"Out Of Office" by A.H. Cunningham is a refreshing and timely novel that explores the shifting dynamics of work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and the unexpected adventures that can arise when you step away from the daily grind. Cunningham’s writing is sharp, insightful, and infused with a touch of humor, making this story both engaging and thought-provoking.

The novel follows a protagonist who, after years of being tethered to their job, decides to take a break—whether it's a sabbatical, a spontaneous leave of absence, or simply a much-needed vacation. As they disconnect from the pressures of their career, they embark on a journey of self-discovery that leads to new experiences, relationships, and a reevaluation of what truly matters in life. Along the way, they might stumble into a romance, encounter life-changing opportunities, or rediscover passions long forgotten.

Cunningham deftly balances the themes of personal growth and romantic entanglements, creating a narrative that is both heartwarming and reflective. The protagonist’s journey is relatable, particularly in today’s world where the boundaries between work and personal life are increasingly blurred. The novel also offers a commentary on the importance of taking time for oneself, embracing change, and being open to new possibilities.

"Out Of Office" is perfect for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction with a focus on personal growth, adventure, and a touch of romance. A.H. Cunningham has crafted a novel that is both an escape and a reminder of the value in stepping back and reassessing one’s priorities. This book is an excellent choice for anyone who has ever dreamed of leaving their work behind to explore what else life has to offer, even if just for a little while.

This book was a summer romance turned into long term commitment. There was quite a bit of spice in this as well which I really enjoyed.

The mmc's relationship with his family and friends was really touching. The fmc was really dedicated to her work, you could almost say in a relationship with it.

The only downfall on this book was that it focused too much for me on the fact that they were people of colour and the politics of those issues were just over detailed. Alongside their workload as well; this was really in depth and therefore didn't retain my focus.

Overall it was a pleasant romance with some delightfully steamy scenes.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Feeling hot, Hot, HOT!

This book is sizzling!

The chemistry you could feel from here, it was so strong.

And the sex...woah that's steamy!

Add in the fact that most of the book was set in Panama, a beautiful country that I rarely see, if ever in fiction, and a black main character interested in black culture and history of the locations she is visiting, and some LGBT characters too and you have a very exotic and diverse book.

That is incredibly pleasurable to read, just possibly not in public.

There is more than just the physical between the leads, and there are some topics that are raised, that are relatable, as well as very relevant to modern day tourism.

I loved getting to know Gen and Adrian, and also Adrian's family. I was less keen on Gen's mum but could get where she was coming from.

It was definitely the gorgeous cover that first caught my attention, but with the way this was written, I know I need to come back for more from this author. Totally my sort of book!

Thank you to Mills and Boon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The story of Gen and Adrián, who she meets in Panama while she is on business and he is her driver. There is a spark between them that she ignores until she is on holiday. Do they have a chance at anything beyond a fling, and what will happen when she finds out the secret he has hidden all along? A great read.

The chemistry between the characters was palpable and made my heart race. This had more humor than other works by the author and as an ultra fan I am encouraged by the continued growth in her work!

DNF @ 20%

For reasons unknown to me, the story picked up AFTER the main characters had met and had been pining over each other, and dove straight into the part of the timeline where they admit to each other that they're attracted to each other. I tried to give it a chance but in missing all of the good parts of their relationship blooming I ended up putting it down.
2 stars because I didn't give it the fairest of chances and could've possibly improved if I stuck around

I unfortunately had to DNF this one at 30% as it just wasn’t working for me. I really wanted to love it, but I found the smut really really cringey for me and I found every time it went to a different POV I was lost for a few minutes. I did really like the descriptions of the setting and Genevieve as a character

Out of Office is an immersive mix of contemporary issues and spicy romance with a unique voice. The original characters gave believable insights into their lives. The story explores contemporary issues through the characters in a resonating way, balanced by a spicy holiday romance that proves life-changing for the couple.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this before its publication.

In short, this book wasn’t really for me but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t recommend it. I think I just wasn’t feeling it at the time i read it. I found the writing and tone of voice didn’t really flow and I wasn’t very invested in the story or the characters. The interactions between the main characters felt forced and some of the narrative during certain scenes was a bit too vulgar and crude for me. I also found a disconnect with how Genevieve came across sometimes and it made it hard to fully get to know her.

That saying, there is definitely an audience for this book and it would make a great beach read - maybe if I read it on holidays I would have been more in the mood for it. I did like the setting of the book, it isn't every day you get to read a romance based in Panama so that was something new and interesting.

So overall it is not a bad read, it just wasn't for me at the time I read it. If you're looking for a easy and spicy read, it is one that you could definitely consider for your summer reading list.

Unfortunately this book fell a bit flat for me. I thought that the communication aspects of it were great and I loved the location and the vibrancy of it.

But I didn’t quite feel the chemistry between Genevieve and Adrian, because of the entry point to their relationship there was none of the slow burn or build up which I think it might have benefitted from and so I never quite bought that they were into each other.

I also found some of the sentences a bit clunky. There were some odd word choices which took me out of the story (flank was used a few times for example) and there was also a lot of repetitive language in parts.

‘Out Of Office’ by A. H. Cunningham is a luscious, dual POV romance with a steamy Panamá setting, fabulous lead characters and wonderful vacation vibes! Telling the story of workaholic hotelier Genevieve who decides to spend her two-week vacation exploring the powerful connection she and her driver Adrián feel with each other, this book is seriously sexy with some real angst and character development.

I really liked the authenticity of the attraction between the two characters, and the way they expressed their adoration of each other in their first-person chapters. Gen’s respect and love for Adrián shone brightly and the way he worshipped her was seductive.

I found Genevieve’s problems with work-life balance relatable and appreciated the layers of motivation the author laid bare for her - an overbearing mother, the pressure to overachieve and represent as a powerful and successful Black woman executive, and her own long-held ambitions conflicting with her desire to build a life she loved. Adrián was also an interesting character and the subject of an interesting reveal.

I loved the descriptions of the tropical locations and Adrián’s family, but did think that the side characters - especially Gen’s mother - could have been explored more.

Overall, this was a short, sweet and spicy read that would have been perfect to enjoy on the beach! Definitely inspires the reader to step away from their desk and chase happiness every once in a while, and gets 3.5 stars from me.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Mills & Boon Uk via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mills & Boon for the e-arc.

This started off okay, and sounded really promising. I loved the holiday romance aspect, however, I didn’t quite get the romantic vibes from them. I didn’t expect for things to progress as quickly as they did between Genevieve and Adrian. I felt there could have been some more development between them, before things got intimate. They were more acquaintances borderline friends, to start off with, and then, when Adrian sees opportunity to spend more time with Genevieve, he asks her to join him to stay with his family and in return, show her more of Panama.

I liked how the author went into great detail about Panama and its culture; I found it very enriching and I would’ve liked to have seen more of their romance build, during their short time together before Genevieve had to return home. Like if I remember, one chapter she had like arrived to stay with Adrian‘s family, and then like the next chapter a week had passed. I guess I would’ve just liked to have seen more of them and their relationship blossom.

Following that, it just felt a bit flat and like something was missing.

I also thought that the author done a great job of portraying the workaholic black woman, and having to constantly prove yourself. I did find Genevieve’s relationship with her mum quite intense at times, because of how strict her mum was towards her, especially considering that she was a grown adult.

A mix of a beautiful travel book with the vegetation and rural life with bijou hotels, alongside a female empowerment and career advancement guide and then a romance. The two person narrative was good and gave an insight that was balanced. The characters came across rather shallow and no one got cross, or frustrated and when plans got cancelled or huge secrets spilled, they were just accepted and the plot moved on. This didn’t quite work for me as it didn’t have heat or passion.

Genevive is a workaholic who meets Adrian on a business trip. He makes her question her goals in life and her whole future.
This was pretty cute, filled with culture which I enjoyed, and a little spice on the side! A great holiday read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mills & Boon for this advance copy.

An easy read that whisks you away to Panama, but I felt secondhand stress off the main character and her workaholic tendencies! Lots of 🌶 during this book, but that didn't come as a surprise as their relationship developed.

I did find that the book started very very quickly with very little development before their relationship started and I found myself wishing for a bit more information and detail on their slow burn vibes. As well as that, during some of their scenes together I honestly felt quite awkward for how they were with/towards each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mills & Boon for the advance reader copy,

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4

This was a quick and easy romance read. The characters were mature and had good communication which is always a plus in a romance book.

This is an adult romance as it contains some sexual scenes but they don’t overshadow the main story or take away from the plot.

Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
Rating: 3/5

Out of the Office is a great holiday read!

Genevieve is an absolute workaholic who finally decides to take a much needed holiday. In steps Adrian, a man she met in Panama while she was on a work assignment, who convinces her to spend two weeks vacation with him.

This was an enjoyable quick read, that was mature and spicy at the same time.

I wasn’t, however, a fan of the insta-love, that was a bit much for me, but overall, if you’re looking for something easy, then I recommend this one for you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I was hooked from the get-go. A cute and spicy summer romance novel, Adrian and Genevive meet when she is on a work trip to Panana. They can't get enough of each other an embark on a long distance relationship. I loved the latino culture throughout the book and just wished it was longer! A quick paced romance, a perfect summer read.

Cute summer read with a strong female lead. Diverse in it's characters which adds to its appeal. Little bit of spice thrown in to keep us all happy.