Smart Girl Summer by Kristin Rockaway: When Abby finds out that her research has been stolen 
and she has nothing to prove that it was completed by her, she isn’t sure what steps to take next. She has always been on the route to get her PhD and follow in the footsteps of her father, but she has to make a decision on whether to keep fighting back, find a new research proposal, or to change paths. In order to reset, she decides to take a job tutoring a child aboard a yacht for the summer. What she expects to be a summer of rejuvenating turns out to be a path of discovering herself and what she wants for her future, because she never expects to fall for the handsome father of the child she is tutoring.
As a billionaire, Richard has seen a fair share of scandal attached to his name, especially following his divorce from his wife. Being labeled as a playboy isn’t something that ever bothered him, but he has always prioritized protecting those he loves. When he finds out that he is going to have his daughter for the summer, he plans this trip around the Mediterranean to bond with her. As he spends time with her, he isn’t sure what he’s doing wrong, but he doesn’t feel like he gaining any ground. When Abby tries to give him advise on how to approach his daughter, he throws himself into her suggestions and finds it working.
When he suggests Abby join them cliff jumping, he helps her overcome her fear of heights and finds himself drawn to his daughter’s nanny. As he continues to ask for her assistance, he hopes that she feels the same way, but he won’t allow himself to make the first move on his employee. When the two give into their emotions, they find themselves hoping for things they never thought possible. As Abby learns more about the world around her, she questions whether she wants to continue with her program at all or if she finds joy in teaching in a different capacity than at a university. For Richard, he never had to think about how the media portrays anyone besides his daughter, so when Abby is portrayed negatively, he has to decide whether he wants to stand up for the woman he loves or let her take the burden herself.
I actually liked the book a lot more than I thought I was going to originally. The tone of the book from the start made it seem like it was going to potentially feel more like a “woe is me” narrator, but I really liked the arc that Abby had as a character. She went through a lot throughout the book and I couldn’t wait to see what her final decision would be.
Richard also went through big changes mainly internally. Besides his daughter, he never really had to worry about anyone else. With Abby, he learns about how he wants his life to be perceived and how he wants to be known. Instead of focusing on just his work, he chooses to make his own narrative and fight for himself.
The book was full of such cute moments between the two but also great moments about friendship and how to handle others around you. It was a refreshing read and I can’t say enough good things about it.
Book Info:
Publication: August 23, 2022 | Montlake |
From Kristin Rockaway comes a fun, insightful romance about what can happen when life gets off track but you’re willing to go along for the ride.
This summer’s not going as Abby Atkinson planned. A thieving PhD advisor, a screeching halt to her grad program, and zero job offers have left her high and dry. Nothing a little eat, pray, love across the Mediterranean can’t fix, right?
Or eat, pray, tutor, more like. Her dissertation might be dead, but she can still teach. She’ll just have to do it for six weeks on a superyacht with a billionaire and his daughter.
A playboy billionaire, according to the tabloids―but Abby’s not so sure. As big as his bank account is, his heart’s that much bigger, especially when it comes to his daughter. Their strained relationship could use some mending, though, and Abby can help. She was hired to teach junior high math, but she’ll make room in her lesson plans.
Falling for her boss wasn’t part of the plan either, but…
Maybe it’s time she let her heart, not her head, teach her something new.
