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Island Time
Love is in the salty sea air in this smart and steamy ensemble romantic comedy set in a tropical paradise, from the author of It Had to Be You. This is one island you won’t want to be rescued from.
The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.
With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.
The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.
With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
368 people are currently reading
15824 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Clark
14 books997 followersHello! I'm a Brooklyn-based novelist and host/founder of the popular storytelling series, Generation Women. I love improv, being cozy, and fun snacks that are salty.
My next book is a queer Christmas rom-com called MOST WONDERFUL (2024). I also wrote ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.
I teach romance writing, mentor up-and-coming writers, host weekend writers’ retreats, and create the monthly author newsletter, Heartbeat. You can connect with me on Insta, @georgialouclark. Sign up for a class at georgiaclark.com!
My next book is a queer Christmas rom-com called MOST WONDERFUL (2024). I also wrote ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.
I teach romance writing, mentor up-and-coming writers, host weekend writers’ retreats, and create the monthly author newsletter, Heartbeat. You can connect with me on Insta, @georgialouclark. Sign up for a class at georgiaclark.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 802 reviews
June 6, 2022
Don’t let that pretty cover fool you…
I was happy to be approved for an ARC of this book as this is an LGBTQIA+ friendly book and I thought one of the many great ways I can celebrate Pride Month would be to read a LGBTQIA+ book. I guess I missed the mark on this choice! 😩
Pros: LGBTQIA+ friendly and history of Aboriginal Australians. That’s it. The star and a half I have given this review go towards those two things and those two things alone.
My issues with this book were numerous, but I’ll list my three biggest peeves.
Cons: The ‘humor’ was awful. There’s a line “as gullible as a virgin in a f**k truck.”
Is that a rape joke???? That sounds like a rape joke to me…Not funny. At all.
The mom in the story fantasizes about killing her husband…wait, I AM reading a romantic comedy, right? Now she’s fantasizing about eating him?? Okay, I AM reading a romantic comedy, right?!?! Another example is, the sister using the term “The Help” in a derogatory manner and no one mentioning to her that it’s in bad taste to use that terminology. What message does that send? Oh, and fart jokes aplenty. This humor may be for someone but it definitely isn’t for me! 👎🏻
There aren’t really any antagonists in this story which is shocking considering almost every character in this book were terrible people. I thought the sisters who are supposed to be early 30’s acted like downright children. They were such entitled brats and it didn’t make sense to me that either of these women are supposed to be over the age of 16.
There were nine POVs. NINE! They changed so frequently and without warning. Definitely not the seamless POV transition everyone hopes for. There were over 70 chapters and a lot of them were very long and a lot of side story could have been chopped to make the story shorter. I just felt like it dragged on constantly.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
1.5 ⭐️ rounding down. Some reviewers really enjoyed this book so maybe I’m just the outlier here so feel free to check it out for yourself!
I was happy to be approved for an ARC of this book as this is an LGBTQIA+ friendly book and I thought one of the many great ways I can celebrate Pride Month would be to read a LGBTQIA+ book. I guess I missed the mark on this choice! 😩
Pros: LGBTQIA+ friendly and history of Aboriginal Australians. That’s it. The star and a half I have given this review go towards those two things and those two things alone.
My issues with this book were numerous, but I’ll list my three biggest peeves.
Cons: The ‘humor’ was awful. There’s a line “as gullible as a virgin in a f**k truck.”
Is that a rape joke???? That sounds like a rape joke to me…Not funny. At all.
The mom in the story fantasizes about killing her husband…wait, I AM reading a romantic comedy, right? Now she’s fantasizing about eating him?? Okay, I AM reading a romantic comedy, right?!?! Another example is, the sister using the term “The Help” in a derogatory manner and no one mentioning to her that it’s in bad taste to use that terminology. What message does that send? Oh, and fart jokes aplenty. This humor may be for someone but it definitely isn’t for me! 👎🏻
There aren’t really any antagonists in this story which is shocking considering almost every character in this book were terrible people. I thought the sisters who are supposed to be early 30’s acted like downright children. They were such entitled brats and it didn’t make sense to me that either of these women are supposed to be over the age of 16.
There were nine POVs. NINE! They changed so frequently and without warning. Definitely not the seamless POV transition everyone hopes for. There were over 70 chapters and a lot of them were very long and a lot of side story could have been chopped to make the story shorter. I just felt like it dragged on constantly.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
1.5 ⭐️ rounding down. Some reviewers really enjoyed this book so maybe I’m just the outlier here so feel free to check it out for yourself!
November 4, 2021
Hi, it's me! I wrote the book!
I dreamt up ISLAND TIME during lockdown in NYC in order to whisk myself away to the place I couldn’t go to—my home country of Australia—and the people I couldn't be with—my lovable, lunatic family.
My sixth novel saved my life and allowed to say and explore so many things that are important to me. It was deeply pleasurable to write and I am *in love* with this cast. They are all such generous, fascinating, funny humans: I know you'll adore them just as much as I do.
Say to me over on Insta (@georgialouclark) and thank you so much for being a reader.
I dreamt up ISLAND TIME during lockdown in NYC in order to whisk myself away to the place I couldn’t go to—my home country of Australia—and the people I couldn't be with—my lovable, lunatic family.
My sixth novel saved my life and allowed to say and explore so many things that are important to me. It was deeply pleasurable to write and I am *in love* with this cast. They are all such generous, fascinating, funny humans: I know you'll adore them just as much as I do.
Say to me over on Insta (@georgialouclark) and thank you so much for being a reader.
June 1, 2022
3.5 stars
I'd say this book is best described as a regular fiction read. I hesitate to call it a family drama as the story has a lighter feel to it plus not every character featured is part the family. And while romance is a key storyline for some characters I think it's a stretch to place it in that genre. Instead it just has a bit of everything to offer the reader.
I really grew to appreciate the novel the more I read. I didn't love the characters but I did enjoy being part of their world for a bit. There's a charming quality to the story and a lot of that is due to the premise. When you are stuck on an island, you have time to reflect and I like how the characters were given the opportunity to figure exactly what they wanted out of life. I only wish that every storyline would have gotten equal treatment in the development department.
At 400+ pages it probably should have been trimmed down in length but with so many characters to follow the pacing somehow manages to be decent.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I'd say this book is best described as a regular fiction read. I hesitate to call it a family drama as the story has a lighter feel to it plus not every character featured is part the family. And while romance is a key storyline for some characters I think it's a stretch to place it in that genre. Instead it just has a bit of everything to offer the reader.
I really grew to appreciate the novel the more I read. I didn't love the characters but I did enjoy being part of their world for a bit. There's a charming quality to the story and a lot of that is due to the premise. When you are stuck on an island, you have time to reflect and I like how the characters were given the opportunity to figure exactly what they wanted out of life. I only wish that every storyline would have gotten equal treatment in the development department.
At 400+ pages it probably should have been trimmed down in length but with so many characters to follow the pacing somehow manages to be decent.
Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
dnf
July 25, 2022This is a Romance/Family Drama. I found that this book followed to many characters. It would jump from one character point of view to another then another. I also think the moving from character to character made to storyline feel jumpy, and I could not get into the storyline. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
June 29, 2022
Island Time is the story of 2 families, quite different, only bound by their wedded daughters. They all escape to an island off the coast of Australia for a long weekend together only to be stranded after a volcano erupts. Their 5 day trip is suddenly extended to 6 weeks as they remain isolated on the island with only 2 employees.
With this unexpected time bestowed upon the group, they’re each forced to examine what they actually want in life — Do they love their jobs? Are they in love? What will truly make each one of them happy?
Island Time is a lighter story with a great premise. I didn’t like the execution as much as I hoped to though — This isn’t a bad book, it just felt long at times and there was a bit of instalove which isn’t my favorite.
If you haven’t read Georgia Clark’s last book, It Had to Be You, I highly recommend it, it was fun and very cute!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an advance copy of Island Time in exchange for an honest review.
With this unexpected time bestowed upon the group, they’re each forced to examine what they actually want in life — Do they love their jobs? Are they in love? What will truly make each one of them happy?
Island Time is a lighter story with a great premise. I didn’t like the execution as much as I hoped to though — This isn’t a bad book, it just felt long at times and there was a bit of instalove which isn’t my favorite.
If you haven’t read Georgia Clark’s last book, It Had to Be You, I highly recommend it, it was fun and very cute!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an advance copy of Island Time in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2022
The Kelly and Lee families couldn't be more different. But their daughters are married, so they are vacationing together on a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland for a few days. Then a volcano eruption completely derails everyone's plans, stranding the families on the island for six weeks with two employees. While there, everyone is forced to do some intense reckoning about their lives, loves, and futures.
Oh I wanted to like this book--I always try to champion LGBTQIA books--but I just couldn't get into this one. It felt so LONG. Like, so long you guys. I kept thinking I'd read most of it, and then I'd see I wasn't even 25% done. It felt like so much of this book could have been shortened or benefited from a deep edit.
There are a lot of people in ISLAND TIME and truly, none of them seem that nice or interesting. The Kelly family consists of Julia and Gene (parents) and their daughters Amelia and Matty. The daughters come across as spoiled brats. We rehash their problems over and over. As for the Lees, we have parents Randall and Ludmilla and their daughter Parker (married to Matty). There are also two island employees, including Liss (also queer). I wanted to feel an affinity for more people with so many queer characters (I didn't mind Liss too much), but everyone came across as self-centered or annoying. There's a large natural disaster, people elsewhere have died, the natural life and vegetation of this island is in peril, but wow, these folks seem to care less. Also, somehow there is power and enough food for six weeks (copious, fancy food), which just didn't make things seem realistic at all.
Everyone has issues in ISLAND--so many issues. Personal issues. Work issues. Romantic issues. So many issues. They rehash these issues over and over. And then again. Often you might want characters to fix their issues because you care for them, but in this book, I often felt like I didn't care if they resolved them or not, because they just irritated me.
ISLAND does discuss the indigenous people of Australia in depth. I feel like I learned a lot there, as well as about some of the animals and plant life of the country. That, I appreciated.
Overall, this book just didn't work for me. I'm glad there were queer characters, but their relationships felt stilted or full of insta-love, and mostly, everything was just long and drawn out. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
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Oh I wanted to like this book--I always try to champion LGBTQIA books--but I just couldn't get into this one. It felt so LONG. Like, so long you guys. I kept thinking I'd read most of it, and then I'd see I wasn't even 25% done. It felt like so much of this book could have been shortened or benefited from a deep edit.
There are a lot of people in ISLAND TIME and truly, none of them seem that nice or interesting. The Kelly family consists of Julia and Gene (parents) and their daughters Amelia and Matty. The daughters come across as spoiled brats. We rehash their problems over and over. As for the Lees, we have parents Randall and Ludmilla and their daughter Parker (married to Matty). There are also two island employees, including Liss (also queer). I wanted to feel an affinity for more people with so many queer characters (I didn't mind Liss too much), but everyone came across as self-centered or annoying. There's a large natural disaster, people elsewhere have died, the natural life and vegetation of this island is in peril, but wow, these folks seem to care less. Also, somehow there is power and enough food for six weeks (copious, fancy food), which just didn't make things seem realistic at all.
Everyone has issues in ISLAND--so many issues. Personal issues. Work issues. Romantic issues. So many issues. They rehash these issues over and over. And then again. Often you might want characters to fix their issues because you care for them, but in this book, I often felt like I didn't care if they resolved them or not, because they just irritated me.
ISLAND does discuss the indigenous people of Australia in depth. I feel like I learned a lot there, as well as about some of the animals and plant life of the country. That, I appreciated.
Overall, this book just didn't work for me. I'm glad there were queer characters, but their relationships felt stilted or full of insta-love, and mostly, everything was just long and drawn out. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
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June 18, 2022
3.5/5 (rounded up)
After loving Georgia Clark's last novel, It Had to Be You, I was really excited to pick up Island Time and I was hoping the idea of the book would be much the same. Well, it definitely wasn't, and I didn't find this book to be ANYTHING like her last one at all (which she does make note of in the acknowledgments section). There was a ton of steam that I wasn't expecting (and yes, I know it does say "smart and steamy" at the beginning of the synopsis), but that was fine and didn't bother me. The biggest thing that really threw me was the fact this cover screams summer romcom to me and that's not what Island Time is at all. There were definitely the lighter moments that I was expecting and plenty of parts that made me giggle, but it was more of a steamy romance/family drama than a romcom. That being said, I thought it was off to a great and riveting start with the volcano erupting and leaving them stranded on the island, and I was hooked immediately.
There are quite a few viewpoint changes, so I really appreciated that the audiobook has a full cast of narrators! They are Mae Martin, Mirai, Corinne Davies, Cat Gould, David Linski, Katherine Littrell & Allyson Ryan, but don’t ask me to tell you who was which character because I definitely couldn’t tell you. This is no reflection on any of their narrations though because each one of them seemed to fit their character perfectly, and it was SO helpful having a different voice for each of the many characters in this book. I think the audio is really the way to go, and I didn’t have any issues keeping up with who was who.
This was also a super informative story, as I didn’t know anything about this area or the Indigenous culture there. Even though this isn’t a real island, Clark did base it on a real one, and you can tell she really did her homework. There was also some incredible queer representation which makes this a great pick for Pride Month or any other time. Coincidence this was released in June? I think not. There is a lighthearted feel to the story, but it also goes really deep, so prepare yourself beforehand that Island Time is no fluffy romcom. The negatives for me were just that it was too long, and it felt like it got bogged down with so many characters and so much going on. It could have been more concise and about 100 pages shorter, and I would have preferred it wasn’t marketed as a romcom since it really wasn’t. Other than that, I really did enjoy this one, and I will continue to read whatever Clark writes.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
After loving Georgia Clark's last novel, It Had to Be You, I was really excited to pick up Island Time and I was hoping the idea of the book would be much the same. Well, it definitely wasn't, and I didn't find this book to be ANYTHING like her last one at all (which she does make note of in the acknowledgments section). There was a ton of steam that I wasn't expecting (and yes, I know it does say "smart and steamy" at the beginning of the synopsis), but that was fine and didn't bother me. The biggest thing that really threw me was the fact this cover screams summer romcom to me and that's not what Island Time is at all. There were definitely the lighter moments that I was expecting and plenty of parts that made me giggle, but it was more of a steamy romance/family drama than a romcom. That being said, I thought it was off to a great and riveting start with the volcano erupting and leaving them stranded on the island, and I was hooked immediately.
There are quite a few viewpoint changes, so I really appreciated that the audiobook has a full cast of narrators! They are Mae Martin, Mirai, Corinne Davies, Cat Gould, David Linski, Katherine Littrell & Allyson Ryan, but don’t ask me to tell you who was which character because I definitely couldn’t tell you. This is no reflection on any of their narrations though because each one of them seemed to fit their character perfectly, and it was SO helpful having a different voice for each of the many characters in this book. I think the audio is really the way to go, and I didn’t have any issues keeping up with who was who.
This was also a super informative story, as I didn’t know anything about this area or the Indigenous culture there. Even though this isn’t a real island, Clark did base it on a real one, and you can tell she really did her homework. There was also some incredible queer representation which makes this a great pick for Pride Month or any other time. Coincidence this was released in June? I think not. There is a lighthearted feel to the story, but it also goes really deep, so prepare yourself beforehand that Island Time is no fluffy romcom. The negatives for me were just that it was too long, and it felt like it got bogged down with so many characters and so much going on. It could have been more concise and about 100 pages shorter, and I would have preferred it wasn’t marketed as a romcom since it really wasn’t. Other than that, I really did enjoy this one, and I will continue to read whatever Clark writes.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
October 18, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
I tried so hard to like this book, I really did but it wasn’t for me. I liked the fact it was really lgbtq+ positive but there’s so many cons. For something that’s supposed to be a summer romance type book there was a lot and I mean A LOT of drama, and not even light drama but really depressing drama, so I recommend looking at trigger warning if you plan on reading this book. Also another thing that really bothered me is how much the book jumps around from pov to pov. I personally didn’t like any of the characters or find anything special about them.
I also felt like this book was extremely dragged out and could have been shorted significantly. If I would have picked this book up without reviving an arc I would have dnfed this, there’s just SOOOO much going on to keep up with for a book marketed as a romance.
I tried so hard to like this book, I really did but it wasn’t for me. I liked the fact it was really lgbtq+ positive but there’s so many cons. For something that’s supposed to be a summer romance type book there was a lot and I mean A LOT of drama, and not even light drama but really depressing drama, so I recommend looking at trigger warning if you plan on reading this book. Also another thing that really bothered me is how much the book jumps around from pov to pov. I personally didn’t like any of the characters or find anything special about them.
I also felt like this book was extremely dragged out and could have been shorted significantly. If I would have picked this book up without reviving an arc I would have dnfed this, there’s just SOOOO much going on to keep up with for a book marketed as a romance.
January 10, 2024
Cute story, but way too long. It was 400 pages (with tiny print). There was just too big of a cast of characters that the author tried to give equal time to. It made the book seem endless. Also, not a big fan of the insta-love, but overall, I still liked the book. 3.5 stars rounded down
May 5, 2022
DNF :/ This wasn’t for me. We’re following way too many POVs for a rom com. The POV of the MC and her love interest is more than enough. It made it so confusing. Also, the nicknames were a bit too much lol too much detail and way too long
March 31, 2022
(Free review copy) I’m not sure if it was just me and my life at the time, or the book itself but it seemed to go on FOREVER. There were good themes and I loved the setting though. Perhaps just needed tight editing and when the final copy comes out it will be shorter and more powerful? Also, a bit of a spoiler below:
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I just couldn’t buy into a natural disaster situation where it was so scary and so damaging to some things but they never lost electricity or internet? Highly unrealistic IMO. I read the authors note and I understand and appreciate the intention but struggled with the end result.
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I just couldn’t buy into a natural disaster situation where it was so scary and so damaging to some things but they never lost electricity or internet? Highly unrealistic IMO. I read the authors note and I understand and appreciate the intention but struggled with the end result.
June 24, 2022
Thank you to Libro.fm for my review copy.
Admittedly, I have put this title down fairly early. The accents. The amount of characters (thousands). It was not working for me. It's a no for me.
Admittedly, I have put this title down fairly early. The accents. The amount of characters (thousands). It was not working for me. It's a no for me.
February 18, 2022
I was blown away by the queer DELIGHT that is “Island Time.” Georgia Clark’s prose is beautiful––like, tattoo-worthy gorgeous. My reading vice is that I tend to rush through nature descriptions, but each island image in this book made me want to pause and reread immediately so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I even got a bit teary during a passage about insects flying around a balcony light.
I wouldn’t call this book a “romcom,” though it certainly has a lot of (queer!) romance. “Island Time” has a Liane Moriarty-esque quality to it; there’s mystery, but it’s less “who is the murderer” and more “what do these characters actually want and need?” It’s the story of two families who are stuck on an island together, and who struggle to reveal their secrets and understand their own desires. The joy of this book is watching these characters change and figure it all out, as they become more emotionally connected to one another. I’m so impressed with how Clark balances multiple subplots and povs, while ensuring a steady pace and thorough exploration of each relationship. Also, this book is a major page-turner. Like, it has edge-of-your-seat type of action, and I stayed up all night reading just to find out what would happen next––the truest indicator of a great book.
“Island Time” has it all: sapphic melodrama, killer one-liners, Buffy viewings, podcasters, pristine beaches, a birding bromance, and a cast of flawed & impulsive characters who are a pleasure to spend time with. I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world!
*Thank you to NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
I wouldn’t call this book a “romcom,” though it certainly has a lot of (queer!) romance. “Island Time” has a Liane Moriarty-esque quality to it; there’s mystery, but it’s less “who is the murderer” and more “what do these characters actually want and need?” It’s the story of two families who are stuck on an island together, and who struggle to reveal their secrets and understand their own desires. The joy of this book is watching these characters change and figure it all out, as they become more emotionally connected to one another. I’m so impressed with how Clark balances multiple subplots and povs, while ensuring a steady pace and thorough exploration of each relationship. Also, this book is a major page-turner. Like, it has edge-of-your-seat type of action, and I stayed up all night reading just to find out what would happen next––the truest indicator of a great book.
“Island Time” has it all: sapphic melodrama, killer one-liners, Buffy viewings, podcasters, pristine beaches, a birding bromance, and a cast of flawed & impulsive characters who are a pleasure to spend time with. I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world!
*Thank you to NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.*
July 26, 2022
This book did not do it for me at all. Honestly, I regret finishing it.
The setting was lame and unrealistic to me. Stranded on an island for six weeks, they only worry about food in the beginning and never worry again? No one truly gets cranky. Maybe once is there an actual (almost) clash with nature.
I would probably be able to let all of that go if I enjoyed ANY of the characters. They all seemed too whiny, selfish, and dramatic, only for things to be tied up like an after-school special. Not to mention, that there were just too many characters that it all felt convoluted. I think this book would've improved immensely if we could've had a much deeper focus on any of the storylines but because it skimmed over all of them, they all came across as shallow and forgettable.
Not worth the read in my opinion.
The setting was lame and unrealistic to me. Stranded on an island for six weeks, they only worry about food in the beginning and never worry again? No one truly gets cranky. Maybe once is there an actual (almost) clash with nature.
I would probably be able to let all of that go if I enjoyed ANY of the characters. They all seemed too whiny, selfish, and dramatic, only for things to be tied up like an after-school special. Not to mention, that there were just too many characters that it all felt convoluted. I think this book would've improved immensely if we could've had a much deeper focus on any of the storylines but because it skimmed over all of them, they all came across as shallow and forgettable.
Not worth the read in my opinion.
April 11, 2022
Island Time is one of those books that lures you in by the cover that might be a little too cheerful to match the contents inside. I think it would be a good book for a reader looking for a beach read with quite a bit of family drama, and a decent amount of romance.
Sadly, I struggled to connect with this book, most likely because of the many points of view – I think nine in total? There are a lot of stories told here, interweaving the family narratives. It does it with mixed success and would have benefitted from being a bit shorter and clearer as to who is speaking, especially in the beginning. A header for who each chapter is about, plus maybe some dates/times, would go a long way to make things easier on the reader and alleviate many of my concerns.
My favorite thing here is the beach itself. In the afterword, the author mention she connected with a local Butchulla man (those native to Fraser Island, which is the basis for the fictional setting of Mun'dai island). It is evident in the writing and the respect with which she treats the island, community, and wildlife. Clark brings Australia to life in these pages!
My thanks to Net Galley, Georgia Clark, and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: Divorce, alcoholism, cheating, mental health, miscarriage, animal death.
Sadly, I struggled to connect with this book, most likely because of the many points of view – I think nine in total? There are a lot of stories told here, interweaving the family narratives. It does it with mixed success and would have benefitted from being a bit shorter and clearer as to who is speaking, especially in the beginning. A header for who each chapter is about, plus maybe some dates/times, would go a long way to make things easier on the reader and alleviate many of my concerns.
My favorite thing here is the beach itself. In the afterword, the author mention she connected with a local Butchulla man (those native to Fraser Island, which is the basis for the fictional setting of Mun'dai island). It is evident in the writing and the respect with which she treats the island, community, and wildlife. Clark brings Australia to life in these pages!
My thanks to Net Galley, Georgia Clark, and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
CW: Divorce, alcoholism, cheating, mental health, miscarriage, animal death.
June 14, 2022
Georgia Clark is an incredibly talented writer. Each of the characters she introduced in Island Time, and there were a number of them, were somehow so nuanced. All of them impeccably layered, with their own journeys of self-love and discovery.
I appreciated how in depth Clark went with Indigenous culture and customs. I loved the romance and how Clark managed to flesh out all kinds of relationships. I even enjoyed every single character and what they brought to the story, though my favourite pair was Glen and Randall. They must be protected at all costs!
If you love romance novels that are a little meatier or, if you love character driven family dramas that are a little lighter, Island Time should definitely be on your TBR!
I appreciated how in depth Clark went with Indigenous culture and customs. I loved the romance and how Clark managed to flesh out all kinds of relationships. I even enjoyed every single character and what they brought to the story, though my favourite pair was Glen and Randall. They must be protected at all costs!
If you love romance novels that are a little meatier or, if you love character driven family dramas that are a little lighter, Island Time should definitely be on your TBR!
May 10, 2022
Thank you Atria Books for my early copy! All thoughts are my own.
This was my second Georgia Clark novel and I’ve learned she’s really good at created a diverse cast of characters that the reader can relate to in one way or another. I was swept away by the setting of Island Time, which really was the star of the book, but also loved a central sapphic love story in this contemporary family drama.
Synopsis:
“The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.
With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.” —StoryGraph
What I Liked:
The Setting—The setting is a character in itself and it’s absolutely magical. As a white American, I’ve been learning a lot about colonialism and the atrocities Indigenous peoples faced. Though this book was set in Australia, I appreciated how the colonization of Australia was brought to the reader. You can tell the author wrote this when she was homesick because the beauty and respect for the land jumps off the page.
The Bird’s Eye View Tone—There was something also Liane Moriarty-ish in the tone. It’s written in third person but for some of the book I felt like I was looking down and observing this group on the island.
The Commentary on Passions—As someone who has always had big goals, I liked seeing flawed characters struggle with how to move forward with family planning and leaving the careers and lives they’ve built in service of that. There were so many elements of Matty’s story that I could relate to. I also thought the different journeys to motherhood that were highlighted served this as well.
What Didn’t Work:
Very Slow Start—This is long for a contemporary fiction/romance. The second half of the book flew for me but it took a bit to get into it.
Classified Incorrectly Genre Wise—I really wouldn’t call this a Romance or a RomCom. It has elements, but there are so many different characters and not really a central love story. This is nitpicky, but I think avid Romance readers would be confused picking this up. Which is a bummer because I want more sapphic love stories being published! I do this it would make a remarkable film though. It’s more of a family Rom/Com/Dram, which is so important to see represented.
Character Authenticity: 3.5/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
(All are pretty minor and just mentioned) miscarriage, addiction, alcoholism, pregnancy, infidelity
This was my second Georgia Clark novel and I’ve learned she’s really good at created a diverse cast of characters that the reader can relate to in one way or another. I was swept away by the setting of Island Time, which really was the star of the book, but also loved a central sapphic love story in this contemporary family drama.
Synopsis:
“The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.
With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.” —StoryGraph
What I Liked:
The Setting—The setting is a character in itself and it’s absolutely magical. As a white American, I’ve been learning a lot about colonialism and the atrocities Indigenous peoples faced. Though this book was set in Australia, I appreciated how the colonization of Australia was brought to the reader. You can tell the author wrote this when she was homesick because the beauty and respect for the land jumps off the page.
The Bird’s Eye View Tone—There was something also Liane Moriarty-ish in the tone. It’s written in third person but for some of the book I felt like I was looking down and observing this group on the island.
The Commentary on Passions—As someone who has always had big goals, I liked seeing flawed characters struggle with how to move forward with family planning and leaving the careers and lives they’ve built in service of that. There were so many elements of Matty’s story that I could relate to. I also thought the different journeys to motherhood that were highlighted served this as well.
What Didn’t Work:
Very Slow Start—This is long for a contemporary fiction/romance. The second half of the book flew for me but it took a bit to get into it.
Classified Incorrectly Genre Wise—I really wouldn’t call this a Romance or a RomCom. It has elements, but there are so many different characters and not really a central love story. This is nitpicky, but I think avid Romance readers would be confused picking this up. Which is a bummer because I want more sapphic love stories being published! I do this it would make a remarkable film though. It’s more of a family Rom/Com/Dram, which is so important to see represented.
Character Authenticity: 3.5/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
(All are pretty minor and just mentioned) miscarriage, addiction, alcoholism, pregnancy, infidelity
September 15, 2022
https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/geo...
I don’t usually read descriptions before I pick up books, so I was fully expecting a travel romance based on the beautiful cover. Imagine my surprise when the tsunami hit and these families got stranded on their vacation! What I got was so much more interesting than a run-of-the-mill travel romance, though.
I loved both the Kellys and the Lees and how completely opposite they were. It was so fun to get each different character’s opinion on each scene.
I think Ludmilla was my favorite character. She was so buttoned-up and fancy at the beginning, and hardheadedly decided that she was going to become good at fishing just because Jules didn’t think she could. The two dads were my second-favorite part, with their unlikely friendship and bird-watching endeavor.
This story was certainly unique, and a very enjoyable read about family and living life to the fullest.
I loved that the audiobook featured a full-cast narration, which was extremely helpful in keeping these many characters straight. I thought all of the narrators were such good fits for their characters and was very glad I listened to the audio copy.
I don’t usually read descriptions before I pick up books, so I was fully expecting a travel romance based on the beautiful cover. Imagine my surprise when the tsunami hit and these families got stranded on their vacation! What I got was so much more interesting than a run-of-the-mill travel romance, though.
I loved both the Kellys and the Lees and how completely opposite they were. It was so fun to get each different character’s opinion on each scene.
I think Ludmilla was my favorite character. She was so buttoned-up and fancy at the beginning, and hardheadedly decided that she was going to become good at fishing just because Jules didn’t think she could. The two dads were my second-favorite part, with their unlikely friendship and bird-watching endeavor.
This story was certainly unique, and a very enjoyable read about family and living life to the fullest.
I loved that the audiobook featured a full-cast narration, which was extremely helpful in keeping these many characters straight. I thought all of the narrators were such good fits for their characters and was very glad I listened to the audio copy.
May 31, 2022
This is advertised as a romcom, but it is way more than that. It is a complicated book about family dynamics, variety of love stories and add a couple natural disasters. There are a lot of characters where you get everyone's perpectives at some point. At the beginning it was confusing, but it did come together. All the characters are very selfish, but I really enjoyed this book. It is long, but it comes together beautiful.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC digital copy for my my review.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC digital copy for my my review.
June 14, 2022
The writing style in this one was interesting and took me some getting used to. I’m having a hard describing it beyond saying that the writing was very … in depth? Descriptive and articulate.
Upon starting this book I was worried about how so many distinct personalities were going to fit together. The book is told in third person from the point of view of pretty much every character. While definitely an interesting way to give the reader glimpses into the different characters’ motivations, I found that the jumping around didn’t necessarily allow for extensive development for all of the individuals — almost like there wasn’t really room for them to do so. All of the characters l seemed to experience a lot, but it didn’t really feel as if they developed significantly.
What was interesting about this book is that while I didn’t necessarily like any of the characters very much (except maybe Liss), I still felt a lot of sympathy for them.
I would classify this as a book about navigating relationships while trying to find a sense of self. Queer romance is a central part of this book and I really enjoyed seeing perspectives from these characters in particular. However, the rest of the relationships were not very compelling.
Overall, definitely interesting enough to finish but not one that resonated with me.
Upon starting this book I was worried about how so many distinct personalities were going to fit together. The book is told in third person from the point of view of pretty much every character. While definitely an interesting way to give the reader glimpses into the different characters’ motivations, I found that the jumping around didn’t necessarily allow for extensive development for all of the individuals — almost like there wasn’t really room for them to do so. All of the characters l seemed to experience a lot, but it didn’t really feel as if they developed significantly.
What was interesting about this book is that while I didn’t necessarily like any of the characters very much (except maybe Liss), I still felt a lot of sympathy for them.
I would classify this as a book about navigating relationships while trying to find a sense of self. Queer romance is a central part of this book and I really enjoyed seeing perspectives from these characters in particular. However, the rest of the relationships were not very compelling.
Overall, definitely interesting enough to finish but not one that resonated with me.
June 4, 2022
This was a real treat! Big thanks to Georgia Clark, Atria Publishing, and my bookish bestie Patty for gifting me an advanced copy of this book!
While I will say this book was a taaaaaad long, it kept my attention the whole time and was such a fun filled ride! How can you not love a book full of tropical storms, dysfunction families, a giant spider named Max, Australian wilderness, and so much more?! 🌊🌴
My favorite part of this book was all the characters and their POVs. You’d think a book with NINE major characters would be absolutely chaotic (and you’d be 100% right 😂) but it really worked here! It was so fun to see the different takes on not only the situation on the island but all the crazy antics that came up. I also loved all the relationships we got to see and how each person fit in the story. And I can’t forget to mention how wonderful the LGBT rep in this book is - it was perfect. 💕
Island Time drops June 14 and you GOTTA read it!
While I will say this book was a taaaaaad long, it kept my attention the whole time and was such a fun filled ride! How can you not love a book full of tropical storms, dysfunction families, a giant spider named Max, Australian wilderness, and so much more?! 🌊🌴
My favorite part of this book was all the characters and their POVs. You’d think a book with NINE major characters would be absolutely chaotic (and you’d be 100% right 😂) but it really worked here! It was so fun to see the different takes on not only the situation on the island but all the crazy antics that came up. I also loved all the relationships we got to see and how each person fit in the story. And I can’t forget to mention how wonderful the LGBT rep in this book is - it was perfect. 💕
Island Time drops June 14 and you GOTTA read it!
June 14, 2022
Island Time is an extraordinary book, a deep multi-layered book that was way more than I expected. When the book begins, two families have come to this tropical island in the Coral Sea, to meet a prospective fiancé, to strengthen the bond between the families. There are some secrets, there are some life-changes, there are decisions to be made. But a cataclysmic natural disaster upends all of their plans, forcing the characters to extend their stay on this beautiful island, where there are only two other inhabitants. Forced into close proximity for another six weeks, the characters are forced to confront their fears, rethink careers and loves and relationships, and discover parts of themselves that have been hidden from everyone. There are blow-ups, there is danger, there are risks, there are rewards, there is pain, there is love—-there is life!!! There is a rawness in the emotions displayed by the characters, vulnerability to both nature and to each other. The island itself is an intrinsic part of this story; the lush vegetation, the unique creatures, and the water that surrounds it, adding intrigue, humor, and beauty.
June 8, 2022
Island Time
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance / LGBTQ
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/14/22
Author: Georgina Clark
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 416
Goodreads Rating: 3.48
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital advanced readers copy of the book for me to read for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated by many characters, nine of them, from their own perspective, personally, I found it confusing at time to know who was talking about what and could not connect with any one character. The story seemed a little long with 70 chapters and over 400 pages; sometimes with a lot of chapters, the chapters are shorter, however, here some of the chapters are long, just making the book drag a bit. The book is classified as a romance novel, but I believe it would be better classified as fiction. Now for the good, it is a charming story. Stuck on an island, it really gives you an opportunity to reflect where you have been in your life and where you are going. I loved that it was a spin on LGBTQ. The setting was amazing, an island in Australia and the description was absolutely beautiful, and I felt really connected to the scene. I usually love Clark’s writing style so I would definitely check out future (and past) novels by this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance / LGBTQ
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 6/14/22
Author: Georgina Clark
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 416
Goodreads Rating: 3.48
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital advanced readers copy of the book for me to read for my honest opinion.
Synopsis: The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, the two families find themselves stranded together for six weeks.
My Thoughts: The story is narrated by many characters, nine of them, from their own perspective, personally, I found it confusing at time to know who was talking about what and could not connect with any one character. The story seemed a little long with 70 chapters and over 400 pages; sometimes with a lot of chapters, the chapters are shorter, however, here some of the chapters are long, just making the book drag a bit. The book is classified as a romance novel, but I believe it would be better classified as fiction. Now for the good, it is a charming story. Stuck on an island, it really gives you an opportunity to reflect where you have been in your life and where you are going. I loved that it was a spin on LGBTQ. The setting was amazing, an island in Australia and the description was absolutely beautiful, and I felt really connected to the scene. I usually love Clark’s writing style so I would definitely check out future (and past) novels by this author.
July 2, 2022
A romance was at the heart of this novel set on a small island on the coast of Australia. A tsunami hits a small island where two families are vacationing. There are only two other people on the island. They become trapped there for 6 weeks before another boat can come out to them. They have to ration their food but most importantly they have to learn to live with each other and themselves.
There were a lot of moments that I liked about the book. I really enjoyed reading about Glen's transformation. I usually am not drawn to the male characters but in this case his story really spoke to me. I also loved how they referenced Buffy the Vampire Slayer several times. I did not like the length of this book. I understand why it was so long because there were so many relationships to explore. It did become confusing in some parts because of all the characters. This book was just ok for me. The writing was good and I think others will be more drawn to the romance in this book than I was.
I received this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Atria Books for this advanced copy.
There were a lot of moments that I liked about the book. I really enjoyed reading about Glen's transformation. I usually am not drawn to the male characters but in this case his story really spoke to me. I also loved how they referenced Buffy the Vampire Slayer several times. I did not like the length of this book. I understand why it was so long because there were so many relationships to explore. It did become confusing in some parts because of all the characters. This book was just ok for me. The writing was good and I think others will be more drawn to the romance in this book than I was.
I received this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Atria Books for this advanced copy.
November 21, 2023
The combined Lee-Kelly family vacation was blissful until Mother Nature wreaked havoc with not only a volcanic eruption but also a tsunami forcing the families to remain on the remote island for six additional weeks! How will the various family members handle this unexpected news?
After recently returning from the magical island of Oahu, Hawaii, I was drawn in by the author's description of Mun'dai, a fictional small island off the coast of Australia. The setting, the views, and the animals and birds were somewhat reminiscent of the paradise I had recently visited and made me wish it was real. Additionally, the characters and their cheeky, fun sense of humor added the final special element. Island was not only an enjoyable rom-com but also a very entertaining family drama. What a marvelous beach read... or, more accurately for me, a "reluctantly returning to real life after being at the beach" read!
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I look forward to checking out her backlog!
Location: Fictional island of Mun'dai (Lady Lushington), Australia
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
After recently returning from the magical island of Oahu, Hawaii, I was drawn in by the author's description of Mun'dai, a fictional small island off the coast of Australia. The setting, the views, and the animals and birds were somewhat reminiscent of the paradise I had recently visited and made me wish it was real. Additionally, the characters and their cheeky, fun sense of humor added the final special element. Island was not only an enjoyable rom-com but also a very entertaining family drama. What a marvelous beach read... or, more accurately for me, a "reluctantly returning to real life after being at the beach" read!
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I look forward to checking out her backlog!
Location: Fictional island of Mun'dai (Lady Lushington), Australia
I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 18, 2022
ISLAND TIME is the perfect summer read. It takes place on an island in Australia, and it has a fun ensemble cast of characters. Each character brought something different. There were a couple different romantic storylines as well as family love and friendship. It took a little bit to keep track of all of the different characters and there a couple parts that felt too drawn out, but I loved the short chapters and the background culture given to the island. There is even a cute map at the beginning of the book that helps you visualize! Clark is a fantastic writer and I really enjoyed this fun rom-com.
June 25, 2024
This one was insanely good and cute. Some good romance, some friendship, and some family stories all tied into one. A really well done story about the intricacies of all those. Also a journey of exploring one’s self. All the characters are questioning some element of themself and they all work to figure out those answers themselves and with the help of others.
This one got me in the feels hard. I’d be lying if I said my eyes were dry the whole time….
This one got me in the feels hard. I’d be lying if I said my eyes were dry the whole time….
February 16, 2022
Island Time was just all around FUN! From the setting to the characters, family dynamic was keeping the story moving at even the slow parts. If you are looking for a book to escape with for a while, pick this one up!
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2022
I'm always excited to read what Georgia Clark has to offer. Her books have always been interesting with a blend of fun, engaging story and serious conversations. You get a little bit of both worlds with Georgia Clark's books and I'm excited to say that Island Time is no exception. Thanks to Atria Books for the gifted read.
I went into this book thinking it would be a departure from Georgia Clark's normal repartee of stories. It's supposed to be a rom-com about two families who are literally stranded on an island together. The Lees and the Kellys were two imperfect families come together through their daughters' marriage and hoping to celebrate the next phase of their life. But it was obvious after the freak tsunami/earthquake/volcano eruption that there was much more going on beneath the surface of both of these families.
The driving force of this novel were its characters and there were a ton of them. Not only did you have Matty and Parker making their final decisions on moving to Sydney from New York, but you also had Matty's younger sister, Amelia, and her parents, Glen and Jules. Then you had Parker's mother and father, Ludmila and Randall, who also had their fair share of secrets and character development to run into throughout the story. Plus, the island's caretaker, Liss, who wanted to escape her life (and her ex, Sofia) in Montreal and Jarrah, a local man who loved to immerse himself in the Aboriginal culture and world that he was born into. Yep, it's a lot of folks and I think the only person who really didn't have any change or development was Randall, Parker's father.
Everyone else, well, they had their own thing going on. From both Matty and Parker's careers on the brink of a huge change to their decision to have a child to Jules and Glen's separation they haven't told their daughters. Then there was Ludmila who's change I personally didn't see coming and was pleasantly surprised by. And Glen trying to find himself while Jules trying to get laid by Jarrah. And then Amelia and her recent run-in with Liss. There was a lot of ground to cover, which definitely added to the bulk of this novel.
On top of what's happening in everyone's lives, there was also a deep examination on Australian nature and ecosystem. I loved this part because I know little to nothing about Australia and learning more about the culture (both naturally and the history of the Aboriginals) through a digestible package like a contemporary story made me want to visit. I don't want to encounter any spiders the size of a dinner plate, but the way the author incorporated the pieces of her homeland into the story made it feel like such a love letter.
I think one of the benefits of Georgia Clark's writing is that she covers everything. She will get into making the decision to have a baby with every single emotion and thought that goes into it. She will tell you the background of how Aboriginals were cast out by the English settlers. She will go through every nuanced emotion a young person may feel when they're falling in love. She does not quit. But I felt like in this particular book, there was just too much. With each character having a unique experience and development to the island itself, there was a lot of information to juggle and a lot of loose ends that needed to be tied up. I think Georgia does a great job pacing herself to wrangle all of these bits of information together, but I also feel like if she stuck to a few topics rather than each character having some sort of identity crisis then it wouldn't have felt like an undertaking of a story to complete.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the heck out of this novel. I loved the characters (especially Glen for some random reason), I loved rooting for them and following them through this very strange season of life, and I loved how they all made the best of their time stuck on a stranded island together. If you're a fan of literary fiction with a slow burn, then I highly recommend this book to you.
Overall, this is the beach read for those who don't like beach reads. The romance is very light with a couple of open-door scenes, but the main focus was this family, their identities, and who they will become after they get off this silly island.
I went into this book thinking it would be a departure from Georgia Clark's normal repartee of stories. It's supposed to be a rom-com about two families who are literally stranded on an island together. The Lees and the Kellys were two imperfect families come together through their daughters' marriage and hoping to celebrate the next phase of their life. But it was obvious after the freak tsunami/earthquake/volcano eruption that there was much more going on beneath the surface of both of these families.
The driving force of this novel were its characters and there were a ton of them. Not only did you have Matty and Parker making their final decisions on moving to Sydney from New York, but you also had Matty's younger sister, Amelia, and her parents, Glen and Jules. Then you had Parker's mother and father, Ludmila and Randall, who also had their fair share of secrets and character development to run into throughout the story. Plus, the island's caretaker, Liss, who wanted to escape her life (and her ex, Sofia) in Montreal and Jarrah, a local man who loved to immerse himself in the Aboriginal culture and world that he was born into. Yep, it's a lot of folks and I think the only person who really didn't have any change or development was Randall, Parker's father.
Everyone else, well, they had their own thing going on. From both Matty and Parker's careers on the brink of a huge change to their decision to have a child to Jules and Glen's separation they haven't told their daughters. Then there was Ludmila who's change I personally didn't see coming and was pleasantly surprised by. And Glen trying to find himself while Jules trying to get laid by Jarrah. And then Amelia and her recent run-in with Liss. There was a lot of ground to cover, which definitely added to the bulk of this novel.
On top of what's happening in everyone's lives, there was also a deep examination on Australian nature and ecosystem. I loved this part because I know little to nothing about Australia and learning more about the culture (both naturally and the history of the Aboriginals) through a digestible package like a contemporary story made me want to visit. I don't want to encounter any spiders the size of a dinner plate, but the way the author incorporated the pieces of her homeland into the story made it feel like such a love letter.
I think one of the benefits of Georgia Clark's writing is that she covers everything. She will get into making the decision to have a baby with every single emotion and thought that goes into it. She will tell you the background of how Aboriginals were cast out by the English settlers. She will go through every nuanced emotion a young person may feel when they're falling in love. She does not quit. But I felt like in this particular book, there was just too much. With each character having a unique experience and development to the island itself, there was a lot of information to juggle and a lot of loose ends that needed to be tied up. I think Georgia does a great job pacing herself to wrangle all of these bits of information together, but I also feel like if she stuck to a few topics rather than each character having some sort of identity crisis then it wouldn't have felt like an undertaking of a story to complete.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the heck out of this novel. I loved the characters (especially Glen for some random reason), I loved rooting for them and following them through this very strange season of life, and I loved how they all made the best of their time stuck on a stranded island together. If you're a fan of literary fiction with a slow burn, then I highly recommend this book to you.
Overall, this is the beach read for those who don't like beach reads. The romance is very light with a couple of open-door scenes, but the main focus was this family, their identities, and who they will become after they get off this silly island.
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