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Paradise Bay #1

The Honeymooner

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He’s tall, dark, and built. The kind of man whose abs have abs. And I only want one thing from him—to forget the last twenty-four hours. Forever.

It was supposed to be the best day of my life. The sun was shining. The church was packed. I was dressed in white and ready to marry my steady-as-a-rock fiancé.

There was just one big, fat problem—he didn’t show up.

So I did the only thing a girl can do under the circumstances—escape to the Caribbean for our honeymoon.

Alone.

Enter Harrison Banks.

Somehow he brings out a side of me I didn’t know existed—a carefree adrenaline junkie. After a few days together, Harrison’s got me wondering if the life I always wanted was meant for some other girl.

I should go back to my safe, comfortable life, right?

That would be the sensible thing to do.

I can’t risk everything to live out some tropical fantasy with a guy I’ve just met, even if he is the only man who’s ever made me feel truly alive…

The Honeymooner is a laugh-out-loud, opposites attract romance about a heroine who’s used to staying inside her comfort zone and a hero who knows exactly how hard to push. It’ll have you laughing, swooning, and sipping fruity blender drinks.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2018

2932 people are currently reading
6167 people want to read

About the author

Melanie Summers

53 books1,104 followers
Melanie Summers is a multi-award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of romantic comedies and women’s fiction. She’s written over thirty books for people who have 'had it up to here' with the real world and need to laugh, feel good, and sigh happily. When she’s not writing or reading, she's usually out for a walk with her two adorable dogs, hanging out on the beach with her husband and their three teenagers, or curled up on the couch for family movie night. Melanie resides on Vancouver Island, Canada where her life goal is to become one of those fabulous people who take daily ice baths in the ocean. So far, she can get in up to her ankles, which is not awful, thank you very much.

Melanie Summers also writes under the name M.J. Summers

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5 stars
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3 stars
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67 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews
Profile Image for Nina (ninjasbooks).
1,590 reviews1,664 followers
May 15, 2024
This was a freebie audiobook from audible so my hopes weren’t too high when I went into it. Let me just say, I’m so happy I added it to my library. Romcoms tend to fall into a familiar pattern, so if it does, something must make it stand out from all the others. I’m happy to report that this one definitely did that! Harrison and Libby’s characters were absolutely delightful. They were perfectly imperfect in a way that really appealed to me. There was some really funny banter in there as well, which made me smile. I became so invested in their relationship that when the predicted problem came, I prayed for a way out of it. When I discovered afterwards that this is the first book in a series about paradise bay, I felt happy! Well done to an author I knew nothing about but will definitely follow from now on.
Profile Image for Brooke — brooklynnnnereads.
1,313 reviews267 followers
June 7, 2019
3.5 stars
This was a witty and humorous read that's absolutely perfect for the summer or as reading material while on vacation. It gave me all of the vibes of being on vacation and I know for certain it would be a perfect addition for a day at the beach.

Both of these characters were vastly different but at the same time worked well together. It brings truth to the statement of opposites attracting. Their dialogue was often humorous and there was even a couple of moments that had me laughing out loud and I mean that in the literal sense.

The writing and the story seemed similar to works from Sophie Kinsella (whom I love) so for fans of her novels, this one may also be of interest.

I'm really interested in reading the next novel in the series after reading the summary. It will feature a different main character and I'm suspecting my favourite trope--'hate-to love' between an author and chef. I will be keeping my eyes peeled and hope it's just as enjoyable as the first novel in this series.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus).
1,555 reviews5,839 followers
dnf
May 21, 2019
DNF 20%

I am so tired of reading this phrase: "I'm not that kind of girl"

Most books that are categorised as chick-lit (a term that I am not to keen on but alas it exists) use lots of cliches and tropes, which is fine, since I usually read them for the characters and the humour rather than the story. Here, the characters were far too stereotyped for my liking: she is hard-working no-nonsense, he is laid-back...The whole opposite-attracts can work if you present readers with likeable characters but the whole 'I'm different' talk really put me off the mc. I also thought that he was a bit too 'good' (the classic saviour type).
Anyway, if you can look past all of this and you manage to find Summers' humour funny this might be for you.
Profile Image for Tracie Banister.
Author 7 books468 followers
October 7, 2018
Since I discovered her work last year, Melanie Summers has become one of my favorite RomCom authors and I awaited the release of The Honeymooner with unabashed excitement. I am happy to say that the book lived up to all of my expectations. Reading this story was the next best thing to going on a vacation because the author's vivid descriptions transported me to a tropical paradise where I got to experience island life and fall in love, with both the place and the hunky hero, right along with the protagonist, Libby.

Libby has two goals when she arrives at Paradise Bay: 1) Prove to the fiancé who just left her at the altar that she can be spontaneous and adventurous and win him back in the process. 2) Get resort owner, Harrison, to sign off on a takeover by the big hotel group she works for. Naturally, both things prove to be very difficult. Libby hates stepping outside of her comfort zone and trying new things and Harrison tells her in no uncertain terms that he has no intention of selling his family-owned property no matter how much the business is struggling.

Sparks fly between Libby and Harrison from their very first meeting, and you would think that it's a case of opposites attracting--Libby being a regimented, Type A control freak while Harrison is a fun-loving, risk-taking guy who likes to enjoy everything life has to offer. But as they get to know each other better, they find they have a lot more in common than either of them thought. One of the things I really liked about this story was that both characters had really interesting backstories and family histories that informed their personalities and how they approached life. Could these two people who are both carrying a lot of emotional baggage be exactly what the other needs?

This book was chock full of laugh-out-loud comical moments, swoony romance, and scenes that gave me all the feels. And the author did a wonderful job of setting the stage for future Paradise Bay books starring Harrison's siblings, which I can't wait to read! If you haven't read a Melanie Summers books yet, what are you waiting for? They are a guaranteed good time.
Profile Image for Maheswari.
526 reviews18 followers
March 17, 2022
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Paradise Bay


While I enjoy reading this books , some funny moments here and there - I was quite impatient following Libby denial phase stretching long after the half of book
After that all went fast , the make up with Harrison as well the conflict
I wish the part where Libby in denial could be shorten and give both main character a proper epilogue with the resort running properly 2 or three kids around them
Well don’t blame me, I’m just hopelessly romantic that’s why I’m reading romance

But all in all it’s a great read and entertaining
Profile Image for ME E.
584 reviews57 followers
June 25, 2019
I am so happy my booksta friend Melissa told me to read this book. I was looking for a romcom where the girl gets left at the alter or dumped by her fiance, only to discover herself and find true love. (So if anyone has any recommendations for similar stories let me know!)

Anyways this was cute, sweet and fun. It was also refreshing to see the main character save the man rather than the other way around. I also love it when the girl chases the guy!

This was definitely a romantic and cute 5 star read.
Profile Image for Sharon.
507 reviews319 followers
January 19, 2020
This was cute. A solid romcom book.

Here are some of my thoughts:
• Libby was a little irritating in the beginning with her being denial about Richard who left her at the altar. However, when got her head sorted, I liked her better. This book also in general became progressively better as Libby learned a new way of living. She became more likable as she became more open to experiences and to choosing what her heart wants and not what her mind/job tells her. I was proud of her for recognizing that she did not want to be a soulless corporate person who only did things for profits or for selfish reasons, and made the decision herself to do the ethical thing.
• Harrison was a way better hero than I expected. Even though he started off with that laid-back attitude, I liked that we saw he actually cared and put in more effort than anyone else. He loved the resort, but more importantly, he loved the people who worked here. His “hero complex” personality was endearing, with how he wanted to protect both people and even animals. He was someone who had to raise his younger siblings when he was still a kid himself. There was nothing not to love about him.
• Despite Harrison and Libby technically being “opposites” because she was a planner and Harrison was spontaneous, they connected in their values and sense of responsibility. I enjoyed the interactions between them. Cute bantering and getting to know one another.
• I would have liked more details on how Libby learned to love the staff and the environment at Paradise Bay. There were a few scenes, but I wanted more, with more details, so readers could feel that shift into loving Paradise Bay with her. It was perhaps too glossed over at times.
• I loved the strong family theme we saw at the resort – Harrison and his literal and non-literal family. It amazed me to see a guy who put compassion above anything else for his staff. I mean it would be great if people could be more like that. He prioritized a person’s feelings and happiness over profits. And you got to admit that not all bosses would be so caring.
• I also enjoyed reading the interactions b/w Libby and her best friend. They were funny but filled with support.

So overall, I enjoyed this. Fun, simple plot. Character developments and likable characters. Family and friendship themes. A solid romcom overall. 3.5 stars

Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
Profile Image for Jen.
2,170 reviews155 followers
May 2, 2020
When people talk about light, fluffy romance, this is the kind of story they mean. There isn't much substance; the characters aren't deeply developed, the conflict is predictable, and the rom-com factor is limited. This book is blurbed as "wickedly funny." In my opinion, it doesn't even approach that. It's amusing in a Sophie Kinsella way, but not as well done. It's just . . . fluff. Like eating cotton candy.

The audiobook narrators Matthew Lloyd Davies and Esther Wane were good. Davies pulled off several accents, most Bahamian/Caribbean. But his voice for the main character was much too stiff for a guy who'd grown up in the islands. I also didn't have a mental image of the main character as described because of his tone. Wane's voices for the main characters were ok, but her voices for the Islanders got a little shrill and her lower range for men needs some work. That said, I still think her talent is above average, as is Davies.

Overall this was enjoyable but very, very light. It's actually a perfect beach read if you need to de-stress.
Profile Image for Elle G. Reads.
1,887 reviews1,019 followers
August 1, 2020
Chick Lit | Romantic Comedy

I was in the mood for a beachy read and this book kept showing up on my amazon feed, so I thought I’d give it a try. Being the first book I’ve read from the author I’ll admit I was a little nervous because I didn’t know if I’d enjoy it or connect with the characters. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised and found this to be a charming and funny novel. The characters were wonderful; character growth is important in novels like these ones, and seeing Libby go from a workaholic, regimented woman to a carefree one who lets her heart determine her paths in life was fantastic. It also helped that we meet the swoony hero who steals her heart as well as the readers!

Another important thing with this novel is the authors writing. She truly transported me to the tropical island of Paradise Bay with her vivid imagination and I could practically feel the sun on my skin as I was reading. I love an author who can write a setting in a way that readers can imagine it being real and that’s exactly what Melanie Summers did with this book.

If you’re looking for a funny, lighthearted read with wonderful characters and a plot thick with love and excitement then this is a great summer read for you. I’m excited to read more books by this new to me author!
Profile Image for Chloe.
276 reviews41 followers
June 7, 2022
4.5⭐

This was seriously so good and it was on my tbr for so long for what? I forgot what it was about so went into it blinded and I was thoroughly engaged.

Libby’s been dumped at the aisle but still goes on her honeymoon and treats it as a work trip, little does she know she’s gonna fall for the resort owner. Harrison ultimately cares about protecting the resort so wants Libby gone but they agreed to keep each other’s best interests at heart.

I love the journey this book went on and the drama in the last 30% although miscommunication can be a bit annoying. Still it was a great read.

Content: closed door, sexual innuendos, mild language and minimal mature language.
Profile Image for Eve.
917 reviews20 followers
November 11, 2021
Lads...that was some good shit. I enjoyed myself so much with this one! I liked our characters, I liked the concept, I liked everything! I especially loved our hero Harrison. Before this book started, the author mentioned how much she changed his character (or replaced the first one) from the original work and I couldn’t be happier with how he turned out. I just loved the easy flow between him and Libby, they had such great chemistry.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
549 reviews33 followers
July 9, 2024
3.75 stars

The book was a little slow at times but it was still a cute story. Might have just been me.

Harrison owns a beach resort with his family and it’s on the brink of bankruptcy.

Libby spends all her time trying to be nothing like her flighty mother so she’s become very boring. She’s about to get married and planned her honeymoon at Harrison’s resort to try and persuade him to let the company she works for buy it. (Un)fortunately the groom breaks it off over the phone and she decides to take the honeymoon trip by herself.
Profile Image for Mylène.
23 reviews
April 20, 2025
Très Bridget Jones dans le ton. C'était fun à écouter !
Profile Image for ItaPixie.
1,273 reviews148 followers
August 21, 2019

The Honeymooner was hands down my favourite Summer read,it's entertaining,funny and at times also emotional.
The Caribbean landscape is depicted so well it makes you want to take a flight and go to swim in that crystal clear sea.

I coudn't put this book down, I was so invested into Libby and Harrison journey.
The two main characters could not be more different, Libby is a stiff,driven,workaholic who decided to go on a honeymoon to Paradise Bay, even if her fiancé dumped her on the wedding day, to try to convince Harrison the relaxed owner to sign off the resort to the company she works for.

Will she be successful and go back home with a promotion?Or will she throw all her plans and start to enjoy life one day at time?
I recommend to read this story to find out.

Profile Image for Michele.
205 reviews8 followers
April 28, 2021

"All these people look at me like I'm Luke Skywalker [...].And I've gotta say, I'm no jedi. I'm C-3PO at best"



It's not one of the best books I've read this year, but it's not bad. It's a sweet and funny-ish rom-com, I could easily picture it being a Netflix movie.

2.5 stars
Profile Image for Jan.
70 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2021
super cute book! Harrison has a heart of gold. this is the second book I’ve read where a girl goes on a honeymoon without her og groom n finds love... I’m kinda tempted to go. someone pls spot me some money, thanks <3 my future mans will pay u back ;)
Profile Image for Booksandchinooks (Laurie).
1,050 reviews99 followers
October 6, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for my free ecopy for review. This was a fun rom-com that is a quick read. Libby is an acquisitions specialist for a company that takes over resorts. She is highly organized and plans a trip to a resort in order to scope it out for a takeover. Since she is so organized and methodical with everything in her life, she plans this work trip to coincide with her honeymoon. When her groom leaves her at the altar her perfectly organized life plans are a mess. Since her groom complains she isn’t fun she decides to go on her honeymoon/work trip alone. Libby puts up pics on Instagram of her participating in adventure activities, she would normally never partake in, to try and make her ex jealous. She also runs into opposition at the resort where the handsome owner doesn’t want to sell. Since this is a rom-com I probably don’t need to say more. This was a fun story that is perfect for summer reading.
Profile Image for Caitlin Reads.
178 reviews69 followers
July 3, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book was hilarious! I really enjoyed the character of Libby and the chemistry between her and Harrison was off the charts. This was a great summer read that was light and refreshing. Harrison brought out the best in Libby and this is definitely a book I would read again. I am looking forward to reading more from Melanie Summers in the future!
Profile Image for Rida Quraishi.
516 reviews71 followers
November 1, 2019
Oh god! This was soooo good! I have no idea why this book isn't on every reader's wall currently because it deserves aaallll the hype that it can get!

It was extremely funny and light and everything nice! ❤️ I listened to this on audiobook and had such a fun time with the two narrators!
Profile Image for Jami.
406 reviews53 followers
July 24, 2019
I'd received an ARC from NetGalley for Whisked Away and realized that it was the 2nd book in a series. So I had to quickly find and read book #1, The Honeymooner, before starting it. This was a fun and well-written little romance with alternating narrative perspectives of Libby and Harrison. It was fast-paced, and okay yeah, mostly predictable, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. Perfect light summer read. I'm interested now to read book #2, which centers around Harrison's little sister Emma.
Profile Image for ☆☆Hannah☆☆.
3,182 reviews46 followers
July 7, 2019
This was a good book. Libby was dumped by her fiance in a text message minutes before she was supposed to walk down the isle. She ends up going on what would have been their honeymoon. She meets Harrison while here. They fall for each other hard and fast. However, with her job things got messy. Thankfully in the end it all worked out.
Profile Image for Kris.
505 reviews47 followers
December 17, 2019
4.5


This was my first read by this best-selling author, now I’m obsessed and want to read all her books. The whole jilted bride plot-line was done with a great deal of originality. The fact that she felt like she lost her “rock” in life and was in such denial made her an extremely relatable character.

Libby was such a fun main character to follow. She was type A all the way and being left at the alter was exactly what she needed to let loose and let go. I don’t have much to say about Harrison except for the fact that I absolutely loved him. Even through all his stubbornness, he manages to show you what a great person he is. I wish we had a lot more of Alice, but hey maybe we will get another book just about her.

I thought this one was a quick and fun contemporary read. I loved every minute of it, and wish it never had to end. I’m so glad there is more to this series.I feel like this one would be a great beach or vacation read. You really don’t need any excuse to pick this one up, I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Rmsooon.
1,143 reviews16 followers
December 25, 2019
Ive read " the honeymooners " it was okay it could be better ,, i gave it 2.75 out of 5
Profile Image for Addie Thompson.
420 reviews6 followers
March 27, 2020
I just kind of loved this one. Partly because the world is falling apart and it is easy and happy and what we all want love to be. But also because it was well structured and beautifully told.
Profile Image for Yana.
157 reviews22 followers
August 13, 2018
I received a free ebook copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a review

Absolutely entertaining and all around great book!

After becoming a fan of Melanie Summers books because of the Crown Jewels series, I became a member of her VIP readers club, who means I get to read and review her new releases. So when I received a copy of The Honeymooner, I was very excited. Not only is it a spinoff of Crown Jewels, but it is another rom-com, so I was pretty much guaranteed a wonderful time.
And let me tell you it did not disappoint.

Even though the story begins in Avonia, most of it is set in the Caribbean islands of Benavente.
First we meet Libby Dewitt. A very organized, rational business analyst who knows exactly how her life is going to unfold. Starting with her marrying her boyfriend of 6 years, Richard. That is until he doesn’t show up and dumps her via text.
While still in denial Libby decides to go on her honeymoon, that was supposed to double as a work trip to the Benavente Islands, to both clear her head and to hopefully close the deal that will get her the promotion she wanted at work.
What Libby didn’t count on was Harrison Banks. Harrison is the owner of Paradise Bay Resort, the same place her company sent her to acquire. Harrison not only turns out to be a complete hunk and gorgeous man, but also a wonderful human being and boss who will do everything in his power to keep his resort and make Libby’s work impossible.
We follow them both while they struggle making the other give up on their plan and also while trying to avoid the chemistry and attraction they feel towards each other.

True to its nature, this is an amazing rom-com that is sure to plaster a giant smile on your face while reading.
Set in a beautiful setting and filled with great characters and plot, this is a must read if you are a rom-com aficionado.

I know I definitely can’t wait to read book 2.

*The cast of characters here is different from the ones we know from the Crown Jewels series so you can read this without reading the first trilogy, but if you did read them first you’ll get a glimpse of our favorite bodyguard/babysitter 😜*

Thank you so much to Melanie Summers for including me in your VIP readers club and for providing me with the copy of the book to review.
Profile Image for Jeeves Reads Romance.
1,683 reviews796 followers
June 4, 2019
Funny, fresh and written in a style all on it’s own, The Honeymooner is a fantastic romantic comedy. I absolutely loved the story of Libby and Harrison, two opposites who come together in paradise and find that they fit together perfectly. The story follows Libby, a woman who craves structure in her adult life since she didn’t get it as a child. She’s all set to marry the perfect groom, a guy she knows without a doubt will fulfill her desire for structure. Unfortunately for Libby, her groom backs out at the last minute, leaving her structured life in ruins. She decides to go on her honeymoon without him - since it’s doubling as a business trip - so that hopefully her absence will make him appreciate what he’s missing. But once she arrives in paradise, Libby meets the owner of the resort her boss wants to purchase, Harrison. The two meet under unusual circumstances, and the chemistry between them is obvious from the start. However, Libby is tasked with convincing Harrison to sell his beloved but struggling resort, and Harrison has no intention of selling out to a corporation.

For a book that focuses on such heavy topics - being left at the altar, loss of identity, struggling to keep a business afloat - the book is very light and contains plenty of humor. There’s very little angst, because of the humor and romance mixed in with deeper topics, and I loved the combination. Libby and Harrison are both extremely likeable, relatable characters at a crossroads in their life, and it is in this that they find their commonalities. Harrison was so loveable and sweet, he really made this book what it is. I loved the slow burn romance. It’s a relatively clean book - while there are references to sexy times, there are no explicit descriptions of sex, which kept with the tone. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been meaning to try out one of Melanie Summers’ books, and this gave me the perfect opportunity to do so.
Profile Image for Holly.
263 reviews8 followers
July 21, 2019
I just loved this light and airy read! It literally made me want to be on vacation somewhere tropical rather than sitting in stuffy 99-degree weather in New England. It’s balances both wit and humor and had me laughing out loud several times, especially when she considered hyphenating her new last name “Dewitt-Tomy.” 😂
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Libby is dumped by her fiancé, Richard, just before she is set to walk down the aisle and what’s worse... it was via text message (who does that?!). And just because she is too organized and has everything in her life planned to a T. Libby goes ahead on her honeymoon alone which was doubled as a work trip anyways. Straight-edge Libby hilariously tries to win Richard back via Instagram posts. She meets resort owner, Harrison, who is the complete opposite of her. He’s impulsive and adventurous (just what Richard wanted in her) and not in her future plans. She’s attracted to him and you could cut the sexual tension with a knife but can she let her guard down and be more relaxed? Does she win Richard back? Or does she capture Harrison’s heart?
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This book is so cliché yet so good! I found myself yelling at the characters. It was so infuriating with their miscommunication and I couldn't help but yell at my book “JUST SAY I LOVE YOU!!!” Why can’t people just say how they feel?! How many books elicit that kind of reaction that the reader ends up yelling at the book? 😂 who knows what the other cars in traffic next to me were thinking of me as I was screaming to nothing. 🤷🏽‍♀️
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Look for this book on shelves August 7, 2019. Thank you Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an independent and honest review!
Profile Image for Taylor.
Author 1 book46 followers
February 17, 2019
Cannot wait to read book 2!!! Loved everything about this book!!
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Davis.
Author 51 books1,714 followers
Read
March 5, 2019
A super fun rom com! I really enjoyed it :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews

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