Unfortunately, I tried multiple times to get into this story but ultimately I DNF’d it. I just couldn’t get into the story or characters very much.

Thank you for the arc company for an honest review of this book.

This is a nice summer beach holiday read, one you don’t really need to be concentrating on as it’s just another holiday romance which is predictable. It was quick paced and you knew where the plot was going but it was enjoyable for a rainy UK day of reading

While I consumed this book fairly quickly, I was wildly disappointed in the direction of the plot and characters. I liked Candice and her drive for more for herself. The side characters were also witty and fun. However, the whole structure of the romantic elements didn't hit for me. There was no ability to connect with Daniel and to understand the basis of their relationship.

Candice has left her life in Hawaii behind and has settled into Newquay, Cornwall. Struggling to make ends meet while waitressing and looking for new clients for her surf school, what she really wants to do is write books. A handsome man enters the restaurant where she works one day only to set up his laptop and tap away on the keys all day, ordering only coffee and water. Candice is excited for her surf school to get off the ground and is not expecting the handsome man who ordered no food to be her next client.

Alexis admits that he is writing a novel and is doing research as a result, hence the surf lesson. They hit it off and Alexis wants to continue to experience Newquay with Candice’s help. He wants to pick her brain and get her help to be able to send a draft to the publisher that will be successful. He lies to Candice once and she’s not sure if she can trust him after. Daniel, Alexis’ literary agent, arrives on the scene and the three continue on adventures to give Alexis material for his novel. Candice helps with the writing and Daniel assures her that she will get a proper contract.

Summer continues and sparks fly in various directions while friendships, romances and love abound. I enjoyed this novel and would classify it as a great beach read; however, the title is fairly lackluster.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #HolidayRead

This was not the book for me. Beach Read is one of my favorite books and even if Emily Henry hadn’t been placed within the description as a recommendation, I still would have found the comparisons glaring. I also was just not a fan of either character nor was I invested in their well-beings. I love myself an unlikeable character, but there’s got to be something to root for, you know?

DNFed at 30%

Unfortunately this story wasn’t for me. I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters and the story didn’t grip my attention, so I found myself not wanting to picking it back up.

Mild spoilers ahead.

I've finally finished this book. It took me so long. Too long.

"A Sexy, escapist rom - com" it is not. Nothing sexy, nothing rom - com. Escapist? Because set in Cornwall? Like hundreds other novels? Don't think so then. "Perfect for book lovers", only because they are writing a book there? Nope, don't think so.

There were so many subplots highlighted, and that felt like, important and signficant, but after them being solved, they were forgetten. Never ever mentioned anymore. Searching for father, finding him perhaps, forgetting about the whole? You've got it. Writing a book with somebody else, somebody else disappearing, never ever mentionioning it again? Not looking for solution? You've got it. Or maybe I've just simply overseen it, because eventually I started to skim - read.

I wanted to like this book, the synopsis was so promising and the cover is gorgeous, so summery, but I couldn't connect with the main characters. They felt so under - developed and so chopped, just like the plot itself. I'm not sure why I kept reading, to be honest - perhaps hoping that suddenly the book is going to turn into real holiday read. It was trying to be a romance and it failed. It was trying to bring some heavier issues to the attention and it failed.

And I can't not mention how much this book reminds me of Emily Henry's "Beach Read". Everything, blurb, cover, title and yes, "Beach Read" didn't wow me at all, so I was hoping "Holiday Read" might do just that. Unfortunately, not.

I was initially drawn in by this book because of the adorable cover! I am also a huge fan of Emily Henry, so like other readers, I was excited to give this one a try.

Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. I didn’t feel it was truly a romance novel, and I personally did not connect with the romance part of the story. I did really enjoy reading about Candice’s friendships with MaKayla and Demi though. Some parts were a little slow, and I would’ve liked to have seen more of the evolution of Candice and Daniel’s relationship, but I enjoyed the book.

DNF at 40%…

Candice works at a coffee shop in Cornwall, while also trying to build a surf school. Alexis is in town trying to write the next great romance novel, and he wants to use Candice as his inspiration.

I rarely DNF books. Like…ever. But I just could not get into this one. I kinda liked Candice’s friend Mikayla, but other than that, I really didn’t connect with any of the characters. I felt no spark between Candice and Alexis. I was just kinda bored by it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just okay... really just okay. It was 3 stars for me.
I did not hate it but did not love it... Dont have anythig to add

The cover of this book drew me in - it is bright and fun and screams beach read. The summary left me skeptical if it was a book I'd enjoy, but I gave it a shot. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it. Taylor Cole is a great writer, but the plot fell flat for me. I'm not convinced that Alexis' "lie" was as major as it was made out to be and for me, I finally stopped reading.

I skimmed most of this hoping it would get better… and it just lacked everything. I wanted summer vibes, and romance, and depth, and instead felt as lost as the main character.

I was initially drawn in by this book because of the adorable cover! I am also a huge fan of Emily Henry, so like other readers, I was excited to give this one a try.

Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. I didn’t feel it was truly a romance novel, and I personally did not connect with the romance part of the story. I did really enjoy reading about Candice’s friendships with MaKayla and Demi though. Some parts were a little slow, and I would’ve liked to have seen more of the evolution of Candice and Daniel’s relationship, but I enjoyed the book.

’m honestly a bit confused by the ratings and this is one reason I don’t dnf. While this wasn’t my favorite story, it was a cute and easy summer read that I read in one sitting

I adored the main character and felt she was a very realistic female lead, especially when it came to asshole Alexis. I like the turning point in this book when Daniel arrived. Definitely would have enjoyed more banter but overall this is an easy reading summer book

I picked this book for the cute cover, it gave me Beach Read by Emily Henry vibes. I loved that book. This one not so much. I am sad to say that I did not enjoy much of this. There is the trash talk about the entire romance genre (and its readers). Then there is the scene with consent issues. I did not like it. Maybe if the book was rebranded and not a romance, this would be a different conversation.

I love books about readers and writers and this was no exception. Loved the dialogue and the by-play between characters. A great summer read!

This book just didn't do it for me. I think the comparisons to Emily Henry were...not correct. I didn't like the love interest at all and found him to be a bit misogynistic. DNF'd at 30%.

Sadly, this book did not live up to my expectations.

I chose this book based on the cover, title, and description. After finishing this book, I do not feel the description is accurate. Whoever wrote it claimed the writing was on par with Emily Henry and Josie Silver. Having read both of their work, I can attest to Cole’s writing being no where near their caliber.

My biggest issue (besides the false advertising), is it felt like the book was having an identity crisis. The female main character, Candice, had several storylines going on. She flees her home (Hawaii) after learning of her husband’s affair, is searching for her biological father (in Cornwall), and trying to decide what to do with her life. I was confused by many of Candice’s choices and felt her storyline could have been better tied up.

I feel bad being so harsh with this book, but it truly felt like it was published before it was ready. This would have been a great first or second draft. While I managed to push through and finish, I recommend saving your time and money. I didn’t DNF in hopes it would get better, and was left wishing I had.

Special thanks to Aria and Aries (101), NetGalley, and Taylor Cole for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had really high hopes for this one since I am a big fan of Emily Henry and it said it was perfect for fans of hers.

I can not give a really fair review since I DNF the book after around 25% I think it was because it honestly didn't spoke to me.

I hope this book fit someone else but it it wasn't a perfect match for me which is too bad.

I tried to like it, but the word usage and repetition of tit limpet and Mikayla's actions were very off putting. I did not find any of the characters likable or rateable. I DNF at around 20%