Member Reviews

Sadly a DNF. This had a lot of potential, but it's an overstuffed story that's trying to accomplish too much. The characters give me a headache. I'm not a fan of the writing style. Perhaps this is a case of "not in the mood now but might like it later", but I kind of doubt it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I tried so hard to like this book, I really did but it wasn’t for me. I liked the fact it was really lgbtq+ positive but there’s so many cons. For something that’s supposed to be a summer romance type book there was a lot and I mean A LOT of drama, and not even light drama but really depressing drama, so I recommend looking at trigger warning if you plan on reading this book. Also another thing that really bothered me is how much the book jumps around from pov to pov. I personally didn’t like any of the characters or find anything special about them.

I also felt like this book was extremely dragged out and could have been shorted significantly. If I would have picked this book up without reviving an arc I would have dnfed this, there’s just SOOOO much going on to keep up with for a book marketed as a romance.

Was this review helpful?

DNF. Couldn't get into this one and there where way too many characters that were all introduced right off the bat. I also wasn't a fan of the writing style. The cover is gorgeous but this one just wasn't for me.

Was this review helpful?

While I enjoyed this book to start off the plot of the book was good then went down hill… to boring to left side agenda, and unrealistic. Didn’t finished didn’t care to.

Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy for my honest review

Was this review helpful?

- very slow pace

- story of self discovery for each of the characters

- enjoyed the idea of (grown) children finding out that their parents are just people too, who are still growing and changing and figuring things out

- I would like to get stuck on a beautiful island with an interesting backstory and dependable facilities for 6 weeks, too!

- parts of it were a little intense for me - the interactions of the characters were kind of extreme for a 6 week relationship

Was this review helpful?

First thank you to the publisher for an early copy of this book!

This was my first Georgia Clark novel and I adored it. The cover is what had ultimately drawn me in, It looked like a great summer/beach read.

The setting was amazing. I loved the small island vibes and all of the imagery that the author depicted throughout.

The characters were so diverse and interesting in their own ways. It felt as though there was a character that anybody and everybody could relate to. I enjoyed getting to read from all the different perspectives while at times getting that third person point of view.

I think my favorite part of this whole book was all the relationships that were formed not only between all the characters and each other but with the characters and themselves. The journeys of self discovery were beautiful.

The reason this was not a 5 star for me is that it was very slow at points and seemed to go on forever. I also think that the genre classification was slightly off. I would consider this book to be more of a family rom/com/drama.

Trigger warnings with this book: mention of miscarriage, addiction, pregnancy.

Was this review helpful?

I felt like the book overall was well-thought out. I had never read an ensemble romance before this, so it was a new experience for me. While I appreciated that each of the couples was struggling with their own issues that extended beyond traditional miscommunication in romances, I felt like because there were so many stories I did not get as much development as I wanted for the others. I also felt like I did not get full closure on Parker's story as it pertained to her job, and at times I felt like her mother was sort of a waste of space? There were moments I saw her value but more often than not she just seemed like another person to keep track of. Additionally, I felt like that descriptions of the island and the various species that lived there was a bit much. I adored Liss and Amelia and their off the charts chemistry--and would not have minded a bit for some more steamy details. Glen and Randall's friendship was also darling and I thought explored relationships by marriages well. Parker and Matty were also amazing as individuals, I would have loved to see them engage more with one another. Jules drove me insane even with her reconciliation--I just did not like her for pretty much the entire story. Overall, I'd recommend it to a friend because I thought the experience was unique, but there were moments of frustration that I wanted more closure on to experience more of.

Was this review helpful?

I was drawn into this book as the cover makes it feel as if it was a cute rom-com. What we got was This book was a good mix of romance, drama and domestic fiction. This book had a lot of POV's - almost too many and I wish there was more character development. I loved the beach itself though and the Australian island setting. I loved the vivid descriptions and learning about the island’s inhabitants. Clark brings Australia to life in these pages! A good romance but not one that I will probably remember.

Was this review helpful?

DNF…. There was so much going on and I never wanted to pick it up and read. It wasn’t my vibe. I’m glad more authors are writing LGBTQ romances, but there was wayyyy too many different plots and I didn’t really care about most of them? I don’t think it’s a bad book, I would recommend for someone who loves a slow burn and multiple POVs.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I really struggled getting through it and wanted to DNF but kept holding out hoping that it would get exciting. It didn’t. It was really hard to connect with any of the characters because there were so many POV’s. We didn’t really get a chance to learn about any of them and because we didn’t get to know them they all seemed super entitled, whiney, and I hate to say it but they were all a little crazy. I get they’re all stuck on an island together and time really isn’t a concept when life is just blurring together, but whoa, these guys were a lot and I cringed way too many times to count.

This book also drags on. Forever. It felt like I was reading a really good chunk and when I looked at my percentage read, it barely moved. I really don’t like when a book makes me feel like it’s never-ending.

I will say I loved the descriptions of the island and the wildlife that inhabits this particular island off the coast of Australia. I really felt like I was there and even though it’s a made-up island, I want to visit!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this family drama! Every character was unique and had a great story arc. I felt the story was woven together well. I think this book is great for women to read to think more about that there’s no perfect place to be in your thirties. I definitely recommend this book for a great summer read!

Was this review helpful?

Honestly not happy with this book and I’m bummed! I was hoping to love it but I think it’s just wasn’t my style of writing or characters.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun read, but didn’t spark anything special for me, I struggled to not only connect to this book but to enjoy it too. Eventually i went with it and started to fly through it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This hurts to write but I didn't like this one 🙈 It felt overwritten and I wasn't drawn in by it. I'm sorry.

Was this review helpful?

I adore Georgia Clark. She writes so many different types of characters within a romance so well—heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, etc. She writes every single person in her novels like they matter: They are fully formed, multidimensional, interesting and empathetic. This type of writing is such a gift, and I hope she knows that.
Island time is the story of two families brought together under the guise of a vacation, stuck by a natayral disaster, and ultimately bound by love. It’s beautiful, realistic, funny and heart wrenching. It felt too long at times, but I loved the message so much im going to overlook that. The setting is perfection—truly, it’s unbelievably well imagined and described. Im ready to go tomrorow!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Atria Books , I was provided an ARC of Island Time by Georgia Clark via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*****Publishing June 14, 2022****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An entertaining book filled with unexpected events, drama, love, and Australian facts and history.

Set on an island in Australia, Amelia’s plan was to get everyone together in order for her boyfriend to meet her family for the very first time. Her boyfriend cancels last minute citing he was work commitments, but thinks he will arrive later in the trip. Her sister Matty, her wife Parker, her parents, and Parker’s parents all arrive for this family vacation. The two sets of parents couldn’t be more different. When a volcano strikes, they are left trapped on this island for 6 weeks as there has been a travel ban. Will this bring them closer together or will it cause a rift in the family? Will the boyfriend eventual make it to the island? What adventures will come of this?

Even though this book had a great story line, I found this book to be lengthy as it felt like you were with them for 6 weeks. A little less details of facts and history still would have made this story enjoyable! The ending is what made this book 4 stars!!

A great beach or pool read as this book will keep you entertained!

Was this review helpful?

Although, I would not categorize "Island Time" as a romantic novel as there is less emphasis on romance than I would need to consider it such. For me, this was a contemporary family drama with deep, detailed bonds between the characters. I loved the Queer representation that was present as Georgia wrote in a way that made it seem casual almost versus centering Queer identities as an entire person's personality. Georgia excelled at the worldbuilding for this novel - each description brings you in.

Thank you for the early copy, NetGalley!!

Was this review helpful?

This book was a fun treat! I loved it! It was a good reset after I read a heavier book. It kept me flipping pages well past my bedtime!!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! Such an enjoyable read! All of Georgia Clark’s works are automatic reads for me.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 stars. This book is billed as an ensemble rom-com. Two families that are connected by marriage are vacationing on a exclusive island off the coast of Australia. The premise sounded great. Being stuck on an island due to a natural disaster with plenty of romance and family drama? Sign me up! I really wanted to love this book, but it fell flat for me and it could not hold my interest. There were too many POV's to really get into the characters and what we did see of the characters was just not very likeable. Again the premise was great, the writing good, but they story fell flat for me mainly because the characters did not draw me in. . .

Was this review helpful?