This was a steamy insta love, dual POV, vacation romance between Genevieve, an African American workaholic and Adrian, a local bisexual Panamanian man she meets while taking a break after a work trip and ends up spending two hot weeks in forced proximity with him at his family resort. When Gen returns to the States, the two find themselves missing each other deeply and decide on a hasty marriage, moving into Gen's apartment together.

While I wasn't a huge fan of how fast the two fell for one another and decided on big life decisions, I did enjoy the focus on finding work-life balance and learning to move on after grief. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and #gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review! This was my first book by A. H. Cunningham but definitely won't be my last!

This was my first book written by A.H Cunningham that I’ve read & I really loved it. I love romance books that take place on vacation or better yet on an island. I loved the cultural aspects placed in the book & how work and having a balanced life was one of the main focuses. Experiencing Genevieve & Adrian quick whirlwind of a love story was exciting and fun. The way the author describes the setting of the land made me feel like I was right there with them. The book also touched on how you can lose sight on what makes you happy if you are living up to your parents dream or what society deems as important. This black romance was sexy and fulfilling & honestly a true favorite that I’ve read so far this year. I wish we got a bit more back story on both of the main characters but other than that I really enjoyed this book and wouldn’t mind if we see them return in another story in the future. Thankful for this complimentary copy of this book and all opinions stated are my own.

thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review 🩵
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these characters were not expecting to fall in love. both had plans and were on paths that they believed would not work together. but love doesn’t really seem to care about all of that lol.

a workaholic and an ex-workaholic may not seem like the best match but these two were so obviously made for each other. the love, care, patience, and understanding that they show each other…yeah 🥹

I wasn’t a fan of Adri holding back on Gen for as long as he did with that “secret” but I can understand that he is on his healing journey and wasn’t quite okay with talking about it just yet. I do like that it didn’t lead to a third act breakup. if you know me, you may know how much I strongly dislike those lol. yay for not having one in this 🥰

make sure you take care of yourself so that you can be the best you for everyone/everything else. love on you. show up for yourself first. thank you @ A.H. for the reminder to prioritize yourself and what you need.

the history lessons were also nice to have. if you aren’t familiar with either place, be ready to learn some pretty cool and interesting information!

This book was amazing from the culture it provided of Panama and the history. Then the love these characters showed for each other throughout the two weeks and after the two weeks was a breath of fresh air.

One of the first things that drew me to Out of Office is that it’s set in Panamá. Until now, I’d only read one other book set there (The Great Divide, which came out just last month). I love exploring the world through the books I read, and that can be especially joyful in reading romances like this one.

Genevieve Raymond is a workaholic who’s devoted her whole life to her career, in part to appease her demanding mother. After spending four months on a business trip in Panamá, she decides to extend her stay by two weeks, hoping to soak in the culture during some much-needed leisure time. Gen has formed a mutual attraction with her driver during the past four months, Adrián. When she tells him of her plans to stay a couple more weeks, he invites her to the hostel he runs with his family. Their time spent together allows a romance to blossom… but can this turn into more than just a vacation fling? Do they have what it takes to build a whole life together, despite the physical distance between them and Gen’s demanding career?

More than most contemporary romances I’ve read, Out of Office really does highlight career ambitions, workaholism, and burnout. Gen’s job is tied up in all of her decisions, but Adrián has also had his own ongoing journey with his career and family. Brought up to be diligent, ambitious, and driven, Gen has made little room for love in her 37 years, and she’s this close to achieving a milestone goal at the company she works for. I enjoyed how this novel works to find the balance between a job and a new relationship, the compromises that may need to be made, and how a vacation can change the course of your life in numerous ways.

I also appreciated the attention to culture, heritage, and race throughout Out of Office. While staying in Aguimar, Adrián is happy to show Gen around his home country and teach her about its history, customs, and cuisine. Likewise, when he goes to Miami, Gen shows him the parts of the city that matter most to her. Both discuss race openly, and indeed, a Black travel account on Instagram is an important part of the story and the journey.

In spite of her socially demanding profession, Gen is also an introvert. As an introvert myself, I fully identified with her need for alone time, recharging her social battery, and taking time to open up to others. She quickly gets over her shyness around Adrián, though, allowing a romance to unfold quickly once she’s with him in Aguimar. And for Adrián’s part, it was wonderful to see a bisexual male lead. There isn’t extensive discussion of his sexuality, but I did like that this aspect of him was included.

Most romances only go so far as to get a couple together, but I like how Out of Office takes readers through a longer relationship arc. This isn’t just about starting a relationship; it’s about navigating how to keep it going when the characters are from two different countries. What steps must they take to stay together? As someone whose husband needed visas and green cards until only a few years ago, I saw a lot of familiarity in the path Genevieve and Adrián embarked on here.

Out of Office is a great romance that highlights Panamanian culture, career-driven characters, and a fuller relationship arc than I normally see in one novel. It looks like it could be the start of a series? Either way, I will be happy to read more from A. H. Cunningham.

If you're looking for a journey of what it could look like to reimagine a different life than what you've carefully planned. Out of Office might be the book for you. Gen career minded is experiencing burnout but with a looming promotion, it makes sense to take some time before the next phase of her career. The break came along with a very attentive and ready-to-serve hero. During their time in Panama, the plans start to unravel because a new reality sets in. What if I want to include a partner? Of course, the original plan didn't include the very elusive love and partnership but what if. Let's not get ahead of ourselves because it's only 2 weeks but the time and close proximity the what if becomes louder. If you want to read 2 characters who are struggling with 'work is not who I am but what I do' then you should absolutely read this tender love story.

I am ready to pack up all my things and move to Panama. This is how you write a vacation romance.

Genevieve is all work, no play….just the way her mother raised her. After spending a few months overseeing the final phases of a new resort she is determined to get some well deserved rest and relaxation. Adrian has spent the last 4 months driving Gen around and he he’s not quite ready to let her go. So he invites her to change her plans and come spend her vacation with him at his family property.

There was something that just felt right about these two. Their connection was so easy and normally that would give me pause but I didn’t feel that at all. They are grown people so they were definitely better at expressing themselves. I related so much to their conversations about career pressure and being successful, being happy and learning how to find that balance. Watching them learn each other AND figure out that balance was *chefs kiss*.

The writing was really beautiful. It was like a love letter to Panama and its rich history and culture. AH always has a way of making me feel while reading and this was no different. If you want to read a LOVE story I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to AH Cunningham, Afterglow Books(Harlequin) and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

I read this one while on vacation, laying on the beach, with good food and a drink. Thankfully, it was the perfect vibe to relax and enjoy a sweet love story. The FMC is a workaholic that had to breakaway from her mother's expectant gaze and just live in the moment for herself. She was so relatable, especially with regard to finding balance bewteen her work-life and her own personal fulfillment and joy within herself. Adrian, the MMC, was a complete sweetheart and I completely enjoyed the incorporation of his culture into the story. I also really appreciated the maturity with which the characters relationship conflicts were handled by the author. The author has quite a few books on backlist which I will be purchasing to enjoy based on this book. If you're looking for a sweet vacation romance, with a little bit of angst and wholesome compromise then I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Out of Office was a romantic oasis that captured my attention very quickly. Career focused Genevieve, finally decided to take a much needed vacation after a four month work assignment in Panama City. She was the prime example of what it means to be “all work and no play”. I felt Genevieve’s mother had too much influence on her career and I was waiting for her to set boundaries with her. Adrian was the perfect match; he was a hard worker but understood the meaning of balance.

After Adrian proposed the idea for Genevieve to spend her two week vacation with him, they end up getting to know each other more intimately. I was curious to see who would fall first, what their chemistry would be outside of the work environment, and what would happen at the end of the two weeks. I think the author did a great job showing the different cultures on page and provided good insight without it being overly done. It was just enough for me to feel like I was on the trip with them. With any new relationship there are tests and that was no different for Adrian and Genevieve. They had to compromise a lot but I think it worked because their love was so strong. I found myself frustrated at times because it seemed like they were content with not being with each other. But they were miserable without each other.

The story was very grown and sexy, it sort of reminded me of How Stella Got Her Groove Back and that’s definitely not a bad thing. The sexual chemistry was intense and the banter was a good touch. It was also realistic, especially the woes of citizenship. Overall, this was a good read.

4.5 ⭐️ Thissssss!! Adrián & Genevieve’s relationship drew you in IMMEDIATELY! I feel like Adrián understood Genevieve so well coming from a person who was a workaholic. For him it took something tragic to happen to make him realize that his family meant more to him then he realized!

I feel like they were completely made for each other! The character development was so good! I have read several books from A.H. Cunningham & so far, this is my favorite one!

This one took a while to get through--pretty sure it was a *me* problem and not the book, I just wasn't connecting with the story--but it finished strong, at least. Hoping the next book stars the two characters that were giving off strong enemies-to-lovers vibes here.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

This is my first time reading a book by the author A.H. Cunningham. This is a great read that I enjoyed, and I look to reading more from his author. I enjoy her characters and her plot. Gen is a workaholic and has just opened a new hotel chain in Panama and on the fast track to a promotion. In need of a vacation for relaxing, rest and some fun in the sun and to get away from her mom, she opts to stay for two glorious weeks in Panama. After a family tragedy Adrián's finds him self-looking at life differently. He is laid back while focusing on his family’s hometown hostel. Adrián is Gen’s driver, and he invites her stay with him at his family’s hostel and she happily agrees. These two are great together as they are spending time and enjoying themselves.

When vacation time is over and Gen heads back home will she do things differently, is there an HEA in store for Gen and Adrián?

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 3.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A sweet romance I enjoyed but didnt really grip me.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Vacation romance
Workaholic FMC
Heavy topics
Mental health convos
Afro Panamanian characters
Spicy scenes
Opposites attract
Character development
Plus size FMC
Spanish dirty talk

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
All the diversity and representation in this book is *chefs kiss*
The communication

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
I didnt really feel engaged with this one

Thank you Netgalley, Harlequin Romance and A. H. Cunningham for the arc.

This was my first read by this author. I do have other books by them but just haven’t gotten to those yet. I felt the story was just okay. Somewhere along the way the writing went flat for me and i was moving along to finish. Liked the concept of a workaholic with dreams of hitting certain things in their career but also knowing when they need a break. Then the laid back person that has their own business and loves their family very much. Then you have the overbearing mother with her mess. I didn’t fall in love with the characters nor do I dislike them.

I enjoyed most was the talk of career and realizing what means most to you. The culture we got to experience through this book. Lastly, that finding love is never too late.

This was my first book by this author. I enjoyed reading Genivive and Adrian’’s vacation love story. The Panama history and descriptions made the story alive. This book was about love, self-discovery, grown woman decisions,& putting yourself first. It took me awhile to finish it as it was very slow in the beginning and I had to keep coming back to it, but it heated up. I didn’t care for Gen’s mom though. She was judgmental & overbearing.

I would recommend this book to other readers if they enjoy romance.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

One thing for certain and two things for sure, ahc is going to write about couples with healthy communication, and in-tune with each other's needs, wants, bodies 😏. She's also going to write about FMCs that are way better than me. Because the way Ricard said, 'Don't worry about yo lil ol' wedding and catch that flight' made me punch my Kindle! Talk about risking it all, chile! The representation of afro-Latin culture and history is immersed in the book. That may have been my fave part. I'm all about a bilingual story especially when i know both languages 😜. I see a trip to Panamá in my future. Both MCs were so lovable and understanding; oh the patience! What a whirlwind love that blossomed into so much more. Thank you NetGalley and Afterglow books by Harlequin for the eARC. Special thanks to ach this heartfelt vacation romance I can't wait for the rest of the world to read! Happyish reading.

Out of Office is the latest from the one and only A.H. Cunningham, released under Harlequin’s brand new Afterglow imprint.

Genevieve Raymond is climbing the corporate ladder, the way she and her mother have wanted her to for her entire life. But with the completion of her latest hotel project, she’s finally doing something for herself: taking a vacation. the perfect tour guide? Her driver, Adrian, who has spent the last four months waiting to show her life outside of the office.

This book was romantic in a way I wasn’t expecting and it felt so good. I loved them being grown and putting their feelings out there, and seeing Gen take chances. Adrian’s past and his hesitance about Gen’s world gave me great emotional weight for this story, as did Gen dealing with her mother’s expectations. The way Adri and Gen leaned into each other, was so beautiful and easy. I loved how they never fought where love took them. They may have doubted it would work, but they never backed away from wanting it to work. That’s what makes easy love easy. Their passion left room to explore and they fed it with intention. Adri never stopped trying, and Gen never stopped believing. The way he took care of her was magic. And the way it opened her eyes and made her take care of herself was beautiful.

The other beautiful part of this book was the culture. So much rich history, and I love the effort that went into exploring Panama, and Florida in this way. Adri's family was as messy and lovable as families can be, and the friends gave this book balance. Wonderful.

This was so fun and sexy I had such a good time reading this! It will be a perfect vacation or beach read!

The characters were easy to love and root for. The chemistry between Gen and Adrian was steaming off the page it was so good! The book is truly a love letter to black women and Panama. The book was steeped in Afro-Latin and Panamanian cultural it was beautiful. Overall this was such a good time and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next!

Out of Office is my first book by author A.H. Cunningham and it won't be my last.

It starts off very insta-lovey, but their love for each other grows over time and I was there for the ride.

Gen is such a relatable character. It was fun to see her grow from doing what she thought she needed to do to please her mom and her job and shifting to pleasing herself. Choosing herself. Adrian is such a swoony book boyfriend. You can tell he just LOVES Gen. He's so patient and attentive to her. And the dirty talk in Spanish was just HOT.

It also felt like a love letter to Panama and Panamanian culture. I love when books make me want to visit a place that may have never been on my radar.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I'm used to more of a conflict, but it was refreshing to just read something about two people falling in love and choosing each other.

This was my first book by A.H. Cunningham. The book is beautifully written. I really loved her style of writing and will continue to read more from her.

Thank you to Harlequin Romance and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

4.25 Stars

Cute romance with important notes about Black women trying to achieve successful careers and finding balance. I enjoyed the vacation romance aspects even if Adrian was a little too perfect, I did like that Gen got to relax a little finally. I didn't feel a huge connection between them and the dialogue felt a little stuff. .