view. This is no small feat.  

It's sapphic, sexy, and salty—this is one tropical paradise you won't want to be rescued from. Add it to your summer reading list immediately!

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GEORGIA CLARK  is an author, performer, and screenwriter. She wrote the critically acclaimed novels, It Had to Be You, The Regulars and The Bucket List. 

Clark is a native Australian who now calls Brooklyn her home where she lives with her wife and new baby.

It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Run by husband and wife team Liv and Eliot Goldenhorn, In Love In New York have been Brooklyn's top wedding planners for the past twenty years. That is until Eliot dies suddenly while visiting Savannah Shipley, his younger, blonder events intern girlfriend from Kentucky. In a twist no one could have predicted, Eliot leaves his half of the business to Savannah, who had no idea Eliot was still married.

To Liv’s utter horror, Savannah won’t sell her inherited half of the business. She thinks that she can help Liv build the now-failing business into the thriving company it used to be. Liv and Savannah are polar opposites—Savannah is as inexperienced as she is optimistic whereas Liv is skilled and cynical. But what starts out as a nightmare turns into something neither of them could have imagined.

It Had to Be You is a witty, charming, and heartfelt series of love stories, second chances, secret romances, and soul mates that are all braided together. Perfect for fans of Love Actually.  

With a cast of diverse, compelling, and well-developed characters, It Had to Be You was one of my favourite reads this year—I could absolutely see this being optioned for film or TV. It is smart, sexy, soapy, and utterly addictive! 

Set in NYC, each chapter is from a different character's perspective. The novel is well-structured and features five interconnecting love stories. Reminiscent of your favourite rom-com, trope fans will find several popular ones amongst its pages. 

Georgia, you quite simply captured my heart and I can't recommend this book enough! 

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GEORGIA CLARK  is an author, performer, and screenwriter. She wrote the critically acclaimed novels, The Regulars and The Bucket List. It Had to Be You is her fifth novel.

Clark is a native Australian who now calls Brooklyn her home where she lives with her wife.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

A special thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When she was sixteen, Emmie Blue released a red balloon attached with her name, email address, and a secret. Having discovered the balloon on a beach in France, Lucas Moreau immediately emailed Emmie, thus sparking a life-changing friendship.

Fourteen years later Emmie has another secret: she is desperately and hopelessly in love with Lucas and as a result is neglecting her life. Emmie has stopped trying to find out who her father is, has given up on trying to salvage any sort of a relationship with her mother, and barely knows the elderly lady that she rents a room from.

When Lucas tells Emmie he has a big question to ask, she's sure it is the declaration of love that she's been waiting for. But instead, Lucas drops a bombshell on her.

What an endearing and lovely book! I'm such a sucker for British rom-coms and although there are definitely elements of this being a romantic comedy, it is so much more.

With a narrative structure that relies on flashbacks—versus alternating perspectives or a past to present format—the story is fully fleshed out and well-paced. Through the multi-layered plot, Emmie experiences growth in all of her relationships. Even the one with herself! There is an underlying darker storyline that seeps through. It is a little unexpected given the cute cover and lighthearted synopsis but it helps propel the narrative.

The characters are complex and layered, yet also full developed. They give the story an emotional depth that took me by surprise. Although there's some cheeky comedic bits, there are some tender and beautiful moments too. For fans of My Best Friend's Wedding, I highly recommend!

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LIA LOUIS was the 2015 winner of Elle magazine’s annual writing competition and has been a contributor for a blog for aspiring writers. She previously worked as a freelance copywriter and proofreader and is the author of Somewhere Close to Happy and Dear Emmie Blue.

Louis lives in the United Kingdom with her partner and three young children.