Unfortunately I was not a fan of this novel and did not finish it. I really wanted to continue, but it was truly past the point of redemption for me. What I look for in novels is believability or some part of the novel that looks like it truly could have happened, especially in realistic fiction. But, I had no idea why Zoey was friends with Lana and I got so tired of Lana walking over Zoey. I also, had no idea why Graham was interested in her. They have like two interactions and Graham is all like Zoey, "Isn't like other girls/tourists" and gets jealous when other guys interact with her. First of all it is 2020 and I don't stand for that "not like other girls" nonsense.

I will say that this could just be a ME problem. I was very tired every time I picked up this book and the long chapters did not help.

I wanted to love this one so badly, but instead was just bored and rolling my eyes. I made it until 45% and then had to set the novel down.

Nothing about her Alaskan dream vacation was what Zoey expected, including the gruff but handsome owner of The Tourist Trap diner. The town of Moose Springs was its own giant, beautiful character, and I felt like the locals versus tourists storyline emphasized the power of place and belonging. This is a charming story, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to any of the characters - I’m excited to return back to the wilderness for the next book in the series!

She’s taking a trip. He’s about to fall.

Graham Barnett had a strict “no tourists” policy until Zoey Caldwell broke all of his rules. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and one encounter with grumpy diner owner Graham, and Zoey is smitten. Enter Ulysses the moose and things just go crazy.

First off, let me just say that I love books that take place in Alaska! One of my all-time favorite plot locations to read about. The Tourist Attraction was such a fun read. I enjoyed the flirty banter between Graham and Zoey, and the humor and quick, witty one-liners were off the charts. This is a book that will make you LOL in real time. This was exactly the book I wanted to get lost in for a few hours with everything going on in the world today. Also love that big as your face cinnamon rolls are a focal point for this story!

If you are in the mood for a quick, fun and easy read to help take your mind off of things, grab this one when it comes out in May!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a pleasant read! If you're looking for a light hearted read to get your mind off of things that you can't put down during this time at home, this is the perfect book! I originally wanted to read it simply because it is set in Alaska. What's better than romance in Alaska?! I loved the light heartedness of the characters and laughed out loud at a few of the scenarios (a certain bun loving moose and a kick to the jewels comes to mind...). This book certainly isn't a slow burn, and some scenarios seem unrealistic to the extreme (Graham owns a diner that he is never at; Zoey and Graham in the "jail" is ridiculous lol; and the ending is the cheesy unrealistic one that we all love).

All in all, this was a super cute read and a great release for first timer, Sarah Morgenthaler. I look forward to reading more of her books as they come out! Now I need to find me a Growly Bear.... :)

This was such a charming read! The characters were fantastic and I loved the interactions between Graham & Zoey. I laughed out loud so many times, especially at Ulysses the moose. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

<i> “You have weird taste in everything,” she decided, but her voice had softened.
“I’m not Cinderella, Graham. I have a good life, and I don’t need to be rescued.” Graham chuckled, low in his throat.
“No rescuing from me, gorgeous. I’m definitely not the prince.”</i>

Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Graham hates tourists. He hates their expensive cars, they manner, their need to take a photo with a moose (even though it’s dangerous) - he just hates them.
And even though he’s a little rough and sometimes impolite to people, the tourists love him and his little food stop - Tourist Trap.
They love it so much that they stand in lines outside, just to get his food.
Graham hates tourists, but he likes Lana his friend (but sadly also tourist).
And when he meets Zoey he wants to dislike her like he dislikes the other tourists.
But Zoey is different.
Starting with being drunk at his food stop, kicking him in the balls, nearly falling into an ice cave and being on a boat where 78% of the people are vomiting.
Well, her luck at this vacation wasn’t the best.
But fate (or Lana) always brings them together again.
And then they fall for each other. Pretty hard.
But it’s just a vacation love and it’ll end soon.
Right?
And it’ll break their hearts. (And ours 💔)

Oh finally a wonderful, funny, entertaining book! I fell in love with it from the beginning.
I love Romcoms so much and this one especially with because it had a lot of funny scenes, drama and I loved every bit of it.
Definitely a recommendation!

Character 🌟🌟🌟🌟

<i> She was a strong, independent woman perfectly capable of taking care of herself in the Alaskan wilderness.
Which was why, when she turned the corner and ended up next to a massive steel shipping container, face-to-welding mask with a man brandishing a chainsaw above them, Zoey knew exactly what to do.
She ran away.
And when he yelled something, grabbing her arm and pulling her around, Zoey was more than prepared for the situation.
Screaming bloody murder, Zoey kicked him straight between the legs.</i>

For a few years Zoey saved for the trip of her lifetime.
She wanted it to be special, she wanted it to be perfect.
Until it wasn’t, but in some way also was. Maybe even more.
Zoey was this wonderful girl with a big heart, the need for harmony and a lot of sass in her body. Also she was really clumsy which made everything so much relatable.
I had the feeling that she was all of us around new people or people we don’t feel good around. She felt small, wanted to be left alone, was a grey little mouse. 🐭
But every time she was around Graham she let herself become her true self.
She was strong minded, funny and always had some witty response.
Those two were destined to be together.
Two cute little weirdos.
Graham was a little moody, cynical guy who did a great job at his own food stop but hated most of his days. He hated the strangers coming in and out of his restaurant, hated all of it. Until he met Zoey and he fell for her. Whereas he was a little jerk before, to Zoey he was the cutest little cinnamon roll in the world. He cared for her, made excursions and showed her beautiful places.
(He even did some selfies with her.)
He was the cutest thing ever. I loved it.
The other characters fitted perfectly into the story and even though they weren’t as detailed as the main, I don’t think they needed to be.

Also: can we talk about Graham and his protectiveness? He knew Zoey could take her own fights and still he supported her and stood up for her when he felt the need to.
Ugh, I’m in love.
Also he gave her really cute nicknames like Zoey bear and gorgeous, darling...

And he had a cute dog. I repeat. A cute dog.
🐶
Relationships 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The typical vacation love story isn’t my thing, but when I started reading the description and later the book I was like:
Yes, that’s what I want right now.
It was funny, made me smile a lot and made my heart ache sometimes. It was heartwarming and sweet and I loved every minute of it.
There were those two weirdos finding each other and being weird dorks together.
I loved their banter, their jokes and how they treated each other.
It was the best thing ever.

Writing style 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The beginning was a little weird, but kind of nice and then the story started and I was like: Woah, I thought this would be an okay book but it turned out to be awesome?
It was written in two POVs - Zoey and a Graham’s - and all the funny banters, accidents and moments made the book so enjoyable!
I loved every bit and I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to read a cute romcom!

<i>”I can make up a lot more interesting version of myself than the truth.”
“What’s the truth?”
“I’m just a guy. With my head in the lap of a girl. Asking her not to spill her drink on me.”
</i>

A curmudgeonly, but handsome, Alaskan local diner owner finds himself irresistibly drawn to the adorable visitor who keeps popping into his life, but he's sworn off relationships with tourists for good reason. Although it might be time to revisit that vow...

This delicious story has a great sense of setting, terrific banter, lots of humor, and a realistically paced romance. I cannot wait for more from Moose Springs!

This was so cute and a great distraction from not being able to be in the outdoors myself. The plot was a little tropey but the execution was brilliant and the humor-filled every page. I fully enjoyed this read.

I loved this book! It was an adventure the whole way through! I was charmed by Graham and the town of Moose Springs. I loved all of the characters and the funny, romantic storyline. I only didn’t give it 5 stars because I would’ve liked a little more description and detail. There were many scenes that were left a little too vague that I would’ve loved to be able to picture more clearly or even just to have a little more build to the scenes.

This is a great Rom-Com. It is set in Alaska and I love to read books set here. It was easy to read and funny. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I was. unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review on my blog. This was almost too cheesy -- the name of the restaurant, the stereotypical characters, the cavalier attitude to alcohol abuse -- I did not care for this one. Thank you for the opportunity and your consideration to read this book.

As a born and raised Alaskan, I adored The Tourist Attraction that so happens to be set in a small town in Alaska.

Graham is a diner owner can’t stand the tourists who come to visit his hometown of Moose Springs and will do anything to get them to leave. Everything changes when he sees a woman sitting at a table in his diner that utterly captivates him. Zoey has been planning her trip to Alaska for years and she’s finally in Moose Springs but nothing seems to be going right. Zoey finds herself around Graham as one thing after another goes wrong. But as sparks flare, Graham is able to show Zoey the Alaska he grew up in and both wonder if they will be able to handle Zoey leaving with their hearts intact.

I enjoyed The Tour Attraction so much. Filled with delightful characters and endless humor in a gorgeously written setting, this story warmed my heart in a time where the world isn’t so happy right now. Plus Graham owns a blind sweet dog. Who wouldn’t love that?

Special thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Sarah Morgenthaler for this ARC

The Tourist Attraction is the rom-com antidote you need to your normal everyday life boredom. Zoey is on her once in a lifetime bucket-list trip and Graham has a thriving (unfortunately) business in the small Alaskan town of Moose Springs. Zoey and Graham are well-suited to each other, but they both know any relationship has an expiration date.
I loved getting to experience Zoey's dream trip to Alaska, even if nothing goes according to her plans. Graham is the ultimate leading man who is hot, charming, and kind. He also suffers from little-to-no ambition, and a thriving business he can't seem to slow down. He and Zoey are well-balanced and hilarious to watch; especially while she wrangles into boring tourist excursions.

This book might be the worst book I have ever read.

There are three main problems with this book:

The heroine has the personality of a chalkboard. She is such a doormate to her friends that I am surprised she was even interested in coming to Alaska. I feel like she is just going along with the hero's interest with her because, well, she is in need of some adult activities but I feel like she is not an active participant in their relationship.

The hero sees her for four hours while she reads a book and goes all possessive jerk the first day he knows her? That isn't romantic, that is time for a restraining order. He is really possessive of her and it is disturbing given the short time they have known each other. I could understand jealousy if she were dining with someone else but he isn't jealous, he is a caveman. Speaking of, I don't know how he has any friends because he is a jerk of epic proportions.

The pacing is awful. Was this book even edited. There is no sense of place or character or community that I want from a small-town romance. The book just rushes from scene to scene like the author was on deadline and yet reading it, the book seem interminable.

In conclusion, do NOT buy this book under any circumstances. It pains me to even give it one star.

oey plans on having the time of her life during her vacation trip to Alaska, but meeting local Graham turns her trip into an unexpected romance in this quirky cute adult contemporary romance.

Romances happening quickly over a short period of time rarely work for me, but this story manages to make it believable. Zoey and Graham work well together as friends and lovers despite only knowing each other for two weeks. Graham, in particular, shines as he struggles with his growing feelings for Zoe and his decision to not date vacationers. His turmoil toward the end of the story is heartfelt and genuine. Zoey is less interesting to me as she seems to have very little to lose by staying in Alaska.

If I had one quibble, it’s all the mishaps that occur to Zoey during her vacation. Every time she attempts to do something – go sightseeing, ziplining, drinking, etc. – she ends up in some Bridget Jones-esque quirky situation. The comedy began to erode as Zoey encountered every problematic trial and tribulation of her excursions. I would have liked one to have worked out for her, if only for the other zany moments to have impact.

tl;dr Despite knowing each other a grand total of two weeks, Zoey and Graham’s romance charmed me from beginning to the end.

Received an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

The Tourist Attraction was a perfect "binge in a day during social isolation" book. It was fun, quick and distracting. Morgenthaler dumps you right into the story and a lot of background information comes late, which is a bit of a trade-off because things move quickly without copious amounts of exposition but some facts really would have helped me understand the characters better if I knew them sooner.

Zoey is a likable protagonist who could have been TSTL (too stupid to live) but is rational enough that you go with it. Graham is amusingly gruff and his thoughts are fun to follow. The main plot follows the couple through screwball rom-com scenarios and eventually more emotional connection. A side plot involving Zoey's friend Lana lurks but feels underdeveloped (Lana will be the star of book two).

Overall, I enjoyed this book but it had enough things that didn't land with me (lack of background until too late, some too-easily-excused violence from the hero, too many zany incidents) that I'm giving it three stars.

The Tourist Attraction was a sweet, funny, and very quick romance read. I am a sucker for books set in Alaska and I knew as soon as I read the synopsis for this one that I just had to pick it up as soon as humanly possible. Bearded Alaskan man and his adorable dog? Sold.

Unfortunately - this kind of hit the mark for me. While I did enjoy the storyline, the two main characters came off as juvenile and the sheer number of side characters was kind of overwhelming. I didn't feel as much of a connection between Zoey and Graham - and the insta-love kind of threw me off. However, I did enjoy Zoey's relationship with Lana despite the very different walks of life that they came from.

On top of the original premise, something that immediately drew me into this book should surprise no one: The dialogue was incredible. Pithy, fun, cute, I loved it. That said, Sarah Morgenthaler's The Tourist Attraction didn't quite click for me.

My two big issues? For one thing, as y'all know from my mountain of other romance novel reviews, it's hard for me to stan a book with an insta-love trope. Not every book can be an incredible enemies-to-lovers tale, but I think insta-love is hard to pull off convincingly (REALLY?! You REALLY saw each other from across the room and fell in love that quickly???) and sustain well for an entire book. The Tourist Attraction did this better than most works in the genre, but it wasn't all there.

Second, I never fully warmed up to the main character Zoey. We got a lot of description of how amazing she was from Graham's perspective, but that wasn't seen through her actions. I'm not a big fan of the adorkably bland quirkly girl schtick, and it's almost ironic that this protagonist shares a name with one of the most famous queens of adorkable.

That said, I think this was a very solid debut for Sarah Morgenthaler, and I'm interested in seeing what she writes in the future because whew, that dialogue was excellent. This one's three stars for me.

I really , really enjoyed reading this book! I am always a fan of any book set in Alaska and this book did not disappoint! The plot was perfect and it was actually very funny! The jokes weren’t cringey and they didn’t fall flat. The romance was the kind you rooted for page after page. My only issue was the amount of side characters. At times it became a bit of a distraction from the main focus of Graham and Zoey.

Actual rating 2.75 ⭐️

After reading The Simple Wild I knew I had to read The Tourist Attraction since it’s set in Alaska as well.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love it as much. But I also didn’t hate it. The Tourist Attraction wasn’t terribly written - I just personally prefer to get more tension in a rom com. I couldn’t really feel the chemistry between the characters and I wasn’t a fan of the pacing.

It was cute but it didn’t blow my mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC.