Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Navigating Noah

SERIES: Shore Thing, Book 4

AUTHOR: Jaclyn Quinn

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 270 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 12, 2022

BLURB: 

Noah Hathaway

The saying ‘livin’ the dream’ is usually said with sarcasm, but I truly am living my dream in Coral Pointe Inlet with my four best friends. Still, as I watch three of them fall in love, my heart aches a little with longing. It doesn’t help when Hunter, a man I spent an incredible weekend with, comes back to Coral Pointe–not alone, I might add. Regardless, I find myself drifting toward the man. His life has shifted directions, so why am I still hoping his internal compass will lead him to me?

Hunter Reed

Work hard, play harder. I’ve lived by that motto for years–until now. My life has changed drastically since the last time I was in Coral Pointe. Thankfully, one thing has stayed exactly the same: Noah Hathaway, the kind, beautiful man whose heart beats for the people he loves. Navigating through this new reality isn’t easy, but Noah, with his big heart, is determined to make sure I don’t drown. I’ve never been a man looking for forever, but damned if I don’t find myself wanting Noah to throw me that life preserver.

This title can be read as a standalone. If you’d like to truly dive into the shenanigans between these five best friends, it’s suggested the books be read in order from the start of the series.

REVIEW: 

Navigating Noah, book four in Jaclyn Quinn’s Shore Things series, tells the story of the enigmatic Noah Hathaway as he falls head over heels in love with his once-hookup Hunter Reed. This is by far the best book in the series so far. It stays true to the overarching tenor of the series – it’s a light, heartwarming rom-com with easy escapism. You don’t need to read the previous book in this series before Navigating Noah, although it helps for context because you’ll have gotten Cole, Levi, and Ford’s love stories, all of which are featured here to some degree. 

Noah, along with his BFFs, the aforementioned Cole, Levi, and Ford, plus Burke, co-own Shore Thing Management which runs the Coral Pointe Inn, a beach resort hotel set on the sandy beaches of Coral Pointe Inlet on the Florida coast. Noah and Ford run Shore Things Tours, which provides resort guests with surfing, boating, and other water activities. We’ve seen Noah as the steadfast presence others call upon for advice and moral support. He’s the rock and center point for this group of often misguided, confused young men.

Navigating Noah focuses on a well-deserved romance for the lonely Noah, who I already liked coming into this book, and then fell hard for within just a few pages. (And that cover model is gorgeous, just sayin’.) Hunter is best friends with Aiden (Cole’s boyfriend), but has been living and working in New York.  Six months ago, he came to visit Aiden, and he and Noah sparked with each other immediately. They spent the weekend in bed enjoying each other in every possible way, but it was understood it would just be some fun, no-strings frolicking between the sheets. Hunter was adamantly anti-relationship, and Noah was okay with that … or so he thought. But, it turns out he fell for Hunter and hasn’t stopped thinking about him since. So when Hunter returns to Coral Pointe to stay for a few months, along with a “guest”, Noah is excited but anxious and disappointed to find out Hunter has moved on and has apparently settled into a relationship with someone else.  Noah puts on his cheerful mask as he steels himself for their inevitable meeting.

Hunter arrives with his plus one, who turns about to be an absolutely adorable baby, Logan, who Hunter fathered during a one-night stand.  Adding the baby to this storyline is pure genius on the part of Quinn as a surefire way to explain Hunter’s about-face and the softening of his hard edges.  It’s easy to love every interaction between Hunter and Noah when a baby is expressing affection and commanding attention with baby babbling, crawling, and sleeping in Hunter and Noah’s arms. I have no doubt Hunter and Noah would have worked in a non-baby-oriented storyline, but Logan worked like a charm.  

Noah and Hunter are similar in that they both have trouble asking for help, but Noah is more stubborn about it because it’s ingrained in him to put everyone else first.  He is beloved by all who know him and effortlessly attracts newcomers because of his sunshiney and warm smile.  Hunter, despite his prior standoffishness, finds himself easily blending into the small town dynamic, and before he knows it, he’s surrounded by people who care about him and want him to stay.  

I adored everything about Hunter and Noah, individually and as a couple, and even moreso as a de facto family with Logan.  Indeed, family is the theme of this story.  Family lost, found family, and new family created together.  

Navigating Noah is low angst with some manufactured drama which I honestly didn’t mind because it worked within the story’s dynamic.  It’s sweet, sexy, swoony, and fun, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it.  I recommend you give it a read if you are interested in some quick, fluffy, feel-good fare.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

Amazon