This is one island you won’t want to be rescued from.
Love is in the salty sea air in this smart and steamy ensemble romantic comedy/family drama set in a tropical paradise, from the author of the “sparkly and entertaining” (Oprah Daily) It Had to Be You.
The Kellys are messy, loud, loving Australians. The Lees are sophisticated, aloof, buttoned-up Americans. They have nothing in common…except for the fact that their daughters are married. When a nearby volcano erupts during their short vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Australia, the two families become stranded together for 6 weeks.
With only two island employees making up the rest of their party, everyone is forced to question what—or who—they really want. Island Time is a sumptuous summer read that dives deep into queer romance, family secrets, ambition, parenthood, and a bird-chasing bromance. This sexy, sun-soaked paradise of white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush rainforest will show you it’s never too late to change your destiny.
“An absolute delight. Georgia Clark is revolutionizing the romantic comedy for a modern audience and she simply gets better with every single book.”
“An absolutely magical read about love in all its forms. I couldn’t put it down.”
“Lush, evocative, and full of surprises. Clark has done it again, a novel brimming with her signature wit as well as captivating insights on family dynamics and the nature of true love.”
“A beautiful exploration of life and love that tugs on all the heartstrings. Island Time is gorgeously rendered.”
“Island Time is sweet, funny, romantic and as light as a breeze. Georgia Clark has an impossibly charming voice—a delight to read.”
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Questions to enhance your book club experience of Island Time; author interview with Georgia Clark; cocktail recipe mentioned in the book; a map of Mun’dai to color in, and more!
Selected Press and Praise
People magazine: “Stranded together in paradise after a local volcano erupts, two families get unexpected lessons in love and acceptance. A delicious escape.”
San Francisco Book Review “★★★★ Island Time is a fun read full of family drama, relationships, adventure, and self-discovery... I loved that each character had an engaging story to tell. Overall, this tale was filled with beautiful imagery of the landscape and local culture, making it feel like I was also on the island.”
Book Reporter review: "Yet another heartfelt and love-filled contribution from Georgia Clark, an author who can make any love story, no matter how small or fleeting, a showstopper."
PureWow: 20 Best Beach Reads of Summer 2022 (#1). “Queer romance, family secrets and ambition abound in this summery story of two families.”
New York Post: The 20 Best Audible Books to Listen to in Spring 2022 “One of the most inspiring authors.”
Autostraddle: Queer Books coming in 2022 "Clark’s steamy comedy set on an island off the coast of Australia is just the escapist read you need for June."
Scary Mommy: Author Georgia Clark Talks Ensemble Casts, Queer Romance, And Her New Book ‘Island Time’. “In 2020, queer romance novelist Georgia Clark was quarantining with her wife in New York City when life’s biggest questions came knocking on her doorstep — Am I happy? How can I live a value-driven life? — and consequently, the idea for her sixth novel, Island Time.”
Hello Canada: 10 Best Beach Reads for 2022. “A big, fun, messy queer rom-com perfect for anyone who’s ever tried to make the best of a disastrous family vacation.”
Aspiring Author: Interview with Georgia Clark. In-depth interview with Natalie Harris-Spencer about work, process, success, craft, and more.
Motherly: 12 Best Beach Reads “Set against the tropical oasis of Queensland, Island Time is filled with family drama, queer romance, and adventurous spirit.”
Country Living: 22 Best Romance Novels “The island takes center stage with storms and exotic wildlife. I really loved the quirky parents and their unexpected relationships.”
Goodreads. New LGBTQ+ Romances to Read for Pride.
Bustle The Most Anticipated Books Of June 2022 “Matty and Parker, a queer married couple, think they’ll have a nice vacation when Matty’s younger sister invites the whole family to a tiny island to meet her beau... who never shows up. But that’s just the beginning of the group’s problems.”
Scary Mommy Our 17 Favorite Summer Books Picks to Read Poolside “Georgia Clark weaves together a delicious tale about queer romance, a hilariously disgruntled group of in-laws, and pearly white beaches.”
B&N Reads Blog: Best LGBTQIA+ Romances “The perfect beach read! Taking place on a joint-family vacation to a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland, this ensemble rom-com will have readers questioning their romantic endeavors and desires alongside the two families trapped together on the island for six weeks after a volcano erupts! You won’t want to put this steamy and fun romance down!”
Bustle: 10 Must-Read Books Out This Week “When a volcanic eruption trapes them at their vacation destination for several weeks, a young married couple and their respective families—the stuffy Lees and carefree Kellys—are forced to spend plenty of quality time together, for better or worse.”
SheReads: Best LGBTQA+ Romances for Summer 2022 “A volcano erupts, leaving the two families stranded together for six weeks in a story that combines queer romance and family drama.”
Love Inc: Queer Rom-Coms for Your Honeymoon Beach Read “While sensual and funny, the book also explores questions of conservation, land ownership and Indigenous rights, which the author has researched at length.”
Scary Mommy: On Planning for a Baby Despite a Global Pandemic “Hand sanitizer. Lysol wipes. Sourdough starter. The pandemic introduced many odd shortages, but did you hear about this one? Sperm.”
Nameberry: How I Named My Baby: Rozella Jayne
Podcast interviews
Sh*t No One Tells You About Writing
Big Wedding Planning Podcast (summer reading recs)