Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man.

Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation.

Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino.

Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.

My Review

George and Frankie have been best friends since they were young, but their friendship has always had layers to it. Frankie has a complicated relationship with her mother, and the story opens with that history before jumping ahead to the eve of her wedding to Nate. Set in Canada, this story follows Frankie as she finds herself at a turning point and heading toward an unexpected vacation with the one person who has always been there: George.

Frankie is independent, headstrong, and full of attitude, while George is the dependable best friend and best man who has a long history with her. I really enjoyed the way their shared history was woven into the story and how we got to see the moments that brought them together as well as the times life pulled them apart.

This has so many tropes I enjoy: friends to lovers, vacation romance, banter, forced proximity, only one bed, girl next door, and a little mistaken identity thrown in. And once Frankie and George find themselves on their honeymoon adventure, things get interesting. 😂 Their banter is top tier, and watching them navigate the line between friendship and something more was easily one of my favorite parts.

Frankie’s love of the end of summer, world cookbooks, simple pleasures, and food comes through beautifully. Food is definitely one of the ways to Frankie’s heart, and I loved seeing that part of her personality. The island setting is gorgeous, with nature descriptions that really bring the scenery to life. There is also so much care and love between these characters, even when they are absolutely refusing to admit what they feel.

I loved the simple moments when Frankie and George start noticing each other differently. The activities, conversations, connections, and growing attraction gave their relationship some really lovely moments. And when things heat up, they go well beyond steamy. 🔥

I also have to mention the dedication because I loved it. ❤️

There are some really fun moments throughout, including George’s mansplaining of self-care, which honestly made me laugh, and the information about the whales toward the end was genuinely heartwarming. I also appreciated the inclusion of the Canadian wildfires and the way that was incorporated into the story.

Unfortunately, though, some of the storytelling choices kept me from connecting with the book as much as I wanted to.

The time jumps became increasingly difficult for me toward the end. We would move from first dates to later moments in their relationship, then jump back into cozy or steamy scenes, and I found myself having to stop and figure out where we were in their timeline. The childhood flashbacks gave important information about their friendship, but there were times when they interrupted the current romance rather than adding to it.

I also struggled with some of the omissions and questionable moments between them. For a friendship that is supposed to be the foundation of their relationship, some of those choices made it harder for me to believe in the trust developing between them.

And then we get the last-act breakup. 😩

I kept wondering, did we really need this? Frankie and George were so good as friends-to-lovers, and I wanted more of the happiness and healing I thought their story was building toward. Instead, the story returned to a much more melancholy place, and that wasn’t quite the emotional experience I was hoping for from this summer romance.

I may have missed part of what the book was trying to accomplish, but ultimately the ending didn’t give me the excitement or emotional payoff I wanted. I appreciated the more introspective and healing aspects of Frankie and George’s journey, and there are definitely beautiful moments here, but the constant movement through the timeline made the story harder for me to settle into, especially as a listener.

There is a lot to love about Frankie and George individually and together, and their chemistry is undeniable. I just wish the story had trusted their connection a little more instead of adding quite so much drama.

A beautiful setting, a complicated friendship, plenty of banter, and some seriously steamy moments—but ultimately, this friends-to-lovers romance didn’t quite give me the happy, positive summer feeling I was hoping for.

If you would like to read  Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune, you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases. 

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Summer, Friends to Lovers, and Only one bed.