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The Surfer Solution
Allison Robbins needs to relax... or else.
The middle child in a family chock-full of Type A's, she's determined to get promoted before she turns thirty. What she doesn't anticipate: panic attacks that look like heart attacks, just before one of the biggest presentations of her career. Under doctor's orders Allison has to find a nice, physical hobby.
After a series of unfortunate attempts, she finally settles on the perfect pursuit for a California girl: surfing. She's even commandeered the services of surf instructor Sean Gilroy -- just the guy to teach Allison's uptight self how to chill. But aside from being unsettlingly cute in a wet suit, Sean seems like the stereotypical surfer: casual, laid-back and entirely certain that things will take care of themselves. In other words, the polar opposite of Allison's world of stress, coffee and more stress.
Sean Gilroy has never experienced anything like the force of nature that is Allison. Before he knows it, they're making each other crazy -- and making each other hot. But he's worried that she's never going to embrace his lifestyle -- and that the changes he'd have to make to fit into her life would destroy the core of the person he is.
As he learns to step up, and she learns to hang out, the two of them learn one important thing: sometimes, the last person you expect to fall for is the one person you really need.
The middle child in a family chock-full of Type A's, she's determined to get promoted before she turns thirty. What she doesn't anticipate: panic attacks that look like heart attacks, just before one of the biggest presentations of her career. Under doctor's orders Allison has to find a nice, physical hobby.
After a series of unfortunate attempts, she finally settles on the perfect pursuit for a California girl: surfing. She's even commandeered the services of surf instructor Sean Gilroy -- just the guy to teach Allison's uptight self how to chill. But aside from being unsettlingly cute in a wet suit, Sean seems like the stereotypical surfer: casual, laid-back and entirely certain that things will take care of themselves. In other words, the polar opposite of Allison's world of stress, coffee and more stress.
Sean Gilroy has never experienced anything like the force of nature that is Allison. Before he knows it, they're making each other crazy -- and making each other hot. But he's worried that she's never going to embrace his lifestyle -- and that the changes he'd have to make to fit into her life would destroy the core of the person he is.
As he learns to step up, and she learns to hang out, the two of them learn one important thing: sometimes, the last person you expect to fall for is the one person you really need.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2005
18 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Yardley
78 books1,414 followersCathy Yardley is an award-winning author of romance, chick lit, and urban fantasy, who has sold over 1.2 million copies of books for publishers like St. Martin's, Avon, and Harlequin. She writes fun, geeky, and diverse characters who believe that underdogs can make good and that sometimes being a little wrong is just right.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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May 28, 2020DNF
Mon avis en Français
My English review
J’avais ce roman depuis longtemps été j’avais envie de passer un bon moment donc je l’ai sorti du fin fond de ma PAL.
J’avais déjà lu de bons romans de cette auteure et j’étais curieuse de voir ce que cela donnait. Pourtant, je dois dire que même si j’ai insisté, je n’ai pas réussi à accrocher à l’histoire ni aux personnages qui m’ont laissée indifférente.
J’ai donc préféré abandonner.
Mon avis en Français
My English review
J’avais ce roman depuis longtemps été j’avais envie de passer un bon moment donc je l’ai sorti du fin fond de ma PAL.
J’avais déjà lu de bons romans de cette auteure et j’étais curieuse de voir ce que cela donnait. Pourtant, je dois dire que même si j’ai insisté, je n’ai pas réussi à accrocher à l’histoire ni aux personnages qui m’ont laissée indifférente.
J’ai donc préféré abandonner.
February 8, 2019
This wasn’t my favorite Cathy Yardley book, but in fairness that bar is set kinda high. It was a cute story, but it kinda read more like a draft than a finalized story. It was a bit choppy, which isn’t ideal for relaxing reading. But, the actual story itself had tons of potential.
December 10, 2020
What a delightful little pick-me-up! I'd read The Cinderella Solution years earlier and found it a refreshing change from the usual outdated tropes in the romance genre. So I was delighted to meet several of the same characters, The Hoodlums, again in this follow-up book set with a different couple.
This one follows the classic Opposites Attract style, sets up a Type A heroine and a laidback surfer type. Sparks fly, some deep issues get resolves pretty easily (but no one accused the romance/romcom genre of realism) and all's well that ends well. It's a perfect beach read or even one for your comfort consumption pile during PMS.
This one follows the classic Opposites Attract style, sets up a Type A heroine and a laidback surfer type. Sparks fly, some deep issues get resolves pretty easily (but no one accused the romance/romcom genre of realism) and all's well that ends well. It's a perfect beach read or even one for your comfort consumption pile during PMS.
January 14, 2024
Dans ce livre, on y fait la connaissance d’Allison surbooké par son travail qui en fait des crises d’angoisse, comme elle ne veut pas prendre le médicament le médecin lui conseille de trouver un hobby.
Après quelques recherche elle prend le surf.
De la, elle rencontre Sean à la boutique de surf et leur première rencontres est plutôt houleuse.
Puis s’installe une connivence, une amitié et l’amour.
Une histoire sympa qui se lit facilement et qui fait rêver un peu.
Après quelques recherche elle prend le surf.
De la, elle rencontre Sean à la boutique de surf et leur première rencontres est plutôt houleuse.
Puis s’installe une connivence, une amitié et l’amour.
Une histoire sympa qui se lit facilement et qui fait rêver un peu.
June 18, 2025
This book was a great read. Zen surfer bro and high-strung ad exec couldn't be further from opposites but they attract in a great way. Cathy Yardley writes the workaholic needs to chill trope very well. Soon our high-strung gal is recognising the importance of boundaries, and our zen surfer bro is reaching for more. But at the heart of this story is reahing for the things you want because you want them, not because the world has convinced you this is what makes you a success.
February 27, 2017
A solid, totally predictable chick lit. Would have given it four stars if not for the horribly forced resolution with the protagonist's parents.
May 23, 2017
Allison needs to ace her presentation, but the stress of her job is giving her panic attacks and the only solution is to find a relaxing hobby. Allison always gives 100% and goes full tilt with anything she does and her new ‘hobby’ is no different. She’s always loved the water and she lives in California so surfing is a natural choice. First she has to convince the zen surfer Sean that she’s ready to hit the waves and that he should teach her. Sean has his own set of problems though, like losing his job and his apartment. He can’t get Allison out of his mind and she can’t give up her job or the surfing.
We all know that person who is always busy and when you ask how they’ve been they tell you, “busy.” I, myself, succumb to this contemporary phenomenon of busy = successful. For Ali, busy is a way of life, ingrained in her very soul ever since she was a kid. Her family thrives on busy and stress. Allison doesn’t know anything else, but when her panic attacks start taking over her life, she must change or potentially die of a heart attack. If Ali can decide to relax and find something that helps her to relax, then any of us can too. If Ali can acknowledge that being busy and stressful doesn’t always make her happy and isn’t what she wants out of life, then there’s still hope for the rest of us.
This romance built up slowly and steadily through the mutual attraction between Ali and Sean. The pacing was excellent and I was stressed and anxious right there with Ali. I loved all the details of Ali at her job and when she was learning to surf. I feel like I learned more about surfing by reading this book!
We all know that person who is always busy and when you ask how they’ve been they tell you, “busy.” I, myself, succumb to this contemporary phenomenon of busy = successful. For Ali, busy is a way of life, ingrained in her very soul ever since she was a kid. Her family thrives on busy and stress. Allison doesn’t know anything else, but when her panic attacks start taking over her life, she must change or potentially die of a heart attack. If Ali can decide to relax and find something that helps her to relax, then any of us can too. If Ali can acknowledge that being busy and stressful doesn’t always make her happy and isn’t what she wants out of life, then there’s still hope for the rest of us.
This romance built up slowly and steadily through the mutual attraction between Ali and Sean. The pacing was excellent and I was stressed and anxious right there with Ali. I loved all the details of Ali at her job and when she was learning to surf. I feel like I learned more about surfing by reading this book!
July 15, 2012
This is not the kind of book that I usually pick up but I came across it at a used book sale and surfing sounded really fun at the time so I picked it up. I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Allison works in the competitive world of advertising. The company she works for is trying to get a new large account. This is the biggest presentation of her career. Allison is freaking out. After a presentation to coworkers, she thinks she's having a heart attack and goes to the hospital only to be told it is a panic attack and she needs to relax. Allison doesn't know how to relax. She works. She's from a successful family with high expectations. The doctor suggests that she take up a hobby. The only problem is that Allison doesn't know how to do much of anything outside of work. When she settles on surfing, she walks into the best surf shop in the area and right into a confrontation with Sean.
Sean is the most laid back guy in the world. He works in the surf shop and lives above it. He's been the same since he was 16, pretty much. When his boss, who also helped to raise him after his mother disappeared, tells Sean that he needs a new apartment, Sean realizes that he is about to face a lot of change. It's not just the apartment. The surf shop is in danger.
When the two collide, they realize they can help each other. By working together, they both get a little of what they need and a lot that they don't expect.
A cute, fun read.
Allison works in the competitive world of advertising. The company she works for is trying to get a new large account. This is the biggest presentation of her career. Allison is freaking out. After a presentation to coworkers, she thinks she's having a heart attack and goes to the hospital only to be told it is a panic attack and she needs to relax. Allison doesn't know how to relax. She works. She's from a successful family with high expectations. The doctor suggests that she take up a hobby. The only problem is that Allison doesn't know how to do much of anything outside of work. When she settles on surfing, she walks into the best surf shop in the area and right into a confrontation with Sean.
Sean is the most laid back guy in the world. He works in the surf shop and lives above it. He's been the same since he was 16, pretty much. When his boss, who also helped to raise him after his mother disappeared, tells Sean that he needs a new apartment, Sean realizes that he is about to face a lot of change. It's not just the apartment. The surf shop is in danger.
When the two collide, they realize they can help each other. By working together, they both get a little of what they need and a lot that they don't expect.
A cute, fun read.
August 9, 2021
This was a pretty enjoyable read, but definitely on the light side; an ideal read for a lazy weekend. The descriptions of surfing were done really well and I felt like I was there at the beach, smelling the salt and feeling the sand under my feet. Yardley does a fantastic job of describing it for the reader.
Sean was a great hero who loved his life, knew what was important and wasn’t afraid to go after it. He has some slips but overall he’s a pretty together guy. He’s not overly ambitious but he also understands how happiness and life satisfaction is more important than money. The characters are supposed to be in their 30’s but there was a slight immaturity to some of their behavior. A lack of life experience that made me feel like they were in their early 20’s. It was small but would sometimes bother me.
There were a lot of typos and errors in this one. I know you can’t catch everything but it was to the point that it would jar me out of the story when it happened.
Sean was a great hero who loved his life, knew what was important and wasn’t afraid to go after it. He has some slips but overall he’s a pretty together guy. He’s not overly ambitious but he also understands how happiness and life satisfaction is more important than money. The characters are supposed to be in their 30’s but there was a slight immaturity to some of their behavior. A lack of life experience that made me feel like they were in their early 20’s. It was small but would sometimes bother me.
There were a lot of typos and errors in this one. I know you can’t catch everything but it was to the point that it would jar me out of the story when it happened.
August 26, 2013
I loved this book! It was a nice switch from the crazy-girl meets cynical, uptight rich guy formula... This time, SHE'S the uptight rich one, and he's a surfer-dude. WHOA!
I fell in love with Allison and all her neuroses, and with hottie, take-life-as-it-comes beach-bum Sean. A great book with a lot of feeling.
I fell in love with Allison and all her neuroses, and with hottie, take-life-as-it-comes beach-bum Sean. A great book with a lot of feeling.
September 23, 2008
Typical Harlequin romance. Cute, but totally predictable and forgettable.
September 30, 2019
Category : chicklit
An entertaining, relaxing read.
An entertaining, relaxing read.
September 7, 2014
Easy and enjoyable read.
March 26, 2017
I like Yardley's writing, but this was not her best work. Characters were likable, but at times, the plot wasn't well developed. There were lots of typos in this one which distracted me at times.
April 17, 2017
Pretty generic, and disappointing when compared with Level Up, which I loved.
September 4, 2017
There were some good scenes but overall it was quite boring. One star for Sean and one star just for the fact that I finished and that Allison quit her job.
April 12, 2017
Entertaining and fun. Maybe would have been a better beach read. I didn't quite connect with the characters and I felt it was a little rushed, but overall not a bad summer read!.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews