Out of Office

Yesterday, A. H. Cunningham released her latest contemporary romance, Out of Office. Set between Panamá and Florida, it follows an ambitious, work-oriented woman during a months-long business trip to Central America, where she forms an intimate bond with a local man. But what starts off as a brief vacation fling develops into something deeper… if only they can get on the same page about work, love, and where they’ll end up together.

Special thanks to Harlequin – Romance and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Review

One of the first things that drew me to Out of Office is that it’s set in Panamá. Until now, I’d only read one other book set there (The Great Divide, which came out just last month). I love exploring the world through the books I read, and that can be especially joyful in reading romances like this one.

Genevieve Raymond is a workaholic who’s devoted her whole life to her career, in part to appease her demanding mother. After spending four months on a business trip in Panamá, she decides to extend her stay by two weeks, hoping to soak in the culture during some much-needed leisure time. Gen has formed a mutual attraction with her driver during the past four months, Adrián. When she tells him of her plans to stay a couple more weeks, he invites her to the hostel he runs with his family. Their time spent together allows a romance to blossom… but can this turn into more than just a vacation fling? Do they have what it takes to build a whole life together, despite the physical distance between them and Gen’s demanding career?

More than most contemporary romances I’ve read, Out of Office really does highlight career ambitions, workaholism, and burnout. Gen’s job is tied up in all of her decisions, but Adrián has also had his own ongoing journey with his career and family. Brought up to be diligent, ambitious, and driven, Gen has made little room for love in her 37 years, and she’s this close to achieving a milestone goal at the company she works for. I enjoyed how this novel works to find the balance between a job and a new relationship, the compromises that may need to be made, and how a vacation can change the course of your life in numerous ways.

I also appreciated the attention to culture, heritage, and race throughout Out of Office. While staying in Aguimar, Adrián is happy to show Gen around his home country and teach her about its history, customs, and cuisine. Likewise, when he goes to Miami, Gen shows him the parts of the city that matter most to her. Both discuss race openly, and indeed, a Black travel account on Instagram is an important part of the story and the journey.

In spite of her socially demanding profession, Gen is also an introvert. As an introvert myself, I fully identified with her need for alone time, recharging her social battery, and taking time to open up to others. She quickly gets over her shyness around Adrián, though, allowing a romance to unfold quickly once she’s with him in Aguimar. And for Adrián’s part, it was wonderful to see a bisexual male lead. There isn’t extensive discussion of his sexuality, but I did like that this aspect of him was included.

Most romances only go so far as to get a couple together, but I like how Out of Office takes readers through a longer relationship arc. This isn’t just about starting a relationship; it’s about navigating how to keep it going when the characters are from two different countries. What steps must they take to stay together? As someone whose husband needed visas and green cards until only a few years ago, I saw a lot of familiarity in the path Genevieve and Adrián embarked on here.

Final Thoughts

Out of Office is a great romance that highlights Panamanian culture, career-driven characters, and a fuller relationship arc than I normally see in one novel. It looks like it could be the start of a series? Either way, I will be happy to read more from A. H. Cunningham.

Get the Book

You can buy Out of Office here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

Out of Office by A. H. Cunningham
Audience	Adult
Genre	Contemporary Romance
Setting	Panama
Number of Pages	288
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley)
Original Publication Date	April 23, 2024
Publisher	Afterglow Books

Official Summary

A.H. Cunningham dazzles in this sensual vacation romance exploring what happens when you step out of the office, take a chance on yourself—and discover your deepest desires.

Genevieve Raymond was born an overachiever. After opening a hot new hotel chain location in Panama, she’s on track for a major promotion. But first, she desperately needs a break, even if her overbearing mother doesn’t approve. For two glorious weeks, Gen’s giving herself permission to explore the beautiful beaches of Colón—and the stimulating attraction she shares with her sexy-as-hell driver, Adrián Nicolas.

After a family tragedy, Adrián’s recently shifted his own focus to prioritizing the life part of a healthy work-life balance. To workaholic Gen, Adrián’s laid-back devotion to his family’s hometown hostel couldn’t be more appealing. Their long-term goals might not align, but two weeks in paradise only calls for seductive physical chemistry, and Gen and Adrián have got that, without a doubt.

But when their intimate connection flourishes beyond sunsets and spice, Gen finds herself questioning whether the career path she’s been on is even where she wants to be. With continents between them, a real relationship doesn’t feel possible. Until fate reveals their futures might be more closely woven than they thought, leaving them wondering whether a two-week fling might have what it takes to last forever.

From showing up to glowing up, these characters are on the path to leading their best lives and finding sizzling romance along the way.