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The Write Escape
Take one heartbroken Chicago girl
Literary editor Antonia Harper had it all—the career, the man, the future. That was then. Now Antonia is jobless, alone and at a crossroads. What better time to travel the world? A solo honeymoon on the Emerald Isle will be like hitting the reset button. No distractions, no drama.
Add some luck o’ the Irish
Aiden Byrnes may be a literature professor, but words fail him when he meets the woman staying in the cottage next door. Tully Cross is meant to be a sleepy little village, and he’s meant to be on a working holiday—not a vacation, and most definitely not with his beautiful neighbor.
And you get some mighty good craic
They say laughter is the best medicine—and as it turns out, superhot sex isn’t so bad either. Antonia and Aiden’s spark quickly grows into what could be something special, if they’re willing to take the leap. Ending up an ocean apart is unthinkable, and when real life comes calling, there’s no ignoring that leap anymore…
Literary editor Antonia Harper had it all—the career, the man, the future. That was then. Now Antonia is jobless, alone and at a crossroads. What better time to travel the world? A solo honeymoon on the Emerald Isle will be like hitting the reset button. No distractions, no drama.
Add some luck o’ the Irish
Aiden Byrnes may be a literature professor, but words fail him when he meets the woman staying in the cottage next door. Tully Cross is meant to be a sleepy little village, and he’s meant to be on a working holiday—not a vacation, and most definitely not with his beautiful neighbor.
And you get some mighty good craic
They say laughter is the best medicine—and as it turns out, superhot sex isn’t so bad either. Antonia and Aiden’s spark quickly grows into what could be something special, if they’re willing to take the leap. Ending up an ocean apart is unthinkable, and when real life comes calling, there’s no ignoring that leap anymore…
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2019
72 people are currently reading
801 people want to read
About the author
Charish Reid
10 books453 followersWhen Charish Reid isn’t writing romance, she’s watching 1970’s disaster films, reading romance, and hastily preparing lectures for tomorrow’s class. She is a traveling chatterbox with ADHD who enjoys talking to new people in new places. In Bangkok, Charish saw a Thai royal princess in a shopping mall. In Helsinki, she karaoked Alanis Morissette. And in Galway, she found inspiration for her first novel. Charish currently lives in Sweden with her husband and teaches Rhetoric.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
January 16, 2021
4 stars
The Write Escape is Charish Reid’s debut novel and I enjoyed it so much. I love books that take place in foreign countries and this one made me feel like I was in Ireland with Aiden and Antonia.
Antonia is at a crossroads in her life. She’s recently called off her wedding after a she found out her fiancé was cheating and the publishing house she worked at went under so she’s unemployed. She decides to take a break and go on her honeymoon in Ireland alone. That is where she meets Aiden.
Aiden is a literary professor and Antonia is writing a book. These two connect in all ways and get along so well. Even though her time in Ireland is meant to be short, you can tell they’re falling for one another…
I adored this couple together and I loved how Antonia was there for Aiden when he went through some family stuff together. I wasn’t sure how this would work out between them, I mean… she’s from Chicago and he’s in Ireland, but I thought it worked out perfectly. I loved the ending! I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.
The Write Escape is Charish Reid’s debut novel and I enjoyed it so much. I love books that take place in foreign countries and this one made me feel like I was in Ireland with Aiden and Antonia.
Antonia is at a crossroads in her life. She’s recently called off her wedding after a she found out her fiancé was cheating and the publishing house she worked at went under so she’s unemployed. She decides to take a break and go on her honeymoon in Ireland alone. That is where she meets Aiden.
Aiden is a literary professor and Antonia is writing a book. These two connect in all ways and get along so well. Even though her time in Ireland is meant to be short, you can tell they’re falling for one another…
I adored this couple together and I loved how Antonia was there for Aiden when he went through some family stuff together. I wasn’t sure how this would work out between them, I mean… she’s from Chicago and he’s in Ireland, but I thought it worked out perfectly. I loved the ending! I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.
Audio book source: Audible (purchased)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Shari Peele
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 10 hours and 58 minutes
December 23, 2019
Antonia basically loses everything in the span of two days--well, not everything...but enough. Her fiance, and then her job. Inspired by her very own romance novel heroine and her supportive family, she takes her own honeymoon.
I'll stop there, you've read this set up. I couldn't remember why I picked up this book (other than the cute couple on the cover) but in the end I remembered, I'm a sucker for remote neighbors in a rustic setting and, well, here we are, in Ireland at Tully Cross.
It's evident from the beginning that Aiden is a keeper, and again, while not a bit of conflict in this book felt quite original, so much did. And I have to say, YMMV but this book pretty much made me swoon and heart swell and lots of little smiles...
So, why?
"I'm from Chicago," she said, her face lit up again. "In America," she added for clarification.
He laughed. "I'm familiar," he said. "Home of Barack Obama."
I was drawn to this by the author's authentic characters right in the beginning-a complicated, but ultimately positive relationship with her mother. A force of a sister, a best friend with a endearing but somewhat annoying girlfriend. It was easy for me to fall into step with Antonia. While I don't always love books within books, it felt less forced here than elsewhere, and didn't end up too gimmicky for me overall.
I thought the authors choice to delay the meeting of the main characters till later in the book was a good one, and found their voices interesting on their own. Aiden is dealing with coming up on tenure in a year and not having faced the reality. He's a year out of a failed relationship with an ambitious woman who was his colleague, and all of us can breath a sigh of relief--she's treated overall respectfully by Aiden. Less so by his family.
And boy, does this man love his mother. His family. He wants a family, and he's 38. She's 33. How wonderful to read a nice, relaxed couple in their 30s.
Obviously the characters have overlapping passions. Antonia comes from publishing and wants to write, and Aiden is a professor of literature. But this didn't feel thrown in in a cheap way, and lent itself to discussions that I think would happen (likely with more depth and intensity) without feeling like an infodump. It has nice elements underscoring it related to literature, dancing, give and take (call and response) overall. I really enjoyed how Reid wove these in. It wasn't as masterful as some authors, but it was definitely a great introduction to her work for me. I thought it was interesting how she did this all in the fabric of a black woman in Ireland falling for an Irish man, while also highlighting (with a light touch) some parallels in the black and Irish experience.
Overall, this book has a nice foundation of friendship, individual conflict, and a relationship that moves quickly, albeit, to this reader, pretty convincingly (I was half in love with both of them by their meeting too!)
"Your voice is beautiful," he said, eventually giving up.
"You lie," she said.
Aiden shrugged. "It seemed like a nice thing to say to a woman who was wailing her head off in the middle of the sea."
Overall a clean writing style, that felt straightforward, with some themes that were interesting and fresh to me (that could have been executed less heavily at times but overall did not bog down the story one bit. Nothing felt overcooked, just kind of light and delightful. 3.72, rounded up. (I've decided not to write about what didn't work for me -- at this point anyway.)
She looked up at him. "What have you done?"
"I've created another excuse to hold on to your coat," he said, taking her hand.
I'll stop there, you've read this set up. I couldn't remember why I picked up this book (other than the cute couple on the cover) but in the end I remembered, I'm a sucker for remote neighbors in a rustic setting and, well, here we are, in Ireland at Tully Cross.
It's evident from the beginning that Aiden is a keeper, and again, while not a bit of conflict in this book felt quite original, so much did. And I have to say, YMMV but this book pretty much made me swoon and heart swell and lots of little smiles...
So, why?
"I'm from Chicago," she said, her face lit up again. "In America," she added for clarification.
He laughed. "I'm familiar," he said. "Home of Barack Obama."
I was drawn to this by the author's authentic characters right in the beginning-a complicated, but ultimately positive relationship with her mother. A force of a sister, a best friend with a endearing but somewhat annoying girlfriend. It was easy for me to fall into step with Antonia. While I don't always love books within books, it felt less forced here than elsewhere, and didn't end up too gimmicky for me overall.
I thought the authors choice to delay the meeting of the main characters till later in the book was a good one, and found their voices interesting on their own. Aiden is dealing with coming up on tenure in a year and not having faced the reality. He's a year out of a failed relationship with an ambitious woman who was his colleague, and all of us can breath a sigh of relief--she's treated overall respectfully by Aiden. Less so by his family.
And boy, does this man love his mother. His family. He wants a family, and he's 38. She's 33. How wonderful to read a nice, relaxed couple in their 30s.
Obviously the characters have overlapping passions. Antonia comes from publishing and wants to write, and Aiden is a professor of literature. But this didn't feel thrown in in a cheap way, and lent itself to discussions that I think would happen (likely with more depth and intensity) without feeling like an infodump. It has nice elements underscoring it related to literature, dancing, give and take (call and response) overall. I really enjoyed how Reid wove these in. It wasn't as masterful as some authors, but it was definitely a great introduction to her work for me. I thought it was interesting how she did this all in the fabric of a black woman in Ireland falling for an Irish man, while also highlighting (with a light touch) some parallels in the black and Irish experience.
Overall, this book has a nice foundation of friendship, individual conflict, and a relationship that moves quickly, albeit, to this reader, pretty convincingly (I was half in love with both of them by their meeting too!)
"Your voice is beautiful," he said, eventually giving up.
"You lie," she said.
Aiden shrugged. "It seemed like a nice thing to say to a woman who was wailing her head off in the middle of the sea."
Overall a clean writing style, that felt straightforward, with some themes that were interesting and fresh to me (that could have been executed less heavily at times but overall did not bog down the story one bit. Nothing felt overcooked, just kind of light and delightful. 3.72, rounded up. (I've decided not to write about what didn't work for me -- at this point anyway.)
She looked up at him. "What have you done?"
"I've created another excuse to hold on to your coat," he said, taking her hand.
November 4, 2022
I finished this book last night and I’m still thinking about Aiden, who’s definitely my new book boyfriend! He’s sweet without being corny. Had critical thinking skills (we love to see it!). And I was so into the fact that he was an English professor who actually cared about Black writers.
I also liked Antonia. She had a clear arc and I was super intrigued by her relationships with her mom and sister, Octavia.
The Write Escape is also so so well written in terms of dialogue! Aidan and Antonia had so much chemistry. I admire how the two are present during/immediately after some actually life-altering events, which solidified their emotional connection. Their main conflict was a genuine dilemma, not one of the petty, eye-roll inducing misunderstandings that usually plagues romance novels.
I would actually re-read this, and I’m looking forward to Charish Reid’s next book!
I also liked Antonia. She had a clear arc and I was super intrigued by her relationships with her mom and sister, Octavia.
The Write Escape is also so so well written in terms of dialogue! Aidan and Antonia had so much chemistry. I admire how the two are present during/immediately after some actually life-altering events, which solidified their emotional connection. Their main conflict was a genuine dilemma, not one of the petty, eye-roll inducing misunderstandings that usually plagues romance novels.
I would actually re-read this, and I’m looking forward to Charish Reid’s next book!
October 29, 2019
Wait--am I allowed to do this?? Can I just get on here and GIVE MYSELF 5 stars?
*Nervously looks around* Okay, I'm gonna do it.
I love The Write Escape and I had fun writing it. I hope that comes across to readers when they experience it. If you liked reading about the adventures of Antonia and Aiden, aka "Double A," as Avery Flynn coined, please hit up the Goodreads site for my second book Hearts on Hold:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Okay, I better stop there because this definitely feels weird... *Quietly exiting*
*Nervously looks around* Okay, I'm gonna do it.
I love The Write Escape and I had fun writing it. I hope that comes across to readers when they experience it. If you liked reading about the adventures of Antonia and Aiden, aka "Double A," as Avery Flynn coined, please hit up the Goodreads site for my second book Hearts on Hold:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Okay, I better stop there because this definitely feels weird... *Quietly exiting*
November 16, 2019
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did.
It starts off really strong with the heroine Antonia ready top get married and her fiance showing what an entire ass he is. Also she has some work related drama as she works in a small publishing company that is being derailed by nepotism. And finally, she is a frustrated writer herself. She has a romance novel WIP that she has been working on for awhile and she has some self-doubt about being a committing to it and putting her own work out there for real.
Aiden is an assistant professor at an Irish university who is on tenure track grind. He comes from a big Irish family and has some abandonment issues because his father just up and deserted the family.
The two meet when the end up in the same little town in Ireland in a local vacation rental. Antonia goes there to lick her wounds of her now cancelled wedding and put in some real time writing her book. Aidan goes to work on a paper he has to present at a conference.
I actually liked both Aidan and Antonia and I especially liked when they talk books and literary theory and basically geeked out on anything lit related.
Ultimately though I thought the book didn't really capitalize on its own inherent conflict. Antonia is just there for a week. She and Aidan fall into an immediate and intense attraction and affair. They begin to catch feelings. But instead of letting the brevity of them knowing each other, and the real spectre of knowing that Antonia will leave by weeks' end and get back to her real life in Chicago act as the focus of the romantic conflict and angst, the author threw in a lot of places where Aidan and Antonia would argue and one or the other would stomp off in a huff. Honestly, I never felt any of the arguments had any meaning or weight. They sprung up out of the most trivial things where I had to go back pages and wonder 'hey wait what are they arguing about, again?'
Also Antonia's big conflict of whether to go back to her job or concentrate on writing full time felt like a non-conflict as well. I never got the impression she was independently wealthy enough to eschew work to go all in on a writing her romance novel. The amount of hand wringing over that was excessive. She is not a published writer at all, the idea of holding down a day job and committing to also writing just never seemed to occur.
There were parts where it slogged in the middle, mostly those tempest in a teacup arguments. I had no issues putting the book down for days at a time to pick up something else.
The last part (after one final blow up argument ... remember they've only known each other a week throughout the entire book...) where they both make some resolutions is stronger and more interesting. So it ended strongly, if a little unbelievably.
Overall, it was just ok. I think the author writes really well, I just wasn't super engaged and wished I felt a better emotional connection to the love story.
It starts off really strong with the heroine Antonia ready top get married and her fiance showing what an entire ass he is. Also she has some work related drama as she works in a small publishing company that is being derailed by nepotism. And finally, she is a frustrated writer herself. She has a romance novel WIP that she has been working on for awhile and she has some self-doubt about being a committing to it and putting her own work out there for real.
Aiden is an assistant professor at an Irish university who is on tenure track grind. He comes from a big Irish family and has some abandonment issues because his father just up and deserted the family.
The two meet when the end up in the same little town in Ireland in a local vacation rental. Antonia goes there to lick her wounds of her now cancelled wedding and put in some real time writing her book. Aidan goes to work on a paper he has to present at a conference.
I actually liked both Aidan and Antonia and I especially liked when they talk books and literary theory and basically geeked out on anything lit related.
Ultimately though I thought the book didn't really capitalize on its own inherent conflict. Antonia is just there for a week. She and Aidan fall into an immediate and intense attraction and affair. They begin to catch feelings. But instead of letting the brevity of them knowing each other, and the real spectre of knowing that Antonia will leave by weeks' end and get back to her real life in Chicago act as the focus of the romantic conflict and angst, the author threw in a lot of places where Aidan and Antonia would argue and one or the other would stomp off in a huff. Honestly, I never felt any of the arguments had any meaning or weight. They sprung up out of the most trivial things where I had to go back pages and wonder 'hey wait what are they arguing about, again?'
Also Antonia's big conflict of whether to go back to her job or concentrate on writing full time felt like a non-conflict as well. I never got the impression she was independently wealthy enough to eschew work to go all in on a writing her romance novel. The amount of hand wringing over that was excessive. She is not a published writer at all, the idea of holding down a day job and committing to also writing just never seemed to occur.
There were parts where it slogged in the middle, mostly those tempest in a teacup arguments. I had no issues putting the book down for days at a time to pick up something else.
The last part (after one final blow up argument ... remember they've only known each other a week throughout the entire book...) where they both make some resolutions is stronger and more interesting. So it ended strongly, if a little unbelievably.
Overall, it was just ok. I think the author writes really well, I just wasn't super engaged and wished I felt a better emotional connection to the love story.
August 31, 2019
Have you ever read a book that was exactly what you needed in a certain moment? That’s exactly how I felt about reading The Write Escape.
Antonia is in the midst of planning her dream wedding (with a frustrating mother in law) to her fiancé Derek while dealing with the high stress of her publishing job, which is in serious threat of going under. Four days before her wedding, Antonia’s mother makes it known that she doesn’t approve of this union since she doesn’t quite trust Derek, and she didn’t work as hard as she did for her daughters to marry guys like him. After convincing her mother that Derek was indeed a fantastic guy, she finds out that he had been cheating on her the entire time they were together…to make matters worse, he wasn’t even apologetic for his abhorrent behavior.
Rather than wallow in the embarrassment, Antonia (with A nudge from her sister Octavia) decides that she’s going to go on her honeymoon trip to Ireland solo, and she’s going to use this time to finally getting back to pursue her passion of writing. The main character in her unfinished novel is Augusta, and for once, Antonia decides that she wants to live her life as Augusta would…full of confidence and chasing her dreams rather than subduing her interests at the expense of others.
Once in Ireland, Antonia decides to embrace the beautiful countryside as well as stock up her cottage with some items from the local grocery store. At this point, she literally crashes (her grocery cart) into the gorgeous Aiden. He thick Irish accent makes a girl weak in the knees (No? Just me? Fine.) Watching their meet cute unfold was awesome because the banter between the two of them was gold. Both could dish out some verbal sparring, which I always love to see in romance novels. However, will their immediate chemistry be enough to overcome the baggage that each one brings to the table?
So now for my opinions on the book. I loved Antonia as an MC because I could definitely see a lot of myself in her. She has golden brown skin with curly hair, and that definitely describes myself. She battles with the expectations that have been placed upon her from her mother, which again, I can totally relate to. There are plenty of instances that her black culture and identity comes to the forefront in Aiden’s presence, and they must work together through the cultural differences (something I also have in common being in an interracial marriage), which isn’t as easy as the movies make it seem.
Overall, I loved this incredibly charming and hilarious debut. I loved seeing the cultural differences of Antonia and Aiden coming together, but not being diminished for each other’s sake. This book is full of laughs. Seriously, the banter between these two is something off of Comedy Central. Oh, and don’t think that this one is without steam because let’s just say…ya girl needed some ice cubes to cool down after some of those scenes. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this author.
Thank you to Charish Reid for providing an eARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Antonia is in the midst of planning her dream wedding (with a frustrating mother in law) to her fiancé Derek while dealing with the high stress of her publishing job, which is in serious threat of going under. Four days before her wedding, Antonia’s mother makes it known that she doesn’t approve of this union since she doesn’t quite trust Derek, and she didn’t work as hard as she did for her daughters to marry guys like him. After convincing her mother that Derek was indeed a fantastic guy, she finds out that he had been cheating on her the entire time they were together…to make matters worse, he wasn’t even apologetic for his abhorrent behavior.
Rather than wallow in the embarrassment, Antonia (with A nudge from her sister Octavia) decides that she’s going to go on her honeymoon trip to Ireland solo, and she’s going to use this time to finally getting back to pursue her passion of writing. The main character in her unfinished novel is Augusta, and for once, Antonia decides that she wants to live her life as Augusta would…full of confidence and chasing her dreams rather than subduing her interests at the expense of others.
Once in Ireland, Antonia decides to embrace the beautiful countryside as well as stock up her cottage with some items from the local grocery store. At this point, she literally crashes (her grocery cart) into the gorgeous Aiden. He thick Irish accent makes a girl weak in the knees (No? Just me? Fine.) Watching their meet cute unfold was awesome because the banter between the two of them was gold. Both could dish out some verbal sparring, which I always love to see in romance novels. However, will their immediate chemistry be enough to overcome the baggage that each one brings to the table?
So now for my opinions on the book. I loved Antonia as an MC because I could definitely see a lot of myself in her. She has golden brown skin with curly hair, and that definitely describes myself. She battles with the expectations that have been placed upon her from her mother, which again, I can totally relate to. There are plenty of instances that her black culture and identity comes to the forefront in Aiden’s presence, and they must work together through the cultural differences (something I also have in common being in an interracial marriage), which isn’t as easy as the movies make it seem.
Overall, I loved this incredibly charming and hilarious debut. I loved seeing the cultural differences of Antonia and Aiden coming together, but not being diminished for each other’s sake. This book is full of laughs. Seriously, the banter between these two is something off of Comedy Central. Oh, and don’t think that this one is without steam because let’s just say…ya girl needed some ice cubes to cool down after some of those scenes. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this author.
Thank you to Charish Reid for providing an eARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
July 18, 2019
My rating is more 3.5
I liked this debut and am looking forward to the next book. I always enjoy the whole MC going off to a different place to get away from it all. Especially when they come into their own and we see them learning somethings about themselves.
It also doesnt hurt to have a cute Irish dude next door while doing so. I have to say my fave scene was when Antonia is greeted by the door by a shirtless Aiden. Classic. Also anger cake loool.
Now there were some things I was a bit iffy on. There's a scene in the bar where one of the patrons gets drunk and falls off a stool. My main problem here was this guy was fat and basically used as a joke here. He was even referred to as such: if the situation werent so laughable, Antonia would have thought they were hauling a harpooned beast onto a whaling ship
That's just a lot and could have really been phrased better and not have the fat guy be the butt of a joke??? Even if not intended it definitely came across as such
I did love that Antonia's a writer working on her romance, we even get snippets of her book throughout and Aiden doesnt make fun of her for it either. In fact he's intrigued when he sees of her historical rom books and borrows it to read. And gets really into it too. Aiden is so supportive of her writing so that was a plus for me, althouuugh I side eyed him for reading her book when he used her laptop for something and she left it open. Writing is so personal! He did tell her eventually, actually he sort of let it slip out but still!
I liked this debut and am looking forward to the next book. I always enjoy the whole MC going off to a different place to get away from it all. Especially when they come into their own and we see them learning somethings about themselves.
It also doesnt hurt to have a cute Irish dude next door while doing so. I have to say my fave scene was when Antonia is greeted by the door by a shirtless Aiden. Classic. Also anger cake loool.
Now there were some things I was a bit iffy on. There's a scene in the bar where one of the patrons gets drunk and falls off a stool. My main problem here was this guy was fat and basically used as a joke here. He was even referred to as such: if the situation werent so laughable, Antonia would have thought they were hauling a harpooned beast onto a whaling ship
That's just a lot and could have really been phrased better and not have the fat guy be the butt of a joke??? Even if not intended it definitely came across as such
I did love that Antonia's a writer working on her romance, we even get snippets of her book throughout and Aiden doesnt make fun of her for it either. In fact he's intrigued when he sees of her historical rom books and borrows it to read. And gets really into it too. Aiden is so supportive of her writing so that was a plus for me, althouuugh I side eyed him for reading her book when he used her laptop for something and she left it open. Writing is so personal! He did tell her eventually, actually he sort of let it slip out but still!
August 21, 2020
Antonia was just laid off from her job and she found out her finance was cheating. She breaks up with him (within days of their wedding) and decides to go to Ireland where they were planning on going for their honeymoon. Aiden is a lit professor in pursuit of tenure at National University of Ireland (Galway). He's had a stressful year and spends part of his summer holiday in a cottage in an Irish village.
I was so hooked on this and spent a few late nights trying to finish it. I really liked Antonia and her growth (the realization that she diminished herself for a guy and the oh fuck no it's not happening again!). She freely spoke her mind by the end. I loved it. Aiden was also an excellent character. I liked how each complimented each other well, each had issues to deal with. I can't really think about anything I didn't like about this book. Aiden's family is intriguing as is Antonia's mom and sister.
I will definitely be reading more by this author.
I read this for Ripped Bodice Bingo Title is a Pun (would also work for Set on an Island and Debut Author).
I was so hooked on this and spent a few late nights trying to finish it. I really liked Antonia and her growth (the realization that she diminished herself for a guy and the oh fuck no it's not happening again!). She freely spoke her mind by the end. I loved it. Aiden was also an excellent character. I liked how each complimented each other well, each had issues to deal with. I can't really think about anything I didn't like about this book. Aiden's family is intriguing as is Antonia's mom and sister.
I will definitely be reading more by this author.
I read this for Ripped Bodice Bingo Title is a Pun (would also work for Set on an Island and Debut Author).
March 20, 2025
Wow, this might actually be my favorite Charish Reid so far. And it’s an older one, so I was not expecting that. I was just looking for a romance set in Ireland for the holiday, and I found such a hidden gem.
This is a contemporary romance where a woman finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her, dumps him, goes on their honeymoon in Ireland by herself, meets a hot Irish professor, and voila.
So simple, yet it soooo did the job. Low conflict, but I felt some things. Which is rarer and rarer with romance these days. Sometimes it takes an author really nailing the basics to remember why I love a genre.
This is a contemporary romance where a woman finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her, dumps him, goes on their honeymoon in Ireland by herself, meets a hot Irish professor, and voila.
So simple, yet it soooo did the job. Low conflict, but I felt some things. Which is rarer and rarer with romance these days. Sometimes it takes an author really nailing the basics to remember why I love a genre.
February 16, 2020
4.25 Stars / 3 Steam Fans
Video review available in Week 7 Feb 9 – 15 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
Video review available in Week 7 Feb 9 – 15 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
August 18, 2019
Antonia discovers that her fiancee has been cheating on her for months just days before their wedding, so she decides that enough was enough and she woudn't put up with the way he treated her anymore and decides to still go to the planned honeymoon alone. There she meets Aiden and the two are drawn to each other and start a romance. All is good until Aiden father reappears and the fears he had of being abandoned again by someone he cares about makes him move away from her and the relationship they were having, shortly thereafter he regrets this and goes back to talk to her and try to give a new chance to what they had when they were in Tully Cross.
A great reading of a new author for me, I really enjoyed it and I will definitely read her next works.
I received a free copy of this book from Carina Press via NetGalley and all opinions here are my own.
A great reading of a new author for me, I really enjoyed it and I will definitely read her next works.
I received a free copy of this book from Carina Press via NetGalley and all opinions here are my own.
September 30, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book early.
The Write Escape is Charish Reid's debut and I have some feelings about it. But first, I guess I should quickly sum up the plot:
Essentially, Antonia (from Chicago, in America) finds out her fiancé is trash and loses her job in the span of approximately 24 hours so she flies to Ireland on a solo honeymoon where she is reminded of her fiancé's trashy qualities and winds up in a cottage adjacent to Aiden. Aiden is an Irish professor having some sort of identity crisis, but he and Antonia quickly strike up a friendly flirtationship that turns to more. Both Aiden and Antonia are using their time in this cottage to write: Antonia is writing a contemporary romantic suspense and Aiden is writing scholarly things.
And now for my feelings:
I'm still annoyed that Antonia acts like her contemporary romance novel is the first to (a) have an intense action subplot and (b) have a Black heroine. Like... Do we want to recognize all the greats that are already writing or nah? Apparently not.
I liked Aiden, but despite following him in alternating chapters I'm honestly so confused about who he is as a character.
Antonia was so hot and cold that she felt inconsistent.
The pacing was weird.
Despite all of my complaints, the book overall was interesting and I'm hopeful that Reid's next book will be more to my liking. Also, regardless of my complaints, it seems like many other people have really enjoyed this one, so hopefully it's just me!
The Write Escape is Charish Reid's debut and I have some feelings about it. But first, I guess I should quickly sum up the plot:
Essentially, Antonia (from Chicago, in America) finds out her fiancé is trash and loses her job in the span of approximately 24 hours so she flies to Ireland on a solo honeymoon where she is reminded of her fiancé's trashy qualities and winds up in a cottage adjacent to Aiden. Aiden is an Irish professor having some sort of identity crisis, but he and Antonia quickly strike up a friendly flirtationship that turns to more. Both Aiden and Antonia are using their time in this cottage to write: Antonia is writing a contemporary romantic suspense and Aiden is writing scholarly things.
And now for my feelings:
I'm still annoyed that Antonia acts like her contemporary romance novel is the first to (a) have an intense action subplot and (b) have a Black heroine. Like... Do we want to recognize all the greats that are already writing or nah? Apparently not.
I liked Aiden, but despite following him in alternating chapters I'm honestly so confused about who he is as a character.
Antonia was so hot and cold that she felt inconsistent.
The pacing was weird.
Despite all of my complaints, the book overall was interesting and I'm hopeful that Reid's next book will be more to my liking. Also, regardless of my complaints, it seems like many other people have really enjoyed this one, so hopefully it's just me!
August 2, 2019
Finally had time to finish this great book and it was exactly what I needed.
I loved the scenery of the great landscape, Charish Reid definitely nailed it with the picturesque description and lovely quirky characters in the small town in Ireland where an Irish man isn't just making Antonia going crazy. ✨
Loved the academic part of the book as well as the background about writing and publishing. It gave the book different layers and believable issues to overcome for the MCs.
Right at the end the reader is rewarded with a preview of the next book by the author and let me say I'm most excited to read this too not just because of the amazing topics which are totally my jam but having one of the most cutest titles I've ever read. ✨ It's as witty as this book's title. 💞
5 out of 5 stars for The Write Escape.
I loved the scenery of the great landscape, Charish Reid definitely nailed it with the picturesque description and lovely quirky characters in the small town in Ireland where an Irish man isn't just making Antonia going crazy. ✨
Loved the academic part of the book as well as the background about writing and publishing. It gave the book different layers and believable issues to overcome for the MCs.
Right at the end the reader is rewarded with a preview of the next book by the author and let me say I'm most excited to read this too not just because of the amazing topics which are totally my jam but having one of the most cutest titles I've ever read. ✨ It's as witty as this book's title. 💞
5 out of 5 stars for The Write Escape.
October 31, 2019
Oh how I loved this book! It hooked me from the premise: Antonia has just come off from losing her job and her (cheating bastard) fiance, so she decides screw it. She's going on the trip to Ireland that she had originally planned for her honeymoon.
Along the way she bumps into hot college professor Aiden who has the sexiest accent ever (seriously, why did none of my college professors look or sound like Aiden?! ARGH!). They have an adorable meet-cute in a grocery store, find out they're staying at the same cute hotel in the middle-of-nowhere Ireland, and proceed to flirt the clothes off of each other over the course of several chapters. But this book is more than just sexy times. Antonia goes on a journey of self-discovery and finds out what truly makes her happy, which is so empowering and relatable. She's lived her whole life for other people and she's finally figuring out how to make herself happy, and it's thrilling to observe her do it. Aiden goes through a similar journey, sorting through his personal issues that have affected his relationships and family life.
I don't want to give anything away because you seriously MUST read this book, but there's loads of cute pub dates, charming Irish outings, and an unexpected blackout that leads to something super sexy. There's also lots of emotional depth in the wrenching moments and an HEA that had me squealing. I also loved how Charish handled Antonia being a minority while traveling in a country like Ireland. It's definitely an issue that a lot of people don't realize. Romance fans, add this one to your TBR list, you won't regret it!
Along the way she bumps into hot college professor Aiden who has the sexiest accent ever (seriously, why did none of my college professors look or sound like Aiden?! ARGH!). They have an adorable meet-cute in a grocery store, find out they're staying at the same cute hotel in the middle-of-nowhere Ireland, and proceed to flirt the clothes off of each other over the course of several chapters. But this book is more than just sexy times. Antonia goes on a journey of self-discovery and finds out what truly makes her happy, which is so empowering and relatable. She's lived her whole life for other people and she's finally figuring out how to make herself happy, and it's thrilling to observe her do it. Aiden goes through a similar journey, sorting through his personal issues that have affected his relationships and family life.
I don't want to give anything away because you seriously MUST read this book, but there's loads of cute pub dates, charming Irish outings, and an unexpected blackout that leads to something super sexy. There's also lots of emotional depth in the wrenching moments and an HEA that had me squealing. I also loved how Charish handled Antonia being a minority while traveling in a country like Ireland. It's definitely an issue that a lot of people don't realize. Romance fans, add this one to your TBR list, you won't regret it!
October 28, 2019
Literary editor Antonia Harper has lost her job and her guy. The guy was her fiancé and after talking to her sister she decides to go on the trip to Ireland anyway. Her sister deals with the canceling and the ex, her mother did not like the guy anyway and after she found out he had been cheating for who knows how long Antonia just wants to begin a new. She also decides to pull out her book that she has stopped and started over the years hopping that she can finally finish it and maybe get it published.
When she arrives in Ireland her ex had canceled her reservations so she is stuck with finding another place. After finding one she makes the drive and starts to settle in. Her neighbor is Aiden Brynes a literary Professor. So, they are both in a place named Tully Cross, but the chemistry between them starts when they first meet and does not stop. There are plenty of funny moments, and some serious. Each is having to deal with past relationship issues in order to move on. The sex scenes are hot and you feel that the two of them are made for each other until there not. Will they be able to fix it? I liked all of the characters, from the guys in the pub to his mom and niece. I enjoy interracial relationships because I am in one so I could understand. This is a very good book and the ending was good and a little different than the norm which I liked. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
When she arrives in Ireland her ex had canceled her reservations so she is stuck with finding another place. After finding one she makes the drive and starts to settle in. Her neighbor is Aiden Brynes a literary Professor. So, they are both in a place named Tully Cross, but the chemistry between them starts when they first meet and does not stop. There are plenty of funny moments, and some serious. Each is having to deal with past relationship issues in order to move on. The sex scenes are hot and you feel that the two of them are made for each other until there not. Will they be able to fix it? I liked all of the characters, from the guys in the pub to his mom and niece. I enjoy interracial relationships because I am in one so I could understand. This is a very good book and the ending was good and a little different than the norm which I liked. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
August 24, 2025
This was a sweet and engaging story with likable characters and solid writing!
October 12, 2019
Enjoyable second chance romance!
March 29, 2024
3.5 stars
Nowhere Book Bingo: Book with BIPOC author and main character
CBR16 Sweet Books: Cozy
In very short order, Antonia Harper has lost her job and discovered that her fiancée was cheating on her, very shortly before the wedding. The honeymoon was supposed to be in Ireland, and Antonia decides to travel there by herself. Her spiteful ex has cancelled their original reservations, but she rents a cottage to stay in instead. With nothing else to distract her, Antonia decides to make a stab at writing more of the romance novel she's been dreaming of completing (but never had time for, what with her busy job as an editor and trying to plan a wedding). She isn't exactly happy with men in general at present, but the handsome professor in the cottage next door is making her reconsider her wish to be alone.
Aidan Byrnes is a literature professor who is finding his job difficult at the moment. He's rented a cottage in the little town of Tully Cross to get some peace and quiet and to finally have the time and focus to complete an important academic paper. He first runs into Antonia in the tiny supermarket nearby and is both surprised and delighted to discover that she is staying in the cottage next to his. Still slightly weary of romantic entanglements after his girlfriend dumped him a year previous, Aiden nevertheless can't stop thinking about Antonia, who he discovers is not only gorgeous but clever, educated, and funny as well.
What starts out as a bit of a holiday fling begins to turn serious pretty quickly. Neither Antonia nor Aidan were expecting to meet anyone, let alone start falling for them in the sleepy village of Tully Cross. Yet Aiden has a job at an Irish university, and Antonia's life is back in America. Can their fledgling romance turn into something more permanent, with an entire ocean between them?
This is my first novel by Charish Reid and it was fun, but not exactly a perfect read. I really liked Antonia and Aiden as characters, both apart and together. Both are hard-working and devoted to their jobs (but obviously Antonia is unemployed for much of the book since she loses her job early on). Antonia is also very close to her family, especially her sister, which made it difficult when they clearly weren't enthusiastic about her upcoming wedding. I would love to read a sequel novel about her sister.
The majority of the book is set in Ireland, and while I'm sure Irish villages are very quaint and welcoming, it seems like a slightly exaggerated ideal of the place. No one is unpleasant, racist, or rude. I understand that those aren't exactly things that you would want in a fluffy escapist romance, but from my experience, not all small-town folk anywhere are open-minded and whole-heartedly welcoming to any strangers, certainly not those with darker skin colours.
This was a quick breezy read, and I liked it a lot. There were a few things that annoyed me a bit, but nothing serious enough for me not to want to read more of her books. Firstly, Antonia is obviously using her vacation in Ireland to work on her romance novel. At one point, Aiden uses her computer and can't help himself from reading what she's written. Considering how unsure she is of her writing and how personal a book manuscript can be, this felt like he was reading her journal. When she eventually discovers what he's done, she seems to forgive him very quickly.
Judging a book by its cover: I really like the visible joy on the faces of both of the cover models here. This is exactly the sort of novel that would have a jewel-toned cover with cute cartoony characters on it now, and I'm not sure that trend is as great as publishers think it is.
Nowhere Book Bingo: Book with BIPOC author and main character
CBR16 Sweet Books: Cozy
In very short order, Antonia Harper has lost her job and discovered that her fiancée was cheating on her, very shortly before the wedding. The honeymoon was supposed to be in Ireland, and Antonia decides to travel there by herself. Her spiteful ex has cancelled their original reservations, but she rents a cottage to stay in instead. With nothing else to distract her, Antonia decides to make a stab at writing more of the romance novel she's been dreaming of completing (but never had time for, what with her busy job as an editor and trying to plan a wedding). She isn't exactly happy with men in general at present, but the handsome professor in the cottage next door is making her reconsider her wish to be alone.
Aidan Byrnes is a literature professor who is finding his job difficult at the moment. He's rented a cottage in the little town of Tully Cross to get some peace and quiet and to finally have the time and focus to complete an important academic paper. He first runs into Antonia in the tiny supermarket nearby and is both surprised and delighted to discover that she is staying in the cottage next to his. Still slightly weary of romantic entanglements after his girlfriend dumped him a year previous, Aiden nevertheless can't stop thinking about Antonia, who he discovers is not only gorgeous but clever, educated, and funny as well.
What starts out as a bit of a holiday fling begins to turn serious pretty quickly. Neither Antonia nor Aidan were expecting to meet anyone, let alone start falling for them in the sleepy village of Tully Cross. Yet Aiden has a job at an Irish university, and Antonia's life is back in America. Can their fledgling romance turn into something more permanent, with an entire ocean between them?
This is my first novel by Charish Reid and it was fun, but not exactly a perfect read. I really liked Antonia and Aiden as characters, both apart and together. Both are hard-working and devoted to their jobs (but obviously Antonia is unemployed for much of the book since she loses her job early on). Antonia is also very close to her family, especially her sister, which made it difficult when they clearly weren't enthusiastic about her upcoming wedding. I would love to read a sequel novel about her sister.
The majority of the book is set in Ireland, and while I'm sure Irish villages are very quaint and welcoming, it seems like a slightly exaggerated ideal of the place. No one is unpleasant, racist, or rude. I understand that those aren't exactly things that you would want in a fluffy escapist romance, but from my experience, not all small-town folk anywhere are open-minded and whole-heartedly welcoming to any strangers, certainly not those with darker skin colours.
This was a quick breezy read, and I liked it a lot. There were a few things that annoyed me a bit, but nothing serious enough for me not to want to read more of her books. Firstly, Antonia is obviously using her vacation in Ireland to work on her romance novel. At one point, Aiden uses her computer and can't help himself from reading what she's written. Considering how unsure she is of her writing and how personal a book manuscript can be, this felt like he was reading her journal. When she eventually discovers what he's done, she seems to forgive him very quickly.
Judging a book by its cover: I really like the visible joy on the faces of both of the cover models here. This is exactly the sort of novel that would have a jewel-toned cover with cute cartoony characters on it now, and I'm not sure that trend is as great as publishers think it is.
September 3, 2019
Melissa contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Special thanks to Charish Reid & Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
If you're looking for a romantic tale that centers around a strong, hard-working female protagonist, look no further. The Write Escape by Charish Reid is a wonderful story about love, perseverance & following one's heart. Also, love the fact that it is set in Ireland!
Finding One's Way
At the moment, Antonia is a bit lost. Things are definitely not going her way. Without a job & without a significant other, she embarks on a journey to Ireland. I love that she's traveling to really find her way. See, she is wanting to get back to the person she wants to be. In walks Aiden. Looks like she may be finding love too.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! The Write Escape by Charish Reid is touching, heartfelt and emotional. If you're in the mood for another feel-good romance, be sure to check out Good Man, Dalton by Karen McQuestion.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Special thanks to Charish Reid & Harlequin for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
If you're looking for a romantic tale that centers around a strong, hard-working female protagonist, look no further. The Write Escape by Charish Reid is a wonderful story about love, perseverance & following one's heart. Also, love the fact that it is set in Ireland!
Finding One's Way
At the moment, Antonia is a bit lost. Things are definitely not going her way. Without a job & without a significant other, she embarks on a journey to Ireland. I love that she's traveling to really find her way. See, she is wanting to get back to the person she wants to be. In walks Aiden. Looks like she may be finding love too.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! The Write Escape by Charish Reid is touching, heartfelt and emotional. If you're in the mood for another feel-good romance, be sure to check out Good Man, Dalton by Karen McQuestion.
June 13, 2021
3 stars.
I picked this book out based on the cover and title alone — didn’t even glance at the blurb before checking it out from the library.
The premise is just adorable. An American woman loses her job and her fiancé in the same day, so she flees to Ireland to work on her novel and find herself. Her rental cottage is right next door to a handsome Irish lit professor. Sexual tension ensues.
The confrontation with Aiden’s dad was a bit much, and seemed to distract from the main relationship, rather than inform it.
You could see their big fight coming from a mile away, but it still felt a bit unnecessary. I did like that Antonia ended up with something other than just Aiden drawing her to Ireland — however, it felt weird that she suddenly became a professor, despite not having a PhD or any previous demonstrated interest in teaching.
Steam: 2/5🔥
I picked this book out based on the cover and title alone — didn’t even glance at the blurb before checking it out from the library.
The premise is just adorable. An American woman loses her job and her fiancé in the same day, so she flees to Ireland to work on her novel and find herself. Her rental cottage is right next door to a handsome Irish lit professor. Sexual tension ensues.
The confrontation with Aiden’s dad was a bit much, and seemed to distract from the main relationship, rather than inform it.
You could see their big fight coming from a mile away, but it still felt a bit unnecessary. I did like that Antonia ended up with something other than just Aiden drawing her to Ireland — however, it felt weird that she suddenly became a professor, despite not having a PhD or any previous demonstrated interest in teaching.
Steam: 2/5🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2019
Cute and promising debut but 1) beginning felt very slow to start as MCs didn’t meet until 20%, 2) I adored Antonia but never felt that the hero deserved her (her POV was far more interesting than his), and 3) I was angry at how the hero’s stupidity of reading her manuscript without permission was mostly unaddressed (she was mad for one page and then the issue went away). I liked it, but didn’t love it.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
3.5
Some iffy pacing and a leading man I had mixed feelings for (some things he did I'm still a bit upset about, I also found him a bit too pushy/forward in the beginning, lastly, I'm pretty biased against any romance books that repeatedly references a deep desire for having kids), but overall a fun, adorable read. I appreciated the dialogue as well as Antonia's character and I'll definitely be on the look out for other books by Reid.
Some iffy pacing and a leading man I had mixed feelings for (some things he did I'm still a bit upset about, I also found him a bit too pushy/forward in the beginning, lastly, I'm pretty biased against any romance books that repeatedly references a deep desire for having kids), but overall a fun, adorable read. I appreciated the dialogue as well as Antonia's character and I'll definitely be on the look out for other books by Reid.
August 14, 2019
The Write Escape is a journey of self discovery, healing and love. The main characters Antonia and Aiden are each carrying emotional baggage and aren't looking but still find each other. I enjoyed their journey. It was cute, sweet and sensual. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
January 11, 2020
I enjoyed this enough that I requested an ARC of the next one. I think the author is skilled, but the narrative here was uneven--very good in some places, just ok in others. The irishness seemed a bit overdone to me, but my exposure to Irish folk is limited to just a couple of cities, so.
June 16, 2020
3.5🌟
A nice SHORT (hopefully) review to follow shortly.
I loved every bit of this story. It elicited strong emotions at various critical points in the book.
October 9, 2019
The Write Escape is the first romance novel I’ve ever read, as I typically gravitate towards the classics, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the read. The Write Escape is rich with intelligence, metaphor, and humor. If you’re looking for a smart, heartwarming, happily-ever-after story to brighten up your week – look no further.
The protagonists, Antonia and Aiden, are extremely relatable and I enjoyed bearing witness to their soul searching. While there are certainly some steamy scenes, the author does a great job making sure the characters hold up on their own. The result is a novel which depicts the importance of balancing not only the journey towards true love, but also the journey towards creating the life you desire and deserve.
I personally loved the way Antonia’s work on her novel and Aiden’s work as literature professor becomes a point of interest throughout the novel. Their work is part of their passion, and is a reflection of themselves and their story together. Aiden’s research on the parallels between African American and Irish homecoming narratives is incredibly interesting. He specifically looks at call and response songs, such as “Roll the Old Chariot”, to make a connection between the black experience and the Irish experience. This detail is a wonderful nod at both characters searching to find a sense of home within each other and their lived experiences.
The protagonists, Antonia and Aiden, are extremely relatable and I enjoyed bearing witness to their soul searching. While there are certainly some steamy scenes, the author does a great job making sure the characters hold up on their own. The result is a novel which depicts the importance of balancing not only the journey towards true love, but also the journey towards creating the life you desire and deserve.
I personally loved the way Antonia’s work on her novel and Aiden’s work as literature professor becomes a point of interest throughout the novel. Their work is part of their passion, and is a reflection of themselves and their story together. Aiden’s research on the parallels between African American and Irish homecoming narratives is incredibly interesting. He specifically looks at call and response songs, such as “Roll the Old Chariot”, to make a connection between the black experience and the Irish experience. This detail is a wonderful nod at both characters searching to find a sense of home within each other and their lived experiences.
December 6, 2019
Loved this debut romance set in Ireland. I’m very picky about non Irish people writing books set in Ireland - because the cliche and stereotype is usually strong, my friend! - but Charish knocked this out of the park. Really authentic depiction of Ireland & Irish people. In fact, it’s given me a whole new appreciation for my own country and Irish men who somehow never seem to quite live up to their romantic fiction alter egos!
When Antonia, a publisher moonlighting as an aspiring writer flees to Ireland looking for solace & an escape after a traumatic event she bumps into gorgeously intellectual Aiden - a university professor.
Lo & behold, it turns out he’s on a mini break and they’re renting cottages next door to each other in the quaint village of Tully Cross. (I’ve actually been there & it is that ridiculously quaint).
The chemistry is sizzling and the sex is scorching. And the romance is epic. The characters were so relatable and real I felt like I could reach out and touch them. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking in the case of Aiden 😊.
Things I loved: the setting (well I am biased), gorgeous black heroine, interracial romance, the really sweet ending & epilogue.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
When Antonia, a publisher moonlighting as an aspiring writer flees to Ireland looking for solace & an escape after a traumatic event she bumps into gorgeously intellectual Aiden - a university professor.
Lo & behold, it turns out he’s on a mini break and they’re renting cottages next door to each other in the quaint village of Tully Cross. (I’ve actually been there & it is that ridiculously quaint).
The chemistry is sizzling and the sex is scorching. And the romance is epic. The characters were so relatable and real I felt like I could reach out and touch them. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking in the case of Aiden 😊.
Things I loved: the setting (well I am biased), gorgeous black heroine, interracial romance, the really sweet ending & epilogue.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
November 26, 2019
In Charish Reid's The Write Escape, this contemporary romance is so wonderfully written and moving and would take you on an amazing journey. For Antonia Harper, she's planning her wedding, working on a historical romance novel, and stuck in her editing job at a small literary press in Chicago. With a shake-up at work, she discovered her fiance Derek Rogers has been cheating on her. She breaks up the wedding and went on an escape to Ireland where she would've spent her honeymoon. During her stay at Tully Cross, she runs into Professor Aidan Byrnes, a hot Irish white male, at Supervalu, and also her next-door neighbor in the small village, who became her friend and didn't mind she was an African-American woman. Besides his sexy Irish brogue, he had lost his inspiration for his conference paper to get tenure at the college. But Antonia had helped him find it, when they discuss their own emotional baggage issues, and be inspired by each other to pursue their literary dreams. But they had some hiccups along the way if they want to be together in the end. But they followed their hearts and thier dreams to find their own HEA in a blissful way.
May 30, 2020
I really loved this contemporary romance. Antonia and Aiden are a wonderful heroine and hero. And the setting -- a small village in Ireland -- makes everything even better. Off to find the author's backlist! This is an A- for me, so five stars here.
February 24, 2020
3.5 stars 🌟 This book was pretty predictable (even for the genre) but it was also really sweet. I definitely enjoyed reading it and would pick up another book by this author
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