5 Smooches!
Synopsis
A new adult novel that perfectly captures the existential angst of your early twenties with raw wit, fresh insight, and true feeling from a critically adoredUSA TODAY bestselling author.
Joshua Miles has spent his early twenties spinning his wheels. Working dead-end jobs and living at home has left him exhausted and uninspired, with little energy to pursue his passion for graphic art. Until he meets Gemma Henare, a vivacious out-of-towner from New Zealand. What begins as a one-night stand soon becomes a turning point for Josh. He can’t get Gemma out of his head, even after she has left for home, and finds himself throwing caution to the wind for the first time in his life.
It’s not long before Josh is headed to New Zealand with only a backpack, some cash, and Gemma’s name to go on. But when he finally tracks her down, he finds his adventure is only just beginning. Equally infatuated, Gemma leads him on a whirlwind tour across the beautiful country, opening Josh up to life, lust, love, and all the messy heartache in between. Because, when love drags you somewhere, it might never let go even when you know you have to say goodbye.
Review
Man, I did something incredibly stupid and read some negative reviews before I attempted to read Where Sea Meets Sky. I was shocked that some people who had read Karina’s other work didn’t love Where Sea Meets Sky so I found myself putting off this book because I was scared. I was really freaked out by the fact that I may not love it. Now, I haven’t read Karina’s earlier work. I have read Love, In English, Love, in Spanish, and The Pact. All of which I absolutely adored. So finally, I pushed myself to just stop over thinking and just read and I am so glad that I did. I loved Where Sea Meets Sky and I honestly believe that if you enjoyed Love in English then you will love Where Sea Meets Sky too!
“I’m sucked under, in a riptide, into the undertow, and it’s dark and I’m tumbling and I don’t know which way is up but oh god, how I don’t want it to stop.”
We get to meet Josh in Love, In English and I am so glad that Karina gave him his own book. Just a few pages in and Josh meets Gemma. Josh and Gemma have only one night of explosive hot sex and feelings before Gemma has to return home to New Zealand. At the beginning of this book Josh is kind of slackerish, lazy even. Content in his mediocre existence. His one night with Gemma has seemingly changed Josh forever. He cannot get her out of his mind. He wants her again. He wants adventure. He needs change. He decided to just go to New Zealand, maybe find Gemma but definitely find a whole lot of adventure.
“Life is spreading her legs for me. I’m going in.”
He does find Gemma and huge amount of angst and drama. Oh, it was so good. In true traditional New Adult form there are a ton of bad mistakes being made, hurtful ones. But isn’t that really what that time in our lives is about? I know it is when I made some of the craziest and horrible decisions of my life but man, it was fun! That is why I love the NA genre so incredibly much. All of the emotions and poor decisions lead to the bottom of the bottom and the biggest highs of your life. NA is all about the feels and I got a ton of those from Where Sea Meets Sky.
“He’s like the wind. He’ll be with me long enough to ruffle my feathers and then he’ll be gone.”
Where Sea Meets Sky is Gemma and Josh’s story but coming in a close second is New Zealand. You can definitely tell that Karina was a travel writer. New Zealand stole the show for me. The imagery that Karina used to describe New Zealand was so amazing. I felt like I was apart of every excursion and adventure that Josh went on. The people, the animals, everything. I could not get enough of it.
“I’m living in a postcard. Every day I wake up and I’m part of a scene that steals my breath and brings tears to my eyes.”
I found myself looking up little blue penguins on google or searching for caves with glow worms that hang from the ceiling lighting up the cave like stars in the sky. After reading this book New Zealand is definitely on my list of places to visit.
This entire book just stole my heart. The characters, the place, the love, the drama, every stinking bit of it. I cannot recommend this book enough. Karina is an amazing writer and I absolutely love her romance novels. This one does have an HEA, so no worries. Where Sea Meets Sky also can be read as a standalone, so get on that!
“I think she’s starting to really like me. I think I’m starting to fall in love with her.”
~Amie
