Review - - Do I Know You?

Do I Know You?

by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 24, 2023

Reviewed by Santa

When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

Eliza and Graham are anticipating an anything-but-sexy, weeklong getaway to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Nestled on the Northern California coastline, the resort prides itself on being a destination for those in love and those looking to find it. For Eliza and Graham, it might as well be a vacation with a roommate.
 
When a well-meaning guest mistakes Eliza and Graham for being single and introduces them at the hotel bar, they don’t correct him. Suddenly, they’re pretending to be perfect strangers and it’s unexpectedly…fun? Eliza and Graham find themselves flirting like it’s their first date, and waiting with butterflies in their stomach for the other to text back. 

Everyone at the retreat can sense the electric chemistry between Eliza and Graham’s alter egos. But when their scintillating game of roleplaying ends, will they still feel the heat?

Santa Says:

 

Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka called to mind The Pina Colada song from my youth. The cover which sports sunglasses left on the beach with a couple embracing in its reflection with wedding bands in the sand. Do you feel that vibe? Are you humming along? 

This four star book follows, in a way, that same premise. A couple who love each other find themselves in a rut. Same routines day in and day out. Work. Home. Dinner. Sleep. Repeat.

How do they come out of it and resurrect their love story? Graham and Eliza don’t resort to personal ads - it’s not the ‘70s anymore.  

They sort of fall into rediscovering who they are as individuals and as a couple through a reservations fluke a friend of theirs makes. A friend gives them a weeklong stay at a resort to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. The hotel has two rooms in their names. Eliza blurts out that they will keep both rooms. One so she can work on her voice over work without disturbing Graham. This panics him on a couple of levels. He is the more insecure about their relationship. They agree to meet up later at the bar.  

Graham then meets David who mistakenly assumes Eliza and Graham are strangers and introduces them to each other. Neither corrects him and they decide to use this opportunity to get to know one another again. They meet up for dates, meet up in the different activities provided by the resort. They start to discover things about each other and themselves. 

It may sound a bit contrived or that may be just me but the authors make it work. You want them to come back to each other. You cheer for the friendship that develops with Graham and David. I was even becoming invested in David’s own happily ever after. 

Do I Know You? is the second novel by this married writing team in this genre. They are definitely authors to take note of.