Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
When Mallory moves to Florida, she isn’t sure what to expect—but a “small-town USA” welcome definitely wasn’t it. Everyone seems to know everyone, and they’re eager to help the newcomer settle in. With little planned beyond getting away from her deadbeat ex, Mallory arrives without a job or a single friend—just a determination to start over. But after one quick stop for breakfast, she finds an unexpected friendship that opens doors she didn’t know existed, including a chance at her dream job. As Mallory begins to feel at home, she also can’t shake thoughts of a mysterious man who keeps appearing at the edges of her new life. Will Mallory build something lasting in Florida, or will her past pull her back?
Francine Chiarmonte is known for her poetry, but she’s making waves with her age-gap romance releasing at the end of April. Salt Air Promises follows a young woman looking for a fresh start after a painful breakup who finds herself drawn to an older man—one who may not be the clean slate she expects. One of the book’s biggest strengths is the sense of place: the Florida backdrop feels sunlit, lived-in, and full of those small moments that make a town feel like a community. Chiarmonte also builds a cast of realistic characters, with genuine interactions and natural dialogue that make the friendships feel earned. At its heart, this is a story about trusting yourself, letting people in, and still being willing to take a risk for the one you love.
I give Salt Air Promises 5 out of 5 stars. More than anything, I loved how the author shows the lead female character setting boundaries in her personal and professional life—and enforcing consequences when those boundaries are crossed. Many romance novels portray the heroine as weak or in need of rescuing, but Mallory is strong and capable throughout, and her growth feels grounded rather than dramatic.
I also appreciated the pacing: the story gives Mallory time to settle into her new life (and gives readers time to connect with the supporting cast) while still maintaining a thread of tension underneath. The twists genuinely surprised me—I did not see a few of them coming—and they raised the stakes without derailing the emotional core. In addition, the novel is particularly effective in depicting a protagonist who understands her own boundaries and follows through when they are tested. The community around Mallory is drawn with a comfortable, small-town texture that supports the romance without flattening it, and the friendships feel warm and credible. Taken together with the surprising plot turns, these elements give the story both momentum and emotional weight. Most of all, I found myself rooting for Mallory and her beau and becoming truly invested in their love story. Overall, this was an excellent read.
This would be a great pick for a girlfriends’ read-along or a book club—there’s so much to unpack about Mallory’s choices (and what she learns about herself) along the way. It’s also the perfect novel to toss in your bag for a beach trip or a lazy weekend read. I recommend it for readers over 13 due to scenes depicting a toxic relationship and gaslighting. If those topics are especially difficult for you, you may want to approach with care. But if you’re a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, Nancy Thayer, or Annabel Monaghan, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Salt Air Promises releases Tuesday, April 27. If it sounds like your kind of read, you can pre-order your copy on Kindle Unlimited today!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The Reimagining of Thornwood House, Jaleigh Johnson
- Current audio book: Worst. President. Ever., Robert Strauss
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Pretty Dead Things, Kelsey Cox
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