I was extremely excited for this one and ready to declare Island Time a new favorite and a must have for your beach bag. Unfortunately, I DNF'd at 17%. With a breezy summer rom-com I'm more than willing to give characters a pass, but I couldn't get behind any of the cast here. The two mothers in particular: during a DEADLY TSUNAMI a local islander arrives to help rescue some of the tourist group...and the main character's mother actually paused to consider the man must be gay if it wasn't checking out her daughter. While they're trying to flee for their lives. Afterwards, when they all learn that, due to the catastrophic events they'll be stuck on the island for several weeks, the other mother loses her mind because she only packed the one suitcase. As though these natural disasters happened AT her. There's also constantly talk about having babies/a need to be a grandmother and that same character had a scene in which she genuinely wished her husband died (& then seriously considered eating him?!)

I had hoped for a much different read and am sad this one didn't work out for me.

Island Time by Georgia Clark was very different from my expectations. I didn't anticipate a novel with an illustrated cover and publisher's description as a "smart and steamy ensemble romantic comedy" to include quite so many issues.

Yes, it includes a LGBTQIA+ romance and had some humor, but it also has themes of cli-fi (climate fiction), infidelity, work-life balance, Aboriginal Australian folklore, Buffy fandom, and more. It's no wonder it's 400+ pages long to fit in all these topics.

Plot summary: The Kelly and Lee families travel to a remote Australian island for a tropical getaway to become better acquainted now that their daughter are a married couple. The families are very different, but they should be able to coexist for a week in paradise, right? All plans are scrapped when a massive storm forces the families to stay on the island far longer with less than ideal accommodations and provisions.

The author wrote Island Time as a coping mechanism to survive Covid lockdown while living in NYC. Her love for her home country is evident in her vivid and detailed descriptions of Australian flora, fauna, and landscapes.

I'm grateful to Atria and NetGalley for the review copy of this interesting (but too long) novel.

When I started this book, I was completely intrigued. I loved the author’s last book It Had To Be You, but I thought that Island Time had so many characters it was difficult to remember everyone’s backstory and especially their relationships with the other characters. I actually even went back and reread the beginning of the book for more foundation.
I liked the book, but I would have to say that I preferred her other novel over this one.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of Island Time in exchange for my honest opinion.
I had trouble getting invested in reading Island Time - there are a lot of characters and I felt like I didn't know enough about each as I was trying to differentiate them in my mind. But I switched to an audio version with a full cast of narrators and it made my entire listen so much more enjoyable!
The cover of Island Time might make readers expect a lighthearted romcom, but this is much more of a family drama, though there are a few spicy romance scenes. I definitely recommend the audio!

I was drawn in by the premise of families stranded together on an island. However the execution didn’t work for me and I decided to DNF this one. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

This was a great book if you are looking for a summer, quick read while also diving into character development and different romantic interests. Set in the "Island Time", this book will transport you to your favorite vacation destination!

Georgia Clark's IT HAD TO BE YOU was such a fun, heartfelt read that I was a bit nervous to start ISLAND TIME because I was worried it wouldn't give me the same feeling. That said, this story is like a balm for the soul, particularly given the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of travelers gets unexpectedly stuck on an island and have to make do? While there isn't an illness, the togetherness and forced slower pace illuminates the issues that affect each character, opens them up to find something (or someone *wink wink* new), and reveals more about them.

Clark is a master of balance. Her steam is steamy without feeling gratuitous. Her heart is so big yet balanced by harder topics, which creates tenderness and gives the characters space to grow, to fumble, to stand up again. While there is a large cast of characters, Clark gives time to each and they all interact in important ways that advance the plot and character development.

What I will say ... there is a lot, and I mean a lot, going on. I struggled to get into this initially because of some of the things happening and trying to keep track of all the characters, but ultimately, I enjoyed it. A great break from reality and pairs well with a cocktail and a pool!

3.5 stars rounded up.

With a full cast of intertwined characters, Island Time follows the Kelly and Lee families on a tropical vacation where they become stranded for six weeks. Told in multiple perspectives, the book delves into the issues each character is dealing with behind the scenes, including sexuality, motherhood, and divorce. The book was definitely different than I was expecting, especially with the natural disaster element. I did love the Australian setting and the hints of history that was woven into the story.

While I enjoyed It Had To Be You, Island Time had a little too much going on for my taste and I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight throughout the book. I did not personally connect with any of the characters, which made it hard for me to get into the book, especially with how long it is. Thankfully I listened to the audiobook, which helped me stick with it. I loved that it had multiple narrators, which gave each character a different flair.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book wasn't as terrible as some of the reviews intimated, I think it was just weighed down with too many stories and plots running concurrently. I expected a queer romance, but that was clouded by a lot of other characters and their backstories. Also the extremely traumatic beginning with a tsunami almost killed the mood for me at first.

Island Time by Georgia Clark is both an adventurous and romantic read. In this book, two families of two girls who are dating, go on a family vacation all together. However, this trip does not go as planned. Shortly after they get there a volcano erupts on the island forcing both families to spend six weeks on the island together. During this time both families learn a lot about each other and each grow together. Personally, I feel like I judged this book by its cover too much. I had high hopes going into this book, but I found some parts to be a little slow and repetitive. I think I would enjoy this book more as an audiobook, but I’m so grateful that I got to read it before it’s release!

This is my first Georgia Clark novel and I would say it reminded me of The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward. It's a multiple POV book with a broad cast of characters. There are two sisters and their two parents (newly separated, unbeknownst to their daughters), the daughter-in-law, and her two parents. They are on this very isolated island off the coast of Australia and they end up spending a little more time there then they expect to. There is also a bi-pixie-Canadian woman who is the current island concierge/housekeeping/caretaker and a middle-aged native who lives/camps on the island. There is a LOT happening in this book. It's got that Australian edge of humor that I find gritty and abrasive sometimes (I mean that in a good way, honestly). There are secrets and fast made friendships, and sweeping love, and faded love, and tested love. There is a great focus on how these characters grow and change and I love it.
This is not a "rom-com" but there is comedy, romance, some descriptive sex scenes here and there. I found it to be an enjoyable summer read, but it's not frothy and frivolous. After this I checked our library for Clark's back catalog (they only had one - It Had to Be You) and happily enjoyed that one as well (also multi POV, set in NYC).
Thanks so much Atria & Netgalley for the ARC!

Island Time was a super refreshing read! I love books set during vacations and in summery locations during the summer, and this definitely delivered. I liked the dynamics of the two families, and how they interacted.

I absolutely loved how complex this story was, within a seemingly breezy rom-com! Even though there was quite a large set of characters, each one had a distinct voice and personality. I loved how the story unfolded from each of their perspectives. I wanted more from the epilogue (how far out was that set, about a week? too short), like how each member was faring in their new lives, but I really enjoyed how messy the author made these characters- as a family, and as individuals, and the pliability and realism in their relationships. I also liked how the author described everything; the island- I could actually feel the cool breeze off the beach(!), the terror during certain storm scenes, and resilience of each in the face of devastating and drastic changes. She also seemed to have a strong grasp of the ecology of the island and explained so without shoving climate change down the reader's throat and without standing on an environmentalist soap box, which I appreciated.

I was excited for this since the premise sounded interesting! I enjoy stories about families set in the summer/on a vacation.

A few thoughts:
💖🏳️‍🌈 I see this as an escapist story full of love! Family love and queer love! The different relationships show different dynamics.

🏝 the descriptions of the island feels vivid and it helped me imagine the story better.

⭐️ author consulted members of the Butchulla tribe to ensure it was written respectfully.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 it follows a lot of characters — 9 in this book! I cared more about certain characters and less for the rest 🥲

💬 most of the story felt like an introspection type per character depending on whose pov it is in the chapter. It was nice to know them on a deeper level but sometimes the story felt like it dragged on.

With no beach vacation on the horizon this year, I figured Island Time would be the perfect way to kickstart my summer reading. It’a a cute, diverse rom com with a unique premise, but in the end it was just an OK read for me.

WHAT I LOVED
🏝This book has an ensemble cast with each character undergoing their own journey throughout the novel. The large cast of characters makes it easy for any reader to find someone to connect with. And if you’re looking for a queer romance, this would be a great fit for you.
🏝Within all of the romantic plot elements, there are some really interesting thematic conversations. I especially appreciated the one about ambition and motherhood that was the crux of Matty and Parker’s story. Clark has much to say about the topic and I thought she did a great job of working it into the plot without overdoing it.
🏝The premise of being trapped on an island due to a volcanic eruption is super unique. It was a great way to start the story and really set the tone and pace. Clark really did her research into what that situation would entail and how that would impact the ecology of an island, and that really shines in the details.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
🏝No spoilers but one of the romantic pairings falls very much into the instalove trope, a trope that I’m not a fan of.
🏝Because of the large cast of characters, I felt like some of them — namely Parker’s family — didn’t have a ton of depth. This made some more poignant moments with them feel a little rushed.
🏝As I was reading, I started to struggle with the book about 25% of the way in. I couldn’t put my finger on what, but something about the book felt off. Then I realized that the writing style really reminded me of Liane Moriarty’s. I’m not a huge fan of Moriarty’s work, so when I made the connection it became clear why I was struggling. That being said, if you like Liane Moriarty, I definitely recommend picking up Island Time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Part family saga, part literary fiction, part romance... I think ISLAND TIME is contemporary fiction? I found the cover eye-catching, and was sold on "smart and steamy ensemble romantic comedy," but I don't think either are a good fit for this book.

Seven people go on vacation and find themselves stuck on a remote tropical island: sisters Amelia and Matty, their parents Jules and Glen, Matty's wife Parker, and Parker's parents Ludmila and Randall. They're joined by caretaker Liss and ranger Jarrah.

At its heart, ISLAND TIME is an exploration of desire -- what is it that each character wants? Most characters get chapters focused on them, as they mull over their past and future choices. This results in a 400+ page novel. It also meant that each time I got interested in a character's arc, the narrative switched to someone else. While I'm excited to hear Clark wants to write queer love stories, I'm afraid this one was a bit bogged down by all the different family members and their concerns.

I can't help but wonder if I'd have enjoyed it more had the cover and blurb led me to expect more of a family saga. Alas, I was not charmed as I was with IT HAD TO BE YOU (Clark's last), but ISLAND TIME may be a good fit for you if you're in the mood for flawed characters in an ensemble drama.

I was excited to receive this ARC since it is an LGBTQIA+ friendly book, however that was really the only pro for me. I didn't find the humor to be funny. There were many characters in the book and all of them were pretty unlikeable. Just overall this book was not for me.

When you go to a tropical paradise you never expect a volcano to erupt and to get stuck there for six weeks instead of the short trip you were expecting. Island Time follows The Kellys and the Lees that are all together, because their daughters are married. We all know being stuck together won’t always go smoothly, but it can also lead to unexpected adventures.

I loved that we followed multiple POVs while following these families while stuck on vacation for six weeks. This was also something that didn’t work for me at the same time. Island Time follows just a few too many people. Because of the amount of POVs it took me longer to connect to the characters and I think it made the story drag at times.

Island Time isn’t just a romance, but it also teaches us quite a bit about Aboriginal Australians. I learned quite a bit while reading this story. This also isn’t the lightest romance I’ve read. While there are plenty of lighter moments and some steamy times it’s a lot more. There are quite a few heavier subjects, figuring out what you really want in life and so much more. It’s hard to really give more details, because there are so many people, so in this case it’s easier if you experience it yourself.

ISLAND TIME by Georgia Clark

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY:
An extended family vacation has all the possibility of going wrong within the drama of their own family, but the Kelly family vacation is rocked when an unexpected tsunami strands them "on vacation" for six weeks.

MY THOUGHTS:
First off - I LOVE the cover of this book! I'm a sucker for these trending cartoon covers.

I loved the inclusivity of the book! The queer representation was really present and it was amazing to see.

Georgia Clark's first book, IT HAD TO BE YOU, was a Love Actually type-feel with lots of POV and story lines. This book had a similar number of POVs, but it didn't have the same feel.

There was what I'm going to call light family drama, meaning there wasn't much depth to the problems, which I liked, because I don't love the drawn out build up that a typical family drama needs.

Again with the nicknames. It was weird that Amelia went by Animal. Uncomfy.

Overall, it was pretty slow, not a lot happened plot-wise, but in the end, each character figured out what they needed and came out of the island better than before.

This book and cover are an example of expecting one thing and getting another. The cover is sweet and beachy, I thought I was getting a summer romance novel. Instead, I got an extremely detailed analysis of way too many characters and a poor attempt by the author to come across as politically correct and socially aware. Same sex relationships are the norm these days but it came across forced and insincere here. The same with the aboriginal information, none of it felt necessary beyond an attempt to present oneself as informed. This book was way too long and unfortunately the humor and sweet parts were overshadowed by too many details.