An HEA for quarantine reading! If you've been stuck in the house over a month like I have, "Island Affair" was a welcome escape from my own little apartment into the warm, breezy paradise of the Keys.

Like most strangers to lovers, Sara and Luis' romance is hard to believe, but Priscilla Oliveras made the connection between the social media influencer and hometown firefighter feel real despite the hasty circumstances.

A word of caution for anyone looking to pick this up. Sara has an eating disorder. I'm not sure on how accurate that has been portrayed, but it felt a bit of an extra toss in as "character development" to me. I'd look to others in that community to talk about how accurate they feel it has been portrayed.

I'll be honest, I really wanted this book to blow me away, but sadly it did not. There were bits and pieces of the book that I enjoyed, but I feel like it was just an OK book. I like the concept of the book, but there were definitely some missed opportunities throughout the book. I was really hoping for a bit more of a steamy read, but this did not deliver that.

I think what caught my attention the most, was the beautiful cover art design. Sometimes I pick books based on the cover, unfortunately this one was not as enjoyable on the inside as it is on the outside.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Island Affair is the start of a promising and unapologetically Latinx romance series set in Key West and revolving around a group of siblings and their love stories. This first book not only has a sweet romance between two characters with lots of chemistry, it also deals with important subjects like eating disorders, mental health and life threating illness.

From the very beginning of Island Affair, the main characters have so much chemistry, the physical attraction is evident and that works really well with the fake dating trope. Also, this book includes the ‘there’s only one bed’ scenario, which is one of my favorite parts when it comes to the fake dating trope and I really enjoyed seeing it be a part of this story. Moreover, I had so much fun watching Luis charm Sara’s family and get along with them so well even if he did have to survive their interrogation. While it took me some time to actually buy into Luis and Sara’s romantic relationship beyond the physical aspect, they won me over by the end and I was rooting for them to be together.

One of my favorite things about this book is how complicated family dynamics are at the center of the novel. Both main characters have painful histories with their families that affect them in different ways, and throughout this book they reflect about them and try to change the way they engage with their histories and families. I especially liked the development of Sara’s relationship with her family, how they learned to communicate a little better and to be more honest and understanding with each other. At the end, the way eveything was resolved was satyisfing, especially with her sister. I really liked Luis family as well: their banter, their nosiness and their unconditional support, and I’m looking forward to his siblings stories in the next books. But I felt like the resolution to his conflict with his brother was a bit rushed, I’m hoping when we get his brother’s book there’s a bit more about them rebuilding their relationship.

The setting of this book is magical and it was so fun to read about these amazing places in Key West and I hope I can visit soon. Also, the food mentioned in this book made me hungry. Great food in books is always a plus. In terms of the writing, I’ll say that for the most part it is good but at the beginning I had issues with some word choices that didn’t feel natural and kept pulling me out of the story, but that aspect gets better as the story progresses.

This was a good read but it wasn't a wow read for me, it was just ok. It was very far fetched, to say the least, yes I know it's fiction but to almost cop feeling within a day was hard to except. There was a lot going on within these pages. Major illnesses not just one but two and two deaths from bad circumstances in the backstories were hard to read. The main characters had a lot of hang-ups and issues.

Now it's not all bad. It is was very light in a lot of this book. The chemistry between Sara and Luis was off the chart. The family dynamics and their banter was what saved this book for me. As well as the writing style of this author, making it a pleasure to read.

Now I won't be telling anyone not to read this book or rant about my dislikes. Everyone is different, this could be someone else's 5-star read. As the saying goes different horses for different courses and all that. So I will recommend that you read this for yourself and make up your own mind.

🏖
*Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book for review, all opinions are me own*

Trigger warning-eating disorder

Who doesn’t love a fake relationship right?

I loved this book is a quick and cute novel to read.
The main characters are adorable and their relationship is wonderful.
I loved how the book went beyond bringing family problems, especially between siblings.
It is a light book but at the same time touches on super important and heart hitting topics such as the importance of forgiveness, loving yourself, having self-esteem, the importance of therapy, and the family.
It is a beautiful, fast, and sweet book to read.

I loved this book mostly because it was centered around Key West, a town I know very well. The characters were friendly and likeable and this was a cute story.

I could have used less of the exact streets and directions (hello Siri!) because I already believed that the author knew the town. Not a total speedbump though.

I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately it didn’t really live up to my expectations. I love the premise: girl gets stood up by boyfriend, asks a stand in to be her fake boyfriend for a family vacation. There’s only one bed. This should have been hilarious and steamy, but it fell flat. There wasn’t anything about the characters that really stood out and made them likable. Also, the hero was described as a Vin Diesel look-alike several times and that just wasn’t doing it for me. The heroine talked about how amazing the sex was but there was no steam—just fade to black. There were a few little moments I liked but for the most part, this one wasn’t great for me.

Island Affair was a cute story. Sara, a social media influencer, lands in the Florida Keys for a family vacation, and disappointingly, her boyfriend bails. Distraught, Sara finds the closest cute guy – firefighter Luis- to pretend to be her boyfriend. Luckily, Luis has been put on a week of leave, and is apparently the nicest guy in the world and agrees. Belief is suspended, and Sara gets into this man’s car a mere few minutes later and they take crash courses of each other’s lives in order to make the charade successful.

Over the course of the week, Sara and Luis inevitably fall for each other. I’m a sucker for these romance stories – two people from opposite ends of the spectrum falling in love, or former enemies falling in love, or two people pretending to be in love fall in love for real… you know what I’m talking about. It’s cute and I will almost always stan. I liked the lightheartedness and the serious tones threaded into the story – Luis and his past traumas and his devotion to his family, Sara with her own skeletons and being the “black sheep” of her family- it made for a good balance.

(Mild spoiler here, feel free to skip this paragraph.) There was one scene I could not come to terms with – the beach scene. It was more graphic than the rest of the love scenes and it occurs in the middle of the day with people (including children!) around. Not OK. Plus, it seemed incongruous to the two characters, who always seemed to play by the rules.

The other downer was how strongly attracted these two lovebirds were to each other. Instantly, it was about how hot each of them was, and nearly every page had some sort of observation about the physical attributes of the other person. There are only so many times you can talk about how hot a character is until the reader is over it, and I felt over it very early on in the book. I get it. This was paired with characters that didn’t seem to have the most depth. Yes, they had their issues, but they still had moral, perfect airs about them –honest- to- a fault, smart and successful in their careers – perfect.

If the aim was a modern-day fairy tale in the Florida Keys, that was achieved. All in all, a cute romance story that did provide some cheer, but it was a little too saccharine for my taste.

I found this book to be very enjoyable and a promising start to a new series following the different love stories of different siblings. I thought the characters were well-crafted and worked great together and as individuals. Luis had a next-level white-knight complex and while it could get over-bearing at times it was also very sweet. I related a lot to Sarah and her struggles as the youngest sibling chasing the high expectations her older siblings set up and wanting to make her family proud. This book deals with so much, from eating disorders to mental issues and family feuds. I thought that they were all well researched, but I would have liked to linger a bit more on the resolutions between family members. It was all quick and easy towards the end which is my biggest issue with the novel. Oliveras set up some great moments for drama and action to really hit the readers in the feels but the every moment of resolution was far too abrupt and easy. That's not to say that every problem needed to take three chapters to get fixed, but again I would have liked to linger in the deep end a bit more before catching a life preserver. Another minor issue I had was the integration of Spanish in the text. I am all for integrating different languages into text, but it needs to feel natural. All I really got from this book was the *heavily* repeated use of familia, coño, and the nanny's old saying. Not to mention the Spanish was italicized so it stuck out even more making the blend of the languages more choppy than fluid.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the reading experience. The characters were fun and the setting was fabulous! I wish I could get out to a little beach town like Key West! I'm looking forward to reading whatever sibling we get next especially since the minor teasers in this book looked really promising!

REVIEW | ISLAND AFFAIR 🌺🌴🐚🏝🕶⁣
⁣
When Sara’s boyfriend is a no show for her family Florida Keys family vacation, she recruits Luis Navarro, a firefighter paramedic wiling to play her besotted fiancé... ⁣
⁣
Fake dating is one of my favourite romance tropes - it’s so much fun watching the main characters navigate a pretend relationship and having to lie to their friends and family while at the same time catching real feelings for each other. ⁣
⁣
ISLAND AFFAIR was a bit too heavy on the family drama for me and I found it lacked some of the hilarity that usually surrounds romance built around this trope. I had trouble believing Sara would ask Luis to be her fake fiancé after only spending (give or take) three minutes together and at times I had trouble feeling Sara and Luis’ emotional connection.⁣
⁣
Having said that, ISLAND AFFAIR does an amazing job at capturing the Florida Keys through charming descriptions of oceans and sandy beaches as well as through the use of language and references to Latinx culture, food and music. Both Sara and Luis are well-developed characters who help each other overcome substantial personal obstacles and I liked the way in which the author writes about family, heritage and community.⁣
⁣⁣
I would recommend it to anyone who fancies a romance escape read with nuanced characters and a Latinx flavour 💃🏼💃🏻⁣
⁣
Thank you @kensingtonbooks @netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

(this review also appears on my blog instagram.com/twistsandtropes)

Looking for a little tropical romance to spice up your bookshelf? Priscilla Oliveras’s new novel will do just the trick! Coming out April 28th, Island Affair kicks off Oliveras’s new Key of Love Series with a fake-dating plot and undeniable chemistry set in Key West, Florida.
Sought-after social media influencer Sara Vance, in recovery from an eating disorder, is coming into her own, with a potential career expansion on the horizon. Despite the good news, her successful siblings (and their perfect spouses) have a way of making her feel like the odd one out. So, when her unreliable boyfriend is a no-show for a Florida family vacation, Sara recruits Luis Navarro—a firefighter paramedic and dive captain willing to play the part of her smitten fiancée. Luis’s big Cuban familia has been in Key West for generations, and his quiet strength feeds off the island’s laidback style. Though guarded after a deep betrayal, he’ll always help someone in need—especially a spunky beauty with a surprising knowledge of Spanish curse words. Soon, he and Sara have memorized their “how we met” story and are immersed in family dinners, bike tours, private snorkeling trips . . . sharing secrets, and slow, melting kisses. But when it’s time for Sara to return home, will their island romance last or fade with the stunning sunset?
Luis and Sara’s plot to fool their families is equal parts funny and endearing. Their love story is hot, steamy, and overall everything you could want in an island romance! But Luis and Sara both have secrets they’re hiding. Luis’s past has caused a rift to form between him and his brother and, instead of healing himself, focuses on helping other people. Sara had always felt like the black sheep of the family and longs for a different kind of relationship with them along with their approval. Through their fake-dating scheme, both Luis and Sara help each other bridge the gaps in their family relationships and find forgiveness for both their families and themselves.
In addition to the plot, all of the descriptions of the locations throughout the novel will make any reader swoon. It made me feel like I was vacationing in Key West along with the Vances. The food, the sights, and the tourists attractions made me want to hop on a plane to Florida immediately!
This novel shows the true power of family and love. As someone who is very close to her family, I found the spotlight and emphasis of family vacations, big family dinners, and not being able to hide much from your nosy relatives very relatable!
If you’re looking for a book that will help you escape from reality, feel like you’re part of a dysfunctional family, or if you’re just looking for a steamy, summery beach read, then you have to grab a copy of this book! I cannot wait to see what the Navarro Family gets up to next and explore more of Key West in the future!

When Sara’s flakey boyfriend ditches her last minute, hunky firefighter Luis agrees to pose as her fake boyfriend throughout a family vacation. Sparks fly, internal traumas and family issues emerge and there is lots of drama. Yes, you need to suspend reality a bit to buy the fake dating a complete stranger troupe a bit, but it makes for a fun story! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Island Affair sucked me in with its bright cover and promise of transporting me far away from home to the stunning Key West. The setting may have been my favorite thing about the entire book. I felt like the Keys was almost a third main character and found myself browsing vacation rental sites look for a place to stay in the near future! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
One of my major complaints with this book is that the writing seemed a little clunky and overdone. While I completely support one voice authors and diversity in books, I really struggled with the Spanish littered throughout this book. It felt almost like a Spanish lesson and pulled me out of the story and into reality every time I had to try to figure out what they were saying. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
At the same time, there were lots of times when I really enjoyed this book. Sara and Lois were both fantastic characters with real personal issues. There commitment to fixing their family problem’s was admirable. Plus, they had lots of chemistry! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Once upon a time I was fortunate enough to live in the Florida Keys. The slow pace, afternoons spent in blue water, staring up at bluer skies and taste of fresh key lime pie will never leave me. Alas, I did not have a sexy Cuban-American firefighter as part of my time spent there. Which is a good thing, because I was in 4th grade at the time. However this book has me wanting to throw caution to the wind, pack my bags and book a ticket in hopes of finding my new favorite book boyfriend, Luis. In him the author has written the perfect male lead. Alpha yet sensitive, responsible and thoughtful, yet a little tortured. A family man through and through with a body worthy of being Mr. July in the charity firefighter calendars that are apparently a thing but no one ever tries to sell me.

Oh and there is a really good storyline with some excellent chemistry without needing to cheapen it with overly graphic sex details.

There is literally nothing I would change about this book. Five hundred stars.

Family strife in Paradise!
Sarah and Luis both have family issues. Throughout their fake relationship, they lean on each other for guidance. I loved how the serious issues were handled without an overload of emotion. I adored Luis and his family. I thought the resolution to the family and relationship issues was a little to perfect. I would recommend this book and would read the other books in the series. The author has a gift for describing place. The descriptions of Key West were phenomenal. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Included in April New Releases Part 2, which highlights exciting upcoming releases: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2020/04/aprils-new-releases-part-two/

Included in Whatcha Reading roundup: https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/2020/04/whatcha-reading-april-2020-edition-part-two/

My most recent read was Priscilla Oliveras’s Island Affair (out April 28). ( A | BN | K | AB ) It’s a fake-relationship/Only One Bed romp between a social media influencer and a firefighter in the Key West. I liked it but my conflicted feelings make it a recommendation with caveats. I loved Luis’s Cuban relatives and the sunny setting (seriously, I’d book a flight to the Key West if it wasn’t for, well, everything). The relationship was flirty and fun.

The Subtweet
A | BN | K | ABBut I had issues with the hero’s backstory (the estrangement with his younger brother) because it deployed a storyline that I consistently dislike. I also feel unqualified to assess the heroine’s eating disorder (bulimia and binge-eating). There were things I liked and disliked about the rep, but I know so little that I don’t feel comfortable critiquing it. Finally, I didn’t like that the heroine was more open about her problems than the hero was with his; the distribution of emotional support/sharing felt uneven.
Despite my qualms, I liked the book and I think many folks would enjoy it. Oliveras has a terrific voice and there were enough cute/poignant/funny moments to make it a worthwhile read. Definitely check it out if the blurb sounds appealing.

***

Review:

CW: [heroine's mom is in cancer remission (breast cancer); heroine has eating disorder ("mix of bulimia and binge-eating, with a propensity for over-exercising"); discussion of someone dying from brain aneurysm; discussion of someone dying from drunk driving (hide spoiler)]

I liked this with major caveats. I love Oliveras's writing, but some aspects of the storyline detracted from my overall enjoyment.

Pluses:

- LOVED the family dynamics, especially Luis's Cuban relatives and community. Their banter, their nosiness, their unflinching support. Easily my favorite part of the book. I even appreciated Sara's more tense family dynamics and her feelings of ostracization (e.g., that she doesn't meet their standards for success).

- The Key West setting is spectacular and practically a third character in the love story. I want to visit (not in the near future, of course! But I can dream). Also, I was SO HUNGRY the entire time and upset that I wasn't eating what the characters were eating.

- Look, is the super-quick "fake relationship agreement between strangers" premise unrealistic and telenovela-ish? Yes, but I loved it! It was cute, y'all. You have to buy into it and enjoy the ride.

Minuses:

- I dislike Evil Ex backstories (there are some exceptions to this rule but it's fairly consistent in my reading). I REALLY freaking hate Evil Ex backstories when said Evil Ex 1) cheats on the hero with his brother early on in the relationship (the brother claims that he doesn't realize she was dating the hero at the time), 2) makes another pass at the brother after her engagement, 3) when refused, drives away angrily and drunk (brother doesn't stop her), 4) gets into a car crash, 5) confesses her infidelity to the hero on her hospital deathbed, and 6) is responsible for the six-year estrangement between the hero and his brother.

There was no way in hell that I'd ever enjoy this backstory, even if it was executed well. I squirmed the entire time. The woman's dead. I felt no need to hear about her treachery/crimes six years after the incident.

- I feel super unsure about the eating disorder rep. I'm way out of my depth on this one. I can't tell if it was good or bad, and I don't want to discuss my preliminary thoughts (both positive and negative) as I'm so unqualified. I'll be on the lookout for a review by someone who knows more Sara's condition.

- Sara and Luis both have major issues to work through, but the breakdown of who confesses to who is unequal. Sara opens up way more than Luis (his issues are mostly worked out by himself). It feels uneven and unfair. She's the one who spills her entire heart and troubles. He does, too... but not enough. Not even close to how much Sara opens up to Luis.

- This complaint isn't limited to this book, but I am so tired of how recent romance novels end super quickly after the apology/making up after a dark moment. I need more, damn it! At least give me an epilogue. I need proof that these two kids will make it! Argh.

***

I guess the combinations of these factors make it 3 stars? I liked ISLAND AFFAIR, just didn't love it. I am looking forward to upcoming books as I loved the setting (I presume Luis's siblings will be the protagonists. His sister is the best). YMMV as the writing is excellent and the overall relationship is flirty/fun.

Note: there are no open-door sex scenes. There is sexy foreplay but it fades to black before getting too explicit.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing beats a beautifully illustrated cover! I was so excited when I received this ARC from Netgalley. Island Affair follows the story of a fake dating scheme between a social media influencer and a hunky friendly Cuban firefighter. Their romantic escapade is sweet, exhilarating, and alluring. This story is set in the beautiful island of Key West and offers a scenic getaway with rich culture and refreshing outdoor activities.

The writing may come off as corny at times but it also highlights the endearing style romantic fiction has nowadays. The pacing can be slow, especially in the first few pages, I had to push through to get through 20-30% but it slowly picked up. The characters have quite a different dynamic. The hero seems closed-off at times which can be frustrating because there were a lot of things that can be solved if they choose to communicate. But alas, we got what we got. And who can deny a few angst here and there?

Overall, this is an okay read. I might have expected too much (from the cover alone). It is a light romantic read and can be enjoyable if you like this sub-genre.

I'll be honest: I kind of struggled to rate this book. There were parts that I really liked and parts that I really didn't like and not a ton in the middle. I guess that means that it's OK overall?

I really enjoyed the premise of Sara needing a substitute for her flaky ex-boyfriend and Luis having some time on his hands and could help. Plus Key West! I wish I could be there. I liked their quick banter, even though the book was really hard to get into overall. I struggled with the writing, as well as the pacing for the majority of the book. I felt like they were pushing each other to share their deep secrets without a solid foundation so I didn't fully buy into their relationship. I did, however, really enjoy the last bit of the book where they finally had to face their families and their fears and really work through things individually. Luis should have groveled a bit more though... :)

I have to say that I really loved this story by Priscilla Oliveras! My best friend in college had a big, loud Cuban family, so I can totally relate to the family dynamics in the book. Sara was a strong, but silent member of her family. She never felt like she truly belonged because she wasn't a physician like her parents or her sister. When she propositions Luis to be her boyfriend for the week she doesn't expect it to develop into anything. Luis cannot deny that he's attracted to Sara. He's so patient with her and very encouraging. Although there were problems in both families, Sara and Luis were great for each other! Luis encouraged Sara to settle things with her sister and Sara told Luis the same regarding his younger brother. Oliveras made this a slow burn romance that brought the steamy factor at the appropriate moments. If you like Jill Shalvis, you will love Priscella Oliveras! Island Affair was a fabulous story and a perfect beach read! 5 stars

I stumbled across Island Affair a few months back. I liked the colorful cover so I added it to my TBR without reading the blurb. I then saw it on NetGalley and requested it. I was so happy to have gotten my hold on this book a little early. IT. WAS. AMAZING!

Island Affair is a story about love and forgiveness. It's a story about a girl, Sara, who is an up and coming social media influencer, who has to spend a week vacationing with her family in the Florida Keys. The family is celebrating her mother's cancer remission. This trip is for her mom; a stress free trip. Having been born thirteen years late, Sara was a surprise baby. She has always lived in the shadows of her two older siblings and wants nothing more but her parents to see her for what she is: a successful young woman who has achieved her goals. When her boyfriend fails to show up, Sara strikes up a deal with the charming Luis Navarro to pretend to be her boyfriend for the week. Luis, a firefighter paramedic , is trying to forget the past six years of his life. He was a saint of man who goes out of his way to help any and everyone. When the vivacious Sara Vance stumbles into his life with an offer to be her pretend boyfriend, he accepts the job willingly. Sara and Luis are thrown together over the next seven days. The two becoming very close and left wondering, "what will happen when the seven days are up?"

Island Affair is a heartfelt read. There are moments where I laughed out loud and moments where I shed a tear. I loved Sara and Luis. They had great chemistry together. I wish I could get more of them! I will definitely be buying this book when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley for this book!

This book took me a while to get into and unfortunately it wasn't a favourite.

The concept is great - fake relationship tropes are some of my faves, but there was just something about this book that didn't completely grip me.

I loved the family dynamics in this book. Sara's reconnection with her parents and older siblings was lovely to read, and I adored Luis' big, loving family - I wish there had been more of them! Sara and Luis also had amazing chemistry which was fantastic, but it took so long for it to go anywhere and I was frustrated at the 'fade to black' scene when. they did finally turn their relationship physical!

I didn't like that certain topics covered in this book were discussed again and again in a repetitive way. Sara's eating disorder was constantly mentioned and at times it felt forced - like it wasn't really critical to the scene. I personally haven't had experience with eating disorders, so I am not the person to comment on this topic really, but I just felt like it was not always adding anything to the plot.

I also didn't like that Sara bared her secrets to Luis early on in the story, but we didn't find out his secrets until near the end. This frustrated me because his history was talked about a lot, but we never really knew the backstory which again made it feel kind of forced.

The other thing that I didn't like was the quick ending. I would have loved an epilogue to get more on what Sara and Luis' relationship looked like post vacation.

I will say that I did read this while I wasn't feeling 100% which might explain some of my views.

This book definitely isn't a bad one, but I may have just read it in the wrong frame of mind.

I will look out for the next book in this series however, especially if it means I can read more about the Navarro family!

Huge thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.