2.5⭐️
Here for a Good Time was more of a self discovery, adventure novel with a little romance and spice thrown in at the end rather than a full blown romance.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing and thought the plot was incredibly predictable but found a lot of truth in the characters.

I probably would have DNF’d this around the 30% mark when I figured out what was going to happen resort-jacking wise but powered through because I thought there would be more romance and then there wasn’t.

If you have a hard time guessing the end of mysteries, you might enjoy this book more.

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an engaging read! I enjoyed the plot and would read it again. A few parts were a bit slow though.

Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War was a mediocre read for me. It wasn't horrible and I didn't DNF it. But I'm not sure it will stick with me either. 2.5 stars for me.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to enjoy this so much but it just didn’t connect for me. It started off alright but then it lost me. However that is me personally! The book is well written and I liked the themes explored in the book so I’m sure many will love it.

Being a person who loves to read I get pulled to books that are about authors. That part of the book I enjoyed but I wish it was more as the romance wasn’t hitting home. I may give this another go in audio when available as I find some books on the cusp for me so better in audio and k end up liking it better. So stay tuned…


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from St Martins Press through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Having thoroughly enjoyed I Did Something Bad, I was really looking forward to this release. I have to admit I feel a little let down by this book though, it didn't live up to I Did Something Bad for me. The writing didn't feel as fun to me, the mystery wasn't as compelling, and most importantly, I didn't connect with the romance as much. I didn't feel like it was given enough attention within the story, and I didn't really feel the chemistry. I felt like changes in their relationship came on very suddenly and without enough build-up. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy this at all, but just that it fell flat for me in comparison with the author's previous book.

I'm not sure what to think about this. It felt like it dragged in the middle. The plot was just... Really out there.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War is a friends-to-lovers romance with a thrilling twist. Poe Myat Sabei, a bestselling author, is struggling to write her second book after the wild success of her first which is being adapted into a Netflix movie. To break through her writer's block, she invites her best friend, Zwe, to an exclusive island retreat. Sounds like the perfect escape.
Things take a dramatic turn when a group of masked women suddenly take over the island.

At first, Poe and Zwe manage to evade capture, but as they fight for survival, they’re also forced to confront their past and their feelings for each other. The premise had me hooked and I loved the setup, the intrigue, and the promise of a tense, emotional journey. However, as the story progressed, I found myself struggling to stay invested in Poe and Zwe as a couple. In such extreme circumstances, no one is at their best, but their dynamic didn’t quite click for me in the way I’d hoped. I wished for more chemistry, or perhaps some added humor or sarcasm to create fun banter between them.

That said, I was eager to see how it would all play out. I kept reading in hopes of a strong payoff, but unfortunately, the ending fell a little flat. I wanted something deeper or more satisfying to round out the experience. Despite that, the novel had an intriguing premise and enough momentum to keep me turning the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I thought I was going to read a romance novel - but it turned into so much more! Suspense, closed-door (aka secluded island) mystery, and a lot of adventure rounded out an utterly readable and fun novel.

Poe and Zwe are best friends on the verge of thirty. They’ve done a lot of life together - even work and live together - but they’ve never taken the next step in their relationship. Enter an island getaway full of luxury and romance that goes terribly wrong and see what happens! This one kept me turning the pages waiting to see what happened next.

Thanks for the review copy. The cover is intriguing. This book has lots of interesting twists and turns. It is sure to be a bear seller.

I liked the setting and the location of this book and enjoyed the dynamic between Poe and Zwe. Unlike most other romcoms these characters are able to talk about their issues and there’s no miscommunication between them. I enjoyed the overall plot, the romance between Poe and Zwe and the adventures they went through. At times it did feel rushed and the ending seemed too cliche but maybe with some more tweaks and editing this has the potential to be a successful and highly rated book! I recommend this as the perfect beach/summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

This was a very pleasant easy fun fast paced read I liked it I will recommend this as a nice book to read it kept me engaged!!

Here for a Good Time by Paye is an absolute delight from start to finish! The writing is witty, charming, and full of heart, effortlessly blending humor with genuine emotion. The characters are incredibly relatable and well-developed, each with their own quirks and depth, making them feel like real people you could easily become friends with. The story is fast-paced, fun, and uplifting, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you hooked. Paye nails the perfect balance of lightheartedness and sincerity, creating a feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page. This is a 5-star read that’s perfect for anyone looking for a joyful escape!

A couple exciting moments. Otherwise, this did not work for me at all, especially as a romance. I found both main characters to be annoying, bad people with no chemistry. The whole hotel takeover/hostage plot made no sense. And I hate the implication that "good" rich people will just solve all the world's problems.

Again, cute story, nothing crazy! Great book for when you’re looking for something low stakes and fast paced.

This was a fun, albeit slightly bonkers friends to lovers read. I've never read anything like this!

Confession: I'd forgotten the synopsis when I started reading and was momentarily very confused when the heist started! I quickly got on board though, and I'm glad I did, because what a ride!

This twisty, turny book follows two longtime friends who are oblivious to the fact they both have feel8ngs for each other and try to deny to themselves how they feel. When their magical tropical vacation takes a turn.l, though, they're forced to face those feelings and several other truths about themselves.

This book is so fun!

A friend's-to-lovers rom com with an action plot twist in the second half of the book. I found it a fun and easy read! It started off strong and the action twist was interesting but I found how it was all wrapped up in the end kinda... easy? Disappointing? I did enjoy the main characters, their banter and friendship and how they eventually came to terms with their true feelings for one another.
The epilogue was a sweet, HEA wrap up to a their friends to lovers story. ❤️

3.75* (rounded up to 4* for GR)

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Griffen for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

*slow clap* so I wasn’t too sure about this at first but when it picked up, I couldn’t put it down. I truly enjoyed the perspective on relationship dynamics and felt like the glimpses we got was truly refreshing although a bit shallow.. because it didn’t go into too much depth on the relationship front.

This book? A whole vibe. Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War is sharp, unfiltered, and brimming with wit, offering a refreshingly honest look at life, love, and the inescapable chaos of being human. From the very first page, I knew I was in for something special—this isn’t just a collection of essays; it’s a conversation with that effortlessly cool friend who tells it like it is, makes you laugh at life’s absurdity, and somehow leaves you feeling seen.

Pyae Moe Thet War writes with raw honesty, blending humor with vulnerability in a way that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. Whether she’s dissecting cultural expectations, navigating the messiness of relationships, or reflecting on what it means to chase joy in a world that often demands suffering, every essay hits with precision and heart.

This book doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s an invitation to embrace imperfection, to question the rules we’ve been taught, and—above all—to live unapologetically. If you love thought-provoking, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes gut-punching personal essays, this one is a must-read.

I really appreciated the twist from contemporary romance to adventure/thriller. But the writing and pacing needed to be a little tighter for me. Because the romance is so clearly telegraphed (and the red herring love interests never fooled me), the emotional reveals happened so late they felt rushed and redundant. The thriller portion raises interesting issues about gentrification and the exploitations of tourism, but also felt rushed.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

dialogue felt awkward in the first few pages. really liked the premise though, would try another book by the author.