The premise of this story was appealing to me as I enjoy escape reads to places I’ll likely never visit. The description lead me to believe I would be taken to far-away places and would be reminiscent of Daisy Jones (which I loved). What a disappointment.
I found the characters and story to be lacking any depth and the plot-points to be very broken up. The music that was claimed to play a big role in the story was a disappointing aspect in that, while it was always in the back-ground, never really developed except with an abrupt single being released on the radio. The romance element also left a lot to be desired. Aside from time spent in a remote cottage, Caroline and Tex had very little time together to develop into a long-standing relationship where they were sure they wanted to spend their lives together.
Thank-you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for and an advance reader copy.

the spirit of the story was so promising but i really could not get to a place where i enjoyed it. the main character is out of touch with reality and feels sorry for herself about it. i couldn’t sympathize with her and the rest of the story felt shallow & irrelevant because of it. sad because i really love the premise

This is a fun summery romance perfect for the beach or resorts. Caroline is living the dream! The posh 1960’s jet set dream. She and Daphne (her best friend) are from wealthy families and living in a state of permanent vacations. Caroline’s only real goal in life is to become a singer/songwriter but her rich and respectable boyfriend considers her dream to be just a hobby. Then she meets Jack, a handsome Texan, and a photographer for Life magazine. Tex, as she nicknames him, seems to know her better in a few days than her boyfriend has in years. Can she follow 2 dreams, or will she pick the stable and respected route?
The sixties seem like such a spectacular decade in this book, you’ll want to follow Caroline and her friends through Europe where all the beautiful play and no one worries about money. This was such a fun escape!

Caroline has been spending her trust fund traveling and partying- but she continues to write letters to her father, who took his own life. She would like to be a musician but she can't settle down or into it. Then she meets Jack aka Texas a photographer who takes her seriously and urges her to do the same. The 60s were not as glamorous as this novel would like you to believe (unless you were living the high life Caroline was) but take this for what it is- a novel about a woman of privilege finding herself. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good beach read.

I found this poor little rich girl and her cast of characters yawn worthy. I think it was more “Harlequin Romance” than “Daisy Jones and the Six”. It followed a proscribed formula and everything was tied up neatly at the end. Lots of eye rolls from me. I wanted to love it and I feel bad even saying this as I can’t imagine even attempting to write a novel, but this was just not the book for me.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the advance copy.

The book follows Caroline, who is a wealthy woman in her early twenties during the sixties. She is part of the jet setting era, where the wealthy would jet set from the hottest location to party, sun bathe and be seen. However, Caroline is unfulfilled and in walks Tex - a rugged and real photographer who has her questioning what kind of life she wants.

Liz created an alluring setting that transported me to the glamorous sixties. From the references to fashion, food, art and pop culture she mastered the little details to transport the reader to this time period! I love all things vintage and find this era nostalgic and beautiful. This book had me feeling like I was born in the wrong time period!

The main characters were both likeable and well-rounded. I really loved the side characters introduced along the way. There was a great mix of family dynamics, friendship and romance in the storyline.

If you're a fan of Malibu Rising I would definitely check this book out. It is the perfect book for the beach!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 6, 2023
Liz Locke’s debut novel, “Follow the Sun” has been dubbed in some reviews as similar to “Daisy Jones and the Six”. Newsflash- it isn’t. So, if you read this novel thinking you’re going to get Jenkins Reid vibes, you will be disappointed. In general, though, it is an entertaining summer read full of romance and globetrotting fun.
Caroline Kimball is a socialite and aspiring musician, living in the 1960s, who travels the world with her group of elite friends, beaching and partying. After the suicide of her beloved artist father, Caroline and her mother, a renowned fashion designer, were never able to see eye-to-eye, so Caroline does what she can to live a fast-moving, fun-seeking life. On a sunny beach in Acapulco, she meets photographer Jack “Tex” Fairchild and she is instantly smitten. However, Jack does not travel within Caroline’s social circle, and choosing Jack will mean giving up on everything and everyone she has ever known. Is love enough for Caroline to finally settle down?
Caroline is a naïve, young, aspiring musician who has everything handed to her. The heartbreaking death of her father is the only struggle she has ever faced, growing up in the lap of luxury with her group of celebrity friends. She is completely unrelatable and pretty much embodies everything I despise- entitled and spoiled, having never worked a day in her life. Without the sympathy I had for the horrible loss of her father, I would not have liked Caroline at all. Tex however, has all the Texan cowboy charm that one person could possibly want (and then some!). Although the two were complete opposites, they seemed to complement each other well, and the wrong-side-of-the-tracks trope managed to fit well with these two.
The story is told from the viewpoint of Caroline, directly but also through small snippets of letters she sends to her deceased father. This helps to endear Caroline to readers and it absolutely works (she needs all the help she can get). In spite of it all, I rooted for Caroline and Tex and the ending provided that emotionally charged, saccharine “awwww” moment that readers look for in a summer romance.
Sandy beaches, exotic locales, 1960s charm and celebrity, and a good-looking cowboy from the American south? Liz Locke checks all the boxes for “perfect summer read”.

This was an excellent historical fiction book from a debut author, taking place in the 1960s during the International Jet Set Era.

Caroline's mother is a famous fashion designer and she lost her father to suicide. She spends her days traveling and sitting by the pool. Jack is a photographer from Texas and encourages her to dream bigger and take her passion for music seriously. Jack's job is to see people and Caroline feels like it's the first time she's seen. Her mom wants her to go party and have fun before she settles down and doesn't think she should pursue music. The two have very endearing nicknames for each other, "Tex" and "Al" from Alice in Wonderland. Caroline also has a boyfriend, Henry, whose father was her father's art dealer.  This is a story of finding yourself at a crossroad in life and choosing the best path forward for you. I really enjoyed this story! I loved how atmospheric this was, seeing all the locations Caroline visited, I loved the love story and seeing their connection, and fighting for the life you deserve. Beach read vibes with depth!

This book brings you to:
Acapulco, Mexico 
Gstaad Switzerland 
Formentera, Spain 
LA

The 1960’s pop culture era that focused on living large and finding new paths…. So historical fiction meets romance meets finding yourself.

Caroline (Alice) lost her father to suicide and has spent the years since, spending the trust fund in escaping any type of timeline. On vacation she meets magazine photographer Jack (Texas) and the spark that happens is what leads Caroline into confidence to find a new path.

Think rich & famous jet setting life with the emptiness I expect happens. The characters all felt so shallow as we are introduced to them but you can see that Caroline knows she needs to find another way. She just needed to feel permission (hate that word, but thought it described it best) to grab it.

It was a Beachy read, like Daisy Jones lite. It made me want to travel 🧳 ….3.75 stars

WOW! This book grabbed my attention from the cover- and held me captive until the very last page!

It's the 1960s Jet Set era: Caroline Kimball- daughter of a famous artist and a fashion designer- uses travel as an escape from the pressures she feels from her Mother and the pain of losing her father. When she holds the gaze of photographer Jack "Tex" Fairchild beside a hotel pool in Acapulco, her world is forever changed. Jack takes the time to see the woman underneath the makeup and fancy clothes- and encourages Caroline to pursue her passion for music rather than settle for the life of a wife.

Enamored with the idea of a different path in life, Caroline runs away to her father's favourite Spanish island with Tex and pursues her passions away from the disapproving glare of her mother. However, while on the island, a family secret is revealed that pulls Caroline back into the life she wants to leave behind and forces her to choose between what is, and what could be.

Follow the Sun is a beautiful journey through an age-old story of finding yourself at a crossroad in life and needing to choose the best path forward for yourself. Tex is the leading-love interest we all need in our lives- the person who sees you for who you truly are and encourages you to 'seize the day' despite all that may stand in your way,

I could not put this one down- I wanted to see the locations Caroline visited, find out where she would go next and who she would go with, and I adored her neighbor on the small Spanish island. Liz Locke gave me major Taylor Jenkins Read vibes- if you're a fan of a gripping love story that is also about loving yourself and fighting for the life you deserve, pick up Follow the Sun!

Ever found yourself lost in the mesmerizing colors of a setting sun, dreaming about a different life? Perhaps one filled with melodious tunes, exhilarating travels, and breathtaking romance? Then step into the lively, swirling world of Liz Locke's debut novel, "Follow the Sun."

Locke invites us into the glamorous life of the 1960s International Jet Set Era, seen through the lens of the starry-eyed Caroline Kimball. From the synopsis, this book promises a captivating escape into an intoxicating past where the music is always playing, and love is just around the corner.

Caroline, a reluctant socialite (sigh) with a deep-seated desire to tread the path less travelled (bigger sigh), is a character whose struggles are not entirely unfamiliar but are exceedingly unrelatable for the average person. Discontent with the golden cage of societal expectations, she decides to cast aside convention, fuelled by her love for music and the fiery encouragement of a handsome stranger, Jack “Tex” Fairchild. Locke paints Caroline's journey with vivid strokes as she navigates love, loss, and the pressures of a life she didn't choose.

The problem is that some readers - i.e: me, might find the characters lacking a certain depth. Caroline and Tex, despite being at the heart of the story, come across as flat and I found Caroline especially tiresome, constantly complaining about having money, etc., and their actions seemingly motivated more by plot necessity than organic development. Their likability, or the lack thereof, does occasionally make it a tad difficult to root for them.

The core strength of "Follow the Sun" lies in its picturesque journey and the tantalizing promise of adventure. From the sun-kissed beaches of Acapulco to the glittering ski slopes of Gstaad, readers will be swept along a whirlwind tour of the glamorous '60s. I do love a vintage story and this is a great beach read if you can put aside expectations for a deeper tale.

In the end, "Follow the Sun" is an enjoyable, well-paced and surface-skimming debut, akin to a sun-drenched trip through a vintage postcard, with its blend of fashion, film, and '60s pop culture. It’s an invitation to follow your dreams and discover who you were always meant to be - a message that, like the setting sun, lingers long after the final page.

5⭐️'s. This book was one of the most beautiful and captivating things I've ever read. I loved every page so much. For me, this book was a cross between Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising and Pineapple Street. The story follows the life of jet setter, trust fund 22-year old Caroline in the late 60's and the difficult decisions she has to make about following her heart or the life she's comfortable with. Even though many of the characters were mega-rich, they were not shallow and the way problems were presented created a real landscape for people in this time period.

Caroline and Tex have my heart forever and ever. Thank you Liz Locke for writing the most beautiful and raw love story, and thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advanced reader copy. I can't wait to make everyone I know go get a copy on June 6th.

This was the perfect summer read, and I think of marketed well it will be a big hit this season.

Jet setting, nepo babies, romance, and finding one’s self and following dreams is all here and if that doesn’t scream perfect escape read I don’t know what does.

This gave early TJR days and I look forward to whatever Locke writes next.

I’ll be singing this one’s praises on my bookstagram @thebookybird on release day.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the early review copy, all opinions are my own.

This is the story of a young adult born as a privileged and rich family, trying to find her place into the world. She meets a photographer while jet-setting in an Acapulco resort. From then on. She is trying to sort through her grief over her father’s death, and trying to start a music career. After Mexico, the scenes move to an island in Spain, Swiss, L.A. and finally Hawaii.

I find the hardships of the rich and famous are not as captivating as poor or modest heroines. Their obstacles do not seem real as they have everything easy so I was not emotionally involved into the story. I found the author’s note interesting but I wish she would have written the story through the photographer’s lense and not his muse.

If you are entertained with the jet set lifestyles of the 60s, you will enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Follow the Sun was a well written novel that gives readers a look into a lifestyle many won't experience. It is also a love story. I enjoyed reading Follow the Sun and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

Follow the Sun was the best beach read. It was so fun to travel all over the world with Caroline in the 1960’s; she had all the glitz and glam of a high society lifestyle. But this is not to dissuade the reader into thinking there is no substance to the storyline. It covers some heavier topics and was a perfect amount of fun and depth. Highly recommend if you love:
-all things glam
-fresh take on historical fiction
-beach read but still has meaning
-looking for a strong debut novel

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel.

Thanks to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada for allowing me to read a pre-release of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Follow The Sun by Liz Locke is, as the author describes it, a love story about artists who inspire and strengthen each other. Set in the late 60s, Locke has perfectly portrayed the atmosphere of the times and included plenty of historical references to set the scene. There was plenty of nostalgia in reading it.

Caroline belongs to the “beautiful” people who jet set around the world, following the sun in constant search of fulfillment. Having lost her beloved father some years prior and enduring a tension-filled relationship with her mother, she is struggling to find meaning in her life. A chance encounter with a freelance photographer sets her on a new path, filled with fun, adventure, love and the challenges of making her way in the thriving music industry of the 60s.

I loved following Caroline on her journey of discovery. There was a warmth to this tale that made it an easy, enjoyable read. I definitely recommend it!

An easy, breezy read, just in time for summer. A different kind of Sixties story, set among the international jet set living perfectly empty Instagrammable lives well before Instagram. I like Caroline and Jack's easy chemistry, and really enjoyed their time spent running away and hiding on Formentera. Some of the conflicts are resolved a little easily for my taste, but overall an enjoyable read.

This book is a dream of the 1960s jet set lifestyle! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the writing style. Liz Locke perfectly transported how I would imagine the jet set life to have been at the time as well as how people living that lifestyle would speak and act.

Caroline (nickname Al) and Jack (nickname Tex) are such amazing characters and it didn’t take me long at all to get invested in their story. Especially Caroline touched my heart with her journey from jet set life and party wherever the sun and her friends took her to finding her passions in music and love for her life. Tex is a kind and humble male main character that I liked very much. He is so caring and respectful with any women in this book but especially Caroline. I loved their story.

I loved the different parts of the story taking place in Acapulco, Gstaad, Formentera, Palm Beach, Los Angeles and Honolulu. Travelling with a story is always such an amazing journey and this book offers a multitude of literary destinations especially as all the above were so iconic in the 1960s.

The book reminds me of Sister Stardust by Jane Green which is set in the 60s as well and which I loved very much when I read it last year. I enjoy, when a book takes me to places and lives in different times and that is something Follow the Sun accomplished perfectly. Liz writes in her Author’s Note that she hopes the feeling of flipping through the coffee table book Poolside with Slim Aarons by the same (the real life Tex) is transported in the writing and I could not agree more to this statement. Very well done.

All in all this book gets my warmest recommendations to anyone looking for a 20th century historical fiction that celebrates the 60s and the jet set life some fortunate people had at the time. It was a hands down 5 star read for me and I am so grateful to have gotten this book as my very first ARC.

(A review will also be posted on Pub Day June 6th, 2023, on my instagram account @anns.book.chronicles)

Let's start by saying I'm not the right audience for this book. I don't read or like romance. I don't buy into the the happily-ever-after idea, mostly because I don't believe that one person can solve for another's angst or unhappiness. That is a huge burden to put on another individual.

I was dubious about this book to begin with as the blurb did make it seem romance heavy. But the idea of a book set in the 60s with the jet-setting crowd appealed to me. The idea of a young heiress to a fortune wanting to break free of that crowd and follow a passion for music seemed like it would focus on Caroline and the struggle between her place in society and what she desired in her heart. That very much appealed to me.

However, almost half-way in and the romance won out solidy over the music. Caroline had, by that point, only picked up an instrument once, and she spent all her time mooning over Tex. Three quarters of the way in, Caroline finally starts to persue her music in a real way, but by then it was too late for me to say I enjoyed the book much.

Again, a fan of the romance genre might think differently. I'm not that fan.