About the Book:
Title: Lost With You
Author: Anna Lenore
Series: Lost and Found #1
Page Length: 370
Publication Date: Oct. 8, 2021
Synopsis: A tragic act of fate becomes an epic journey toward love…
Tired of following in her father’s footsteps at his small, uninspiring catering business, Cora is in desperate need of a new adventure, booking a week-long trip to New Zealand. But when she finds herself stranded in the middle of the Pacific after a horrific plane crash, the real adventure begins, and she’s forced to learn how to keep herself alive.
But she’s not the only survivor…
Liam Montgomery is the last person she expected to find washed ashore with her. He’s tall, dark, ruggedly handsome, and he’s a movie star—the one who’s danced in her fantasies for months.
At first, it all seems like a mirage, but it’s real. Liam is now her sole companion, and they soon find out how important it is to lean on each other in their new, unforgiving reality. Tensions rise, danger strikes, and they both learn what it truly means to fight for their lives…and for love.
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My Review:
A slow-burn survival romance, Lost with You follows Cora, who finds herself stranded on a deserted island with her celebrity crush after their plane crashes, leaving them the only survivors. Stranded with only each other to lean on and a meager amount of supplies, Cora and Liam become close, and they work together to survive. However, Cora and Liam aren’t survivalists, and as the days go by, they fear they’ll never be rescued. Does anyone even know they’re alive? Will Liam and Cora ever get off the island, and what will happen if they do?
I really enjoyed Lost With You! The story pulls you in right from the beginning with a suspenseful and terrifying plane crash, and the protagonists are quite compelling. The story is told from Cora’s perspective, and she, as well as Liam, is a dynamically developed character. Through her deep and poignant conversations with Liam, you learn of her dreams and aspirations, her commitment to her family, her fears, and her insecurities. Cora is so relatable, and her reaction when she first realizes she’s stranded with her celebrity crush is fantastic. She’s funny, kind, insecure, and introspective, and I like how she grows throughout the book.
The story has a lot of suspense, first with the terrifying plane crash, and throughout the story as Cora and Liam face the dangers of living on an uninhabited island. What do they eat? Where will they find water? What dangers lurk on the island and in the water? Will they be able to make shelter and brave the elements? Cora and Liam have so many problems that they must face. Luckily, they have each other for support.
Liam sounds like an absolute dream and a great partner to be stranded with! He is so determined, caring, and strong, and he never gives up. Like Cora, he is a well-layered and interesting character, and I like that we learn about his life, his feelings, and his fears throughout the story. He is more than just his celebrity persona, as Cora quickly learns, and they complement each other well.
Liam and Cora have amazing chemistry, and because of their circumstances, they get to know each other on a deep level. Alone with no hint of rescue, Liam and Cora have plenty of time to talk and bond. They have so many poignant moments, and you can tell that they really like each other. However, they fight their feelings for different reasons. It’s interesting to see how they reconcile their growing attraction and feelings for each other while struggling to survive.
Deserted island survival always makes for a suspenseful and intriguing read for me, and I had an easy time putting myself in the character’s shoes. Some of this can be attributed to the setting, but it’s also because of the author’s immersive writing. The story and characters are compelling, and their experiences and conversations are thought-provoking. In fact, I had several conversations with my family about this book, which was really fun and interesting. I love stories that generate good conversations, and the tropes in this book definitely did that. Which movie stars would we like to be stranded on a deserted island with? How would we survive? Would we survive? My daughter is pretty sure she would since she plans on being stranded with Dwayne Johnson. I don’t know how Keanu Reeves and I would fare, but I have a feeling we’d be just fine too. lol
I thought this was a great contemporary romance and debut novel, and I’m excited to read the next book in the series. I can’t wait to find out what happens next on Cora and Liam’s journey. Thanks so much to the author for gifting me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!
- The character development.
- The suspense.
Favorite Lines:
The beauty has always been there. You just have to open your eyes to see it.
There is a specific kind of pain you feel when your deepest desires are almost reached, only to be pulled from you so quickly. It feels like drowning in a pool of molasses. You’ve just reached the surface and then it sucks you down into its sticky depths again.
Recommendations:
I would definitely recommend Lost With You to readers who enjoy contemporary romance, forced proximity romance, survival romance, or slow burn romance.
Lovely review Julie. This definitely sounds like an enjoyable story and I love when a debut book measures up like this. I’m sure your family had some very interesting thoughts.