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.

If I am going to read a romance book, it's going to be a historical romance book. I am so glad I was provided an advanced reader copy of Follow the Sun because it was an amazing read.

Taking place in the 1960's, protagonist Caroline is a rich socialite living a life most of us can only dream of if we win the lottery. Jet setting, traveling from one country to another, sipping drinks by a pool, attending lavish parties with a wealthy circle of friends. Her mother is a famous fashion designer and her father was a famous painter. Tragically, he took his own life leaving behind unanswered questions as to why.

While living the life she has only known, Caroline meets photographer Jack, who she calls Tex. They have an instant connection and she begins to question her so called life. Tex and Caroline (who he calls Al) have an instant love and attraction but they are from two immensely different worlds and when a huge secret in her life is shared by her mother, things become very complicated.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. The description of places travelled in the world was absolutely fantastic. I could feel the heat of the sun by the pool in Mexico, the chilly snow on the ski hills in Switzerland, the smell of the fire warming the home in Formentera, I was there for it all.

The connection between Tex and Caroline had me swooning. Ah, that young love. I caught myself giving mt own husband an appreciative look and smile thinking back to our early days. (I still love him almost 26 years later lol)

The panic at the end of the book had me on the edge of my chair wondering if this was going to be a happily ever after or not. (you can read it to find out for yourself)

The perfect light summer romance read. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing an electronic ARC for me to review.

Perfect beach read. Perfect summer vibes.

Be swept away in this 1960’s jet set era, luxurious, sensual and inspiring story of socialite Caroline Kimball.

Feeling trapped in the world of riches, dodging her quasi-boyfriend, unable to please her disapproving mother - bored Caroline copes by traveling the world, playing the part that life is great in designer dresses, cocktail parties and meaningless conversations.

On an job assignment in Acapulco, handsome magazine photographer Jack ‘Tex’ Fairchild sees the real Caroline through his lens. Click. He captures her true beauty. She intrigues him.

One evening, Caroline and Tex connect in the pool, revealing her dreams of sharing singer-songwriter musical talents with the world. Tex believes there is more to life than aimlessly traveling around the world in style, encouraging Caroline to follow her passions. Emboldened by his carefree spirit and their undeniable attraction, the two runaway together to Formentera, a small Spanish Island.

Eventually Caroline must confront her family’s past and present demons, ultimately deciding if she should follow her heart and dreams.

Follow The Sun gave me vibes of the classic quaint Europe village romantic getaway with smouldering chemistry. You never want it to end. Following Caroline’s character arc and budding relationship, I had hoped for a little bit more in the final scene. Overall captivating story with closure. Go forth and discover what is out there for you.

~I also appreciated the historical nod to a real person in the Author’s Note describing the inspiration behind the photographer, the jet set era, which was embodied by the character Tex. Really captured the glamour of that alternate reality.

<i> Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an e-ARC of this via Netgalley. </i>

Follow the Sun is the perfect summer novel! It absolutely gave me Taylor Jenkins Reid vibes - I was expecting Mick Riva to pop up! I really enjoyed the story and characters. Caroline is a socialite and aspiring musician when she meets a Texas photographer named Jack "Tex" Fairchild. Caroline and Tex have an immediate connection which Caroline wants to explore, but she's got to sort out her life before everything can make sense.

This is a light read that gives you all the travel FOMO! The story takes place in several places around the world and will make you want to jump on a plane immediately! I liked Caroline and her interesting family history. Her friends make great secondary characters too. You will want to be poolside while you're reading this and this would make a great book to read with your girlfriends!

Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this advanced copy of Follow The Sun out June 6, 2023.

I enjoyed reading Follow the Sun by Liz Locke. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read it before it gets released to the public.
The jet set life in 1960’s suddenly seems shallow to Caroline, once she meets a charming, handsome, working photographer who encourages her to follow her dream of being a singer songwriter. I liked the characters in the book, Caroline’s loyal friends, and the beautiful places to which they get to travel. (So different from my growing up in the 60’s). But does Caroline really want to give it all up once she finds true love? You’ll have to read this book to find out.

This is a book that takes place in the 1960s. It is touted in a blurb that it is for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. Sadly, it does not live up to this claim. Far from it.

In the beginning, it was like Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, in a cringe-worthy way. The setting is a posh resort in Mexico…….there are many celebrities mentioned, names from that era. Many songs from the time are mentioned too.

From the Mexican resort, we move to a ski resort in Gstaad, Switzerland. Again, the celebrities are there, along with lots of partying, booze, LSD laced punch.

The main character is a poor little rich girl. She is trying to find herself. Her mother has nothing positive to say to her. Her father committed suicide. She wants to become a singer/songwriter. This is possibly the only resemblance to Daisy Jones. She falls in love with a Life magazine photographer from Texas, whom she aptly nicknames Tex.

It does slightly improve in the second half of the book, but that is a long way to go for a story that just does not appeal to me. Caroline seems to find herself and find her path in life.

Unfortunately, I cannot find a lot of positive points to bring out in this review. I did enjoy the descriptions of the settings, especially the resort in Mexico. And it was fun to hear the names of the celebrities of the ear brought up. But, if it wasn't for the fact that I received an Advance Readers Copy, I would not have plodded my way through it. I do see some positive reviews for it, but this is just not the book for me.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A story about a girl chasing her dreams of a musical career. Her journey as she keeps her father memories in the background despite his death.

She seeks approval in her music that is an extension of what she lacks in her personal life. The choices she makes along her career reflect her emotional path.

It’s an emotional read.

Caroline Kimball comes off as a shallow person, jetsetting around the world, treating relationships as flings, not caring about much. I’m reality though, she struggles with who she is. She is bereft due to the suicide of her Father, she has dreams that are not validated by her Mother or her boyfriend, and she feels caged.

It isn’t until she meets Tex, a man who couldn’t be further removed from the jet set lifestyle, that she realizes that things can change. She learns to stand up for herself and break down the bars.

Not being wealthy, I can’t relate to the jet set at all. For me it isn’t reality and therefore, it was hard to like some of the characters at times. But most of the characters redeemed themselves when they were freed of the burdens they had long been carrying.

It’s nice to read a romance that has some depth to it rather than being all fluff. I also loved the 1960”s setting and references to the music and glitterati of the era. It’s a great debut for the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While on vacation in Mexico, socialite Caroline meets Tex. It's the 60s so Caroline has resigned herself to essentially being a socialite until it's time for her to marry and settle down. When she meets Tex though, she imagines life how she wants it to be.

This one was ok for me. I didn't get into Caroline's perspective early on, so I wasn't drawn in by her story. I can be picky about historical fiction though, so this could just not be for me while others love it!

Really enjoyed! This was a solid 4 star for me. I thought the music/singer storyline felt a bit out of place. The author needed to eliminate it completely and concentrate on the "coming of age" story, or crank it up and go all in with it. I did love the love story! Al and Tex. So sweet.

Caroline Kimball comes off as a shallow person, jetsetting around the world, treating relationships as flings, not caring about much. I’m reality though, she struggles with who she is. She is bereft due to the suicide of her Father, she has dreams that are not validated by her Mother or her boyfriend, and she feels caged.

It isn’t until she meets Tex, a man who couldn’t be further removed from the jet set lifestyle, that she realizes that things can change. She learns to stand up for herself and break down the bars.

Not being wealthy, I can’t relate to the jet set at all. For me it isn’t reality and therefore, it was hard to like some of the characters at times. But most of the characters redeemed themselves when they were freed of the burdens they had long been carrying.

It’s nice to read a romance that has some depth to it rather than being all fluff. I also loved the 1960”s setting and references to the music and glitterati of the era. It’s a great debut for the author. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you loved DAISY JONES AND THE SIX, Liz Locke's debut is for YOU! It gave me vibes of that show PAN-AM, and I mean that in the best possible way. The world Locke creates is vivid and the characters are infinitely lovable. I couldn't put it down!

All the stars for Follow the Sun! 🤩
This will be the beach read of 2023! 😎
Follow the Sun is set in the 1960s International Jet Set Era. I was immediately swept away into a world of exotic locations and luxurious parties. Follow the Sun is rich with fashion, film and music from some of the iconic legends we know today including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, The Byrds and The Rolling Stone Magazine. This will make my top 10 books of 2023 for sure! 🥰

“Beautiful things aren’t meant to be caged.”

Caroline comes from a long line of wealth. She is an aspiring singer / song writer but her overbearing mother does not approve and is stifling her dream of becoming a musical artist. Caroline feels caged by the elite societal norms that are thrust upon her in her lavish life. Her mother has plans for her to marry Henry, a long time family friend and social elite. Enter Jack, a photographer who is working one of their lavish events. Their connection is instant. He sees her, all of her. Caroline must choose between family and love, dreams and expectations. Follow the Sun “is about following your dreams to discover the person you were always meant to become.”

Preorder this book now and thank me later. 😉 Follow the Sun releases on June 6th, 2023.

Thank you to @penguinrandomca for sending me an ARC and #netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏻🥰

Well done Liz Locke @cinemasips 👏🏻😁

#penguinreads #penguinreaders #penguinrandomhouse #followthesun #lizlocke #summerreading #beachread #bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram #canadianbookstagrammer #canadianbookstagrammers #1960s #internationaljetsetterlifestyle

"Send me a postcard. From Paris or wherever you jet off to. I'd like to know there's a girl like you out there in the world, makin' it all the more beautiful when she sings."

Sigh.
What. A. Book.
If you have ever fantasized about jumping into a Slim Aaron's photograph of the 1960s jet set, or dreamed of traveling to exotic locales where all you have to worry about is suntan lotion and poolside cocktails, this is the escapist historical romance for you.

Liz Locke captures this world in extraordinary, sparkling detail and richness. I love that she features real life locations in her wonderful book. It grounds the story in reality even though the world is one of fantasy to most people. She must have done extensive research because as I was reading I started googling locations and she nailed them! Because of this book there is a new place on my travel bucket list: the Hotel Las Brisas in Acapulco, Mexico.

In this story, Caroline, a member of the jet set due to her late artist father and fashion designer mother, hobnobs with her rich friends and acquaintances, traveling from resort to resort, sometimes seeing her long distance boyfriend, but secretly she writes and plays songs on her ukelele and longs for more. By chance, she meets photographer Jack Fairchild who she nicknames "Tex." She is drawn to him in ways that surprise her. Their romance is electric, endearing, and tender. But can Caroline leave behind the jet set life to be with Tex, while also pursuing her own music career dreams?

With a cast of side characters as well drawn as our two leads, scrumptious period details of places like Acapulco, Gstaad, Formentera, Palm Beach, and Laurel Canyon, and real life names from pop culture history sprinkled throughout, this book is a fun, romantic, inspiring 1960s romp.

I highly, highly recommend you pick it up when it releases in June as the perfect summer beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley and author Liz Locke for the advanced reader's copy.

Glamour and a description that told me this book could be compared to Daisy Jones... sign me up! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars from me. I fell in love with Locke's descriptions of all the places I long to visit around the world as well as the glamour and jet-setting lifestyle the main character lives.

Caroline Kimball is a jetsetter in the late 60's. She lives off her trust fund and lives the life of luxury as she travels the world via friends and acquaintances of her famous fashion designer mother and deceased artist father. When she meets Life Magazine photographer Jack, she begins to question her life, her beliefs and even question if her destiny is to be married off to another prominent family.

Does Caroline have the courage to buck the system? Travel the world with her and experience a historically based yet thrilling novel If you like strong heroines, stories of wealth and glamour or just love a good romance, Follow the Sun is for you! #Penguin #RandomHouseCanada #FollowtheSun #LizLocke