Another one I loved! I seriously can not get enough of this series. I have two more to read that I can't wait to dive into soon!

Beauty and the Beach by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A book in the Falling for the Summer interconnected series

I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this author so far! She writes top tier closed door rom coms that will make you swoon and keep you laughing. Fans of Sarah Adams will enjoy this author!

This is the epitome of the hate to love trope. We all know in more of a friends to lovers gal, but readers who prefer hate to love will be over the moon!

This book is part of the Falling for Summer interconnected series published throughout July by a group of indie authors. All of the books are closed door, set in the same island, and have interconnected characters. They can be read in any order.

I listened to this one via audio and I didn’t vibe well with the narrators. I have no doubt that I would’ve enjoyed it more as a physical read, so maybe add this one to your KU downloads!

Perfect for you if you like:
Hate to love
Brother’s best friend
Marriage of convenience
Repressed feelings
Closed door romance

Beauty and the Beach is such a cute, super light audio book. The audio book is narrated by two talented narrators - Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers. They both do a terrific job narrating their characters POV.

Phoenix Park is rich and good-looking. He also used to be Holland's brother's best friend.

Holland recently fell prey to an online scam and is broke.

Phoenix's grandma has a clause in her will - to inherit her massive fortune, the heir must be married. Phoenix happens to be very single.

Holland is very desperate.

I bet you can guess what happens next.

The story is very predictable but is also cute and a very easy listen. Very innocent with no bad language or spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gracie Ruth Mitchell has such a fun way of writing. Her books are fun and swoony, but have the hard real life stuff woven throughout. They have just the right balance of everything. This proved true with her latest, Beauty and the Beach. I loved it so much that I’ve started listening to it a second time.

This modern marriage of convenience had me rolling with laughter at times, swooning at the romance, and tugged at my heart a bit for Holland and Phoenix. These two are quite the pair. They love to annoy each other, but when life throws them each a curveball there is one person they can turn to… each other.

The best part of this book might be the dual point-of-view. I will never not love getting POVs from both main characters. It made these characters stand out more. It was also hilarious to get both perspectives to certain events. The dual POV was made better by the narration for this book! I loved that it was dual narration. Each narrator brought Holland and Phoenix to life. It was perfect.

Beauty and the Beach is a part of the Falling for Summer series. I have absolutely loved this entire series. Gracie Ruth Mitchell’s addition to the series was perfection. It’s one you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audio copy. These thoughts are my own.

“Phoenix Park is the man I fantasize about…hitting with my car, that is.”

**What I loved about this book:
The enemies to lovers as well as the marriage of convenience tropes in this book were so good and built up so much tension between Phoenix and Holland! And the fabulous banter sent this book over the top for me!

Oh my holy moly guacamole, this book is so good! I’m smitten! Holland and Phoenix are amazing, and the enemies to lovers vibe in this one is stellar! I loved all the pranks and how’d they’d check on each other, and then vehemently proclaim their hatred for one another in the next breath. Ha!
I could tell from the beginning that their relationship was deep and had a lot of history, and I loved the few flashbacks we got throughout.
Phoenix’s grandma really is a crazy lady. Holland is right. But do I love how his crazy grandma pushed Phoenix to bite the bullet and move on with his life? You bet your buttons I do. I am a complete goner on Phoenix. He’s a little brusque and stern, but he’s exactly perfect for Gemma. And he’s sooo real! Seriously, this dude could exist in the real world. And I would be okay with that. The world needs more Phoenixes.
Holland is the spitfire I need in my life. She delighted me and frustrated me and then delighted me all over again. The zingers she throws at Phoenix are amazing, and her nicknames for him are too good. Also, her relationship with her Nana Lu is adorable, and her sister is so sweet. I love that she’s really kind and thoughtful, but Phoenix brings out the fire in her. And then, by extension, his family gets her fire later. And some of those interactions may have been my favorite.
Other things I loved:
The nicknames. I know I said it once, but woooo! I love them so much!
The phone call
The pranks
The adoption fair
Wyatt. I love him. (I’d also love a story for him someday…if a certain author needs ideas ;) )
All the one liners and zingers
So. Much. Banter!
Photo shoot! I want to actually see the pictures, because I’m sure they’re fire!
The toast and grape preserves
Phoenix’s generosity
Those hate kisses!
Holland stands her ground with Mavis
The storm
Therapy
Grief — and healing
Claiming and “that’s my wife”
Allll the kisses. Gracie knows how to write a kissing scene!
All the connections with other characters on the island and the island itself.
Basically, I’m in love. I want a reread. I love these two! This series has been a smash hit with every single book to come out and I am so excited for the final two!

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Narrated by Rylee Kuberra and John Rogers — I really like this narration duo. They do a great job making the characters come to life and getting the tone of the story right. I highly recommend both of them!

**Many thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the copy. A positive review was not requested or required. All thoughts are my own.

THIS BOOK IS JUST SO MUCH FUN.

I took this on a recent vacation and I had a hard time putting it down.

Marriage of Convenience? check.
Fun Setting? check.
Humorous Nicknames? check.
I Loathe to Love You Banter? check.
Kissing Scenes that were a straight up TEASE? check.

Phoenix and Holland can't stand each other...well that might not totally be the truth, but that's the one they are sticking to. In order to gain his family company inheritance Phoenix proposes marriage to the one person who lives rent free in his brain despite his best tested efforts.

I adored this back and forth banter that never felt vicious to me because each gave as good as they got. There's something to be said in well placed sarcasm humor between another person that makes you feel safe. I loved the back and forth banter...the I know you want me so i'll tease it out of you until you finally admit it kind of vibe.

I love a buttoned up man and Phoenix was a fantastic love interest who played well off of Hollands shenanigans. Gracie makes you goofy grin one page and the next she's woven in added layers of trauma and depth to give these characters a well needed deep dive.

A favorite romance of the summer. delicious and silly and just what I needed.

**however the audiobook wasn't my favorite so I had to jump to my kindle to finish. The narrators were not what I imagined these characters to be and it was ruining my experience with the story

5⭐️ Another 5 star? People would say it ain’t so! But it’s true. This sweet book was SO GOOD! That marriage of convenience was marriage of convenienceing! I loved every moment of it. From the fighting, to the small tender moments, to the shared trauma, it was just my perfect story. Gracie Ruth Mitchell knows how to write all that tension and heat without the spice.

Phoenix and Holland were perfect for each other in every way. Yes, even though they can’t stand each other, but can’t they? Iykyk. They have a shared trauma, which makes them subconsciously take care of each other in spite of everything, and I ATE. IT. UP! It was more than your typical cheesy rom-com. It had that depth and hard topics that I need in a story. And of course, they are both secretly feral for each other and I just could not. I couldn’t! It was so cute. Kicking my feet cute.

Now for the audiobook. I read the book and listened to it in tandem. I think I got the most out of reading the actual book, but the audiobook was still a good experience. The narrators weren’t annoying and felt right for these characters. Sometimes the voices don’t match, and I thought they actually were pretty perfect.

I will be reading more of Gracie Ruth Mitchell’s books if they are anything like this story. Her writing was amazing. I just couldn’t put the book down. She has a way of hooking you, and you just want to keep turning the pages. Loved. Absolutely loved.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Gracie Ruth Mitchell for the complimentary copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read if you enjoy:
- Funny nicknames
- Closed-door romance
- Marriage of convenience
- Dual POV
- “Enemies” to lovers

While I’m enjoying the series overall, it seems a bit as though the writing team put all of the popular romance tropes in a hat and each writer had to pull out 5. For me, that’s giving each of the books a bit of a contrived feel (yes, I do realize I’m reading fiction).

That said, I’m enjoying this one. Despite the heavy subject matter, it feels like a light summer romance, and the use of dual timelines and dual POV differentiate it from some of the earlier books. While both of the MCs had some unlikeable moments, on the whole, I found myself rooting for them.

3.5 stars, I liked it but I didn’t love it.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A slow burn romance, that goes from enemies to lovers with a marriage of convenience twist. I loved the banter between the characters and all the crazy threats from Grandma. This is a must read and I can't wait to read other books in the series.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

☀️ BEAUTY AND THE BEACH ☀️

Hello favorite summer read so far! I can believe I am saying this, but this story may have lined up with my love for Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder. And I ADORE that book!

We return to Sunset Harbor which is quickly becoming my new favorite place! Small island off the coast of Florida- golf carts, sunsets, and life on a boat. Have you read one of these stories yet? You absolutely should!

Beauty and the Beach is an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience. Need I say more?

Phoenix Park needs to be married to inherit his big time family business and the only person in his life just happens to be Holland, a girl who despises him with all her being. But she needs money. Why not pay his nemesis to be married? This can only be good right?

And boy do things get GOOD. Tension, banter, and goodness the dialogue alone. 😍😍😍🫠🫠🫠
I was hooked right away and loved every second.

PSST. READ THIS.

That is all...

Thank you @authorgracieruth for my #earc! Sign me up for all your books! 😘

*Romance- kisses....yummy kisses
*TW- death of loved ones, grief, PTSD

#beautyandthebeach #sunsetharbor #gracieruthmitchell #newfavorite #marriageofconvenience #enemiestolovers #gimme
#allthebanter #yummy #fivestars #summerreads #coverrecreation #characterrecreation

3.5 stars.
So, the audio of this story isn't great. I didn't particularly love either narrator and that made this story hard to get into.

Beauty and The Beach is a heavier romance with some sprinkles of comedy. I did like the more difficult history that gave this story some real depth and emotion, rather than a light and fun rom-com I would have expected. If you're looking for a sweet romance with depth and growth and healing, this might be the one for you! His family is psycho. Like so toxic in all the worst ways. So that was really hard to read. But otherwise, this was a great addition to the Sunset Harbor series.

Thanks to Dreamscape and Netgalley for my ALC. All opinions here are my own.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the #gifted review copy.

I’m really enjoying the Falling for Summer series on audio.

Expect —> small island, brother’s best friend, enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, only one bed, sweet (clean) romance

Holland and Phoenix have been at each other’s throats for years. From misunderstandings to trauma to the only way to keep one other close, these two have dynamic chemistry.

I couldn’t tell you my favorite part. It might be the bird nicknames or the fact that even though they fight, they truly know and value the other.

I laughed and swooned and loved their honestly and teamwork.

And Is this cover not so cute? I love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Holland and Phoenix were such a great couple and I could not wait for them to realize the depth of their feelings for each other. I loved the pranks they played on each other and the banter between them. This book was so much fun and the marriage of convenience trope was so well down and great. I am really looking forward to the next two books in this series because these books have all been so fun and entertaining.

“Falling for him is scary. But trying not to fall for him has been torture.”

* I already love Phoenix 😂
* Oh my gosh these two hahaha
* The kiss ahhhh
* The animosity!
* Not the wearing all black 😅
* Ugh all this tension is going to kill me
* Oh my gosh I’m overheating 🥵
* When you can hate that fiery you can love that fiery
* He’s truly so thoughtful and I just can’t

Okay, THIS BOOK! I could not get enough of it. Phoenix and Holland are incredible. Their rivalry and friendship and tension and passion are just TOO GOOD.

They are both such interesting characters and I loved getting to see them figure out who they were and who they could be together. And once they got together and decided to stay? The spark be flying!

Plus marriage of convenience? I love when we can sneak that into these contemporary romances!

Do yourself a favor and read it asap. 😍

“Despite all his strength, he still needs someone by his side.”

“Then give it to me… all of it. All of you. I want all of you.”

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

this was such a fun audiobook! it had me laughing out loud and also giggling and kicking my feet! what i liked about this book was the emotional bond between the characters even though they didn’t like each other in the beginning i could tell they would also do anything for the other person if it meant making them happy. listening to this reminding me of summer and felt like true love! funny banter, nicknames, marriage of convenience, billionaire mmc, forced proximity, enemies to lovers…what more could you ask for?

thank you to the author and netgalley for the chance to listen to this arc!

Once I got into this audiobook, I didn't want to stop listening. I loved that it was an enemies to lovers without a slow-burn. The attraction was obvious from the beginning, even in their enemies phase. Phoenix's protectiveness over Holland is so sweet.

. The first few pages, Phoenix was a little off-putting to me that I honestly wasn't sure i was going to be able to finish. I think this may have been due to it being read aloud and trying to create the enemies to lovers vibe making him annoying (though no fault of the narrator). As you start to understand the characters background, it becomes impossible not to cheer them on. Them not realizing that they care about each-other, even as friends, does seem a little tough to believe.


Narrator:
The dual narration made it really easy to follow the characters changing. When there are two narrators, I think it take away from the book to announce whose POV it is (since it's obvious). I don't love when narrators change their voice for different people in the story, especially when one of them is narrated by another person (i.e. when Phoenix uses a voice for what Holland's says in his chapters)

A grandmother who keeps changing her will on her sick bed, forcing the family to adapt or be forced out of the will. As Phoenix is the best suited to take over the company, he must give in and find a wife. I was hooked right from the beginning! The witty banter between Holland and Phoenix is so enthralling and shows just how much they actually hate each other.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I found it to be a wholesome romcom that was witty and intriguing. I found the characters to be genuine which added to the storyline.

This book is part of the Falling for Summer series and is easily a standalone. Its the first book I read in the series and I wanted more! Which you can definitely dig into in the other books.

I have never read anything by Gracie Ruth Mitchell and I will be changing that. I genuinely loved this book and had so much fun reading it, I can't wait to read more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

You love quirky romcoms and characters that you’ll grow to love then this book is for you! I have never read anything by this author before but this book has made me want to search it more books. I’ve definitely become a fan!

Dnf at 15%. Didn’t like the narrators and I don’t like the billionaire trope and the mmc was kind of a jerk. Just wasn’t my style