I was expecting this to be a cute and easy summer read, but it was honestly just not for me at all. There were too many subplots and ideas that felt random, and they were never really resolved. In addition it contains a love triangle which I personally am not fond of. There were unfortunately just too many things about this book at I did not enjoy, so it was not for me. However, the friendships and found family in this book was cute, as well as the setting in Cornwall.

Holiday Read
⭐️⭐️
Author: Taylor Cole

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Aria and Ares and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: The ultimate sexy and escapist rom com for book and beach lovers. Will delight fans of Emily Henry and Josie Silver. When romance-fanatic Candice meets writer Alexis, she thinks her happy ending is finally on its way. He walks into her struggling Cornish surf school, and they hit it off straight away. Until she discovers that Alexis has been using their courtship as inspiration for the romantic novel he's struggling to write. When Alexis offers to bring her in on the deal if Candice helps him deliver a winning book to his publisher, she accepts, and along with Alexis' agent Daniel, they embark on a very unusual summer of love, as Candice tries to teach the men the recipe for a successful romance. But you can't have a great love story, without a great romantic hero. Will Candice find hers before the summer is over?

My Thoughts: The premise seemed interesting and I love Emily Henry and really thought this would float along those lines. It was too close to the plot of Beach Read. While I did read the whole book, it is not a book I would recommend. I wouldn’t even mind the similar plot line if the characters were fleshed out differently. The hero, Alexis, is too commercial, too much about money and even if he leaves the devastated Candice in the wind, no regard. Alexis behaviors were too predatorial to be the hero of the novel. The non-consent issue is a big red flag no-no for me, even in a fictional book. The only scenario where this may work is the hero saving the heroine from a third-party consent issue. This is not the case. Some parts of the story were cool, especially the author’s attention to detail, really ironing out some of the descriptor scenes, I loved. Overall, this is just not a book I would recommend. It is so rare that I give a book 1 or 2 stars. But the non-consent issue just weighs too heavily.

I would like to thank netgalley and Aria & Aries for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The hero is just horrible.

This was a light and easy read to keep you entertained. When an author uses real life for the next storyline, things are sure to go awry. For lovers of Rom Coms and lighthearted storylines.

Candice is a Hawaiian surf instructor who is trying to build a life in Cornwall while searching for answers about her family (I won't give spoilers). She comes across Alexis, an author who is in Cornwall as research for his upcoming romance novel, which is causing him a few issues - he is struggling to connect with the genre (which he seems to despise) and seeks inspiration in Candice. Throw in Alexis's literary agent Daniel and you have yourself what should be a love triangle and a juicy story to go along with it.

This book is marketed as a romance novel, with the tagline 'A sexy, escapist rom-com set in Cornwall, perfect for book lovers!'. I was left a little disappointed by this because there is very little romance actually going on. There is the odd accidental touch, fleeting glances and flirty banter, but never enough to kick things off and keep me invested in the relationship between the two characters who are clearly going to end up together. It honestly isn't until about 90% of the way through that anything actually happens, and I honestly wouldn't describe it as 'sexy' at all.

I liked the setting of Cornwall. It has a lovely holiday feel, even if the main character isn't actually on holiday as I expected from the title. I also really liked the Cornish side characters - Makayla and Demi and their relationship antics are possibly my favourite parts of this book.

There is quite a lot going on, with multiple subplots, which would be fine but some of this just felt rushed to be resolved towards the end (for instance, Candice does find what she came to Cornwall looking for, but it lasts all of two pages which was a shame - I'd have liked more of that).

Overall. this is an easy read which only took a few days, but sadly it lacked depth for me and I was hoping for something more.

This was such a fun read! I can't wait for more by this author. I would absolutely recommend! If you are looking for a book to get you back into reading. This is it!

I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately it just disappointed me. I was looking for a fun vacation rom com to read at the beach and this book just kinda dragged for me. Don't get me wrong there was some cute moments and fun banter at points but this just wasn't the book for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Unfortunately, I tried multiple times to get into this story but ultimately I DNF’d it. I just couldn’t get into the story or characters very much.

Thank you for the arc company for an honest review of this book.

This is a nice summer beach holiday read, one you don’t really need to be concentrating on as it’s just another holiday romance which is predictable. It was quick paced and you knew where the plot was going but it was enjoyable for a rainy UK day of reading

While I consumed this book fairly quickly, I was wildly disappointed in the direction of the plot and characters. I liked Candice and her drive for more for herself. The side characters were also witty and fun. However, the whole structure of the romantic elements didn't hit for me. There was no ability to connect with Daniel and to understand the basis of their relationship.

Candice has left her life in Hawaii behind and has settled into Newquay, Cornwall. Struggling to make ends meet while waitressing and looking for new clients for her surf school, what she really wants to do is write books. A handsome man enters the restaurant where she works one day only to set up his laptop and tap away on the keys all day, ordering only coffee and water. Candice is excited for her surf school to get off the ground and is not expecting the handsome man who ordered no food to be her next client.

Alexis admits that he is writing a novel and is doing research as a result, hence the surf lesson. They hit it off and Alexis wants to continue to experience Newquay with Candice’s help. He wants to pick her brain and get her help to be able to send a draft to the publisher that will be successful. He lies to Candice once and she’s not sure if she can trust him after. Daniel, Alexis’ literary agent, arrives on the scene and the three continue on adventures to give Alexis material for his novel. Candice helps with the writing and Daniel assures her that she will get a proper contract.

Summer continues and sparks fly in various directions while friendships, romances and love abound. I enjoyed this novel and would classify it as a great beach read; however, the title is fairly lackluster.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #HolidayRead

This was not the book for me. Beach Read is one of my favorite books and even if Emily Henry hadn’t been placed within the description as a recommendation, I still would have found the comparisons glaring. I also was just not a fan of either character nor was I invested in their well-beings. I love myself an unlikeable character, but there’s got to be something to root for, you know?

DNFed at 30%

Unfortunately this story wasn’t for me. I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters and the story didn’t grip my attention, so I found myself not wanting to picking it back up.

Mild spoilers ahead.

I've finally finished this book. It took me so long. Too long.

"A Sexy, escapist rom - com" it is not. Nothing sexy, nothing rom - com. Escapist? Because set in Cornwall? Like hundreds other novels? Don't think so then. "Perfect for book lovers", only because they are writing a book there? Nope, don't think so.

There were so many subplots highlighted, and that felt like, important and signficant, but after them being solved, they were forgetten. Never ever mentioned anymore. Searching for father, finding him perhaps, forgetting about the whole? You've got it. Writing a book with somebody else, somebody else disappearing, never ever mentionioning it again? Not looking for solution? You've got it. Or maybe I've just simply overseen it, because eventually I started to skim - read.

I wanted to like this book, the synopsis was so promising and the cover is gorgeous, so summery, but I couldn't connect with the main characters. They felt so under - developed and so chopped, just like the plot itself. I'm not sure why I kept reading, to be honest - perhaps hoping that suddenly the book is going to turn into real holiday read. It was trying to be a romance and it failed. It was trying to bring some heavier issues to the attention and it failed.

And I can't not mention how much this book reminds me of Emily Henry's "Beach Read". Everything, blurb, cover, title and yes, "Beach Read" didn't wow me at all, so I was hoping "Holiday Read" might do just that. Unfortunately, not.

I was initially drawn in by this book because of the adorable cover! I am also a huge fan of Emily Henry, so like other readers, I was excited to give this one a try.

Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. I didn’t feel it was truly a romance novel, and I personally did not connect with the romance part of the story. I did really enjoy reading about Candice’s friendships with MaKayla and Demi though. Some parts were a little slow, and I would’ve liked to have seen more of the evolution of Candice and Daniel’s relationship, but I enjoyed the book.

DNF at 40%…

Candice works at a coffee shop in Cornwall, while also trying to build a surf school. Alexis is in town trying to write the next great romance novel, and he wants to use Candice as his inspiration.

I rarely DNF books. Like…ever. But I just could not get into this one. I kinda liked Candice’s friend Mikayla, but other than that, I really didn’t connect with any of the characters. I felt no spark between Candice and Alexis. I was just kinda bored by it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just okay... really just okay. It was 3 stars for me.
I did not hate it but did not love it... Dont have anythig to add

The cover of this book drew me in - it is bright and fun and screams beach read. The summary left me skeptical if it was a book I'd enjoy, but I gave it a shot. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it. Taylor Cole is a great writer, but the plot fell flat for me. I'm not convinced that Alexis' "lie" was as major as it was made out to be and for me, I finally stopped reading.

I skimmed most of this hoping it would get better… and it just lacked everything. I wanted summer vibes, and romance, and depth, and instead felt as lost as the main character.

I was initially drawn in by this book because of the adorable cover! I am also a huge fan of Emily Henry, so like other readers, I was excited to give this one a try.

Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. I didn’t feel it was truly a romance novel, and I personally did not connect with the romance part of the story. I did really enjoy reading about Candice’s friendships with MaKayla and Demi though. Some parts were a little slow, and I would’ve liked to have seen more of the evolution of Candice and Daniel’s relationship, but I enjoyed the book.