The most adventurous thing unlucky-in-love primary school teacher Libby has done this year is buy an air fryer. So when she finds herself trading places with her twin sister during the summer holidays, to be a contestant on reality TV show Love on the Island, she is way out of her comfort zone.
Jetting off to a villa in Mexico full of promiscuous muscle-mountains coupling up with glamorous women with frozen foreheads and hidden agendas, and a she-devil executive producer hellbent on exposing her to ridicule, should be her worst nightmare but somehow Libby does end up catching feelings… for the one guy who is forbidden fruit. Gorgeous, sexy, show producer Cameron.
Suddenly Libby’s summer is picking up. But she’ll be kicked off the show and lose her chance with Cameron unless she learns how to become a crazed, fame-hungry, media whore… and fast.
Yes, love is about staying true to yourself. But it’s also about taking risky leaps of faith.
About The Author
My Review
This book is about a shy primary school teacher who agrees to impersonate her reality-TV-star twin on a tropical dating show and accidentally finds herself falling for the one man she absolutely isn’t allowed to love. Chaos, comedy, and heartfelt growth collide in a sunshine-filled rom-com that balances outrageous premise with emotional sincerity.
Libby’s fish-out-of-water journey is the novel’s greatest strength. Watching her navigate influencer culture, villa politics, and scripted romance while clinging to her authentic self is both hilarious and endearing. Her chemistry with producer Cameron delivers a delicious slow-burn tension, full of witty banter and forbidden-romance stakes that keep pages turning. The twin dynamic adds extra sparkle, with Layla’s glamorous unpredictability constantly threatening Libby’s carefully balanced lie.
Lyons captures the energy of reality TV perfectly—dramatic contestants, manufactured storylines, and glamorous settings—while gradually peeling back the spectacle to reveal a softer story about confidence and self-worth. The pacing mirrors a dating show season: fast, messy, and addictive before settling into deeper emotional territory.
Light, escapist, and genuinely funny, this is a joyful summer romance that proves stepping outside your comfort zone might lead to the love story you never expected.
My Rating
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