Let me start by saying this book is like a tropical cocktail—sweet, fizzy, and guaranteed to leave you grinning. As someone who devours enemies-to-lovers tropes like chocolate, Tori Ross’s debut hit all the right notes for me.

The chaotic airport scenes with sheltered Cora? RELATABLE. I’ve been that wide-eyed traveler clinging to my suitcase like a lifeline. Ross nails those cringe-y yet endearing ‘first solo trip’ moments—like when Cora gets flustered by airport escalators (been there) or gawks at hotel towel swans (same).

Now, Eric. Ohhh Eric. That man is a walking red flag turned romantic beacon. His initial ‘shove-for-a-soda’ meet-cute with Cora had me side-eyeing him hard, but watching his gruff exterior melt like shave ice in the Hawaiian sun? *Chef’s kiss*. Their banter—especially during the forced ‘vacation pod’ outings—gave me serious ‘Jake and Amy from Brooklyn 99’ vibes.

Pro tip: Don’t read this during your lunch break unless you want coworkers asking why you’re snort-laughing at your salad. The scene where Cora accidentally uses hair removal cream as sunscreen? I cried actual tears.

What surprised me most was how much I adored the side characters. Salina’s obsession with Barns’ beard lives rent-free in my mind—it’s the quirky B-plot romance we all deserve.

Fair warning: This isn’t War and Peace. It’s a light, sugary confection perfect for beach bags or post-work unwind sessions. The pacing stumbles slightly in the first half (hence 4 stars not 5), but once our leads start volcano-hiking together? Unputdownable.

Final verdict: Like finding a heart-shaped seashell in your slipper sandals—unexpectedly charming and impossible not to treasure. Already stalking BookSprout for the next Calvert sister adventure!