Wie soll ich das nur bewerten?

Das tolle Cover und der interessante Klappentext haben dafür gesorgt, dass ich das Buch angefangen habe, ohne vorher in eine Leseprobe zuschauen. Wie sich herausgestellt hat, war das ein Fehler. Denn innerhalb weniger Seiten wurde mir bewusst, dass der Humor der Autorin nicht meiner war und ich auch mit ihrem Schreibstil zu hadern hatte. An diesem ist per se nichts schlecht, aber er hat es mir aus welchen Gründen auch immer sehr schwer gemacht, in einen guten Leserhythmus zu kommen. Und das ist für mich sehr wichtig. Daher habe ich auch nur die ersten Kapitel ganz gelesen, den Rest habe ich durchflogen.

Mit der Bewertung tue ich mich deshalb etwas schwer, wie eigentlich immer, wenn es zwischen mir und einem Buch einfach nicht passt, wenn die Chemie nicht stimmt. Ich kann nicht sagen, dass das Buch schlecht war und es ist auch absolut mein Versäumnis, dass ich keine Probe gelesen habe.

Ich würde allen Leser:innen raten, unbedingt in die Leseprobe reinzuschauen. Passt es für euch auf den ersten Seiten, könntet ihr mit dem Buch wesentlich mehr Spaß haben als ich.

This is one of those stories I liked but didn’t love but I had a fun time reading it. It was a cute, light, and entertaining with a grumpy but likable hero and an adorkable heroine! Sometimes things were a bit too over the top for me, other times the conflict was a little too back and forth, and things drug out. Overall, I liked the storyline and kept right on reading because I was looking forward to Graham and Zoey getting their HEA.

This is an easy, fun read that will brighten your day! It had a fun vibe happening and I enjoyed it.

<b>2.75 stars</b>

I’m still a little on the fence about my rating. I really liked Zoey and Graham as a couple. They had great chemistry and were a good match. It was everything else around them that was so extra it was almost too over the top. I'm really sad to say that it just didn't work for me and I had really high hopes. Some of the situations were just too much. But I did love the end and how it all came together. Just not a book for me.

Okay that was cute. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for granting my wish and letting me read this book in advance. I finished it on the day of publication and I have some things to say about this! Not much, because it was cute and I was very entertained the majority of the time.

The book was about Graham and Zoey. Graham was a grumpy Alaska-native who runs a restaurant called "the Tourist Trap" and he has a cute blind doggo who he dresses up in cute outfits and pajamas. And then we have Zoey who is not one of the rich tourists in town and who has saved up for this trip for many many years.

I don't know why I was expecting or hoping this book to have a bit more smut in it. Maybe it's just what I have enjoyed reading recently, don't judge me. But this book is very sweet and very PG. The most smut it has is a bit of boob touching and kissing. Either way, it was cute. But it was a bit too long, and it could have been stopped a bit early, maybe 50 less pages, because there was this ongoing conflict of Graham having a strict not dating tourists policy, and he did say that Zoey is different but he still did not lift his policy. It bothered me a bit, but nevertheless, it was definitely a cute quarantine book and I would highly recommend if you enjoy these kind of romance books that will make you laugh, cringe and also roll your eyes. It's why I gave it 4 stars: I was entertained, but I don't think I will read it again, but who knows I might.

I really enjoyed this book so a huge Thank You to Net-galley for allowing me to read the advanced copy.
This was a super cute story that had me laughing out loud and really let me get lost in the pages that I forgot I wasn't in Alaska.
Zoey has finally saved up enough money to go on her dream vacation to Alaska and meet up with her uber rich friend Lana. They are completely on different financial levels but best friends non the less. Graham is a local born and raised and owns the famous local diner called The Tourist Trap. He has a very unpleasant opinion of all the tourist who come to his town ... and all that goes out the window when in walks Zoey. Well he still hates all tourist but she somehow she isn't like the others. The chemistry between the two of them is good and I enjoyed how their story played out. I do however wish we got more of a back story of how Zoey and Lana became friends. I'm a huge pop cuture fan so all the references was like the cherry on top and the nod to "I carried a watermelon" was the BEST! I use that all the time!!
I will be telling everyone to grab a copy of this book.

I adored this book so much!!!

Zoey is finally taking her dream vacation in Moose Springs, Alaska and cannot be more excited. Graham has lived in Moose Springs all his life and runs "The Tourist Trap" - a diner set up as a joke but actually is really successful. Graham hates tourists, but when he meets Zoey he can't help his attraction.

The characters in this book were top notch! Graham and Zoey were wonderful main characters, but I also loved Lana, Ash and Easton so much! Graham's blind border collie Jake was the BEST pet character ever and I wish I had a Jake in my life!

The story was so so good - it had great pace, and for a 'quick' romance development, it didn't feel as unrealistic as some others I've read. I loved the little epilogue too to really give me some closure!

I am so so so excited for the next instalments in this new series and I can't wait to return to Moose Springs and to these characters!

Huge thanks to SourceBooks Casablanca and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute and quirky romance novel and I definitely found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions. The interactions between Zoey and Graham were really funny and sweet and they had good chemistry. I liked watching them both come out of their comfort zones. I also thought the locals vs. tourists dynamic was an interesting thread throughout!

I loved the beginning of this book, and felt a bit more lukewarm as it progressed. I think the quirkiness superseded the story in itself. It is, however, a cute read, perfect for some escapist reading. 3 1/2 stars.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cute and funny. Very enjoyable. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

It started out great, it was very fun seeing these first interactions between Graham and Zoey and then it sort of went flat after that. There were still cute moments but there was always something that made them separate.

The story was very slow burn. I feel like I kept waiting for the story to keep up the pace but it never went beyond a few kisses few and there. I am disappointed because I couldn’t connect to the characters. I was hoping for more but the book for me is one of those cute reads that you read once, maybe remember a thing or two weeks later but never pick up again.

From the very beginning we’re kind of thrown into the moment where they meet each other for the first time. I liked the idea of two opposites – shy geeky girl and outspoken bartender who hates tourists – being drawn to each other. But it’s just not enough, you know? And don’t even let me start on this hate thing. Since the very beginning it was always this town versus tourist relationship. In fact, now that I think of, there were a lot of opposites thrown into this book. Besides the previous two, there was also Zoey, the average girl who is careful about her money and her rich friends who couldn’t be more different than her. Loud, uncaring, often drunk. Locals versus resort filled with tourists.

I did find it cute how the town sticked together. But I think their unwritten rules sometimes went a little too far.

I also think the ending could be better. We don’t exactly get the whole picture what will happen to the people after the Lana’s big plan. I also felt like the ending was too optimistic, kind of surreal.

3-3.5 stars.

Plot 
I loved the premise of the plot. Zoey has finally saved up enough money to take the trip of a lifetime and she plans on being the ultimate tourist. So the first stop on her trip to Moose Springs, Alaska is to visit The Tourist Trap. The Tourist Trap diner is the most popular tourist attraction in Moose Springs made infamous by its owner, Graham, who is notorious for hating all tourists, and a lovesick moose named Ulysses who frequents the property regularly. Rom-com hilarity ensues.

Characters
Graham and Zoey were entertaining and fun characters. I loved Graham's carefree, sarcastic, "anti-tourist" attitude. He also was a very romantic character, which made for some great excursions during Zoey's vacation. Graham's vibe reminded me a lot of Luke from Gilmore Girls (in the best way). I could so clearly envision his Tourist Trap diner because it was described so well.

I also enjoyed how Zoey was written. She was a clumsy, danger-magnet who just wanted her dream vacation. I did feel like I needed a bit more from her, though. It was hard at times to understand why Zoey was friends with Lana and some of Zoey's backstory went unexplained. Ultimately I loved the foundation that was laid for the main characters, but just needed a little bit more.

You may enjoy this if:
- You like books set in a faraway destination (here: it's Alaska)
- You enjoy funny, witter banter
- You enjoy rom-coms that feature pets (here: it's a moose and a cute doggo)
- You like your romances low on the steam (fade to black)

Overall Thoughts
The Tourist Attraction is the perfect combination of a faraway destination and small-town romance. It's hilarious, sweet, and swoonworthy. The excursions and dates are described so well that I found myself mentally creating a romcom movie as I read through it. This book was pretty low on the steam (fade to black), so keep that in mind. Overall, this was a great debut and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

The Tourist Attraction was a fun read. It is about grumpy diner owner with a squishy heart and a young tourist who has finally realized her dream of getting to Alaska. Graham and Zoey are drawn to each other from the first time they meet. Graham doesn't want to get involved with a tourist. He dislikes tourists. They cause problems and want to change things in the town he has lived in his whole life. Zoey is not like the other rich tourists and Graham falls even more for her. Graham also has an adorable dog and a connection with a moose he has named Ulysses.

This was a good story. I thought the interaction between the two main characters was believable. They were cute together, but they also were real about their time together being limited and how they would handle that. Graham had reason to be wary of tourists. They do sometimes cause problems. I could understand his concern about how they would just go up to a moose - a wild animal - and expect to take a picture with it not considering what could happen to them or the moose. I could understand his aversion to sweeping change in a place that he loved. I felt that the author did her research about Alaska and its people. The ending was a little cliché, but I still loved it. It was true to what we learned about Graham's character underneath his grumpy exterior and is just what I would have expected him to do.

I recommend this book and want to give my thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read The Tourist Attraction and share my unbiased opinion.

Received an ARC of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful laugh-out-loud rom-com. It kept me wanting more. The dynamic between Graham (the grumpy alaskan native) and Zoey (the corky traveler) was fun lovely and entertaining. By the end I had on a wide smile, wanting to hop on a plane to Alaska and find my very own Graham Barnett.
I would definitely recommend this one!
Can’t wait for Sarah Morgenthanler next book!

Graham Barnett lives in the small town of Moose Springs, Alaska, where locals hate the rich tourists. Graham owns and is the sole worker in his diner called The Tourist Trap, which is famous not only for their drinks but also for the surly owner.

Zoey Caldwell saved for years to be able to afford a trip to Alaska. On the first night she meets Graham. Graham is shocked to find that he actually does not dislike Zoey, and in fact, during her two week stay he finds himself actually starting to like her.

Add in Ulysses, a moose who loves buns and rubbing on Graham's pickup truck and Jake, Graham's blind border collie who loves to dress up, and you have a romantic comedy that is fall on the floor hilarious that you cannot put down! Abby Jimenez fans will love this book. I cannot wait to hear more about the antics in Moose Springs!

This book was given to me an an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

The Tourist Attraction - Sarah Morgenthaler Review

Rating 4 / 5 Stars

** Thank you to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and of course, Sarah Morgenthaler for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I am stuck in Quarantine, I’ve been dreaming of far off places (in retrospect to my living room). Alaska is a welcomed option! I’ve never been to the beauty, but it has always been on my bucket list, probably for its far off local and the idea of it being an exotic part of the United States (although I have a friend from college who is from Alaska and she is so sick of this idea (look at that plot connection!), but she is also one of the coolest people). I can’t be the only one who wanted a small-town Alaska experience after 2009’s The Proposal with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock.

The Tourist Attraction offers this wonderland. Moose Springs is the cutest town and Morgenthaler does a great job of keeping the small town vibes at the core of this book. We get to experience how the everyday person of Moose Springs feels about tourists visiting their cute town (for the Instagram duh) and spoiler - it’s not a positive view! The use of terms like “The Big House” shows a dividing line between locals and tourists. One of the greatest parts of this novel is the locals. They provide such a lovely background for the development of the relationship between our main characters.

And who are our main characters? Zoey and Graham! What an awesome pairing.

Zoey is me described in my first paragraph. She has wanted to visit Alaska for years and when the opportunity arises, she jumps on it! Zoey is a Type A person who has everything planned before she lands. But Zoey is also really quirky and adorable. Her glasses slipping from her face are just one of the ways Morgenthaler makes her relatable to the reader. Her awkwardness, but at the same time, spunky personality is so relatable and makes for a great connection. For me, being in my mid-20s, I really enjoyed envisioning myself in Zoey’s shoes and I saw a lot of myself in her.

Graham is at his heart, a jokester. He did open a diner called “The Tourist Trap” as a Joke. Now it is in every guide book and tourists line up to visit it - exactly what he wanted right? Wrong. Gumpy Graham was a fun nickname I found myself attaching to him. He actually really reminds me of Luke from Gilmore Girls - loves to be that jerk but in reality, has such a kind heart he wants to share. I loved seeing how the diner world worked and all of Graham’s thoughts on it. As I said, Graham has a deep-rooted kind heart. He calls Zoey “Darlin” which I found adorable. He will do anything for Zoey - including making a fool of himself.

When Zoey and Graham meet, it is the classic rocky trope. Their first interaction lands them in jail and results in a hysterical read. I LOVE their connection. They flirt and joke yet also talk about deep-rooted issues and pains of their past thus bringing out the best in one another.

Morgenthaler proves her place in an oversaturated field with The Tourist Attraction. I loved so much about this book. From the locals of Moose Springs, the relationship of Zoey and Graham, and the nature description (WHALES AND NARWHALS HELLO!!!!). Her writing of characters brought me back to Gilmore Girls and that small town - where the ensemble is not just existing in the background. There is so much beauty to be found in Moose Springs and The Tourist Attraction.

Morgenthaler has already announced a second book set in Moose Springs. A Christmas setting in snowy Moose Springs based on Lana - Zoey’s best friend. I know for a fact I will be pre-ordering it before its October 2020 release!

Thank you for such a lovely rom-com which made me laugh and smile during these hard times. I cannot wait to read more from Sarah!

This books has SO much potential. Arrogant but actually sweet local and sweet, but actually fiesty tourist falling for each other. Beautiful scenery (Alaska), and great local and friend characters.

The thing that is taking away from the potentional, in my opinion, is the male character's use of pet names like "darlin', or 'gorgeous,' or 'zoey bear.' No, stop. Remove all those and this book goes up a whole lot for me. It makes what he's saying less believable. Oh and slender fingers was used too much.

3.5 stars!

I found this book quite entertaining. The story takes place in a very scenic town that the author does a fantastic job describing and is peppered with both hilarious situations that had me laughing out loud and heartfelt moments that pulled at my heartstrings. I could relate with Zoey's love of the Alaskan wilderness and absolutely adored Graham's love for his dog Jake and his moose friend Ulysses. I felt that the pace of the story slowed down a bit halfway through the book but then picked up again towards the end and those last few chapters had me at the edge of my seat and flying through the pages. Perfect for readers who are looking for a fun read and enjoy natural settings.

Thank you Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Zoey has been saving all her money to go on a dream vacation. She is going to spend two weeks in Alaska with her best friend! On their first night there, Lana brings her to a diner called The Tourist Trap owned and run by Graham. Graham is instantly attracted to Zoey, but he a strict no tourist rule. Lana becomes busier with work, which pushes Zoey and Graham to spend more time together. What’s going to happen to them when her two week vacation is up?

Oh my goodness, this book was so cute! First off, I love books set in Alaska! Then add in a moose named Ulysses, a border collie named Jake, and romance. This was a recipe for a book I’d love! This book was a quick and fun read. I really loved seeing the POV between Zoey and Graham. I felt like I got to see Alaska through their eyes, in two very different ways! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I would highly recommend this one!

A fab read, the story of Graham and Zoey,

Graham runs the tourist trap - toursists keep his business alive but he dislikes them and what they do to his home town. He has a rule to never date tourists, but then he meets Zoey. Mishaps seem to follow her around and she just isn't like their usual tourists, but will he give her a chance?

Thanks to Netflix and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler is my perfect summer romance. Seems like an unlikely choice but I think this would make a fantastic beach read. It ticks all the boxes for what I want from a fun romance:

- a lovable, grumpy hero whose love for animals will just melt your heart
- a relatable, down to earth heroine with a solid head on her shoulders
- fun quirky supporting characters that have you wanting to know their stories
- great small town environment
- Alaska - after a visit last summer, books set in the Kenai peninsula are among my favorites

If sweet, fun, low angst romances are your thing, then run to your favorite retailer and pick this novel up today. You really cannot go wrong!