Oh how I love Julie! Dual POV, awesome narration. I can't stop listening! The way they both embodied the characters in their voice is great.

The whole storyline is so fun, and understanding where both Olivia and Hudson are coming from is refreshing. It's refreshing to see the male being awkward and overthinking. I feel like, even though they knew of each other for so long, working together really made them understand each other.

I've read her previous books, but I felt a bit lost with all of the cousins and family mentioned. It doesn't impact the story too much, but it is making me want to do some rereads!

Thank you to the author, Dreamscape Select & Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars.

This book was a quick read — loved that for me. It has all the makings of a cute rom-com: a charming setting, a sweet premise, and Olivia and Hudson who had solid chemistry (even if they weren't exactly oozing complexity).

That said, about 30-40% in, the pacing hit molasses mode and I mentally checked out. I don’t do slow burns well, so if that’s your jam, you’ll probably vibe more than I did.

Trigger warnings: abandonment and parental death — so definitely read the description before diving in.

I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I didn’t feel lost, so kudos there. Solid structure overall, but that second half could use a double shot of espresso.

Happy reading — preferably with a piña colada in hand.

I LOVED this book, it was a little slow in the beginning and the grandma was alittle cringy but I’m not letting the grandma ruin the book for me! I enjoyed the large family love and dynamic because I come from a family of a lot of siblings and a lot of cousins close in age and that makes us all really close! So I loved that and some people may think that the talk of therapy and the mental struggles that both the MMC and the FMC are going through takes away from the book but I disagree. I think it makes the books more relatable and honest and shows that romance isn’t perfect and it can be hard and awkward. The car accident killed me and I almost cried at work lol I liked the romance in the book it was messy and it wasn’t “high “ chemistry but I don’t look at all romcoms or romance books and want hallmark romance, when I want that I look for certain books but with any other romcom and romance, I want realistic romance and relatable and honest romance. I personally think I got that here and I truly enjoyed the book! I also truly liked the narrators in this book as well! 4/5 stars!! Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for allowing me to listen to this book and review it!

I really liked the whole cast of characters in this book—they were all so much fun. I definitely want to read the other books in the series so I can see more of this cast! I did feel like the ending was just a bit rushed—I would have liked to see a little bit more of the fallout from the big climactic moment, as well as the two MCs getting together on page (not in an open-door way, just in that I wish we'd gotten a little more of the relationship developing).

In terms of the narration, I overall liked the female narrator (though I didn't love the voice she did for the grandmother) and I really liked the male narrator.

This story is well-written and fun to read with great Characters. Both main characters go through growth in relationships and in loving who they are.

This book contains no swears, light alcohol consumption in 2 or 3 scenes, and kissing only. Dual POV.

Both male and female narrators are wonderful and easy to listen to.

Okay! I loved this story! Bringing two poeple back together after a dare! What a ride! I truly enjoyed how they came together to fix a beloved hotel and made the hard decisions together! Truly delightful!

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for this story! All opinions and thoughts are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Christianson for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐

That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss was my first Julie Christianson book and will not be my last. This romance is the perfect beach read or book to listen to by the pool! From the moment you meet Liv and Hudson, you will love these characters. Their charming personalities and undeniable chemistry make it impossible not to root for them. Their story unfolds with a playful spirit, proving that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the greatest discoveries...and that sometimes dares are worth taking!

I listened to the audiobook and must say the narration by Andy Harrington and Amanda Friday was excellent!

This was so cute and cosy I listened to this arc on a 3 hour road trip then back again.
It kept me awake and smiling it was an easy listen the narrators did a great job.

Olivia, was fired from her job and has no where left to go apart from home to her mums and big mamas house. The small town where everyone knows eachother and everyone is related and family.

Hudson broke up with his girlfriend and decides to leave an unfulfilled job with his dad. His found a job and the beach side inn.

Together they go back for similar reasons but both want the same job.
After a few years ago Olivia kisses Hudson on a date and has been mortified about the situation when Hudson abruptly tells her no.

So how awkward can the next meeting be!

It was great the plot was great, the character on point!
Big mama is defo my fave!

If you want small town romance, an intrusive family, close door romance, lighthearted and not complicated this is for you!

Thank you netgalley and dreamscape select for the arc in exchange for an honest review

SHORT SYNOPSIS:
After being passed over for a promotion, Olivia moves in with her grandma to figure out her next steps. When she hears that the Beachfront Inn is hiring, she immediately throws her hat into the ring, only to learn that they already hired some. Someone she kissed on a dare. But was rejected by.

MY THOUGHTS:
Hudson and Olivia. I love them. This was filled with banter and swoony moments and makes for a perfect summer read. Both characters had a lot of growing and learning to do, and they had beautiful character arcs on their own, which made their love and relationship that much better. Hudson truly seeing Olivia, was so sweet.

Amanda Friday and Andy Harrington are the narrators on this one. And they truly brought Hudson and Olivia to life. A lot of times audiobooks, and even dual narrator audiobooks will alternate narrators based on the chapter. What I loved about their narration is the fact that when Hudson spoke (even in an Olivia chapter), Andy narrated that and vice versa.

Julia Christianson is a new to me this year author and I’m looking forward to continuing my backlist read of her books.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
🏝️Small beach town
2️⃣Dual POV + Dual narrators
🔥Forced Proximity
🫂Found Family
⛈️Summer storm

That Time I Accidentally Kissed My Beachfront Boss is cute, predictable, and full of sunshine — exactly what you’d expect from a small-town beach romance. The setting is dreamy, the main characters are charming, and the side characters add some fun depth (especially if you’ve read the previous books). It’s definitely a comfort read with all the familiar beats, but still manages to feel sweet and engaging. Nothing groundbreaking, but it delivers exactly what it promises.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Rated R for language (more than four F-bombs), mild sexual content, and adult themes.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Both the FMC and MMC came across as quite immature, which made it hard to connect with the romance. I also struggled with the female narrator’s voice throughout the audiobook. It just didn’t land for me and made the FMC’s personality feel even more grating. While the male narrator had a smoother delivery, the MMC’s character didn’t leave a great impression either. His “secret” about pretending his mother was dead for years felt bizarre and unnecessary, and it really took me out of the story. It honestly gave me the biggest ick.
This book had potential, but it just didn’t deliver for me personally.

What You Can Expect
• Sworn-off relationships
• Forced proximity
• Workplace romance
• Small town setting

🗓 Pub Date: June 4, 2025
🎧 Thank you to Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Final Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.75 rounded up)

That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss is a delightful escape into the world of second chances, small-town gossip, and slow-burn romance. Julie Christianson delivers a charming, closed-door romantic comedy that had me smiling from start to finish. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and the “forced proximity meets workplace romance” trope is executed with just the right amount of tension and tenderness.

What really made this audiobook shine for me was the dual narration. Andy Harrington and Amanda Friday bring Hudson and the heroine to life with warmth and personality. Their performances added depth to the characters and made the banter and emotional beats feel even more authentic. It felt like I was right there at the Beachfront Inn, rooting for these two to finally get it right.

The story balances humor and heart beautifully, and while some plot points were a bit predictable, the emotional payoff and feel-good vibes more than made up for it. It’s the kind of story that leaves you feeling cozy and content, perfect for fans of clean romance with a lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this sweet and satisfying audiobook!

Liv Macoy is part of a very large family and is a triplete. On a dare she went up to Hudson Blaine and kissed him. Which he totally blew her off. A year later Liv finds herself unemployeed and living with her mother and grandmother when she runs into Blaine at the beachfront hotel. Liv was looking to apply for the manager position only to find out that Blaine has gotten it. The more time that they spend together as Liv is helping out with marketing and social media accounts the more they have feelings for each other. Will Liv break her rule and finally fall in love. Even though I didn't read or listen to the other books in this series I was still able to follow along. This is a clean romantic comedy that anyone would love. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Julie Christianson for letting me listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

I enjoyed listening from chapters one through three. But chapter four took me by surprise. The MMC’s comments about the FMC just rubbed me the wrong way. He didn’t want to “date” her because of his previous history with her. And by history he meant the FMC choosing another guy over him during a wedding (they were not even dating at that time or even friends; they just flirted and the FMC chose another groomsman to pair with), and continues to say “I can tell she changes guys like she changes outfits”. What a misogynistic chapter. I had to DNF once I heard these because I just can’t get past.. It’s 2025 and there are a ton ways to portray how one character dislikes the other for the sake of the plot. But it should never be misogynistic.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC.

That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss by Julie Christianson ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

vibes:
saving the small town business together
not relationship material MMC and FMC
triplets
duet narration audiobook
marketing and PR girlie
no language or spice
favorite quote: "I think we're all probably just a little bit messier than anyone ever knows."

Don't let this cover and the title fool you, this was a five star audiobook for me! It's so sweet and funny with great characters with depth while keeping the tone fun.

These two are saving a beachfront resort in their small town. Guys, the FMC is a triplet, which is already fun, and she's in the marketing industry which was my field before I became a stay at home mom several years ago, so I love to see that in books.

This is a duet narration, which means that the male narrator speaks all of the male characters' dialogue in every scene, and vice versa. It's a superior way to consume audiobooks. Hooray! I enjoyed the male narrator (5 stars) and I mostly enjoyed the female (4 stars) but a couple things bothered me and took me out of the story. Not very many though. I would still recommend to all romance readers.

If you want all the summer vibes, banter, flirting and forced proximity, this one is for you!

Add this one to your summer TBR.

That Time I Kissed My Beachfront Boss is a cute small-town romance—funny banter, great chemistry, and characters you can’t help but root for. Julie Christianson nails the slow-burn tension between the heroine and her charmingly off-limits boss, all set against the dreamy backdrop of beachy Abieville. This story is a minimal spice story that could almost be used for YA. While predictable, it's adorable.

Even if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, this one works perfectly as a standalone. It’s light, feel-good, and totally bingeable. If you like romantic comedies with depth, sass, and a side of sunshine, you’ll love this one!

3 stars. I think there is potential for this book to be a 3.5 or 4 stars, but it just didn't hit that high for me.
I didn't hate the book, but I also didn't love it.
It was a quick read, I loved that about the book. This would be a beach read that I would read after I read all of my other books and needed another one.
The setting and premise was cute.
There are some trigger warnings - so make sure you read the description well - abandonment and parental death.
The beginning of this book starts out great, but I would say 30-40% into the book, I could not engage as much anymore. The story was written at such a slow pace that I could not keep myself actively engaged enough. However, I know myself, and I do not do well with slow burn, so if that is your thing, you will like this book.
Olivia and Hudson were pretty well developed and relatable. Chemistry was good. There just wasn't much complexity to them.
The plot structure was well done, but the pace killed me. Specifically, the second half of the book.
I will say, I have not read the previous two books, but I thought this read well as a standalone. I didn't feel I was missing any pertinent information that was essential to the plot of this book.
Overall, decent read, could use a change in pace during the second half of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Happy Reading!

This was fine. It held my interest on audio and I was glad that there wasn’t a ton of drama but that also made it a little slow for me. I liked Hudson and Olivia as characters and the romance was cute. It got a little cheesy with the books/library but I also feel like I have seen that in a lot of books lately so I may just be tired of it. I do love the big family aspect of this series and seeing all the triplet/sibling connections plus characters from other books reappearing. I sense another book coming for Darby because there is definitely more to the story with her boyfriend.

I like dual point of view and I thought both narrators did well. This is almost like a full cast because the male narrator also reads his dialogue parts when it is her point of view and vice versa. I don’t always love that method but it worked well for this book.

I received an a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Kisses

I loved this story. Olivia grows so much and finds her true calling while Hudson learns to trust himself and to trust in love. This wasn’t quite enemies to lovers but in the same vein with forced proximity. It was a fun novel with all the markers of a rom com.
The narrators did a fantastic job, the voice acting was really good and the editing and pacing was good.

Forced proximity
He falls first
Flirty feels
Dual POV

Dual Narration - Amanda Friday & Andy Harrington
Great voice well narrated

A fun and lighthearted quick listen. I loved all the flirty banter. Well written and easy to follow. Definitely recommend