3.5 rounded up

This was a funny and heartfelt opposites attract, forced proximity romance between a grumpy virgin wilderness guide and a savvy beauty influencer searching for her missing sister. I enjoyed this a lot on audio and would definitely pick up another book by this new to me author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: open door, mild details

I’ve read and loved Katie Ruggle’s romantic suspense novels for years, so when I saw she was writing a rom com I was immediately in! And this book didn’t disappoint, it had everything I loved about her other books with some hilarious moments thrown in. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Read this if you like:
•grumpy / sunshine
•humor
•camping (or at least a man who can pitch a tent 😉)
•Colorado setting

This book caught me so off guard in the best way! The humor was so fun and seeing Winston thaw out and open up to her was so precious. I binged this book so hard!

Thank you sourcebooks Casablanca for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars (rounded up).

"Fish Out of Water" by Katie Ruggle was a mixed bag for me. I think the premise is really difficult to accept off the bat. Considering what happens in the first few percentage points of the book, what happens really wouldn't fly at all in the real world. It was difficult for me to suspend my disbelief... I honestly have an easier time believing alien or minotaur romances, at least those are fantastical ones with a purpose. The romantic suspense angle of this story was "meh" for me despite being a unique premise (which it definitely gets points for). Unfortunately, the romance was lacking, and the suspense wasn't all that thrilling. I never really felt like Dahlia's sister Rose was ever in real danger, especially not with a cover like this one. After the first third of the book, there's no real urgency for Dahlia and Winston to find Rose. There are no real stakes, and I never once felt like she was in real danger. It's way too light and fluffy to be a romantic suspense novel. I also didn't buy into Daliah and Winston's attraction and ultimate romance. It happened too fast and too casually. There was no tension, we didn't have to wait for it at all. You can't (well, you *shouldn't*) fall for someone who blackmailed you?!?!? Uhhh...?? There was some sweetness between them, but no real connection that drew me into caring if they made it or not. One of the most annoying things about this book is how repetitive it is. I lost count of how many times Ruggle describes Winston as some variation of "large." He bursts at the seams of his shirts, needs a quadruple XL sleeping bag, towers over Dahlia, and is beefy and imposing... or how many times he "grunted" in response to something Dahlia said. Get some new synonyms, good lord! While I got through this book rather quickly, I didn't love it, which is unfortunate because I love the grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, and opposites attract tropes. I had hoped that this might be better on audiobook, but not much changed. I liked Cassandra Myles' narration for Dahlia, but her voice for Winston was more distracting than anything. Her male-sounding voice could use some work.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Ruggle, and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.