First and Tension by Tara Sivec | Book Review • Ana's Attic Book Blog

First and Tension (Summersweet Island 4) by Tara Sivec

Romantic Comedy. Can stand alone, but I recommend reading the series in order.

I can’t believe I never reviewed one of my favorite books! I read it at the beginning of summer, but I still remember it clear as day. First & Tension by Tara Sivec is the 4th in the Summersweet Island Series, and I just love them all. Nobody can make me smile, swoon, tear up, and almost choke from laughter like Tara Sivec. She is hands-down my favorite romcom author, and First and Tension just helped solidify that.

“Truth or Dare”

Emily was a professional cheerleader in California until she told off her boss and got fired. With no job, her only choice is to go back home to Summersweet Island and help rent out her parent’s cottages, a job she hates. Luckily her amazing group of friends are there to welcome her with open arms. (Seriously, Tara’s friend groups are EPIC.) The night before she left though, she had a one-night-stand with her long-time crush, the team quarterback, Quinn.

When Quinn moves out east to be closer to family, a rumor starts that he moved there for Emily, causing a media uproar, and he thinks she started it, so he goes to confront her.

“I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“Just want to check and make sure I still have a penis. Maybe cry for a few minutes.”

In order to calm down the bad press as well as Quinn’s boss, Quinn and Emily embark on a fake relationship.

“Where have you been all my life?”
“Right here, waiting for you to come find me, so I could bring you down a peg or two.”

Once again, Tara wrote a great couple with a feisty heroine and a funny hero. I loved their banter so much, and all of their dysfunctional but awesome friends (the characters from the first three books) were so much fun to read about. I just love the sarcastic humor they all have.

There were so many relatable, normal-but-funny moments. Tara has a way of taking thoughts already in your head or experiences you’ve had and making them funny.

“Don’t say “panties” ever again. It’s skeevy.”

Though each book in the series can stand alone, I HIGHLY suggest reading them in order (see below) to get to know all of the side characters in the friend group, especially my favorite, Bodhi.

“Is everyone here on drugs?”
“I know I am!” Bodhi announces with a raise of his hand from the couch in the corner.

Likes:

Filled with Tara’s signature snarky humor.
It had me smiling the whole time.
The friend group that just keeps growing. I love them all so much!
Only Tara can make me literally laugh out loud every time.
It was such a feel-good fun romance, and it was sexy as hell!
Emily’s penchant for dares.

Dislikes:

It started off a little slow.

The Down & Dirty:

Once again, Tara Sivec demonstrated why she is my favorite romcom author. I have such a blast reading her books, and I just want to hang out with her characters so much! Sports romance is not my favorite genre at all, as I’m not a sports lover, but that doesn’t matter in this series. Tara can take the most mundane trope and make it unique and fun. First and Tension was sweet, funny, sexy, romantic, exciting, and yes, even a little emotional. Don’t let a sport or trope you may not like put you off to reading this hysterical series in order.