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A Sudden Crush
Joanna Price is a city girl with the perfect life. She loves her job as a book editor, she just married Liam, high profile bestselling author and the man of her dreams, and she’s headed to the Caribbean to enjoy two weeks of paradise for her luxurious honeymoon.
Connor Duffield is a gruff, grumpy rancher from the Midwest. He is a country boy who has a no-nonsense approach to life, more scars than he’d like to admit, and he hates city girls.
So it’s just a misfortune they have to sit next to each other for a six hour plane ride. Even more so when their flight is caught in the perfect storm and Joanna wakes up stranded on a desert island with Connor, the very man she hoped she would never have to see again.
Why are they alone on this forsaken island? What happened to Joanna’s husband?
When her dream honeymoon turns into a hilarious tropical nightmare, Joanna’s first thought is survival. However, she and Connor will quickly discover just how boring paradise can be. As the days turn to weeks, and then months, this mismatched pair will have to learn how to coexist and how to resist the sparkles of an attraction they weren’t prepared to feel.
When they are finally rescued will Joanna’s marriage be saved as well, or will the life she knew and loved be in ruins?
Connor Duffield is a gruff, grumpy rancher from the Midwest. He is a country boy who has a no-nonsense approach to life, more scars than he’d like to admit, and he hates city girls.
So it’s just a misfortune they have to sit next to each other for a six hour plane ride. Even more so when their flight is caught in the perfect storm and Joanna wakes up stranded on a desert island with Connor, the very man she hoped she would never have to see again.
Why are they alone on this forsaken island? What happened to Joanna’s husband?
When her dream honeymoon turns into a hilarious tropical nightmare, Joanna’s first thought is survival. However, she and Connor will quickly discover just how boring paradise can be. As the days turn to weeks, and then months, this mismatched pair will have to learn how to coexist and how to resist the sparkles of an attraction they weren’t prepared to feel.
When they are finally rescued will Joanna’s marriage be saved as well, or will the life she knew and loved be in ruins?
243 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2016
About the author
Camilla Isley
33 books2,478 followers
Camilla is an engineer who left science behind to enter the whimsical realm of romantic fiction.
She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you're a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
November 25, 2016
Reading the description, I thought this book would be a bit cliché. You know, stranded on a desert island...been done...been read... But since I'd enjoyed another book from this author I decided to give it a chance and ... WOW! The story is not what you expect at all! There were many spots where I told myself "I know what's gonna happen next" and every time I was surprised instead. I was glued to the pages...
I'm a fan of love/hate and loved how the romance was a slow burn, I loved the humor, the personal growth journey... and Manny was so cute. (He's a baby monkey)
This book made me laugh then cry, sometimes I got so mad, then the end was so heartwarming... A perfect HEA!
One of my favorite reads this year.
I'm a fan of love/hate and loved how the romance was a slow burn, I loved the humor, the personal growth journey... and Manny was so cute. (He's a baby monkey)
This book made me laugh then cry, sometimes I got so mad, then the end was so heartwarming... A perfect HEA!
One of my favorite reads this year.
October 27, 2018
I was not expecting this book to be so cute. A very good read. Super PG, and I loved that neither gave in to the temptation.
Read
November 28, 2017Ready to get stranded on a tropical beach?
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It was hilarious to imagine all the crazy situations a city girl would encounter while stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy stranger... and what would happen going back to the city afterwards.
A Sudden Crush (the title was intended as a pun crush/crash) is a novel very dear to my heart... I hope you'll find it as heartwarming as it was for me while writing it.
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
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It was hilarious to imagine all the crazy situations a city girl would encounter while stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy stranger... and what would happen going back to the city afterwards.
A Sudden Crush (the title was intended as a pun crush/crash) is a novel very dear to my heart... I hope you'll find it as heartwarming as it was for me while writing it.
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
July 8, 2016
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Joanna Price has just gotten married and her and her new husband are flying to the Caribbean for their honeymoon. Everything is going perfect, except they were given separate seats and the guy Joanna is stuck sitting next to won’t give up his seat no matter how convincing her argument. To make matters worse, her new husband is “stuck” sitting next to what appears to be a model and he doesn’t appear to be making much progress in asking her to switch seats either. Things continue to go downhill for her when their plane gets caught in a storm and Joanna blacks out only to wake up to a monkey caressing her hair.
Picture it: you’ve just gotten married and you’re on the plane to your honeymoon and you wake up on an island with a man you don’t even know. You have no idea where the plane is, where this mysterious island is located, and where everyone else could possibly be including your husband. Connor Duffield, Joanna’s seatmate, is a rancher from the midwest and communicates mainly by use of guttural sounds. Joanna Price is a book editor that lives in the city and doesn’t know the first thing about surviving in nature. The two are the most unlikeliest of duos but not only do they manage to somehow thrive on that island but they manage to overcome their pre-conceived notions of one another and slowly become closer.
While the book is called A Sudden Crush, I feel it’s important to mention that there was quite a bit of development to the relationship that matures between the two. Not only that but there’s a definite lack of complete focus on the romance with much time given to Joanna’s personal growth. It was much welcome in a type of story that could have focused solely on the romance and still been a perfectly entertaining story. It gave this a measure of depth that was most appreciated.
The audio narration by Tami Leah Lacy made this an incredibly enjoyable listen. It’s always difficult for female narrators to pull off a convincing male voice but Tami did just that and brought the emotions Joanna was experiencing to life. Thoroughly impressed that this was her debut narration and look forward to listening to more from her! (Check out Audible for an audio excerpt.)
A Sudden Crush is a humorous and romantic read that is entertaining and full of charm. The perfect summer read.
I received this book free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Joanna Price has just gotten married and her and her new husband are flying to the Caribbean for their honeymoon. Everything is going perfect, except they were given separate seats and the guy Joanna is stuck sitting next to won’t give up his seat no matter how convincing her argument. To make matters worse, her new husband is “stuck” sitting next to what appears to be a model and he doesn’t appear to be making much progress in asking her to switch seats either. Things continue to go downhill for her when their plane gets caught in a storm and Joanna blacks out only to wake up to a monkey caressing her hair.
Picture it: you’ve just gotten married and you’re on the plane to your honeymoon and you wake up on an island with a man you don’t even know. You have no idea where the plane is, where this mysterious island is located, and where everyone else could possibly be including your husband. Connor Duffield, Joanna’s seatmate, is a rancher from the midwest and communicates mainly by use of guttural sounds. Joanna Price is a book editor that lives in the city and doesn’t know the first thing about surviving in nature. The two are the most unlikeliest of duos but not only do they manage to somehow thrive on that island but they manage to overcome their pre-conceived notions of one another and slowly become closer.
While the book is called A Sudden Crush, I feel it’s important to mention that there was quite a bit of development to the relationship that matures between the two. Not only that but there’s a definite lack of complete focus on the romance with much time given to Joanna’s personal growth. It was much welcome in a type of story that could have focused solely on the romance and still been a perfectly entertaining story. It gave this a measure of depth that was most appreciated.
The audio narration by Tami Leah Lacy made this an incredibly enjoyable listen. It’s always difficult for female narrators to pull off a convincing male voice but Tami did just that and brought the emotions Joanna was experiencing to life. Thoroughly impressed that this was her debut narration and look forward to listening to more from her! (Check out Audible for an audio excerpt.)
A Sudden Crush is a humorous and romantic read that is entertaining and full of charm. The perfect summer read.
I received this book free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
March 8, 2016
:: 5 Pretty Little Stars ::
This is the perfect chick lit book to escape to! It includes everything a chick lit fan needs; humor, romance, and an overall fun cast that will leave you wishing you were best friends with the characters. I loved everything about this book from the plot all the way down to the characters! And you know what else adds absolute perfection to this book? A monkey named Manny! HAHA this book is the perfect beach read that will leave reads feeling completely satisfied. I highly recommend it!
What happens when you are on your way to your perfect honeymoon and your plane suddenly makes an emergency landing? Even more, what happens when a horrific event leaves you and your fellow seat mate stranded on a deserted island together with no one in sight, including your brand new, gorgeous husband? This is the predicament that Joanna finds herself in after her gorgeous honeymoon to be suddenly turns into a living nightmare. For 143 days, Joanna and Conner are stick on this island with the only companion being a money named Manny. While the two grow to know each other over snapper and the occasional lobster, they hope to one day be rescued to Joanna can get back to her perfect life and perfect husband.
When the two are finally rescued from their nightmare, Joanna is in for a surprise though when she finds her perfect life suddenly not so perfect anymore. Her new husband is now in the arms of another woman, she loses her precious job that she loved dearly, and has no home to live in. How will Joanna cope with her new life circumstances after suddenly reappearing when everyone through she was dead? And will she and the ogre, Conner remain close after the ordeal? This is what you get from this book, along with all the answers to your questions!
This book is absolutely wonderful and I enjoyed reading it the whole way through. It incorporates humor, love, fate, and all other things chick lit. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, then I suggest doing so! Right now it is only $0.99 on all retailers!
This is the perfect chick lit book to escape to! It includes everything a chick lit fan needs; humor, romance, and an overall fun cast that will leave you wishing you were best friends with the characters. I loved everything about this book from the plot all the way down to the characters! And you know what else adds absolute perfection to this book? A monkey named Manny! HAHA this book is the perfect beach read that will leave reads feeling completely satisfied. I highly recommend it!
What happens when you are on your way to your perfect honeymoon and your plane suddenly makes an emergency landing? Even more, what happens when a horrific event leaves you and your fellow seat mate stranded on a deserted island together with no one in sight, including your brand new, gorgeous husband? This is the predicament that Joanna finds herself in after her gorgeous honeymoon to be suddenly turns into a living nightmare. For 143 days, Joanna and Conner are stick on this island with the only companion being a money named Manny. While the two grow to know each other over snapper and the occasional lobster, they hope to one day be rescued to Joanna can get back to her perfect life and perfect husband.
When the two are finally rescued from their nightmare, Joanna is in for a surprise though when she finds her perfect life suddenly not so perfect anymore. Her new husband is now in the arms of another woman, she loses her precious job that she loved dearly, and has no home to live in. How will Joanna cope with her new life circumstances after suddenly reappearing when everyone through she was dead? And will she and the ogre, Conner remain close after the ordeal? This is what you get from this book, along with all the answers to your questions!
This book is absolutely wonderful and I enjoyed reading it the whole way through. It incorporates humor, love, fate, and all other things chick lit. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, then I suggest doing so! Right now it is only $0.99 on all retailers!
April 1, 2017
Thank you Camila Isley for providing an Audible copy for my honest review. Let me start off by mentioning the narrator, Tami Leah. She did an outstanding job! In A Sudden Crush, Isley takes you on an adventure with her wit and storytelling ability. I so enjoyed being on the journey with Joanna but was instantly drawn to Connor. He was a character that immediately stole my heart (grumpiness and all). It is a funny, heartwarming and so sweet novel. This is a perfect summer read and one I would recommend to Chick Lit fans.
July 12, 2016
Joanna Price is this sassy, book editor from Chicago who just married Liam, a best-selling author. Wow! A match made in heaven, right? Unfortunately, fate has a whole different plan for this couple and when Joanna experiences a plane accident and is left stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy rancher, Connor, the fun is about to start. One of the things I really liked about this novel was the fact that this book was not as predictable as I thought, nor was a book just about a couple stranded on an island. I really loved the narration by Tami Leah Lacy. Her interpretation of Joanna was perfect and really helped to bring that character to life. I loved grumpy Connor! The scenes on the island were fun, and Isley kept the suspense going. I really enjoyed listening to this book on my way to work. This is a lovely, romantic, witty, and funny summer read. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2017
I loved this story. it made me laugh a lot.
I particularly enjoyed that it wasn't all on the island, but that there's half of the book on what happens afterwards...I thought that was great...
The banter in this book was so great, it was so much fun... Perfect love/hate story
I particularly enjoyed that it wasn't all on the island, but that there's half of the book on what happens afterwards...I thought that was great...
The banter in this book was so great, it was so much fun... Perfect love/hate story
March 30, 2016
As some of you might've already noticed: I'm not much of a girly girl. I do use make-up but that's mostly it. I can't remember the last time I brushed my hair, actually. Now this doesn't necessarily mean that being a tomboy and reading chick lit can't go hand in hand. True, I don't read it very often (mostly only during the summer), but that doesn't make it a no-go zone. So when Camilla asked me to read her book, I happily agreed to it and here we are, roughly 6 weeks later, with me giving it a 4 star-rating.
So Joanna just got married to Liam and they're on their way to some tropical resort to spend their honeymoon at. On the plane, Joanna is stuck in a seat next to a guy you just want to strangle right away: Connor. And, of course, after waking up from the accident in the middle of a deserted island, who's the only other person that seems to have survived it as well? Aye, captain McGrumpypants.
There isn't any deep sadness or bawling over the fact that they're stranded and unlikely ever to be found again. Instead, they just try to make the most of it. Joanna even gets a little monkey pup who follows her everywhere she goes. Connor is still a douchebag, but, at least, he's also a gentleman when it comes to taking care of getting meat on the table and building things for both of them. He keeps his hands to himself as well, which is always a plus when you're stranded on a deserted island together with a huge, strong hunk of a guy while you just got married to someone else...
Yes, let's just say this ain't called a romcom for nuttin'! Without trying to give away any spoilers, though, I can honestly say the romance is very clean, which I considered a good thing.
Speaking of spoilers, part two of the book got me furious. I can't say too much about this but someone is being a giant dipshit. It also made me think about what I would've done if this happened to me, but no matter what: still a dipshit. Hmpf.
I loved the writing style. Even though it's written in the present tense (something I always have issues with), it read wonderfully and the story really does come to life. Just like yesterday's book (After Life), this is also a book which has clearly been professionally edited. No typos, no weird grammatical errors and the sentences just flowed very nicely.
The humour wasn't a laughing out loud one for me, but more of a chuckling on the inside one.
"I really don't want to drink from a condom-in-a-sock tank."
What gave the story an extra loveable layer is that Joanna is a member of the book loving community. And not just any member, she's an editor and loves reading manuscripts and giving feedback on them. Luckily for her, she has a variety of those with her which survived the crash, so she can spend a lot of time reading on the island. If I didn't dislike warm weather so much, I'd say it sounds like a dream come true!
With a high predictability rate, this isn't the greatest piece of literature, but nonetheless, a very entertaining one. If you're in a reading slump or feeling a bit down for whatever reason, I can highly recommend picking this up and forgetting all about real life for a bit.
Come to think of it, I honestly don't know why some people prefer to reading sad books or watching sad movies when they feel depressed. When I was at a poopy time in my life, I switched from Dexter to binge watching How I Met Your Mother and that was one of the best decisions I've ever made!
A Sudden Crush has the same effect as watching a romcom with Ryan Reynolds in it. I'm usually not a huge romantic comedy fan, but the feel good vibes just speak straight to myovaries heart (has anyone seen Reynolds in Deadpool btw? SO good!). Four brownies it is!
A big thank you to Camilla Isley for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review!
So Joanna just got married to Liam and they're on their way to some tropical resort to spend their honeymoon at. On the plane, Joanna is stuck in a seat next to a guy you just want to strangle right away: Connor. And, of course, after waking up from the accident in the middle of a deserted island, who's the only other person that seems to have survived it as well? Aye, captain McGrumpypants.
There isn't any deep sadness or bawling over the fact that they're stranded and unlikely ever to be found again. Instead, they just try to make the most of it. Joanna even gets a little monkey pup who follows her everywhere she goes. Connor is still a douchebag, but, at least, he's also a gentleman when it comes to taking care of getting meat on the table and building things for both of them. He keeps his hands to himself as well, which is always a plus when you're stranded on a deserted island together with a huge, strong hunk of a guy while you just got married to someone else...
Yes, let's just say this ain't called a romcom for nuttin'! Without trying to give away any spoilers, though, I can honestly say the romance is very clean, which I considered a good thing.
Speaking of spoilers, part two of the book got me furious. I can't say too much about this but someone is being a giant dipshit. It also made me think about what I would've done if this happened to me, but no matter what: still a dipshit. Hmpf.
I loved the writing style. Even though it's written in the present tense (something I always have issues with), it read wonderfully and the story really does come to life. Just like yesterday's book (After Life), this is also a book which has clearly been professionally edited. No typos, no weird grammatical errors and the sentences just flowed very nicely.
The humour wasn't a laughing out loud one for me, but more of a chuckling on the inside one.
"I really don't want to drink from a condom-in-a-sock tank."
What gave the story an extra loveable layer is that Joanna is a member of the book loving community. And not just any member, she's an editor and loves reading manuscripts and giving feedback on them. Luckily for her, she has a variety of those with her which survived the crash, so she can spend a lot of time reading on the island. If I didn't dislike warm weather so much, I'd say it sounds like a dream come true!
With a high predictability rate, this isn't the greatest piece of literature, but nonetheless, a very entertaining one. If you're in a reading slump or feeling a bit down for whatever reason, I can highly recommend picking this up and forgetting all about real life for a bit.
Come to think of it, I honestly don't know why some people prefer to reading sad books or watching sad movies when they feel depressed. When I was at a poopy time in my life, I switched from Dexter to binge watching How I Met Your Mother and that was one of the best decisions I've ever made!
A Sudden Crush has the same effect as watching a romcom with Ryan Reynolds in it. I'm usually not a huge romantic comedy fan, but the feel good vibes just speak straight to my
A big thank you to Camilla Isley for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review!
February 9, 2016
A Sudden Crush is such a fun read! It reminded me a teensy, tiny bit of On The Island by Tracey Garvis Graves which is one of my most favourite books EVER (seriously, go read it) but less intense. A more fun version, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it! Camilla is such a good storyteller, and while I reckon a few people will complain and say it's an unrealistic plot, I just went with the flow. That's the good thing about fiction, you can write whatever you want BECAUSE IT'S NOT REAL. So you CAN get stranded on an island with a man you can barely stand, and you CAN survive on said island, and you CAN make friends with a monkey called Manny. And it was delightful!
I dream of being stranded on a desert island. With books, sun, sea, sand, peace and quiet, and enough food to never run out, I'd be a pretty happy bunny. Not, however, in Joan or Connor's case, because their situation SUCKED. Literally sucked from an aeroplane, and landed on a desert island, with the slimmest possible hope of rescue. That's not how Joan's honeymoon was supposed to go. But I loved that they both made the best of it, foraging for food, making a fishing pole out of what supplies they had, having a phone that had solar power (who knew that was even a thing), making friends with a monkey, it was almost like an adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable one.
What I loved even more, is that we got to see the aftermath of their adventure. We see them rescued, woohoo and everything that that entails. And it's not pretty, in fact I was quite shocked at how things had changed, especially for Joan. The time-jumps were even more impressive because they kept the story flowing nicely, without wallowing on any one time, and I really liked that. Joan was amazing, I really liked her, I liked how she just sort of got on with her life, no matter whether she was stuck on an island with a man she could barely stand, or whether it was after she was back and she was thrown more curve-balls than a baseball match. She's my kinda girl. And I loved Connor. Yes, he was grumpy and more than lived up to the first part of his second name, but he had some kind of charm to him and he sounded hot. That always helps.
This was such an enjoyable read. The kind of read you can finish in one sitting, and one you genuinely lose yourself in. I felt like I was there with Joan every step of the way, and I wanted nothing more than to go and get myself my very own Manny, because he sounded ADORABLE. A Sudden Crush was so much fun - and look at the adorable cover, too! I can't wait to go and read I Wish For You, Camilla is the newest author to my list and I officially love her books!
I dream of being stranded on a desert island. With books, sun, sea, sand, peace and quiet, and enough food to never run out, I'd be a pretty happy bunny. Not, however, in Joan or Connor's case, because their situation SUCKED. Literally sucked from an aeroplane, and landed on a desert island, with the slimmest possible hope of rescue. That's not how Joan's honeymoon was supposed to go. But I loved that they both made the best of it, foraging for food, making a fishing pole out of what supplies they had, having a phone that had solar power (who knew that was even a thing), making friends with a monkey, it was almost like an adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable one.
What I loved even more, is that we got to see the aftermath of their adventure. We see them rescued, woohoo and everything that that entails. And it's not pretty, in fact I was quite shocked at how things had changed, especially for Joan. The time-jumps were even more impressive because they kept the story flowing nicely, without wallowing on any one time, and I really liked that. Joan was amazing, I really liked her, I liked how she just sort of got on with her life, no matter whether she was stuck on an island with a man she could barely stand, or whether it was after she was back and she was thrown more curve-balls than a baseball match. She's my kinda girl. And I loved Connor. Yes, he was grumpy and more than lived up to the first part of his second name, but he had some kind of charm to him and he sounded hot. That always helps.
This was such an enjoyable read. The kind of read you can finish in one sitting, and one you genuinely lose yourself in. I felt like I was there with Joan every step of the way, and I wanted nothing more than to go and get myself my very own Manny, because he sounded ADORABLE. A Sudden Crush was so much fun - and look at the adorable cover, too! I can't wait to go and read I Wish For You, Camilla is the newest author to my list and I officially love her books!
April 16, 2017
Light and fun read!
Sudden Crush is just the book you need when you’re stuck in an island (pun very much intended). It was an easy read that will get you hooked from very first page down to the last. If you loved The Hating Game by Sally Thorne you’ll definitely enjoy this one as well. It had the perfect amount of drama, romance and depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you’ve been with me long enough, or have noticed my taste in books, you very well know by now that love-hate relationships is one of my favorite book tropes. Oh goodness I live for these kind of books.
Sudden Crush is highly addictive, you can’t just put it down. The banters of the two characters – Connor and Joanna, oh my god! They are so cute I want to hug them both. Joanna is such a fun character to read, she was witty and relentless, a trait I really admire in women in books. And you have to give it to her to successfully make a friend out of a monkey – Manny. It was so cute! Connor on the other hand is a brooding male protagonist. He rarely talks but when he does it was serious and no beating around the bush – truly has a no-nonsense approach to everything. They are the complete opposite of each other, but reading them is such pure delight. It’s like you’re just waiting for them to finally fall in love with each other so you can finally move on with your life and be happy. But that comes a little later in the book. You have to patiently wait for everything to unfold, but I promise it will be rewarding.
This book is the perfect escape from reality – it is the epitome of a work of fiction. It was unrealistic, because come on it doesn’t happen often that a woman and a man is trapped in an island, add the fact that they loathe each other, and yet you’ll be so drawn to it as if it is the only source of your entertainment. Because for a moment, it truly is. Sudden Crush will veer you away from the stress of your every day life, for a fleeting time the lives of Connor and Joanna will be the only thing that mattered. Their story wasn’t rushed or forced, it had the perfect pacing. It had the right amount of drama and twist, enough to keep the reader interested to see what’s about to unfold in the end. And boy that ending was so cute I can’t wipe that silly smile off my face. It was everything nice and then some. This is the perfect pick me-upper after reading a very depressing book! Highly recommend!
Sudden Crush is just the book you need when you’re stuck in an island (pun very much intended). It was an easy read that will get you hooked from very first page down to the last. If you loved The Hating Game by Sally Thorne you’ll definitely enjoy this one as well. It had the perfect amount of drama, romance and depth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you’ve been with me long enough, or have noticed my taste in books, you very well know by now that love-hate relationships is one of my favorite book tropes. Oh goodness I live for these kind of books.
Sudden Crush is highly addictive, you can’t just put it down. The banters of the two characters – Connor and Joanna, oh my god! They are so cute I want to hug them both. Joanna is such a fun character to read, she was witty and relentless, a trait I really admire in women in books. And you have to give it to her to successfully make a friend out of a monkey – Manny. It was so cute! Connor on the other hand is a brooding male protagonist. He rarely talks but when he does it was serious and no beating around the bush – truly has a no-nonsense approach to everything. They are the complete opposite of each other, but reading them is such pure delight. It’s like you’re just waiting for them to finally fall in love with each other so you can finally move on with your life and be happy. But that comes a little later in the book. You have to patiently wait for everything to unfold, but I promise it will be rewarding.
This book is the perfect escape from reality – it is the epitome of a work of fiction. It was unrealistic, because come on it doesn’t happen often that a woman and a man is trapped in an island, add the fact that they loathe each other, and yet you’ll be so drawn to it as if it is the only source of your entertainment. Because for a moment, it truly is. Sudden Crush will veer you away from the stress of your every day life, for a fleeting time the lives of Connor and Joanna will be the only thing that mattered. Their story wasn’t rushed or forced, it had the perfect pacing. It had the right amount of drama and twist, enough to keep the reader interested to see what’s about to unfold in the end. And boy that ending was so cute I can’t wipe that silly smile off my face. It was everything nice and then some. This is the perfect pick me-upper after reading a very depressing book! Highly recommend!
June 21, 2016
Surreal romantic comedy! 3.5*
I liked the main character! Joanna is intelligent and funny. And after all, she´s strong too! Getting the best of the problems
The story started when Joanna and his very new husband get the plane to their honeymoon, but sadly they can´t get their seats together and Joanna must past all the travel next to Connor. A grumpy, not very nice man!
To make matters worse, they suffer a severe storm and Joanna and Connor end together and alone is a desert island. But surprisingly, the hardest situations are not going to be on the island itself
It has a super HEA ending ♥
June 16, 2019
Hmmm
This is an ok read, but to be honest the fact that it was non-trope-y earned it an extra star or it would have been 2. A few things kept it from being a 5 star read for me. There were too many time jumps in the first half of the book (at one point 45 days between chapters) being that the whole time on the island was only 5 months, not years. The hero of the book wasn’t present for over have of the book. He only pops back up for 2 days at the end (at which point she already knows she’s in love with him even though she walked away from him without hesitation for her husband and hasn’t seen him in 1.5 years). She was also very in love with her husband the entire time they knew each other, which would be understandable if it didn’t leave us seeing 0% of her “falling in love”. It is also only her point of view, so we know nothing of his feelings until the end. Being that they never so much as kissed on the island, this fact does more damage than in a typical single point of view story. All of these things combined made this a very confusing “romance”.
This is an ok read, but to be honest the fact that it was non-trope-y earned it an extra star or it would have been 2. A few things kept it from being a 5 star read for me. There were too many time jumps in the first half of the book (at one point 45 days between chapters) being that the whole time on the island was only 5 months, not years. The hero of the book wasn’t present for over have of the book. He only pops back up for 2 days at the end (at which point she already knows she’s in love with him even though she walked away from him without hesitation for her husband and hasn’t seen him in 1.5 years). She was also very in love with her husband the entire time they knew each other, which would be understandable if it didn’t leave us seeing 0% of her “falling in love”. It is also only her point of view, so we know nothing of his feelings until the end. Being that they never so much as kissed on the island, this fact does more damage than in a typical single point of view story. All of these things combined made this a very confusing “romance”.
July 23, 2021
DNF @ 50%
Such. Lazy. Writing. I just can’t.
And what a horrible, whiney heroine.
I kept praying for this to be over, and finally I couldn’t take it anymore.
Such. Lazy. Writing. I just can’t.
And what a horrible, whiney heroine.
I kept praying for this to be over, and finally I couldn’t take it anymore.
May 19, 2024
I have a serious question: Is there a major difference between Chick-lit genre and Women's fiction genre? Maybe the later is supposed to be more serious (and sometimes sadder) than the former?
Maybe Chick-lit is perfect for rom-coms and Women's fiction is appropriate for drama?
But I'm thinking from a Romance POV. Sometimes when you have a feel-good fluffy romance, you think of Chick-lit. And if the romance deals with serious struggles, heartbreak and it's close to reality. Then it's a woman's fiction.
In the case of A Sudden Crush: you have one POV. It's the FMC that is talking and doing all the thinking. We are fallowing her life.
Every aspect f it: at work/ with family/ with love life. And if she's not with the hero than we don't know anything of his news.
What was a bit confusing to me is that: this is supposed to be a rom-com and a clean romance about a prissy city girl and a grumpy cowboy.
But the setting was very dangerous because it's a survival story since the MCs were stranded on a deserted island with little to no hope of being rescued.
I love survival stories because it teaches me a lot of ways to survive in the wild (things that I 100% forget after one day of reading) and because it's primal/sexy and the chemistry is always sizzling. But this was a cleaaaaan romance so the survival trope did not serve anything romantic.
In fact both MCs were sooooooo lonely on that island and they parted ways as friends. (Strictly friends). But at least there was a bit of comedy that led me to believe this is a rom-com.
Then the second half of the book was about Drama and how the FMC got severe depression and I had whiplash. But I cared for her and I wanted to follow the journey.
Truth be told: the writing style was compelling and the FMC held her own and she kept me wanting to discover more about her. But I couldn't care less if she ended up with the hero or not. Not because he was unlikable. It's because he was undeveloped by the author. And that's a fatal mistake in romance. To create a power imbalance between MCs in unforgivable.
Maybe Chick-lit is perfect for rom-coms and Women's fiction is appropriate for drama?
But I'm thinking from a Romance POV. Sometimes when you have a feel-good fluffy romance, you think of Chick-lit. And if the romance deals with serious struggles, heartbreak and it's close to reality. Then it's a woman's fiction.
In the case of A Sudden Crush: you have one POV. It's the FMC that is talking and doing all the thinking. We are fallowing her life.
Every aspect f it: at work/ with family/ with love life. And if she's not with the hero than we don't know anything of his news.
What was a bit confusing to me is that: this is supposed to be a rom-com and a clean romance about a prissy city girl and a grumpy cowboy.
But the setting was very dangerous because it's a survival story since the MCs were stranded on a deserted island with little to no hope of being rescued.
I love survival stories because it teaches me a lot of ways to survive in the wild (things that I 100% forget after one day of reading) and because it's primal/sexy and the chemistry is always sizzling. But this was a cleaaaaan romance so the survival trope did not serve anything romantic.
In fact both MCs were sooooooo lonely on that island and they parted ways as friends. (Strictly friends). But at least there was a bit of comedy that led me to believe this is a rom-com.
Then the second half of the book was about Drama and how the FMC got severe depression and I had whiplash. But I cared for her and I wanted to follow the journey.
Truth be told: the writing style was compelling and the FMC held her own and she kept me wanting to discover more about her. But I couldn't care less if she ended up with the hero or not. Not because he was unlikable. It's because he was undeveloped by the author. And that's a fatal mistake in romance. To create a power imbalance between MCs in unforgivable.
February 5, 2016
4.5 Stars
Going to have to start with a warning for this book. Do not read the first two or three chapters, while on a plane, especially if you are a nervous flier. The level of description of the plane ride,, which leaves Joanna and Connor stranded on a deserted tropical island, is scarily real, and provides a fabulous introduction to this fabulous story.
Joanna and Connor couldn't be more different. Connor is like a caveman, seems to mainly communicate in grunts, and is not overly chatty. Joanna, was on the flight to the Caribbean for her honeymoon with Liam, but when she ends up on the island, she shows she is more than just a city slicker. Joanna is also a book editor, and I loved all of her feeling about books, and they mirror quite a lot of my own thoughts.
Time passes very fast in A Sudden Crussh, so keep your eyes on the chapter headings, so you can see how much further on you are. This adds to the pace of the book, and keeps you on your toes, as you see all the key moments that occur.
My only slight criticism about the book is that although I loved the characters, they sometimes felt a bit one dimensional. I didn't really get a well rounded feel for them, nor did I have a good sense of their back stories. However it didn't spoil my enjoyment as I think the idea for the book was to be more of a light weight, fast paced, enjoyable romantic comedy, and on those grounds it succeeds.
From tropical islands, to a monkey named Manny, to various survival scores, with a fair bit of romantic tension too, A Sudden Crush has it all. It is very easy to read, and only took me a few hours to complete, as I was so absorbed in the story, especially while they were on the island.
Thank you so much to Camilla Isley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
Going to have to start with a warning for this book. Do not read the first two or three chapters, while on a plane, especially if you are a nervous flier. The level of description of the plane ride,, which leaves Joanna and Connor stranded on a deserted tropical island, is scarily real, and provides a fabulous introduction to this fabulous story.
Joanna and Connor couldn't be more different. Connor is like a caveman, seems to mainly communicate in grunts, and is not overly chatty. Joanna, was on the flight to the Caribbean for her honeymoon with Liam, but when she ends up on the island, she shows she is more than just a city slicker. Joanna is also a book editor, and I loved all of her feeling about books, and they mirror quite a lot of my own thoughts.
Time passes very fast in A Sudden Crussh, so keep your eyes on the chapter headings, so you can see how much further on you are. This adds to the pace of the book, and keeps you on your toes, as you see all the key moments that occur.
My only slight criticism about the book is that although I loved the characters, they sometimes felt a bit one dimensional. I didn't really get a well rounded feel for them, nor did I have a good sense of their back stories. However it didn't spoil my enjoyment as I think the idea for the book was to be more of a light weight, fast paced, enjoyable romantic comedy, and on those grounds it succeeds.
From tropical islands, to a monkey named Manny, to various survival scores, with a fair bit of romantic tension too, A Sudden Crush has it all. It is very easy to read, and only took me a few hours to complete, as I was so absorbed in the story, especially while they were on the island.
Thank you so much to Camilla Isley for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
Read
November 28, 2017Ready to get stranded on a tropical beach?
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It was hilarious to imagine all the crazy situations a city girl would encounter while stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy stranger... and what would happen going back to the city afterwards.
A Sudden Crush (the title was intended as a pun crush/crash) is a novel very dear to my heart... I hope you'll find it as heartwarming as it was for me while writing it.
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Google Play
Kobo
Barnes and Noble
It was hilarious to imagine all the crazy situations a city girl would encounter while stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy stranger... and what would happen going back to the city afterwards.
A Sudden Crush (the title was intended as a pun crush/crash) is a novel very dear to my heart... I hope you'll find it as heartwarming as it was for me while writing it.
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
March 21, 2017
A perfect romantic story with humor and character development. The first half takes place on a deserted island, the second half is set in Chicago. I loved this aspect as rarely we get to see what happens after an island rescue. Also the plot was very original and unexpected... There were so many LOL moments and AWWW moments! Plus, I always enjoy a good Disney reference here an there...
June 28, 2018
I wish I could remember whose review I read that compelled me to buy this book but I'd like to thank them. This is a perfectly breezy summer book that isn't trashy or too sappy. Yes, you can still expect a heroine who can be annoying at times and completely unbelievable scenarios. However, you can enjoy a romance where people actually get to know each other, are realistic about past relationships, and someone trying to find themselves. It's funny, sweet, and reminiscent of Sophie Kinsella. Hope this author will have more books coming soon.
December 14, 2016
I wanted to really love this book, because hello, enemies to lovers. But something about the format was very disjointed, and the time period between the island and them getting rescued didn't resonate with me. And I didn't feel satisfied at all with the resolution between her and Liam. I get that we're supposed to sympathize with him because he ~suffered to~, but I think he got away too easily and with too much forgiveness. And that letter he wrote her! Wtf was that. That was too romantic and open ended for a turd like him.
February 8, 2019
Joanna Price is a city girl with the perfect life. She loves her job as a book editor, she just married Liam, high profile bestselling author and the man of her dreams, and she’s headed to the Caribbean to enjoy two weeks of paradise for her luxurious honeymoon.
Connor Duffield is a gruff, grumpy rancher from the Midwest. He is a country boy who has a no-nonsense approach to life, more scars than he’d like to admit, and he hates city girls.
Connor Duffield is a gruff, grumpy rancher from the Midwest. He is a country boy who has a no-nonsense approach to life, more scars than he’d like to admit, and he hates city girls.
July 25, 2020
I was a bit skeptical about buying this story from kindle for $3.99. I didn't want to waste my money on a crappy story in case it turned out that way and I'm left in tears of despair. But I took the gamble. This story did not disappoint. I especially like that there was only one POV. At the beginning of the story, I didn't like Joanna, h, and the, Connor, H, was a major jerk. But what kept me reading was the unexpected humor and adorableness of the book. Joanna's character development was transparent throughout the story. For some reason, she reminded me of Elle in "Legally Blonde". She just had that airhead beautiful woman vibe about her. I think her reasons for marrying her author crush was.. unrealistic? how can someone re-marry right after the death of their spouse? no mourning period nothing. Damn, that was cold. And besides, h had more chemistry with jerk face Connor, H, anyway.
What's with the title of this book? very misleading. They should have gone another route.
What's with the title of this book? very misleading. They should have gone another route.
October 13, 2016
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
Joanna Price has the perfect life. She’s on a plane headed to her honeymoon after marrying the man of her dreams. Immediately things start off rough when she’s forced to sit apart from her husband and next to a horribly grumpy man that she nicknames “The Ogre”. It’s crabby, pesimistic, and looking to rain on Joanna’s parade… but she’s filled to the brim with happiness and doesn’t let him burst her bubble. That is until she wakes up and finds herself stranded on an island with The Ogre, also known as Connor, after their plane crashes. So much for heading to her honeymoon destination of her dreams. Now, with the help of a friendly little baby monkey, Joanna and Connor must do what they can to survive this time and get home safe and sound.
The good news… they do get rescued (yay!) but life as Joanna knew it is completely different. After everyone assumed she had died when the plane crashed, they all moved on. Her husband has a new wife, her position at her job has been filled by another, and she’s left with nowhere to live. What a mess!! Will Joanna find a way to deal with this new life that’s hardly what she was expecting before the plane crash? Her oh-so-perfect life has now crashed along with the plane, and she’s a total mess.
This is not a serious, Survivor or Naked and Afraid type of stuck-on-an-island story. This is a romantic comedy full of charm. It’s adorably silly at times, a tad unrealistic, but a boatload of fun! I really enjoyed these characters, and this narrator brought it up a notch for sure. They way she performed Joanna and her perfect-little-life attitude was perfection. Connor was also pretty spot-on. I thoroughly loved this story from shaky beginning to emotional end. A definite must-read if you enjoy your romantic comedies!
Audiobook Impressions:
I have to say, I am completely shocked that this is Tami Leah Lacy’s debut narration. I’m quite picky when I come to my narrators since I listen to A LOT of audiobooks and have my favorites… but, man, Tami was close to perfect!! Her performance of these characters was spot-on! Female narrators don’t always portray a genuine male voice, and vice versa. Tami, however, performed each and every one of these characters to a “t”. no complaints here! If this is a book you’re thinking about reading, I 100% recommend going the audiobook route. A narrator I will surely be adding to my favorites list!
(Thanks to Camilla Isley for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
Joanna Price has the perfect life. She’s on a plane headed to her honeymoon after marrying the man of her dreams. Immediately things start off rough when she’s forced to sit apart from her husband and next to a horribly grumpy man that she nicknames “The Ogre”. It’s crabby, pesimistic, and looking to rain on Joanna’s parade… but she’s filled to the brim with happiness and doesn’t let him burst her bubble. That is until she wakes up and finds herself stranded on an island with The Ogre, also known as Connor, after their plane crashes. So much for heading to her honeymoon destination of her dreams. Now, with the help of a friendly little baby monkey, Joanna and Connor must do what they can to survive this time and get home safe and sound.
The good news… they do get rescued (yay!) but life as Joanna knew it is completely different. After everyone assumed she had died when the plane crashed, they all moved on. Her husband has a new wife, her position at her job has been filled by another, and she’s left with nowhere to live. What a mess!! Will Joanna find a way to deal with this new life that’s hardly what she was expecting before the plane crash? Her oh-so-perfect life has now crashed along with the plane, and she’s a total mess.
This is not a serious, Survivor or Naked and Afraid type of stuck-on-an-island story. This is a romantic comedy full of charm. It’s adorably silly at times, a tad unrealistic, but a boatload of fun! I really enjoyed these characters, and this narrator brought it up a notch for sure. They way she performed Joanna and her perfect-little-life attitude was perfection. Connor was also pretty spot-on. I thoroughly loved this story from shaky beginning to emotional end. A definite must-read if you enjoy your romantic comedies!
Audiobook Impressions:
I have to say, I am completely shocked that this is Tami Leah Lacy’s debut narration. I’m quite picky when I come to my narrators since I listen to A LOT of audiobooks and have my favorites… but, man, Tami was close to perfect!! Her performance of these characters was spot-on! Female narrators don’t always portray a genuine male voice, and vice versa. Tami, however, performed each and every one of these characters to a “t”. no complaints here! If this is a book you’re thinking about reading, I 100% recommend going the audiobook route. A narrator I will surely be adding to my favorites list!
(Thanks to Camilla Isley for the review copy!)
Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!
March 24, 2018
Meh. I'm actually quite disappointed with this book. It had such high ratings and it was definitely not what I expected. Here are the reasons why *** beware spoilers ahead ***
1. It didn't make me laugh as much as I thought it would. It's supposed to be a 'laugh out loud comedy' and, well, it's not. Let's start with the fact that the plane crash is not funny at all and then it's all about Joanna trying to battle her depression and getting back on board with life. After she and Connor are rescued, she finds she's been replaced by her husband, fired from her job. I mean... what says 'haha' in all of this?
2. Connor is not charming/is an asshole. I'm sorry, yes, there are a few times where he's likeable, but most of the time Connor is the farthest thing you'd want in a guy. He's sexist, rude and honestly, what's his appeal? Yes, he helps Joanna survive because he has some expert level outdoor skills but other than that? How is this man a positive model for a hero? I absolutely despise that he keeps calling her 'Anna' when she says, at the very beginning, that she doesn't like it. So no. I couldn't fall in love with him. There's also the fact that he's absent for at least 50% of the book. I miss listening to the guy's voice in these types of novels.
3. What was the novel trying to do here? I think I would have preferred just them stuck on an island, falling in love with her being single (she does mention that maybe there was an alternative reality with this scenario - and I would have preferred it so much). As it is, when Connor and Joanna are stranded, she's just married to the man she thinks is the love of her life, so obviously, nothing really happens between Joanna and Connor while in the island. It's the type of scenario where, as the reader, you're screwed either way. If she sleeps with him, you feel bad because she's a 'cheater', if she doesn't... it's just... boring. Even when she returns and discovers that her husband 'annulled' their marriage (because it wasn't consummated - this is the excuse, I kid you not... I don't think this is even accurate unless you're in 19th century England) and married someone else, she still pins for him and loves him and misses him and thoughts of Connor are mostly gone or too subtle for the rest of the book until she writes her novel about the events that happened in the island. Only then (76% of the book) does Connor return.
Again, just not my cup of tea unfortunately.
1. It didn't make me laugh as much as I thought it would. It's supposed to be a 'laugh out loud comedy' and, well, it's not. Let's start with the fact that the plane crash is not funny at all and then it's all about Joanna trying to battle her depression and getting back on board with life. After she and Connor are rescued, she finds she's been replaced by her husband, fired from her job. I mean... what says 'haha' in all of this?
2. Connor is not charming/is an asshole. I'm sorry, yes, there are a few times where he's likeable, but most of the time Connor is the farthest thing you'd want in a guy. He's sexist, rude and honestly, what's his appeal? Yes, he helps Joanna survive because he has some expert level outdoor skills but other than that? How is this man a positive model for a hero? I absolutely despise that he keeps calling her 'Anna' when she says, at the very beginning, that she doesn't like it. So no. I couldn't fall in love with him. There's also the fact that he's absent for at least 50% of the book. I miss listening to the guy's voice in these types of novels.
3. What was the novel trying to do here? I think I would have preferred just them stuck on an island, falling in love with her being single (she does mention that maybe there was an alternative reality with this scenario - and I would have preferred it so much). As it is, when Connor and Joanna are stranded, she's just married to the man she thinks is the love of her life, so obviously, nothing really happens between Joanna and Connor while in the island. It's the type of scenario where, as the reader, you're screwed either way. If she sleeps with him, you feel bad because she's a 'cheater', if she doesn't... it's just... boring. Even when she returns and discovers that her husband 'annulled' their marriage (because it wasn't consummated - this is the excuse, I kid you not... I don't think this is even accurate unless you're in 19th century England) and married someone else, she still pins for him and loves him and misses him and thoughts of Connor are mostly gone or too subtle for the rest of the book until she writes her novel about the events that happened in the island. Only then (76% of the book) does Connor return.
Again, just not my cup of tea unfortunately.
July 12, 2016
Joanna Price is this sassy, book editor from Chicago who just married Liam, a best-selling author. Wow! A match made in heaven, right? Unfortunately, fate has a whole different plan for this couple and when Joanna experiences a plane accident and is left stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy rancher, Connor, the fun is about to start. One of the things I really liked about this novel was the fact that this book was not as predictable as I thought, nor was a book just about a couple stranded on an island. I really loved the narration by Tami Leah Lacy. Her interpretation of Joanna was perfect and really helped to bring that character to life. I loved grumpy Connor! The scenes on the island were fun, and Isley kept the suspense going. I really enjoyed listening to this book on my way to work. This is a lovely, romantic, witty, and funny summer read. I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for my honest review.
February 8, 2016
Честно говоря, я немного разочарована. Ожидала чего-то другого. Еще и половины книги не прочитала, а их уже спасли. Потом начались сопли и слюни главной героини по поводу мужа, его новой жизни без нее. И так почти всю книгу.
Сосед с острова появился только в самом конце. Автор быстренько все разрулила, и вот они вместе и женятся.
Сосед с острова появился только в самом конце. Автор быстренько все разрулила, и вот они вместе и женятся.
June 4, 2019
I'M, I JUST .... I CANT, THIS BOOK... MY HEART IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE WITH HAPPINESS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I expected it to take place only in the island an i was a bit disappointed when i found out that was not the case, but the ending was absolutely woth it!!!
I expected it to take place only in the island an i was a bit disappointed when i found out that was not the case, but the ending was absolutely woth it!!!
August 30, 2016
Cute and funny. Review to come
Read
December 10, 2017Ready to get stranded on a tropical beach?
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Amazon UK
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It was hilarious to imagine all the crazy situations a city girl would encounter while stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy stranger... and what would happen going back to the city afterwards.
A Sudden Crush (the title was intended as a pun crush/crash) is a novel very dear to my heart... I hope you'll find it as heartwarming as it was for me while writing it.
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iBooks
Google Play
Kobo
Barnes and Noble
It was hilarious to imagine all the crazy situations a city girl would encounter while stranded on a deserted island with a grumpy stranger... and what would happen going back to the city afterwards.
A Sudden Crush (the title was intended as a pun crush/crash) is a novel very dear to my heart... I hope you'll find it as heartwarming as it was for me while writing it.
Happy Reading!
Love,
Camilla
February 11, 2016
"A Sudden Crush" is Camilla Isley's second book but the first one that I had a pleasure to read. Camilla was one of our guest during Christmas Countdown and she turned out to be incredibly open, funny and generous person, and when the opportunity for being a part of her Blog Tour came along, I didn't hesitate and signed. Frankly speaking, I wasn't sure what to expect from her writing and from the novel, and started reading "The Sudden Crush" full of expectations.
And boy, did this book blow me away! It was such a funny, light - hearted read and I finished it with the biggest, sloppiest smile on my face.
I am very lazy lately and mostly stopped reading the blurbs for the books, so I never know what it's going to be about, and really, the first part of the book has so took me by surprise. I mean, being sucked out of a plane and survive? (Yes, I can see your wry smile). I mean, survive together with your designer bag and solar charger for your phone (I didn't even know that such thing exist!)? Yes, I was also thinking, no way. But you know what? Actually, with this story, it sits perfectly and it works! Normally I'd probably be sceptical but this time, and I think thanks to Camilla's brilliant writing and storytelling, I just went with flow and let her take me on this roller - coaster of an adventure. I think this is what you must do when reading this book, just forget about reality and impossibility and enjoy whatever is going to happen on the island. And there can happen a lot... You can survive being sucked out of a plane, together with your designer bag and solar charger and the most grumpy man in the world and make friends with a monkey and called it Manny. (Manny was brilliant, oh my word, the way Camilla has described him and the way Jo was with him, it had me in stitches, especially when she visited him in zoo during the mating period. Oh. My. God.)
This whole story was a comedy of errors, starting with the misfortunate honeymoon that never took place and ending with being scratched by the jealous female monkey.
Nevertheless, there came a moment when I was reading the first part when I thought, hello? Deserted Island, okay, with almost no hope of rescue - and I was starting to get nervous, as it started to dragged on a little. I was afraid that the author is going to over - exaggerate a little, and at the end I was a little tired with them being on the island, because how much can happen and what new can happen? It was a little too lagged for my liking, those everyday activities and happenings but fortunately not too much and it ended in almost the right moment. On the other hand, I really appreciated the fact that Ms Isley cut everything to the chase, not concentrating on every single little thing Jo and Connor must have learnt, such like finding something to eat, build a shelter etc. Sure, everything came naturally to them, but oh my, why not?
What was also great is the fact that we could accompany the characters, or rather Jo, after they were rescued (yes. They were). And what was also great is that the author didn't stayed focus for long on one thing, only let the time flow and the things change for Jo - the pace was really great in this story.
Jo was brilliant. Incredibly funny, and incredibly realistic with the way she has gone through the dramas in her life and they way she coped (or didn't!) with them, and really, life was throwing more curve - balls at her than at hundreds of people together. It was really great to see how she was maturing throughout the story and how she changed, how she always held her head high.
Connor made me laugh, he made me laugh so, so much, especially his way of communicating with grunting and snorting. Brownie points to Jo for being so patient with him, I would probably move to the other part of the island but nevertheless there was this "something" in Connor that attracted me (and not only me!) to him so much.
We can say that the book is divided into two parts, but in both of them the poor Jo must fight with something, or someone. On the island, there is the instant bickering with Connor, trying to find compromises and drinking out of a condom, and at home there are even more problems waiting for her that I don't want to let out, as I don't want to spoil this great and hilariously funny read for you. But Jo always stays herself and even though she's depressed (who wouldn't be???), she rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes to kick some backsides. The book shows that being absent for almost six months has its consequences and Jo must now come to terms with them.
The romance aspect was also interesting because firstly: on the island Jo was determined to stay faithful to her husband (did she?), and secondly: at home Connor vanished off the face of the earth so we really were kept in uncertainty. Because it was not obvious, even though it was Obvious (with capital O) that those two are destined to be with each other. You know the feeling, when you can feel with your whole being that two characters should be with each other, no matter what? Well, it was like this with Jo and Connor for me, and yes, I was already starting to get nervous after Connor disappeared from the scenes, just like this.
Altogether, "A Sudden Crush" is a brilliant, full of humour rom - com featuring lovely characters, with a great storyline, fast - paced and written in a brilliant way. Camilla Isley can for sure tell her stories! But the book has also this what I like most - it balances incredible fun with some more gentle and serious moments. Really great escapism, a hilarious and plot - driven story that is going to keep you entertained for a few hours. Recommended!
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