An unhappy wife who finds herself torn from life as she knows it is at the heart of Dunn’s fast-paced romance with elements of a thriller. Alaina Grace is simply trying to reignite her marriage when fate steps in with other plans. Due to a delayed flight, she and her husband, Chris, are forced to use standby tickets as they embark on a second-chance honeymoon in Bora-Bora. Alaina has the good fortune of getting bumped to a first-class seat next to her school-age crush, the one-time child actor and teen idol Jack Volmer, while her husband makes do with a seat in coach. When their plane crashes in a freak storm, Alaina is separated from her husband, injured, and stuck on an island with a group of strangers—including the familiar face of Jack. As they strive to survive, and she gravitates toward Jack, Alaina finds herself torn between her past and her present.Dunn does an excellent job of capturing the voice of a discontented wife, trying to rekindle the spark. Alaina’s a complex yet relatable character who has come to that age-old milestone of wondering about the road less traveled: Her internal monologues make clear that she’s unsatisfied in her marriage to her husband of ten years. At times, her thoughts are riddled with insecurities, and other times they verge on the spiteful. But with an ensemble cast of characters who have to depend on each other for support and survival, this novel is more than just a love story.
Dunn writes it all with clarity and precision, creating a bond between the characters and the reader with her vivid imagery and skilled craftmanship. She’s masterful when transitioning between the past and present with flashbacks, intricately layering and revealing the plot. Readers will be pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns as the survivors face the challenges of wilderness life and, when it's all said and done, a satisfying cliffhanger ending.
Takeaway: A contemporary romance boasting a strong protagonist and packed with action, adventure, and suspense.
Great for fans of: Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
My favorite read of 2021!
This book had me from page one.I wish I was a writer so I could do justice to my review. There aren't enough words to articulate how much I enjoyed "More of Us to the West". I usually don't like books that switch back and forth between the past and present, but this was different. The storyline was unique and always kept me guessing. I didn't want to stop reading because I had to know what happened next. Dialogue between the characters is what makes or breaks a book for me.This author knows how to write. I fell in love with these characters. Heads up, it ends with a huge, mind blowing cliffhanger. But OMG, totally worth it. I am anxiously waiting for Book 2 ... It can't arrive soon enough for me. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!!
