Hey guys! This week I got to work with Rockstar Book Tours to review the AMAZING book "Holiday in the Hamptons". Right now I'm staying by the beach in Connecticut which was THE BEST place to read this book. This book is set in a seaside town just like the one I'm staying in, complete with ice cream stands, seafood grills, and boardwalks. I read most of this book in a hammock with the sounds of the waves crashing beside me. It was perfect.
Holiday in the Hamptons is a summer romance novel with awesome characters, a great setting, and believable romance. The main character is named Fliss, and she is a take-no-sh*t badass. Fliss and her twin Harriet run a dog-walking business in New York City, a business that they built from the ground up. I love that. In so many romance novels the female leads are weak-willed ninnies who have no hopes, dreams, or aspirations other than happily ever after with their romantic interest. Fliss is the total opposite. She runs an extremely successful business, and she is intelligent and business savvy. She cares about her sister and her family, and even her history of abuse from her father doesn't get in the way of her leading a successful life. The romance genre could definitely benefit from getting more heroines like Fliss.
Another reason that I loved this book was the setting. Every summer I like to read a couple fun, not-serious, summery books, just for the heck of it. A lot of what makes those books good is the escapism of it. I like reading books that give me a great summer setting to dive into. I'm talking sea, sand, and surf, the whole nine yards. This book gave me all of that, not to mention a fun dive into the world of the wealthy. It's the Hamptons! The summer playground of New York's fabulously wealthy. Escaping to the land of boardwalks, mansions, sunsets over the ocean, and cocktails by the sea was so fun, and the added bonus of the romance and cute dogs was fantastic.
The romance in this book was another one of my favorite parts. A major flaw in many romance novels is when you just can't feel it between the characters, or when the romance is completely uncomplicated and unrealistic. We want a romance with twists and turns and complications and misunderstandings, not some straight line, love at first sight, perfect relationship. If there are no problems the story feels contrived and fake, and not at all relatable for the reader. Sarah Morgan did a great job of making a romance that was both believable and heartfelt. Fliss and Seth have some very real problems that they have to work through, just like any couple, and the whole way I was rooting for them and keeping my fingers crossed at every twist and turn. For these two it was all about the journey, and the journey was great.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book even though it wasn't my normal genre. I haven't read many romance novels but this one was very well written and a fun escape from reality.
My final rating- 4.3/5
Thanks for reading my review, and until next time, happy reading :)
Professional dog-walker Felicity Knight loves everything about New York...until her ex-husband starts working at her local vet clinic. She hasn't seen Seth Carlyle in ten years, but one glimpse of him--too gorgeous, and still too good for her--and Fliss's heart hurts like their whirlwind marriage ended yesterday. So when her grandmother in the Hamptons needs help for the summer, it seems the ideal way to escape her past.
Their relationship might have lasted only a few scorching months, but vet Seth knows Fliss--if she's run away to the Hamptons, it's because she still feels their connection and it terrifies her. He let her go once before, when he didn't know any better, but not this summer! With the help of his adorable dog, Lulu, and a sprinkling of beachside magic, Seth is determined to make Fliss see that he's never stopped loving her...
Sarah Morgan delights with more love and laughter in her acclaimed series From Manhattan with Love, which Publishers Weekly calls "engaging...a classic sweep-you-off-your-feet romantic experience."
As a child Sarah dreamed of being a writer and although she took a few interesting detours along the way, she is now living that dream.
Sarah lives near London with her husband and children, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying.
