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Hot Girl Summer
Sophia DeLuca is over casual hook-ups. Between her sister’s eating disorder, her track record of falling for fuckboys, and a lifetime of being written off as a shallow flake, “failure to launch” may as well be her middle name.
Under false pretences and a fake name, she meets Danny Pearce, an obnoxious musician on the opposite end of the millennial spectrum. Danny is cocky, rude, and a contender for fuckboy of the year.
After a series of serendipitous encounters and a secret gig, Sophia unexpectedly falls for Danny. But when he is faced with his own demons, Sophia must reclaim her power and forgive the past, or risk losing the only thing that’s real.
Under false pretences and a fake name, she meets Danny Pearce, an obnoxious musician on the opposite end of the millennial spectrum. Danny is cocky, rude, and a contender for fuckboy of the year.
After a series of serendipitous encounters and a secret gig, Sophia unexpectedly falls for Danny. But when he is faced with his own demons, Sophia must reclaim her power and forgive the past, or risk losing the only thing that’s real.
Paperback
Published March 14, 2022
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About the author
Sonia Palermo
6 books80 followersSonia Palermo writes spicy contemporary, paranormal, and erotic romance. When she’s not immersed in writing, she enjoys cosying up on the sofa with a cup of tea and indulging in a good horror or romance movie. A true beach lover, Sonia finds inspiration along the beautiful south coast of England, where she lives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 23, 2024
Trust me when I say, I really truly DESPERATELY wanted to like this book, but I just didn't :(
I guess let's just start off with the synopsis:
Sophia DeLuca is an ambitious yoga instructor in her twenties and oh so sick of her dating life or rather the lack of, so she decides to swear off casual hooking up but then comes along,
Danny - he's charming, he's got a master's degree in smugness and he's a perfectly adorable dog dad but not in the market currently due to his impending divorce.
But what happens when after a series of chance encounters they start to wear off on each other? Do they battle their demons and fall in love? Or does it end in a heartbreak?
- ~ -
It's not that the story is bad per say, it's just that the characters and the plot are depthless.
This is one those books where I just couldn't resonate with the protagonist, she's had more than her fair share of struggles, both mental and physical, like I get it, life's messy as hell but it just doesn't give you a free pass to act like she did in the story. The woman makes highly ethically questionable decisions all the time!!
And while I didn't find Danny or his choices to be questionable, I didn't really care much for him either, other than for his dog of course, I loved the sweet golden girl :)
- ~ -
Another annoying factor to the book is that there are a million little subplots throughout the book which were left open-ended. The only subplot that was well appreciated was the sister dynamic between Sophia and her little sister, Kiki, with whom she acts like a reasonable adult and also cares for her like she's her own child which was quite refreshing, definitely not expected from Sophia and it might have bumped her character just a little higher in my opinion but very slightly.
Now let's see how I divided the rating into three stars:
One whole star for Lucas, Sophia's friend. Dude's got a heart of a Purple Iris for not jumping to make the dumbest decision in all of their existence, when Sophia was more than willing to!
( Purple Iris because they represent wisdom.)
One star for Sophia's and Danny's romance. And while it might be a little hypocritic of me to give a whole star based on their romance alone when I said I didn't care much for the characters, I won't lie, they were good together, if not individually. However, they had their moments which were cute, vulnerable and much spicier and steamier than I was anticipating, but those moments came too few and far between for the complete read to be a positive experience.
And lastly one star for Penny, the doggo :)
and also for Kiki, hopefully she recovers soon.
- ~ -
So in conclusion, it wasn't really a bad read just a bit disappointing. It's an average story, one that's unfortunately, not going to stick with me.
3.12 /5✩
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘟𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 & 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
I guess let's just start off with the synopsis:
Sophia DeLuca is an ambitious yoga instructor in her twenties and oh so sick of her dating life or rather the lack of, so she decides to swear off casual hooking up but then comes along,
Danny - he's charming, he's got a master's degree in smugness and he's a perfectly adorable dog dad but not in the market currently due to his impending divorce.
But what happens when after a series of chance encounters they start to wear off on each other? Do they battle their demons and fall in love? Or does it end in a heartbreak?
- ~ -
It's not that the story is bad per say, it's just that the characters and the plot are depthless.
This is one those books where I just couldn't resonate with the protagonist, she's had more than her fair share of struggles, both mental and physical, like I get it, life's messy as hell but it just doesn't give you a free pass to act like she did in the story. The woman makes highly ethically questionable decisions all the time!!
And while I didn't find Danny or his choices to be questionable, I didn't really care much for him either, other than for his dog of course, I loved the sweet golden girl :)
- ~ -
Another annoying factor to the book is that there are a million little subplots throughout the book which were left open-ended. The only subplot that was well appreciated was the sister dynamic between Sophia and her little sister, Kiki, with whom she acts like a reasonable adult and also cares for her like she's her own child which was quite refreshing, definitely not expected from Sophia and it might have bumped her character just a little higher in my opinion but very slightly.
Now let's see how I divided the rating into three stars:
One whole star for Lucas, Sophia's friend. Dude's got a heart of a Purple Iris for not jumping to make the dumbest decision in all of their existence, when Sophia was more than willing to!
( Purple Iris because they represent wisdom.)
One star for Sophia's and Danny's romance. And while it might be a little hypocritic of me to give a whole star based on their romance alone when I said I didn't care much for the characters, I won't lie, they were good together, if not individually. However, they had their moments which were cute, vulnerable and much spicier and steamier than I was anticipating, but those moments came too few and far between for the complete read to be a positive experience.
And lastly one star for Penny, the doggo :)
and also for Kiki, hopefully she recovers soon.
- ~ -
So in conclusion, it wasn't really a bad read just a bit disappointing. It's an average story, one that's unfortunately, not going to stick with me.
3.12 /5✩
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘟𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 & 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
January 25, 2022
One of my favorite things about romance is how in-depth it can be when exploring the human psyche. Without a murderer to be found, a space craft to be repaired or rescued, a great quest to complete, or a mystery to be solved, we are left with a deep, intense exploration of the emotions that make us all human. Not that these other genres don't also offer this, but not without distractions.
Sonia Palermo's Hot Girl Summer was one of those books that takes that deep dive into the psyche of its main character and explores the corners of her mind with unabashed honesty. This book, at least for me, was less about the love interest or the steam (which was lovely, BTW), but about Sophia, whose life seems to be a mess. And not just external messiness, but internal as well. She's so many of us who know that behaving a certain way has consequences, but we can't bring ourselves to stop. Spending time with superficial people, allowing oneself to be treated poorly because it's the evil we know... these are all evils in the world that many of us are all too familiar with. Add to that the stresses and reality of everyday life (jobs, misunderstandings between friends, etc.) and you have an identifiable chaos that makes Sophia understandable, loveable, and sometimes incorrigible, all at the same time.
The romance itself, between Sophia and Danny, felt organic and had a reality to it that not every romance author pulls off. We see the sparks fly between them, at first sparks of annoyance and conflict, but they eventually change to sparks of attraction. I liked Danny, though was equal parts frustrated with him at points throughout the book. That was part of the charm, though. He came off as human, and that adds all the more depth to the story and romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. There were a few spots that felt slower than others, but (for me at least) it didn't affect the reading. At no point was I pulled out of the story, and the heartwarming HEA was enough to leave one feeling content by the end of the narrative. I definitely think this was a solid debut novel, and I can't wait to read more from the author as she continues to write.
Note: I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours and am leaving a voluntary review.
Sonia Palermo's Hot Girl Summer was one of those books that takes that deep dive into the psyche of its main character and explores the corners of her mind with unabashed honesty. This book, at least for me, was less about the love interest or the steam (which was lovely, BTW), but about Sophia, whose life seems to be a mess. And not just external messiness, but internal as well. She's so many of us who know that behaving a certain way has consequences, but we can't bring ourselves to stop. Spending time with superficial people, allowing oneself to be treated poorly because it's the evil we know... these are all evils in the world that many of us are all too familiar with. Add to that the stresses and reality of everyday life (jobs, misunderstandings between friends, etc.) and you have an identifiable chaos that makes Sophia understandable, loveable, and sometimes incorrigible, all at the same time.
The romance itself, between Sophia and Danny, felt organic and had a reality to it that not every romance author pulls off. We see the sparks fly between them, at first sparks of annoyance and conflict, but they eventually change to sparks of attraction. I liked Danny, though was equal parts frustrated with him at points throughout the book. That was part of the charm, though. He came off as human, and that adds all the more depth to the story and romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. There were a few spots that felt slower than others, but (for me at least) it didn't affect the reading. At no point was I pulled out of the story, and the heartwarming HEA was enough to leave one feeling content by the end of the narrative. I definitely think this was a solid debut novel, and I can't wait to read more from the author as she continues to write.
Note: I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours and am leaving a voluntary review.
January 23, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for an advanced copy of this novel
This is a modern day love story! It’s extremely relatable from my perspective as a single, twenty something year old trying to find love and friendship in this digital age. The characters were all pretty likeable but I do wish some of them had a bit more depth. I found myself waiting for the main twist or turn, or big event in this story but I don’t feel like this happened?
What I did appreciate was a trigger warning right at the start of the book, explaining what content this book covers (eating disorders, mental health, sexual content, sexual assault) I think this is great and all books should have this!
If you’re looking for a quick, easy and spicy read, I think you’ll enjoy this!
This is a modern day love story! It’s extremely relatable from my perspective as a single, twenty something year old trying to find love and friendship in this digital age. The characters were all pretty likeable but I do wish some of them had a bit more depth. I found myself waiting for the main twist or turn, or big event in this story but I don’t feel like this happened?
What I did appreciate was a trigger warning right at the start of the book, explaining what content this book covers (eating disorders, mental health, sexual content, sexual assault) I think this is great and all books should have this!
If you’re looking for a quick, easy and spicy read, I think you’ll enjoy this!
December 21, 2021
OBSESSED with this book! This is SUCH an impressive debut from a talented new romance author. It's a perfect balance of emotion, depth, steam, and sweetness. Sophia and Danny have such a beautiful connection, their love story is so compelling. Definitely add this to your TBR and preorder it now!
April 13, 2022
So emotional.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
It had everything! I experienced a full range of emotions while reading it. It was funny, sexy, moving and swoon worthy, equipped with enough Hot Girl Summer-isms that are sure to delight!
The main characters start off on a seemingly shallow beginning on both of their ends, with their guards up. But their inability to resist each other, draws them close and forces them into discovering their true selves and their true desires (each other). It comes, by no means easy, and the pair have to endure what most real relationships do, ups and downs. But in that time, they learn about each other and help each other through their struggles. It only makes their HEA ending that much sweeter.
I adored Sophia DeLuca and her snarky sense of humor. Her soft side underneath her tough exterior is even more irresistible though. I also enjoyed her healing nature, and the yoga poses mentioned in the book to help with stress. The relationship between Sophia and her little sister, Kiki had me in my feelings. It was so sweet, and the bonds of sisterhood shared between them was inspiring.
Danny had that whole hot musician thing going for him of course, which is hands down sexy. But he was guarded, too, and had to learn a lesson the hard way with Ms. DeLuca about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, which I loved that she taught him btw. But once he got over that, and himself, he became the cinnamon roll we all secretly wanted him to be and charmed all of our pants off.
My favorite side character was probably Ellie, and her tarot cards. I think I could read a whole story about her!
My favorite part about this book was the journey that the main characters go on.
I loved the ending, I literally swooned.
Also, I still feel like I have sand in my hair.
I loved, loved, loved this book.
It had everything! I experienced a full range of emotions while reading it. It was funny, sexy, moving and swoon worthy, equipped with enough Hot Girl Summer-isms that are sure to delight!
The main characters start off on a seemingly shallow beginning on both of their ends, with their guards up. But their inability to resist each other, draws them close and forces them into discovering their true selves and their true desires (each other). It comes, by no means easy, and the pair have to endure what most real relationships do, ups and downs. But in that time, they learn about each other and help each other through their struggles. It only makes their HEA ending that much sweeter.
I adored Sophia DeLuca and her snarky sense of humor. Her soft side underneath her tough exterior is even more irresistible though. I also enjoyed her healing nature, and the yoga poses mentioned in the book to help with stress. The relationship between Sophia and her little sister, Kiki had me in my feelings. It was so sweet, and the bonds of sisterhood shared between them was inspiring.
Danny had that whole hot musician thing going for him of course, which is hands down sexy. But he was guarded, too, and had to learn a lesson the hard way with Ms. DeLuca about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, which I loved that she taught him btw. But once he got over that, and himself, he became the cinnamon roll we all secretly wanted him to be and charmed all of our pants off.
My favorite side character was probably Ellie, and her tarot cards. I think I could read a whole story about her!
My favorite part about this book was the journey that the main characters go on.
I loved the ending, I literally swooned.
Also, I still feel like I have sand in my hair.
March 16, 2022
If you like shallow FMC who uses her looks to get what she wants then Sophia won't annoy you as much as she did me. Danny is grumpy but he's just lonely (I guess). This book is a series of hookups, fuckbois, focus on appearances, and partying I guess that's supposed to be a nod to the title. Anyways that's not what a hot girl summer is but you let's not split hairs on this. Oh Sophia has an Eat, Pray, Love moment and things turnaround but only so that she is ready to be in a relationship with wait for it, Danny 🤷🏾♀️ Lots of pop culture references and occasional tenderness but meh it was just ok.
I was provided an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
CN: body image conversations and anorexia, gaslighting, cheating, divorce, drinking and excess of drinking, roofied drink, stalking, sexual assault, suicide ideation, bondage, tarot reading (initially skeptical then leans into it), western yoga philosophy (aka capitalistic approach to wellness)
I was provided an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
CN: body image conversations and anorexia, gaslighting, cheating, divorce, drinking and excess of drinking, roofied drink, stalking, sexual assault, suicide ideation, bondage, tarot reading (initially skeptical then leans into it), western yoga philosophy (aka capitalistic approach to wellness)
March 5, 2022
Hot girl summer is the quick read. The story was about a 26 year old who was trying to find herself and following her dreams.
The main character, Sophia/Summer , sees herself as nothing more than a party girl, but later we discover that this is a protective layer she has to protect herself from heartbreak and how her life changes when she learns her worth and discovers what she really wants. Hot Girl Summer brings together music, love, self worth, mental illness and friendship.
The main character, Sophia/Summer , sees herself as nothing more than a party girl, but later we discover that this is a protective layer she has to protect herself from heartbreak and how her life changes when she learns her worth and discovers what she really wants. Hot Girl Summer brings together music, love, self worth, mental illness and friendship.
June 29, 2022
First of all, I wanted to read this book because of its beautiful cover! Like how pretty is it? And the little dog!
So this is Sonia’s first book and I wasn’t disappointed. I really liked the whole story, but in my opinion it lacked depth. Overall the story was good and I liked the plots and the story lines. But they lacked depth, same for the back stories. This book has so much potential and it just missed something. Don’t get me wrong, I tagged a lot of quotes in this book. Probably mainly the spice. But it begin as an enemies-to-lovers story and just like that they liked each other. There was no such build up from enemies to lovers. It sometimes just lacked whole pages. This book could’ve contained 50 pages more if not 100 pages.
I’m happy to have read this book! And if Sonia Palermo writes something new I would definitely read it to see her evolve.
So this is Sonia’s first book and I wasn’t disappointed. I really liked the whole story, but in my opinion it lacked depth. Overall the story was good and I liked the plots and the story lines. But they lacked depth, same for the back stories. This book has so much potential and it just missed something. Don’t get me wrong, I tagged a lot of quotes in this book. Probably mainly the spice. But it begin as an enemies-to-lovers story and just like that they liked each other. There was no such build up from enemies to lovers. It sometimes just lacked whole pages. This book could’ve contained 50 pages more if not 100 pages.
I’m happy to have read this book! And if Sonia Palermo writes something new I would definitely read it to see her evolve.
December 21, 2021
Absolutely adored this book! It's the perfect British contemporary romance and SUCH a brilliant comfort read. The kind of book you can curl up on the couch and read with a glass of wine next to the fire...or on an airplane...or while lounging at the beach! Pretty perfect anywhere. It's an angsty and sexy love story but with so much emotional depth. Preorder this book if you haven't already!
January 23, 2022
4⭐️
Would recommend if you like:
✅ a yoga-loving main character, Sophia, taking a chance on love to shed her "party girl" image
✅ a musician, Danny, who is crazy about Sophia but can't do anything about it
✅ slow burn
✅ spiiiiiiice 🌶🌶
The things I loved about the book: the spice and chemistry between Sophia and Danny was stellar and I was living for all of it. I would definitely consider this book a slow burn and loved the banter back and forth. It felt refreshing to identify with a woman who is single and trying to have fun going out while also being safe because people can be creepy and you never know what someone's intentions are. This was a very real feeling and experience that I think many women can relate to. The closeness of Sophia's family was really sweet and I could feel her struggle to be there for her teenage sister while trying to navigate her twenties, job, friends, and guys.
The things I didn't like as much: within the first few chapters there were so many characters introduced that I had a hard time trying to piece together who was who and how they related to Sophia and the plot. When/if they showed up later in the book I had a better time remembering who was who, but a little confusing to start. I also felt that any arguments Sophia was having with friends would start and then it was solved in like 1.5 pages and everyone would be totally fine. Maybe I'm more judgmental than her, but I wouldn't easily forgive a girl who dated my ex, was rude to my face, and ignored me completely.
Check author's note for content warning such as eating disorders and sexual content.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Would recommend if you like:
✅ a yoga-loving main character, Sophia, taking a chance on love to shed her "party girl" image
✅ a musician, Danny, who is crazy about Sophia but can't do anything about it
✅ slow burn
✅ spiiiiiiice 🌶🌶
The things I loved about the book: the spice and chemistry between Sophia and Danny was stellar and I was living for all of it. I would definitely consider this book a slow burn and loved the banter back and forth. It felt refreshing to identify with a woman who is single and trying to have fun going out while also being safe because people can be creepy and you never know what someone's intentions are. This was a very real feeling and experience that I think many women can relate to. The closeness of Sophia's family was really sweet and I could feel her struggle to be there for her teenage sister while trying to navigate her twenties, job, friends, and guys.
The things I didn't like as much: within the first few chapters there were so many characters introduced that I had a hard time trying to piece together who was who and how they related to Sophia and the plot. When/if they showed up later in the book I had a better time remembering who was who, but a little confusing to start. I also felt that any arguments Sophia was having with friends would start and then it was solved in like 1.5 pages and everyone would be totally fine. Maybe I'm more judgmental than her, but I wouldn't easily forgive a girl who dated my ex, was rude to my face, and ignored me completely.
Check author's note for content warning such as eating disorders and sexual content.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 16, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Hot Girl Summer!
Hot girl summer is the fun read. The main character, Sophia, originally sees herself as nothing more than a party girl, but this book shows how her life changes when she learns her worth and discovers what she really wants. Hot Girl Summer brings together music, love, self worth, mental illness and friendship. Definitely worth the read!
Hot girl summer is the fun read. The main character, Sophia, originally sees herself as nothing more than a party girl, but this book shows how her life changes when she learns her worth and discovers what she really wants. Hot Girl Summer brings together music, love, self worth, mental illness and friendship. Definitely worth the read!
September 12, 2023
Sophia is such a mood--we've all been there, over it all and looking for something MORE. Enter Danny. He's swoony, but he's complicated. And, of course, he's just what Sophia needs. Palermo's debut novel will have you at the English seaside, in music halls, and of course breathless with angsty anticipation. An excellent romance!
March 1, 2022
When Sophia meets Danny, she’s just decided she’s over casual relationships. Danny is older, cocky, and exactly the kind of man she wants to avoid - yet she’s instantly attracted to him. They keep on bumping into one another and both realise they want more. But both of them are dealing with problems in their personal life, which threaten their fledgling relationship.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book. I enjoyed reading it, but I have some mixed feelings. Firstly, I want to say the writing is very good - it’s really engaging and I think the author has a nice turn of phrase. I liked that it was set in the UK, that made a refreshing change, and the romance between Sophia and Danny was surprisingly sweet. They had good chemistry - there was a lot of sexual tension between them and when they finally began to act on their feelings their scenes together were steamy and well-written. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop over the course of the book.
This was a far gentler novel in some ways than I had been expecting; there’s a lot going on but at the same time it felt quite simple, structurally. Their relationship has some conflict but initially they pretty much see each other normally, with sort-of dates and actually talking and getting to know one another. I really liked that aspect of the book, as it gave a solid backbone to the relationship.
However, I struggled to warm to Sophia. This is a strange one for me as I normally really like characters with her vibe, but I found some of the decisions she made over the course of the novel confusing and hard to understand. I also thought she was a bit harsh at points towards other characters. I would say I admired the character more than liked her by the end - she was definitely very tough and determined, and I liked that the novel had her work and improve herself by the end of the book.
I also didn’t enjoy any of the external plot involving her group of friends. With the exception of Stefan and James, her two flatmates, her other friends came across very selfish and I was not invested in that drama at all. It came across very distracting and I’m not really sure what the point of it was - I don’t think that the book would have suffered at all to have that subplot removed. That said, the other subplot involving Sophia’s younger sister, Kiki, was handled very sensitively. It brought a much-needed softness to Sophia’s character - the scenes where she took care of Kiki were very touching, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if that storyline had been expanded more.
Overall I thought this was quite a solid book. I enjoyed it despite my issues with it, and I still rooted for the central romance which I think was developed very well; I also think that the author did a good job at tackling some of the novel’s more difficult subject matter with sensitivity. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a steamy age-gap romance, if you like your heroine with a sharper side.
Content Notes:
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book. I enjoyed reading it, but I have some mixed feelings. Firstly, I want to say the writing is very good - it’s really engaging and I think the author has a nice turn of phrase. I liked that it was set in the UK, that made a refreshing change, and the romance between Sophia and Danny was surprisingly sweet. They had good chemistry - there was a lot of sexual tension between them and when they finally began to act on their feelings their scenes together were steamy and well-written. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop over the course of the book.
This was a far gentler novel in some ways than I had been expecting; there’s a lot going on but at the same time it felt quite simple, structurally. Their relationship has some conflict but initially they pretty much see each other normally, with sort-of dates and actually talking and getting to know one another. I really liked that aspect of the book, as it gave a solid backbone to the relationship.
However, I struggled to warm to Sophia. This is a strange one for me as I normally really like characters with her vibe, but I found some of the decisions she made over the course of the novel confusing and hard to understand. I also thought she was a bit harsh at points towards other characters. I would say I admired the character more than liked her by the end - she was definitely very tough and determined, and I liked that the novel had her work and improve herself by the end of the book.
I also didn’t enjoy any of the external plot involving her group of friends. With the exception of Stefan and James, her two flatmates, her other friends came across very selfish and I was not invested in that drama at all. It came across very distracting and I’m not really sure what the point of it was - I don’t think that the book would have suffered at all to have that subplot removed. That said, the other subplot involving Sophia’s younger sister, Kiki, was handled very sensitively. It brought a much-needed softness to Sophia’s character - the scenes where she took care of Kiki were very touching, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if that storyline had been expanded more.
Overall I thought this was quite a solid book. I enjoyed it despite my issues with it, and I still rooted for the central romance which I think was developed very well; I also think that the author did a good job at tackling some of the novel’s more difficult subject matter with sensitivity. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a steamy age-gap romance, if you like your heroine with a sharper side.
Content Notes:
January 24, 2022
2.5 stars
**Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this ARC. This is my honest review.**
Perhaps this is a reader problem, than an author problem, but I didn't really enjoy this story. I should preface that when I read the synopsis for this, I didn't do enough research on the author and found that this book's focus was a whole lot spicier than I came in expecting. Whilst I don't mind a fair amount of spice in a book if it fits well with the plotline, for me, I didn't find Hot Girl Summer was executed well enough for my liking.
I didn't like Sophia. I found myself questioning her reactions far too much, especially from the beginning. Even if some of them were a defense mechanism, it didn't build her up favourably in my mind. I felt her voice was much younger than 26, and struggled to place her within my mind as I read. Perhaps because I've never been a party girl, or cared much for that scene, I couldn't relate to anything she did and found her rather erratic, especially with the back and forth of her reactions and her contradictory thoughts about men. I did try to, and there were some small moments where I grew hopeful that I was warming up to her, but the pacing and use of several side characters made for a bit of a messy read. I was also rather impartial to Danny. I didn't see him as cocky or a jerk when Sophia did, and I didn't find him appealing when she was completely in love with him. I didn't hate nor love him, and quite often I struggled with their feelings and reactions being believable enough.
I think one of the biggest issues I had with this novel was how many side storylines that occurred. A few of them had really heavy topics that I could appreciate the effort the author put in with initial information, but again, it seemed too choppy jumping back and forth between them, and nothing helped build them up. I hoped that they would either stop taking the forefront or become something the author focused on to warrant their placement in this world. There was a lot of telling of emotions rather than letting the reader experience it, and I struggled with the point of there being so many heavy topics that I lost track of what the book was really about.
This is a spicier read. I was surprised by some scenes, whilst others made me wonder why they were written. Again, I will point out that I don't opt for spicier reads, and try to choose romances more driven by plot than romance in this genre - which is sometimes hard to filter through when the synopsis reads as something sweeter than spicy.
I think this book just wasn't for me and will be liked by others who can relate to this type of world that I've never had a part in so that's why it fell beyond my level of understanding.
**Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for a copy of this ARC. This is my honest review.**
Perhaps this is a reader problem, than an author problem, but I didn't really enjoy this story. I should preface that when I read the synopsis for this, I didn't do enough research on the author and found that this book's focus was a whole lot spicier than I came in expecting. Whilst I don't mind a fair amount of spice in a book if it fits well with the plotline, for me, I didn't find Hot Girl Summer was executed well enough for my liking.
I didn't like Sophia. I found myself questioning her reactions far too much, especially from the beginning. Even if some of them were a defense mechanism, it didn't build her up favourably in my mind. I felt her voice was much younger than 26, and struggled to place her within my mind as I read. Perhaps because I've never been a party girl, or cared much for that scene, I couldn't relate to anything she did and found her rather erratic, especially with the back and forth of her reactions and her contradictory thoughts about men. I did try to, and there were some small moments where I grew hopeful that I was warming up to her, but the pacing and use of several side characters made for a bit of a messy read. I was also rather impartial to Danny. I didn't see him as cocky or a jerk when Sophia did, and I didn't find him appealing when she was completely in love with him. I didn't hate nor love him, and quite often I struggled with their feelings and reactions being believable enough.
I think one of the biggest issues I had with this novel was how many side storylines that occurred. A few of them had really heavy topics that I could appreciate the effort the author put in with initial information, but again, it seemed too choppy jumping back and forth between them, and nothing helped build them up. I hoped that they would either stop taking the forefront or become something the author focused on to warrant their placement in this world. There was a lot of telling of emotions rather than letting the reader experience it, and I struggled with the point of there being so many heavy topics that I lost track of what the book was really about.
This is a spicier read. I was surprised by some scenes, whilst others made me wonder why they were written. Again, I will point out that I don't opt for spicier reads, and try to choose romances more driven by plot than romance in this genre - which is sometimes hard to filter through when the synopsis reads as something sweeter than spicy.
I think this book just wasn't for me and will be liked by others who can relate to this type of world that I've never had a part in so that's why it fell beyond my level of understanding.
March 12, 2022
‘What’s your poison?
F**kboy tears’
4.5 stars
That opening line was enough to have me hooked and devouring this book in one sitting. It was short, sweet and full of all my favourite things in a romance book and it was made just that little bit extra special by being set somewhere close to home with all that cocky British sarcasm we love so much. I honestly can’t believe this is a debut novel I had so much fun reading it and would love to see more from this author.
These characters are RELATABLE and that’s honestly one thing I love so much in romance novels. This book was about relationships and it really dived into the inner workings of how many of our brains work in the modern dating world. It’s just felt so honest and genuine, Sophia has had a lot of struggles so seeing her bite the bullet and take what she wants from life was great. She stood up for herself and you really got a lot of insight into the more mental aspect of what it’s like dating and making yourself vulnerable
I loved the friendships, Lucas really is the definition of a cinnamon roll and I loved Stefan and James. I appreciated the way that conflicts were genuinely resolved too, like April and Sophia’s early on, it wasn’t half arsed or bitchy and it made me appreciate their friendship so much more. I would have liked some closure with Ryan as I felt like that waaa just kinda left. Adored the relationship between Kiki and Sophia too, their bond as sisters was great and I loved learning more about Kiki and seeing her working on her recovery.
Now, Danny, my man. I loved their dynamic from the beginning and watching their relationship develop was 👌 I loved that in the first couple of chapters that I wasn’t quite sure who the love interest was going to be too which was fun! They had a rocky and less that sweet start but these two together had great chemistry and I was 1000% rooting for them. Yes to more wholesome romance books please, I will read them everyday!
As always these books cover some very heavy real life topics at times and is for a mature audience so check trigger warnings (which were very thoroughly detailed at the start of the book!) before reading. (Some of the big ones - eating disorder, talk of off page drink spiking, divorce)
F**kboy tears’
4.5 stars
That opening line was enough to have me hooked and devouring this book in one sitting. It was short, sweet and full of all my favourite things in a romance book and it was made just that little bit extra special by being set somewhere close to home with all that cocky British sarcasm we love so much. I honestly can’t believe this is a debut novel I had so much fun reading it and would love to see more from this author.
These characters are RELATABLE and that’s honestly one thing I love so much in romance novels. This book was about relationships and it really dived into the inner workings of how many of our brains work in the modern dating world. It’s just felt so honest and genuine, Sophia has had a lot of struggles so seeing her bite the bullet and take what she wants from life was great. She stood up for herself and you really got a lot of insight into the more mental aspect of what it’s like dating and making yourself vulnerable
I loved the friendships, Lucas really is the definition of a cinnamon roll and I loved Stefan and James. I appreciated the way that conflicts were genuinely resolved too, like April and Sophia’s early on, it wasn’t half arsed or bitchy and it made me appreciate their friendship so much more. I would have liked some closure with Ryan as I felt like that waaa just kinda left. Adored the relationship between Kiki and Sophia too, their bond as sisters was great and I loved learning more about Kiki and seeing her working on her recovery.
Now, Danny, my man. I loved their dynamic from the beginning and watching their relationship develop was 👌 I loved that in the first couple of chapters that I wasn’t quite sure who the love interest was going to be too which was fun! They had a rocky and less that sweet start but these two together had great chemistry and I was 1000% rooting for them. Yes to more wholesome romance books please, I will read them everyday!
As always these books cover some very heavy real life topics at times and is for a mature audience so check trigger warnings (which were very thoroughly detailed at the start of the book!) before reading. (Some of the big ones - eating disorder, talk of off page drink spiking, divorce)
March 2, 2022
2.5 stars
Review:
Hot girl summer follows Sophia, a twenty something yoga instructor, also a "party girl" who navigates through life as an independent adult, including terrible dating life, superficial friends and get sister's eating disorder. Her life becomes more disturbed when she meets Danny Pearce, a charming, hot and very distracting musician. Even though she has sworn to casual hookups only, Danny seems make her heart flutter every time, they cross paths.
I really wanted to like this one because of the blurb but this didn't work out for me in the way I wanted. It's pretty evident that the authors has put a lot of love and efforts into her characters, especially Sophia with her very unique and distinct sassy character. I liked the sister dynamic here and Sophia's self growth and self discovery definitely made this book to be more than just a romance. Though, Sophia and Danny's relationship felt a bit flat for me. I would have liked this book more there was a dual pov because sometimes it wasba bit difficult to understand Danny's part of the thoughts, that's why I wasn't very satisfied with some of their descisions together. There was definitely good chemistry, banter and angst between them. The unnecessary side plot events were a bit distracting from the main event at some points.
Over-all, this was an enjoyable read and it was fast paced. It was an easy and quick read.
TW: eating disorders, sexual assault, mental health
Review:
Hot girl summer follows Sophia, a twenty something yoga instructor, also a "party girl" who navigates through life as an independent adult, including terrible dating life, superficial friends and get sister's eating disorder. Her life becomes more disturbed when she meets Danny Pearce, a charming, hot and very distracting musician. Even though she has sworn to casual hookups only, Danny seems make her heart flutter every time, they cross paths.
I really wanted to like this one because of the blurb but this didn't work out for me in the way I wanted. It's pretty evident that the authors has put a lot of love and efforts into her characters, especially Sophia with her very unique and distinct sassy character. I liked the sister dynamic here and Sophia's self growth and self discovery definitely made this book to be more than just a romance. Though, Sophia and Danny's relationship felt a bit flat for me. I would have liked this book more there was a dual pov because sometimes it wasba bit difficult to understand Danny's part of the thoughts, that's why I wasn't very satisfied with some of their descisions together. There was definitely good chemistry, banter and angst between them. The unnecessary side plot events were a bit distracting from the main event at some points.
Over-all, this was an enjoyable read and it was fast paced. It was an easy and quick read.
TW: eating disorders, sexual assault, mental health
March 30, 2022
Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo features a party girl as she meets a guy who might just make her want to settle for good.
Generally, I did still like this book, but I have some issues with it. I really thought this was gonna be a hate-to-love, but soon found out it's so not (completely my fault for ignoring the synopsis before reading, so won't take that into consideration in my final rating).
My main issue is that, there were more atrempts at banter rather than a well-thought-of plot. I didn't even enjoy the banters 70% of the time, but that's maybe because I didn't feel attached at all to the characters since hello? Where plot, where
Another issue was a rather, unpleasant use of the miscommunication trope as its final conflict. I have nothing against that trope, but when used as a final conflict? Count me out.
There will be discussions of eating disorder in the book, so mind that. I think it's a good portrayal generally, though it added nothing whatsoever to the plot.
This has become mostly a rant review now so I'll end it here saying I'm giving this one a 2 star rating. Some scenes were hot and great, but overall, not my thing.
I was provided with an e-arc through netgalley in exchange for my review. Rest assured that all thoughts are my own and not influenced by this.
Generally, I did still like this book, but I have some issues with it. I really thought this was gonna be a hate-to-love, but soon found out it's so not (completely my fault for ignoring the synopsis before reading, so won't take that into consideration in my final rating).
My main issue is that, there were more atrempts at banter rather than a well-thought-of plot. I didn't even enjoy the banters 70% of the time, but that's maybe because I didn't feel attached at all to the characters since hello? Where plot, where
Another issue was a rather, unpleasant use of the miscommunication trope as its final conflict. I have nothing against that trope, but when used as a final conflict? Count me out.
There will be discussions of eating disorder in the book, so mind that. I think it's a good portrayal generally, though it added nothing whatsoever to the plot.
This has become mostly a rant review now so I'll end it here saying I'm giving this one a 2 star rating. Some scenes were hot and great, but overall, not my thing.
I was provided with an e-arc through netgalley in exchange for my review. Rest assured that all thoughts are my own and not influenced by this.
February 1, 2022
An easy read with a bit of spice!
Sophia is fed up with casual hook-ups but is finding it hard to put her party girl reputation behind her. Then she meets Danny in a club - he is rude and cocky and tries his hardest to belittle her. He does eventually apologise, however, and buys her a G&T as a peace offering.
After that first encounter, they just keep running into each other and slowly but surely the ice between them begins to thaw to be replaced by a definite spark!
I enjoyed the book and how it dealt with some tricky topics - an eating disorder, sexual assault, divorce and mental health - and it comes with a content warning. It made the characters and the storyline more real, messy and human.
I also liked the focus on self-care and Sophia’s attempt to find herself and change her career. There were some interesting dynamics with other characters; the responsibility of being an older sister, the work relationships and her friendship group (although I didn’t much care for Ryan).
The storyline was a bit slow at times and some scenes felt more unlikely than others, but overall it was a good read!
Sophia is fed up with casual hook-ups but is finding it hard to put her party girl reputation behind her. Then she meets Danny in a club - he is rude and cocky and tries his hardest to belittle her. He does eventually apologise, however, and buys her a G&T as a peace offering.
After that first encounter, they just keep running into each other and slowly but surely the ice between them begins to thaw to be replaced by a definite spark!
I enjoyed the book and how it dealt with some tricky topics - an eating disorder, sexual assault, divorce and mental health - and it comes with a content warning. It made the characters and the storyline more real, messy and human.
I also liked the focus on self-care and Sophia’s attempt to find herself and change her career. There were some interesting dynamics with other characters; the responsibility of being an older sister, the work relationships and her friendship group (although I didn’t much care for Ryan).
The storyline was a bit slow at times and some scenes felt more unlikely than others, but overall it was a good read!
March 22, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Star Rating- 4
Honestly i liked this a whole lot more that i expected. I do think that were some parts I didn't enjoy at all, but then again they weren't that big of a deal.
Characters- Sophia made my heart happy, she was kind, caring, and stayed true to herself. She was also most definitely a badass and i will stand by that till the end of time. Danny scared me a tad bit at the start but i feel like all love interests do, so there isn't much surprise there. Eventually he chilled out and i started to like him a bit more. I also adored the side characters and wished I got to seem more of them.
Plot- The plot of this book was very character and story based, which was nice. The pacing was also quite well as it was fast while being a short book.
What I liked- I loved the spacing, and the romance between Sophia and Danny. As well as the side characters.
What I didn't Like- I wish we saw more of the side characters, but it wasn't about them, so I understand why they weren't present as much.
Star Rating- 4
Honestly i liked this a whole lot more that i expected. I do think that were some parts I didn't enjoy at all, but then again they weren't that big of a deal.
Characters- Sophia made my heart happy, she was kind, caring, and stayed true to herself. She was also most definitely a badass and i will stand by that till the end of time. Danny scared me a tad bit at the start but i feel like all love interests do, so there isn't much surprise there. Eventually he chilled out and i started to like him a bit more. I also adored the side characters and wished I got to seem more of them.
Plot- The plot of this book was very character and story based, which was nice. The pacing was also quite well as it was fast while being a short book.
What I liked- I loved the spacing, and the romance between Sophia and Danny. As well as the side characters.
What I didn't Like- I wish we saw more of the side characters, but it wasn't about them, so I understand why they weren't present as much.
July 20, 2022
[chronique en FR ci-après]
Surprisingly, Hot Italian girl, obsessed with makeup and fashion, future yoga teacher who enjoys crystals and tarot and could have any man she wants but have big confidence issue and is so fragile on the inside because her boyfriend kissed another girl when she was 15 years old, didn’t do it for me. I loathed her from beginning to end. She makes the wrong choices every damn time and her friends and family are all TOXIC AS HELL and the male character is just BLAND AS FUCK and I was so bored I actually skimmed over the pages at some point.
One star for the effort and one more for the spicy scenes and because Arzum loved this book and I love her.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Étonnamment, la fille italienne sexy, obsédée par le maquillage et la mode, future professeur de yoga qui aime les cristaux et le tarot et qui pourrait avoir tous les hommes qu'elle veut mais qui a un gros problème de confiance et qui est si fragile à l'intérieur parce que son petit ami a embrassé une autre fille quand elle avait 15 ans, ne m'a pas plu.
Je l'ai détestée du début à la fin. Elle fait les mauvais choix à chaque fois et ses amis et sa famille sont tous TOXIQUES et le personnage masculin est juste FADE et je m'ennuyais tellement que j'ai même survolé les pages à un moment donné.
Une étoile pour l'effort et une autre pour les scènes spicy et parce qu'Arzum a aimé ce livre et que je l'aime, elle.
Surprisingly, Hot Italian girl, obsessed with makeup and fashion, future yoga teacher who enjoys crystals and tarot and could have any man she wants but have big confidence issue and is so fragile on the inside because her boyfriend kissed another girl when she was 15 years old, didn’t do it for me. I loathed her from beginning to end. She makes the wrong choices every damn time and her friends and family are all TOXIC AS HELL and the male character is just BLAND AS FUCK and I was so bored I actually skimmed over the pages at some point.
One star for the effort and one more for the spicy scenes and because Arzum loved this book and I love her.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Étonnamment, la fille italienne sexy, obsédée par le maquillage et la mode, future professeur de yoga qui aime les cristaux et le tarot et qui pourrait avoir tous les hommes qu'elle veut mais qui a un gros problème de confiance et qui est si fragile à l'intérieur parce que son petit ami a embrassé une autre fille quand elle avait 15 ans, ne m'a pas plu.
Je l'ai détestée du début à la fin. Elle fait les mauvais choix à chaque fois et ses amis et sa famille sont tous TOXIQUES et le personnage masculin est juste FADE et je m'ennuyais tellement que j'ai même survolé les pages à un moment donné.
Une étoile pour l'effort et une autre pour les scènes spicy et parce qu'Arzum a aimé ce livre et que je l'aime, elle.
January 22, 2022
Wow. Not even sure where to start with this one. This was the absolute perfect combination of wittiness, angst and overall hilarious banter.
The sarcastic banter between Sophia and Danny starts from chapter one and continues through to the epilogue. It was such a nice light easy read, while at the same time being heavy in self discovery and appreciating one’s self worth.
While being a contemporary romance it has the perfect combination of romance and Sophia’s self growth.
Normally I find slow burns drag and I loose interest and that was not the case to say the least. I felt so seen this whole book right down to the pizza with mushrooms olives and pineapple which is literally my go to 😂.
This book is one of my fav romances I’ve read as of late and I won’t stop talking about it for months to come I’m sure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
The sarcastic banter between Sophia and Danny starts from chapter one and continues through to the epilogue. It was such a nice light easy read, while at the same time being heavy in self discovery and appreciating one’s self worth.
While being a contemporary romance it has the perfect combination of romance and Sophia’s self growth.
Normally I find slow burns drag and I loose interest and that was not the case to say the least. I felt so seen this whole book right down to the pizza with mushrooms olives and pineapple which is literally my go to 😂.
This book is one of my fav romances I’ve read as of late and I won’t stop talking about it for months to come I’m sure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
February 4, 2022
Thank you to Sonia Palermo, Xpresso Book Tours, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review. I wanted to love this book but I really, truly didn't.
The pros: There were some funny parts. Sophie was a mostly likeable character, family and friendship oriented with a decent head on her shoulders.
The cons: The chemistry between Sophie and Danny was barely there. I read a lot of spicy books but the scenes in this read made me really embarrassed and uncomfortable. Instead of finding them hot or romantic I found them awkward and hard to read. I found the characters and plotline to be underdeveloped.
I think Palermo's writing has a ways to go in terms of maturity and also this book needs a lot of editing. The amount of times the term "f*** boy" was used was a huge turn-off for me. I would be open to reading more from this author in the future as I think the idea and heart was there, but the execution was a little off for me.
The pros: There were some funny parts. Sophie was a mostly likeable character, family and friendship oriented with a decent head on her shoulders.
The cons: The chemistry between Sophie and Danny was barely there. I read a lot of spicy books but the scenes in this read made me really embarrassed and uncomfortable. Instead of finding them hot or romantic I found them awkward and hard to read. I found the characters and plotline to be underdeveloped.
I think Palermo's writing has a ways to go in terms of maturity and also this book needs a lot of editing. The amount of times the term "f*** boy" was used was a huge turn-off for me. I would be open to reading more from this author in the future as I think the idea and heart was there, but the execution was a little off for me.
March 1, 2022
More like 3.75
This book was a little different from what I was used to and it did take a little while to get into it originally.
Sophia- also known as summer- goes through life with her heart locked away so she doesn’t get hurt again. Until she meets musician Danny.
I really liked Sophia and Danny together I liked their banter and chemistry and how relatable Sophia was with her feelings.
I did think that I would see more of his ex but I’m kind of glad we didn’t.
There were a few times I was confused with what was happening and had to re-read a lot and the sentences always began the same way “two days later, the following day ect” it got a little repetive.
Overall I did enjoy it and the rep was really well written, and the fact that it was abuse against the love interest was very different but should be made aware more.
Check TW but thank you for netgalley And the publishers for allowing me to read this early.
This book was a little different from what I was used to and it did take a little while to get into it originally.
Sophia- also known as summer- goes through life with her heart locked away so she doesn’t get hurt again. Until she meets musician Danny.
I really liked Sophia and Danny together I liked their banter and chemistry and how relatable Sophia was with her feelings.
I did think that I would see more of his ex but I’m kind of glad we didn’t.
There were a few times I was confused with what was happening and had to re-read a lot and the sentences always began the same way “two days later, the following day ect” it got a little repetive.
Overall I did enjoy it and the rep was really well written, and the fact that it was abuse against the love interest was very different but should be made aware more.
Check TW but thank you for netgalley And the publishers for allowing me to read this early.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2022
Hot Girl Summer
by Sonia Palermo
2 stars
I tried to like this book I told myself this year I won't DNF any books this one almost broke that I got through it, but it is a big no for me. I liked Danny and Sophie is good but she is so self-absorbed and then you find little layers of her and you like okay this isn't too bad then I just couldn't get around the writing of it and I can't put my finger on it but wasn't the book for me. The characters just didn't seem to do much for me I couldn't fully relate to it. It had some spice to it, but I wouldn't say much for that I cared for I enjoy spicey reads but this just didn't hit the mark, like the rest of the book.
Thank you, Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC for an honest review
I just reviewed Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo. #HotGirlSummer #NetGalley
by Sonia Palermo
2 stars
I tried to like this book I told myself this year I won't DNF any books this one almost broke that I got through it, but it is a big no for me. I liked Danny and Sophie is good but she is so self-absorbed and then you find little layers of her and you like okay this isn't too bad then I just couldn't get around the writing of it and I can't put my finger on it but wasn't the book for me. The characters just didn't seem to do much for me I couldn't fully relate to it. It had some spice to it, but I wouldn't say much for that I cared for I enjoy spicey reads but this just didn't hit the mark, like the rest of the book.
Thank you, Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC for an honest review
I just reviewed Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo. #HotGirlSummer #NetGalley
March 8, 2022
I have to admit, it took me a minute to get into the book. It was an easy and cute read once I got further into it. Sophia is a spunky character trying to find herself and how she fits into the world. I found that part of her totally relatable to me.
I loved the banter and flirting between Sophia and Danny. They had their cute & spicy moments but I felt like some things were missing. There were parts where I wanted to know what Danny was thinking, in which I think this book would’ve benefited from.
There were also so many background characters, I had to go back to remind myself who was who.
Overall, this was a quick, solid, and sweet read for those who want to give it a go! I would love to see what else this author has in the future.
Thank you Sonia Palermo and NetGalley for the advance copy.
I loved the banter and flirting between Sophia and Danny. They had their cute & spicy moments but I felt like some things were missing. There were parts where I wanted to know what Danny was thinking, in which I think this book would’ve benefited from.
There were also so many background characters, I had to go back to remind myself who was who.
Overall, this was a quick, solid, and sweet read for those who want to give it a go! I would love to see what else this author has in the future.
Thank you Sonia Palermo and NetGalley for the advance copy.
January 27, 2022
Thank you @NetGalley and Sonia Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a 4/5 read for me.
If you enjoy a non-instant relationship, spice, HEA romance, this book is for you.
Sophia and Danny are the main characters and both have their back story. This book gives a take on how personal trauma can affect a relationship.
The characters were well thought out and written. There was good spice. I really enjoyed what caused the couple conflict, I thought it was a little different than some of the main tropes for heartache in romance reads. The only dislike for me was the constant theme of Sophia being labeled childish.
I will definitely read more from Sonia Palermo. I would like to read Luke's story.
This was a 4/5 read for me.
If you enjoy a non-instant relationship, spice, HEA romance, this book is for you.
Sophia and Danny are the main characters and both have their back story. This book gives a take on how personal trauma can affect a relationship.
The characters were well thought out and written. There was good spice. I really enjoyed what caused the couple conflict, I thought it was a little different than some of the main tropes for heartache in romance reads. The only dislike for me was the constant theme of Sophia being labeled childish.
I will definitely read more from Sonia Palermo. I would like to read Luke's story.
March 30, 2022
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Sonia Palermo for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty this should have been a quick read for me but I just didn't feel invested in it. I really didn't feel anything for the characters and I'm not sure what the plot was. Sophia is a party girl who really doesn't want to be anymore. She's tired of just having meaningless sex with the same people. There is a lot of drama between friends, that I'm not sure had to be there. She meets a "rock star" who is older that she falls for but Danny is sometimes in to her and pushes her away at others. In the end they do end up in a HEA but it feels like it will be toxic to me.
Ok enough of my rant. I did like the cover. I liked how it dealt with eating disorders as a hot topic.
In all honesty this should have been a quick read for me but I just didn't feel invested in it. I really didn't feel anything for the characters and I'm not sure what the plot was. Sophia is a party girl who really doesn't want to be anymore. She's tired of just having meaningless sex with the same people. There is a lot of drama between friends, that I'm not sure had to be there. She meets a "rock star" who is older that she falls for but Danny is sometimes in to her and pushes her away at others. In the end they do end up in a HEA but it feels like it will be toxic to me.
Ok enough of my rant. I did like the cover. I liked how it dealt with eating disorders as a hot topic.
February 22, 2022
So I would give Hot Girl Summer a solid 3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4. This is the perfect book to read when on holiday or on a Sunday afternoon! Hot Girl Summer follows ‘party girl’ Sophia’s relationship with boys (and men) with a mysterious silver fox thrown in. There was just the right amount of spice 🌶 only criticism is I would say I’m not sure how much depth the sister brought to the plot, it kind of felt thrown in… but overall I did like the focus on mental health, love, growth and self worth and I would recommend to anyone who is looking for an easy, fun chicklit book! I look forward to reading any future work from this author.
*Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for a review*
*Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for a review*
January 22, 2022
Great debut Brit Lit/Contemporary Romance. There are great characters with actual emotional depth, funny banter, a good amount of angst and some unexpected (but appreciated 😏) steam.
I loved the dynamic between Sophia and Danny and I think the author handled including some heavy but important issues in this book really well.
I would definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR!
Please check trigger warnings before diving in.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I loved the dynamic between Sophia and Danny and I think the author handled including some heavy but important issues in this book really well.
I would definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR!
Please check trigger warnings before diving in.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
January 22, 2022
O-M-G
This. book. was. so. good! Sonia Palermo is now one of my favorite authors!
This book follows the story of Sophia. Sophia is a girl who loves the bar, hookups, and friends. While at the bar one day, she sees a handsome guy named Danny. Tention starts to grow between Sophia and Danny. She wanted to be over hookups and start a real connection with Danny. Sophia tries to forget the past and make a "new" life with Danny. She faces so many obstacles during this time.
Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo comes out on March 14, 2022! Preorder it now!
This. book. was. so. good! Sonia Palermo is now one of my favorite authors!
This book follows the story of Sophia. Sophia is a girl who loves the bar, hookups, and friends. While at the bar one day, she sees a handsome guy named Danny. Tention starts to grow between Sophia and Danny. She wanted to be over hookups and start a real connection with Danny. Sophia tries to forget the past and make a "new" life with Danny. She faces so many obstacles during this time.
Hot Girl Summer by Sonia Palermo comes out on March 14, 2022! Preorder it now!
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