The Tortured Tourists Department

by Bridget Van Der Eyk

Miriam “Mim” Li did not spend the last ten years earning degrees, dodging classic Asian family expectations, and perfecting her “sunshine girl” persona just to be taken out by a tropical cyclone in the middle of the Seychelles.

She’s here for her dream job—protecting endangered hawksbill turtles and prepping nesting sites before the storm hits, not dealing with emotional storms from her past.

So, of course, the universe sends her Asher Wright, someone she hasn’t seen in more than a decade.
- Captain broody.
- A guy with the jawline of a man who frowns professionally.
- The ex who broke her heart, not that she’d ever admit it.

When the storm hits and Mim’s reckless streak backfires, it’s Asher who comes after her and tends to her wounds (*literally* because of course, he’s an experienced ER doctor). Stuck together in an abandoned hut for God knows how long, old feelings flare hotter than the tropical humidity, and Mim and Asher realise they have very different accounts of why their relationship ended in the first place.

Turns out a natural disaster might just be the forced proximity their love story needs…

147 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

Bridget Van der Eyk is an up and coming contemporary romance author - “10 Dates” is her debut novel. She lives in country NSW, Australia on a 5-acre property with her husband (Josh), 2 children (Zoe and Max), and 2 dogs (Kevin and Stella).

When Bridget is not working a full-time teaching job or binging Korean zombie shows on Netflix, she is busy writing her next novel.

Bridget loves writing smart, strong, and sassy female characters that have little parts of herself embedded in them! #girlpower

Reviews

[Crystals_littlelibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a quick, fun escape—this one is it!

Set in the dreamy paradise of Mahé Island, this book completely transported me somewhere I’ve never been… and now it’s officially on my travel bucket list.

Mim and Ash stole my heart.
They definitely struggle with communication (thanks to Ash being the quiet type ), but their dynamic is everything. Mim is his total opposite, bringing all the sunshine energy, and together they just work.

I loved their relationship so much, I just wish we got more time with them

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
Aesthetic setting + opposites attract + vacation vibes + Woman in STEM = yes please

[Tatyana (The Literature Llama) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh this was such a good one! I love a second chance romance moment! Bridget is a champion at a fast paced story. I loved every second of this, the only thing I wanted from this is for it to be longer! I would have read something twice as long. These two are my new favorite couple of hers! Turtles, a vacation resort, and an impending cyclone, what a perfect combo! Love love love.

[Bridget Van der Eyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's been a while, Hummingbird"