I thought I was going to read a romance novel - but it turned into so much more! Suspense, closed-door (aka secluded island) mystery, and a lot of adventure rounded out an utterly readable and fun novel.

Poe and Zwe are best friends on the verge of thirty. They’ve done a lot of life together - even work and live together - but they’ve never taken the next step in their relationship. Enter an island getaway full of luxury and romance that goes terribly wrong and see what happens! This one kept me turning the pages waiting to see what happened next.

Thanks for the review copy. The cover is intriguing. This book has lots of interesting twists and turns. It is sure to be a bear seller.

I liked the setting and the location of this book and enjoyed the dynamic between Poe and Zwe. Unlike most other romcoms these characters are able to talk about their issues and there’s no miscommunication between them. I enjoyed the overall plot, the romance between Poe and Zwe and the adventures they went through. At times it did feel rushed and the ending seemed too cliche but maybe with some more tweaks and editing this has the potential to be a successful and highly rated book! I recommend this as the perfect beach/summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

This was a very pleasant easy fun fast paced read I liked it I will recommend this as a nice book to read it kept me engaged!!

Here for a Good Time by Paye is an absolute delight from start to finish! The writing is witty, charming, and full of heart, effortlessly blending humor with genuine emotion. The characters are incredibly relatable and well-developed, each with their own quirks and depth, making them feel like real people you could easily become friends with. The story is fast-paced, fun, and uplifting, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you hooked. Paye nails the perfect balance of lightheartedness and sincerity, creating a feel-good read that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the last page. This is a 5-star read that’s perfect for anyone looking for a joyful escape!

A couple exciting moments. Otherwise, this did not work for me at all, especially as a romance. I found both main characters to be annoying, bad people with no chemistry. The whole hotel takeover/hostage plot made no sense. And I hate the implication that "good" rich people will just solve all the world's problems.

Again, cute story, nothing crazy! Great book for when you’re looking for something low stakes and fast paced.

This was a fun, albeit slightly bonkers friends to lovers read. I've never read anything like this!

Confession: I'd forgotten the synopsis when I started reading and was momentarily very confused when the heist started! I quickly got on board though, and I'm glad I did, because what a ride!

This twisty, turny book follows two longtime friends who are oblivious to the fact they both have feel8ngs for each other and try to deny to themselves how they feel. When their magical tropical vacation takes a turn.l, though, they're forced to face those feelings and several other truths about themselves.

This book is so fun!

A friend's-to-lovers rom com with an action plot twist in the second half of the book. I found it a fun and easy read! It started off strong and the action twist was interesting but I found how it was all wrapped up in the end kinda... easy? Disappointing? I did enjoy the main characters, their banter and friendship and how they eventually came to terms with their true feelings for one another.
The epilogue was a sweet, HEA wrap up to a their friends to lovers story. ❤️

3.75* (rounded up to 4* for GR)

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Griffen for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

*slow clap* so I wasn’t too sure about this at first but when it picked up, I couldn’t put it down. I truly enjoyed the perspective on relationship dynamics and felt like the glimpses we got was truly refreshing although a bit shallow.. because it didn’t go into too much depth on the relationship front.

This book? A whole vibe. Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War is sharp, unfiltered, and brimming with wit, offering a refreshingly honest look at life, love, and the inescapable chaos of being human. From the very first page, I knew I was in for something special—this isn’t just a collection of essays; it’s a conversation with that effortlessly cool friend who tells it like it is, makes you laugh at life’s absurdity, and somehow leaves you feeling seen.

Pyae Moe Thet War writes with raw honesty, blending humor with vulnerability in a way that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. Whether she’s dissecting cultural expectations, navigating the messiness of relationships, or reflecting on what it means to chase joy in a world that often demands suffering, every essay hits with precision and heart.

This book doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s an invitation to embrace imperfection, to question the rules we’ve been taught, and—above all—to live unapologetically. If you love thought-provoking, laugh-out-loud, and sometimes gut-punching personal essays, this one is a must-read.

I really appreciated the twist from contemporary romance to adventure/thriller. But the writing and pacing needed to be a little tighter for me. Because the romance is so clearly telegraphed (and the red herring love interests never fooled me), the emotional reveals happened so late they felt rushed and redundant. The thriller portion raises interesting issues about gentrification and the exploitations of tourism, but also felt rushed.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

dialogue felt awkward in the first few pages. really liked the premise though, would try another book by the author.

Here for a Good Time is a novel that effortlessly blends humor, heart, and the messy realities of life in a way that feels refreshingly honest. Pyae Moe Thet War crafts a story that is both deeply personal and universally relatable, capturing the highs and lows of navigating love, identity, and self-discovery. When I tell you that I did not expect the twists and turns in this book, I am being one-hundred percent honest. I literally would put the book down with my jaw open in the moments where the plot twists got me.

The protagonist’s voice is sharp, witty, and self-aware, making it feel like you’re reading the inner monologue of a friend who overanalyzes everything yet somehow still stumbles into the best (and worst) situations. There’s a rawness to the storytelling that makes even the lighthearted moments feel layered with meaning.

What stands out most is how real the characters feel—flawed, endearing, and entirely human. Their struggles with relationships, expectations, and personal growth resonate deeply, making this more than just a fun read; it’s a story that lingers.

If you’re looking for a novel that balances humor with depth and delivers a protagonist who feels like a living, breathing person, Here for a Good Time is absolutely worth picking up.

The is a friends to lovers romance set in an idyllic location. Poe and Zwe have been friends since childhood, through school, relationships. Poe has had success as an author and books a trip for her and Zwe to try to break through her writers block. But is everything as it seems?

I really enjoyed the location and dynamic between the characters. They are able to talk about their problems and I love the fact that the miscommunication trope is kind of called out. However, when things start going wrong for Poe and Zwe, I started to drift a bit. I enjoyed both plot lines, the romance and the adventure, but I feel maybe not enough attention was given to either. The resolution, especially of the thriller plot, was a bit rushed, and all tied up a little too neatly.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc. This story started off strong and had me hooked but then it kind of fell flat. I didn’t feel like there was any spark with the characters and it’s just sort of dragged on. I found the female character to be kind of annoying at times which made it hard to push through this one.

title: Here for a Good Time

author: Pyae Moe Thet War

publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

publication date: August 26, 2025

pages: 320

peppers: 3 (on this scale)

warnings: gun violence, kidnapping, fire

summary: When Poe's writer's block is out of control and her second book is nearly due, she decides to take herself and her best friend Zwe to a fancy island resort. Fortunately, the place is stunning and fancy. Unfortunately, everything that can go wrong, does -- including Zwe's flirting with one of the resort employees, twisting her ankle, and, oh yeah, getting taken hostage by masked terrorists.

tropes:

friends-to-lovers
vacation resort
one bed
writer's block

what I liked:

very surprising twists
references to writers, romance, publishing

what I didn’t like: 

friends-to-lovers trajectory is too obvious

overall rating: 4 (of 5 stars)

How do you handle your vacation destination being taking over by some masked women? That's what happens to our FMC of the story. She goes on a trip with her best friend but it's like unfortunate situation comes up. This story is part adventure, romance, comedy and almost feels like movie vibes. These two friends get put through the ringer during this story. Their friendship changes in a drastic way. Great story.

Looking for an heartfelt romance with a bit of a romcom. This is for you. I like it but it wasn't my cup of tea but might be yours.

Thank you NetGalley, my first ARC read and review. This book started off amazing, love the characters and knew early on they were meant for each other. The vacation plot bored me a bit, I enjoyed the parts of the book where it focused on the characters love and friendship more. Overall, well written book!