Island Affair | By Priscilla Oliveras

 

 

 

 

Contemporary Romance | Book Review

Island Affair
Sought-after social media influencer Sara Vance, in recovery from an eating disorder, is coming into her own, with a potential career expansion on the horizon. Despite the good news, her successful siblings (and their perfect spouses) have a way of making her feel like the odd one out. So, when her unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for a Florida family vacation, Sara recruits Luis Navarro—a firefighter paramedic and dive captain willing to play the part of her smitten fiancé . . . Luis’s big Cuban familia has been in Key West for generations, and his quiet strength feeds off the island’s laidback style. Though guarded after a deep betrayal, he’ll always help someone in need—especially a spunky beauty with a surprising knowledge of Spanish curse words. Soon, he and Sara have memorized their “how we met” story and are immersed in family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips . . . sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses. But when it’s time for Sara to return home, will their fake relationship fade like the stunning sunset . . . or blossom into something beautiful?

 

 

 

 

 

My thoughts

 

 

 

 

Narrative and Plot 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Island Affair is a breezy summer romance told from the perspectives of Sarah and Luis, the main characters. As most contemporary romance novels, the tone adeptly mixes the deep inner struggles with moments of fun banter and intimacy. It was easy and charming to read.

 

 

The plot does its best to do justice to the tropes the story took upon. It is a tried and tested formula of the main leads getting together for the sake of fake dating due to some reason and then romance ensues. Still, the book maintains a refreshing air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Characters and Conflicts 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flawed and struggling characters are the most relatable. Luis and Sarah is your everyday person when it comes to their fears and apprehensions. That makes it easy to root for them. The romance is adorable and the chemistry between the main characters is electrifying.

 

 

 

 

The whole Cuban family dynamics and the supposedly uptight Vance family made up for a good ensemble of supporting characters. 

 

 

 

 

 

The only thing if you could nitpick would be that the book doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Maybe it is just me reading a few books that have a recurring and similar theme. Or, it could be the current trend and most books are following the same rules. Either way, I have already read books about fake dating, complex family relationships, sibling rivalry, mental health and eating disorder. Most of these are tried and tested formulas and the book does a pretty good job of presenting an entertaining romance with all of these infused in it. But it doesn’t bring a different angle to these themes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

 

Overall, Island Affair is a quick summer romance read which will make you smile. It is adorable from the start to the end. The beauty of Key West is definitely a major influence in the story. You can definitely try this one if you are looking some breezy and entertaining romance novel for the summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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