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Here for a Good Time
In Pyae Moe Thet War's electrifying and heartfelt new rom-com, a writer's attempt to find inspiration for her new novel is sabotaged by a vacation gone horribly wrong... and feelings for her off limits best friend.
Tropes
💜 Childhood friends-to-clueless-to-lovers
💜 Successful writer FMC
💜 Hot bookseller MMC
💜 Will they (live)/Won't they (also live)
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 Only one bed (while it lasts)!!!!
Poe Myat Sabei has the publishing career that any writer would kill her first novel became an international number one bestseller and is being turned into a Netflix film. But now on deadline for her second book, Poe is facing a catastrophic case of writer's block. The solution? Book a two-week getaway to an exclusive island resort for her and her best friend Zwe where she'll undoubtedly be inspired to write her next bestseller.
But the vacation of their dreams turns into a nightmare when the resort is taken over by a mysterious group that's very armed and very angry. As they try to leave the island before they're tracked down, Poe and Zwe suddenly find themselves facing the kinds of conflicts that only come up when, well, you're trapped in a life-or-death situation on a remote island with your (hot) best friend.
Will they make it off the island alive? Will Poe make her deadline? And, most importantly....
Will they ever get a chance to tell each other how they really feel?
'A winning, heartfelt and utterly unputdownable book' LAURA HANKIN
'A love story that leaps off the page' RUFARO FAITH MAZARURA
'With witty dialogue, surprising twists and some good old-fashioned romantic pining, readers are bound to fall in love' SOPHIE SULLIVAN
'I LOVED IT' RONALI COLLINGS
-----
💜 FALL IN LOVE WITH PYAE MOE THET WAR 💜
'If you're looking for a slow burn romance filled with tension, look no further - this is the book for you' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'Never have I read two characters that leapt off the page from the beginning' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'I was hooked from start to finish' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'Pyae Moe Thet War tells a rollicking good story' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'A fantastic romantic suspense debut that features two Asian MCs' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
' I would recommend this book highly' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'I can't wait to read more from this author!' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tropes
💜 Childhood friends-to-clueless-to-lovers
💜 Successful writer FMC
💜 Hot bookseller MMC
💜 Will they (live)/Won't they (also live)
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 Only one bed (while it lasts)!!!!
Poe Myat Sabei has the publishing career that any writer would kill her first novel became an international number one bestseller and is being turned into a Netflix film. But now on deadline for her second book, Poe is facing a catastrophic case of writer's block. The solution? Book a two-week getaway to an exclusive island resort for her and her best friend Zwe where she'll undoubtedly be inspired to write her next bestseller.
But the vacation of their dreams turns into a nightmare when the resort is taken over by a mysterious group that's very armed and very angry. As they try to leave the island before they're tracked down, Poe and Zwe suddenly find themselves facing the kinds of conflicts that only come up when, well, you're trapped in a life-or-death situation on a remote island with your (hot) best friend.
Will they make it off the island alive? Will Poe make her deadline? And, most importantly....
Will they ever get a chance to tell each other how they really feel?
'A winning, heartfelt and utterly unputdownable book' LAURA HANKIN
'A love story that leaps off the page' RUFARO FAITH MAZARURA
'With witty dialogue, surprising twists and some good old-fashioned romantic pining, readers are bound to fall in love' SOPHIE SULLIVAN
'I LOVED IT' RONALI COLLINGS
-----
💜 FALL IN LOVE WITH PYAE MOE THET WAR 💜
'If you're looking for a slow burn romance filled with tension, look no further - this is the book for you' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'Never have I read two characters that leapt off the page from the beginning' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'I was hooked from start to finish' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'Pyae Moe Thet War tells a rollicking good story' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'A fantastic romantic suspense debut that features two Asian MCs' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
' I would recommend this book highly' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
'I can't wait to read more from this author!' 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2025
18 people are currently reading
13490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
November 13, 2025
the writing was pretty good, but the plot was chaotic and the romance was kind of nonexistent. and i LOVE a good friends to lovers story but these two really just felt like friends. our heroine has a couple of horny feelings about her friend but beyond that, i really didn't see them as a romantic duo.
February 6, 2025
Started off with promise, but ultimately it was bland.
Beautiful cover, cool idea, and this started off pretty good, set in Myanmar with a successful author (usually authors in romcoms are struggling) and pretty likeable main characters but as the story developed it lagged so much and the ending was way too easy and fluffy. I get why the vigilantes did what they did but the resolution and forgiveness was just way too hand wavy, saccharine and totally lacked realism. Also, I’ve enjoyed a good friends to lovers but these two had zero spark, angst, longing or sexual tension. They barely spent any time alone and had a brother/sister vibe. I guess a very easy romance has its appeal to some, but this lacked emotion and I don’t know if this is a romcom or not because there was no comedy and no romance. Plus what happened to his girlfriend? He was talking to her and getting back together with her, then he fucks off on vacay with his bestie and declares his love and poor Julia (his placeholder girlfriend of YEARS) is left in the dust, I guess, she’s certainly never mentioned again. I hate when MMC’s are portrayed as good guys but treat other women terribly. Also that plot point was unnecessary as we already have an ow conflict with Leila to instigate jealousy with Poe (the FMC), it could easily be removed to make this book drag less.
Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary copy, my opinions are my own.
Got the arc!
Beautiful cover, cool idea, and this started off pretty good, set in Myanmar with a successful author (usually authors in romcoms are struggling) and pretty likeable main characters but as the story developed it lagged so much and the ending was way too easy and fluffy. I get why the vigilantes did what they did but the resolution and forgiveness was just way too hand wavy, saccharine and totally lacked realism. Also, I’ve enjoyed a good friends to lovers but these two had zero spark, angst, longing or sexual tension. They barely spent any time alone and had a brother/sister vibe. I guess a very easy romance has its appeal to some, but this lacked emotion and I don’t know if this is a romcom or not because there was no comedy and no romance. Plus what happened to his girlfriend? He was talking to her and getting back together with her, then he fucks off on vacay with his bestie and declares his love and poor Julia (his placeholder girlfriend of YEARS) is left in the dust, I guess, she’s certainly never mentioned again. I hate when MMC’s are portrayed as good guys but treat other women terribly. Also that plot point was unnecessary as we already have an ow conflict with Leila to instigate jealousy with Poe (the FMC), it could easily be removed to make this book drag less.
Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary copy, my opinions are my own.
Got the arc!
August 11, 2025
This is a well-written, entertaining, contemporary romance novel. It has likable protagonists, relationship drama, supportive family, humor, a heartwarming, friends to lovers romance, a beautiful island setting with an unforeseen event, and a gratifying conclusion. I especially enjoyed its message of following your dreams. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin, Ms. Pyae Moe Thet War, and NetGalley, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this delightful novel. This is my honest opinion.
August 27, 2025
Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War
Contemporary diverse romantic suspense mixed with romantic comedy. Friends to lovers troupe.
Poe Myat Sabei has writer’s block. She’s terrified she’ll be that one-hit author everyone wonders about. Deciding a break away will help, she invites her bestie, Zwe Aung Win to a remote island in the Indian Ocean. They are the only guests. It all starts out innocently enough. Friendship, relaxing and destination experiences. Until lust gets in the way. And apparent attempted kidnapping. How does a vacation go so wrong?
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook. The narration is performed by Jacqui Bardelang who does a wonderful performance making the characters dance to her voice intonations.
Bonus - hearing the author name pronounced! Now I can repeat it to my bookclubs in recommendation.
I did listen at 1.5 and slightly more closely read along with the print copy.
Absorbing and quasi terrifying concept of writer’s block and island hostage situations. Add in the building tension of romantic love for a friend makes this an all consuming romance. Creative. Secondary characters Leila and especially Antonio were excellent filler.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Contemporary diverse romantic suspense mixed with romantic comedy. Friends to lovers troupe.
Poe Myat Sabei has writer’s block. She’s terrified she’ll be that one-hit author everyone wonders about. Deciding a break away will help, she invites her bestie, Zwe Aung Win to a remote island in the Indian Ocean. They are the only guests. It all starts out innocently enough. Friendship, relaxing and destination experiences. Until lust gets in the way. And apparent attempted kidnapping. How does a vacation go so wrong?
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook. The narration is performed by Jacqui Bardelang who does a wonderful performance making the characters dance to her voice intonations.
Bonus - hearing the author name pronounced! Now I can repeat it to my bookclubs in recommendation.
I did listen at 1.5 and slightly more closely read along with the print copy.
Absorbing and quasi terrifying concept of writer’s block and island hostage situations. Add in the building tension of romantic love for a friend makes this an all consuming romance. Creative. Secondary characters Leila and especially Antonio were excellent filler.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
August 29, 2025
3-3.5⭐️, this is an interesting one for me to review. On one hand, I loved the shocking change from what I expected to just be a standard best friends to lovers romcom that turned into an adventure, on the other hand, I struggled with the pacing of this book especially right before they left for their trip and then everything after that part of the story was resolved. The ending felt very much like fan service, and it shoved spice in there unnecessarily at the very end that I think actually did the plot a disservice (and I typically like books with some spice!). I wish the story had ended at the end of their trip with just a brief epilogue. I do think this book has a lot of potential and I enjoyed the author, so I’ll likely be back for more of their writing! If you’re looking for a non traditional romcom, this may fit the bill.
January 7, 2026
I went into it expecting friends to lover being done really nicely except it wasn’t. Poe and Zwe have no chemistry between each other. They seem to not like each other despite being friends for a long time. I was not rotting for them to end up together at this point Zwe had more chemistry with Leila a person he just met than a person he knew his whole life.
Poe as a character is so immature and childish. All she cared about was writing her book and nothing else. She’s a bad friend and she knows that but yet she barely does anything to fix it except make more problems. She’s incapable of communicating. Zwe himself is not any better but at least he’s not as bad as Poe.
The whole thriller aspect of the story was okay. It wasn’t anything that big or interesting. I’d say Zwe and Poe should’ve just been killed like it would have made my life easier.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Poe as a character is so immature and childish. All she cared about was writing her book and nothing else. She’s a bad friend and she knows that but yet she barely does anything to fix it except make more problems. She’s incapable of communicating. Zwe himself is not any better but at least he’s not as bad as Poe.
The whole thriller aspect of the story was okay. It wasn’t anything that big or interesting. I’d say Zwe and Poe should’ve just been killed like it would have made my life easier.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2025
This was such a fun, campy story with a little side of romance. You get action. You get angst. You get armed gunmen taking over a luxury resort. There was a little something of everything! I also loved that the protagonists were Myanmarese, which was a refreshing twist.
2025
October 21, 2025Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin
August 18, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Poe wrote a best seller and picked up a movie deal for her first published book. While she worked hard to get published, she lost something as she is trying for her next book. So worried about letting her new fans down and being a one hit wonder, she is starting to feel desperate. In a spur of the moment late night decision, she books a fantastic get away to a remote all inclusive resort to be pampered and try some new things. But Poe can't go alone, she is taking her roommate and best friend Zwe, along for the ride. It was supposed to be the time of their life, but they ended up hiding from the team that has taken over the resort for unknown reasons.
Here for a Good Time is a fun concept. Remote Island, friends to lovers story as the main characters expose some of the secrets they have been hiding. Poe has constant doubts about her talent and how she is going to live up to the craze that is around her. She is grasping at straws to find a new story and has been alienating the people around her. She has been a bad friend to Zwe and a poor daughter to her parents in the last year. As they run for their lives Poe has to come to terms with some hard truths and get past some of the fears she has been harboring and not expressing to the people who have always been her biggest supporters.
If you connect with this book is really going to depend on if you connect with Poe. She is in a bad place and a little needy. She also has some unrealistic expectations for Zwe to always back her up. They are going to need to clear the air if they are going to stay friends, let alone become more. I struggled with Poe, I struggled with Zwe and half the time I thought Poe's expectations of Zwe were so unreasonable. She talks about living together still when they are old but doesn't put two and two together that if she doesn't make a move Zwe will find someone to have a life and a marriage with.
The pacing was a little strange and the infighting between Poe and Zwe felt a bit forced for my tastes so there were parts of this books that just didn't read right in my head. That could be a miss on some of the cultural aspects as they were Asian and I'm an American.
There are cute moments in the book though and it all wraps up in a pretty fluffy ending. This was my first read by Pyae Moe Thet War and she is probably not my cup of tea. But, if you are into Asian culture reads and don't mind a little infighting, this could be for you.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Poe wrote a best seller and picked up a movie deal for her first published book. While she worked hard to get published, she lost something as she is trying for her next book. So worried about letting her new fans down and being a one hit wonder, she is starting to feel desperate. In a spur of the moment late night decision, she books a fantastic get away to a remote all inclusive resort to be pampered and try some new things. But Poe can't go alone, she is taking her roommate and best friend Zwe, along for the ride. It was supposed to be the time of their life, but they ended up hiding from the team that has taken over the resort for unknown reasons.
Here for a Good Time is a fun concept. Remote Island, friends to lovers story as the main characters expose some of the secrets they have been hiding. Poe has constant doubts about her talent and how she is going to live up to the craze that is around her. She is grasping at straws to find a new story and has been alienating the people around her. She has been a bad friend to Zwe and a poor daughter to her parents in the last year. As they run for their lives Poe has to come to terms with some hard truths and get past some of the fears she has been harboring and not expressing to the people who have always been her biggest supporters.
If you connect with this book is really going to depend on if you connect with Poe. She is in a bad place and a little needy. She also has some unrealistic expectations for Zwe to always back her up. They are going to need to clear the air if they are going to stay friends, let alone become more. I struggled with Poe, I struggled with Zwe and half the time I thought Poe's expectations of Zwe were so unreasonable. She talks about living together still when they are old but doesn't put two and two together that if she doesn't make a move Zwe will find someone to have a life and a marriage with.
The pacing was a little strange and the infighting between Poe and Zwe felt a bit forced for my tastes so there were parts of this books that just didn't read right in my head. That could be a miss on some of the cultural aspects as they were Asian and I'm an American.
There are cute moments in the book though and it all wraps up in a pretty fluffy ending. This was my first read by Pyae Moe Thet War and she is probably not my cup of tea. But, if you are into Asian culture reads and don't mind a little infighting, this could be for you.
April 23, 2025
Having thoroughly enjoyed I Did Something Bad, I was really looking forward to this release. I have to admit I feel a little let down by this book though, it didn't live up to I Did Something Bad for me. The writing didn't feel as fun to me, the mystery wasn't as compelling, and most importantly, I didn't connect with the romance as much. I didn't feel like it was given enough attention within the story, and I didn't really feel the chemistry. I felt like changes in their relationship came on very suddenly and without enough build-up. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy this at all, but just that it fell flat for me in comparison with the author's previous book.
February 16, 2025
2.5 stars
This was, unfortunately, a flat for me. I liked beginning and characters, but romance was missing sparks.
This was, unfortunately, a flat for me. I liked beginning and characters, but romance was missing sparks.
September 12, 2025
In this wonderfully creative romantic comedy/suspenseful thriller, Here for A Good Time gives the reader just that...a great, satisfying read! With many book genres meshed into an exciting, adorable suspense story set on a private isolated island, two roommates will experience every emotion known to mankind, fear, regret and of course love, just to name a few. Oh, and believe it or not, they are actually kidnapped!
Poe Myat Sabei is a writer, or in her words a won hit wonder. Her first, and only book was not only a bestseller, but also optioned by Netflix. Exciting right? Not to Poe who has not been able to write a single word in a very long time. Now unfortunately she has writer's block, or I have no ideas block.
Zwe who is her best friend and roommate and is her encourager and motivator have been friends since college. His parents own a bookstore and although Zwe would love to try and get his PhD, he works at the store to help his aging parents.
So, Poe comes up with an idea for an exotic all-inclusive vacation on a private island figuring if she can convince Zwe to go with her not only will he be able to relax, but that's all she will need to push her to come up with an idea and start writing again. He agrees to go, reluctantly.
But what happens next is astounding!
The serenity and excitement soon turn into a nightmare. They are suddenly kidnapped by a group of women with masks no less who want to take the island over. Why Poe and Zwe? Who are they? This was certainly not on the menu of activities they had signed up for!
Now they are dragged by these abductors and forced into their craziness as they begin the takeover. Once the kidnappers are finished with them, they are going to leave them to die! Unfortunately, at first Poe and Zwe begin to turn on each other as they start to rehash all of their lives' misfortunes (and each other's) and dissect what they both thought was a pretty solid relationship.
As it gets close to the end of the road (literally) and they realize just how much they mean to each other and need each other to figure out a way out of this situation, will they be able to keep their wits and come up with an idea to somehow con their abductors, or will they kill each other before they get killed?
Here For A Good Time is funny, gripping story with amazing twists and turns and a very satisfying ending.
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin'sPress #PyaeMoeThetWar #HereForAGoodTime for the advanced copy.
Poe Myat Sabei is a writer, or in her words a won hit wonder. Her first, and only book was not only a bestseller, but also optioned by Netflix. Exciting right? Not to Poe who has not been able to write a single word in a very long time. Now unfortunately she has writer's block, or I have no ideas block.
Zwe who is her best friend and roommate and is her encourager and motivator have been friends since college. His parents own a bookstore and although Zwe would love to try and get his PhD, he works at the store to help his aging parents.
So, Poe comes up with an idea for an exotic all-inclusive vacation on a private island figuring if she can convince Zwe to go with her not only will he be able to relax, but that's all she will need to push her to come up with an idea and start writing again. He agrees to go, reluctantly.
But what happens next is astounding!
The serenity and excitement soon turn into a nightmare. They are suddenly kidnapped by a group of women with masks no less who want to take the island over. Why Poe and Zwe? Who are they? This was certainly not on the menu of activities they had signed up for!
Now they are dragged by these abductors and forced into their craziness as they begin the takeover. Once the kidnappers are finished with them, they are going to leave them to die! Unfortunately, at first Poe and Zwe begin to turn on each other as they start to rehash all of their lives' misfortunes (and each other's) and dissect what they both thought was a pretty solid relationship.
As it gets close to the end of the road (literally) and they realize just how much they mean to each other and need each other to figure out a way out of this situation, will they be able to keep their wits and come up with an idea to somehow con their abductors, or will they kill each other before they get killed?
Here For A Good Time is funny, gripping story with amazing twists and turns and a very satisfying ending.
Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin'sPress #PyaeMoeThetWar #HereForAGoodTime for the advanced copy.
September 14, 2025
3.5 stars
Poe Myat Sabei seemingly has it all: her debut novel was a blockbuster, snapped up at auction, crowned with bestseller glory, and even headed to Netflix. But success can be its own curse, and when it’s time to deliver book two, Poe finds herself spectacularly blocked. Her solution? A two-week stay at a luxe island resort with her best (male) friend Zwe, where surely inspiration (and maybe a little chaos) will strike. When they get there, they are apparently the ONLY guests, due to a glitch with the resort's booking system. Soon enough, they find things going from relaxing beach time to action-movie "adventure".
War keeps the story sharp and funny, balancing Poe’s glamorous-but-stressful life with witty banter and plenty of heart. The pacing does wobble here and there, and sometimes the humor undercuts the tension, but overall it’s an enjoyable, sun-soaked romp about friendship, ambition, and the pressure of living up to your own hype.
Poe Myat Sabei seemingly has it all: her debut novel was a blockbuster, snapped up at auction, crowned with bestseller glory, and even headed to Netflix. But success can be its own curse, and when it’s time to deliver book two, Poe finds herself spectacularly blocked. Her solution? A two-week stay at a luxe island resort with her best (male) friend Zwe, where surely inspiration (and maybe a little chaos) will strike. When they get there, they are apparently the ONLY guests, due to a glitch with the resort's booking system. Soon enough, they find things going from relaxing beach time to action-movie "adventure".
War keeps the story sharp and funny, balancing Poe’s glamorous-but-stressful life with witty banter and plenty of heart. The pacing does wobble here and there, and sometimes the humor undercuts the tension, but overall it’s an enjoyable, sun-soaked romp about friendship, ambition, and the pressure of living up to your own hype.
September 6, 2025
I did not read the synopsis before starting this book so imagine my surprised when a cute little romcom turned into a hostage situation. It was a cute book, but you could see everything that was going to happen from a mile away. The ending also dragged on.
September 1, 2025
Happy release day @pyaestries! And thank you to #StMartinsPress for having a Goodreads Giveaway!
Y’all….Y’ALL. One sitting. That’s all it took. Me. This book. Quality time til 12am. 😂 and I have no regrets! Anddddd I’m officially a fan of this authors writing 🥹
This was such a cute book and I absolutely loved it. We have our two main characters, Poe and Zwe. They’ve been besties since..forever. But lately, Poe’s been so caught up with writing another book that she hasn’t taken a chance to get caught up with Zwe. She realizes this and books an all inclusive trip for both of them — what could go wrong? ..or right?
(This review was made of my own decision)
Y’all….Y’ALL. One sitting. That’s all it took. Me. This book. Quality time til 12am. 😂 and I have no regrets! Anddddd I’m officially a fan of this authors writing 🥹
This was such a cute book and I absolutely loved it. We have our two main characters, Poe and Zwe. They’ve been besties since..forever. But lately, Poe’s been so caught up with writing another book that she hasn’t taken a chance to get caught up with Zwe. She realizes this and books an all inclusive trip for both of them — what could go wrong? ..or right?
(This review was made of my own decision)
December 30, 2025
Fun setting & references! It started strong but the main character got a bit annoying in the middle of the book.
August 27, 2025
2.5 - Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this, and the beginning was really fun and interesting, but it feels like it goes completely off the rails near the halfway mark. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance where the two main characters take a trip to an island resort in Singapore. They’re the only guests due to a glitch in the system, but the destination is beautiful. In the beginning, I really enjoyed their banter and Poe’s jealousy over Leila, the pretty resort employee flirting with her best friend Zwe.
But then we’re suddenly in what feels like it’s supposed to be a thriller, though it’s just frustrating. Poe is constantly too childish to have the conversation she needs to with Zwe and she just comes off as petulant. This aspect is annoying because they’re both so immature and aren’t able to be honest with each other. It takes them almost dying to declare their love for each other but even then it doesn’t have that big gesture feel.
Not to mention the entire part of the story where they’re being hunted and then tied up. I can absolutely get behind stories of indigenous people getting their land back (as they should), but this felt like I was suddenly reading a different story. It’s not even shocking when the twist happens, and even more infuriating when they just end up letting it all go in the end. This could have been a much better story if this aspect was handled differently. It was a struggle to get through this and so disappointing.
I really wanted to like this, and the beginning was really fun and interesting, but it feels like it goes completely off the rails near the halfway mark. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance where the two main characters take a trip to an island resort in Singapore. They’re the only guests due to a glitch in the system, but the destination is beautiful. In the beginning, I really enjoyed their banter and Poe’s jealousy over Leila, the pretty resort employee flirting with her best friend Zwe.
But then we’re suddenly in what feels like it’s supposed to be a thriller, though it’s just frustrating. Poe is constantly too childish to have the conversation she needs to with Zwe and she just comes off as petulant. This aspect is annoying because they’re both so immature and aren’t able to be honest with each other. It takes them almost dying to declare their love for each other but even then it doesn’t have that big gesture feel.
Not to mention the entire part of the story where they’re being hunted and then tied up. I can absolutely get behind stories of indigenous people getting their land back (as they should), but this felt like I was suddenly reading a different story. It’s not even shocking when the twist happens, and even more infuriating when they just end up letting it all go in the end. This could have been a much better story if this aspect was handled differently. It was a struggle to get through this and so disappointing.
October 20, 2025
3.5 stars!
Poe has the career that authors dream of – her first book was sold at auction, is an international bestseller, and is being turned into a Netflix film. Unfortunately, Poe’s second book is not a walk in the park, leaving her drowning in a serious case of writer’s block. Her solution is to take a two-week getaway at an exclusive resort with her best friend, Zwe, with hopes of finding inspiration. The resort Poe and Zwe are staying at is anything but restful when it’s taken over by a group of armed and angry women, leaving Poe and Zwe facing conflicts they never dreamed of.
HERE FOR A GOOD TIME is set in Myanmar and centers on two best friends, Poe and Zwe, who go on an exclusive two-week getaway where something unexpected occurs, leaving them fearing for their safety. The setting is beautifully described, making it feel like the perfect getaway to escape into.
The novel is told in Poe’s POV, sharing her struggles as an author and the imposter syndrome she’s experiencing as she struggles to write her second book. Poe and Zwe are the main characters of this story, and both are likable. It feels like the author is going for a friends-to-lovers type vibe but the chemistry and relationship that develops doesn’t feel right. I was getting a more brother-sister vibe from the two, so when the tables flipped to romance it felt wrong, misplaced, and almost as an afterthought to appease readers.
The plot is intriguing with promise of action and adventure when the resort Poe and Zwe are staying at is taken over by a group of angry and armed women. I thought this part was fun and kept the stakes and intrigue up, though the execution lost me a little after the midway point where things hit a bit of a lull as all the pieces start to come together.
I’m happy I waited for the audiobook; it’s really well done! There’s a lot of potential for this read but it just didn’t hit the way I’d hoped - I’ll still check out this author’s future works though!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
Poe has the career that authors dream of – her first book was sold at auction, is an international bestseller, and is being turned into a Netflix film. Unfortunately, Poe’s second book is not a walk in the park, leaving her drowning in a serious case of writer’s block. Her solution is to take a two-week getaway at an exclusive resort with her best friend, Zwe, with hopes of finding inspiration. The resort Poe and Zwe are staying at is anything but restful when it’s taken over by a group of armed and angry women, leaving Poe and Zwe facing conflicts they never dreamed of.
HERE FOR A GOOD TIME is set in Myanmar and centers on two best friends, Poe and Zwe, who go on an exclusive two-week getaway where something unexpected occurs, leaving them fearing for their safety. The setting is beautifully described, making it feel like the perfect getaway to escape into.
The novel is told in Poe’s POV, sharing her struggles as an author and the imposter syndrome she’s experiencing as she struggles to write her second book. Poe and Zwe are the main characters of this story, and both are likable. It feels like the author is going for a friends-to-lovers type vibe but the chemistry and relationship that develops doesn’t feel right. I was getting a more brother-sister vibe from the two, so when the tables flipped to romance it felt wrong, misplaced, and almost as an afterthought to appease readers.
The plot is intriguing with promise of action and adventure when the resort Poe and Zwe are staying at is taken over by a group of angry and armed women. I thought this part was fun and kept the stakes and intrigue up, though the execution lost me a little after the midway point where things hit a bit of a lull as all the pieces start to come together.
I’m happy I waited for the audiobook; it’s really well done! There’s a lot of potential for this read but it just didn’t hit the way I’d hoped - I’ll still check out this author’s future works though!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.
September 6, 2025
I am really enjoying the adventure-suspense-romance genre that Pyae Moe Thet War is working in with her books, which have the added interesting element of featuring main characters from Myanmar. Here for a Good Time begins with best friends Poe and Zwe heading to a luxury resort on a remote island—Poe’s way of apologizing to Zwe for not being there for him lately as much as she used to. Everything is proceeding calmly (it’s even a bit boring, for a couple of chapters) when the plot takes a turn, a band of armed intruders invading the resort one night while Poe and Zwe sleep. Suddenly, they’re on the run, trying to figure out who has struck the resort and what they’re seeking. Complicating this is the fact that Poe and Zwe really need to clear the air of some pent-up issues—and maybe admit that there’s more than just friendship between the two of them.
An interesting choice by the author is that Poe is the narrator, but she’s not the most sympathetic character. She can be self-centered and needy, and her success as a bestselling author has led her to solve every problem with money rather than addressing things head-on. This makes Zwe seem a bit blind for his enduring adoration of Poe, and his willingness to excuse her bad behavior makes him appear to be a bit of a pushover. Poe is working on this at the end of the book, but I still wanted Zwe to have more backbone and push for a better relationship earlier in the story.
I can now say that new books by Pyae Moe Thet War are going to be an auto-read for me in the future. Her skill with plot and setting are both notable, even if the characters aren’t always my cup of tea.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
An interesting choice by the author is that Poe is the narrator, but she’s not the most sympathetic character. She can be self-centered and needy, and her success as a bestselling author has led her to solve every problem with money rather than addressing things head-on. This makes Zwe seem a bit blind for his enduring adoration of Poe, and his willingness to excuse her bad behavior makes him appear to be a bit of a pushover. Poe is working on this at the end of the book, but I still wanted Zwe to have more backbone and push for a better relationship earlier in the story.
I can now say that new books by Pyae Moe Thet War are going to be an auto-read for me in the future. Her skill with plot and setting are both notable, even if the characters aren’t always my cup of tea.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
July 30, 2025
2.75 stars
The cover and description absolutely sucked me in, but the rest of the experience left me wanting more, unfortunately.
Poe and Zwe are best friends and roommates, but their romantic relationship hasn't gotten off the ground...yet. What else is stuck? Poe's second book. After finding great success with her first effort, she's now in a zone free of workable ideas. She decides to get unstuck in a pretty fun way: a two-week dream vacation with Zwe. Things get weird when the resort is taken over by masked women.
This sounds like it's going to be a blast: friends to lovers, a tropical location, and some kind of action/adventure bonanza. What's confusing is that despite all of this excitement, this book - for me - dragged. I enjoyed the relationship between Poe and Zwe and the snippets of family, but the bulk of the novel at the resort just did not hold my interest. It felt repetitive and uneventful (again, shocking when one considers the content)!
I'd give this author another shot, but this one unfortunately did not work for me.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The cover and description absolutely sucked me in, but the rest of the experience left me wanting more, unfortunately.
Poe and Zwe are best friends and roommates, but their romantic relationship hasn't gotten off the ground...yet. What else is stuck? Poe's second book. After finding great success with her first effort, she's now in a zone free of workable ideas. She decides to get unstuck in a pretty fun way: a two-week dream vacation with Zwe. Things get weird when the resort is taken over by masked women.
This sounds like it's going to be a blast: friends to lovers, a tropical location, and some kind of action/adventure bonanza. What's confusing is that despite all of this excitement, this book - for me - dragged. I enjoyed the relationship between Poe and Zwe and the snippets of family, but the bulk of the novel at the resort just did not hold my interest. It felt repetitive and uneventful (again, shocking when one considers the content)!
I'd give this author another shot, but this one unfortunately did not work for me.
*Special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and Macmillan Audio for this arc and alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
August 6, 2025
I grabbed this arc on a whim because I really wanted to try something different. This book features a man and woman who have been friends forever, who are roommates, and who are placed in a situation that has them start seeing each other in new ways. The heroine is a best-selling author who is struggling to write her second, follow up book. The hero works for his family's bookstore and is kind of just floating along in life.
When writers block hits, the heroine decides to book a joint vacation for them on a whim. They jet set off to a remote island with the hopes of it inspiring some inspiration to her writing. For a lot of things happen to this book, and all of them were fun. The resort is scarcely populated, the locals and staff are helpful yet professionally distant, and the two main characters find themselves awkwardly managing their time together.
What I really liked about this book was how seamlessly she portrayed the friends to lovers dynamic between the hero and heroine. There was a lot of unrequited love, and a true solid friendship as a foundation, so their journey to becoming intimate was definitely hard fought and well-earned. This is a bit of a slow burn, as the romance isn't necessarily the main point of the book. The overall drama of the book happens when, as you can read in the book description, a bad group of people overtake the resorts and threaten harm to our MCs.
Overall, this was a fun book that kept me on my toes, kept me invested in the hidden romantic plot, and even more so in the angsty moments that there dire situation (running for their lives!) put them in.
When writers block hits, the heroine decides to book a joint vacation for them on a whim. They jet set off to a remote island with the hopes of it inspiring some inspiration to her writing. For a lot of things happen to this book, and all of them were fun. The resort is scarcely populated, the locals and staff are helpful yet professionally distant, and the two main characters find themselves awkwardly managing their time together.
What I really liked about this book was how seamlessly she portrayed the friends to lovers dynamic between the hero and heroine. There was a lot of unrequited love, and a true solid friendship as a foundation, so their journey to becoming intimate was definitely hard fought and well-earned. This is a bit of a slow burn, as the romance isn't necessarily the main point of the book. The overall drama of the book happens when, as you can read in the book description, a bad group of people overtake the resorts and threaten harm to our MCs.
Overall, this was a fun book that kept me on my toes, kept me invested in the hidden romantic plot, and even more so in the angsty moments that there dire situation (running for their lives!) put them in.
March 10, 2025
(ARC Review) First I want to say, well done and so great to see more diverse representation in characters in novels! I would have loved a bit more deep-dive into the characters in description, personality, and their families. But even just the taste we had in this book was so refreshing.
When I first started reading this book, I incorrectly assumed this was another light summer beach read-type romance novel. It started off with a light backstory, a clearly attractive male best friend, and a heavy dose of denial between him and the female lead. I was proven wrong when the predictable beach read plot took a dramatic turn, and the gleeful "will-they-won't-they" suspense was interrupted in the middle of the night with gunfire and invaders.
Without diving into any more details of the plot, I greatly enjoyed the second half of the novel for its fresh take of the 'beach read' romance. However, the ending did feel a little too easily wrapped up, and I wish there had been more consequences for people throughout the plot, given its serious introduction of the terrorists on the island. The Hallmark-like ending brought back such a neat story idea into the territory of "light summer beach read" in the end.
When I first started reading this book, I incorrectly assumed this was another light summer beach read-type romance novel. It started off with a light backstory, a clearly attractive male best friend, and a heavy dose of denial between him and the female lead. I was proven wrong when the predictable beach read plot took a dramatic turn, and the gleeful "will-they-won't-they" suspense was interrupted in the middle of the night with gunfire and invaders.
Without diving into any more details of the plot, I greatly enjoyed the second half of the novel for its fresh take of the 'beach read' romance. However, the ending did feel a little too easily wrapped up, and I wish there had been more consequences for people throughout the plot, given its serious introduction of the terrorists on the island. The Hallmark-like ending brought back such a neat story idea into the territory of "light summer beach read" in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
3.75⭐️
Poe and Zwe have been best friends since they were young children, and they have always been together. They've always had chemistry and a great relationship. When Poe finds herself in the middle of a writer's block, she decides to book an all-inclusive island vacation for both of them because she feels it will help her get back into writing her second novel.
Their arrival to the island is picturesque. They have big plans of relaxation, exploration, and adventure. They quickly find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation and have to work together to survive. Poe and Zwe's relationship and friendship are put through the ringer. As a reader, you really see the ugly parts of friendship. They say hurtful things to each other while also trying to survive on an island that they are not familiar with.
I really liked Poe and Zwe together. I enjoyed their push and pull between friendship and possible relationship development. I appreciated the realness of their relationship as well. Neither of them want to ruin their friendship, but they are so cute!
The middle of this book wasn't my favorite. There wasn't much going on besides Poe and Zwe arguing and Poe being jealous. It was fun at first, but after a while, it grew redundant and got old. I also thought the twist at the end was pretty apparent. There was a lot of commentary about rich people not caring about other people's spaces for their own enjoyment. I appreciated that topic as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
Poe and Zwe have been best friends since they were young children, and they have always been together. They've always had chemistry and a great relationship. When Poe finds herself in the middle of a writer's block, she decides to book an all-inclusive island vacation for both of them because she feels it will help her get back into writing her second novel.
Their arrival to the island is picturesque. They have big plans of relaxation, exploration, and adventure. They quickly find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation and have to work together to survive. Poe and Zwe's relationship and friendship are put through the ringer. As a reader, you really see the ugly parts of friendship. They say hurtful things to each other while also trying to survive on an island that they are not familiar with.
I really liked Poe and Zwe together. I enjoyed their push and pull between friendship and possible relationship development. I appreciated the realness of their relationship as well. Neither of them want to ruin their friendship, but they are so cute!
The middle of this book wasn't my favorite. There wasn't much going on besides Poe and Zwe arguing and Poe being jealous. It was fun at first, but after a while, it grew redundant and got old. I also thought the twist at the end was pretty apparent. There was a lot of commentary about rich people not caring about other people's spaces for their own enjoyment. I appreciated that topic as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.
July 30, 2025
This is like the anti-Raiders of the Lost Heart n that the ONLY part that worked for me was the romance. I loved Zwe and Poe’s relationship and rooted for them the whole time, despite Poe being infuriatingly, almost unbelievably oblivious to Zwe’s OBVIOUS and unmistakable feelings for her.
The writing style, the humor, the island setting, the plot, the depiction of the publishing industry, and ESPECIALLY the villains all fell flat. I’m not one of those people who usually picks up on plot twists before they happen, so believe me when I tell you that every curve of this story was telegraphed from so far away Martians saw them coming. I don’t NEED a book to surprise me for it to be enjoyable, but I was annoyed by how the protagonists continued to miss massive, glowing, neon clues. Almost as annoyed as I was by how the villains’ arc ended.
I would not recommend this book to anyone, but I didn’t find it offensively terrible, so two stars.
I received a free advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The writing style, the humor, the island setting, the plot, the depiction of the publishing industry, and ESPECIALLY the villains all fell flat. I’m not one of those people who usually picks up on plot twists before they happen, so believe me when I tell you that every curve of this story was telegraphed from so far away Martians saw them coming. I don’t NEED a book to surprise me for it to be enjoyable, but I was annoyed by how the protagonists continued to miss massive, glowing, neon clues. Almost as annoyed as I was by how the villains’ arc ended.
I would not recommend this book to anyone, but I didn’t find it offensively terrible, so two stars.
I received a free advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 25, 2025
I liked this book and finished in a day I loved it had a flow!!
Blurb
Tropes include:
💜 Childhood friends-to-clueless-to-lovers
💜 Successful writer FMC
💜 Hot bookseller MMC
💜 Will they (live)/Won't they (also live)
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 Only one bed (while it lasts)!!!!
Poe Myat Sabei has the publishing career that any writer would kill for: her first novel became an international number one bestseller and is being turned into a Netflix film. But now on deadline for her second book, Poe is facing a catastrophic case of writer's block. The solution? Book a two-week getaway to an exclusive island resort for her and her best friend Zwe where she'll undoubtedly be inspired to write her next bestseller.
But the vacation of their dreams turns into a nightmare when the resort is taken over by a mysterious group that's very armed and very angry. As they try to leave the island before they're tracked down, Poe and Zwe suddenly find themselves facing the kinds of conflicts that only come up when, well, you're trapped in a life-or-death situation on a remote island with your (hot) best friend.
Will they make it off the island alive? Will Poe make her deadline? And, most importantly
Blurb
Tropes include:
💜 Childhood friends-to-clueless-to-lovers
💜 Successful writer FMC
💜 Hot bookseller MMC
💜 Will they (live)/Won't they (also live)
💜 Forced Proximity
💜 Only one bed (while it lasts)!!!!
Poe Myat Sabei has the publishing career that any writer would kill for: her first novel became an international number one bestseller and is being turned into a Netflix film. But now on deadline for her second book, Poe is facing a catastrophic case of writer's block. The solution? Book a two-week getaway to an exclusive island resort for her and her best friend Zwe where she'll undoubtedly be inspired to write her next bestseller.
But the vacation of their dreams turns into a nightmare when the resort is taken over by a mysterious group that's very armed and very angry. As they try to leave the island before they're tracked down, Poe and Zwe suddenly find themselves facing the kinds of conflicts that only come up when, well, you're trapped in a life-or-death situation on a remote island with your (hot) best friend.
Will they make it off the island alive? Will Poe make her deadline? And, most importantly
September 10, 2025
This was a really fun audiobook! While some of the overall plot lost me for being a bit too predictable, and the MC was a little too unobservant for my liking, I still enjoyed the story.
I’m not a huge friends to lovers fan, mainly because of the huge amount of miscommunication it takes to make it even remotely plausible, I did enjoy this in the beginning. To be honest though, I felt like the MMC got really toxic as the story progressed, so I started caring less about the romance of it all and more about the masked gun women’s plot.
So while parts were predictable and I had issues with both MCs, I still thought it was a fun time, and the audiobook was great.
3.5 stars
I’m not a huge friends to lovers fan, mainly because of the huge amount of miscommunication it takes to make it even remotely plausible, I did enjoy this in the beginning. To be honest though, I felt like the MMC got really toxic as the story progressed, so I started caring less about the romance of it all and more about the masked gun women’s plot.
So while parts were predictable and I had issues with both MCs, I still thought it was a fun time, and the audiobook was great.
3.5 stars
June 16, 2025
So much fun! Loved how Poe's decided to go to a luxury resort with her BFF to help get over her writer's block and how reading advance copies, helped inspire as well as set the fear within her. And, then bam, masked intruders take over the resort, causing Poe and Zwe to flee into the jungle. This slow friend to lover trope was just so natural and there were definite LOL moments. And, underneath it all, the effects and harm of luxury travel resorts has on the community itself.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
August 22, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for early copy for review*
I thought this genre-bending romantic comedy would be perfect for my mood that's so interested in thrillers right now. However, I was a little wrong because when the action started my anxiety was triggered leaving me so worried for the characters. I found myself annoyed that Poe was still trying to hook up her bestie when they're in the middle of a crisis. I also felt that Zwe wasn't that interesting of a character. I think that I would have enjoyed this more without the thriller elements and more character study.
I thought this genre-bending romantic comedy would be perfect for my mood that's so interested in thrillers right now. However, I was a little wrong because when the action started my anxiety was triggered leaving me so worried for the characters. I found myself annoyed that Poe was still trying to hook up her bestie when they're in the middle of a crisis. I also felt that Zwe wasn't that interesting of a character. I think that I would have enjoyed this more without the thriller elements and more character study.
October 12, 2025
Anchored by a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance, this story sets itself apart with gripping action, unexpected twists, and just the right mix of mystery, wit, and charm.
The lavish backdrop—soon spiraling into a tropical nightmare—adds a layer of intrigue that keeps the pages turning. While the adventure-romcom blend delivers on fun and escapism, it left me wishing for just a bit more depth. Still, it’s an ideal pick for a light summer read or a quick vacation escape
3.5 stars rounded to 5 for Goodreads
The lavish backdrop—soon spiraling into a tropical nightmare—adds a layer of intrigue that keeps the pages turning. While the adventure-romcom blend delivers on fun and escapism, it left me wishing for just a bit more depth. Still, it’s an ideal pick for a light summer read or a quick vacation escape
3.5 stars rounded to 5 for Goodreads
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August 12, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War is a first person-POV contemporary romance. Poe and Zwe have been best friends and roommates for years and see all the ups and downs of each other’s lives. When Poe books them a getaway trip at an island resort to help her writer’s block and to help Zwe relax, the two expect just a normal luxury vacation. Until their resort gets taken over by a group of masked women and the two have to flee.
Zwe and Poe have the kind of friendship that I think a lot of people genuinely do want. Someone who will cheer you on, will be there for you for your heart is broken, won't dismiss your dreams even when it all seems hopeless, etc. Because of this, I did find it believable that Poe would stop herself from even considering Zwe as an option and thinking of all the things she would lose if they broke up. It's more than a leap of faith: it's a plunge into high risk high reward territory and it's very scary, especially for someone who already had an engagement broken off by someone she thought believed in her.
Colonization and the impact of resort culture are explored a bit in the front half of the book and then further in the back half. As we have more and more conversations around places like Hawai’i and how the native peoples can no longer afford to live on their native land due to millionaires and billionaires wanting their own ‘piece of paradise’ without giving back to the communities that were the original stewards of the land, books in all genres can and should tackle it from a place of empathy for the native peoples. I think Pyae Moe Thet War covered that empathy well while also depicting a situation that a lot of people would write off.
Poe’s life as a writer has gotten in her way in a lot of ways. It's stopping her from pursuing a new relationship, it's got her completely frozen as she is terrified that she's a one book wonder, and it's negatively impacted her friendship. In a lot of romances that involve authors, it does feel more like the glamorous side of the career and here, it's the nitty-gritty, behind-the-curtains feelings that are a lot less pretty to look at but are a lot more real.
I would recommend this to readers of romance that like some suspense and social issues in their romances and readers of books about writers who want something less glamorous
Here for a Good Time by Pyae Moe Thet War is a first person-POV contemporary romance. Poe and Zwe have been best friends and roommates for years and see all the ups and downs of each other’s lives. When Poe books them a getaway trip at an island resort to help her writer’s block and to help Zwe relax, the two expect just a normal luxury vacation. Until their resort gets taken over by a group of masked women and the two have to flee.
Zwe and Poe have the kind of friendship that I think a lot of people genuinely do want. Someone who will cheer you on, will be there for you for your heart is broken, won't dismiss your dreams even when it all seems hopeless, etc. Because of this, I did find it believable that Poe would stop herself from even considering Zwe as an option and thinking of all the things she would lose if they broke up. It's more than a leap of faith: it's a plunge into high risk high reward territory and it's very scary, especially for someone who already had an engagement broken off by someone she thought believed in her.
Colonization and the impact of resort culture are explored a bit in the front half of the book and then further in the back half. As we have more and more conversations around places like Hawai’i and how the native peoples can no longer afford to live on their native land due to millionaires and billionaires wanting their own ‘piece of paradise’ without giving back to the communities that were the original stewards of the land, books in all genres can and should tackle it from a place of empathy for the native peoples. I think Pyae Moe Thet War covered that empathy well while also depicting a situation that a lot of people would write off.
Poe’s life as a writer has gotten in her way in a lot of ways. It's stopping her from pursuing a new relationship, it's got her completely frozen as she is terrified that she's a one book wonder, and it's negatively impacted her friendship. In a lot of romances that involve authors, it does feel more like the glamorous side of the career and here, it's the nitty-gritty, behind-the-curtains feelings that are a lot less pretty to look at but are a lot more real.
I would recommend this to readers of romance that like some suspense and social issues in their romances and readers of books about writers who want something less glamorous
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews