Publishers Weekly
02/13/2023
Miller’s claustrophobic debut promises a weeklong vacation on Catalina Island but winds up largely taking place on its characters’ phones. Podcaster Margo “Go” Anderson struggles to enjoy a free vacation (provided by her podcast’s sponsors) because the upcoming marriage of her podcasting partner, Jo, signals the likely end of their series, which celebrates single women hooking up and disappearing fast without catching feelings. The rest of the wedding party is also in attendance, meaning Go must reunite with her high school nemesis, the best man Declan Walsh, who pulled a few too many pranks on her as a teenager. Surprisingly, engineer Declan proves easy to talk to now that he’s all grown up, making Go wonder if she ought to put her “love em and leave em” attitude on hold to explore their connection. Miller does make some use of the scenery in kayaking and hiking excursions, but the plot is driven by Go’s online life, as she worries how a relationship would affect her internet persona. This obstacle feels flimsy when Declan makes her so demonstrably happy and she’s decided to end the podcast anyway. There are some cute moments here, but readers will long for more substance. (May)
From the Publisher
"A fresh take on modern romance." - Lauren Blakely, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"Romance readers who enjoy single-point-of-view enemies-to-lovers romances will enjoy...Recommended as a read-alike to The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood." - Library Journal
"A super unique, escapist romance that will have you wishing for a trip to Catalina." - Lauren H. Mae, author of Wish Lists & Road Trips
"I absolutely loved this book . . . highly recommend this one, especially for fans of Lynn Painter." - Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen on TV
"A fun, fast-paced rom-com full of wry banter and relatable characters, delivered with sharp yet breezy prose, a spectacular destination-wedding setting, a delicious touch of steam, and a thoughtful look at the ways social media shapes our sense of self. Pack your roller bag, grab enough sunscreen to share, and pick this one up for a perfect summer beach read." - Jacqueline Firkins, author of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned
Library Journal
02/01/2023
DEBUT Margo Anderson reluctantly finds herself on a ferry to her once beloved Catalina to celebrate her best friend and co-podcaster Jo's destination wedding while possibly toasting the end of her career. It will be difficult to have a podcast about eternal singledom once your co-host is married. Making matters worse, Margo is the maid of honor, and the best man is her nemesis Declan Walsh, whom Margo will be seeing for the first time since she wrapped up her nerdy, tuba-playing high-school years. Of course, Declan has transformed, unfairly, from a hot popular kid into a spectacular adult. Besides being certifiably sexy, Declan is also a technology Luddite, which annoys the mildly famous social-media maven Margo, who has to decide if she's willing to use him for the next phase of her podcast. VERDICT Romance readers who enjoy single-point-of-view enemies-to-lovers romances will enjoy this solid if predictable debut from Miller. Recommended as a read-alike to The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.—Elizabeth Gabriel