Jeff Sexton
Nothing Technically Wrong, Yet Much Many Won't Like. In my review of Mason's earlier book, Between You And Me, three years ago last month, I noted that Mason managed to craft a tale "with particulars that I’d never seen done quite this way before, and that is always something I seek out and love to find". That remains true in this tale, seemingly her first attempt at a more lighthearted romcom after several books more in the domestic thriller/ women's fiction space.
And while the particulars are at least somewhat new - while also being a hodgepodge of other ideas and characterizations well known in the romance space in varying forms - it also becomes quite clear that Mason is new to writing within this particular space, as she has the basic formula down quite well... and yet, there is much here that those looking for a truly mindless and hilarious "beach reach" romcom won't find here at all.
To be clear, this book absolutely has its moments of hilarity. It also has at least habanero level spiciness... in a form that many will consider potentially offputting (but is also well known in *ahem* "certain video circles" *ahem* to be quite popular therein). And the book's locations, in coastal California, Santorini, and even the historic areas of Athens (Greece, to be clear, vs Athens, GA, home of my beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs) are shown well... yet don't seem to "hit" quite as well as others within the space. It also has moments of stone-cold seriousness, including when we find out our male lead's "deep dark secret" - and here is yet another point that will be divisive for some, but which I felt was handled in a very realistic manner.
Indeed, perhaps one of the more difficult aspects of this tale is that throughout, it can never really decide if it wants to be a romcom or a "serious women's fiction" type tale... and sadly, the combination of both comes across as disjointed enough to detract from each, rather than enhance each.
This is a book with no actual objective-ish reasons to deduct stars or not recommend, and yet it is still a difficult book to classify and really find an audience that will clearly love it - which is a shame, because Mason has shown herself to be a talented storyteller in prior efforts, and even here shows quite a bit of that talent... in fits and spurts.
So read the book for yourself and see if you can help me sort it out.
Recommended.