Exit through Tortuga Bay

REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Exit Through Tortuga Bay by Alicia Crofton
(Advanced Copy)

Never read before - Finished 06/07

Noah’s in trouble. Big time. After his brother gets him involved with the wrong guys at the wrong time, he finds himself at the front of a hot pursuit in a van full of cocaine and a drug cartel hot on his heels. What could possibly go wrong next? Oh, yup. He just happens to stumble across Grace, and he knows he can’t have her - but he just can’t seem to tear himself away from her. She’s sweet, she’s beautiful, she’s everything he didn’t know he needed, she also has no idea about the box of cocaine she’s sitting on riding in the back of his van…

Exit Through Tortuga Bay is fun and flirty; the perfect mix for the hopeful romantics and steamy rom com lovers alike. But, fair warning - it is not your typical Hallmark movie boy meets girl and falls in love trope. You know, drug cartel and all… 😉

I absolutely loved this book. I love the most typical, cheesy and predictable romantic comedies - but this one went above and beyond and really hit all the marks for me to make it a 5/5. I laughed, I teared up, I loved the characters - and also wanted to give them a good shake and say “what are you thinking?!”, and I appreciated the slow burn with a good balance of backstory, love story, romance, humour, adventure, and subtle unpredictability. I have not read the first book in this series, (I will be now!) but feel this book can absolutely read as a stand-alone. An absolutely fantastic summer rom-com; the bar has been set for all others I read next!

Thank you Net Galley and Alicia Crofton & publisher for the gifted advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review & rating!

In exchange for an honest review, I received Alicia's advanced reader's copy.

Exit through Tortuga Bay offered action, romance, high stakes, and a dual narrative, which I always enjoy. My favorite type of narrative is the two-person narrative. It is also gratifying when the dual narratives stand out from one another, such as these do. A well-developed cast of characters, easy narrative flow, and a consistent pace make for a cohesive story. Nearly every chapter contains some interaction between the two, if not multiple characters, so I find myself thoroughly engaged. It is also a beautiful setting. It is wonderful to have the possibility of falling in love while on vacation. I love being in an unknown place where one can leave whatever they do behind. There is only one difference in ETTB: Grace would like to keep Noah forever.

"Transport yourself to the sandy beaches of Costa Rica in this fun-loving action-packed romantic comedy. This can be read as a standalone, or read as the second book of the Escape in Paradise series."

I absolutely adore the moments of subtle hand-holding in this novel. I think it's a lovely aspect of a relationship, so I enjoyed that element. It is such a joy to be around Noah and Grace. They make me feel butterflies. I was enchanted by their quirky relationship. Aside from Noah's modesty and mannerisms, I'm also attracted to his subtle imperfections. There are some cute nose-scrunches, and he has this cute voice. It's all perfect. The perfect blend of messy and perfect. (For the most part, that's what relationships are.) Even so, I believe that the characters make realistic decisions in this story. In my opinion, they seem realistic enough to believe they exist. Somewhere, right now, someone is sharing the same story. In addition to the excellent writing, the supporting characters are also enjoyable. The novel is packed with adventures, marketed exactly as it is. The story is a journey that encompasses love, stakes, family, and everything in between.

The way Alicia uses the word "adventure" can apply to anything and everything, from their relationship to the cartel, to being in an unknown place, or to Grace's career shift and mindset when she is living the Pura Vida lifestyle. There is adventure around every corner. My favorite moment in the book was Noah and Grace's first kiss. Seeing such tasteful sex scenes was also refreshing. These scenes are very intimately written. There were not too many sexual encounters, but there was enough to truly understand the sexual chemistry between the two. Noah has captured my heart. What a cutie! Having the opportunity to read this was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a long time. Both Grace and Noah share a similar outlook; however, they struggle to decide what their next step should be. There's no better novel for twentysomethings.

Notes:

+ It's an absolute dream to watch Noah and Grace's relationship.
+ Having Tessa around was great; she was a good friend.
+ When it comes down to it, we are all Aunt Judy.
+ Well-written, descriptive, excellent pace, and extraordinary human characters with flaws.
+ I never felt bored; the adventures were plentiful. There are so many ways to use 'adventure' in this novel.