Jessica Rosenberg (2)

With its lush tropical setting, Jessica Rosenberg's Aloha Also Means Goodbye is an ideal beach read. It is a mainly light-hearted romance with Jo and Jordan planning to renew their wedding vows, but their upcoming ceremony is threatened when Jo is confronted by her unresolved past.

Aloha Also Means Goodbye is off to a strong beginning, but it quickly gets bogged down by too many storylines. The main story arc focuses on Jo and her sudden doubts about whether she and Jordan belong together. These misgivings intensify when she runs into her first love Andy and she learns new information about their break up years early. When Jordan finally arrives for their renewal ceremony, Jo is left wondering which of the two men she really loves.

The secondary story arcs revolve around Jo's friends, Sadie and Roxie. Sadie has a long history of falling for men who are going through some sort of turmoil and once they are back on their feet again, they dump her. So when Sadie meets a sexy and kindhearted bartender, she is immediately smitten but has she made a mistake risking her heart so soon? Roxie is the complete opposite of Sadie-her relationships are fun, flirty and short-lived. However an unexpected attraction leads her to question her lifelong beliefs about love.

Throw in Andy's crumbling marriage and Jo's troubled relationship with her mom, and an already convoluted storyline becomes even more complicated. Both of these storylines are eventually resolved, but with so much else going on, the overall story feels rushed and somewhat superficial.

All in all, Aloha Also Means Goodbye is a heartwarming, light read with a surprising amount of depth. The romances are enjoyable, the various conflicts are neatly wrapped up and Jessica Rosenberg brings the novel to an emotionally satisfying and very romantic conclusion.… (mehr)