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On The Beach: A Secret Identity Love Story
Mick Bottom has mastered the art of doing absolutely nothing in sun-soaked Reef Harbor. His days consist of betting on lizard races, sampling the local nightlife (from inside a jail cell), and dodging cocktails—literally—courtesy of the women he beds and forgets.
Life is a beach, right?
When Isabella (Belle) Volnay, high-powered pharma exec, professional overachiever, walks into Reef Harbor in her fuck-me heels and zero tolerance for slackers, sparks fly—and clothes come off—on the sand.
It's the first time Belle’s ever had that kind of a beach day (oops, lay), and Mick? Well, let’s just say he's experiencing some firsts too.
But what Belle doesn’t know is that the charming beach bum she’s fallen for is actually the brilliant (and very ex) scientist she’s desperately searching for. Mick and his buddies are determined to keep that little detail buried under the sand.
After all, what could go wrong with a harmless fling? Spoiler everything.
Heartbreak hits like a high tide, but love—real love—is the undertow neither of them saw coming.
On The Beach is a warm, wistful, and wickedly funny romance that reminds us sometimes the biggest waves hit when you’re least ready—and those are the ones worth riding all the way to shore. It includes the following
👙 Secret identity (his)
👙 Insta Love (theirs)
👙 Beach/holiday romance
👙 Pee-in-your-pants funny
👙 STEM heroine
👙 Heroine cannot hold her liquor
👙 Hero can drink everyone under the table
👙 Complete standalone
Life is a beach, right?
When Isabella (Belle) Volnay, high-powered pharma exec, professional overachiever, walks into Reef Harbor in her fuck-me heels and zero tolerance for slackers, sparks fly—and clothes come off—on the sand.
It's the first time Belle’s ever had that kind of a beach day (oops, lay), and Mick? Well, let’s just say he's experiencing some firsts too.
But what Belle doesn’t know is that the charming beach bum she’s fallen for is actually the brilliant (and very ex) scientist she’s desperately searching for. Mick and his buddies are determined to keep that little detail buried under the sand.
After all, what could go wrong with a harmless fling? Spoiler everything.
Heartbreak hits like a high tide, but love—real love—is the undertow neither of them saw coming.
On The Beach is a warm, wistful, and wickedly funny romance that reminds us sometimes the biggest waves hit when you’re least ready—and those are the ones worth riding all the way to shore. It includes the following
👙 Secret identity (his)
👙 Insta Love (theirs)
👙 Beach/holiday romance
👙 Pee-in-your-pants funny
👙 STEM heroine
👙 Heroine cannot hold her liquor
👙 Hero can drink everyone under the table
👙 Complete standalone
252 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2025
329 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Maya Alden
51 books1,079 followersA top 20 Amazon Bestselling Author, Maya Alden pens angsty contemporary romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
February 14, 2025
I had to stop reading this closely midway and skimmed to the ending but I read enough of it that I can confidently give this a one-star rating. There are a few things in this particular book that really set me off:
1. The hero is toxic. He is contemptuous of his one-night stands — the opening chapter paints a terrible picture – – and he’s deliberately cruel to the heroine throughout the book.
2. The heroine’s entire family immediately takes the H’s side, including her sister asking him semi-jokingly if he wants to be in a threesome. Her sister in particular is a real piece of work, confiding details about the h’s sex life to their parents(!). As a matter of fact, every single group of people that she interacts with – – coworkers, family, people she meets on vacation — deceives her, conspires against her, or does both. There is no one who is 100% loyal to her.
3. The family is supposed to be eccentric but they are really just controlling and annoying and they betray her by endorsing him so quickly on the basis of the fact that he helps her to loosen up. He humiliated and deceived her — none of them seem to care about that or recognize it as the red flag and it would clearly be.
4. Small irritation but the hero continues to flirt with everyone even when he is supposedly wooing the h.
5. There’s that gross tactic where he has followed her to a restaurant and comes in with a gorgeous blonde, making the h reluctantly jealous. The blonde, who is his cousin, recognizes it and kisses the H’s cheek so that she can encourage the jealousy. So tired of this and it’s really creepy that the author keeps making her H’s female relatives OK with the jealousy and willing to appear to be romantically involved with their cousin, even very briefly.
6. Finally, regardless of the lip service that they give to compromise and complicated histories, ultimately this book conveys the idea that this quitter beach bum H is somehow superior in his life choices to the h.
I often ask myself if a particular Maya Alden book is going to be my last because there are too many egregious romantic injustices or enormous power differentials or professional and personal humiliations of highly successful women. Despite this review, I have not reached that point yet*. She really knows how to get people worked up over a story and I read her books as soon as they come out because they are addictive. So I enjoy grumbling about these books but I keep reading them, which is my right.
*However, a lot is hinging on whether the next book in her Savannah story involves him engaging in unspeakable cruelty based on a comment he heard a parakeet make.
1. The hero is toxic. He is contemptuous of his one-night stands — the opening chapter paints a terrible picture – – and he’s deliberately cruel to the heroine throughout the book.
2. The heroine’s entire family immediately takes the H’s side, including her sister asking him semi-jokingly if he wants to be in a threesome. Her sister in particular is a real piece of work, confiding details about the h’s sex life to their parents(!). As a matter of fact, every single group of people that she interacts with – – coworkers, family, people she meets on vacation — deceives her, conspires against her, or does both. There is no one who is 100% loyal to her.
3. The family is supposed to be eccentric but they are really just controlling and annoying and they betray her by endorsing him so quickly on the basis of the fact that he helps her to loosen up. He humiliated and deceived her — none of them seem to care about that or recognize it as the red flag and it would clearly be.
4. Small irritation but the hero continues to flirt with everyone even when he is supposedly wooing the h.
5. There’s that gross tactic where he has followed her to a restaurant and comes in with a gorgeous blonde, making the h reluctantly jealous. The blonde, who is his cousin, recognizes it and kisses the H’s cheek so that she can encourage the jealousy. So tired of this and it’s really creepy that the author keeps making her H’s female relatives OK with the jealousy and willing to appear to be romantically involved with their cousin, even very briefly.
6. Finally, regardless of the lip service that they give to compromise and complicated histories, ultimately this book conveys the idea that this quitter beach bum H is somehow superior in his life choices to the h.
I often ask myself if a particular Maya Alden book is going to be my last because there are too many egregious romantic injustices or enormous power differentials or professional and personal humiliations of highly successful women. Despite this review, I have not reached that point yet*. She really knows how to get people worked up over a story and I read her books as soon as they come out because they are addictive. So I enjoy grumbling about these books but I keep reading them, which is my right.
*However, a lot is hinging on whether the next book in her Savannah story involves him engaging in unspeakable cruelty based on a comment he heard a parakeet make.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2025
The H’s cruelty and betrayal were *chef’s kiss* and set us up for a great grovel. But … did we get one? No. In fact, we didn’t even get an apology. Instead, Mick bulldozed his way into Belle’s life, manipulating her into having to work with him and see him every day. He poked and prodded at her and laughed at her irritation. He tried to make her jealous and flirted with every woman that crossed his path, including her sister. I would give this one negative stars, if I could.
DNF
DNF
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2025
Did I read this in one sitting? Yes!
Did I have to write this review so I can sleep? Yes!
Dang it, Maya. This was a miss. The lizard races were the best part.
I was excited about this one, but the book was a disappointment. So disappointing! Because Mick Bottom is an a**hole. He's a manwhore who gave up his life as a scientist to be a beach bum all because a trial failed and his fiancee cheated on him.
He's callous in regards to the women he sleeps with (we learn this in the first chapter). Which... fine. Maybe our h can redeem him. But he just gets worse.
1) Lies to Belle about who he is.
2) Starts a relationship with Belle and then, when she finds out the truth, is so disgustingly cruel to her (later, he even says he'll sign the papers she needs if she'll sleep with him! Our hero, ladies and gentlemen), that I couldn't forgive him. Is he as bad a Noah from "Best Served Cold"? Honestly, it's a toss up. At least Noah apologized. He may be right above Noah on the scale of heroes I can't forgive.
3) Turns up in Boston and barges his way back into h's life.
4) NEVER apologizes! NEVER!
I've mentioned before that Alden's books are a guilty pleasure for me. I love stories where the guy hurts the girl, but grovels beautifully.
Mick Bottom NEVER grovels. He doesn't even freaking apologize!!! EVER! I know because I went back and reread that part to make sure I hadn't missed it.
He is cruel and mean to her, then shows up in Boston and declares his courting her. But he never says "Hey, I'm sorry." Not ONCE!
That's disappointing because Alden can write a fabulous grovel (The Sweetest Taboo and Best Laid Plans are two of my favs).
What makes it worse is that EVERYONE loves Mick. Belle's coworkers and family are like "He's the best." He flirts with her own sister. In front of her! And no one understands why Belle might be upset at him for accusing her of only doing this trial for fame and fortune. Lying to her. Being a dick about it. Never apologizing.
Another reviewer mentioned a grovel and I have no idea what they're talking about, unless him coming back to Boston is that grovel (if so, how was that a grovel?). It felt like Mick basically bullies her into taking him back. And her family helps.
THEN. THEN! When she gets stressed by the trial, the brilliant solution her family comes up with is to DRUG her and have Mick take her back to Coral Bottoms of wherever the hell that place is. They literally roofie her and she freaking wakes up on a plane and is mad for like two seconds and then fine with it because she really needed this break.
I would be so pissed.
Plus suddenly she can oversee trials from thousands of miles away? Is that how science works?
Then Mick pulls a "I can't be a full time scientist. I want to be a beach bum" (he's rich, so of course, HE can afford to do that) move and tries to break up with her. Which, I would have left his stupid ass in the Bahamas.
But somehow Belle can science from the beach, so they will split the time between Boston and this place.
Sure.
It ends with her pregnant, of course.
There's also a running gag where she keeps getting arrested and the officer in charge doesn't like Mick because he slept with his fiancee (wow, another cool fact about our H), but lets H spend the night in the cell with Belle. It's supposed to be cute, I guess. There's no bail there, apparently.
A miss for me. Above Best Served Cold, below It Must Be Love.
Did I have to write this review so I can sleep? Yes!
Dang it, Maya. This was a miss. The lizard races were the best part.
I was excited about this one, but the book was a disappointment. So disappointing! Because Mick Bottom is an a**hole. He's a manwhore who gave up his life as a scientist to be a beach bum all because a trial failed and his fiancee cheated on him.
He's callous in regards to the women he sleeps with (we learn this in the first chapter). Which... fine. Maybe our h can redeem him. But he just gets worse.
1) Lies to Belle about who he is.
2) Starts a relationship with Belle and then, when she finds out the truth, is so disgustingly cruel to her (later, he even says he'll sign the papers she needs if she'll sleep with him! Our hero, ladies and gentlemen), that I couldn't forgive him. Is he as bad a Noah from "Best Served Cold"? Honestly, it's a toss up. At least Noah apologized. He may be right above Noah on the scale of heroes I can't forgive.
3) Turns up in Boston and barges his way back into h's life.
4) NEVER apologizes! NEVER!
I've mentioned before that Alden's books are a guilty pleasure for me. I love stories where the guy hurts the girl, but grovels beautifully.
Mick Bottom NEVER grovels. He doesn't even freaking apologize!!! EVER! I know because I went back and reread that part to make sure I hadn't missed it.
He is cruel and mean to her, then shows up in Boston and declares his courting her. But he never says "Hey, I'm sorry." Not ONCE!
That's disappointing because Alden can write a fabulous grovel (The Sweetest Taboo and Best Laid Plans are two of my favs).
What makes it worse is that EVERYONE loves Mick. Belle's coworkers and family are like "He's the best." He flirts with her own sister. In front of her! And no one understands why Belle might be upset at him for accusing her of only doing this trial for fame and fortune. Lying to her. Being a dick about it. Never apologizing.
Another reviewer mentioned a grovel and I have no idea what they're talking about, unless him coming back to Boston is that grovel (if so, how was that a grovel?). It felt like Mick basically bullies her into taking him back. And her family helps.
THEN. THEN! When she gets stressed by the trial, the brilliant solution her family comes up with is to DRUG her and have Mick take her back to Coral Bottoms of wherever the hell that place is. They literally roofie her and she freaking wakes up on a plane and is mad for like two seconds and then fine with it because she really needed this break.
I would be so pissed.
Plus suddenly she can oversee trials from thousands of miles away? Is that how science works?
Then Mick pulls a "I can't be a full time scientist. I want to be a beach bum" (he's rich, so of course, HE can afford to do that) move and tries to break up with her. Which, I would have left his stupid ass in the Bahamas.
But somehow Belle can science from the beach, so they will split the time between Boston and this place.
Sure.
It ends with her pregnant, of course.
There's also a running gag where she keeps getting arrested and the officer in charge doesn't like Mick because he slept with his fiancee (wow, another cool fact about our H), but lets H spend the night in the cell with Belle. It's supposed to be cute, I guess. There's no bail there, apparently.
A miss for me. Above Best Served Cold, below It Must Be Love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2025
Well, Alden is back on her incoherent BS. Mick Bottom, who tells the reader about his past life from the onset, is a big sleezeball. I'll never understand the trend of MMCs who are just huge jerks and treat the women they interact with like trash, including the FMC. Sure, his fiancée cheated on him and hurt his feelings, but retaliating against the female sex by being an a-hole to an array of one night stands doesn't make an attractive hero. The very first night the heroine gets to the "island paradise," his friends purposefully get her drunk, which feels icky. It doesn't get any better from there.
Now, one might ask, why did you read this book knowing that Alden tends to write this way? Her male characters are just red flag monsters who are honestly unforgivable. But, in all those book, I believed that the MMC learned a lesson of a sort, and while the FMC probably would spend a life dealing with an inconsistent jerk, they would probably convince themselves they made the right choice. Mick Bottom is not that. Everything he does in this book is manipulative or hurtful. Only he knows best. Even the nickname he gives her is infantilizing. Will I read Alden's next book? Maybe? Some, like Kiss From A Rose, were legitimately readable. On The Beach is like a bad sunburn followed by stepping by a broken shell and then getting your wallet stolen. I do not recommend.
Now, one might ask, why did you read this book knowing that Alden tends to write this way? Her male characters are just red flag monsters who are honestly unforgivable. But, in all those book, I believed that the MMC learned a lesson of a sort, and while the FMC probably would spend a life dealing with an inconsistent jerk, they would probably convince themselves they made the right choice. Mick Bottom is not that. Everything he does in this book is manipulative or hurtful. Only he knows best. Even the nickname he gives her is infantilizing. Will I read Alden's next book? Maybe? Some, like Kiss From A Rose, were legitimately readable. On The Beach is like a bad sunburn followed by stepping by a broken shell and then getting your wallet stolen. I do not recommend.
February 16, 2025
Awful H but zero angst ! 🤦🏻♀️
November 10, 2025
She wanted funny but we got a manw**re hero and a childish heroine.
February 16, 2025
Another well written story from Maya Alden, but somehow it misses the mark. I think she’s aiming for cute and funny.
The best thing we can say about him is he’s not a typical MA hero, he’s not verbally abusive, but he’s got other less than stellar qualities. She’s a workaholic, undermined by her strange family.
2, I didn’t hate it, stars.
The best thing we can say about him is he’s not a typical MA hero, he’s not verbally abusive, but he’s got other less than stellar qualities. She’s a workaholic, undermined by her strange family.
2, I didn’t hate it, stars.
February 15, 2025
I liked the premise but I don’t like this type of groveling where he love bombs, manipulates, ignores her wishes because he knows better. It’s not my type. Same with the family that all know what’s best for her.
February 14, 2025
This was fine. Readable, good not great. A couple of things that made this less good than it could have been:
The typos and grammatical errors. EGADS!!! Maya Alden writes a lot of books!! How do they not have someone proofing their work?? 😡
The first half of this book was pretty promising, but after the “betrayal,” the second half was meh. The MMC was an absolute ass to the FMC, then immediately changed his mind and went to win her back with a grand gesture. The problem is that an apology wasn’t part of the gesture. He was just sort of…there. For 5 months. And then he and her family drug the FMC (what?!), he takes her back to his island, and a few weeks later he changes his mind again and tries to bail…after begging her for a second chance for like 6 months? Their relationship and the characterization of them is just all over the place, so I can’t give this higher than 3 stars.
The typos and grammatical errors. EGADS!!! Maya Alden writes a lot of books!! How do they not have someone proofing their work?? 😡
The first half of this book was pretty promising, but after the “betrayal,” the second half was meh. The MMC was an absolute ass to the FMC, then immediately changed his mind and went to win her back with a grand gesture. The problem is that an apology wasn’t part of the gesture. He was just sort of…there. For 5 months. And then he and her family drug the FMC (what?!), he takes her back to his island, and a few weeks later he changes his mind again and tries to bail…after begging her for a second chance for like 6 months? Their relationship and the characterization of them is just all over the place, so I can’t give this higher than 3 stars.
March 13, 2025
Just finished and don’t think he ever apologized. Like he never said the words ‘I’m sorry.” He just barged into her life expecting her to forgive him and she did? Are we just forgetting he lied about who he was, got all his friends to lie to sabotage her work all while having sex with her? Then he later drugs and kidnaps her but it’s okay cause her family was planned it with him. They all took control of Belle’s life making decisions for her. I think it was too much having her crazy family on top of the reef harbor antics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2025
I love this author. I enjoyed the setting of this book a great deal. I was hoping for more grovel. This book did not deliver on that. It was very entertaining though.
January 13, 2025
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book.
First of all, I pictured the amazing music of Mr. Jimmy Buffett (RIP) being the main soundtrack to this book.
The talented Maya Alden has slayed another awesome novel. Good golly I just adore all of her books I have read so far. This one gave a good gut wrenching heartbreaking blow in the middle that made me cry, then other parts had me laughing out loud.
I have a few things to add my own bucket list now.
*shower in a waterfall
*watch a lizard race
First of all, I pictured the amazing music of Mr. Jimmy Buffett (RIP) being the main soundtrack to this book.
The talented Maya Alden has slayed another awesome novel. Good golly I just adore all of her books I have read so far. This one gave a good gut wrenching heartbreaking blow in the middle that made me cry, then other parts had me laughing out loud.
I have a few things to add my own bucket list now.
*shower in a waterfall
*watch a lizard race
January 12, 2025
I was lucky to receive an arc copy, and I loved this book! Our heroine was smart, funny, and passionate. However, she needed to learn to balance all parts of her life..our Hero brought out her playful side. He's the ying to her yang but also needs to all take a few notes from her to reset his "anchor." The heroine's work with sanfillipo syndrome was touching, bringing some awareness. I only wish I had read this book in one day, I wanted more even after the bonus chapter.
January 18, 2025
I love Maya Alden’s books. She is an amazing writer, so easy to read, excellent editing, and a great story. She delivers amazing “gut punch” moments that make you want to cry, even in a story like this that is ‘essentially’ a rom-com.
But for me (and this is just me), I struggled with the character of Mick because he was just too smug. And I admit, that is probably my most hated character trait. And I really don’t like forced proximity unless the guy seems genuinely remorseful and treats the situation with the appropriate attitude. As in, he goes out of his way to show his love how sorry he is. And I didn’t get that from Mick. He’s that busy smirking and cracking jokes, acting like it’s all a big joke, I just felt so angry and hurt on Belle’s behalf. And don’t even get me started on Belle’s family siding with him and inviting him into the fold with no consideration to her feelings.
As I mentioned at the start of this review, Maya Alden is an amazing writer… and the fact that she can elicit such fierce emotions from me as a reader just proves that.
In my humble opinion, of course 💙
I received an ARC of this book.
But for me (and this is just me), I struggled with the character of Mick because he was just too smug. And I admit, that is probably my most hated character trait. And I really don’t like forced proximity unless the guy seems genuinely remorseful and treats the situation with the appropriate attitude. As in, he goes out of his way to show his love how sorry he is. And I didn’t get that from Mick. He’s that busy smirking and cracking jokes, acting like it’s all a big joke, I just felt so angry and hurt on Belle’s behalf. And don’t even get me started on Belle’s family siding with him and inviting him into the fold with no consideration to her feelings.
As I mentioned at the start of this review, Maya Alden is an amazing writer… and the fact that she can elicit such fierce emotions from me as a reader just proves that.
In my humble opinion, of course 💙
I received an ARC of this book.
January 13, 2025
As a woman in STEM myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and appreciate the effort Maya put into crafting a compelling narrative. (With the gene therapy and all).
But we didn't get to know any results from the clinical trials after Mr Bottom agreed to patent his method: seeing as that was the premise of their meeting?. (Did it work? Did she have to try again? - or maybe I missed it. 🤔
Up until the 75% mark, it was a 5 🌟 for me, but the Cambridge, Reef Harbor resolution did not stick out to me - I lost a little interest there after Mick was self sabotaging the relationship .
I mean, he went through all those trouble to have Belle and could not have a simple conversation with her to see where this goes?
Why does Belle keep getting arrested? Officer Jenkins is a cool dude to not keep records of these. Gene therapy is controversial enough to have a lead scientist on a clinical trial being arrested multiple times.
I received an ARC copy
But we didn't get to know any results from the clinical trials after Mr Bottom agreed to patent his method: seeing as that was the premise of their meeting?. (Did it work? Did she have to try again? - or maybe I missed it. 🤔
Up until the 75% mark, it was a 5 🌟 for me, but the Cambridge, Reef Harbor resolution did not stick out to me - I lost a little interest there after Mick was self sabotaging the relationship .
I mean, he went through all those trouble to have Belle and could not have a simple conversation with her to see where this goes?
Why does Belle keep getting arrested? Officer Jenkins is a cool dude to not keep records of these. Gene therapy is controversial enough to have a lead scientist on a clinical trial being arrested multiple times.
I received an ARC copy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2025
This book is a deparure for Maya Alden and it works. It is laugh out loud funny and of course has the angst that we all crave.
March 1, 2025
In the end, Mick never apologizes. He could get away with his lie about who he is, but how he treats Belle after she finds out requires a sincere apology and grovel. We get neither. If he can’t apologize for this, how is the rest of their relationship going to go? It just made the HEA very hard to believe.
January 13, 2025
I loved this one! Unique premise for a meet cute and the beach setting was fun. I happen to be on a cruise, so I especially enjoyed that. Mick Bottom (hehe) was over the corporate grind of killing himself in genetics research and trials. Reef Harbor is his haven and one day a beautiful place woman shows up looking for the man Mick used to be. She wants to use his process to help kids and she’s close to her goal. But no one seems to know who Dr. Augustus is…
Belle is determined to do find him bc she knows she’s on to something and in the meantime she’s having an island fling with Mick Bottom. These two are fire around each other, but once the truth comes out- Mick is especially cruel to Belle in an effort to send her away and let him get back to his beach bum life. After that gut punch, Belle leaves to go back to Boston. But Mick realizes he loves her and chases after her, slowly getting Belle to realize the depth of his true feelings.
Add in a seriously quirky family (Belle’s), the stress of Belle’s trials, and forgiveness and you have a really fun, lovely book. The grovel was on par with the betrayal I thought. And I was rooting for Mick. Really enjoyed this one! A perfect read if you’re over Winter.
Belle is determined to do find him bc she knows she’s on to something and in the meantime she’s having an island fling with Mick Bottom. These two are fire around each other, but once the truth comes out- Mick is especially cruel to Belle in an effort to send her away and let him get back to his beach bum life. After that gut punch, Belle leaves to go back to Boston. But Mick realizes he loves her and chases after her, slowly getting Belle to realize the depth of his true feelings.
Add in a seriously quirky family (Belle’s), the stress of Belle’s trials, and forgiveness and you have a really fun, lovely book. The grovel was on par with the betrayal I thought. And I was rooting for Mick. Really enjoyed this one! A perfect read if you’re over Winter.
February 14, 2025
I 100% loved On the Beach by Maya Alden! I laughed my way through 90% of the story. The banter, one liners, and zingers, made this such a fun and funny read. The lizard races, Belle's inability to hold her liquor and her drunken hijinx made this story so comical, which I feel is fairly unexpected in romance. Mick IS a M.W. at the start of the book, basically hitting anything that moves!! 🤣 There's a scene where he is without a condom, which I found kinda hilarious, because it is completely out of the norm for a man with a very analytical scientific mind, a Boy Scout, if you will, who is always prepared. He falls hard for her, despite his desire to remain the beach bum that he professes to be. 🤣
I loved the characters and the banter, the comments made that make me laugh out loud, the fact there's no family or friends in this story who treat anyone else badly. I adored Belle's crazy family! Talk about comic relief! LOL. The third act breakup was expected, but Mick put in some significant grovel to make it up to Belle. I love the resolution of the story, and whete Mick & Belle were heading as a couple at the end. Five star 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟🌟 read, all the way for me.
I loved the characters and the banter, the comments made that make me laugh out loud, the fact there's no family or friends in this story who treat anyone else badly. I adored Belle's crazy family! Talk about comic relief! LOL. The third act breakup was expected, but Mick put in some significant grovel to make it up to Belle. I love the resolution of the story, and whete Mick & Belle were heading as a couple at the end. Five star 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟🌟 read, all the way for me.
February 14, 2025
A bit hit and miss
This book was a bit of a conundrum for me. I enjoyed the first half - seeing how Belle relaxed into island life and the lengths Mick went to to keep her on the island, all the while refusing to admit his feelings.
The second half was where things went a bit awry for me. When Mick’s “grand gesture” went down like a lead balloon, I hoped we’d see a more genuine apology from him, rather than attempts to make her jealous and using her family against her. I don’t feel like he ever actually did apologise for his treatment of her. Then he and her family accused her of having no boundaries and being on the verge of burnout - I wish we’d seen it more. It felt a bit rich coming from someone who abandoned his work, and from a bunch of career-driven surgeons.
The humour and steam was good and I’m glad they got their HEA.
This book was a bit of a conundrum for me. I enjoyed the first half - seeing how Belle relaxed into island life and the lengths Mick went to to keep her on the island, all the while refusing to admit his feelings.
The second half was where things went a bit awry for me. When Mick’s “grand gesture” went down like a lead balloon, I hoped we’d see a more genuine apology from him, rather than attempts to make her jealous and using her family against her. I don’t feel like he ever actually did apologise for his treatment of her. Then he and her family accused her of having no boundaries and being on the verge of burnout - I wish we’d seen it more. It felt a bit rich coming from someone who abandoned his work, and from a bunch of career-driven surgeons.
The humour and steam was good and I’m glad they got their HEA.
January 12, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up - .5 taken off because Mick was a nasty manwhore prior to Bella but he did not treat his hook ups nicely. The scene with the blond in the beginning no need. Also, the ending was abrupt and I wanted an epilogue for the future with them being together years later.
This was a funny easy read. Mick and Bella feel hard and fast. The betrayal was heartbreaking in the sense of how he reacted to her finding out. He was purposely nasty to her to hurt her and drive her away. So the grovel needed to be big. It was but I would have like more scenes of them being together in Boston and the five month time jump had me going what happened? The confrontation with his ex was laugh out loud funny. Her family was nuts but clearly loved her and wanted the best for her.
I enjoyed the book and 100% recommend it for a nice easy read with some heat.
This was a funny easy read. Mick and Bella feel hard and fast. The betrayal was heartbreaking in the sense of how he reacted to her finding out. He was purposely nasty to her to hurt her and drive her away. So the grovel needed to be big. It was but I would have like more scenes of them being together in Boston and the five month time jump had me going what happened? The confrontation with his ex was laugh out loud funny. Her family was nuts but clearly loved her and wanted the best for her.
I enjoyed the book and 100% recommend it for a nice easy read with some heat.
January 12, 2025
I received this book as an ARC. Maya Alden never disappoints. Her character development is second to none; they all have depth- including secondary characters. They all have many traits and characteristics-not just bad or good. This heroine was unique in that she was an intellectual, quirky science nerd, with a fun-loving, sensual, romantic side. The hero was exactly what she needed- but of course he makes mistakes, underestimates the heroine and has to try and win his love back- as they all do! This book was a change in that the humor really outweighed the gut punch moments- gotta love a heroine that spends time in a Caribbean jail, bets on lizard races, and can come up with a lot of pet names for her beau on the fly in front of his ex! Many great laughs, a few tears, but WELL worth your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2025
This review is based on the ARC I was lucky to receive.
Wow! Although this book had the gut wrenching Maya specialises in, I loved the overall lightheartedness of On The Beach. Makes me wanna move to the beach and shower in waterfalls, drink tequila and rum punchs, watch and bet on lizard racing, dance on tables, dive in oceans, throw away my phone. Totally loved the carefree of it all and Maya perfectly captured it for me.
Wow! Although this book had the gut wrenching Maya specialises in, I loved the overall lightheartedness of On The Beach. Makes me wanna move to the beach and shower in waterfalls, drink tequila and rum punchs, watch and bet on lizard racing, dance on tables, dive in oceans, throw away my phone. Totally loved the carefree of it all and Maya perfectly captured it for me.
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March 18, 2025Idk bro somehow everyone knew what she needed more than she did? Like she’s got a whole PhD - she’s smart, driven, and ambitious and that’s an issue? And sure the burn out is real, but like drugging her and taking her on vacation is a little wild…
Also like 0 groveling? Just following her around being like I love you and you love me and having sex? Not a grovel, no angst, nothing :/
It was funny though and I love a good beach vibe
Also like 0 groveling? Just following her around being like I love you and you love me and having sex? Not a grovel, no angst, nothing :/
It was funny though and I love a good beach vibe
January 12, 2025
I was lucky enough to be able to read the ARC of this book and I would just like to say it is now my favorite Maya Alden book. It was funny and I loved the hijinks of the Coral Cove crew. I loved how Mick got Belle to let loose and how crazy Belle’s family is. I don’t want to give anything away since it’s not out yet but it’s definitely a must read.
January 12, 2025
I love Maya and her work. This was a fun read, less angst and more humor. I loved the take on work life balance and seeing an MMC who was the more relaxed of the pair. I also think the FMC parents and family were a little misunderstood by the FMC because she was so high strung. Overall, really enjoyable and fun. Looking forward to the next Maya book!!!
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January 12, 2025Maya is magic! I truly enjoyed this book. Her characters and theme is like nothing that I have ever read. It is light hearted and makes me smile. As usual, the supporting characters bring as much as the main ones to the story. Her attention to detail only adds to the plot. I would highly recommend to everyone!
January 13, 2025
I was laughing so hard it was so funny🤣 I loved Bell and her family, they were so unhinged that I was looking for scenes with them. Bell was strong, smart and cute and Mick oh don’t get me wrong he hurt her, but the grovel was great. If you are looking for quick easy read where you are gonna laugh so hard than this book is definitively for you. In comparison with other Maya’s book which are really hard to read bcs the topic is usually very sensitive and the main MMC are pricks, this one was fun and I loved it. Thank you Maya for all your great work❤️
January 17, 2025
Received an Arc for a honest review.
Belle needs to find Dr. Augustus, so she travels to the Caribbean, instead she meets Mick and the passion between them is hot. When the truth comes out Mick is cruel with his words and sends Belle running. Mick realizes he loves Belle and travels to Boston to win her back.
Belle needs to find Dr. Augustus, so she travels to the Caribbean, instead she meets Mick and the passion between them is hot. When the truth comes out Mick is cruel with his words and sends Belle running. Mick realizes he loves Belle and travels to Boston to win her back.
February 15, 2025
It was okay
I've read everything Maya Alden has written and usually absolutely love them. I don't think I've ever rated one of her books less than 5 stars. This book however , just fell kinda flat in comparison to her other works. I was pretty disappointed. I'm very much looking forward to her next books and will continue to read anything else she puts out tho
I've read everything Maya Alden has written and usually absolutely love them. I don't think I've ever rated one of her books less than 5 stars. This book however , just fell kinda flat in comparison to her other works. I was pretty disappointed. I'm very much looking forward to her next books and will continue to read anything else she puts out tho
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