In a Not So Perfect World

Starred review from January 1, 2024

The night before a big interview, aspiring video game designer Sloane accepts a dare to kiss a stranger in a bar. When she realizes she's kissed her elusive hot neighbor, Charlie, he proposes she join him on an expensive, already-paid-for Turks and Caicos vacation to make his ex jealous. Needing to get away from her own heartbreak and concentrate on completing her game proposal, Sloane agrees, certain that nothing romantic could happen, since Charlie is determined to get back with his former girlfriend. The resort is beautiful, romantic, fun, and abundant with drinks, and Charlie and Sloane soon develop a real connection. A woman striving for her dream job in a gaming company dominated by men, work that requires her to give up her personal and romantic lives, is a frustrating situation, but Sloane's passion for apocalyptic games and doomsday prep is especially charming. Her ability to be her true self and share her past, because Charlie is wonderfully supportive of her career, makes for a strong bond that evokes genuine feelings and fiery chemistry. VERDICT Tubati-Alexander's (Love Buzz) latest is a stellar romance rich in voice, humor, and expressive writing. A must-read for those who enjoy novels like Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation.--Hazel Ureta

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 29, 2024
Broken hearts, hot next-door neighbors, and spontaneous vacations animate this enchanting rom-com from Tubati-Alexander (Love Buzz). Sloane and Charlie meet after Sloane’s friend dares her to kiss someone on a night out, leading to a quick but deep smooch. That should be the end of it, but Sloane later learns that Charlie is her new neighbor—and gets a tantalizing glimpse of him without his shirt. While there’s serious attraction on both sides, Sloane is hung up on her ex Zane, and Charlie’s own break-up from his girlfriend Brooke is only two days fresh. Still, he has two tickets to Turks and Caicos and impulsively asks Sloane to join him, hoping to use the opportunity to show Brooke, who moved on suspiciously quickly, that two can play at that game. Sloane initially turns him down, but when she learns that Zane—who also has a new girlfriend—is after the same video game designer job as Sloane, she changes her mind, hoping to use the time away to finish her game demo. Over the next week of beachy fake dating, Sloane and Charlie open up to each other. Tubati-Alexander paces their relationship development perfectly, making their connection feel honest and credible. This is one to be savored.

February 15, 2024
A heartbroken video game designer who's determined to remain single ends up at a tropical resort with a man who might be able to break her resolve. Sloane Cooper is nursing a broken heart after having been cheated on by the man she thought was the love of her life. She tries to avoid her feelings by focusing on her career--she's gunning for her dream job at Catapult, a top video game company. At her first interview, the all-male team seems to doubt that she can focus on work instead of her personal life, so she promises she'll remain single and devote her life to work. That's no big sacrifice for Sloane--until her neighbor Charlie invites her on a trip to an all-inclusive resort in Turks and Caicos. She barely knows Charlie, but he's desperate to win back his ex and thinks having a mysterious new girlfriend will make her jealous--especially if said mysterious girlfriend is in all the photos he posts of the trip his ex was supposed to go on with him. Sloane eventually agrees, figuring she can use some distraction-free time in paradise to work on the game design Catapult asked her to submit. What she doesn't count on is discovering how great Charlie is--he's supportive, funny, and sexy. But he's on this trip to get his ex back, and Catapult is counting on her to stay single and deliver her best work. "What happens in Turks and Caicos stays in Turks and Caicos" might wind up being harder for Sloane to stick to than she thought. Tubati Alexander proves herself a master of the slow burn as Sloane and Charlie try to fight the feelings they have for each other. Their chemistry leaps off the page, and the tropical beach setting is delightfully romantic while leading to funny moments like a scavenger hunt with other resort guests. Sloane and Charlie are both well-rounded characters, and watching their relationship slowly build is incredibly fulfilling. But the story is just as much about Sloane's personal growth, and it's satisfying to see her fight the sexism in the gaming industry. A perfectly escapist rom-com.

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March 1, 2024
Sloane needs to get over her ex. He's certainly gotten over her--it's been six months since their breakup, and he's already engaged. Enter Charlie, her hot, newly dumped neighbor who wants to get back at his ex. Charlie has already paid for a trip to Turks and Caicos and invites Sloane on a whim. She is hesitant, as she only has nine days to design a game for her final interview at Catapult Games. It is her dream job, and she promised the all-male interview panel that she would stay single and 100% dedicated to the job if hired. However, Sloane decides that the beach is the perfect place to work on her game. She soon finds out that the trip isn't so distraction-free as her chemistry with Charlie starts to ignite, leading her to struggle with balancing her desires for a new lease on love and her professional ambitions. Her confidence grows as the novel progresses, and she realizes that she may not have to choose. Funny and sweet, Tubati-Alexander's lastest, following Love Buzz (2023), is the perfect beach read, with a unique gamer flair.

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