In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati-Alexander

A delightful Caribbean-set romp about an ambitious designer of apocalyptic video games with a strategy for (almost) everything who discovers what happens when her best-laid plans go off course . . .

Sloane Cooper is up for her dream job as a designer for a top video game company. During the interview, though, she somehow promises the all-male panel that she’ll remain single and fully dedicated to the work. It’s actually fine—after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she vowed to focus on her career anyway.

Enter Charlie, aka Hot Neighbor Guy, a near-stranger who shocks her with the offer of an all-inclusive trip to a Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? Charlie originally planned the trip with his ex, and asks Sloane to pose as his new girlfriend to make his old flame come running back. Against her better judgment, Sloane says yes; she can use the time away to develop a game design that will dazzle the Catapult team and get her a job offer.

Despite sparks flying in paradise, the trip can’t lead to more. As their connection deepens, Sloane is reminded that she can’t fall for Charlie and get knocked off her professional path. Besides, he’s trying to win back his true love.

Can Sloane figure out a way to move past heartbreak, land the job of her dreams, and avoid catching feelings? The zombie apocalypse would be easier to solve—at least she’s prepared for that.

About ten pages into this book, I knew it was going to be a winner. The voice was spot-on and all the proportions were there. Line-by-line, it all felt balanced in a way difficult to strike.

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The main character was funny, tense, and thoughtful in all the right beats to make me know: oh, this is a head I'm going to like being in. Voice—aside from sense of place—is one of the core qualities that will make me absolutely go to bat for a book, and In a Not So Perfect World immediately felt good. Often, I find myself forcing myself to relax into a story like this, but this one unfolded much more naturally and vividly than others in its genre (for me and my taste.)

Sloane was a delight. Her passions—for post-apocalyptic survival and for gaming—were funky but made complete sense in the context of her comforts and traumas (like her childhood home flooding entirely when she was eleven.) She explained herself so clearly, had an adorable connection with her dog (a relationship I really haven't seen done this well on the page before), and a sense of humor I enjoyed.

Charlie, her romantic counterpart, was similar. I would have liked to know a bit more about him, but his emotions and motivations made a lot of sense. I was rooting for the two of them the entire time, and also understood when their friendship or relationship skirted into one territory or another.

Basically, Charlie gets dumped right after Sloane does. She's heads-down to go for a ruthlessly competitive (and misogynistic) gaming job that will give her the big break she desperately needs, especially with overdue rent and a collections agency looming. The firm in question demands that women stay single, as they claimed the last female hire let her personal life get in the way of her work too much (hypocrisy.)

Charlie, meanwhile, booked an expensive vacation for his girlfriend right beforehand, and has a nonrefundable stay. He'd really love some company, as the entire resort is coupled up—and he thinks posting pictures with a new girl will make his ex come crawling back. Or at least feel good, because she immediately started posting with someone else.

The motivations were a little wobbly at first, but quickly fell into a rhythm. Fans of People We Meet on Vacation will immediately recognize a lot to love. This book has a similar brightness and verve to Emily Henry that will appease those looking for the next fix, but the language and charm also feel singular in a way that will make me devour whatever Tubati-Alexander writes next.

Once at the resort, the imagery swept me away, making me picture my own visit to a Caribbean resort this past spring. From a rum-soaked blackout evening in which Sloane completely embarrasses herself (in a scene that may have you laughing out loud with the morning after debrief) to the moonlit heart-to-hearts with Charlie on a serene beach, their time on the island was nothing short of indulgent. I could have done without a scavenger hunt scene, because sometimes games feel a little too cringey and overused in this kind of narrative, but I loved so much of their vacation. The author captured the feeling of vacation well, especially a working one (which may be very familiar to those working remotely.) When Sloane unplugged vs. when she didn't.

I appreciated the complexities of the book too, although most of it's a fun, colorful time that made me long for my own vacation. Sloane's struggles with the ethics—or lack thereof—of the game design firm. The brokenness of getting over exes they thought they might marry, even after knowing they're not a fit. The nuances of their passions for their respective fields contrasted against parents' expectations.

Overall, the author took a lot of familiar concepts and framed them in language and chemistry that made them feel fresher than I expected. Nothing about the book felt tired or stale, a frequent complaint of mine within this genre. I loved Sloane's narration, the couple, the challenges to said couple. There were few cheap gimmicks, just a good time. I loved her friendship, her dog, her projects, the setting. I hated her ex.

All in all, I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for their next successful beach read. It's feel-good but still rich and layered, aligning with a lot of my favorite books. Read it in the sun, maybe, or when you're craving it.

Best for readers who love:

fake dating; Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow; Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, The Paradise Problem; beach settings; Morgan Matson; Katherine Center.