A review by margotvangogh
Hot To Go by Kristen Bailey

funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

This is a sweet story about two basically star crossed lovers who keep finding their way to each other only to be interrupted by inopportune life events. I want to say this upfront because there are some flaws that readers should be aware of going in, but I don’t want them to seem like deal breakers or to turn you away from giving this a go.

I’ve seen other reviews suggest an issue with the editing. However, it’s not the editing, it’s the formatting that’s confusing. 
Examples: 
  • Dialogue is written with single apostrophes instead of quotation marks. This makes it less obvious to the eye when conversation starts and ends.
  • Internal dialogue is not differentiated between narrative and internal dialogue. We’re used to see this on separate lines and italicized, in Hot to Go it’s just another sentence in the same paragraph.
Both things take some getting used to, but you will get used to, but they are not insurmountable.

This book is also written with a heavy English voice. It’s mostly in the first third of the story, and gets less bogged down by slang as you go. Or maybe this is something I got used to? Maybe I’m now just so well versed in London slang I could go on Holiday!

Despite the description, this book is not as spicy as I thought it would be. I’d put it at a 2.5 using the Romance.io rating scale, somewhere between glimpses and open door. Come for romance, not the spice. It’s not unsatisfactory, but it’s not…inspiring, if you know what I mean. 

Overall, I really liked the characters and their connection. I wish they met up sooner in the story so we got more time with them (it’s about 17% of the way in where they finally meet). I would read more about them if I could! However, this book is not without its flaws, none of which should be deal breakers. Give it a go, you wanker!
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