He’s the one that got away…
After the loss of her father, the last thing Flavia expects – or wants to do – is go on the trip of a lifetime her parents had planned together.
Not least because – it turns out – the other ticket is being taken by Dominic Rock, their devastatingly handsome next-door neighbour, with whom, nine years ago, Flavia shared a hot night of passion.
It had felt like love. Real, dizzy, once-in-a-lifetime love. But in the intervening years, Flavia has learnt more about this man, things that make him impossible to trust.
But against the breathtaking landscapes of Cape Town, old sparks may once again reignite. And Flavia must decide whether Dominic is the man who broke her heart – or the one she never truly let go.
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My Review
This book is a warm and funny forced-proximity romance that blends grief, healing, and second-chance chemistry. Childhood neighbours Flavia and Dominic once shared a teenage one-night stand, and years later fate pushes them together again when they unexpectedly win the same holiday prize and end up sharing a one-bed hotel room in South Africa.
Flavia is newly divorced and still grieving her father, so the trip carries emotional weight beyond a simple getaway. Dominic, kind and quietly steady, offers to sleep on the sofa, but the close quarters make old attraction impossible to ignore. Their decision to pretend they’re not a couple—especially during awkward encounters with fellow guests—adds a delightful layer of humour that keeps the story light even as deeper feelings simmer underneath.
The novel thrives on its witty dialogue, slow-burn tension, and the comforting familiarity of the forced-proximity trope. While not a traditional second-chance romance, the shared past gives their connection extra depth. Overall, it’s a charming, easy read filled with laughs, longing, and the satisfying possibility that love can return when you least expect it.
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