This story follows Samira and Alex, two girls who couldn't possibly be less alike, two girls whose paths wouldn't cross, not ordinarily. But during a journalism camp, and an assignment that forces them to work together, something changes. It becomes apparent just how true the saying 'opposites attract' really is.

But with fiery starts, often come fiery endings, and now it's been a full year. A year of heartache and healing from the burnt out, fast paced love affair that they shared that one summer.

A lot can change in a year...but a lot can also remain the same. In their time apart, the expectations placed upon them by their family and their friends still loom overhead, and they will do almost anything to make sure that they don't let their loved ones down.

When they both walk into the same internship for the same university paper, old wounds begin to reopen and, suddenly, the everything that they'd do to keep their loved ones happy might be too much.

How can they work together when the wounds they caused on another the year before have yet to even scar? More importantly, how can they keep it all professional - for the good of their work, and their hearts - when those same burning, passionate feelings come back to life with a force to be reckoned with?

Big Island is my first read of Emily O'Beirne's books, and so I went in relatively blind. All I really knew was that the main story was sapphic, and that was far more than enough for me.

Despite not knowing what exactly it was that I was expecting writing style or story wise, I can safely say that any subconscious expectations were passed without a doubt.

O'Beirne's writing is impeccable - the way that the characters felt so personable, so real, almost like they were a friend of yours rather than just words on a page is a magical quality that not many writers manage to achieve.

The storylines never felt contrived or too over the top, instead they felt real, but not to the point where it felt like you couldn't escape reality within the story.

Overall, this was a wonderful story with beautiful characters and development, realism built into every facet and a certain feel to the writing that made it almost impossible not to enjoy every second of the reading experience.

It would be remiss of me to give Big Island anything less than a 4/5 stars! ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily O'Beirne and the publishers for this e-ARC. I can't wait to read more of O'Beirne's work.

This book fell flat for me and was a DNF after attempting to give it a few tries. Thanks for the ARC.

Big Island is a lovely coming of age story. I thought it was so well written and full of uncertainty that was so relatable, even though my going off to college has already been 10 years ago. I still felt ALL the angst. The love story was adorable and so much fun and I really enjoyed reading about Samira and Alex :)

This was a great young adult read about summer lovin and heart break. Though also second chance love all while figuring out the rest of your life or at least college. I loved the dynamics of the characters and how Samira and Alex made each other a more rounded individual. This is really great representation of young love in the LGBTQ+ community.

Cute story. I loved the characters individually, but didn't really get the idea that they should be together. Overall, worth reading, but only once.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Wow, do I wish there was a book like this when I was a teenager!

Alex and Samira were both delightful characters and seeing them navigate their totally different lives whilst also falling in love was just amazing. In my opinion, there are not enough YA sapphic romances so I will definitely recommend this to everyone, but particularly teenagers, who want to read about more LGBTQ+ romances that have people their age in it.

The journalism kid in me was absolutely thrilled over the idea of a sapphic coming of age story based around the love of journalism.

The pacing of this story felt rather slow to me and I think it’s because this is a story largely focusing on character growth. The family background of Samira and Alex are wildly different and the issues they face show just how relatable another persons’ struggles can be to your own. The journalism part of the story was so much fun to read and really engaging. The end story that was being pursued and written by the students was so important.

Overall, this is a great story that really focuses on coming of age and deep character growth. A cast of fabulous side characters, adventures, and a dose of romance. Recommended for lovers of YA, those looking to add more sapphic reads into their life, and of course those who are experiencing coming out or transitioning from high-school to post grad life.

Thank you NetGalley and Literally PR Ltd for the digital copy of Big Island in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows two opposing women, Samira and Alex, who both signed up for a two week journalism course set in Tasmania. Samira lives with her conservative family in Queensland, but can't help developing a first love with Alex before flying back home. The story then jumps to a year later where the characters meet again as interns.

I liked this story and I was invested in the characters. The journalism aspect wasn't as interesting as I hoped. I don't really agree that Samira and Alex were total opposites, but I like the characters and I like that they developed and matured throughout the story. Overall it was a good read.

i couldn’t get into it, it was ultimately too slow and too much about journalism for me. i can see why other people might like it tho!

Gah I can't say enough about this book! I will say I'm not a huge fan of the title but I did love the story. I love that we got to meet Samaria and Alex and then see how they interact a year later. It was also fun to see how they blossomed from the year before, both knew they were different but then a year later we get to see them both fully changed. Each of them more mature and had relationships that they grew from. I feel like it definitley made them closer. It was just such a feel good story and I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy of Big Island by Emily O’Beirne.

From the start, you get two different family dynamics. Samira is dealing with being part of a conservative, political family with her Dad always saying and doing the wrong things, expecting her to pick up the pieces. Alex, a country girl who has to deal with her Mother showing more affection and attention to her siblings, whilst she fades into the background. Two girls, meeting during a summer journalism camp where they have to work together. Their fiery clashes soon turn into crushes, and then love, until things fall apart and they are both left hurting and yearning for each other. Fast forward a year, and they are both at the same university student paper. Having to work together again, means they have to work through the hurt and pain caused by each other a year prior. The attraction is still strong, and they have to work through it if they want to reconnect again.

Both characters have their difficulties and struggles of coming out, to their friends and to their families. Both of them have to learn how to deal with that and how the reactions of their loved ones will be, some more supportive than others, and one father who thinks it can be used to help him with his publicity. Alex has a complicated relationship with her mother, whilst Samira has a complicated relationship with her father. Alex has her brother, Sam, who she confides in and Samira has her Uncle Micah, both Sam and Micah help throughout the tough situations and times Alex and Samira have to deal with, reminding them to be themselves and do what they believe is the right thing to do.

Both girls have such a fun, dynamic set of friends that they make through journalism as they try to make a difference in the community. There are always moments of banter and the group is funny and shares their love for each other in their own quirky way.

This book isn’t a normal romance book, it shows that sometimes you get things wrong and that sometimes you don’t understand how to express emotions properly when you’re scared. Alex and Samira’s relationship isn’t easy, and they push each other and bicker and say things they don’t mean, but they still love one another and just have a more difficult time expressing it, but that doesn’t mean their feelings change. They try to push each other to reach their best potential and to not give up or be scared to be themselves. Both are good, strong journalists even if they don’t believe in themselves.

The romance was very cute and cheesy, which is sometimes just what you want in a romance book! I did really enjoy this story, however for me personally I just didn’t find the journalism part as interesting as I was hoping too. That is just a personal opinion and doesn’t take away anything from my enjoyment of the romance that blossomed between Alex and Samira.

I didn't 100% click with the book but I really did enjoy the characters and their relationship. Loved the Australian setting.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. The story took quite a while time to develop and even then it felt like it lacked depth.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for a copy of this book.

In this second chance, sapphic romance, teenaged Samira, raised by her widowed, father, a conservative politician goes to Tasmania for a summer journalism course, where she meets Alex.

Passion ignites, but it soon falls apart leaving them both wounded. Then one year later their paths cross again...

I loved the premise of this both, but unfortunately I felt it lacked depth, therefore I found it boring.

It's a lovely book! There's a story, there's ya dealing with problems, and there's love! The backdrop is cool, and it's executed well. So sweet and heart-warming! Young readers will love it.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. The story developed EXTREMELY slowly and took a long time to get to the “meat of the story”. By the time things had actually begun I was too bored to really appreciate it for what it was.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Literally PR Ltd. all opinions are my own.

This was a heartwarming tale of first love.

It was butterflies in your stomach, cheesy smile on your face, heartaching tenderness that sweeps you along.

I loved watching Samira and Alex find themselves and each other.

I got an ARC in exchange for a 100% honest review so here we go


I loved this book, Now it is classed as YA but it is written in a way that it feels like an adult book without the language or topics found in an adult book.

I absolutely love the main characters, the way they are so different background wise yet struggle with similar issues and the way they are portrayed in this book is one of the best I have ever seen.

Thank you to netgally and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily O'Beirne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


It was amaaazing.

Loved the relationships between the two FMC's they were sooo cute and real. The bickering between them was amazing and so was the tension at the beginning of the book!!!

Samira's story was really great. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with her father and the rest of her family, but I would have wished there was some closure between her and her father, like we got to see Alex and her mother finally talking things through.
I also would have wished to see an epilogue of Samira and Alex in university.

It was a really great book, very entertaining and easy to get through. Really recommend!!!!

a very sweet lil sapphic romance novel! baby me would have looooooved this! smart girlfriends who cheer each other on from the sidelines? good stuff