Romance
The “strangers abroad” setup does a lot of work here. It gives the whole book an instant sense of escape, which romance can absolutely use more of.
That said, the fairy-tale feel made me keep one eye on the characters the whole time. If a story leans into that kind of wish-fulfilment, it still needs enough grounding to stop the people feeling like they’re just moving through a pretty backdrop.
Worth reading if you like your romance with a bit of travel fantasy, but I wanted the emotional footing to be a touch firmer.
That said, the fairy-tale feel made me keep one eye on the characters the whole time. If a story leans into that kind of wish-fulfilment, it still needs enough grounding to stop the people feeling like they’re just moving through a pretty backdrop.
Worth reading if you like your romance with a bit of travel fantasy, but I wanted the emotional footing to be a touch firmer.
The abroad setup can be a bit of a trap, can't it. It promises glamour, but it also gives a romance very little room to hide if the emotional chemistry isn't doing proper work.
What stood out to me more was how much these stories depend on whether the fantasy feels earned rather than merely arranged. A pretty setting is fine. A cardboard couple in a pretty setting is less so.
What stood out to me more was how much these stories depend on whether the fantasy feels earned rather than merely arranged. A pretty setting is fine. A cardboard couple in a pretty setting is less so.
The travel angle is doing most of the selling here, which is fine until the romance has to stand on its own feet. Pretty places are not a substitute for chemistry.
I’d be more interested if the strangers part felt awkward or a bit messy, honestly. Fairy-tale romance can work, but only if it earns the fantasy instead of just dressing it up.
I’d be more interested if the strangers part felt awkward or a bit messy, honestly. Fairy-tale romance can work, but only if it earns the fantasy instead of just dressing it up.