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Tripwrecked
Aiden Cole isn’t exactly running away. He’s just taking a month-long vacation halfway round the world. Spontaneously.
He may be ditching his job, his disastrous love life, family, and everything else, but nope, he’s just on vacation. Four weeks in a tiny little blip of an Australian town with impossibly blue waters and lush greenery. Only, he wasn’t expecting the world’s sexiest—albeit worst—handyman on the Sunshine Coast.
A fling, or even a little handsy action, was definitely not on his itinerary, but single dad Finn Schultz is too impressive to ignore. Weirdly tall, dark-eyed, and annoyingly hot, Finn might be worth adjusting the plan. Not to mention his tendency to keep rescuing Aiden—from wandering lost on the road, or even from what might be the most nightmarish spider on the planet.
It’s just supposed to be a vacation. A respite from the horrible mess he’s left behind. And yet somehow this strange but beautiful little town—and especially Finn—are slowly stealing Aiden’s near-broken heart. But there’s only so long he can hide from his so-called-life before it catches up with him…
He may be ditching his job, his disastrous love life, family, and everything else, but nope, he’s just on vacation. Four weeks in a tiny little blip of an Australian town with impossibly blue waters and lush greenery. Only, he wasn’t expecting the world’s sexiest—albeit worst—handyman on the Sunshine Coast.
A fling, or even a little handsy action, was definitely not on his itinerary, but single dad Finn Schultz is too impressive to ignore. Weirdly tall, dark-eyed, and annoyingly hot, Finn might be worth adjusting the plan. Not to mention his tendency to keep rescuing Aiden—from wandering lost on the road, or even from what might be the most nightmarish spider on the planet.
It’s just supposed to be a vacation. A respite from the horrible mess he’s left behind. And yet somehow this strange but beautiful little town—and especially Finn—are slowly stealing Aiden’s near-broken heart. But there’s only so long he can hide from his so-called-life before it catches up with him…
Paperback
Published November 4, 2022
83 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
A. Poland
3 books29 followersChristopher Ames (A. Poland) is a writer from Ireland who delights in telling stories about people from all walks of life coming together and falling in love. With the necessary hijinks of course.
His first two novels 'The Wingman' and 'Tripwrecked' are no strangers to swoon-worthy antics, epic declarations of love and happy ever afters.
When he's not writing the next meet-cute, Christopher can be found at the gym, or traveling with his husband and globe-trotting pup, Gizmo.
His first two novels 'The Wingman' and 'Tripwrecked' are no strangers to swoon-worthy antics, epic declarations of love and happy ever afters.
When he's not writing the next meet-cute, Christopher can be found at the gym, or traveling with his husband and globe-trotting pup, Gizmo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 14, 2025
Ha ha! Hey, so why is this called Tripwrecked if it doesn’t feature the characters getting shipwrecked or something of the sort? Not to make a huge deal out of something that wasn’t even an issue, but the whole time I was at the edge of my seat, waiting for them to get stranded on an island, Lord of the Flies style! I mean come on, there’s even a scene where a side-character mentions to Aiden that Finn (the love-interest) should take him out on his boat, and it’s like, “okay alright, here we go!” then they’re out there… on the boat, and then… THE CHAPTER JUST ENDS!? They just get back to land safe and sound. Not that I was wishing misfortune on these characters, but I think I was really expecting something completely different. There were so many moments where it seemed like it was setting up a Lost situation but then nothing happens. I don’t know, I gues I was just wishing for something a little more spectacular than what actually happens in this book. I was expecting gay Castaway, but instead I got gay Eat, Pray, Love, which isn’t bad per se, just not really what I was hoping for at this time. It didn’t help that the two main characters didn’t have all that much chemistry, because even though Aiden and Finn hook up together fairly early on in the book, their dialogue was never all that fun to read along with and they never had that sizzle factor. Unfortunately, it never felt like Finn really evolved from just being some dude. I will say that I love a good "character-desperately-runs-through-an-airport" scene, just as long it's the right character doing the running, and I can proudly say that this book has no issue on that front!
You know, I think outside factors affect my reading experiences more often than I realized, because it was pretty hot where I live while I was reading the majority of this book, and I have to admit that I might have appreciated and liked this a little more if it didn’t feel like I was reading this in the fires of Mordor. Anyway, I should try to say a couple nice things to say, because under different circumstances, there’s a good chance that I might have really, really, really enjoyed this. First of all, it reminded me of a couple songs, “Run Away” by HYBS and “Heather” by Conan Gray. I love them so much and music comparisons are my go-to when I want to compliment something! Another thing I liked was how there wasn’t a big sappy moral-of-the-story about forgiveness at the end. Aiden gets betrayed pretty badly by people who he should have been able to trust and I was really worried that the story would take a turn and get a little too preachy! A worse book probably would have waxed poetic about how important it is to “take the high-road” and “be the better man” and blah blah blah. So that was nice. I also thought Aiden was good Bisexual representation. I noticed that a lot of bi-folk seem to only exist in books to cast doubt and add a mystery for the main character to guess at their sexuality. So it was cool to see a bi character just exist in a story without there being too much of an emphasis on whatever labels they use. Overall, I can honestly say I had a pretty good time reading this pretty good book.
“I love you.”
“Good. Because if you didn’t, this would be really awkward.”
“Just say it back already.”
“I love you, too.”
You know, I think outside factors affect my reading experiences more often than I realized, because it was pretty hot where I live while I was reading the majority of this book, and I have to admit that I might have appreciated and liked this a little more if it didn’t feel like I was reading this in the fires of Mordor. Anyway, I should try to say a couple nice things to say, because under different circumstances, there’s a good chance that I might have really, really, really enjoyed this. First of all, it reminded me of a couple songs, “Run Away” by HYBS and “Heather” by Conan Gray. I love them so much and music comparisons are my go-to when I want to compliment something! Another thing I liked was how there wasn’t a big sappy moral-of-the-story about forgiveness at the end. Aiden gets betrayed pretty badly by people who he should have been able to trust and I was really worried that the story would take a turn and get a little too preachy! A worse book probably would have waxed poetic about how important it is to “take the high-road” and “be the better man” and blah blah blah. So that was nice. I also thought Aiden was good Bisexual representation. I noticed that a lot of bi-folk seem to only exist in books to cast doubt and add a mystery for the main character to guess at their sexuality. So it was cool to see a bi character just exist in a story without there being too much of an emphasis on whatever labels they use. Overall, I can honestly say I had a pretty good time reading this pretty good book.
“I love you.”
“Good. Because if you didn’t, this would be really awkward.”
“Just say it back already.”
“I love you, too.”
July 23, 2023
Aiden is determined to take a much needed break from his life back in Ireland. He travels to a friend’s Airbnb in a small town in Australia where he has a delightfully funny meet-cute with Jack of all trades, plumber extraordinaire, Finn!
As I’ve said many a time, I love when the setting feels like an additional character in the story; which very much so happens here!! It’s hilarious watching Aiden fumble his way about as a clueless tourist. I am always a fan of an unexpected wildlife encounter happening (in books!!!). The most venomous spider in Australia (I looked it up! What a creature!!) just so happened to build a nest in Aiden’s Airbnb which leads to a stay at neighbor Finn’s for the night while some experts clear spider and spider family out. Thank you to the spider for the wonderful forced proximity.😌
Aiden and Finn have a fun dynamic. They tease each other lovingly and relentlessly. One of the main conflicts is Finn’s young daughter not being a huge fan of Aiden. I really loved seeing Millie warm up to Aiden and watch them form a tentative friendship.
There a lot of elements to enjoy in this one. Queer found family, fun banter, sweet summery vibes. But I didn’t find myself completely adoring the main relationship, I more so enjoyed various aspects of the book rather than the book as a whole. The two guys didn’t hook me, neither of them felt fully fleshed out as characters and their romance was quite dull. I was more interested at the beginning but as more and more pages past, I grew terribly bored. It dragged on and on and on. This was a forgettable one, unfortunately.😴🥱
On the flip side, I am completely obsessed with another book by this same author - The Wingman and will always be on the hunt for more books like it!!! Cannot recommend that one enough!!!🤗 I had an opposite reaction to that one. I never wanted it to end and was so invested!! It’s so unique. I just checked my review for it and saw I read it in one day (one sitting I think) which is very unlike me!!! I’m so easily distracted!!! Love it so much.💚
”I’d like to keep you,” he murmured, barely above a breath.
“I’d let you.” Finn’s voice was impossibly quiet, muffled with sleep.
As I’ve said many a time, I love when the setting feels like an additional character in the story; which very much so happens here!! It’s hilarious watching Aiden fumble his way about as a clueless tourist. I am always a fan of an unexpected wildlife encounter happening (in books!!!). The most venomous spider in Australia (I looked it up! What a creature!!) just so happened to build a nest in Aiden’s Airbnb which leads to a stay at neighbor Finn’s for the night while some experts clear spider and spider family out. Thank you to the spider for the wonderful forced proximity.😌
Aiden and Finn have a fun dynamic. They tease each other lovingly and relentlessly. One of the main conflicts is Finn’s young daughter not being a huge fan of Aiden. I really loved seeing Millie warm up to Aiden and watch them form a tentative friendship.
There a lot of elements to enjoy in this one. Queer found family, fun banter, sweet summery vibes. But I didn’t find myself completely adoring the main relationship, I more so enjoyed various aspects of the book rather than the book as a whole. The two guys didn’t hook me, neither of them felt fully fleshed out as characters and their romance was quite dull. I was more interested at the beginning but as more and more pages past, I grew terribly bored. It dragged on and on and on. This was a forgettable one, unfortunately.😴🥱
On the flip side, I am completely obsessed with another book by this same author - The Wingman and will always be on the hunt for more books like it!!! Cannot recommend that one enough!!!🤗 I had an opposite reaction to that one. I never wanted it to end and was so invested!! It’s so unique. I just checked my review for it and saw I read it in one day (one sitting I think) which is very unlike me!!! I’m so easily distracted!!! Love it so much.💚
”I’d like to keep you,” he murmured, barely above a breath.
“I’d let you.” Finn’s voice was impossibly quiet, muffled with sleep.
July 4, 2023
In the beginning, it's a little hard to get a grasp on both Aiden and Finn. They seem like such polar opposites that I wondered exactly how the author was going to bring these two together. By the end it all merged beautifully. There is hidden depths to both Aiden and Finn. Aiden learns his value but also realizes how the family you find can many times be stronger than family you're born into. Aiden needed kindness. Finn also learned a valuable lesson...that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. It shows a strength that you may have been or probably were...unaware of. The romance was sizzling and balanced with lots of sass and very, very sweet moments. The secondary characters were well done and helped to break up the tense and sometimes monotonous things that life dishes out...sometimes in abundance. In addition to the two main characters there are meddlesome lesbian best friends and a snarky 8-year-old, that constantly keeps you on your toes. It was just the type of "feel good" story that everyone sometimes needs.
November 14, 2022
*Book Received in Exchange for Honest Opinion/Review*
I always feel a certain trepidation diving into a new author, will I like their writing style, will their characters resonate with me, essential will I vibe with the book? This story was a delightful surprise, and a breath of fresh air. While the first few chapters start off slow, I promise if you can grind through those, the story picks up and turns into the perfect feels good, fuzzy read.
In the beginning, you struggle to get a grasp on both Aiden and Finn. They seem like such opposites that there are moments in the first 20% of the story that I was concerned how the author was going to bring these two together. But it all flowed so seamlessly and by the end I was begging for more. There was both a hidden depth the Aiden and Finn. Aiden learns his value but also realizes how found family can be stronger than blood family. In contrast, Finn learned that asking for help isn't a weakness.
The whole romance was sizzling at moments but balanced with plenty of sass and sticky, sweet moments. The secondary characters were a delight and broke up tense or monotonous scenes. From meddlesome lesbian best friends, to a snarky 8-year old, the story constantly kept me on my toes and I looked forward to turning the page. It was the type of feels good story I didn't know I needed.
I always feel a certain trepidation diving into a new author, will I like their writing style, will their characters resonate with me, essential will I vibe with the book? This story was a delightful surprise, and a breath of fresh air. While the first few chapters start off slow, I promise if you can grind through those, the story picks up and turns into the perfect feels good, fuzzy read.
In the beginning, you struggle to get a grasp on both Aiden and Finn. They seem like such opposites that there are moments in the first 20% of the story that I was concerned how the author was going to bring these two together. But it all flowed so seamlessly and by the end I was begging for more. There was both a hidden depth the Aiden and Finn. Aiden learns his value but also realizes how found family can be stronger than blood family. In contrast, Finn learned that asking for help isn't a weakness.
The whole romance was sizzling at moments but balanced with plenty of sass and sticky, sweet moments. The secondary characters were a delight and broke up tense or monotonous scenes. From meddlesome lesbian best friends, to a snarky 8-year old, the story constantly kept me on my toes and I looked forward to turning the page. It was the type of feels good story I didn't know I needed.
December 17, 2022
Cute gay rom-com has me dreaming of the beach in December. 3.5 ⭐️
Aidan takes a long holiday to a small Australian beach town to clear his head from his terrible ex. Enter the hunky Airbnb host, Finn - the rest is pretty formulaic. Light fun read. No regrets.
Aidan takes a long holiday to a small Australian beach town to clear his head from his terrible ex. Enter the hunky Airbnb host, Finn - the rest is pretty formulaic. Light fun read. No regrets.
November 13, 2022
Read this book if you like: LGBTQ representation (both bi), single parent, traveling, small town, slightly steamy 🔥
Aiden Cole isn’t exactly running away. He’s just taking a month-long vacation halfway around the world. Spontaneously. He is ditching his job, his disastrous love life, family, and everything else. He's spending four weeks in a tiny little blip of an Australian town with impossibly blue waters and lush greenery. Only, he wasn’t expecting the world’s hottest handyman helping at the Air B&B.
Finn Schultz is a single dad. He's also weirdly tall, dark-eyed, and annoyingly hot. Finn might be worth adjusting the plan. Not to mention his tendency to keep rescuing Aiden from wandering lost on the road, or even from what might be the most nightmarish spider on the planet.
I liked this book. This has a good cast of characters. I loved Finn and liked Aiden. I didn't love the way Aiden's family treated him so be weary of that if it's triggering to you. I would have ran away too. 🤣 It was too slow and uneventful at times for me. The ending was not my favorite. I still enjoyed it. I recommend you grabbing this book today!
Huge thank you to Entangled Publishing and Grey's Promotions for the gifted e-book! ❤️
Aiden Cole isn’t exactly running away. He’s just taking a month-long vacation halfway around the world. Spontaneously. He is ditching his job, his disastrous love life, family, and everything else. He's spending four weeks in a tiny little blip of an Australian town with impossibly blue waters and lush greenery. Only, he wasn’t expecting the world’s hottest handyman helping at the Air B&B.
Finn Schultz is a single dad. He's also weirdly tall, dark-eyed, and annoyingly hot. Finn might be worth adjusting the plan. Not to mention his tendency to keep rescuing Aiden from wandering lost on the road, or even from what might be the most nightmarish spider on the planet.
I liked this book. This has a good cast of characters. I loved Finn and liked Aiden. I didn't love the way Aiden's family treated him so be weary of that if it's triggering to you. I would have ran away too. 🤣 It was too slow and uneventful at times for me. The ending was not my favorite. I still enjoyed it. I recommend you grabbing this book today!
Huge thank you to Entangled Publishing and Grey's Promotions for the gifted e-book! ❤️
February 2, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙡𝙙. 𝙄𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙚.
📍 Read if you like:
• Forbidden Love/Off Limits
• Grump/Sunshine
• Australia Settings
• M/M Romcoms
I haven’t heard anyone talk about this book, but I went on a whim and read it. The premise sounded so interesting and I love a good Australian story. This book gave me a cozy vacation vibe.
I loved the characters so much. Aiden took a vacation to Australia - which was very needed with his family issues and terrible ex. Finn is a single Aussie father and I loved his character so much.
This was a very light m/m romcom. There weren’t many “steamy” scenes - it was more closed-door scenes. However, I enjoyed the romantic chemistry between our two MCs. I also really liked the side characters.
This book was a lot shorter than I thought it was. I found myself so entertained by the story and flew through it. The writing style was also super easy to get into.
My only issue was the pacing at times, it was a bit slow and dragged. It didn’t bother me as much, but at times it was an issue. Also, that ending wasn’t my favorite. It felt a bit unnecessary.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting to. I didn’t have high expectations but it was a fun rom-com. I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ rep with two bi characters and they were very likable. The setting was so good - I loved the spider scene. This was a fun lighthearted romcom!
Thank you so much Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
𝙊𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙡𝙙. 𝙄𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙚.
📍 Read if you like:
• Forbidden Love/Off Limits
• Grump/Sunshine
• Australia Settings
• M/M Romcoms
I haven’t heard anyone talk about this book, but I went on a whim and read it. The premise sounded so interesting and I love a good Australian story. This book gave me a cozy vacation vibe.
I loved the characters so much. Aiden took a vacation to Australia - which was very needed with his family issues and terrible ex. Finn is a single Aussie father and I loved his character so much.
This was a very light m/m romcom. There weren’t many “steamy” scenes - it was more closed-door scenes. However, I enjoyed the romantic chemistry between our two MCs. I also really liked the side characters.
This book was a lot shorter than I thought it was. I found myself so entertained by the story and flew through it. The writing style was also super easy to get into.
My only issue was the pacing at times, it was a bit slow and dragged. It didn’t bother me as much, but at times it was an issue. Also, that ending wasn’t my favorite. It felt a bit unnecessary.
Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I was expecting to. I didn’t have high expectations but it was a fun rom-com. I enjoyed the LGBTQ+ rep with two bi characters and they were very likable. The setting was so good - I loved the spider scene. This was a fun lighthearted romcom!
Thank you so much Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 3, 2023
3.75 stars
I am always on the lookout for new authors to obsess over, I mean, read. So I was super excited to grab Tripwrecked.
Tripwrecked is a super cute, vacation romance. It is a little slower-paced and glossed over smexy times, but still quite an enjoyable read.
Aidan decides to takes a holiday after some crappy stuff happens with his ex-boyfriend. He travels to a small Australian beach town he saw online. He got an amazing deal with an Air B&B and he was set to escape all the things. Enter Finn in a DIY disaster meet-cute, and well, my love for gruff male main characters is well-established. Also, Finn's daughter was a splash of real-life kid, not some fairy tale version, and I really appreciated that.
I didn't get a huge chemistry buzz or real connection between myself and the characters and I REALLY wanted way more closure on Aiden's end of the story but c'est la vie.
Overall, Tripwrecked was a light-hearted fun read with fairly low angst (there was a smidge of kid and relationship drama) and a HEA. Two-thumbs up.
I will definitely look up/read this author again.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I am always on the lookout for new authors to obsess over, I mean, read. So I was super excited to grab Tripwrecked.
Tripwrecked is a super cute, vacation romance. It is a little slower-paced and glossed over smexy times, but still quite an enjoyable read.
Aidan decides to takes a holiday after some crappy stuff happens with his ex-boyfriend. He travels to a small Australian beach town he saw online. He got an amazing deal with an Air B&B and he was set to escape all the things. Enter Finn in a DIY disaster meet-cute, and well, my love for gruff male main characters is well-established. Also, Finn's daughter was a splash of real-life kid, not some fairy tale version, and I really appreciated that.
I didn't get a huge chemistry buzz or real connection between myself and the characters and I REALLY wanted way more closure on Aiden's end of the story but c'est la vie.
Overall, Tripwrecked was a light-hearted fun read with fairly low angst (there was a smidge of kid and relationship drama) and a HEA. Two-thumbs up.
I will definitely look up/read this author again.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 12, 2022
Heartwarming, life-affirming and optimistic - I loved my "holiday" in Canlaroy with Aiden!
Aiden is left reeling when he catches his boyfriend cheating. What hurts more is who he was cheating with! Aiden snaps and decides that being the dutiful son/brother/boyfriend/colleague is over and he goes on holiday (panic planned) to Australia - as far away from his problems as he can physically get.
On arrival, he scares himself when he meets his landlord's brother - Finn. Finn may actually be the definition of grump! But when he and Aiden keep meeting in ascending scenes of panic/hilarity the chemistry between them can't be denied. Neither is ready for a full-on relationship - Finn has his daughter to consider and Aiden is going back to Ireland to sort his life out. But Canlaroy and its quirky inhabitants have a habit of sucking in out of towners!
LGBTQ+ gentle rom-com with a brilliant seam of humour. Aiden's inner fights with himself are brilliant. Aiden and Finn are smexy and sweet at the same time. There are a host of secondary characters who completely seal the deal of Canlaroy as best small town in Oz including Tam and Aide and a certain loud hailer wielding local, lol.
This book is all about finding love, friendship and a place to call home. Sometimes the family you find is better than the one you're born into. Totally charming, fun and feelgood. It is fairly low on the steam side but it didn't lack for that.
First read for me by this author but won't be my last!
Aiden is left reeling when he catches his boyfriend cheating. What hurts more is who he was cheating with! Aiden snaps and decides that being the dutiful son/brother/boyfriend/colleague is over and he goes on holiday (panic planned) to Australia - as far away from his problems as he can physically get.
On arrival, he scares himself when he meets his landlord's brother - Finn. Finn may actually be the definition of grump! But when he and Aiden keep meeting in ascending scenes of panic/hilarity the chemistry between them can't be denied. Neither is ready for a full-on relationship - Finn has his daughter to consider and Aiden is going back to Ireland to sort his life out. But Canlaroy and its quirky inhabitants have a habit of sucking in out of towners!
LGBTQ+ gentle rom-com with a brilliant seam of humour. Aiden's inner fights with himself are brilliant. Aiden and Finn are smexy and sweet at the same time. There are a host of secondary characters who completely seal the deal of Canlaroy as best small town in Oz including Tam and Aide and a certain loud hailer wielding local, lol.
This book is all about finding love, friendship and a place to call home. Sometimes the family you find is better than the one you're born into. Totally charming, fun and feelgood. It is fairly low on the steam side but it didn't lack for that.
First read for me by this author but won't be my last!
June 26, 2023
I was sent a copy of this book for review.
Aiden Cole’s life has imploded but taking a spontaneous month-long holiday away from Dublin to the other side of the world isn’t running away, right? He might be fooling himself but back home his overly dependent mam and overbearing sister think he is selfish and ignoring his responsibilities. Aiden needed an instant escape from his devastating love life, joyless job and the pressure of the obligations that were heaped on him by everyone else.
Aiden travels to a small town outside Brisbane for 4 weeks of sunshine and relaxation and to get away from his life. What he didn’t bargain on was the gorgeous handyman/Airbnb host he finds at his accommodation who turns out Finn Schultz, a deliciously hot single dad. Aiden is instantly attracted to him but determined to pay his fluttery heart and traitorous body no heed. Aiden didn’t want a hookup but Finn’s flirtatious nature, his ability to save Aiden from both faulty plumping and scary giant spiders and the easy way he makes Aiden feel good about himself for the first time in years leaves him unable to ignore Finn’s advances. However, as the weeks go by their summer fling goes beyond a simple attraction. But the complications of his life back home begin to catch up with Aiden leaving him with difficult choices to make for his future.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 This was a sweet, entertaining, and sometimes emotional holiday romance. Finn and Aiden had great chemistry and I was rooting for them right away. There were some angsty moments as both men have a lot of pressure on their shoulders, but I loved how the story was peppered with hilarious and snarky side characters that spur both Finn and Aiden on in their burgeoning romance while helping them realise they may have found something even more important. Some of the plot was a little predictable (small town/instant attraction/meddling locals) but I felt that it didn’t hamper my overall enjoyment of the story as I wanted a fun rom-com in a sunny and idyllic setting and this delivered a great holiday read full of sun, sea, sex, and plenty of laughs.
Aiden Cole’s life has imploded but taking a spontaneous month-long holiday away from Dublin to the other side of the world isn’t running away, right? He might be fooling himself but back home his overly dependent mam and overbearing sister think he is selfish and ignoring his responsibilities. Aiden needed an instant escape from his devastating love life, joyless job and the pressure of the obligations that were heaped on him by everyone else.
Aiden travels to a small town outside Brisbane for 4 weeks of sunshine and relaxation and to get away from his life. What he didn’t bargain on was the gorgeous handyman/Airbnb host he finds at his accommodation who turns out Finn Schultz, a deliciously hot single dad. Aiden is instantly attracted to him but determined to pay his fluttery heart and traitorous body no heed. Aiden didn’t want a hookup but Finn’s flirtatious nature, his ability to save Aiden from both faulty plumping and scary giant spiders and the easy way he makes Aiden feel good about himself for the first time in years leaves him unable to ignore Finn’s advances. However, as the weeks go by their summer fling goes beyond a simple attraction. But the complications of his life back home begin to catch up with Aiden leaving him with difficult choices to make for his future.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 This was a sweet, entertaining, and sometimes emotional holiday romance. Finn and Aiden had great chemistry and I was rooting for them right away. There were some angsty moments as both men have a lot of pressure on their shoulders, but I loved how the story was peppered with hilarious and snarky side characters that spur both Finn and Aiden on in their burgeoning romance while helping them realise they may have found something even more important. Some of the plot was a little predictable (small town/instant attraction/meddling locals) but I felt that it didn’t hamper my overall enjoyment of the story as I wanted a fun rom-com in a sunny and idyllic setting and this delivered a great holiday read full of sun, sea, sex, and plenty of laughs.
October 24, 2022
Ah such a sweet story. Honestly, the location of Australia drew me in first, but then the story was carried in such a way that I couldn’t stop reading. Aidan and Finn as a couple was so adorable and sweet. I love that they became better together. I also loved how the author incorporated side characters that were fun, sassy, direct and loving. Yet not too annoying. Hooray for that. And the ending was definitely a great love rom com ending that will make you smile. Overall, this was a sweet gem of a book that will make you smile and laugh. Trust me, you got to read this book!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 27, 2022
This was so much fun! Watching Aiden become friends with Milly was so cute. That's always my favorite part of a single parent romance. I really loved this but I do wish that we got a chapter from Finn's pov. Maybe a bonus proposal chapter from his pov?
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
June 14, 2023
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
This is a wonderful story from a new to me author.
Aiden and Finn's story was just delightful. It was a bit slow to begin with, but once it got going it really got going.
I really enjoyed Aiden, and loved that he walked away from those who did him wrong - just wish he told them where to shove it earlier in the story.
As it is winter here at the moment, it had me daydreaming of warmer climes.
It is hard when you pick up a new author as to whether you will like it, and I am happy to say there are no regrets here!
This is a wonderful story from a new to me author.
Aiden and Finn's story was just delightful. It was a bit slow to begin with, but once it got going it really got going.
I really enjoyed Aiden, and loved that he walked away from those who did him wrong - just wish he told them where to shove it earlier in the story.
As it is winter here at the moment, it had me daydreaming of warmer climes.
It is hard when you pick up a new author as to whether you will like it, and I am happy to say there are no regrets here!
August 31, 2024
Aiden's spontaneous Australian holiday was meant to be a break from his disastrous life, but annoyingly hot single dad handyman Finn throws a wrench in his plans.
I loved Aiden and Finn’s relationship. The chemistry between them was obvious since the first time they met, and I was happy that they’re meddling friends brought them together. I liked that they didn’t get along at first and all of their random encounters. It led up perfectly to them admitting they liked each other and them hooking up.
Speaking of hooking up, don’t go into this book expecting spicy scenes. The lead up to the steamy parts was written rather graphically, but then we get the door shut in our face for the actual smut.
Finn’s daughter, Millie added a really nice dynamic between the couple, and I really enjoyed the single dad aspect of this story. I was surprised to find out why Aiden was actually in Australia, and I don’t blame him for taking a month long holiday at all.
If your looking for a quick summer beach read with LGBTQIA+ representation then this is the perfect book for you.
I loved Aiden and Finn’s relationship. The chemistry between them was obvious since the first time they met, and I was happy that they’re meddling friends brought them together. I liked that they didn’t get along at first and all of their random encounters. It led up perfectly to them admitting they liked each other and them hooking up.
Speaking of hooking up, don’t go into this book expecting spicy scenes. The lead up to the steamy parts was written rather graphically, but then we get the door shut in our face for the actual smut.
Finn’s daughter, Millie added a really nice dynamic between the couple, and I really enjoyed the single dad aspect of this story. I was surprised to find out why Aiden was actually in Australia, and I don’t blame him for taking a month long holiday at all.
If your looking for a quick summer beach read with LGBTQIA+ representation then this is the perfect book for you.
Read
October 5, 2024This isn’t terrible, though I’m not enjoying the kid or Aiden being a doormat to his family, but it’s just not holding my attention. It definitely needed some cutting; it’s too long for a pretty mild romance. Even though Goodreads has it as 312 pages and Amazon gets a little closer at 332 pages, this is more like 500 pages (each 1% was 5 page turns). DNF@ 53%
September 27, 2023
Loved the premise
November 1, 2022
4,5/5 estrellas
*Muchas gracias a la editorial por la copia avanzada. Esta reseña es honesta y voluntaria.*
Tripwrecked me ha gustado muchísimo. Es una mezcla de romcom y found family que recomiendo mucho.
La historia empieza con Aiden, un irlandes que está cansado de su monótona vida y aprovecha que su novio le rompe el corazón para dar un cambio radical, dejar su trabajo, y marcharse un mes a un pueblo tranquilo de Australia. Allí le pasa de todo, conoce a mucha gente y entre esas personas está Finn, un padre soltero en apariencia rudo pero con un corazón de oro. Aiden terminará por crear lazos de amistad y amor que le llevarán a cuestionarse si debe volver a casa, o si aquel lugar que llama casa es su verdadero hogar.
Los personajes son un punto a favor en el libro. Aiden es muy atolondrado, no da dos pasos sin meter la pata y propicia muchas escenas que me han hecho reír mucho. Sigue afectado por la ruptura con su novio y la mala relación familiar, pero en Australia encontrará una familia que le dará el amor que no ha recibido de la suya. Finn ha sido toda una sorpresa, porque parecía el típico gruñón y luego es todo lo contrario. Adora a su hija por encima de todo y siempre pone el bienestar de los demás por delante del suyo propio. Ese equilibrio entre Aiden y Finn ha hecho que la historia me enganche y quisiera saber más y más.
Los personajes secundarios no se quedan atrás. Tanto Tam, como Addie, madres de Dylan, y Marlee, que es como una madre para todos, hacen de la historia algo mejor.
No disfrutaba tanto de un found family desde los libros de TJ Klune. Si os ha gustado La casa en el mar más azul os recomiendo Tripwrecked.
PD: No le he dado las 5 estrellas porque le autore repite mucho la palabra Aiden en las frases, en vez de sustituirlo por un "él" o cambiar la frase por otra. Al principio se me hizo un poco pesado, pero conforme me iba adentrando en la historia ya no me daba casi cuenta.
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4.5/5 stars
*This is my honest and voluntary review. Thanks so much to the publisher for this ARC.*
I liked Tripwrecked a lot. It is a mixture of romcom and found family that I highly recommend.
The story begins with Aiden, an Irishman who is tired of his monotonous life and takes advantage of the fact that his boyfriend breaks his heart to make a radical change, quit his job, and go to a quiet town in Australia for a month. . There he goes through everything, he meets a lot of people and among those people is Finn, a single father with a rough appearance but with a heart of gold. Aiden will end up creating bonds of friendship and love that will lead him to question if he should return home, or if the place he calls home is his true home.
The main characters are a plus point in the book. Aiden is very giddy, he doesn't take two steps without screwing up and leads to many scenes that have made me laugh a lot. He is still affected by his breakup with his boyfriend and his bad family relationship, but in Australia he will find a family that will give him the love that he has not received from his real family. Finn has been quite a surprise, because he seemed like the typical grump and then he is the opposite. He dotes on his daughter above all else and always puts the welfare of others before his own. That balance between Aiden and Finn has made the story hook me and I wanted to know more and more about them.
The secondary characters are not far behind. Both Tam and Addie, mothers of Dylan, and Marlee, who is like a mother to everyone, make the story better.
I haven't enjoyed a found family story this much since TJ Klune's books. If you liked The House in the Cerulean Sea, I recommend Tripwrecked.
PS: I have not given it 5 stars because the author repeats the word Aiden a lot in the sentences, instead of replacing it with a "he" or changing the sentence for another. At first it was a bit heavy for me, but as I got deeper into the story I almost didn't realize it.
*Muchas gracias a la editorial por la copia avanzada. Esta reseña es honesta y voluntaria.*
Tripwrecked me ha gustado muchísimo. Es una mezcla de romcom y found family que recomiendo mucho.
La historia empieza con Aiden, un irlandes que está cansado de su monótona vida y aprovecha que su novio le rompe el corazón para dar un cambio radical, dejar su trabajo, y marcharse un mes a un pueblo tranquilo de Australia. Allí le pasa de todo, conoce a mucha gente y entre esas personas está Finn, un padre soltero en apariencia rudo pero con un corazón de oro. Aiden terminará por crear lazos de amistad y amor que le llevarán a cuestionarse si debe volver a casa, o si aquel lugar que llama casa es su verdadero hogar.
Los personajes son un punto a favor en el libro. Aiden es muy atolondrado, no da dos pasos sin meter la pata y propicia muchas escenas que me han hecho reír mucho. Sigue afectado por la ruptura con su novio y la mala relación familiar, pero en Australia encontrará una familia que le dará el amor que no ha recibido de la suya. Finn ha sido toda una sorpresa, porque parecía el típico gruñón y luego es todo lo contrario. Adora a su hija por encima de todo y siempre pone el bienestar de los demás por delante del suyo propio. Ese equilibrio entre Aiden y Finn ha hecho que la historia me enganche y quisiera saber más y más.
Los personajes secundarios no se quedan atrás. Tanto Tam, como Addie, madres de Dylan, y Marlee, que es como una madre para todos, hacen de la historia algo mejor.
No disfrutaba tanto de un found family desde los libros de TJ Klune. Si os ha gustado La casa en el mar más azul os recomiendo Tripwrecked.
PD: No le he dado las 5 estrellas porque le autore repite mucho la palabra Aiden en las frases, en vez de sustituirlo por un "él" o cambiar la frase por otra. Al principio se me hizo un poco pesado, pero conforme me iba adentrando en la historia ya no me daba casi cuenta.
----------------------------------------
4.5/5 stars
*This is my honest and voluntary review. Thanks so much to the publisher for this ARC.*
I liked Tripwrecked a lot. It is a mixture of romcom and found family that I highly recommend.
The story begins with Aiden, an Irishman who is tired of his monotonous life and takes advantage of the fact that his boyfriend breaks his heart to make a radical change, quit his job, and go to a quiet town in Australia for a month. . There he goes through everything, he meets a lot of people and among those people is Finn, a single father with a rough appearance but with a heart of gold. Aiden will end up creating bonds of friendship and love that will lead him to question if he should return home, or if the place he calls home is his true home.
The main characters are a plus point in the book. Aiden is very giddy, he doesn't take two steps without screwing up and leads to many scenes that have made me laugh a lot. He is still affected by his breakup with his boyfriend and his bad family relationship, but in Australia he will find a family that will give him the love that he has not received from his real family. Finn has been quite a surprise, because he seemed like the typical grump and then he is the opposite. He dotes on his daughter above all else and always puts the welfare of others before his own. That balance between Aiden and Finn has made the story hook me and I wanted to know more and more about them.
The secondary characters are not far behind. Both Tam and Addie, mothers of Dylan, and Marlee, who is like a mother to everyone, make the story better.
I haven't enjoyed a found family story this much since TJ Klune's books. If you liked The House in the Cerulean Sea, I recommend Tripwrecked.
PS: I have not given it 5 stars because the author repeats the word Aiden a lot in the sentences, instead of replacing it with a "he" or changing the sentence for another. At first it was a bit heavy for me, but as I got deeper into the story I almost didn't realize it.
November 2, 2022
TRIPWRECKED is an absolutely delightful story about a small town, falling in love, and finding a place to belong. Aiden left his mess of a life to take a one-month vacation to a small town in Australia, Canlaroy, where he has rented an AirB&B. What he doesn't expect is the attractive but surly guy fixing the sink there. As they seem to keep running into each other, Finn and Aiden can't deny their connection, though things are a bit complicated considering Finn's daughter and her feelings on the matter as well as the fact that Aiden is definitely leaving in a month to go back home to Ireland.
This was an absolutely delightful romantic comedy that had me absolutely laughing out loud and squealing in delight. Aiden and Finn are perfect for each other. Told from Aiden's point-of-view, there's a lot of comedy in his thoughts as well, especially as he is on his own journey to deal with the things he has left behind in Ireland. They were perfect together, and the way that they talk things through plus their chemistry was just off the charts. I absolutely loved them together and getting to see their relationship grow.
The semi-mystery that drove Aiden to Australia was pretty easy to figure out, but it also ended up being a small part of the story. This was really a story about falling in love, community, and finding a place to belong - found family style. It was lovely, it was funny, and it was absolutely charming. I loved it all - from Tam and Aide, the delightful couple that soon become Aiden's friends, to Finn's daughter to the way that Aiden and Finn were so clearly made for each other. This is a light-hearted delight that I highly recommend for any rom-com lovers!
As a note, this features fade-to-curtain type scenes, so while the chemistry is off the charts, it ends up being fairly low on the steamy scale.
Overall, TRIPWRECKED is a fantastic and delightful romantic comedy that I cannot recommend enough! Seriously, pick this one up now!! Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.
This was an absolutely delightful romantic comedy that had me absolutely laughing out loud and squealing in delight. Aiden and Finn are perfect for each other. Told from Aiden's point-of-view, there's a lot of comedy in his thoughts as well, especially as he is on his own journey to deal with the things he has left behind in Ireland. They were perfect together, and the way that they talk things through plus their chemistry was just off the charts. I absolutely loved them together and getting to see their relationship grow.
The semi-mystery that drove Aiden to Australia was pretty easy to figure out, but it also ended up being a small part of the story. This was really a story about falling in love, community, and finding a place to belong - found family style. It was lovely, it was funny, and it was absolutely charming. I loved it all - from Tam and Aide, the delightful couple that soon become Aiden's friends, to Finn's daughter to the way that Aiden and Finn were so clearly made for each other. This is a light-hearted delight that I highly recommend for any rom-com lovers!
As a note, this features fade-to-curtain type scenes, so while the chemistry is off the charts, it ends up being fairly low on the steamy scale.
Overall, TRIPWRECKED is a fantastic and delightful romantic comedy that I cannot recommend enough! Seriously, pick this one up now!! Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.
Read
November 13, 2022I ended up DNFing this book at 50% through. I kept trying to get into the rhythm, but unfortunately, found myself bored and noticing the repetitive nature in the writing style.
While I was overall enjoying the characters, I needed more of the main character, Aiden. Where the reader knows quite a bit about the love interest, Finn, Aiden is mainly a mystery minus a few details. Ultimately, I think that's due to the third person perspective the reader gets. Instead of just being in Aiden's head and being able to understand him and his feelings, I felt like whenever we were getting into his head a bit, someone would take him out of his trance.
Being at 50% and still not knowing Aiden's true motivation for running off to Australia was really frustrating. While I knew that something had happened with his boyfriend that lead to them ending their eight-year relationship, it still hadn't been explained. Perhaps it ends up being a main issue for the third act conflict, but considering that by 26% in, Aiden and Finn are in the midst of kissing and more, it felt as though that reasoning could have been explained by the halfway point. Especially with how much Finn had been opening up to Aiden prior to my decision to stop reading.
While I had been enjoying the fun nature of going on a trip to a place you've never been and meeting someone you never expected, my frustration with not knowing much about the main character, the sometimes repetitive writing style, and general needing more to be happening, I ended my holiday in Canlaroy early.
While I was overall enjoying the characters, I needed more of the main character, Aiden. Where the reader knows quite a bit about the love interest, Finn, Aiden is mainly a mystery minus a few details. Ultimately, I think that's due to the third person perspective the reader gets. Instead of just being in Aiden's head and being able to understand him and his feelings, I felt like whenever we were getting into his head a bit, someone would take him out of his trance.
Being at 50% and still not knowing Aiden's true motivation for running off to Australia was really frustrating. While I knew that something had happened with his boyfriend that lead to them ending their eight-year relationship, it still hadn't been explained. Perhaps it ends up being a main issue for the third act conflict, but considering that by 26% in, Aiden and Finn are in the midst of kissing and more, it felt as though that reasoning could have been explained by the halfway point. Especially with how much Finn had been opening up to Aiden prior to my decision to stop reading.
While I had been enjoying the fun nature of going on a trip to a place you've never been and meeting someone you never expected, my frustration with not knowing much about the main character, the sometimes repetitive writing style, and general needing more to be happening, I ended my holiday in Canlaroy early.
July 8, 2023
✨Book Review✨
📖 Tripwrecked
✍️ @danielgirardauthor
Pub Date: November 14th 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @pridebooktours for having me on this tour and to @entangled_publishing and the author for the gifted ecopy.
“Aiden came here to have a good time, to take the next step in his life, to do something for himself for once. If he dwelled on the past he was going to get stuck there.”
SHEW! Can I relate to Aiden y’all?! As soon as I read that quote, I busted into tears because I am Aiden - except with the whole holiday in Australia and hunk handyman lurking around and such. I just moved to Alabama. Both start with “A” so it works.
Gay romcoms can give hit or miss. They can either be super cheesy where it’s hard to get through it, or they’re just right. This one was just right. It had moments where I wanted the characters to get to the point, but I can look past it when the characters are enjoyable. And these characters were great… especially 8yr old Millie. The banter and humor between these characters had me instantly engaged, and I couldn’t have loved it more. Beautifully written and the growth of Aiden was great to see.
Could there be more spice? Absolutely. But I’ll take what little spice I can get today lol.
And now looking up trips to Australia - yes i hate spiders… but i will not go to the country. I’ll just stay in the city. And if any of you tell me that there are giant spiders in any of the major cities, I will send you a delightful surprise in the mail 👀.
📖 Tripwrecked
✍️ @danielgirardauthor
Pub Date: November 14th 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @pridebooktours for having me on this tour and to @entangled_publishing and the author for the gifted ecopy.
“Aiden came here to have a good time, to take the next step in his life, to do something for himself for once. If he dwelled on the past he was going to get stuck there.”
SHEW! Can I relate to Aiden y’all?! As soon as I read that quote, I busted into tears because I am Aiden - except with the whole holiday in Australia and hunk handyman lurking around and such. I just moved to Alabama. Both start with “A” so it works.
Gay romcoms can give hit or miss. They can either be super cheesy where it’s hard to get through it, or they’re just right. This one was just right. It had moments where I wanted the characters to get to the point, but I can look past it when the characters are enjoyable. And these characters were great… especially 8yr old Millie. The banter and humor between these characters had me instantly engaged, and I couldn’t have loved it more. Beautifully written and the growth of Aiden was great to see.
Could there be more spice? Absolutely. But I’ll take what little spice I can get today lol.
And now looking up trips to Australia - yes i hate spiders… but i will not go to the country. I’ll just stay in the city. And if any of you tell me that there are giant spiders in any of the major cities, I will send you a delightful surprise in the mail 👀.
October 27, 2022
Thank you to A. Poland, Entangled Publishing, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Tripwrecked comes out November 14, 2022!
Tripwrecked is delightful romantic comedy set in a small town in Australia. After his boyfriend of 8 years and his sister betray him in the worst possible way, Aiden decides to drop everything and runaway for alittle bit. This lands him in small coastal town far way from his home country of Ireland. When getting to his Airbnb he finds the very handsome but kind of intimidating brother of the owner and single dad, Finn. While first impressions were rough the two keep running into each other, and each time their chemistry grows and grows. Will Aiden being heading back to Ireland or will he discover that home has a lot more to do with the people then the place.
This book was such a quick, fast-paced, fun read. Aiden is so lost and lonely in the beginning so it is very heartwarming to see the relationships he develops and his own personnel growth. Finn comes off as very gruff and grumpy but you find out that he has such an amazing heart most of the time (we can admit he has his stubborn and grumpy moments). The side characters are supportive and warm. I would have really liked for the book to be dual POV, I feel like I wasn't as attached to Finn because of this. But overall this book was all about finding family in unlikely places and figuring out that where you belong might not be the place you originally thought.
Tripwrecked is delightful romantic comedy set in a small town in Australia. After his boyfriend of 8 years and his sister betray him in the worst possible way, Aiden decides to drop everything and runaway for alittle bit. This lands him in small coastal town far way from his home country of Ireland. When getting to his Airbnb he finds the very handsome but kind of intimidating brother of the owner and single dad, Finn. While first impressions were rough the two keep running into each other, and each time their chemistry grows and grows. Will Aiden being heading back to Ireland or will he discover that home has a lot more to do with the people then the place.
This book was such a quick, fast-paced, fun read. Aiden is so lost and lonely in the beginning so it is very heartwarming to see the relationships he develops and his own personnel growth. Finn comes off as very gruff and grumpy but you find out that he has such an amazing heart most of the time (we can admit he has his stubborn and grumpy moments). The side characters are supportive and warm. I would have really liked for the book to be dual POV, I feel like I wasn't as attached to Finn because of this. But overall this book was all about finding family in unlikely places and figuring out that where you belong might not be the place you originally thought.
November 29, 2023
Tripwrecked
By A. Poland
Entangled Publishing, 2022
Five stars
A warm-hearted and slightly off-beat rom-com that combines good writing and excellent characters.
The off-beat part comes in with the perspective: an Irish man, life-long Dubliner, basically flees a personal disaster at home, and finds himself in Australia. The added quirk is that it’s small-town Australia, outside of Brisbane, in an isolated little house with a great view of unspoiled beaches and endless ocean. Aiden Cole needs to get away from everything, and this seems the perfect spot.
Then Finn Schultz appears on the scene, disconcerting Aiden with his size and gruff Aussie beauty. Aiden is the stammering bumbler, and Finn is the vaguely threatening strong silent type. Except, of course, both of these young men are rather more than they seem.
The story unrolls as Aiden gets sucked into the small-town lives of Finn and his friends—who are really his family. Aiden’s backstory and Finn’s are both revealed bit by bit, as are the lives of the other characters. The author makes them feel real, by infusing the story with plenty of humor and giving a vivid sense of just what this little corner of Down Under is like.
The ending is as rom-com as the starting, but there’s an intensity to it all provided by Aiden’s internal conversations throughout, as he struggles to balance obligation with personal happiness. It’s very well done and at times very moving.
By A. Poland
Entangled Publishing, 2022
Five stars
A warm-hearted and slightly off-beat rom-com that combines good writing and excellent characters.
The off-beat part comes in with the perspective: an Irish man, life-long Dubliner, basically flees a personal disaster at home, and finds himself in Australia. The added quirk is that it’s small-town Australia, outside of Brisbane, in an isolated little house with a great view of unspoiled beaches and endless ocean. Aiden Cole needs to get away from everything, and this seems the perfect spot.
Then Finn Schultz appears on the scene, disconcerting Aiden with his size and gruff Aussie beauty. Aiden is the stammering bumbler, and Finn is the vaguely threatening strong silent type. Except, of course, both of these young men are rather more than they seem.
The story unrolls as Aiden gets sucked into the small-town lives of Finn and his friends—who are really his family. Aiden’s backstory and Finn’s are both revealed bit by bit, as are the lives of the other characters. The author makes them feel real, by infusing the story with plenty of humor and giving a vivid sense of just what this little corner of Down Under is like.
The ending is as rom-com as the starting, but there’s an intensity to it all provided by Aiden’s internal conversations throughout, as he struggles to balance obligation with personal happiness. It’s very well done and at times very moving.
October 27, 2022
The plane touched down, hitting the inky black tarmac with a thump. The flight had been tiresome, but seeing the beauty surrounding him outside the tiny window made the entire trip worth it. The sun was shining, the air was warm, and a new place was here to welcome him and hopefully take his mind off of the place he just left behind.
Tripwrecked tells the story of Aiden who has just left his hometown, his job, his family, and his disastrous love life to escape to Australia for a month. Looking to just have time alone to think things through, he would never have thought the community he was vacationing in would welcome him into their arms. Especially a specific set of handsome arms.
This was a cute gay romcom that made me smile. The grumpy/sunshine trope and falling for a stranger was refreshing to read. Plus the Australian setting was perfect! I wasn’t 100% connected with the characters, but overall I enjoyed the story.
If you love grumpy/sunshine with bisexual rep, want an Australian setting, and a close knit small town community… then you’ll probably enjoy this story.
TW: Death of Parents, Cancer, Toxic Family Relationship, Infidelity, Anxiety.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
Tripwrecked tells the story of Aiden who has just left his hometown, his job, his family, and his disastrous love life to escape to Australia for a month. Looking to just have time alone to think things through, he would never have thought the community he was vacationing in would welcome him into their arms. Especially a specific set of handsome arms.
This was a cute gay romcom that made me smile. The grumpy/sunshine trope and falling for a stranger was refreshing to read. Plus the Australian setting was perfect! I wasn’t 100% connected with the characters, but overall I enjoyed the story.
If you love grumpy/sunshine with bisexual rep, want an Australian setting, and a close knit small town community… then you’ll probably enjoy this story.
TW: Death of Parents, Cancer, Toxic Family Relationship, Infidelity, Anxiety.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
November 14, 2022
I loved Aiden. My heart immediately went out to him after reading a little bit of his story. He was sweet and considerate, flirty and sometimes shy. I liked him even more once he started hanging out with Finn. It seemed like Finn brought out the best in Adrian with his gruff yet kind demeanor.
Of course, Finn and Adrian’s chemistry paired with their constant back and forth helped immensely. I liked that Finn and Adrian’s connection was easily palpable and that it kept growing as the story unfolded. Their time together highlighted how well-suited these two were for each other and also how desperately Adrian needed to escape his environment to really thrive as an individual. I enjoyed seeing both Finn and Adrian enjoying their time together and how their lives were being affected by the other’s company.
The secondary characters were great too. I enjoyed the family vibe felt throughout the book and the easy camaraderie they shared. It was exactly what Adrian needed to finally be himself and break from his monotonous life.
All in all, a fun sweet read and exactly what I needed after spending a week reading angsty books.
Of course, Finn and Adrian’s chemistry paired with their constant back and forth helped immensely. I liked that Finn and Adrian’s connection was easily palpable and that it kept growing as the story unfolded. Their time together highlighted how well-suited these two were for each other and also how desperately Adrian needed to escape his environment to really thrive as an individual. I enjoyed seeing both Finn and Adrian enjoying their time together and how their lives were being affected by the other’s company.
The secondary characters were great too. I enjoyed the family vibe felt throughout the book and the easy camaraderie they shared. It was exactly what Adrian needed to finally be himself and break from his monotonous life.
All in all, a fun sweet read and exactly what I needed after spending a week reading angsty books.
November 9, 2022
Ooh, this book is giving me major It Happened One Summer vibes! A few chapters later… I spoke too soon.
The plot:
Aiden Cole takes a long trip to Australia to escape a complicated situation at home in Ireland; romance ensues.
This book had promise! I feel like with the right revisions and editor, it could have been something. Instead, it just felt overly basic, boring, and forgettable.
The main characters pair off too quickly, with not nearly enough tension. Then, the entire rest of the book drags. Everything after the first third of the book is boring and painful to get through. There’s not nearly enough character development, either. You sort of get to know Aiden, but outside of his neuroses and fumbling awkwardness, where is his actual personality?
The ending was particularly horrible. Cliched, cheesy, and rushed, with the most convenient and petty ending. I can barely give this more than one star.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for sharing a digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
November 12, 2022
🛬Finding unexpected blessings in small-town Queensland🌏
Loved this story! Great small town where everyone knows your name (and that you're a "blow-in" only around temporarily), friendly, supportive and a bit quirky. Sweet attraction between visitor Aiden and single dad Finn with heat but couched in vague non-explicit terms. An eight year-old with a larger than life personality who doesn't tolerate interlopers or plant killers(😄). There's plenty of whimsy in this one, right from Aiden's first arrival and, yes, sometimes kids do say the darndest things.
The arc of Aiden's acceptance of the contrast between his disappointing existence in Ireland and the life he experiences in Australia was really compelling. Terrific couple with a moving connection, a heart-in-your-mouth climax and a truly satisfying ending (especially their surprise overseas visitor at the end!)
Sign me up for this author's next novel!
Thanks to Entangled/Amara and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Loved this story! Great small town where everyone knows your name (and that you're a "blow-in" only around temporarily), friendly, supportive and a bit quirky. Sweet attraction between visitor Aiden and single dad Finn with heat but couched in vague non-explicit terms. An eight year-old with a larger than life personality who doesn't tolerate interlopers or plant killers(😄). There's plenty of whimsy in this one, right from Aiden's first arrival and, yes, sometimes kids do say the darndest things.
The arc of Aiden's acceptance of the contrast between his disappointing existence in Ireland and the life he experiences in Australia was really compelling. Terrific couple with a moving connection, a heart-in-your-mouth climax and a truly satisfying ending (especially their surprise overseas visitor at the end!)
Sign me up for this author's next novel!
Thanks to Entangled/Amara and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
November 14, 2022
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for gifting me a copy of Tripwrecked by A. Poland. This is a sweet novella about finding your place, your people, and ultimately falling in love.
Aiden's life has basically fallen apart and he's run away to get some distance. All the way to Canlaroy between Brisbane and Noosa, in Australia. He's rented a house for a month and plans to make the most of it. He doesn't bank on an attractive, surly Aussie being there (fixing the sink) though.
Finn is a single dad, and doesn't have any plans for a relationship right now. Especially not with a tourist who will be back in Ireland in a month. There is definitely a connection though, and the two of them keep running into each other.
It was sweet to watch the two of them get to know each other and fall in love. I also enjoyed the side characters. I do think I probably would have enjoyed this more if the point of view had been different, but I'll never pass up the chance to read a romance set in Australia.
Aiden's life has basically fallen apart and he's run away to get some distance. All the way to Canlaroy between Brisbane and Noosa, in Australia. He's rented a house for a month and plans to make the most of it. He doesn't bank on an attractive, surly Aussie being there (fixing the sink) though.
Finn is a single dad, and doesn't have any plans for a relationship right now. Especially not with a tourist who will be back in Ireland in a month. There is definitely a connection though, and the two of them keep running into each other.
It was sweet to watch the two of them get to know each other and fall in love. I also enjoyed the side characters. I do think I probably would have enjoyed this more if the point of view had been different, but I'll never pass up the chance to read a romance set in Australia.
November 29, 2022
This story was a very funny light hearted read that follows Aiden Cole when he takes a break from his life and heads out to a house he is renting across the globe in Australia. There he meets single father Finn Schultz, who is overseeing the rental property while his brother is away. There is a spark of interest between the two that grows as the two spend more time together, but this is just supposed to be a temporary vacation for Aiden....
This read was enjoyable, especially because of the witty humorous dialog between the two main characters, as well as a set of supporting characters that breathe life into the story. I wished there was a touch more description in parts to make it easier to visualize, but might be worried that it would slow down the temp of the story, as I already would have liked to have had more tension/action in the story to increase the pace through the middle. If you are looking for a heartwarming, laid back, easy to read romance, maybe to read on the beach this is a good bet!
Received a complementary copy from NetGalley for honest review.
This read was enjoyable, especially because of the witty humorous dialog between the two main characters, as well as a set of supporting characters that breathe life into the story. I wished there was a touch more description in parts to make it easier to visualize, but might be worried that it would slow down the temp of the story, as I already would have liked to have had more tension/action in the story to increase the pace through the middle. If you are looking for a heartwarming, laid back, easy to read romance, maybe to read on the beach this is a good bet!
Received a complementary copy from NetGalley for honest review.
July 6, 2023
Firstly I’d like to thank Pride Book Tours and the publisher for the eARC
I didn’t really know what to expect when picking up Tripwrecked but I was hooked pretty much straightaway 🥰❤️ As soon as I met Finn under the sink I knew I was going to love it so so much. His nearly instant attraction to Aidan was totally adorable and I couldn’t get enough of everyone Aidan met when he arrived in Australia (the side characters in this book are EVERYTHING!!) ❤️❤️
I love that the book has the duel POVs, it gave such insight into their lives and feelings. I loved how honest, thought provoking and completely romantic the book was whilst also keeping it light (it’s about a holiday romance so it’s got to be super sunny and warm, right? 🥰🥰).
Tripwrecked is a definite if you want a super cute grumpy/sunshine read 🥰❤️ It made me smile so much and got me out of a MASSIVE reading slump!! ❤️❤️ It’s a really wonderful read, please pick it up!!
I didn’t really know what to expect when picking up Tripwrecked but I was hooked pretty much straightaway 🥰❤️ As soon as I met Finn under the sink I knew I was going to love it so so much. His nearly instant attraction to Aidan was totally adorable and I couldn’t get enough of everyone Aidan met when he arrived in Australia (the side characters in this book are EVERYTHING!!) ❤️❤️
I love that the book has the duel POVs, it gave such insight into their lives and feelings. I loved how honest, thought provoking and completely romantic the book was whilst also keeping it light (it’s about a holiday romance so it’s got to be super sunny and warm, right? 🥰🥰).
Tripwrecked is a definite if you want a super cute grumpy/sunshine read 🥰❤️ It made me smile so much and got me out of a MASSIVE reading slump!! ❤️❤️ It’s a really wonderful read, please pick it up!!
November 4, 2022
Thanks to Engtangled for my copy of the book which releases on November 14th. This 4.5 star book was so charming, sweet, endearing and so many other words with the same emphasis. So many wonderful characters. Finn the gentle giant. Aiden quirky and cute. Tam without a filter and her wife who was truly delightful. This was a truly well written rom-com which had several laugh out loud moments that I had to reread but also some real heartstring pulling moments that I needed to grab Kleenex for.
Touching in every single way this will please readers who enjoy M/M romances. New to the genre? I think this would be a good place to start and learn about LGBTQ romances between males and females. This book covers it all. A. Poland thank you for a great read and I look forward to reading more from you.
Touching in every single way this will please readers who enjoy M/M romances. New to the genre? I think this would be a good place to start and learn about LGBTQ romances between males and females. This book covers it all. A. Poland thank you for a great read and I look forward to reading more from you.
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