I did not dig Digging Dr Jones. Not at all.

I'm not going to write a TLDR post. Here are a few points why it didn't work for me:

- flat characters
- insta-lust
- mediocre adventure plot
- American FMC with daddy issues
- British MMC who just inserts random British words here and there but isn't consistently British at all

The premise of this book is very cute and has a fun Indiana Jones theme throughout. The couple falls in love quite quick in this book and the tension unfortunately doesn't have the time to build and it feels.a bit lackluster. I also found rhe FMC go be very whiny about trivial things and our MMC through money around a lot to get what he wanted. There was a sweet brother and sister dynamic that happened with side characters that was enjoyable however

It’s hard to believe Digging Dr. Jones is a debut novel.

If you love adventure films like National Treasure and Indiana Jones but also enjoy a dose of cheesy romance, this is definitely one to check out.

While it’s probably best not to expect historically or archaeologically accurate details, this book delivers an entertaining mix of action, mystery, comedy, and romance.

The story follows Adriana Jones and Dr. Andrew Jones as they embark on a thrilling treasure hunt through vibrant Colombian towns and lush rainforests.

With a rom-com spin on the classic Indiana Jones-style adventure, the novel keeps the reader engaged with its fast-paced plot, intriguing historical lore, and plenty of lighthearted fun.

The background story behind the artefact was well thought out, adding an immersive depth to the treasure hunt.

Adriana and Andrew’s relationship is a slow burn, with plenty of flirty banter and playful snark along the way.

Their chemistry is undeniable, and when the romantic tension finally snaps, the spice does not hold back it certainly becomes not suitable to read at work!

While Andrew was charming, confident, and funny, Adriana’s character didn’t always land for me.

Her inner monologue was occasionally cringeworthy, and at times she came across as overly sardonic.

I also wasn’t a fan of the body-shaming comments made by Adriana and her brother. While they were mostly directed at themselves rather than others, it was a minor theme I didn't enjoy.

Plot-wise, is this book ridiculous? Absolutely. Adriana receives a mysterious bracelet in the mail, decides to put it on (for reasons unknown), and discovers it’s now stuck—oh, and it just so happens to be the key Andrew needs for his treasure hunt.

Within mere hours, she agrees to join him on his adventure, which quickly escalates into daring escapes, dangerous encounters, and a whole lot of making out in questionable locations. Their priorities were definitely interesting, but the sheer fun of it all made it work.

Despite a few minor issues, Digging Dr. Jones was an exciting and enjoyable read, and Olivia Jackson is definitely an author I’d pick up again. A fantastic debut filled with adventure, romance, and plenty of over-the-top fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise of the book was captivating and intriguing. I was sure I was gonna love it… instead I couldn’t even finish it. To be honest, I realized the book wasn’t from me since the first few pages, but I tried to keep going for a bit. Unfortunately, I can’t bring myself to finish it.

For me, the major problem is the writing style. It’s clunky and childish. The FMC and her brother speak and think like teenagers. The story doesn’t evolve fluently and all actions feel forced. I couldn’t get past that. Also, I’ve read only a few chapters but I was already annoyed by how much the FMC mentions their daddy and mommy issues. It was thrown in everywhere.

AND the FMC’s brother is written in very stereotypical way ???? It’s 2025 do we really need to write the basic gay character who can’t go on holiday without bringing an insane amount of suitcases ??

I’m so sorry, but this is going to be a no for me.

This was everything a fun romcom should be. Plenty of zingy one liners. Plenty of cheesiness in the absolute best way!

OMG!! THIS BOOK!! I’ve read some really interesting books but this book was just so infuriating that I have DNF’d it. The FMC and her brother are inconsiderate, whiny and spoilt characters. The author has made it out that the FMC got burned by a person who she was in a relationship (spoiler, they weren’t. He was an investor and he wanted to sleep with her) and that’s why the FMC doesn’t do love, along with the unhealthy way she and her brother grew up. The FMC quit her 6 figure, respectable job to open up a wine business with no backing, no savings and is somehow on a luxury holiday with her brother. And speaking of her brother omg! Talk about the author just throwing every stereotypical, cliche gay knowledge she has on a character. In chapter 5 the FMC states that the MMC has memoizing eyes, 1 green and 1 blue. Surely that is something she would have noticed in chapter 1, when we meet him. Both the FMC waste others time and act like you would see the typical rich airhead in a movie!! With the name Digging Dr Jones, I thought I would be reading something that combines Indiana jones and the mummy.

This was so much fun!! The adventure of looking for a lost treasure made for an original setting, with a bit of mystery added to the story. I loved how Adriana and Andrew’s feelings grew with each new step of their archeological adventure, as they learnt more and more about each other. I also really enjoyed the time devoted to Adriana’s brother William, it was really nice to see such a strong siblings relationship get so much time on page, and it really brought something more to the story.

Digging Dr Jones is an adventure-filled slow burn with an insane Indiana Jones vibe. The chemistry between Adriana and Andrew is sizzling from the very beginning, while William is hilariously stuck as the third wheel. With mystery mingled into the romance and a bit of chaos to keep things interesting, this story keeps you hooked until the very end. And that ending? Wild, but so worth it!

3.5*

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!

This was a cute and enjoyable romance with forced proximity and Indiana Jones adventure vibes. The instalove was a bit too insta for my taste, but the banter was cute and the brother added a dose of sarcasm to the whole thing. If you're looking for a fun, light, HEA read, this does the trick!

Unfortunately dnf’d this at 25%- felt like the whole story so far was just travelling back and forth to various places and nothing was actually happening. Also. Struggled to get into the story as the element of mystery around the artefacts etc was missing for me.

Adriana Jones is on a stunning holiday with her brother in Costa Rica when she receives an unexpected gift - an ornate bejewelled bracelet. She does what any of us would do, and tries it on - but she can't get it off. That wouldn't be as much of a problem if the bracelet was *actually* intended for her - but it was supposed to go to Dr. Andrew Jones, a professor and archaeologist on the hunt for a lost treasure.

The bracelet is a key - so Adriana will have to join Andrew and help him find the treasure if she wants rid of it. But they're not the only ones on the hunt for the lost loot - so time is of the essence. As Adriana contemplates whether or not she should go with Andrew, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. One that could help her save her fledgling business and set her up for life...

This reminded me so much of that Sandra Bullock/Channing Tatum film The Lost City. It has the same kind of humour and pace, and was a very easy, entertaining read. I wasn't really a fan of Adriana or her brother (he reminded me so much of Frankie Grande it was distracting at times) but I liked the overall plot and the race to find the treasure. It was silly, it was far fetched, but when I picked it up I wanted escapism - and I got that in spades.

It's not your standard rom-com, it's not going to be a favourite of mine, but it was fun, light, flirty, and really entertaining. I was surprised to read in the acknowledgements that English is the author's second language - I would never have been able to tell.

Thank you to Harper Collins and One More Chapter for granting me access to read this book. I'll be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.

This was such a fun and adventurous read! It was like The Lost City mixed with Indiana Jones and a splash of wonderful modern romcom. The narrative was light and fun, with Adriana being a really amusing MC that wonderfully balanced Andrew’s seriousness. The side characters added depth and humor to the story and the sense of atmosphere was great. There was an awesome balance of adventurous mystery and spicy and sweet romance brimming with chemistry. I really hope we see more genre blending adventure romances soon!

The cover drew me In but the story kept me! I was slightly hesitant to pick this up because last time I was promised a “Indiana Jones” romance, I was let down. Thankfully this was not the case with “Digging Dr Jones”. Adriana Is down on her luck as she tries to open her own bussiness. She opens the wrong package and ends up with coded bracelet meant for archaeologist Andrew Jones. That bracelet is what Andrew needs to find the treasure he’s looking for. So Andrew and Adriana are thrown together on a wild treasure hunt filled with banter, spice and high stakes. A must read!!!!

This was such a fun book! The story was very fun to read and the romance was so cute and full of banter. I would recommend this book!

This was such a fun and silly book in all the best ways. I was more invested in the adventure than the romance, the stakes were just high enough to make you care without being stressful. But the romance itself was very cute and well done too.

This was such a cute read! Very lighthearted and a great palette cleanser compared to some of my normal. Dr. Jones is a great character who continues to prove he’s a good guy over and over again to Adriana. Adriana is getting over a massive heartbreak and loss of confidence.

I have two critiques for this book:

1) The first chapter felt too cluttered. It was a huge information dump. This is really the only thing that stopped it from being 5 stars for me.
2) A really easy addition that would make this book better would be adding pictures of the bracelet, maps, and wall drawings. I kept trying to picture those things while reading and it would have been great to have them added in.

Placeholder. Wrong review originallly entered. Actually review coming soon and rating coming before release date

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a copy of the ARC for my honest opinion.

I loved this book! I've been looking for an Indiana Jones type romance book that is good. This was perfection.

Of course Andrew is a rich, tall, and handsome treasure hunter and Adriana accidentally receives his code breaking bracelet on accident. What could possibly go wrong with that?!

There wasn't one character I didn't like, that was a "good guy".

With most treasure hunting stories, you know how it will end. This book kept me wanting to get to that ending. What would happen next? Would they be sabotaged? Would they get in a sticky situation? I just devoured it!

If you love adventure, romance, and laugh out loud banter, Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson is an absolute must read! This book had me cackling at the sharp witted jokes, swooning over the hero, and gripping the pages during the intense adventure scenes.

First, let’s talk about Andrew, aka the hottest, sweetest nerd ever. He’s tall, wears glasses (swoon!), and gives total Indiana Jones vibes while still being utterly endearing. His dynamic with the heroine was perfection, equal parts tension, humor, and chemistry that had me flipping pages at lightning speed.

Adriana has been down on her luck in a major way. She ends up with the bracelet meant for Andrew cuffed to her wrist by an accident. That changes her whole vacation trajectory morphing into one big treasure hunt, clue solving adventure with the Dr. Andrew Jones.

I also have to shout out William, Adriana’s brother, because he was hilarious! His relationship with his sister was one of my favorite parts of the book, so authentic, sweet, and filled with the kind of playful teasing that made their bond feel real.

And the adventure? Olivia Jackson really puts them through it! High stakes, danger, twists and turn which all made for such an exhilarating read. I loved how the action balanced out with the humor and romance, making it feel like a true romantic comedy adventure.

As a Georgia girl, I also loved all the references to Atlanta and Roswell, seeing places I know woven into the story made it even more fun!

If you’re looking for a book that delivers on romance, humor, and heart pounding adventure, Digging Dr. Jones is it. I laughed, I swooned, and I will for sure need a physical copy of this one. Olivia Jackson, you’ve got a new fan!

I received an ARC via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is such a fun romp! I really enjoyed this read.

Adriana's life is a dumpster fire. She's just about to open her own business, when her financial partner bails on her leaving her couch-surfing at her brothers' and nearly destitute. Her brother's convinced her to join him at a 5-Star resort vacation before facing reality.

It's a nice touch when a beautiful bracelet is delivered to Adriana and she puts it on to feel a bit better. Only the bracelet wasn't for Adriana Jones. It was for Andrew Jones, archaeologist. And the bracelet won't come off, and is the key to Andrew's current treasure hunt.

Soon Adriana and her brother are joining Andrew as they follow the clues through the jungles of Colombia. They're in a race against time as another team is also searching for the treasure.

I'd categorize this as a slow-burn romantic suspense.