Take one heartbroken Chicago girl Literary editor Antonia Harper had it all–the career, the man, the future. That was then. Now Antonia is jobless, alone and at a crossroads. What better time to travel the world? A solo honeymoon on the Emerald Isle will be like hitting the reset button. No distractions, no drama. Add some luck o’ the Irish Aiden Byrnes may be a literature professor, but … literature professor, but words fail him when he meets the woman staying in the cottage next door. Tully Cross is meant to be a sleepy little village, and he’s meant to be on a working holiday–not a vacation, and most definitely not with his beautiful neighbor.
And you get some mighty good craic
They say laughter is the best medicine–and as it turns out, superhot sex isn’t so bad either. Antonia and Aiden’s spark quickly grows into what could be something special, if they’re willing to take the leap. Ending up an ocean apart is unthinkable, and when real life comes calling, there’s no ignoring that leap anymore…
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 91,000 words
more
I enjoyed this international, interracial love story. The theme of having the confidence to live your best life was inspirational and the story itself romantic.
The Write Escape is a whimsical story of love in a romantic Irish setting. It made me want to pack my bags and update my passport!
Love it!!!
I so enjoyed this book. This is a wonderful example of a vacation romance coming to a satisfying and very happy HEA, the kind that the characters deserve. Both Antonia and Aiden are adults that have done quite a few adult things in their lives but haven’t quite found happiness.
Antonia, in search of a life that she was supposed tow ant became engaged to a cheating jerk and spent years, instead of writing, working at a publishing house, not unhappy but not satisfied. So, when she actually discovers the cheating and she finds herself laid-off, at her very wise and fabulous older sister’s insistence, she takes her honeymoon to Ireland by herself to write and dream and figure things out.
Likewise, Aiden is on his way to be a tenured professor but he’s delayed and dawdled and never fully committed, worried too much that he’s like his awful father who abandoned him and his family. He half-way-ed his last relationship and is in danger of not finishing is work so goes to a remote town to work and think, staying in the cottage next to Antonia.
Their chemistry is amazing. And watching the two of them figure out how to communicate and be willing to fight for and take risks is magical to watch. I love every detail of how they explored their pasts and presents and relationships with mature eyes, how the new relationship could shift their words so much.
The sex is hot, Antonia’s budding novel is super fun, and seeing Aiden let go, “cut the rope” as they end up calling it with his past, with what he needed from a father but didn’t quite get, an accepting what he had, was just lovely.
The HEA involved some luck and good will that often isn’t present in real life, but is the best of what romance is, because romance is about fairness, and characters getting what we all believe they deserve and need and Aiden and Antonia most certainly get that. The epilogue was fabulous and this was just a fantastic book all around.
The Write Escape is a journey of self discovery, healing and love. The main characters Antonia and Aiden are each carrying emotional baggage and aren’t looking but still find each other. I enjoyed their journey. It was cute, sweet and sensual. I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work.
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
Charish Reid’s “The Write Escape” was a witty and charming story featuring likeable, sympathetic characters and a lovely setting in Ireland. I have wanted to visit Ireland for a long time, but reading this book with its descriptions of the country’s beautiful scenery and welcoming residents made me even more anxious to start planning my visit!
The book’s main characters, Antonia and Aiden, were well-developed and likeable, and I found myself chuckling at their banter as they got to know each other. They both seemed a little lost in the beginning, but as the story progressed, each seemed to become more confident about their life choices and find their way towards a better, happier future. Aiden and Antonia seemed to bring out the best in each other, and I really enjoyed watching their story play out.
I am not generally a fan of “insta-love” plots, and given the short timeframe over which this story unfolded, I was afraid that the romance would turn into exactly that. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Aiden and Antonia’s relationship development felt very natural and organic, not rushed, and when they exchanged “I love yous,” I believed in the feelings behind the words. There was clearly an attraction between these characters from the beginning, but it seemed to be as much an intellectual attraction as a physical one, which I appreciated.
Overall, “The Write Escape” was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*ARC provided by the author via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.