⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

What a fun and fast-paced sci-fi romance! Sunastara and the Venusian gave me everything I didn’t know I needed—space station coworkers, sarcasm, banter, spice, and just the right dash of mystery.

The one-night stand turned something more trope hits perfectly here, and the chemistry? Chef’s kiss. I laughed out loud more than once, and the side characters were such a delight—I’m already hoping they get their own stories.

If you’re into authors like Kimberly Lemming or Ruby Dixon, you’ll vibe with this one. A quick, entertaining, and sexy escape in space!

I am on the fence about this book. I just found it okay.

The writing was fine, but i wasn’t drawn into it as i have been with others. Even now i struggle to remember what happened. It was good while i read it but now i am just meh about it. Honestly thats the best way i can describe this book. Good while reading but not enough to either make me want to pick it back up again or recommend it to others.

I would be interested to read other books by Hardy, but it may be a while before i do.

This was such a fun read that reminded me of a love beyond the stars by Jennifer Chippman. Being stuck on a space ship as feelings grow sounds like the perfect torture that I wish I could experience.

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy. I wanted to love this because I've enjoyed Jess Hardy books before, but it didn't work for my current mood reading. I will try other books by Jess Hardy.

3.5 stars rounded up

I have to admit I had high hopes going into this one - a space romance on an intergalactic cruise ship?! I love cruising and getting into some of the more interesting subgenres like space romances, but it’s just not for me. Hardy’s other books, though, I absolutely loved, so I was definitely disappointed.

It was going well in the beginning, but then there was an odd change in the plot line and things really went off the rails from there. If it had kept going where it seemed like it was initially, perhaps it would be more interesting? I’m not sure! I wonder how it could have been with some different beta or editing advice? Some very interesting directions this could have gone, but the decision that was taken was just not for me… I’m sure plenty of other readers will enjoy it, though - I’ll stick with her Blue Bird Basin series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the early reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

This novel is an ideal choice for readers who yearn for a story that transports them to a world of lighthearted adventure and romance, infused with moments of exhilarating excitement and peril. It is perfect for those who delight in tales of star-crossed lovers and find themselves irresistibly drawn into their captivating journey, eagerly rooting for their happiness against all odds.

The narrative unfolds with a delicate balance of heartwarming romance and thrilling escapades, creating an immersive experience that will leave readers breathless. As the protagonists navigate a path filled with unexpected twists and turns, readers will be swept away by the enchanting allure of their forbidden love and the exhilarating dangers they face.

With its captivating blend of lightheartedness, adventure, romance, and suspense, this story promises to leave a lasting impression on readers, making it a must-read for anyone who craves a truly unforgettable literary escape.

What a fun sci-fi concept and setting for a romance. Different from some of the other romances I've read but definitely an enjoyable read! Bring on more!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars rounded up.
This book has two main elements plot wise: the romance plot and the sci-fi office dynamics/action plot. Unfortunately, for me, the latter did not really capture my attention. In general, I found the futuristic and sci-fi elements very unbalanced- one second we are talking about different races of aliens and technology that is supposed to be something "out of this world" and the next second there is a clear reference to something from today's world, including terms and phrases used by the characters. I found it pretty jarring and it unnecessarily dates the writing.
The pacing of this book is good and the character development progresses pretty naturally. I did find that the ages of the character didn't quite match their maturity level and it there were certain things that felt a bit shoe horned in just to prove that they really are older.

I really struggled with this one. I felt like Sunny was very one dimensional and her main character point was her past trauma. I found it very slow and in the end not much happened.

Really fun and a lot of laugh out loud moments. Very entertaining and a really fast read. If you like authors like Kimberly lemming, or Ann Aguire you will enjoy this one as well. Love story between two space station coworkers that will hit all the right spots.

This was such a fun spicy read that left me wanting more! I will absolutely read just about anything and this delivered...that being said It wasn't a work of art. I knew what I was getting into and the story was very intriguing. I can't wait to read more!

Jess Hardy is an auto buy author for me. I love her writing and the way she tells stories about people in their 40s and older. As someone in her 40s, it's nice to see people getting their happily ever after because everyone deserves love.

Sunastara and the Venusian had everything I didn't know I was looking for. A one night stand that's one night only until it's not. Side characters who I want books about but also just adored my time with. Sarcasm, sexiness, banter and mystery. Oh and the whole thing is set in space.

I laughed, I cried, I screamed about the book from the rooftops and to anyone who would listen to me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was such a fun read. The spice level also was amazing. I read this book from beginning to end in one sitting I couldn't put it down.

This was a fun and spicy read! It was out of my usual genre of reads but I am so glad I took a leap. Jess K. Hardy is an excellent writer and I have loved everything she's written. I could picture every character in my brain and feel their emotions and conflicts...even the more unusual ones. ;)

Loved this book, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. I will definitely read again and recommend to others.

The world building was fantastic! It was done so well and was a blast. It’s full of romance, funny moments but balanced such serious topics, overall this was such an unexpected great book!

This was a really fun sci-fi romance with a gorgeous couple to follow. I really enjoyed the space aspects and found them really easy to follow.

Deep in my reading slump, I picked up this ARC, and I'm immensely happy that I did - I absolutely loved this book! I haven't ever read anything like this before, and that made me very happy. I laughed and cried while reading this, and every book that succeeds with that is a perfect book, in my opinion.

It's romantic, fun, funny, sexy and action-packed, but with the perfect balance and handles serious topics with respect and grace as well. There were relatable and well-rounded characters, AND it has a good plot AND subplots.

I loved the world building; it was made with enough details to feel real, but not as much that it made me feel overwhelmed and/or stupid. Every fact and detail blended together flawlessly.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

genre: sci-fi romance

Sunastara Nex is the hospitality specialist on board the Ignisar space cruise liner. She's thrown herself into her job as a way to [not] process the grief from her past, and her job is making sure the passengers on the cruise have a pleasant journey. Boundaries are not her strength, though, and she uses the Squee hookup app to find pleasure where she can, with whomever she can. This is how she meets Joshua, with whom she has an exquisite one-night stand, which is great until three months later she sees him walking into her staff meeting as their new languages and customs officer... his name is Freddie, and Sunny is going to have to really test her professional boundaries.

This was tough for me for all the reasons that other readers will probably end up loving: it's a contemporary romance set in space with the window dressings of sci-fi. Written in first person, there's a cinematic quality to the book, and there are times I was convinced I was in an episode of Star Trek DS9 or Babylon 5. For those less comfortable with SF worldbuilding, Sunastara and the Venusian is an easy entrypoint into some spicy fun in space. I found the pacing difficult - Hardy spends time detailing flashy tech and giving readers that cinematic feel, then focuses on the romance, and then focuses on the external conflict, rather than connecting all of those components. I think this will strongly appeal to readers who grew up on Star Trek but don't read much SF. The space cruise gives the book a cozy feel, which will appeal to many readers looking to slowly branch out of a comfort zone and into some science fiction.

This wasn't for me, but I can imagine it'll work for a whole lot of readers looking for big feelings, a spicy romance, and some outer space fun.


CW: death of a child off-page prior to the events of the book

This book was an utter delight from start to finish. Our FMC is dealing with grief but living her life bringing the holiday dreams of passengers aboard a space cruise to life... while also coming face-to-face with the best one-night-stand of her life when he comes aboard as the new language expert. Throw in cruise ship shenanigans and a political plot to add some action and it was a fun ride from start to finish. Absolutely loved it.