IN A NOT SO PERFECT WORLD

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.