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Longest Holiday
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ‘Don’t wait for the storm to pass; learn to dance in the rain…’ If you feel like everything is falling apart, sometimes the only thing to do is escape to the summer. Laura has been married to the man of her dreams for seven months. But, she now discovers, a week before the wedding Matthew made a terrible mistake … Escaping the heartache and humiliation, Laura is whisked off to Florida's Key West by her best friend Marty . A carefree holiday full of cocktails and fun, surrounded by gorgeous, tanned men, is exactly what the doctor ordered. Distraction comes in the form of sexy Cuban scuba diver Leo. As the end of the holiday approaches, Laura doesn't want to go home. Is it time to face the music? Or is there more to Key West than a holiday romance? THE ONE WE FELL IN LOVE WITH was selected for the Zoella Book Club and Paige Toon's novels have been published across the world. Praise for The Longest Holiday : ‘Will bring a smile to the face of anyone who has been unlucky in love’ DAILY EXPRESS ‘ Pure, sun-drenched escapism… the perfect summer holiday read’ HEAT ‘ My heart was actually racing… had me longing to pack my bags and escape’ ONE MORE PAGE ‘Paige Toon is the word… Absolutely pure enjoyment – I loved every page of it!’ I HEART CHICK LIT
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
176 people are currently reading
4957 people want to read
About the author
Paige Toon
36 books5,628 followersPaige Toon grew up between England, Australia and America and has been writing books set in sun-drenched locations around the world since 2007. She has written fifteen novels, a three-part spin-off for young adults and a collection of short stories. Her books have sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. She loves hearing from her readers so get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PaigeToonAuthor or visit her website and sign up to her free newsletter The Hidden Paige.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 545 reviews
June 11, 2020
I enjoyed it.
Paige has a very distinct style. It’s as if you can never get to really like the characters, some because they don’t say much and act in a very contrary manner and others because they are just annoying and don’t have many redeeming qualities, BUT she does depict the characters in the most realistic way possible. I can’t decide if that’s a good or a bad thing yet.
I do read to escape, to feel something different than my day to day so I would say I don’t wanna read about someone who reminds me why I dislike most people lol, but then I think that in a way it’s good to have those examples to perhaps be less judgy lol.
Anyway back to the book. I didn’t mind Laura that much, but I didn’t like her either, I was meh.
And Leo, well how can I like or dislike him when I don’t really know him . Let me see, I know he’s really really hot. He’s Cuban. I know he’s 33, I know he has a tragic family history and has no ambitions to speak of. That’s what we found out about him throughout the book. And at the end we were told he loves Laura. Hmm he still feels like a stranger and Laura is annoying. And Matthew, well he is the perfect example of how we can totally ruin our lives by giving in to our most baser instincts. Our need to be wanted, appreciated etc. But then there’s also a lesson in there that we f*ck up, and destroy what we appreciated most in our lives but we can also gain something that we didn’t even know we wanted (his kid) and that makes every loss and failure worth it.
There’s a lot of reflections about life and love and emotions and mistakes and decisions and I can go on lol.
It’s weird that I don’t like the characters but I can’t rate this book down, because somehow it wasn’t that bad.
Paige has a very distinct style. It’s as if you can never get to really like the characters, some because they don’t say much and act in a very contrary manner and others because they are just annoying and don’t have many redeeming qualities, BUT she does depict the characters in the most realistic way possible. I can’t decide if that’s a good or a bad thing yet.
I do read to escape, to feel something different than my day to day so I would say I don’t wanna read about someone who reminds me why I dislike most people lol, but then I think that in a way it’s good to have those examples to perhaps be less judgy lol.
Anyway back to the book. I didn’t mind Laura that much, but I didn’t like her either, I was meh.
And Leo, well how can I like or dislike him when I don’t really know him . Let me see, I know he’s really really hot. He’s Cuban. I know he’s 33, I know he has a tragic family history and has no ambitions to speak of. That’s what we found out about him throughout the book. And at the end we were told he loves Laura. Hmm he still feels like a stranger and Laura is annoying. And Matthew, well he is the perfect example of how we can totally ruin our lives by giving in to our most baser instincts. Our need to be wanted, appreciated etc. But then there’s also a lesson in there that we f*ck up, and destroy what we appreciated most in our lives but we can also gain something that we didn’t even know we wanted (his kid) and that makes every loss and failure worth it.
There’s a lot of reflections about life and love and emotions and mistakes and decisions and I can go on lol.
It’s weird that I don’t like the characters but I can’t rate this book down, because somehow it wasn’t that bad.
February 12, 2018
I literally love Paige Toon’s books so much because they’re always such quick and enjoyable reads. I can just get lost in her stories and they always help me get out of reading slumps and are also the perfect choice whenever I don’t know what I want to read.
“The Longest Holiday” was once again a great novel and I really liked it. The characters were great and the plot was interesting from start to finish. The only thing that bothered me was the fact that I felt like the ending was a little abrupt but overall, that didn’t really spoil my reading experience.
Now I have 4 more of her books to finish before her latest novel comes out in May and even though I’m a little pressed for time, I’m still looking forward to reading them and I’m sure they’ll be just as much fun as all her other books!
“The Longest Holiday” was once again a great novel and I really liked it. The characters were great and the plot was interesting from start to finish. The only thing that bothered me was the fact that I felt like the ending was a little abrupt but overall, that didn’t really spoil my reading experience.
Now I have 4 more of her books to finish before her latest novel comes out in May and even though I’m a little pressed for time, I’m still looking forward to reading them and I’m sure they’ll be just as much fun as all her other books!
April 28, 2013
I have always been a huge fan of Paige Toon, she is definitely one of my top ten authors and having read all of her books I can honestly say not a single one of them disappoint. When I was out shopping on Tuesday I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a copy of The Longest Holiday sitting staring at me days before publication so I quickly snapped up my copy feeling like a criminal! ( I did pay!)
The synopsis sounded intriguing and exciting so I couldn’t wait to start reading. Laura is our protagonist and what a fabulous character she is. She is easy to warm to and she seemed so lifelike she is my favourite female character from Paige Toons books. After a revelation about Laura’s husband Matthew comes to light she needs to get away to clear her head and have time to think about whether or not she can forgive her husband and save her marriage. Laura jets away to Florida’s Key West with her friend Marty and her friend Bridget.
It’s not long before her thoughts are distracted by the gorgeously hot Leo. But are her feelings for Leo just confusing matters more, I mean the holiday has to come to an end at some point surely?
The storyline was so captivating and fresh, I was hooked from the first chapter and so it soon became clear that this was going to be a book that you can’t put down. I loved how unpredictable the book was there was no way of predicting what was going to happen next. The author also puts a pretty shocking twist towards the end which I never saw coming. The whole of the book was fantastically written the descriptive writing made you feel as though you were there holidaying with Laura and towards the end of the book the writing is very beautifully written and touching.
Leo is a perfect male role, when we first meet him he feels a little mysterious but as we get to know more about his character and his background you can’t help but get a little hot under the collar when he is around!
This is an amazing read and I would even go as far as to say I think it is my favourite Paige Toon book. I was a little shocked by the ending I was still engrossed in the storyline and then suddenly it was the Epilogue! But we are not left on a cliff hanger the author ties things up nicely, although I would be more than happy if Paige Toon decides to bring these characters back in a sequel. The only problem now is I feel rather deflated now I have finished I think the characters and storyline will be in my mind for a while yet! Easily one of the best books I have read in a long time, a perfect holiday read,
The synopsis sounded intriguing and exciting so I couldn’t wait to start reading. Laura is our protagonist and what a fabulous character she is. She is easy to warm to and she seemed so lifelike she is my favourite female character from Paige Toons books. After a revelation about Laura’s husband Matthew comes to light she needs to get away to clear her head and have time to think about whether or not she can forgive her husband and save her marriage. Laura jets away to Florida’s Key West with her friend Marty and her friend Bridget.
It’s not long before her thoughts are distracted by the gorgeously hot Leo. But are her feelings for Leo just confusing matters more, I mean the holiday has to come to an end at some point surely?
The storyline was so captivating and fresh, I was hooked from the first chapter and so it soon became clear that this was going to be a book that you can’t put down. I loved how unpredictable the book was there was no way of predicting what was going to happen next. The author also puts a pretty shocking twist towards the end which I never saw coming. The whole of the book was fantastically written the descriptive writing made you feel as though you were there holidaying with Laura and towards the end of the book the writing is very beautifully written and touching.
Leo is a perfect male role, when we first meet him he feels a little mysterious but as we get to know more about his character and his background you can’t help but get a little hot under the collar when he is around!
This is an amazing read and I would even go as far as to say I think it is my favourite Paige Toon book. I was a little shocked by the ending I was still engrossed in the storyline and then suddenly it was the Epilogue! But we are not left on a cliff hanger the author ties things up nicely, although I would be more than happy if Paige Toon decides to bring these characters back in a sequel. The only problem now is I feel rather deflated now I have finished I think the characters and storyline will be in my mind for a while yet! Easily one of the best books I have read in a long time, a perfect holiday read,
May 12, 2015
Remember Laura? Well, I just read Chasing Daisy and went on with this book, so I was really really happy to have her as the main character in this book. To be honest, I didn’t really like her in Chasing Daisy, but that was just because I wanted Daisy and Will to be together. I love her now!!!
Daisy moved on with Luis, Laura moved on with Matthew. Matthew, her gorgeous husband. Well, that’s in the past! Seven months after the wedding Laura discovers something terrible. Matthew had sex with another girl and now that girl is pregnant!
Marty, Laura’s friend, takes her away from all the problems, to the beautiful Key West in Florida. Sun, fun and nothing to do!!!
Her two friends want to party and meet guys, but Laura is not really in the mood. When she falls asleep the first evening, her friends go out. Laura wakes up and hears music in the neighbourhood. She decides to go for a walk and then she sees him... with his olive skin and his beautiful dark hair. What a coincidence when she sees him again on the boat, when the girls go snorkelling with the three American guys they met at their hotel. Afterwards Laura arranges diving lessons for her and her friends and is over the moon, when Jorge (the other diver) tells her, that Leo will help him during the lessons. So, LEO, that’s his name. She can’t wait for Monday to arrive and it’s only Thursday L.
The girls spend a lot of time with the American guys, there is one guy for each of them. Marty and Bridget really enjoy it, but Laura is not interested and flees. Practically into Leo’s arm. Not on purpose, but it’s nice and she is even happier when he invites her to his place, where she also meets Jorge. She tells them about the problem back at the hotel next door and spends the evening with them.
Finally, it’s Monday. When the diving course starts Leo isn’t there and Laura is disappointed. But then he turns up and they become diving buddies. In the evening they all go for a drink and the two of them finally get to talk. When a storm stops the course, he shows her the Southern Most Point and more. Then she tells him about her marriage and what Matthew did, suddenly Leo is really cold and stops their day. Laura is disappointed. Even the next day, when the course continues the atmosphere is weird between them. The next day, is the day the girls leave for Miami and so she spends her last evening at Jorge’s and Leo’s house and finds out more about them, Jorge’s sister Carmen and her boyfriend Eric, they all live there. She doesn’t want to leave!
Laura doesn’t enjoy Miami at all and at the airport she gets a call from Matthew. The girl’s had the baby and then it’s clear for Laura. She doesn’t want to return to Englang, no she wants to go back to Key West. She sees Jorge at the airport, because he is there to pick up his nephew and takes her back to Key West, he even offers her to stay at their place. Leo isn’t there when they arrive. She bumps into him the next morning. He is surprised, but seems okay with it. On the contrary there are her parents, Marty and Matthew, but nothing changes her mind. She helps around the house and spends time with Leo, they go to the beach, night diving etc.
Leo takes her to Miami, because she wants to buy a MacBook to work from there. They stay over night and Laura meets Leo’s ex. The tension is huge between Leo and Laura, but nothing happens (yet). It’s obvious that they’ve got the hots for each other. She tells him, that her marriage is over and when their back at the house Laura can’t wait and resist anymore. She kisses him and he first says no, but she convinces him and they become one (finally ;)). They enjoy every single minute with each other, mostly in his bedroom.
Out of the blue Matthew turns up and Leo is angry. He gives them the time though. For Laura it is even clearer now, what she wants and she tells Leo. Matthew goes home and then her mum turns up. Also her mum tries to convince her to return to England and to Matthew, but Laura loves Leo and doesn’t want to leave him. She tells him that, but he can’t say it back, he’s not the type for it (not yet hopefully).
Laura and Leo enjoy their last few weeks together, before Laura has to return to England, because her Visa has expired. They also talk about the house and what could be the future of Leo’s house. Then she leaves, Leo promises to call her.
Matthew tries everything to get Laura back. He even takes her to see the baby, but enough is enough. It becomes clearer and clearer that she wants a divorce and return to Key West and to her Leo. Why is he not calling?
When Leo finally calls and Laura has told Matthew about the divorce, she gets hit by a car...
Leo left his mobile phone in Key West and goes back there, he even starts to renovate the house, so that it could be a guest house one day. He tries to call her all the time, but she doesn’t pick up. Why?
After weeks of nothing Leo has a bad dream about her and thinks something happened to her. Then his world comes crashing down, when Marty tells him that Laura’s had an accident and is in coma. He immediately packs his bags and flies to England, where Bridget picks him up and helps him to see Laura. It is harder than you think though with Matthew and her parents there. When Leo doesn’t want to sleep and stays at the hospital all the time, Laura’s parents seem to realise how much Laura means to him. They invite him to stay at their place and start to be really nice to him. Matthew has left, so Leo can go see Laura whenever he wants. He finally knows what he wants. It’s LAURA, just Laura and he tells her that he loves her.
The next chapter is a few months ahead and Laura is back!!!! She is even back in Key West and she couldn’t be happier. She’s got the guest house and the love of her life.
An amazing love story with so much chemistry and atmosphere. Laura and Leo are meant for each other and their story is so gripping and emotional. We see Laura from a total different side and you just gotta love her. Key West is the perfect setting for a story like that and the reader can feel the energy between Laura and Leo instantly. I couldn’t wait to read what happens next and it was unbearable when Laura was in coma, you just want her to wake up, so that this loves tory can be complete.
Romantic, gorgeous, wonderful, gripping, amazing… The perfect summer-read!!!! <3 <3 <3
Daisy moved on with Luis, Laura moved on with Matthew. Matthew, her gorgeous husband. Well, that’s in the past! Seven months after the wedding Laura discovers something terrible. Matthew had sex with another girl and now that girl is pregnant!
Marty, Laura’s friend, takes her away from all the problems, to the beautiful Key West in Florida. Sun, fun and nothing to do!!!
Her two friends want to party and meet guys, but Laura is not really in the mood. When she falls asleep the first evening, her friends go out. Laura wakes up and hears music in the neighbourhood. She decides to go for a walk and then she sees him... with his olive skin and his beautiful dark hair. What a coincidence when she sees him again on the boat, when the girls go snorkelling with the three American guys they met at their hotel. Afterwards Laura arranges diving lessons for her and her friends and is over the moon, when Jorge (the other diver) tells her, that Leo will help him during the lessons. So, LEO, that’s his name. She can’t wait for Monday to arrive and it’s only Thursday L.
The girls spend a lot of time with the American guys, there is one guy for each of them. Marty and Bridget really enjoy it, but Laura is not interested and flees. Practically into Leo’s arm. Not on purpose, but it’s nice and she is even happier when he invites her to his place, where she also meets Jorge. She tells them about the problem back at the hotel next door and spends the evening with them.
Finally, it’s Monday. When the diving course starts Leo isn’t there and Laura is disappointed. But then he turns up and they become diving buddies. In the evening they all go for a drink and the two of them finally get to talk. When a storm stops the course, he shows her the Southern Most Point and more. Then she tells him about her marriage and what Matthew did, suddenly Leo is really cold and stops their day. Laura is disappointed. Even the next day, when the course continues the atmosphere is weird between them. The next day, is the day the girls leave for Miami and so she spends her last evening at Jorge’s and Leo’s house and finds out more about them, Jorge’s sister Carmen and her boyfriend Eric, they all live there. She doesn’t want to leave!
Laura doesn’t enjoy Miami at all and at the airport she gets a call from Matthew. The girl’s had the baby and then it’s clear for Laura. She doesn’t want to return to Englang, no she wants to go back to Key West. She sees Jorge at the airport, because he is there to pick up his nephew and takes her back to Key West, he even offers her to stay at their place. Leo isn’t there when they arrive. She bumps into him the next morning. He is surprised, but seems okay with it. On the contrary there are her parents, Marty and Matthew, but nothing changes her mind. She helps around the house and spends time with Leo, they go to the beach, night diving etc.
Leo takes her to Miami, because she wants to buy a MacBook to work from there. They stay over night and Laura meets Leo’s ex. The tension is huge between Leo and Laura, but nothing happens (yet). It’s obvious that they’ve got the hots for each other. She tells him, that her marriage is over and when their back at the house Laura can’t wait and resist anymore. She kisses him and he first says no, but she convinces him and they become one (finally ;)). They enjoy every single minute with each other, mostly in his bedroom.
Out of the blue Matthew turns up and Leo is angry. He gives them the time though. For Laura it is even clearer now, what she wants and she tells Leo. Matthew goes home and then her mum turns up. Also her mum tries to convince her to return to England and to Matthew, but Laura loves Leo and doesn’t want to leave him. She tells him that, but he can’t say it back, he’s not the type for it (not yet hopefully).
Laura and Leo enjoy their last few weeks together, before Laura has to return to England, because her Visa has expired. They also talk about the house and what could be the future of Leo’s house. Then she leaves, Leo promises to call her.
Matthew tries everything to get Laura back. He even takes her to see the baby, but enough is enough. It becomes clearer and clearer that she wants a divorce and return to Key West and to her Leo. Why is he not calling?
When Leo finally calls and Laura has told Matthew about the divorce, she gets hit by a car...
Leo left his mobile phone in Key West and goes back there, he even starts to renovate the house, so that it could be a guest house one day. He tries to call her all the time, but she doesn’t pick up. Why?
After weeks of nothing Leo has a bad dream about her and thinks something happened to her. Then his world comes crashing down, when Marty tells him that Laura’s had an accident and is in coma. He immediately packs his bags and flies to England, where Bridget picks him up and helps him to see Laura. It is harder than you think though with Matthew and her parents there. When Leo doesn’t want to sleep and stays at the hospital all the time, Laura’s parents seem to realise how much Laura means to him. They invite him to stay at their place and start to be really nice to him. Matthew has left, so Leo can go see Laura whenever he wants. He finally knows what he wants. It’s LAURA, just Laura and he tells her that he loves her.
The next chapter is a few months ahead and Laura is back!!!! She is even back in Key West and she couldn’t be happier. She’s got the guest house and the love of her life.
An amazing love story with so much chemistry and atmosphere. Laura and Leo are meant for each other and their story is so gripping and emotional. We see Laura from a total different side and you just gotta love her. Key West is the perfect setting for a story like that and the reader can feel the energy between Laura and Leo instantly. I couldn’t wait to read what happens next and it was unbearable when Laura was in coma, you just want her to wake up, so that this loves tory can be complete.
Romantic, gorgeous, wonderful, gripping, amazing… The perfect summer-read!!!! <3 <3 <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2013
Okay, I need to say this. Poor Laura. Poor, poor Laura.
One of the things I love in Paiges books is how she revisit earlier characters from her other books. In this case Laura, the maincharacter, is the same Laura from Chasing Daisy. To people who have not read Chasing Daisy, I will short tell her prestory, and beware it will be a spoiler. She was the girlfriend to racedriver Will Trust. They were friends and sweethearts from an early age. The perfect IT couple. After he dies in a car accident, she is left with dealing with her sorrow, guilt, and how sorry people she doesn't know feels for her. Some even write a song about her and Will. It is really sad. So it's no wonder that she doubts that she ever will be able to smile, and feel happy again. But then she meets Matthew, and he changes the world for her. She falls madly in love with him.
Matthew will be an another character you already know too. He is mentioned in One Perfect Summer, and one of those things I loved about him, is how nice and gentle he is. I bet that was the excact same thing Laura fell for. He is one of those character that never will do anything to hurt an another person. But something do happen, and this is what The Longest Holiday is about.
Matthew gets very drunk on his stag, and somehow he meets a girl. One thing leads to the other, and they end up having sex in the clubs toilet. After 7 months of more than happy marriage with Matthew, Laura one day suddenly see a message from this girl telling Matthew that she is pregnant with his child. The world fall crashing down at her feets. She is humiliated, angry, and can't deal with the fact that her husband is to be a father to an another womans child.
By picking exact these characters out I feel you got a prestory, so you understand the hurt Laura must be feeling, when her perfect husband suddenly isn't so perfect anymore. And the confusion both he and Laura must feel onto how something like this could happen. I know I was confused and angry how Matthew could let things go that wild on his stag.
NOTE: the story can easily be read if you haven't read Chasing Daisy, and One Perfect Summer. You will just learn the characters to know on a different way, but it is not a necessity.
Matthew hates the situation. He is in danger of losing Laura. The girl he loves more than anything. But because of his good nature he of course wants to be a part of the childs life too. Something Laura find difficult to deal with - his mistake will be an eternal reminder to her in the shape of a child - so when some of her friends offer her to tag along on a vacation to the Keys Islands she follows them. She needs distance to think this through, and learn how to deal with how her life now will be.
And this is what The Longest Holiday is about. Will Laura learn how to deal with it, and go back to Matthew? Will she be able to forgive him?
But Leo, a scuba diver, Laura meets, will complicate the things a bit more. She is very attracted to him, and when she needs more time to think, he let her move into his house that he share with his family.
Leo is all that she needs. Someone that understands, and reassures her. But Leo will come with his own past, and Laura changes his vision on life too. I like the metaphor with Leo's house that are almost falling apart, and that Laura repair it to get it back to what it once was. And like Laura, you will fall just as much in love with Leo as she does.
But Laura learns that no matter how far away you go, the problems will always follow you. When Laura goes back to England she has to face Matthew, - her best friend and lover that fights for her though out the whole book. I love how Matthew is written in such a compassionate way - he isn't turned into a villian, and when she is with Matthew all the good they had together, and how easy it still is, when she doesn't think of his mistake, do plays a role, and why it is that you keep guessing through the whole book onto who she will chose. Leo might just have been a part of her escape, and nothing more.
I really enjoyed reading The Longest Holiday. Paige understands to write a love story that captures you. One thing Paige is also great at doing is writing place descriptions and get the aura feeling into her story. I could hear the latin music in the background, smell the cigar smoke, and feel the sun on my skin while I was reading. I have never been to the Keys Island, but while I was reading, I traveled there.
A great beach/summer read with a story that not will be easy all the time.
One of the things I love in Paiges books is how she revisit earlier characters from her other books. In this case Laura, the maincharacter, is the same Laura from Chasing Daisy. To people who have not read Chasing Daisy, I will short tell her prestory, and beware it will be a spoiler. She was the girlfriend to racedriver Will Trust. They were friends and sweethearts from an early age. The perfect IT couple. After he dies in a car accident, she is left with dealing with her sorrow, guilt, and how sorry people she doesn't know feels for her. Some even write a song about her and Will. It is really sad. So it's no wonder that she doubts that she ever will be able to smile, and feel happy again. But then she meets Matthew, and he changes the world for her. She falls madly in love with him.
Matthew will be an another character you already know too. He is mentioned in One Perfect Summer, and one of those things I loved about him, is how nice and gentle he is. I bet that was the excact same thing Laura fell for. He is one of those character that never will do anything to hurt an another person. But something do happen, and this is what The Longest Holiday is about.
Matthew gets very drunk on his stag, and somehow he meets a girl. One thing leads to the other, and they end up having sex in the clubs toilet. After 7 months of more than happy marriage with Matthew, Laura one day suddenly see a message from this girl telling Matthew that she is pregnant with his child. The world fall crashing down at her feets. She is humiliated, angry, and can't deal with the fact that her husband is to be a father to an another womans child.
By picking exact these characters out I feel you got a prestory, so you understand the hurt Laura must be feeling, when her perfect husband suddenly isn't so perfect anymore. And the confusion both he and Laura must feel onto how something like this could happen. I know I was confused and angry how Matthew could let things go that wild on his stag.
NOTE: the story can easily be read if you haven't read Chasing Daisy, and One Perfect Summer. You will just learn the characters to know on a different way, but it is not a necessity.
Matthew hates the situation. He is in danger of losing Laura. The girl he loves more than anything. But because of his good nature he of course wants to be a part of the childs life too. Something Laura find difficult to deal with - his mistake will be an eternal reminder to her in the shape of a child - so when some of her friends offer her to tag along on a vacation to the Keys Islands she follows them. She needs distance to think this through, and learn how to deal with how her life now will be.
And this is what The Longest Holiday is about. Will Laura learn how to deal with it, and go back to Matthew? Will she be able to forgive him?
But Leo, a scuba diver, Laura meets, will complicate the things a bit more. She is very attracted to him, and when she needs more time to think, he let her move into his house that he share with his family.
Leo is all that she needs. Someone that understands, and reassures her. But Leo will come with his own past, and Laura changes his vision on life too. I like the metaphor with Leo's house that are almost falling apart, and that Laura repair it to get it back to what it once was. And like Laura, you will fall just as much in love with Leo as she does.
But Laura learns that no matter how far away you go, the problems will always follow you. When Laura goes back to England she has to face Matthew, - her best friend and lover that fights for her though out the whole book. I love how Matthew is written in such a compassionate way - he isn't turned into a villian, and when she is with Matthew all the good they had together, and how easy it still is, when she doesn't think of his mistake, do plays a role, and why it is that you keep guessing through the whole book onto who she will chose. Leo might just have been a part of her escape, and nothing more.
I really enjoyed reading The Longest Holiday. Paige understands to write a love story that captures you. One thing Paige is also great at doing is writing place descriptions and get the aura feeling into her story. I could hear the latin music in the background, smell the cigar smoke, and feel the sun on my skin while I was reading. I have never been to the Keys Island, but while I was reading, I traveled there.
A great beach/summer read with a story that not will be easy all the time.
May 27, 2013
My overall rate is 4.5★
Structure of review: Before,Update:bought,overall review with pictures.
Before buying:
Just want to start by saying how gorgeous the cover is
I've read all of Paige's book and absolutely adore every single one but I have to admit Baby Be Mine is my favourite.
has anybody else noticed that she would briefly mention characters from books and have them in others like Johnny's assistant in Johnny Be Good is actually the protagonist in Chasing Daisy? clever?!
Can't Wait! High Hopes!
UPDATE:
FINALLY BOUGHT IT!!!!
UPDATE -26.05.2013
Went to buy the book at 4 o'clock came back then started reading at 4:30 and now it's currently 7:45.. so basically i just spent my day reading the whole book.
I loved how much scuba diving played a massive part in this. After reading this book I have also gained more knowledge on diving.. would love to go once in my lifetime. After reading a few chapters i had just finally realised that Laura was Will's Ex-Girlfriend this just made me love the book more. When I discovered that my name CARMEN was in it.. it just made me love the author more.
Me throughout the book
I was literally screaming CHOOSE LEO!!
Then the last few pages .. (i'm sure if you've read the book you know what i'm talking about)
THEN I realised there was an Epilogue so therefore..
I'm finally satisfied for my evening after writing this review
Structure of review: Before,Update:bought,overall review with pictures.
Before buying:
Just want to start by saying how gorgeous the cover is
I've read all of Paige's book and absolutely adore every single one but I have to admit Baby Be Mine is my favourite.
has anybody else noticed that she would briefly mention characters from books and have them in others like Johnny's assistant in Johnny Be Good is actually the protagonist in Chasing Daisy? clever?!
Can't Wait! High Hopes!
UPDATE:
FINALLY BOUGHT IT!!!!
UPDATE -26.05.2013
Went to buy the book at 4 o'clock came back then started reading at 4:30 and now it's currently 7:45.. so basically i just spent my day reading the whole book.
I loved how much scuba diving played a massive part in this. After reading this book I have also gained more knowledge on diving.. would love to go once in my lifetime. After reading a few chapters i had just finally realised that Laura was Will's Ex-Girlfriend this just made me love the book more. When I discovered that my name CARMEN was in it.. it just made me love the author more.
Me throughout the book
I was literally screaming CHOOSE LEO!!
Then the last few pages .. (i'm sure if you've read the book you know what i'm talking about)
THEN I realised there was an Epilogue so therefore..
I'm finally satisfied for my evening after writing this review
June 20, 2017
This really had some potential to be a great beach read. I thought it was going to be funny, but it's totally not. Her husband cheated on her before they were married, got that girl pregnant and hid it all from her. Disgusting. 1/3 of the book is her trying to devices between her husband or the guy she met in Florida. Then, with 60 pages left, she gets hit by a car and is in a coma. What?! I don't even know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2013
Gushing over this book. Loved it. I was at the penultimate chapter and couldn't put the book down, needed to know what happens next. The characters were written with such warmth and humour and you soon understand why Laura is falling for a certain someone. Not read any of Paige Toon's books before but I will do now. :)
April 28, 2013
WOWZERS…get me on the first plane to Florida and take me straight to Leo please…the man in this book is simply gorgeous!!! I’m actually very ashamed to admit that I have not read any of Paige Toon’s books before (WHY? I ask myself now!), but I can safely say that I entirely adored ‘The Longest Holiday’. It’s a truly beautiful and special read that I glowingly recommend.
For Laura, life couldn’t be better. Seven months ago, she married Matthew, is madly in love and is living the dream. But then comes one fateful day! By accident, Laura happens to come across a facebook message to Matthew from an unfamiliar female. It seems that Matthew is not the perfect husband after all. On his stag, a week before their wedding, he did the unthinkable, and now there is a baby on the way…
So when her friends ask Laura to join them on a vacation to Keys Islands, Florida, she sees it as a perfect opportunity to escape the world that is crashing down around her, hoping that the distance will give her time to process her thoughts and come to terms with how her life has changed indefinitely. Will the time away from Matthew soften the betrayal that is sitting so heavily in her heart? Will she be able to learn to deal with what lies ahead? Can she even go back to Matthew at all?
But Keys Island is about to throw a great deal more confusion her way in the form of captivating Cuban diver, Leo. Oh crikey…I feel all swoony just writing about him! There is nothing better than a leading man that, as well as being completely gorgeous, also happens to be magnificently moody and mysterious! Blown away by how she is so instantly attracted to him, it doesn’t take long before Laura has fallen quickly and completely head over heels. And although the holiday with her friends has come to an end, she is absolutely sure that she is not ready to return to the life that awaits her back in the UK. She decides to abandon her friends as they board the plane to go home, and returns to Leo’s house in the hope that it will be the safe haven she still so desperately needs.
A beautiful love affair between Laura and Leo unfolds. Leo becomes Laura’s rock and in return, Leo starts to deal with some dark parts of his life as well. But Laura’s visa is running out and it really is time to face the music at home. Will Leo simply be an incredible holiday romance and nothing more? Can she forgive Matthew and rebuild a life with him after all? You’re going to have to read it to find out!!!
‘The Longest Holiday’ was positively addictive to read, as well as deeply touching and breathtakingly romantic. It was torturingly poignant at times as well, making it a very believable and emotive story. What I particularly liked about the book was how strong-minded Laura turned out to be. Once she had made her decision, she stuck by it and didn’t waver under the pressures surrounding her, which was actually extremely refreshing to read when compared with many other books in this genre. And it was fabulous to experience an insight into Leo’s point of view as well towards the end of the book.
It’s a totally splendid story, and particularly perfect as we head towards the summer season and holiday reads. I think we all just need to live in hope that there are some other Leo’s out there for us all!!! LOVED IT!
For Laura, life couldn’t be better. Seven months ago, she married Matthew, is madly in love and is living the dream. But then comes one fateful day! By accident, Laura happens to come across a facebook message to Matthew from an unfamiliar female. It seems that Matthew is not the perfect husband after all. On his stag, a week before their wedding, he did the unthinkable, and now there is a baby on the way…
So when her friends ask Laura to join them on a vacation to Keys Islands, Florida, she sees it as a perfect opportunity to escape the world that is crashing down around her, hoping that the distance will give her time to process her thoughts and come to terms with how her life has changed indefinitely. Will the time away from Matthew soften the betrayal that is sitting so heavily in her heart? Will she be able to learn to deal with what lies ahead? Can she even go back to Matthew at all?
But Keys Island is about to throw a great deal more confusion her way in the form of captivating Cuban diver, Leo. Oh crikey…I feel all swoony just writing about him! There is nothing better than a leading man that, as well as being completely gorgeous, also happens to be magnificently moody and mysterious! Blown away by how she is so instantly attracted to him, it doesn’t take long before Laura has fallen quickly and completely head over heels. And although the holiday with her friends has come to an end, she is absolutely sure that she is not ready to return to the life that awaits her back in the UK. She decides to abandon her friends as they board the plane to go home, and returns to Leo’s house in the hope that it will be the safe haven she still so desperately needs.
A beautiful love affair between Laura and Leo unfolds. Leo becomes Laura’s rock and in return, Leo starts to deal with some dark parts of his life as well. But Laura’s visa is running out and it really is time to face the music at home. Will Leo simply be an incredible holiday romance and nothing more? Can she forgive Matthew and rebuild a life with him after all? You’re going to have to read it to find out!!!
‘The Longest Holiday’ was positively addictive to read, as well as deeply touching and breathtakingly romantic. It was torturingly poignant at times as well, making it a very believable and emotive story. What I particularly liked about the book was how strong-minded Laura turned out to be. Once she had made her decision, she stuck by it and didn’t waver under the pressures surrounding her, which was actually extremely refreshing to read when compared with many other books in this genre. And it was fabulous to experience an insight into Leo’s point of view as well towards the end of the book.
It’s a totally splendid story, and particularly perfect as we head towards the summer season and holiday reads. I think we all just need to live in hope that there are some other Leo’s out there for us all!!! LOVED IT!
August 20, 2016
Okay, in the end, I gave 3.5 stars - a bit more than average.
And that only because during the last 100 pages happened things and the tone and style changed a bit the way I like it. For all those, who like/love a shallow story, some flippant characters, the clear but very discreet writing style of the author and a story that is nice to read but not very exciting: then this is your book. I was after a few pages already annoyed by the bitchy dialogues and that everyone wanted to tell Laura what to do, how to do it and where to do it. Christ, she is an almost thirty-year-old grown up, and can´t decide for herself what she will do with the rest of her life or if she can or will forgive her husband??
Can´t really recommend it.
Honestly, if I wouldn´t have gotten this novel unintentional, I would not have put it on my reading schedule. Yes, I have one.
When you review books and work together with a lot of publishers, you have to keep track on all the new releases and books you want to read. The publisher, who is responsible for the German edition of this one, was just sending me the book without any up-front notice for me.
So I thought, well, okay, I got it, why don´t give it a try. But it turns out, the style of the author isn´t really for me. I read another book by her and the result was kind of the same.
Laura is shocked. Her husband cheated on her right before their wedding and now he becomes a father! Together with her friend Marty she flees to Florida, to get a bit space between them and to get a chance to think about what to do next. But in Florida things change forever. She meets Leo and with him she starts to feel different and that she wants something in life, she won´t be able to get back home.
The Longest Holiday is written from the personal point of view by Laura. During the story you discover bit by bit what had happened before her trip to Florida. So the reader spends part of the plot in the present and some in the past of Laura. That keeps going on until both come together and from there on the reader shares with Laura her present life.
What annoyed me almost from the beginning of this novel was all the bitchy dialogues between Laura, Marty and Bridget and that everyone around Laura (except for Bridget) tried to tell her what to do, how to do and where to do. As if Laura, an almost thirty year old woman, wasn´t capable of deciding and thinking for herself. Her mother puts pressure on her, her husband and even her best friend Marty tells her how she has to feel and how to act. No wonder, that Laura starts to ignore her cell and finally turns it off for good. With such a mother and supposed to be good friend you don´t need enemies at all.
A few pages before the end of the book the perspective changes into the first-person narrative of Leo and Bridget. The story becomes all of the sudden drive and a slight change in his tone. If that would have been the case from the beginning, this would have been a four or maybe five lashes book. So, it was barely a three and a half lashes.
No doubt, Paige Toon has a wonderful and nice writing style. Alone how she describes the landscapes of Florida, the city of Miami or Key West itself - was bliss for the reading eye. But how she sees women, how she lets them feel, think or act, that is not really my thing.
There is nothing to say when characters are not that profound and don´t have much to say. But in a modern novel about a young woman it is hard to believe or take, that she has nothing to say at all. Neither Laura´s mother nor her best friend Marty or her husband seem to be ok with the fact, that she needs time, that she can´t live with the knowledge of her husband becoming a father and that she doesn´t want to meet that baby. In fact, they try to make her feel guilty.
And that made me angry. He was the one who cheated on her, he was the one who didn´t think and now they want to put that guilt on her? She has done nothing wrong. And in combination with all that bitchy behavior I soon was annoyed and finally kind of angry.
No, I am not happy with the way how the author created her figures. If this is normal for Paige Toon, then I am really sorry, but such female characters are the worst to me.
If you are a fan of shallow novels with some superficial characters and a soft writing style, then this is definitely your book. If not: keep your hands off. As sad as it is, but for me, Paige Toon novels don´t seem to be the right kind of book.
Originally posted on Gone With The Books
And that only because during the last 100 pages happened things and the tone and style changed a bit the way I like it. For all those, who like/love a shallow story, some flippant characters, the clear but very discreet writing style of the author and a story that is nice to read but not very exciting: then this is your book. I was after a few pages already annoyed by the bitchy dialogues and that everyone wanted to tell Laura what to do, how to do it and where to do it. Christ, she is an almost thirty-year-old grown up, and can´t decide for herself what she will do with the rest of her life or if she can or will forgive her husband??
Can´t really recommend it.
Honestly, if I wouldn´t have gotten this novel unintentional, I would not have put it on my reading schedule. Yes, I have one.
When you review books and work together with a lot of publishers, you have to keep track on all the new releases and books you want to read. The publisher, who is responsible for the German edition of this one, was just sending me the book without any up-front notice for me.
So I thought, well, okay, I got it, why don´t give it a try. But it turns out, the style of the author isn´t really for me. I read another book by her and the result was kind of the same.
Laura is shocked. Her husband cheated on her right before their wedding and now he becomes a father! Together with her friend Marty she flees to Florida, to get a bit space between them and to get a chance to think about what to do next. But in Florida things change forever. She meets Leo and with him she starts to feel different and that she wants something in life, she won´t be able to get back home.
The Longest Holiday is written from the personal point of view by Laura. During the story you discover bit by bit what had happened before her trip to Florida. So the reader spends part of the plot in the present and some in the past of Laura. That keeps going on until both come together and from there on the reader shares with Laura her present life.
What annoyed me almost from the beginning of this novel was all the bitchy dialogues between Laura, Marty and Bridget and that everyone around Laura (except for Bridget) tried to tell her what to do, how to do and where to do. As if Laura, an almost thirty year old woman, wasn´t capable of deciding and thinking for herself. Her mother puts pressure on her, her husband and even her best friend Marty tells her how she has to feel and how to act. No wonder, that Laura starts to ignore her cell and finally turns it off for good. With such a mother and supposed to be good friend you don´t need enemies at all.
A few pages before the end of the book the perspective changes into the first-person narrative of Leo and Bridget. The story becomes all of the sudden drive and a slight change in his tone. If that would have been the case from the beginning, this would have been a four or maybe five lashes book. So, it was barely a three and a half lashes.
No doubt, Paige Toon has a wonderful and nice writing style. Alone how she describes the landscapes of Florida, the city of Miami or Key West itself - was bliss for the reading eye. But how she sees women, how she lets them feel, think or act, that is not really my thing.
There is nothing to say when characters are not that profound and don´t have much to say. But in a modern novel about a young woman it is hard to believe or take, that she has nothing to say at all. Neither Laura´s mother nor her best friend Marty or her husband seem to be ok with the fact, that she needs time, that she can´t live with the knowledge of her husband becoming a father and that she doesn´t want to meet that baby. In fact, they try to make her feel guilty.
And that made me angry. He was the one who cheated on her, he was the one who didn´t think and now they want to put that guilt on her? She has done nothing wrong. And in combination with all that bitchy behavior I soon was annoyed and finally kind of angry.
No, I am not happy with the way how the author created her figures. If this is normal for Paige Toon, then I am really sorry, but such female characters are the worst to me.
If you are a fan of shallow novels with some superficial characters and a soft writing style, then this is definitely your book. If not: keep your hands off. As sad as it is, but for me, Paige Toon novels don´t seem to be the right kind of book.
Originally posted on Gone With The Books
June 5, 2024
I loved this story! It was definitely a tried and tested approach; we’ve all read the stories about a woman who gets cheated on, decides to use the typical escapism method of going on holiday and finds a new love.
However, I really liked that this one dealt with the more complex emotions that arise around old and new loves. I’ve always enjoyed Paige Toon’s writing and this book is no exception. 💛
However, I really liked that this one dealt with the more complex emotions that arise around old and new loves. I’ve always enjoyed Paige Toon’s writing and this book is no exception. 💛
August 18, 2018
This book started a little slow for me and it took a while for me to like the main character Laura. For much of the first 300 pages she blows hot and cold between her husband who cheated on her at his stag do and a holiday fling. Apart from Leo is much more than a holiday fling. The last 100 pages I read very fast I couldn't put the book down. The pace quickens in the last 100 pages after a major thing happened to Laura I didn't hate Matthew in the end but Leo is just so lovely. He's up there with my favourite hero's in the books I've read. I also liked Bridget and Marty her friends. This book has also made me really want to read Chasing Daisy after mentioning formula one racing and Laura's ex Will. The ending of this book is very bittersweet.
November 11, 2014
To say Laura is unlucky in love is an understatement. Her first boyfriend died in a horrific accident, and now she's just discovered that her husband of six months has been hiding a terrible secret. Devastated and unwilling to face reality, she escapes on a girls' holiday to Key West with her best friend Marty. But a deep and instant attraction to a sexy Cuban scuba diver takes her completely by surprise. When her two weeks in the sun come to an end, Laura doesn't want to go home again. But she can't run from real life forever. Can she?
I was really excited to read this, especially after seeing the ratings and reviews. I was in the mood for a really good Chick-lit but this disappointed me.
I like the story of Laura's perfect marriage falling apart and going on a Holiday to escape. But, Leo? Really? Horrible guy to make us feel butterflies and root for. He annoyed the crap out of me and acted more like a woman then Laura did. And, why did everyone want Laura to go back to her cheating husband who was having a baby with the other woman? I understand it happened once but that constant reminder is the hardest part to get over. I thought everyone needed to be in Laura's corner more.
And, the ending! Really? Booo.
I was really excited to read this, especially after seeing the ratings and reviews. I was in the mood for a really good Chick-lit but this disappointed me.
I like the story of Laura's perfect marriage falling apart and going on a Holiday to escape. But, Leo? Really? Horrible guy to make us feel butterflies and root for. He annoyed the crap out of me and acted more like a woman then Laura did. And, why did everyone want Laura to go back to her cheating husband who was having a baby with the other woman? I understand it happened once but that constant reminder is the hardest part to get over. I thought everyone needed to be in Laura's corner more.
And, the ending! Really? Booo.
April 29, 2022
Another fab book by Paige Toon.
This book follows Laura’s story after she finds out that her husband had sex with another woman on his stag do by finding a message on his laptop.
She flies off to Key West with her friends Marty and Bridget so she can get away from her husband and have time to think.
Leo is tall, dark and handsome and Laura is immediately drawn to him. When it’s time to go back home to England, Laura runs out of the airport and back to Key West and more importantly, back to Leo. As you’d expect, she falls hard for him but he’s reluctant to tell her what she desperately wants to hear. Eventually her visa runs out and she has to return to England. Despite several attempts to contact Leo, she can’t and she begins to doubt him.
And then he finally phones and OMG the twist!!!
I can’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but it is so GOOD!!
I just want to binge read all of Paige’s books now but I must not be greedy!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
This book follows Laura’s story after she finds out that her husband had sex with another woman on his stag do by finding a message on his laptop.
She flies off to Key West with her friends Marty and Bridget so she can get away from her husband and have time to think.
Leo is tall, dark and handsome and Laura is immediately drawn to him. When it’s time to go back home to England, Laura runs out of the airport and back to Key West and more importantly, back to Leo. As you’d expect, she falls hard for him but he’s reluctant to tell her what she desperately wants to hear. Eventually her visa runs out and she has to return to England. Despite several attempts to contact Leo, she can’t and she begins to doubt him.
And then he finally phones and OMG the twist!!!
I can’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but it is so GOOD!!
I just want to binge read all of Paige’s books now but I must not be greedy!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
August 11, 2020
The Longest Holiday is one of those super easy books that you can pick up and instantly get stuck into. (Plus it gives you all the holiday feels that I’m vibing atm) I loved learning about Laura as a character and of corse who doesn’t want a brooding Leo to sweep them off their feet.
The book tackles infidelity in a very clever way - showing how complicated relationships can be and that not everything is so black and white.
I really did love this book - though I did get to a point towards the end that TOTALLY Shook me to the point I wasn’t sure if I wanted to finish it. I didn’t want it to end like that, but all became good so I’m happy.
The book tackles infidelity in a very clever way - showing how complicated relationships can be and that not everything is so black and white.
I really did love this book - though I did get to a point towards the end that TOTALLY Shook me to the point I wasn’t sure if I wanted to finish it. I didn’t want it to end like that, but all became good so I’m happy.
July 9, 2024
This book just means so much to me that it was never not getting 5 starts.
Leo is my favourite man ever he will never be topped!!
My re read did make me realise how insufferable Laura is tho. She’s such a beg it’s embarrassing
Leo is my favourite man ever he will never be topped!!
My re read did make me realise how insufferable Laura is tho. She’s such a beg it’s embarrassing
July 7, 2021
My first Paige Toon book and it won’t be my last ❤️ Absolutely adored this book from start to finish
May 2, 2013
let me first say that i have loved all of the author's books. however, this one did not quite do it for me. i dont know why but i feel like laura and leo's connection wasn't really established. it was like, one day they met then after that she fell in love. i don't know, I just could not connect with the book. i kinda feel bad for matthew as well. you make one mistake in judgement before the wedding and then your marriage goes up in flames. i just hope she makes a book about matthew and his happy ever after....
July 8, 2020
Strange, I felt bad for the husband.
June 27, 2018
Time taken to read - 1.5 days
Pages - 416
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Source - Fellow blogger
He's smiling down at me with tears in his eyes as I say my solemn vow:
'I, Laura, take thee, Matthew, to be my lawful wedded husband…' I thought I would never feel like this about anyone ever again. Not after my first love… Not after the heartbreak and the loss and the trying to pick myself back up again… Then I met Matthew, and I know that he has my heart forever: my perfect, gorgeous, adoring Matthew. And then I wake up. And I remember that he's not perfect. He's so far from perfect that my heart could surely collapse from the pain that instantly engulfs me…
To say Laura is unlucky in love is an understatement. Her first boyfriend died in a horrific accident, and now she's just discovered that her husband of six months has been hiding a terrible secret. Devastated and unwilling to face reality, she escapes on a girls' holiday to Key West with her best friend Marty. But a deep and instant attraction to a sexy Cuban scuba diver takes her completely by surprise. When her two weeks in the sun come to an end, Laura doesn't want to go home again. But she can't run from real life forever. Can she?
My Review
Meet Laura our main character, off to Florida's Key West with her bestie Marty and Marty's friend Bridget. Laura is trying to come to terms with her husband of seven months bombshell, he slept with someone on his stag do and she is now pregnant with his baby. Everything Laura thought she knew about Matthew she is now questioning and can she ever forgive him. Whilst healing and trying to recover she encounters the silent and broody Leo, beautiful, talented and the balm she so badly needs. Is Leo just a get back a Matthew, some holiday fun or could there be something else there?
So, I have read and enjoyed Toon before and whilst this book covers a range of themes that make for a poolside read, there were some things that irked me. The overall response as the book goes on from Laura's inner circle infuriated me, I cannot imagine being in that position and my A Team basically saying the things her friends do! Infidelity is a big part of the story and for how it goes it is integral to the plot but I got really annoyed by a bit of double standards going on from some of the characters.
Laura is a bit of a meg character for me, I initially felt for her, then I got annoyed at some of her choices. Leo I think is meant to be a bit on an onion character, gruffy on the surface but has many layers however he comes across as a bit of a.... I am struggling for the correct word. Like he was bosses, withholding emotions which almost seemed manipulation to me. I don't think it was but that was how I read him sometimes. Then Laura, she fair flipped about like a fish out of water at times with her emotions, I genuinely wasn't sure which way she was going in almost everything. I think maybe that was Toon's intent, Laura is going through such an emotional rollercoaster that she isn't sure what she needs, wants, should or will do.
It sounds like a moan lol and I really don't mean that as I did like a fair bit of the book. Friend coming to the rescue, family and friendships pushed to the limit, a journey of self exploration, love, lust and of course actions and consequences. 3.5 for me this time, I have read Toon before and I will read her again.
Pages - 416
Publisher - Simon & Schuster
Source - Fellow blogger
He's smiling down at me with tears in his eyes as I say my solemn vow:
'I, Laura, take thee, Matthew, to be my lawful wedded husband…' I thought I would never feel like this about anyone ever again. Not after my first love… Not after the heartbreak and the loss and the trying to pick myself back up again… Then I met Matthew, and I know that he has my heart forever: my perfect, gorgeous, adoring Matthew. And then I wake up. And I remember that he's not perfect. He's so far from perfect that my heart could surely collapse from the pain that instantly engulfs me…
To say Laura is unlucky in love is an understatement. Her first boyfriend died in a horrific accident, and now she's just discovered that her husband of six months has been hiding a terrible secret. Devastated and unwilling to face reality, she escapes on a girls' holiday to Key West with her best friend Marty. But a deep and instant attraction to a sexy Cuban scuba diver takes her completely by surprise. When her two weeks in the sun come to an end, Laura doesn't want to go home again. But she can't run from real life forever. Can she?
My Review
Meet Laura our main character, off to Florida's Key West with her bestie Marty and Marty's friend Bridget. Laura is trying to come to terms with her husband of seven months bombshell, he slept with someone on his stag do and she is now pregnant with his baby. Everything Laura thought she knew about Matthew she is now questioning and can she ever forgive him. Whilst healing and trying to recover she encounters the silent and broody Leo, beautiful, talented and the balm she so badly needs. Is Leo just a get back a Matthew, some holiday fun or could there be something else there?
So, I have read and enjoyed Toon before and whilst this book covers a range of themes that make for a poolside read, there were some things that irked me. The overall response as the book goes on from Laura's inner circle infuriated me, I cannot imagine being in that position and my A Team basically saying the things her friends do! Infidelity is a big part of the story and for how it goes it is integral to the plot but I got really annoyed by a bit of double standards going on from some of the characters.
Laura is a bit of a meg character for me, I initially felt for her, then I got annoyed at some of her choices. Leo I think is meant to be a bit on an onion character, gruffy on the surface but has many layers however he comes across as a bit of a.... I am struggling for the correct word. Like he was bosses, withholding emotions which almost seemed manipulation to me. I don't think it was but that was how I read him sometimes. Then Laura, she fair flipped about like a fish out of water at times with her emotions, I genuinely wasn't sure which way she was going in almost everything. I think maybe that was Toon's intent, Laura is going through such an emotional rollercoaster that she isn't sure what she needs, wants, should or will do.
It sounds like a moan lol and I really don't mean that as I did like a fair bit of the book. Friend coming to the rescue, family and friendships pushed to the limit, a journey of self exploration, love, lust and of course actions and consequences. 3.5 for me this time, I have read Toon before and I will read her again.
July 5, 2013
For a little while there, Laura Perry had it all after losing so much.
Years ago her first love, Formula One champion Will Trust, died in a car racing accident. And then Laura met Matthew Perry; a journalist with beautiful blue eyes and she found love again. They were married shortly after meeting, and had been enjoying a blissful marriage of seven months when a Facebook message ruins it all. Turns out, Matthew drunkenly cheated on Laura at his stag do. He shagged a girl in the toilets and now this Tessa is contacting him (conveniently remembering his name-association with TV show ‘Friends’) to say that she’s pregnant. Seven months pregnant, and he’s the father. Laura suddenly finds herself a blushing new bride with a husband who is going to have a baby with another woman. And Matthew, being a good man, wants to be part of the baby’s life. He doesn’t want to be an absentee dad.
The only thing for Laura to do is run far, far away from London – to Key West, to be precise, with her best friend Marty and tag-along Bridget.
Laura spends lazy days by the beach, drinking too much and trying not to fall apart at every text message Matthew sends, begging her to come home and sort things out with him.
And then Laura meets Leo – a local diving instructor. He has movie-star good looks and secrets behind his piercing eyes. As Laura gets dangerously closer to him, she starts to wonder if he’s a distraction from the destruction of her life – or something more? It doesn’t help that all her friends and family are begging her to come home and choose Matthew, but what she feels for Leo can’t be so easily dismissed …
‘The Longest Holiday’ is the new novel from romance writer, Paige Toon.
You’d think I wouldn’t touch another Paige Toon novel with a ten-foot pole, after giving the laughably lacklustre ‘Pictures of Lily’ a 1.5/5 rating back in 2011. But, here I am, the Queen of wishful thinking.
I glimpsed the premise of ‘The Longest Holiday’ and was intrigued because it reminded me, bizarrely, of Melina Marchetta’s ‘The Piper’s Son.’ My favourite character in that book is Georgie, a woman who is 42 and pregnant to Sam, the man who cheated on her seven years ago and got a child out of his indiscretion. I loved them, and despite their rocky road they are amongst the most romantic couplings I’ve ever read. Their entire history intrigued me, and I loved the messy heartbreak they both had to overcome to be together. So, in reading this blurb it was less the Key West & Leo stuff that had me pushing past my last Paige Toon disappointment, and giving this book a chance … except (and I really shouldn’t be surprised by this) Toon herself is more intrigued with the boring, easy, mushy Leo stuff and that’s what the book focuses on. More’s the pity.
‘The Longest Holiday’ starts from the moment Laura is on the plane, heading into Key West. She’s clearly fragile and weepy, unable to escape her mind ticking over Matthew’s cheating and the bundle of ‘joy’ that’s to be a constant reminder of it. For the first few chapters Laura is understandably mopey while in Key West sunshine. But then she meets Leo and is dazzled by his movie-star good looks (Toon categorizes ad nauseum; his bulging arm muscles and Pavlov’s Abs that trigger Laura’s drool every time he gets shirtless…). Leo is a local dive instructor with a Cuban background and a ramshackle house that sits beside Laura’s hotel. He lives with his hodge-podge family: a half-brother, sister-in-law, nephew and a dog. Laura is intrigued, and when she opts for dive lessons she gets ever closer to him … until the time comes when she has to return to the UK. But just as she’s about to get on board the plane, Matthew rings to say his baby son has been born. Laura cannot cope, and so decides to spend her entire summer in Key West, determinedly dodging her awaiting heartbreak in the UK. In deciding to stay, she also inadvertently decides to see if she and Leo have more than just chemistry between them…
Look, I’m of the belief that readers quite like to poke at character’s bruises. There’s just something torturously delectable about reading someone else’s heavily fractured life – and infidelity plots are the best types of fictional itches to scratch. And Laura’s is particularly gruesome and intriguing. But Toon barely touches on it. Instead, Laura ignores texts from Matthew or plays a loop of the same conversation with him “I need space. I need time. I’m not coming home.” Now, on the one hand I really wanted Laura to go home and yell at Matthew. I wanted to poke that bruise of hers and see her back in the UK as her life and love slowly unravels … But on the other hand, Toon doesn’t really make Matthew that appealing a suitor. I think she tried to put Laura between a rock and a (rock hard abs) place, but Leo and Matthew are very unbalanced. Leo’s all brooding secrets and movie-star good looks, while Matthew’s just the drip who keeps interrupting sexy times with his text messages and is a broken record saying “I love you, Laura. Come home, Laura.” Gag. Toon tries to bring some appeal to Matthew through abysmal flashbacks of ‘happier times’ – but they left me cold and distant, too short to mean anything to me, and too vapid to mean anything to Laura.
That being said, in relation to Laura I didn’t find Matthew appealing. But by himself? Well, I’d actually quite like to read his story and the complications of having a baby with your one-night-stand that contributed to the end of your marriage with the woman you love. Toon, I think, hints at a possible trajectory for Matthew in that he went to Uni with Tessa’s sister (Argh! Wouldn’t that be a tricky love triangle) – and even though I’ve now had two misses with her, if she was to write a book about Matthew, I’d probably read it.
‘The Longest Holiday’ failed big time for me on two HUGE counts. One is that Laura is quite vapid and useless. There’s much made of the fact that loving Matthew helped her out of her depression over Will dying. Now we meet her when loving Leo helps her out of her depressive spiral over the end of her marriage to Matthew. She’s portrayed as entirely dependent on men (and really, really ridiculously good looking ones, at that – shallow much?).
The second thing was the ending – which is laughably soap opera dramatic and sudden. Never mind that the big twist isn’t even properly concluded, but rather jumped to a clunky epilogue that sweeps everything Toon didn’t seem able to cover under the rug.
You’d think I’ve learned my lesson about Paige Toon … but as I said, if she has a novel for Matthew up her sleeve I’ll probably read it, because his story was a million times more juicy and delicious than sad-sap, male-dependent Laura’s could ever be. Props for setting up Matthew’s twistingly complicated story, but that’s about it.
Years ago her first love, Formula One champion Will Trust, died in a car racing accident. And then Laura met Matthew Perry; a journalist with beautiful blue eyes and she found love again. They were married shortly after meeting, and had been enjoying a blissful marriage of seven months when a Facebook message ruins it all. Turns out, Matthew drunkenly cheated on Laura at his stag do. He shagged a girl in the toilets and now this Tessa is contacting him (conveniently remembering his name-association with TV show ‘Friends’) to say that she’s pregnant. Seven months pregnant, and he’s the father. Laura suddenly finds herself a blushing new bride with a husband who is going to have a baby with another woman. And Matthew, being a good man, wants to be part of the baby’s life. He doesn’t want to be an absentee dad.
The only thing for Laura to do is run far, far away from London – to Key West, to be precise, with her best friend Marty and tag-along Bridget.
Laura spends lazy days by the beach, drinking too much and trying not to fall apart at every text message Matthew sends, begging her to come home and sort things out with him.
And then Laura meets Leo – a local diving instructor. He has movie-star good looks and secrets behind his piercing eyes. As Laura gets dangerously closer to him, she starts to wonder if he’s a distraction from the destruction of her life – or something more? It doesn’t help that all her friends and family are begging her to come home and choose Matthew, but what she feels for Leo can’t be so easily dismissed …
‘The Longest Holiday’ is the new novel from romance writer, Paige Toon.
You’d think I wouldn’t touch another Paige Toon novel with a ten-foot pole, after giving the laughably lacklustre ‘Pictures of Lily’ a 1.5/5 rating back in 2011. But, here I am, the Queen of wishful thinking.
I glimpsed the premise of ‘The Longest Holiday’ and was intrigued because it reminded me, bizarrely, of Melina Marchetta’s ‘The Piper’s Son.’ My favourite character in that book is Georgie, a woman who is 42 and pregnant to Sam, the man who cheated on her seven years ago and got a child out of his indiscretion. I loved them, and despite their rocky road they are amongst the most romantic couplings I’ve ever read. Their entire history intrigued me, and I loved the messy heartbreak they both had to overcome to be together. So, in reading this blurb it was less the Key West & Leo stuff that had me pushing past my last Paige Toon disappointment, and giving this book a chance … except (and I really shouldn’t be surprised by this) Toon herself is more intrigued with the boring, easy, mushy Leo stuff and that’s what the book focuses on. More’s the pity.
‘The Longest Holiday’ starts from the moment Laura is on the plane, heading into Key West. She’s clearly fragile and weepy, unable to escape her mind ticking over Matthew’s cheating and the bundle of ‘joy’ that’s to be a constant reminder of it. For the first few chapters Laura is understandably mopey while in Key West sunshine. But then she meets Leo and is dazzled by his movie-star good looks (Toon categorizes ad nauseum; his bulging arm muscles and Pavlov’s Abs that trigger Laura’s drool every time he gets shirtless…). Leo is a local dive instructor with a Cuban background and a ramshackle house that sits beside Laura’s hotel. He lives with his hodge-podge family: a half-brother, sister-in-law, nephew and a dog. Laura is intrigued, and when she opts for dive lessons she gets ever closer to him … until the time comes when she has to return to the UK. But just as she’s about to get on board the plane, Matthew rings to say his baby son has been born. Laura cannot cope, and so decides to spend her entire summer in Key West, determinedly dodging her awaiting heartbreak in the UK. In deciding to stay, she also inadvertently decides to see if she and Leo have more than just chemistry between them…
Look, I’m of the belief that readers quite like to poke at character’s bruises. There’s just something torturously delectable about reading someone else’s heavily fractured life – and infidelity plots are the best types of fictional itches to scratch. And Laura’s is particularly gruesome and intriguing. But Toon barely touches on it. Instead, Laura ignores texts from Matthew or plays a loop of the same conversation with him “I need space. I need time. I’m not coming home.” Now, on the one hand I really wanted Laura to go home and yell at Matthew. I wanted to poke that bruise of hers and see her back in the UK as her life and love slowly unravels … But on the other hand, Toon doesn’t really make Matthew that appealing a suitor. I think she tried to put Laura between a rock and a (rock hard abs) place, but Leo and Matthew are very unbalanced. Leo’s all brooding secrets and movie-star good looks, while Matthew’s just the drip who keeps interrupting sexy times with his text messages and is a broken record saying “I love you, Laura. Come home, Laura.” Gag. Toon tries to bring some appeal to Matthew through abysmal flashbacks of ‘happier times’ – but they left me cold and distant, too short to mean anything to me, and too vapid to mean anything to Laura.
That being said, in relation to Laura I didn’t find Matthew appealing. But by himself? Well, I’d actually quite like to read his story and the complications of having a baby with your one-night-stand that contributed to the end of your marriage with the woman you love. Toon, I think, hints at a possible trajectory for Matthew in that he went to Uni with Tessa’s sister (Argh! Wouldn’t that be a tricky love triangle) – and even though I’ve now had two misses with her, if she was to write a book about Matthew, I’d probably read it.
‘The Longest Holiday’ failed big time for me on two HUGE counts. One is that Laura is quite vapid and useless. There’s much made of the fact that loving Matthew helped her out of her depression over Will dying. Now we meet her when loving Leo helps her out of her depressive spiral over the end of her marriage to Matthew. She’s portrayed as entirely dependent on men (and really, really ridiculously good looking ones, at that – shallow much?).
The second thing was the ending – which is laughably soap opera dramatic and sudden. Never mind that the big twist isn’t even properly concluded, but rather jumped to a clunky epilogue that sweeps everything Toon didn’t seem able to cover under the rug.
You’d think I’ve learned my lesson about Paige Toon … but as I said, if she has a novel for Matthew up her sleeve I’ll probably read it, because his story was a million times more juicy and delicious than sad-sap, male-dependent Laura’s could ever be. Props for setting up Matthew’s twistingly complicated story, but that’s about it.
May 2, 2022
I love how Toon thinks of an impossible scenario and brings it to life in her quick paced love stories!
Her writing is just fantastic, I'v read 7 or 8 books of hers now and I doubt there will ever be any book of hers I don't like.
I relate to some stories more than others obviously, and this one is definitely one.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not as unlucky in love as Laura the MC, but it's the way she's has to go with her gut despite what her friends and family feel, the way she looks at love, and her family are all just so loveable.
My favorite aspect to this story was the setting, Laura is on the longest holiday of her life in key West Florida - and despite the crap that's going on at home, she works her way through it and does what the bloody hell she wants. Go girl!
Now, as always with these fabulous books, there's a pic triangle or two, and usually I know from the start who I'm rooting for, but here in The Longest Holiday, I just want them all to be happy and honestly could have been satisfied with all the couple combinations haha.
The end was brilliant, it all happened so fast. I was left with tears and a quiet satisfaction ❤
Her writing is just fantastic, I'v read 7 or 8 books of hers now and I doubt there will ever be any book of hers I don't like.
I relate to some stories more than others obviously, and this one is definitely one.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not as unlucky in love as Laura the MC, but it's the way she's has to go with her gut despite what her friends and family feel, the way she looks at love, and her family are all just so loveable.
My favorite aspect to this story was the setting, Laura is on the longest holiday of her life in key West Florida - and despite the crap that's going on at home, she works her way through it and does what the bloody hell she wants. Go girl!
Now, as always with these fabulous books, there's a pic triangle or two, and usually I know from the start who I'm rooting for, but here in The Longest Holiday, I just want them all to be happy and honestly could have been satisfied with all the couple combinations haha.
The end was brilliant, it all happened so fast. I was left with tears and a quiet satisfaction ❤
March 30, 2020
This is definitely my favourite Paige Toon book that I’ve read so far! It was sexy, witty and about three quarters of the way through there was a twist I didn’t see coming. Whilst the ending was predictable there was always an element of will Leo and Laura end up together and how would they get through everything that was being thrown at them. If you’re looking for an easy, feel good read and you’re a sucker for romance this is for you!
June 27, 2025
4.5⭐️
Paige has a way of writing love stories that seem realistic yet somewhat magical.
This problem in this story…gosh not sure how I would’ve handled it! But I like the way Paige wrote it out!
Paige has a way of writing love stories that seem realistic yet somewhat magical.
This problem in this story…gosh not sure how I would’ve handled it! But I like the way Paige wrote it out!
July 5, 2024
realistically it’s not a 5 star read but it is to ME
in my top 3 of all time leo u will always be my favourite
in my top 3 of all time leo u will always be my favourite
April 22, 2024
Loved it! Love Leo, throughly enjoyed.
U were right @darcie this is great
U were right @darcie this is great
March 31, 2018
The first book I’ve read of Paige Toon’s & I really enjoyed it. Once I got into t I couldn’t put it down. A perfect holiday read. It’s chicklit but not cheesy or predictable; it’s well written & well put together. Good to have a shot of romance now and again too! I shall look out for more of hers.
May 14, 2013
Blog Link: http://missbookworm23.blogspot.co.uk/...
Title: The Longest Holiday
Author: Paige Toon
Publication Date: April 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
"Don't wait for the storm to pass; learn to dance in the rain..."
Laura has been married to the man of her dreams for seven months. But a week before the wedding, Matthew made a terrible mistake.
Escaping the humiliation that is now her marriage, Laura is whisked off to Florida's Key West by her best friend Marty. A carefree holiday full of cocktails and fun, surrounded by gorgeous, tanned men, is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Distraction comes in the form of sexy Cuban scuba diver Leo. Laura's instant attraction to him knocks her flying, and she falls hard.
As the end of the holiday approaches, Laura doesn't want to go home. Is it time to face the music? Or is there more to Key West than a holiday romance?
When I heard Paige Toon was publishing a new book this year I couldn't wait to grab my copy and Boy I wasn't disappointed. Firstly I love the cover, it was so colourful and very eye catching to anyone on a book shelve and is definitely worth buying hehe!
So we meet Laura who has just got married to the man of her dreams Matthew Perry, but Laura's world all comes crashing down when she finds out her husband cheated on a week before their marriage...not the nicest thing to find out after you have got married, Laura just wanting to get away from everything is whisked away by her best friend Marty and Marty's friend Bridget to Key West where they have the times of their lives and manage to cheer Laura up, but when a handsome scuba diver distracts Laura, what is going to happen? and will she go back home after the holiday?
I adored this book so much, It was superb all the way through, Paige just knows how to get her readers hooked on to her books and you feel very warm and close to the characters so easily. My favourite character would have to be Laura, you can easily warm to her and you do kind of feel sorry for her too, because she's not had the best times in life but she keeps on going, I did have a sense of deja-vu when I was reading about her ex childhood sweetheart Will trust..I was like Hold up? I've read about him in a book before now, and with the lovely help of my Facebook friends, they confirmed Laura and Will were both in Chasing Daisy. Leo a handsome scuba diver how could us readers not love him? He was very hard to warm up to at the beginning though but as you read on, you will be won over girlies, I promise! hehe.
The book was never predictable, each chapter just kept leaving more surprised every time and the twist at the end Paige Toon, You clever girl, I never thought that was going to happen, You even had me in tears until the very last page. I loved and I am going to remember for months, maybe years to come, A very touching story towards the end.
I have been such a big fan of Paige Toon's book for a good few years now and I just can never get enough of her books, they are always amazing and leave you feeling wanting more and more.
I do urge all you big chick lit readers who are huge fans of Paige Toon, then you go grab your copies now! You will not be disappointed, It is the perfect Holiday read for this summer!
Title: The Longest Holiday
Author: Paige Toon
Publication Date: April 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
"Don't wait for the storm to pass; learn to dance in the rain..."
Laura has been married to the man of her dreams for seven months. But a week before the wedding, Matthew made a terrible mistake.
Escaping the humiliation that is now her marriage, Laura is whisked off to Florida's Key West by her best friend Marty. A carefree holiday full of cocktails and fun, surrounded by gorgeous, tanned men, is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Distraction comes in the form of sexy Cuban scuba diver Leo. Laura's instant attraction to him knocks her flying, and she falls hard.
As the end of the holiday approaches, Laura doesn't want to go home. Is it time to face the music? Or is there more to Key West than a holiday romance?
When I heard Paige Toon was publishing a new book this year I couldn't wait to grab my copy and Boy I wasn't disappointed. Firstly I love the cover, it was so colourful and very eye catching to anyone on a book shelve and is definitely worth buying hehe!
So we meet Laura who has just got married to the man of her dreams Matthew Perry, but Laura's world all comes crashing down when she finds out her husband cheated on a week before their marriage...not the nicest thing to find out after you have got married, Laura just wanting to get away from everything is whisked away by her best friend Marty and Marty's friend Bridget to Key West where they have the times of their lives and manage to cheer Laura up, but when a handsome scuba diver distracts Laura, what is going to happen? and will she go back home after the holiday?
I adored this book so much, It was superb all the way through, Paige just knows how to get her readers hooked on to her books and you feel very warm and close to the characters so easily. My favourite character would have to be Laura, you can easily warm to her and you do kind of feel sorry for her too, because she's not had the best times in life but she keeps on going, I did have a sense of deja-vu when I was reading about her ex childhood sweetheart Will trust..I was like Hold up? I've read about him in a book before now, and with the lovely help of my Facebook friends, they confirmed Laura and Will were both in Chasing Daisy. Leo a handsome scuba diver how could us readers not love him? He was very hard to warm up to at the beginning though but as you read on, you will be won over girlies, I promise! hehe.
The book was never predictable, each chapter just kept leaving more surprised every time and the twist at the end Paige Toon, You clever girl, I never thought that was going to happen, You even had me in tears until the very last page. I loved and I am going to remember for months, maybe years to come, A very touching story towards the end.
I have been such a big fan of Paige Toon's book for a good few years now and I just can never get enough of her books, they are always amazing and leave you feeling wanting more and more.
I do urge all you big chick lit readers who are huge fans of Paige Toon, then you go grab your copies now! You will not be disappointed, It is the perfect Holiday read for this summer!
August 5, 2023
I absolutely loved this book so much!! I quickly added it to my favorites shelf when I finished reading it. I was hooked from the beginning and I stayed up way past my bedtime because I just couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. I loved the character development, I think all the characters were realistically flawed in their own ways, which made it even more a joy to read. I think that often when there is romance involved, it can be over the top and it can make the people feel less authentic. That was not the case with this book. I found my self quite annoyed sometimes with the characters, but I think that was partly why I was so immersed in the story. I found myself swooning over Leo and Laura’s connection, oh my was it hot!!!🤗❤️🤗❤️ Such a fun delightful book. I’m dying to go to Key West now!!!😂
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