Girl meets a growly Alaskan local with muscles who loves to make art while on vacation? Yes, please!

PLOT:

Zoey saves up all her money to take a dream vacation to Alaska and ends up in Moose Springs at the diner The Tourist Trap on her first day. Her high society friend Lana is only too happy to set her up with the potent special drink, and the grouchy owner Graham can’t help but notice how attractive and weird Zoey is.

Despite his no tourists dating policy and his best efforts, Graham can’t seem to stay away from Zoey, and she can’t believe how much she likes the town and all it has to offer.

THOUGHTS:

This book was super adorable. The banter and situations were funny and odd, their chemistry was lovely, the fact that they took to a super slow burn was very sweet and romantic.

There were tons of goofy side characters from the resort and the town, and I could see myself picking up the next book in the series when it comes out to check back in with the other characters, especially the twins, Ash and Easton.

Graham starts to break all the rules about separating the tourists (including Zoey) from the local places, and the shit he gets from his friends because of this was so real!

I didn’t love that once they started to realize the depths of their feelings together, they didn’t even parse out some scenarios of how they could be together after her vacation was over. I wanted them to tentatively float the idea out at different times that maybe Zoey could stay.

Graham was an idiot one time too many for a 5-star hero rating, and Zoey needed to be saved a few times too many.

The sexy times of this book are very rom-com movie cut to the next morning style. So if you’re wanting something with heat and specifics, this isn’t the read for you!

HERO: 🍆🍆🍆🍆

HEROINE: 🍑🍑🍑🍑

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my ARC.

Tourists can be a pain in the a** but when one finds the other at his small town diner while on a mission to check off her bucket list it's no wonder things are going become interesting.
Fun read for all of us not able to travel.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

The first book in the Moose Springs, Alaska series, The Tourist Attraction brings with it everything you'll love about a rom-com: funny banter, crazy side kicks and wacky best friends, boarderline ridiculious antics, and that slow, slow burn. Zoey and Graham have an instant attraction to each other that you can feel through the pages. Graham's grumpy ways and Zoey's optimistic nature were reminecient of Lorelai and Luke in Gilmore Girls.

Zoey is a bit over-the-top with her constently slipping glasses and string of bad luck but her ernest nature keeps you reading. I liked the realistic inclusion of Ulysses the moose and his interactions with the town. It made me greatly appreciate the efforts that conservation groups do to prevent the overloving of a place. Also, there are narwahls in this book. NARWAHLS!!

Coming from a tourism background this book hit a soft spot for me. I know the type of town this book depicted and at the moment it almost felt too real. It made me long for a vacation in the Alaskan wilderness but I'll have to settle for a virtual version at the moment.

I giggled my way through this book and can't wait for you to read it. Sarah Morgenthaler did an excellent job combining all the best aspectes of a rom-com for this fun and intriguing story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

The Tourist Attraction is delightfully charming and witty. I would definitely recommend a trip to Moose Springs, Alaska.

Moose Springs, Alaska, just outside of Anchorage, is a place of majestic scenery and a variety of wildlife. If you are one of the rich and bored, you can stay at the lovely Moose Springs Resort and visit the quaint village of Moose Springs filled with citizens who absolutely hate all the tourist who descend down the mountain to bother them.

The biggest tourist hater is Graham Barnett, the owner of The Tourist Trap, who probably never would have opened the place if he knew the hated tourists would always be banging down his door. It seems that the line grows longer the ruder Graham is to them. Apparently, nothing makes these privileged idiots happier than when the curmudgeon owner stops serving food and throws cleaning rags at the patrons until they clean up their messes, and who the hell keeps bringing in a karaoke machine?

Everyone in town knows that Graham is the most disgruntled local of all. So it is no surprise that everyone is slack jawed when one tourist seems to have snagged his gimlet eye and he keeps bringing her around to the secret spots that the locals try to keep to themselves.

Actually no one is more surprised than Graham that he can’t keep away from Zoey Caldwell, but one moment with her and he knew she was nothing like the rest of the usual mob that attacks his town. Even knowing that she was just here on vacation and even knowing that it isn’t a good idea to get too attached, Graham can’t help his growing need to see her and spend time with her and watch her face light up as she sees all the beauty that his beloved Alaska has to offer. Seeing a tourist pack their bags is usually the highlight of Graham’s day. Now that Zoey has stumbled into his life, can Graham convince her that Moose Springs is the only place to live?

I loved the quirky sense of humor that was the part of Graham that only the locals knew. The only way I could explain it would be to point out actor Ryan Reynolds, whether it is a character or just about anything he posts on the internet, where he says the oddest things with a straight face and it works and its funny. He’s adorable and you laugh even if you don’t want to. With Graham’s grumpiness juxtapositioning his smart-ass personality, I found myself smirking a lot. Zoey is a sweetheart and you can understand Graham’s interest in her but it is really Graham’s humor that grabs the spotlight.

We are also treated to many great secondary characters who will be the focus of future novels. I have already marked them off on my Goodreads list so I can keep reading up on life in Moose Springs.

It was an okay read with humor thrown in. If the book hadn't been so wordy it would have read better. The main characters are cute. He owns a restaurant that he doesn't like, she's a tourist in Alaska a dream come true for her. She books activities and gets into crazy situations and he's there to rescue her. There's a cute dog and moose as well. It got 3 starts for the humor!

****************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from Netgalley************************

HUGE thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review ❤️
This was SUCH an exceptionally adorable read.
Sarah Morgenthaler paints such a breathtaking view of Moose Springs, Alaska. Making certain that anybody who picks up her book and didn’t already have Alaska on their bucket list, quickly add it! Graham at first reminded me a lot of Luke from Gilmore Girls, but that quickly faded as his true personality came to view. He’s such an adorable flirt, and I whole heartedly believe he’s broken several women’s hearts just by flashing them a smile and showing them his adorable doggo, Jake.
That really solidified my love for Graham, how good he treats his fur baby. I was melting into a puddle on my couch as I was reading the scenes between Graham and Jake 😭 so wholesome!
Zoey’s character was totally likeable, the overly cautious bookworm tourist, not at all planning on falling in love while on vacation. I think so many of us can relate to Zoey, and I absolutely love that the author made glasses part of her character and never once did she swap out for contacts- like so many romance books do. Glasses wearing girls are just as attractive! It was so refreshing to read that Zoey truly was just a normal girl with financial struggles, just like the rest of us!
Lana, though, was a character I really disliked. I totally realize that she’s meant to be unlikeable to a certain extent, and eventually comes to be decent person. But I never saw that decent person show through, try as I might. She was such a crappy friend to Zoey and I never saw the dynamic there. She’s just a super over the top, high maintenance, rude person. I had hints of what she was doing in Moose Springs, but I kept hoping she would have that much needed discussion with Graham- since they claimed to be such great friends and that never happened. Further solidifying my hatred towards her.

I absolutely loved how cute Zoey and Graham’s romance was- right down to the very last few pages of the book which, was honestly was totally cliché but I loved every minute of it anyway. Graham was such a gentleman towards her every step of the way, and even when his anger got the best of him, he remedied it. The dynamic of their entire relationship was just so adorable and cheesy and hilarious I couldn’t help but laugh at several insane scenarios. This book would honestly do really well as a sitcom!
The whole love affair between Ulysses and Graham’s truck was absolutely hilarious. I loved it, but what I loved even more was that throughout this entire book the author made it very clear that MOOSE ARE DANGEROUS. As adorable as they may be, she stressed the importance that they are dangerous and tourists should absolutely not approach for selfies. She absolutely did her homework on this novel and it shows. I loved it!

I think it was the grumpy hero in the blurb that clinched the deal for me as far as snapping up this book for review. I was expecting a fun, easy read and that’s exactly what I got. The Tourist Attraction is the book equivalent of a Hallmark movie. Beautiful small town touristy setting, quirky characters, a couple of “awww” inducing pets for comic relief, and a sweet romance.

Zoey Caldwell is our heroine and she has scrimped and saved every dime she has made as a truck stop waitress to save up for her dream vacation to Alaska. Now she is there and determined to do all the things she’s always dreamed of doing. She ends up at The Tourist Trap, a burger joint run by Moose Springs native Graham Barnett, when her good friend and vacation buddy Lana suggests the local hot spot.

She and Graham hit it off pretty quickly, even though he normally hates tourists. Their chemistry is what makes this story interesting and kept me reading even when I thought it dragged a bit in the middle. There were a lot of fun moments with both witty banter and physical humor. The sex scenes are fade to black, which had me a bit grumpy, but I will admit worked for this book. This author saves the conflict for the very end, and I appreciated the low angst.

This is one story that perfectly reflects its cutesy, illustrated cover. I had a good time getting to know this world and look forward to catching up with a few characters and storylines in future installments.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A delightful romance between a grumpy diner owner and a quiet nerdy waitress from Chicago. Zoey Caldwell has been saving for years to go on an Alaskan adventure, so when her rich friend brings her to the mountain town of Moose Springs, she is immediately charmed. She is determined to check off all the tourist stops during her 2 weeks in town. But when things don't go quite as planned, Graham Barnett, owner of the Tourist Trap diner, comes to her rescue again and again.

What I enjoyed:
- The setting! So happy to see another romance set in Alaska. I'm officially adding it to my own bucket list to visit.
- The humor - lots of funny banter in this one. Graham is adorable and his love for his dog and the moose made me smile.

What didn't work for me:
- I don't usually care about books being written in first person or third person, but this one was hard for me to follow sometimes. Transitions were a little rough.

The Tourist Attraction was my favorite kind of rom-com. Great setting, quirky characters, and charming main characters. From the first page, I literally couldn’t stop thinking about when I could find another 15 minutes to read another chapter. Zoey, one of my favorite rom-com heroine names, was cute and innocently odd. She was so excited to be in Alaska that she wanted to do all of the usual tourist trips; a whale-sighting trip, spotting a moose, and hiking on a glacier. Stuff a local would never deign to do. Despite his unwillingness, Graham seeks her out and finds himself by her side.

There were plenty of great side characters in The Tourist Attraction and we got to know a few pretty well. I can’t wait to see who gets the next hook-up. Will it be the super tall and bearded Easton? His pink-haired twin sister Ash? Or Zoey’s sultry well to do friend Lana? I really don’t have a preference, they were all really interesting and had some great storylines that I look forward to any one of them!

If you are still quarantining at home, this is the perfect book to help you pass the time. It’s fun, has a little action, and kooky characters that will charm the antlers off a reindeer dog!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

The story opens with Graham, the owner of The Tourist Trap, a diner that everyone wonders how against all odds remains in business, given that its owner makes people wait outside, randomly decides when to open and close, and other things. Everybody seems to love it and the harder Graham tries to drive the unruly tourists away, the more quaint they think it is.

I loved it.

In the first scene, Graham begins talking to a freaking moose. And it’s adorable.


I repeat: It’s adorable
It’s uncomplicated, but not superficial. We’ll get into that in a bit. Let’s focus on the cutenes for now. I really hope I can convince you of reading this book.

Our characters meet very early on, and it’s not love at first sight, but maybe… crush at first sight? Whatever, we know those two weirdos are made for each other. The characters don’t really have any sordid pasts, but normal problems any of us could face. So, instead of the plot trying to solve things that have already happened, it focuses on the actual relationship developing, the funny moments, and the uncertainty too.

I can’t with how often Graham becomes such a dork when it comes to Zoey. It’s not over the top, or alpha-male intense, it’s just… I can believe it, ok? Here’s a hero that I can believe exists out there.

He serves her hot dogs with paper antler decorations -he usually does this for the kids-, just to be cute.


Ok, but what about the plot, the depth?
First, we do have the glaring issue of Zoey being a tourist, so her days in Alaska are limited. That alone provides a lot of drama, but I love that the book doesn’t really touch on that for even the first half, or even 75% of the book. I can’t recall exactly. You know it will be discussed later, but it’s not the plot.

Instead, the book focuses on giving us a situation where progress and nature come into conflict. The rich and spoiled tourists, the nature, the townspeople and their businesses that depend on tourism… These are the main driving forces of this story, and I liked every point it made with its elements.


Did I dislike anything?
If I did, I can’t remember. There was absolutely nothing that bothered me enough to even remember. I have nothing but fond memories of reading this story, and writing about it makes me want to reread it!

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. What a fun romantic comedy debut! I want to go to Alaska and follow in Zoey's footsteps on her dream vacation. It didn't turn out exactly as planned, but still sounded like a trip of a lifetime. I laughed out loud multiple time while reading this book because some of the scenes were so funny; visual slapstick funny.. For example, Ulysses the moose has an extraordinary love for- well, I don't want to spoil it for you, but it does lead to some questionable behaviors. If you like romcom's that make you laugh and mostly stay on the surface, this one is for you. And Alaska sounds amazingly beautiful.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as a moose tried to hump a truck because of its buns I knew this was the book for me. Throw in a great setting, the grumpy male lead, likeable heroine and plenty of laugh out loud moments and you get a fun, enjoyable read. Will definitely check out more from this author.

Happy Pub Day to Sarah Morgenthaler's The Tourist Attraction! Thanks to partner NetGalley for the egalley in exchange for an honest review.

This sweet contemporary romance was such an easy, happy read. I loved it! The book opens with super-grumpy restaurant owner Graham begrudgingly serving tourists in his restaurant, The Tourist Trap. In wanders Zoey, who has saved for years to finally take a vacation to Moose Springs, Alaska, with her wealthy friend Lana. Immediately, she catches Graham's attention because she seems different from most of the tourists who descend upon the town.

As Graham and Zoey strike up a friendship and, inevitably!, a romance, Morgenthaler works in conflicts between tourists and locals and has some solid messages about the impact of tourism on local wildlife . . . and residents. But mostly, the book is about Graham and Zoey trying to figure out what their attraction means in the context of a two-week visit that's sure to come to an end. Along the way, in addition to Lana, we meet twins Easton and Ashtyn--Graham's best friends--and Graham's super-sweet border collie Jake. This is a perfect quarantine read for anyone who needs a sweet escape from real life with engaging characters. I'll definitely be up for reading the follow up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for granting my wish and letting me read and review the Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morganthaler early! It was super cute and I really enjoyed it! The Tourist Attraction comes out on May 5th, so make sure you check it out then.

The Tourist Attraction 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he's stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless string of resort visitors who couldn't interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn't just the top item on Zoey Caldwell's bucket list. It's the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she's smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham's world, she may just find there's more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.

I thought that Zoey and Graham were super cute and I loved the town of Moose Springs! I've been reading so many romance novels right now and this one was one of the super cute ones. I love how Graham was so against tourists (thinking they were ruining his town) but he was friends with Lana even though she was definitely a tourist and he fell in love with Zoey- breaking down preconceived notions for the win! Zoey saving up for so long to come on this trip to Moose Springs and for it to turn out so amazing was adorable and it makes me want to pack up my bags and go on a trip like that (maybe I'll find love in a small town lol). I also really liked Jake and Ulysses, the moose. All in all, this was an adorable romance novel that I think anyone would love to read! I can't wait to read book two when it comes out!

This was such a fun read! The Tourist Attraction is book #1 in the Moose Springs, Alaska series and it’s such a fantastic debut for author Sarah Morgenthaler. I can’t wait for the next book! All the characters are crazy and wonderful, the little tourist town of Moose Springs has a whole lot going on and a lot of stories to tell. I’m counting down the months until the next release!

Zoey Caldwell spends all her savings on a holiday to Moose Springs, Alaska, to stay with her best friend Lana. Let’s just say that Lana and Zoey have an unlikely friendship. Day one of two weeks in Alaska where Zoey’s planning on experiencing absolutely everything that she can while she’s there, she meets Graham Barnett the owner of the successful local diner/tourist attraction, The Tourist Trap. Graham is tall, scruffy, handsome and deliciously grumpy. He’s known for not liking tourists and is adamant they make him miserable. But he likes Zoey. He likes her a lot. Surprising himself and everyone around him, he spends as much time with her as he can helps her experience the real Moose Springs and the real Alaska not as a tourist. They’re both falling hard but Graham knows it’s a bad idea to start anything because he’s not a vacation fling type of guy. It might be her vacation, but this is his life. Clearly life is giving Zoey and Graham things they weren’t planning on...

This was a fun and hilarious rom com book. I throughly enjoyed it even when it admittedly got silly at times. But it was the perfect book that I really needed today.

The Tourist Attraction is a delightful rom-com set in Moose Springs, Alaska. Graham Barnett loathes tourists. He opened his restaurant The Tourist Trap as a spot for the locals, but somehow it became a tourist hotspot and now he’s surrounded by people he can’t stand. Graham as one rule and it’s to steer clear of tourists… no matter how beautiful they are. Enter Zoey Caldwell who has scrimped and saved to go on her dream Alaska vacation. Neither of them were looking for love, but it finds them anyways.

This book is light and funny… perfect reading for a pandemic! I adored Graham’s blind border collie Jake and the moose Ulysses. Graham’s love for his dog was so familiar since my husband and I have similar conversations about our dog Miley. I loved that Jake was a consistent part of the story. And that the author took the time to address how tourists need to respect wildlife and nature while traveling.

I found Zoey to be completely relatable. I would totally be friends with her in real life. I do wish we got a little bit more of her backstory and why she so desperately wanted to visit Alaska. It looks like this will be a part of a series so I’m looking forward to future adventures spent in Moose Springs, Alaska.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Tourist Attraction is out today!

Review posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3314206112

Review will be posted on Instagram @ablondebooknerd on 5/5/2020

3.5 Stars

This was a 4 Star read for me for the majority of the book. I mean, I loved the characters so much. They were adorable, funny, cheeky, and very readable. The banter was on point and the various setups were picturesque and/or delightfully amusing.

There were a few things that threw me off however. The main one being Zoey’s motivation. Suddenly I’m a prissy actor screaming at the book, “Where’s the motivation? What’s the back story?!” You don’t really know why she was so fixated on Alaska. How it came to be her dream vacation. Her past as a whole was very sparse.

That lack of past filtered into my next grievance, which was the big overall obstacle of Zoey and Graham having a HEA. She’s a tourist. But without a back story holding her to her home state, you just don’t feel the angst the characters are supposed to be feeling. You’re going, “I don’t get it, the more we learn, we know you have nothing holding you back, so where’s the hurdle?”

I’m being really critical because I liked this book so much. I really did. I swear.

And last, the mad dash at the end and the wrap up was a little baffling. There seemed like some obvious epilogue type roads that the author didn’t utilize. I’m not going to elaborate because of spoilers but just saying, it left me squinting with one eye when all was said and done.

BUT here’s the part where I tell you to read the book, no matter my grievances! Because, it really is a cute and fun and delightfully romantic story. I adored the characters and dialogue so much and I want you all to experience them too. So, I still definitely recommend THE TOURIST ATTRACTION.

* I received a free e-copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars. I absolutely loved this debut contemporary romance novel. The descriptions of Alaska and its attractions made me want to book a flight. I loved the characters, especially Ulysses the moose and laughed several times throughout the novel. I look forward to reading the next books in this series.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title The Tourist Attraction

Author Sarah Morgenthaler

Description from Amazon

He had a strict “no tourists” policy…
Until she broke all of his rules.

When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he’s stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless parade of resort visitors who couldn’t interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn’t just the top item on Zoey Caldwell’s bucket list. It’s the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she’s smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham’s world, she may just find there’s more to the grumpy local than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.

Release Date May 5, 2020

Initial Thoughts

I saw this book all over Instagram and NetGalley and this was actually one that I “wished for” on NetGalley. I wasn’t sure if I’d be chosen but I was happy to discover that I was. Honestly, the main attraction was the fact that the setting was Moose Springs. Moose are my favorite animals.

Some Things I Liked

Moose Springs and Ulysses. I loved that this story was set somewhere named for moose and, there was a moose featured in the story. I have not had the joy of seeing a moose in person but I loved that Ulysses, the moose in The Tourist Attraction, was so loved by the other characters and so respected.
Flawed main character. Once again, I applaud the fact that the main character felt like a real person. Zoey wore glasses, and not just when it was convenient. She had real moments where those glasses got in the way and were not attractive. Zoey was self conscious about her job in a way that felt real. She was a down to earth character with issues that were relatable. I really enjoyed reading about her.
Animal representation. I also really loved that respect for nature and animals was a strong theme in this book. Graham’s dog was blind and the care and love that both Graham and the other characters showed him were nice details that are often overlooked. Meaning, I feel like I read novels where a character has a pet for one scene but then goes on vacation for 3 days and the pet just magically takes care of itself. I loved that Graham’s dog was prominently featured and cared for.

Series Value

I would definitely continue with this series. I thought it was cute, fun read and we met tons of characters with sequel potential. Lana, for example, would make an excellent MC in another book in this series.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. This was my first book by Sarah Morgenthaler and I can say that I am a fan. I would keep reading this series and her books in the future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

An Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras – if you liked the vacation romance vibes in The Tourist Attraction, give this new release a try.
Well Met by Jen DeLuca – if you liked the realistic struggles that Zoey felt in The Tourist Attraction, you will easily connect with the main character in Well Met.
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – if you liked the vacation vibes but wanted an enemies to lovers trope thrown in there, look no further than this standalone by Christina Lauren.