In In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson, Jess should have known better than to go on a date on her birthday. Particularly since it was a guy she met on a dating 
app. But after the night goes as horribly as she figured it would, it gets even worse when Jess is mugged in the parking lot and ends up cracking her head on the pavement. When she wakes up, though, she gets the shock of a lifetime: she’s in Ireland. Not back home in Florida. Nope. Jess finds herself wandering through the outskirts of Dublin in her favorite date night dress with no jacket, no purse, wallet, or identification. Feeling panicked is putting it mildly. Thankfully, she crosses paths with a handsome Irishman named Eamonn who agrees to help Jess after an awkward start.
‘I was no closer to figuring out what the hell was going on. But at least I was enjoying myself.’
Eamonn–pronounced like Damon without the D–turns out to be a great tour guide as they walk around the city and then further into Ireland’s countryside. Once they begin to feel more comfortable around each other, Jess can’t help but notice Eamonn’s gorgeous smile and bright blue eyes. Her focus should be on getting home. But every moment in his presence feels more like this is the place she’s supposed to be. And that maybe Jess was meant to meet Eamonn, to have this interaction with him when she found herself at a crossroads in her life. She’s not sure if it scares her more to not know if everything happening is actually real–or if it would be more devastating to find out it’s a dream. Because she’s never had such a connection with a man before. And from what Eamonn has said, how carefully he’s treated her so far, she’s pretty sure he feels the same way about it all.
‘He kissed me like I was the dream he didn’t want to wake up from.’
Alicia Thompson’s newest contemporary romance, IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY, was filled with wonder and whimsy, magical realism, and a whole lot of chemistry. But what really sold me on this story–aside from being mostly set in Ireland, of course–was the thoughtful, emotionally charged moments between Jess and Eamonn. Their conversations ran the gamut from lighthearted and flirty to introspective and heartfelt. And it fit them perfectly. No matter what they were doing or where Eamonn was taking Jess sightseeing, they had this visceral connection that felt so true and real that there was almost a fated romance aspect to it.
Given Jess’s situation–where she wasn’t sure how she woke up in Ireland after being mugged and hitting her head back home in Florida–you can imagine her anxiety was at peak level. (Mine was too, just reading about it! lol) So, Eamonn quickly became a comfort to Jess once they teamed up to get her to the embassy or somewhere safe. He was a great companion. But as this was told from Jess’s POV, it was difficult to tell at first what Eamonn truly thought of the situation or about Jess. As time wore on, though, it became clear that he was not only as attracted to her as she was to him, but he also seemed to know how to help her remain calm while still protecting her. He might have been a rough-around-the-edges hero, but Eamonn always had Jess’s best interest at heart.
TROPES:
✨ Magical realism
🇮🇪 Ireland setting
❤️🔥 Slow burn romance
💕 Age-gap romance
CW: View Spoiler »
IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY had an almost atmospheric feeling while Jess and Eamonn wandered around Ireland, telling each other close-held secrets and opening up in ways neither of them had with anyone before. If you’re a fan of the slow burn, Irish folklore and history, as well as moments of magic in your romances, this will be a nice addition to your summer reading list.
QOTD: If you’ve never been to Ireland, what are some places there you’d like to visit if you had the chance?
Book Info:
Publication: Published: June 23rd, 2026 | Berkley |
One woman’s luck changes in an instant when she hits her head and wakes up in Ireland, in this whimsical, whirlwind romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.
After yet another disastrous date where Jess is too awkward, too earnest, too whatever, she’s ready to put her romantic daydreams aside. Other than an enchanting Irish accent, her latest date is no prince charming. Then the night goes from bad to worse when she’s mugged in the parking lot and hits her head. Hard.
Hard enough that when Jess wakes up, she’s in Ireland.
The first person she meets is Eamonn, a quiet, gruff mechanic. Since Jess is stranded with no passport, cell phone, or way to get home, Eamonn becomes her reluctant knight in shining armor.
Over the next forty-eight hours, they meander through the cobblestone streets of Dublin and explore the Irish countryside, sharing their deepest fears, quiet hopes, and softest aches. It’s a connection that is as electrifying as it is terrifying, because what if Jess falls asleep and Eamonn vanishes like a dream? But a love like this—touched by magic and a little bit of luck—is never quite as it seems.
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