Ideal escapist reading.

Birdy Finch is twenty-nine years old, newly jobless, and soon to be homeless when her life long friend announces she had sublet their shared flat for the summer. Heather had planned to spend the summer working in a Scottish hotel, instead, she runs off to Italy with her boyfriend.

When mistaken for Heather, a highly trained and respected sommelier, Birdy thinks that the abandoned job in Scotland will provide her with work and somewhere to live while Heather is in Italy.

Without telling Heather and anticipating the time she worked in a bar be enough experience for this summer job, she arrives to find the expected rundown hotel at Loch Dorn is in fact a newly renovated luxury country house with high dining catering for wealthy clientèle.

Unfortunately taking on Heather's identity means having an expert knowledge of all wines and Birdie only seems to know white from red. It's only Birdie's excellent people skills that prevent her from discovery as disaster follows disaster. Being unmasked as a fraud will even put the hotel at risk in their first season. Plus the real Heather's professional reputation is at stake,

Very funny, sometimes embarrassingly, perfect escapist reading during lockdown times.

ARC generously supplied by NetGalley, this review is my honest opinion and completely unbiased.

If you didn’t know this was a debut novel for Lizzy Dent you would never know.
The Summer Job takes us on a journey of lies and deceit built around a cunning plan created by main character Birdy. Little does Birdy know though that this journey of deceit will open a Pandora’s box of truths and secrets.
The first third of the book was light and almost fluffy however as the book progresses what we get is a solid, well written work of fiction. It’s an easy read but that in no way means it lacks substance. From about 35% I was hooked and had to get to the end. A brilliant debut offering from Lizzy Dent.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc copy.

Birdy is a bit adrift in life, her career and love life stalling, so she pretends to be her hugely successful Sommelier friend Heather for the summer in a Scottish restaurant. Birdy is a fun, likeable character who you root for to come out on top! Is this book going to set the literary world alight? No. But it’s still an easy, enjoyable read with the required happy ending.

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent

Birdy pretends to be her best friend Heather in order to take up a summer job at a luxury Scottish hotel but soon finds out she's bitten off a bit more than she can chew!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! It's witty and fresh, filled with fabulously drawn characters, and so entertaining that I didn't want it to end. The author manages to interweave some very serious subjects into the story, along with romance, humour and a really good plot. In fact the book is so vivid I could imagine it as a film. Very highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I decided to read this book because it said that it is for fans of The Flatshare and I can definitely say, if you like that book, then you most likely to enjoy this one too.
This story for me didn't keep me that engaged at the beginning. The writing felt a little strained at the beginning but did settle down fairly quickly.
I think Dent did an amazing job of creating her characters. Everyone was developed very well and I would say that the characters are the main reason that I enjoyed this book.
I would say that where it fell a bit flat for me was the main character, Birdy. She just kept making awful decisions. While this is in keeping with her character, there was almost no respite. Due to this, I felt rather stressed throughout the majority of the book, wondering when she was going to do something else that was going to land her in trouble or wondering when everyone was going to find out that she wasn't who she said she was.
The ending also felt a little rushed. I did love the ending and I think that Dent worked everything together very well. It just needed a bit more time spent on it in my opinion because it would have been nice to see a little bit of the work that Birdy did to redeem all the things that she did. It felt rather strange after all the worrying that everything just suddenly cleared up and everyone seemed to like her again.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book. It was nice to read about such an interesting premise, even if I was worrying about Birdy the whole time!

*Review will be posted on my blog closer to publication*

The Summer Job offers the perfect dose of escapism, striking the ideal balance of lighthearted humour, mistaken identity hijinks as well as moments with real heart which brings it all together. If you’re looking for a quick, absorbing read and feel like doing a little armchair travelling to the beautiful Scottish coast then look no further. I think books like this one are what we need in tough times and with the whole lockdown in the UK, I have to say this book took me away for an evening and it was a welcome little journey.

This is the first time I’ve read any of Lizzy Dent’s work, after doing a little research I found that she’s written some Y/A novels before but this is her first adult novel and I for one, loved her writing style. The story is very easy to get into and this is largely to do with Birdy being an earnest and likeable if slightly scattered protagonist. There were definitely times where I suffered some serious second hand embarrassment on her behalf and had to read through my fingers but I couldn’t stop reading despite this. I liked that Birdy is a character who doesn’t have her life together, and feels like a real, flawed person and also goes through demonstrable growth and change. I always root for an underdog and when we first meet her, she’s down on her luck and needs something to change so I was rooting for her.

The bulk of the plot centers around Birdy faking it till she makes it at the newly renovated Scottish hotel, where she has a lot on her plate and pretending to be a world renowned wine expert is the least of her problems. As well as having to pretend she knows what she’s doing, a baptism of fire if you will, she has a burgeoning attraction to James, a sensitive and attractive chef working at the restaurant. I thought the romance was cute enough in this book but not something which was a major draw for me, I was more into Birdy’s journey as a character and on edge wondering when her lies would catch up with her.

As well as the more lighthearted parts of the novel, where there are jokes and innuendos aplenty, the novel also had moments of unexpected depth which added another layer to the book. In particular there are depictions of Birdy’s neglectful parents, her father’s substance abuse issues and the gaslighting she faced which was so well done. I feel like Dent did a good job at interweaving these more serious issues into the plot and helps a reader understand Birdy’s struggles with relationships and intimacy so much. I also appreciated that unlike many other books I’ve read where the protagonist has abusive parents, Birdy chooses to stop contact with them and recognises that they don’t actually deserve another chance due to their continuing harmful influence.. I think too often in books and other media, abusive characters get a magic pass and get forgiven too easily which irks me so much.

Overall, The Summer Job was an ultimately enjoyable and touching read, which will be sure to take you away from the hum drum for a little while. I would recommend this to fans of other contemporary romances like The Flatshare or Beach Read.

This was an enjoyable read that took a while to warm up, but had a lot of heart once it did.

A desperate Birdy Finch heads to Scotland to impersonate her friend and work a summer job as a sommelier despite not knowing anything about wine and the possibility that she'll ruin the only meaningful relationship in her life.

Birdy is full of double-entendre quips, and issues from her shitty childhood.

As much a story of found family as a romance I found this easy to read and wondered how it would end. While I'm not entirely sure that the landing was as well-executed as it could have been it was hard to be mad about it after I'd been charmed by the cast of characters and the setting itself.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook..
This was a lovely lightweight story that was just what I needed in these difficult times. It's all highly improbable, but it's funny and sweet with some really well developed characters. I'll very much look forward to more of this authors work.

I enjoyed this book but it was actually a bit more serious than I was expecting.

I've not read this author before and I would read her books again.

A wonderful feel good text.Funny and lighthearted this time leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.The book takes you on a journey and is a comedy of errors and that makes takes you through the peaks and troughs of life.Birxy certainly lives life to the full.
A easy and relaxing read which a real female chancer.

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent

I chose to review this book for NetGalley as I fancied a lightweight, light hearted read in this time of gloom and disease. I was under no illusions that this would be from the "chicklit" stable and easy to read and this proved to be the case.

Initially, I was not convinced by the premise of this book, which was that the main character decided to travel to Scotland to take up a job offer as a sommelier when her best friend decides to run off to Italy with her boyfriend and not follow up on her dream summer job at a boutique hotel in the Highlands. You really have to suspend disbelief as Birdy has no clue about wine and even less experience in fine dining and stumbles through the first few weeks of her new role by relying heavily on other staff, Google and crash course wine guides. I was just not convinced that anyone would get away with this and even less so, not providing a national insurance number, managing to just be paid in cash when she is meant to be a well respected, well trained, relatively well known sommelier.

I cringed my way through Birdy's way of dealing with this situation she found herself in, which seemed to largely rely on her drinking copious amounts and blagging her way through. However, by mid way through I just accepted that this was not intended to be completely believable and to just go with the flow. Once this happened, I quite enjoyed Birdy's gradual learning curve and improvements in both her wine matching skills and her love life as she falls for the main chef and son of one of the managers of the hotel. Using skills she actually does possess she helps organise a successful evening promoting English wine and even learns to cook with help from her beau. As you can imagine the end of the book has a happy ending. Although not that surprising, it is a light, easy read and a reasonable distraction from what is going on in the real world right now.

This book was brilliant. Such a fun read. It really comforted me, that although this is a work of fiction, it's really ok to not have your life totally sorted by the time you're 30. A really sweet story, filled with strong relatable characters, occasional drama and genuine laugh out loud moments.

Well, I started reading this book at 3am in the morning when I couldn't sleep and was still reading at 3pm! I loved this book. This book gives you a warm hug. The characterisation, the plot, the setting, the pace and the writing instantly draws you in. I was so invested in the main character Birdie and her supporting cast of well drawn characters: Irene and James and Bill and Heather. Right from the start, there I was in Scotland in a hotel as if I was there and working there with the characters. I took in the scenery, took myself fishing, to a loch, to a rundown cottage, to a fishing village and to a cosy family home. The descriptions were so cleverly drawn, I could see and taste and smell the surroundings, the food, the newly renovated hotel, but most importantly, I felt the emotions of the characters and I was rooting for them right from the start.

When I finished the book, I was disappointed . I would have happily stayed there and watched the characters making tea and going about their everyday lives.

I believe this is Lizzie Dent's first adult novel and my goodness, I haven't loved something this much for so long. This book is a breath of fresh air. This book will make you laugh, ugly cry and shake your head in despair. It's a story of friendship. It's a love story. It is a lesson about life and how our insecurities and our past can shape our future though our behaviour and past experiences . It's a story about hope and friendship.

At one point, I was reading and cringing at the car crash that was about to happen for the main character Birdie, but loving it at the same time.

Buy this book. Take yourself off to Scotland and enjoy the ride. you won't be disappointed.

I would throughly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the arc.

A really well written, flowing book, excellent and accurately flowing, believable storyline. I really enjoyed reading this book (although not really my genre) I shall look forward to the next offering, would recommend this book and would be happy to buy for a present.

This is the debut novel by the author.

I did struggle to finish this book and I did struggle with the concept of this book so I am only giving it 3 out of 5, I wish the author all the best with this book

With Thanks to Netgalley & Viking for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review
Sharney Cat Uncat

This has the most boring beginning ever. It’s also all in the present tense which I always find difficult. I read as much as I could tolerate then gave up.. can’t imagine how this came to be published.

This is a fun read, if based on an implausible premise. So suspend disbelief, and just go with it. Follow Birdy Finch’s adventures to a luxury hotel in the Highlands of Scotland, where she attempts to pass herself off as a sommelier, despite having minimal knowledge of wine. There are inevitably fun and games along the way. Birdy is scatty, disorganised but eminently likeable - and real.
It is very well written, the pacing is good, and the characterisation is excellent, all the players are finely drawn, and very believable.
The scenic descriptions are wonderful, evocative of the real Highlands of Scotland, not the schmaltzy tartan and shortbread image as too often portrayed by authors who haven’t actually visited the region.
I loved the interplay between the various very different employees at the hotel, and of course Birdy aka Heather.
The depth of the friendship between Birdy and the real Heather, and the reason for their lifelong commitment to each other was subtly described. Their emotional attachment felt very authentic.
The will they/won’t they budding romance between Birdy and the chef James is deftly handled, keeping the reader guessing.
All in all, a most enjoyable book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

Thanks to Viking for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

On the surface this seemed like a fluffy rom-com, but deep down this is so much more than that.

At the start I wasn't sure if I was going to like this - just could not get my head around Birdy impersonating her best friend who worked so hard to be an expert sommelier and sort of ruining her reputation? I felt myself getting really anxious for Birdy and all the lies she had to tell and the deeper she got into this job. I understand this was probably meant to be tongue in cheek and witty but I felt myself slowly disliking her as a character.

Some parts I did genuinely laugh out loud, though.

The second half of the book is where I started to like Birdy and could start to finally understand the choices she makes and why, especially when she started to knuckle down and 'find herself.'

LOVED the setting of Scotland, the descriptions of food and the sense of community as well. This was done so brilliantly. Overall, I enjoyed this, but it took a while for me to get into properly.

This was a good, fun read and a nice bit of escapism in these difficult times when we can't easily pop off to Scotland to view the stunning scenery first hand.

A touch predictable in places, but this did not spoil a good story and there was a cast of likeable characters. Tasty sounding chef too!

As well as the story, I also learned more about the work of a sommelier - there is more to it than I first imagined!

I loved this book!
the idea of taking over someone's summer job for a laugh seems a bit crazy but also a bit like a good idea to me and that is exactly what Birdy does!
When her friend Heather decides to go abroad with the man she is mistress to but wants more, Birdy decides (while in her cups) to take on Heathers summer job at a little hotel in the wilds of Scotland- as an award winning sommelier.
There are plenty of cringeworthy moments as Birdy stumbles her way through trying to pull off the role as a wine expert, lots of laugh out load moments and some real tenderness between Birdy and the other hotel workers as various secrets come to light.
Everything you would hope for in a fairly light-hearted romantic comedy!