Review: The Red Bikini

The Red Bikini by Lauren Christopher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Giselle Underwood is recently divorced with a 5 year old daughter, Coco. She and her daughter flee to California for a two week getaway at her sisters beach house. Totally out of her element, suburban stay at home mom Giselle is surprised to meet 28 year old Fin Hensen, a celebrity surfer at a beach party with her daughter. With her self confidence at an all time low, she focuses on raising her daughter rather than finding the missing romance in her life.

"Giselle was enough of a surprise- her kindness, her humor, her patience with Coco, her curves, her softness. But he knew he'd be doing her a service by getting the hell out of her way as soon as possible. He wasn't a good person for her to have brought here. She should have brought someone with honor..."

Fin Hensen is escaping his pro tour for a season, attempting to lie low until all of the chaos over his past rolls with the tide. A woman who he surfed with for years, who he also called his best friend, was killed by surfing, and he blames himself for not noticing her disappearance. To cope with the loss, he strings women along (it sounds bad, I know), and only has one night stands, no long term relationships. But Giselle brings something out in him that he can't ignore. He is able to have honest, real conversations with her, but he is insecure about himself so much that he doesn't want Giselle to fall in love with a beach bum.

"...Giselle's beauty was different. It began at her spine, or maybe at her soul, and radiated from there. He'd read once that a pretty woman was only pretty when she was young, but a beautiful woman was beautiful her whole life. The line finally made sense to him"

Giselle contemplates about her love life, and decides to have a one night stand with Fin. This moment truly illustrates her love and awareness of herself as an individual, in addition to Fin. Giselle's ex never really shares the reason to which he divorced her, except that he cheated twice in their 10 year marriage. After the one night stand, with Fin and Giselle realize their love for each other, but they really aren't ready for it because of her ex, who completely degrades Giselle at any moment possible. At the end of Giselle's two weeks, Fin travels to South Africa for a competition, and realizes in the semifinals that his "perfect wave" is having a family, a wife, and most of all, love.

"He liked laughing with her. He liked talking with her. He liked seeing her with Coco. He liked how she smelled, how she smiled, and how she left him feeling whole, and absolved, and smart, and... like he mattered somehow..."

This book has so many feels, so many emotions that I cant help but wish that I had a Fin Hensen in my life. It had heart, sass, steamy romance, and laughter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it to any reader!! :)

"You asked me the night while we were watching the water if I'd been in love before, and I hadn't, but I couldn't help but stare at you and wonder if it was like that I was feeling right then for you. From now on, I'd have to say yes. I've been in love. With you."




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