I told myself I was gonna go to sleep at chapter 4. That was at 1145pm.

I slept for two hours and this book woke me back up out my sleep.

This was so beautiful and feels so genuine! I won't give any spoilers but it hurt so good and now I'm scared I can't choose a favorite between Adrian and my forever first love, Emile 😭

The Afro-Panamanian representation was everything. This was a nice and gentle read nothing to over the top, no book throwing moments. It was exactly what I needed as a great refresh. I love that the story centered around a work life balance and being able to have everything you want without sacrificing yourself. The way Adrian spoke Gen was beautiful. His dialogue towards her was some of my favorite parts. Very swoon worthy!

Favorite Quote: "I have the potential to love, to care for my well-being and my loved ones, to be passionate about what I do. I have the potential to evolve and want different things than I wanted before.”

Favorite Scene In 1-3 Words: Dancing Congo

This was so good. I am so glad to see AH Cunningham's first release on the traditional side. The culture and diasporic richness of this book was prevalent. Very good.

Genevieve started this book being an overachieving, determined, workaholic. However, as the book went along, she transformed to simply a woman who wanted peace, happiness, and love.

Genevieve found love, in her late thirties, in Adrián. She quickly learned that there is more to life than her meticulous plans of climbing the corporate ladder, late work nights, and no social life. Love ! Love was the something more. Adrián was the something more.

This book features diverse cultures, experiences, and foods as the main characters navigated both Panama and the United States.

The main characters banter, Adrián’s family, and their friends interactions quickly became a highlight of this book.

My First A.H. Cunningham book and I was not disappointed!

"Out of Office" by A.H. Cunningham is a light-hearted and entertaining read that combines humour and relatable premise. The story revolves around the challenges and misadventures of navigating work-life balance, making it resonate with readers who have experienced the quirks of office culture. Cunningham's writing style is witty and engaging, and the characters are well-crafted, each contributing their unique charm to the narrative. While it leans into humour, the book emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal growth. If you're looking for a fun story that offers a glimpse into the comical side of the workplace, "Out of Office" is recommended.

This black romance novel pulled at my heart and mind strings as I read the pages!

There are several serious notes that should be discussed in the lives of black women striving for success in their careers and in love. Choosing YOU is one of the best things one can do to achieve their goal of happiness and it was felt through this quaint, yet trying romance novel.

A.H. Cunningham is that GWORL!

Thanks Harlequin + Afterglow Books & NetGalley for this eARC read!

I loved this book so much! It's my first time reading anything by this author, and I'm already excited to explore more of her writing. The book does a fantastic job of delving into the themes of grief, personal development, and love. I highly recommend it!

Pub Date 23 Apr 2024
I’d like to thank Afterglow Books by Harlequin for providing me this ARC for my honest review.

This book was just okay for me. The storyline did not keep me engaged so it took me nearly two weeks to complete.

This is a sensual, stunningly emotional read that touches on so many realistic adult issues while never sacrificing the romance. Genevieve and Adrián are in their thirties; Genevieve is a consummate career woman and you really understand where her drive to succeed comes from. Adrián on the other hand suffered from burnout some years prior and is now focusing on his family and their small hotel in Panama. Gen is endearingly uptight and type-A (her alternate persona is "Hot Girl Gen which... is so real of her), Adrián is super smooth and super laid-back, and they're technically in opposite places life-wise, so how do they make this work?

The answer is a lot of communication, but let me preface this by saying this doesn't make the book boring or *too real*. Instead, what you do get is two people who are instantly attracted to each other (and the chemistry is THERE right off the bat, and it's honestly kind of insane), but they need to make some tough choices when it comes to sustaining their relationship— What do they compromise on? What do they sacrifice? And this becomes even more relevant when their personal and professional lives collide and Genevieve's ability to do her job hinges on her successfully headhunting Adrián. As a woman of color, I really appreciated the nuanced way the author handled Gen's career, as well as a host of other topics like Adrián's bisexuality, the fact that Adrián isn't traditionally as "successful" as Gen career-wise (something you still don't see in a lot of romance novels), and Genevieve and Adrián's drive to revitalize small communities like Adrián's rather then outright gentrify them.

Also, the way A.H. Cunningham described the setting in places like Aguimar in Panama? Gorgeous. And love and care with which she wrote Afro-Panamanian culture really comes across.

The sex:

My big takeaway here is that the closer Gen and Adrian grew, the hotter the sex acts got. The initial sex scenes very sensual and more focused on building this emotional connection between them, and making them realize they were irreplaceable in each others' lives despite this ostensibly being a vacation fling. But once they found some semblance of permanence with one another, I feel like all bets were off. I loved how toys, masturbation, and video sex were incorporated into the story later (which makes sense since a part of their relationship is long-distance!), and Adrián had a strong "let me take care of you" vibe during sex which was never patronizing, but very hot. Also, there is, in fact, ass-eating during a blowjob, something I pleasantly surprised by.

Overall:

This is the second Harlequin Afterglow book I'm reviewing after The Boyfriend Subscription, and I've really enjoyed both of them. They've both been far more diverse than most of the contemporary romances I see out there, they're romantic, they have great sex scenes. I'd strongly recommend Out Of Office to anyone looking for a grown-up sexy kinda read.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Rating: 4.25/5
Heat Level: 3.75/5

I couldn’t put this book down. Genevieve is one of the most relatable female characters that I’ve encountered in a while. Learning to balance work and real life is hard. It was beautiful seeing Genevieve struggling with it then overcoming the battle. I also like having both points of views from the female and male on their relationship.

I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Book.

The book blurb describes this as a vacation romance, but it is so much more than that. A.H. Cunningham deftly weaves together themes of chronic overachievement, grief, gentrification, personal growth, love, and sensuality. The main characters, Genevieve and Adrián, are both kind, generous, and complex people that you find yourself rooting for from the very beginning. Their friends and family are fleshed out just enough to provide depth and background.

this book i absolutely loved it! this was the first book ive read by this author and i can’t wait to read more! this book all deals with grief, personal growth and love. i truly recommend it!

Harlequin - Romance, Afterglow Books by Harlequin and NetGalley provided an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Book.

The book blurb describes this as a vacation romance, but it is so much more than that. A.H. Cunningham deftly weaves together themes of chronic overachievement, grief, gentrification, personal growth, love, and sensuality. The main characters, Genevieve and Adrián, are both kind, generous, and complex people that you find yourself rooting for from the very beginning. Their friends and family are fleshed out just enough to provide depth and background.

I can tell so much love and passion was put into this book. I really enjoyed it and it was so fun and sexy and filled with amazing character development. The romance was opposites attract but when they were together it was fireworks! I had a great time reading this!

This was definitely a page turner! I truly enjoyed this book & could not put it down. This is one if my top reads for 2024. I’m recommending this book to everyone..