📖 On Midnight Shores by Julie Olivia

♾️⭐️ 4.25/5 stars

🌊 Welcome back to Never Harbor, where every book feels like a warm hug and a shot of adrenaline at the same time.

Just when I thought Julie Olivia couldn’t top herself, she gives us this. An age gap, bad boy artist with a hidden soft side? And he falls for the town’s sunshine sweetheart who’s trying to rediscover herself after college didn’t go as planned? Yeah. I’m ruined in the best way.

Bonnie has always been “the good girl”; she is the youngest Davies sibling, raised in chaos, adored by the whole town, and endlessly trying to meet everyone’s expectations. When she comes home artless and heartbroken from a failed internship search, she throws herself into one last shot: interning at the local gallery owned by Rafe Cohen, the town’s broodiest, tatted up mystery man. And let me tell you… the chemistry is palpable. 🔥

Their relationship shouldn’t work on paper because there is an 8 year age gap, she is the little sister of everyone, and he’s built walls taller than the gallery itself, but every scene between Rafe and Bonnie crackled. It wasn’t just the slow burn tension or the teach me spice (which was SO well done, by the way); it was the emotional unraveling of two people finding the courage to be fully seen.

Bonnie’s growth hit so hard. Watching her take charge, in art, in love, in life, was empowering and relatable. And Rafe? A tortured artist with emotional baggage, devastating talent, and a soft spot for the one girl who sees through it all? I’m sorry, I will never recover.

Also, shoutout to Julie for sprinkling in that Davies family magic again. Seeing the rest of the clan and their continued stories felt like coming home. I never want to leave Never Harbor. Every couple has been teased from the start and watching their stories unfold book by book is just so satisfying.

Tropes you’ll love:
❤️‍🔥 Bad Boy x Town Sweetheart
🎨 Artist x Intern (hello, paint me vibes)
🍷 Age Gap (8 years!)
🔥 “Teach me” moments & sexual awakening
🫶🏼 Found Family
🌊 Small Coastal Town Romance

If I had one bone to pick, it’s that the nicknames (Big Bad, I’m looking at you 👀) sometimes took me out of the moment. But honestly? It was worth it. Because Julie Olivia is THAT author, one you want to gatekeep but love too much not to scream about from the rooftops.

I am so proud of her Berkley deal and beyond thrilled to see this series getting the love it deserves. On Midnight Shores is swoony, spicy, soul stirring romance done right.

Now excuse me while I reread all the Davies siblings’ books like I’m part of the family!