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dermkat 's review for:

Must Have Been Love by Carrie Elks

I really enjoyed this book, but it had a different vibe than I anticipated. It's more like some of her other books I've read but I think because it's linked to the Salinger Brothers series I assumed it would feel the same and it didn't. It's a bit more angsty, not quite as light. But it introduced a new small town island setting with a slew of characters I'm excited to learn more about as the series continues. Skylar came to the island because the father she barely knew died and left his bar to her. She's a bit of a rolling stone and assumed she won't stay long but quickly starts falling in love with the town and it's people, including the grumpy business man who planned on buying the bar. He doesn't like her at first but also can't stop thinking about her, and then his little girl Ayda, who can't speak after some trauma, wanders into the empty bar and hangs out with Sky, bringing them all together. Then spicy times occur and she tries to stay detached but he changes his tune quickly and wants more than hookups. There was a custody battle happening, everybody had baggage from past relationships and family that affected things, and it seems like secrets will be a theme since Francie and Asher are next and clearly keeping something from people.