The Ohana Cottage by Megan Reinking

This book in 3 words: Swoon. Wholesome. Tropical.

The Ohana Cottage is book 1 of The Hawaiian Getaway series. Mia Taylor, dealing with a recent breakup, runs to Hawaii for a month-long solo vacation. She stays in a cottage, owned by John, a veteran working on his own type of healing.

This story is so LOVELY. Reinking constructs her setting so vividly it’s like you can smell the salt and feel the sand (nothing like being transported to Hawaii while I’m currently under 6 inches of snow in Michigan). The beautiful setting helps contrast characters and build the plot.

I loved the characters in The Ohana Cottage. Robust and full of their own twists and turns right into the mindset that “you could know” these people. Mia was my favorite and she made me laugh aloud more than once.

Read if you like:
✨Grumpy/sunshine
✨Forced proximity
✨Diverse Characters
✨Hawaii setting
✨Realistic depictions of themes like anxiety and PTSD

“I like when you smile,” I say softly, looking back down at the ground. “I like when you make me smile,” he answers, sending butterflies into a tailspin in my stomach.”