While I found the characters engaging the set up on this was just way too long and failed to grab me. I do think this book will have many fans (appealing setting, good characters) it just didn't work for me. The lengthy section with exes (or soon to be exes) in the beginning slows down the book. I would start Antonia at the moment she's already broken up instead of spending so much time setting up her failed relationship.

The Write Escape is a journey of self discovery, healing and love. The main characters Antonia and Aiden are each carrying emotional baggage and aren't looking but still find each other. I enjoyed their journey. It was cute, sweet and sensual. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work.

A charming little romance about how everything goes wrong until it finally goes right. Antonia and Aiden are two souls dealing with serious baggage.

The novel does a good job of showcasing the vulnerabilities of people just coming out of toxic relationships. The constant questioning of whether or not it’s healthy to start a new relationship if you’re still trying to process the previous one.

I found myself smiling while reading their meet cute. I’m a sucker for the serendipitous meeting and their banter had me chuckling.

I related to Antonia so much. She and I are on the same page when it comes to what we want in romance novels. And I’m going to need that novel she was working on; it sounds like it would be a pleasant read just like this one.

An incredibly charming contemporary romance debut, THE WRITE ESCAPE tells the story of writer/editor Antonia and professor Aiden falling in love in the midst of the fallout of Antonia's almost-wedding to an emotionally abusive cheater. The dual narration is strong and the voices are distinct and compelling. Though the vacation romance may seem a bit swift to some readers, it's very convincingly laid out to convince me tht this won't be a rebound fling that falls flight in days to come. As the author describes the book on her blog: IRELAND! INTERRACIAL ROMANCE! THATCH-ROOF COTTAGES! I'll be eagerly awaiting more from Reid.

The Write Escape is a warm, fun and, don’t forget, sexy tale! The characters were relatable and very likable. I felt she sometimes veered into platitudes and I found the book in a book writing distracting. But overall I would recommend this book to patrons.

Literary editor catches her fiancee cheating just days from their wedding and decides to take the Ireland honeymoon she booked as a writing retreat, a chance to finally give herself the time and space to explore her passion project. The cottage she ends up staying in on the wild sea coast puts her in close proximity with a sexy Irish professor who is also striving to complete his work while struggling with his personal issues. Two lonely souls, one delicious escape, until reality comes crowding back in to Tully Cross.

A promising debut from an author to watch, but I struggled a bit with the overall arc. I adored Antonia, I loved seeing her take a chance, give her writing a shot, but I wanted her to have maybe had a bit of distance from her failed relationship. I loved Antonia's family, her sister and her mother, and hope maybe they show up in future stories! The descriptions of Ireland and the way Aiden said "Jaysus" were also completely satisfying.

The resolution of the very real issues that broke these two apart felt rushed. There was a lot of internal monologue where the characters talked themselves in to believing the best of the other, and I wanted more action and showing me why. I kind of wanted to tell Antonia to go home and make sure. Go home and finish your book. Or stay in Ireland, but maybe try dating? I'm happy for these two, but I don't know if I was convinced by the end that Aiden deserved her, but I think I just like her so much more as a character. And I mean, Aiden is hot and employed and sweet so, totally lovable. I'm happy to read about a Black woman finding her happily ever after on her terms so you really can't go wrong here.

I also want to point out that Antonia is a Black woman and there were great moments that showed her experience being a Black woman in a super White country, in a super White professional field. In the way her ex-fiancee's parents wanted her to act, wanted her to dress, wanted her to do her hair. All reasons I'm glad she left the dolt behind! He may have also been a secret-sex addict? I don't know, there was a lot going on there that felt a bit unexplored. There were also great conversations between Antonia and the very White Irish Aiden. I say this was the caveat I am reviewing as a White, cis-hetero woman, so please seek out Black reviewers (which I will do too) to see what they are saying.

As a final note, I was not pleased Antonia was able to secure personal contact information, including a HOME ADDRESS, for Aiden from the innkeeper after they broke up. Don't put service people in this situation. They don't know you, I don't care if "you are in love." Not okay. Antonia certainly knew where Aiden was a professor so she easily could have found his school email from the website.

A wonderful feel good romance story about second chances and starting over. Learning to trust your instincts when it comes to matters of the heart and realising that you are good enough and you do deserve your very own HEA.

Antonia is an editor and romance writer who escapes Chicago to find herself in the West of Ireland while also writing her 1st book. Aiden is a literature professor who lives in the West of Ireland and struggles with his identity, longing for his own family.
Both end up at a chance meeting in "the middle of nowhere", and find themselves drawn to each other's wit, beauty, and common literary interests.
This is a low angst 1st ever romance of Charish Reid who beautifully describes the Irish West in all it's beauty (just like I remember it from living there myself for a decade), packs the story full with Irish humour and life, and creates relatable, likeable characters who handle conflict through personal growth and end up in a relationship that ticks all the boxes.
Just what I needed right now. Can't wait for the next book!

P.S. Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for granting me access to an advanced copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Charish Reid's debut was a lovely read. I instantly fell in love with the characters and my heart was caught up in their story. Reid has a great writing voice in that I was hooked from page one. I'm excited to talk about this title to my patrons!

I really loved this one! Lovely setting, great characters, fun writing. A really promising debut; I cannot wait to see what Reid comes out with next!

So, try as I might to get into this, because who doesn’t love a book based in Ireland, it just didn’t grab me. Thank you to netgalley for the Arc.

Okay, I really tried to thoroughly enjoy this one based on the premise (so here for a cute Irish romance) but it just didn’t deliver. I wasn’t thrilled with the writing or the characters. I’m sure regular romance readers will find it cute, but this isn’t what I usually read - I’m sorry to say that I didn’t enjoy it. I know other people will - but thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I enjoyed this international, interracial love story. The theme of having the confidence to live your best life was inspirational and the story itself romantic.

My rating is more 3.5

I liked this debut and am looking forward to the next book. I always enjoy the whole MC going off to a different place to get away from it all. Especially when they come into their own and we see them learning somethings about themselves.

It also doesnt hurt to have a cute Irish dude next door while doing so. I have to say my fave scene was when Antonia is greeted by the door by a shirtless Aiden. Classic. Also anger cake loool.

Now there were some things I was a bit iffy on. There's a scene in the bar where one of the patrons gets drunk and falls off a stool. My main problem here was this guy was fat and basically used as a joke here. He was even referred to as such: if the situation werent so laughable, Antonia would have thought they were hauling a harpooned beast onto a whaling ship
That's just a lot and could have really been phrased better and not have the fat guy be the butt of a joke??? Even if not intended it definitely came across as such

I did love that Antonia's a writer working on her romance, we even get snippets of her book throughout and Aiden doesnt make fun of her for it either. In fact he's intrigued when he sees of her historical rom books and borrows it to read. And gets really into it too. Aiden is so supportive of her writing so that was a plus for me, althouuugh I side eyed him for reading her book when he used her laptop for something and she left it open. Writing is so personal! He did tell her eventually, actually he sort of let it slip out but still!

I enjoyed this story of Antonia and Aiden! Having excerpts of Antonia's work in progress open several chapters was great fun. I also enjoyed learning about the links between African American and Irish folk songs. Well done characters and a realistic premise. An enjoyable read!