A Place in the Sun

by R.S. Grey

[whisperingchapters]

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.


Georgie Archibald has had enough of her mother's blind dates for her. She wants to find love on her own terms so she travels to Vernazza (chosen by spinning the globe) to get away and to find her future husband. On her way to Vernazza, she has to take a train. Unfortunately, Georgie gets motion sickness and she's not facing the front. After throwing up in the train, she lands in Vernazza only to faint. Gianluca is out and about with his cousin Massimo when he sees Georgie faint. When Georgie comes to, she thinks she's been kidnapped but once things are sorted, she can't help but wanting to know more about quiet Gianluca.

In my dream he'd just stripped me down to nothing and bent me like a pretzel, but in real life, he still hated me. Also, in real life, I was nowhere near flexible enough for that.

Georgie has to be the most hilarious character I've ever read about. I lost count over how many times I laughed and grinned because of her. She's a very real, honest character. Even though her family has tons of money (her brother is a Duke), Georgie isn't one to boast about it. She's very down-to-earth and loves the simple things in life. Another thing that makes Georgie stand out to me is how persistent she is through the whole novel. You see, Gianluca and she don't have the best relationship in the beginning. He doesn't want to see her or talk to her, yet she's always there wanting to get to know him, no matter if he's rude.

God, she was exhausting. The persistent positivity, the sheer stubbornness. If the woman put her mind to it, I bet she could make herself the prime minister of England in two weeks flat. [...] She was a moving locomotive; I could either get out of her way or let her roll right over me.

Gianluca has a tormented past that he can't seem to get over. He doesn't want to fall in love, but Georgie is always there and he can't seem to get her out of his mind. Both of them are working on renovating Gianluca's grandma's bed and breakfast and Georgie always has one-sided conversations since Gianluca really doesn't want to talk to her. But it comes to a point that without even knowing it, Luca has slowly let her get under his skin and he looks forward to working with her.

"Do you want to know why I stuff candy in my pockets in the mornings?"
"You fancy a bit of diabetes?"
"It's a reward system. Every time I get you to talk, I reward myself with a piece of chocolate."

I was making grabby hands at the romance. It was a slow-burn romance that was so painful but so addictive! It went from Gianluca barely talking to Georgie, to him being kind and actually talking to her, to forming a great friendship, to falling in love. I mean, if this isn't the best type of romance, I don't know what it is.

Now THIS is a romantic comedy! My cheeks hurt so much from all the grinning I've done while reading this novel. I'd say it's sometimes hard to make me laugh out loud while reading, but this book had me laughing so much with all the quirky quotes and Georgie's outspoken personality. And not once did it feel fake. The author made the comedy seem so effortless and real and I was loving it!

The setting was very bit of charming. Vernazza felt like a dream, but real. I could imagine myself walking the streets of the square, watching the sunset on the rocks at the beach, or simply feeling at home. That's R.S. Grey's writing for you. She makes you feel like you're one of the characters in her stories. Her writing lures you into the story and traps you until you can't get enough. I was enamored by how vivid Grey portrayed the whole story. So much so, that I need to make a trip to Vernazza and stay there for at least a year. Forget Rome, Venice, Paris, Bora Bora, and all those places. I only want to go to Vernazza and never leave.

Overall, A Place in the Sun is the definition of a romantic comedy novel, with a slow-burn sexy romance like no other, and a setting that will make you forget where you are and then give you a serious case of wanderlust. This has to be R.S. Grey's best novel to date.

I received an eARC from the author for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.