Sunday, July 14, 2024

Book Review: It's All Sun and Games


By Sara Steven

When Robin finds out she's going on a work trip to Italy she can't wait for a week away in the sunshine, away from the daily grind. So what if there's a client pitch to do while they're there? The thing Robin is most excited about is the chance to show her work crush, James, what she's really like outside of work, and divert his attention from Liz, her work rival.

To make things even better, Robin realises that the town they're going to in Italy is the same place that her childhood penpal, Andrea is from. So it's the perfect time to re-connect and finally meet her old friend over some delicious Italian food and wine (between work obviously...) But when Andrea doesn't turn out to be the person Robin thought, things get a little complicated… (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.)

It’s All Sun and Games is the perfect summer read! It’s mostly lighthearted due in large part to Robin, the plucky can-do protagonist who appears to face the daily grind with as much joy as she can–given she feels like she’s continually up against her work nemesis, Liz. I don’t know how Robin can stay as composed as she does, but she does it. The reader gets the impression that it’s par for the course for Robin. She doesn’t feel as though she’s appreciated at work, and it’s hard for her to get her boss’s attention with James and Liz at the wheel. I loved Robin’s approach to life, though, despite those circumstances. 

Along with the bad, Robin will take the good where her work life is concerned. A work trip to Italy is just what she needs to break up the monotony of her world. I thought the introduction of Andrea and the background and story behind that friendship was very cute and a nice twist. It really added another layer of fun and potential, while also throwing a nice wrench into things for Liz. I found Liz to be annoying, but that made for the perfect antagonist. 

Robin has vied for James’s attention for a very long time, yet he’s never reciprocated it. But when she has the chance to really see where that relationship might go, the line between what she really wants and more importantly, who she really wants, becomes incredibly blurry. It irritated me that James seemed to only step up when Robin appeared unavailable, making James look like he wouldn’t be a great choice where a romantic relationship is concerned. Yet Robin has a tough time seeing that. All she seems to focus on is that fact that he’s giving her what she’s wanted for so long, she might be willing to push aside the red flags she sees on the horizon.

Overall, Robin has to learn that she’s good enough–she’s an asset to her job. She is worthy of love. It felt like Italy really helped to open her up a lot more, changing her viewpoint on so many things! I thought this latest book by Portia MacIntosh was a really great addition to her ever-expanding list of romantic comedies, and worth the read! 

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for the book in exchange for an honest review.

Portia MacIntosh is the bestselling author of over 30 romantic comedy novels.

From disastrous dates to destination weddings, Portia’s romcoms are the perfect way to escape from day to day life, visiting sunny beaches in the summer and snowy villages at Christmas time. Whether it’s southern Italy or the Yorkshire coast, Portia’s stories are the holiday you’re craving, conveniently packed in between the pages.

Formerly a journalist, Portia has left the city, swapping the music biz for the moors, to live the (not so) quiet life with her husband and her dog in Yorkshire.

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