You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Suzie and Paul have just broken up. She’s packed her things and flees to London, to the safety of the cousins who’ve been like sisters to her.
“Let’s go to Mallorca to celebrate Lucy’s 40th birthday! A holiday always helps!”
And so off they go.
Charlie has just lot his job after his (ex-)girlfriend accidentally shows a compromising video of him to the staff at school.
Luckily, it’s time for his brother’s stag do, and time away with the boys always helps.
So it’s off to Mallorca they go.
After a naked swim ends with Suzie distanced from both her cousins and her clothing, a kind, attractive man come to her assistance, offering his shirt, then a towel, then a a warm cup of coffee.
Yup, Charlie, who says he’s Carlos, and Suzie who claims to be Aurelie. And the two engage in an unforgettable night.
What happens next stretches out over time and location, the story of two people who meet under false pretenses, share an instant attraction, implode, and then keep appearing in each other’s lives to a variety of results.
__
Like all of Bailey’s books, it’s easy to focus on the humor - again, here in spades - but there’s always so much depth underneath that layer that often doesn’t get the appreciation it should.
In HTG, there is an exploration of teacher’s experiences and the impact they have on their students, a lovely story of familial love, an exploration of found family, and a constantly evolving holiday setting weaving through seasons of a year.
I’m a huge fan of Bailey’s writing and I enjoyed this one! It has humor and laughs along with heartbreak and love. Her books are like a cozy blanket on a chilly day.
Plus, a callback to Zoe and Jack made me want to do a reread of Textbook Romance!
this was.... okay. a little bit boring and hard to get into, especially when both povs sound the same. even the paragraphs of inner monologues are structured the same way, and no two people think exactly the same.
there was certainly an effort to make the writing sound comedic and, while it worked sometimes, there were occasions when it just made me cringe and it felt a bit forced.
as for the rom part of the rom com, i couldn't really feel the chemistry between the characters. it happened. they hooked up. then they met up again. then this. then that. it felt very factual, a sequence of events on a timeline, and it didn't click with me.
there was certainly an effort to make the writing sound comedic and, while it worked sometimes, there were occasions when it just made me cringe and it felt a bit forced.
as for the rom part of the rom com, i couldn't really feel the chemistry between the characters. it happened. they hooked up. then they met up again. then this. then that. it felt very factual, a sequence of events on a timeline, and it didn't click with me.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was a cute, enjoyable summer read that isn't shy with its liberaly sprinkling of spice and had humour from secondary characters that made me giggle.
The Gist - Suzie and Charlie have a hot and heavy meet up under false names while vacationing in Mallorca. When they next see each other, it's in the staff room at the high school where they're both starting new jobs. Awk-ward!
My Thoughts: This is a fun read to take on your next hot destination vacation!
Spice - If you love spice then you'll love that this story wastes no time jumping into the deep end of the spice pool!! Suzie and Charlie go from zero to horny very early on. But I had just met these two characters, so I was left feeling like I was told about the emotional connection instead of witnessing it develop on the page.
Ahhh, l'amour! - Fans of languages will enjoy the Spanish and French phrases that are added liberally to the dialogue! This Canadian had no problem with the French on the pages, but I had to use my Kindle's translation feature for some of the Spanish phrases since they aren't all explained to the reader.
Family Ties - Suzie and Charlie were cute, but my favourite part of this book was the family bonds. Suzie's cousins - particularly Lucy added great banter and I love how Suzie and Charlie's families always had their backs.
This is a light, escapist, feel-good summery read. While I had hoped for a bit more tension and depth in the couple and build up to the spice, I enjoyed the tropical locale, second chance romance and cheeky humour.
Disclaimer: Thanks to Storm Publishing for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Charlie Carter and Suzie Callaghan stood open mouthed, wanting the floor to open up and swallow them, she was the new French teacher and he was the new Spanish teacher, but that wasn't the first time that they had met and their names were Aurelie and Carlos.
Heartbroken Suzie had left her home in Brighton and her husband of two years, after discovering that he had been cheating on her every Tuesday with a redhead from the gym, she had relocated to London where her five cousins had helped her get a job and settle in to a new apartment. The cousins. Emma, Beth, Lucy, Grace and Meg were going to Mallorca to celebrate the eldest cousin, Meg's, fortieth birthday, they had all insisted that Suzie joins them.............this is where the hilarity starts. I laughed out loud when the girls looked round the beautiful, secluded Spanish villa and when Meg ranted on the phone to her husband because he booked it, I laughed at the skinny dipping incident where Suzie, in a panic that the police were there, gets separated from the girls and her clothes and ends up in a stilted, half French, half Spanish conversation with a handsome Spaniard, too embarrassed to give their proper names she said that she was French and her name was Aurelie, he said that he was Spanish and his name was Carlos.
When Charlie's parents had died, he had decided to take on the parental roll to his younger siblings, Max, Brook and Sam, now he was in Mallorca on Max's stag do and had come face to face with a naked French mermaid.
Things hot up very quickly between Aurelie and Carlos, their chemistry is off the charts but what happens when they find themselves back in London teaching at the same school, can they stay detached ? all bets are off when they end up sharing a room on a school trip to Saville.
This is a great story, although a tad too long for me, I loved all the characters, I loved the banter and the cousins witty retorts were priceless, although the story is witty it also has some emotional elements which gives it balance, I will definitely look out for the next Kristen Bailey book
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary
Heartbroken Suzie had left her home in Brighton and her husband of two years, after discovering that he had been cheating on her every Tuesday with a redhead from the gym, she had relocated to London where her five cousins had helped her get a job and settle in to a new apartment. The cousins. Emma, Beth, Lucy, Grace and Meg were going to Mallorca to celebrate the eldest cousin, Meg's, fortieth birthday, they had all insisted that Suzie joins them.............this is where the hilarity starts. I laughed out loud when the girls looked round the beautiful, secluded Spanish villa and when Meg ranted on the phone to her husband because he booked it, I laughed at the skinny dipping incident where Suzie, in a panic that the police were there, gets separated from the girls and her clothes and ends up in a stilted, half French, half Spanish conversation with a handsome Spaniard, too embarrassed to give their proper names she said that she was French and her name was Aurelie, he said that he was Spanish and his name was Carlos.
When Charlie's parents had died, he had decided to take on the parental roll to his younger siblings, Max, Brook and Sam, now he was in Mallorca on Max's stag do and had come face to face with a naked French mermaid.
Things hot up very quickly between Aurelie and Carlos, their chemistry is off the charts but what happens when they find themselves back in London teaching at the same school, can they stay detached ? all bets are off when they end up sharing a room on a school trip to Saville.
This is a great story, although a tad too long for me, I loved all the characters, I loved the banter and the cousins witty retorts were priceless, although the story is witty it also has some emotional elements which gives it balance, I will definitely look out for the next Kristen Bailey book
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Why am I not reading books by author Kristen Bailey every day?? It is the best way to start the day, end the day, and fill up the time in-between. You can laugh and cry and swoon and just have the best time.
Hot to Go is the latest book by this terrific author. It starts out fall-on-the-floor hilarious and never lets up. Only a couple of paragraphs into the Prologue and I was laughing out loud. Every woman can relate to Suzie’s inner musing: the heat, the timing, the random thoughts . . . the everything. The poor Uber Eats delivery man and the flying takeaway. And then we jump to Krystal’s slide show and Charlie’s starring role in it. What a clever use for ski caps and socks.
Carlos and Aurelie had a fantastic time in Mallorca. So easy, so smooth, so uncomplicated. It just rolled on and on and felt like nothing ever had before. Until Carlos didn’t show up as promised and it was time to end this little fantasy. So back to real life they go, each wondering what-if but also wondering if this wasn’t just a magical moment in time not meant to last forever. But – what-if?
Real life isn’t nearly as much fun as Mallorca. After Spanish teacher Charlie’s 15 seconds of fame at his old school and French teacher Suzie’s humiliating breakup with Paul, they both need a change of scene where their colleagues don’t know so much about their private lives. Which actually turns out to be not true at the new school, either, but that’s a story for later. Let’s just say that neither of them expects the other to be at this school, in their department, someone they’ll see every day, and they’re not sure how they feel about it.
Mallorca was an escape. With her mother gone, Suzie’s family consists of her four cousins: Beth, Emma, Lucy and Meg. It’s Meg’s 40th birthday and they are celebrating in Mallorca. A villa, sangria, the beach, a chance for Suzie to relax and just maybe have a summer fling. When his parents died, Charlie became the big brother, caretaker, guardian of his brothers and sister. His brother Max is getting married and his stag party is in Mallorca. Drinking, wearing costumes, drinking, a chance for Charlie to relax and recover from the Krystle debacle. Maybe a summer fling?
Well, it was quite the fling, but when Charlie can’t make it to the follow-up date, Suzie thinks that the what-if she felt was only in her mind. It was amazing and even though she knows she should, she can’t let it go. Charlie was obsessed with finding her, but no luck. So meeting at school and learning their true identities should be a good thing, another chance, right? Except when they try to recapture that magic it’s a dud. Their hearts are in it but it just won’t work.
Hot to Go is the comedy version of The Adjustment Bureau. The universe put them together in Mallorca, capriciously pulled them apart, put them together again back in London, made it difficult, put them back together again in Seville . . . . How much more of this emotional yo-yo can they take? Author Bailey had me howling and snorting and tearing up with laughter, but she also had me tearing up because we know what the universe knows: these two are meant to be, and we want desperately for it to happen.
Suzie’s cousins run the gamut of loopy to serious, but are always in her corner, always looking out for her. Charlie’s siblings keep him hopping, but they are fiercely loyal and determined to make him take time for himself, put himself first at last. The plot is even and smooth, full of surprises, characters are well-developed, interesting and in Paul’s case horribly. horribly evil. Bailey’s ability to write funny, sweet, sexy, and tender scenes is unparalleled. Her word choices are perfect. You feel every emotion and all the yearning and desire, and the humor is out of this world.
I received an advance copy of Hot to Go from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Kristen Bailey is a favorite author and all of her books are favorites. When I finished Hot to Go I wanted to go back to that fabulous prologue and start again. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
- Summer vacay hookup
- Workplace romance
- Forced proximity
- Both just had bad breakups
Thanks to NetGalley, Kristen Bailey, and Storm Publishing for this eARC! This was a great summer read.
What a way to start this book! 😱 Both FMC and MMC immediately had my interest with their wit and tough situations. And it gets funnier when they first meet! It’s a bit of lead up with details about the ordeals they deal with to get to Mallorca, but that sets up their circumstances of meeting together well. The dual POV in each chapter makes this fun because so many times there are missed chances until they finally meet again…at their new jobs!
It is so funny that they give themselves different names and personas in Mallorca, which are sooo very different from their lives as teachers. So I understood why at first things didn’t spark like they did on vacay. Their real lives don’t meet that spark, so when they are just themselves, they can’t hide behind those interesting and intriguing lies they tried to live out. So it was nice to see them fall for their real selves by the end! While it was a little lucky because they’re away on another trip, it was as themselves and as colleagues. So that added to the tension and ability to start fresh. I did actually tear up when they still have issues in part 4, especially because I’m not a big fan of the lack of communication trope. But I understood her reasoning, not his. I was thankful the author could satisfactorily resolve those things and was so happy with their ending!
I liked the pacing of this book, and I read it quickly as they both were witty and sweet with each other. Obviously they seemed so fated, which was maybe a little TOO much by the time they’re both in Paris. But it still worked for this romance. While the spice isn’t explicitly detailed, it is mentioned before and after with some allusions to how things went down 🤭
funny
I haven't laughed so much when reading a book in a long time! Hot To Go made me do that - aloud and often - and for that I thank author Kristen Bailey. This is the perfect summer read, with fun characters and wonderful settings, and plenty of romance - sometimes racy.
I know the streaming services don't make rom com limited series, but only movies, but this book seems like it would perfectly lend itself to a fun series. I'd definitely watch it.
Bailey, as usual, skillfully navigates complicated relationships of all types, and keeps the reader turning the pages to the very end.
Thank you to #StormPublishing for the invitation to read the ARC of #HotToGo and to #NetGalley for providing it.
I know the streaming services don't make rom com limited series, but only movies, but this book seems like it would perfectly lend itself to a fun series. I'd definitely watch it.
Bailey, as usual, skillfully navigates complicated relationships of all types, and keeps the reader turning the pages to the very end.
Thank you to #StormPublishing for the invitation to read the ARC of #HotToGo and to #NetGalley for providing it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Kristen Bailey for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Nothing- and I mean nothing will separate me from Kristen Bailey's books. Her humor, her wit, her banter, her plot lines.. They are CONSISTENTLY SO GOOD and I will always read them ASAP
If you've read Kristen's recently published hits- In Hot To Go we get to go back to the school where Ed, Mia & Zoe teach. Both of our MCs are foreign language teachers (SAME AS OUR AUTHOR!) and their journey is one that makes you wonder if their spicy chemistry is only HOT TO GO when they are in muy caliente weather?!?
Among other cameos and easter eggs from Kristen's writing- the FMC's cousins, the Callaghan cousins, had me thinking to myself "these cousins are a riot and I hope they get a book or two.." Well unbeknownst to me- Kristen has already put out a FIVE BOOK Callaghan Sisters series in 2020 through 2022! How fantastic that she gave us a healthy taste of her backlist to entice us to get our hands on those puppies!
medium-paced
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes