Thanks so much to @penguinukbooks for letting me read an advance copy of The Summer Job!

The Summer Job is, unsurprisingly, about a summer job: Elizabeth Finch, nicknamed Birdy, decides - in a moment of absolute madness - to pose as her best friend Heather and work as a sommelier in a remote Highlands hotel for the summer. I have like absolutely zero knowledge of the Highlands - went to Aviemore six years ago, that's it - so I can't speak for the accuracy of this setting, but you know I'm always looking for Scotland-set books that aren't depressing/crime/full of stereotypes and this pleasingly delivered.

Anyway, I really liked The Summer Job! Fictional stories where people pretend to be other people give me the absolute fear but I overcame my inner awkwardness and thankfully enjoyed this. The hotel setting is great and very convincingly portrayed, the characters are all likeable and the romantic lead, James, is one of my absolute rom-com faves. He is just so nice, and I liked how there were no weird misunderstandings and annoyances littering their path. Once you get over the admittedly ludicrous premise, this is a very engaging rom-com and I enjoyed bingeing it in two addicted sittings.

This seemed like a light, fuffy read, but it became à gradually heavier and more poignant as it went on.

I have to say, the lighter part at the start didn't particularly work for me, I was too anxious about all of the lies Birdy was telling and the pickle she'd got herself into as she told lie after lie. I think it was intended to be witty and funny it it made me feel on edge and uncomfortable and felt far fetched, but I pressed on and I warmed to Birdy as she dialled down the crazy and knuckled down to succeeding in her job and understanding herself a bit better.

The Scottish hotel setting and the foodie stuff was vivid and great escapism but the romance did nothing for me, I didn't get any feels from them. I was more invested in seeing Birdy mature and find her niche so I was a bit disappointed by the end that felt quite abrupt and not especially satisfying for me.

This would probably suit if you were looking for a beach read but I didn't love it I'm afraid.

Thanks to the publisher via netgalley for my arc.

Elizabeth ‘Birdie’ Finch is a loser, she can’t hold on to a job, she’s got no money, no where to live and Tim the worlds biggest douchebag for a sort of/not really boy/friend semi casual hang/ bootycall type relationship thing. What she does have is Heather her best friend, provider and all round good egg who is also a top sommelier that wears her romantic heart in her fragile sleeve for douchebags to peck at.
When Heather takes off for the Summer searching for that elusive thing called love, Birdie finds herself borrowing her identity and blagging her way into a new job that turns out to more than she bargained for. What could go wrong?
This review is totally biased because I am Scottish and this is a bit of a love letter to the west coast so obviously that 5 stars alone. I don’t need to be told how great Scotland is because I’m from there so there was a lot of head nodding at how beautiful Birdie found everything. Yes. Yes indeed. Aside from that however this is a really fun read. Birdie starts out as a cocky mess that I wasn’t entirely sure I liked but slowly we stripped her back to the fundamentals and I grew to love her just like everyone else.
There’s also horses in it which is never a bad thing especially when accompanied by Bret the hot horseman and his Heathcliff hair and shovel sized hands. Yes James can make killer cheese on toast but come on, who wouldn’t want a man who could cold poultice your twisted ankle at a moments notice?
Despite this serious error of judgement on Birdie’s part I was routing for her the whole time, she is a good woman who sometimes gets it spectacularly wrong but she sticks it out and tries to make things right this time. Good lass!

When Birdy's sommelier friend Heather wants to back out of a seasonal job in Western Scotland, Birdy offers to call on Heather's behalf to get her out of the work. But Birdy somehow forgets to do so before it's too late, and instead she decides, 'Screw it, I'll go in Heather's place.' We follow her during this summer in rural Scotland as she pretends to know anything about wine.

This one wasn't for me. If I hadn't been kindly given by the publisher the opportunity to read it, I would have DNF'd it at around 30%.

It's funny, Birdy and I are the same age and have the same parental baggage, but we couldn't be any different. I couldn't believe how high the stakes were and how long it took her to care, to realise the weight of her actions and to stop dicking about. I expected shenanigans going into the book, but this was next level. There were so many people relying on her and for the longest time she barely felt guilty about leading them astray.

I also had issues with the love interest. Until halfway through the book, the only thing he saw of Birdy were lies and innuendos. Not an exaggeration. Everything out of her mouth is lies and innuendos. Obviously this is later explained away as part of Birdy's attachment issues, but it's not a very convincing start to an attraction between them.

Still, give it a try. Might be the right summer read for you.

I was expecting something of the Kinsella genre when I ordered this book, but although it didn’ t have the lighthearted zaniness of a Bloomwood, it had its own charm. It was a little tense and a little more emotionally charged than I expected, but I really enjoyed it.

The characters also had solidity and realness, and created an emotional connection to the reader.

Well recommended for an evening’s entertainment.

An absolute gem of a book! I loved it. The characters were so well developed and I felt a connection with each and every one. Each character had their own hidden heartbreaks, which combined in a beautiful way to create a story that made me want to laugh out loud and cry in equal measure. Highly recommended!

Elizabeth Finch is on a downwards turn & her life is going no where. Her best friend Heather is a sommelier but her head's turned by Christian & follows him to Italy, not taking up a new job at a hotel in Scotland. 'Birdy' (Elizabeth) decides to pretend to be Heather & take the job! The story unfolds & its a good read. The descriptions of Scotland are wonderful, the characters & Birdy are likeable. Recommended read. Enjoy!

The summer job is a lighthearted tale. Birdy masquerades as her friend Heather and replaces Heather in a summer position at a revamped Scottish hotel. The only problem is Heather is a well-renowned wine connoisseur and Birdy knows nothing about wine.

Dodging bullets left right and centre, Birdy avoids scrape after scrape and even manages to negotiate a summer romance.

The Summer job had me laughing out loud at certain chapters and its perfect escapism.

A lighthearted rom com, perfect for the beach.

Birdy is a lost soul, trying to find her place in life and going to extreme lengths to do so. You can’t help but pity her and eventually root for her.

I wasn’t enthralled with this book at the beginning but it really grew on me and I didn’t want to put it down. Romance isn’t usually my genre of choice but this debut is definitely worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley / Penguin / Viking for the advance copy.

I received an ARC of this book via Penguin and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Description

Have you ever imagined running away from your life?

Well Birdy Finch didn’t just imagine it. She did it. Which might’ve been an error. And the life she’s run into? Her best friend, Heather’s.

The only problem is, she hasn’t told Heather. Actually there are a few other problems…

Can Birdy carry off a summer at a luxury Scottish hotel pretending to be her best friend (who incidentally is a world-class wine expert)?

And can she stop herself from falling for the first man she’s ever actually liked (but who thinks she’s someone else)?

My thoughts

Before I even read the first page of The Summer Job, I knew it’d be a book for me. From the fun cover, to the early comparisons to The Flatshare I was hooked. Luckily, when I started reading, I realised it lived up to the pre-empted high.

The book follows Elizabeth “Birdy” Finch, a woman who doesn’t have her life figured out. She’s in a (not very fulfilling) relationship with Tim, doesn’t have many people she can’t rely on and is about ready to leave her life behind….which she does. Except, the twist? She’s taken her best friend’s job (and her identity) to spend a summer in Scotland. Wild, right?

Birdy was hopeless, unsure and didn’t really think much through as the book rolled on. Saying that, she was a relatable, funny and likeable character on the whole – when I wasn’t cringing over something she’d done, I was laughing with her, or feeling sorry for her. I think Dent did a brilliant job of crafting a main character that you root for, even though she did make some stupid decisions, she’s only human like the rest of us! Not only this, Birdy has substance and a story behind her – which led to sensitive broaching of important topics like alcoholism and neglect.

I think, having spent months cooped up indoors (with the promise of further afield getaways getting less likely by the day!), everyone’s desperate for escape which Dent definitely provides in The Summer Job.

I’ve been to Scotland before (though I think I spent a good portion of that time dodging rain, watching Braveheart and drinking!) and Dent brilliantly captures not only the weather but the lush sprawling landscapes, what the locals you run into might be like and this beauty that you just don’t get in big cities.

Another thing which I thought was brilliant about this book was the characters. I loved Birdy straight away, there was something Fleabag-esque about her but with a sensitive edge I think a lot of us will relate to. Then there were the other characters, from her annoying boyfriend Tim, to her loyal best friend Heather, to the charming chef James and all her other co-workers. I think Dent did a brilliant job of creating characters that were instantly likeable and familiar, though I wish Heather’s character was more developed – I kind of felt like the other characters were given more energy and time and I wish Heather, who was important to Birdy and her development throughout the story, got the same.

The Summer Job would’ve been brilliant for sunbed-lounging, cocktail-sipping holidays but – considering there isn’t much of that happening in 2020, for a lot of us – we’ll have to make do with reading this by a warm fire with plenty of snacks. It’s a cosy, sweet read with humour, heart and a serious side at times. I really didn’t feel ready to let the characters go when the book ended but I know that, whatever Dent’s next project will be, I’m ready for that.

"As I walk back to the cottage, I wonder about the Skype interview with Heather. Did they have one? They couldn't have, or Bill would have known straight away. In fact didn't he already comment that I didn't look like my cat picture?"

Imagine a case of mistaken identity / fraud - I'm still not sure which, the result of a drunken greeting at an award ceremony where you're pretending to be your best friend for a fun night out. This is how Birdy's dilemma starts, her best friend Heather has gone to Italy in pursuit of a man and left her with a name badge to attend a wine awards ceremony - harmless you'd think!

A few pages in, I thought 'this would make a really good film'. It's light=hearted chicklit, sweet but not too saccharine, and the characters are all really likeable which make it a perfect, quick read. Birdy will have you shaking your head in frustration at times but you do feel for her. With Heather having gone abroad to pursue a relationship, she is completely unanchored when we meet her (with literally no-where to stay), and she is subconsciously looking for an adventure and change in her life, deciding to just roll with the punches on a whim. She certainly snowballs into an unexpected situation!

I thought the themes were balanced really well, and there's more depth to the story, as both Heather and Birdy are at a bit of a loss, both in dire relationships and missing something in their lives, their strong sisterhood is what they seem to have relied upon to carry them through from childhood. There are also some bigger themes like alcoholism, and childhood neglect which give the characters in the book a bit more depth.

One of the things I loved about this book was it's portrayal of Scotland and its community feeling and people. It'll make you want to pack up city life and move there immediately! These are all people just trying to find themselves, their passion, and pride in who they are and what they do. The combination of this, and the setting of a failing hotel restaurant in Skye, and the mammoth task of faking it to make it as a sommelier make for a different, funny and engaging read.

"Maybe I don't even need a calling,' I say. 'Maybe I just need to be me for a while.''

Thank you to Penguin General UK and Netgalley for my ARC.

An enjoyable, light summer read. Nothing challenging or new here, but it is fun and warming - just what is needed for a holiday.

As a holiday read, I quite enjoyed this. It was light, bright and frequently funny. My biggest issue with it though was the deceit that made the defining plot point - Birdy's posing as BFF Heather by taking her role as sommelier. I found that regularly made for mortifying reading, when Birdy gets herself into all sorts of problems and dramas. Whilst a comfortably predictable story, it had moments that made me mortified and uneasy.

A book full of fun, frivolity and frolics. A light hearted, easy to read book that offers pure escapism! The characters are likeable and funny and the plot was easy to follow.

This is a great holiday book, or one for when some escapism is needed!
The plot follows Birdy embark on a holiday which turns into getting a job in a hotel in Scotland while pretending to be her best friend. It has the hallmarks of a classic chick lit book - plans gone awry, romance in an idylicc setting.

Not the most challenging book to read but it's not meant to be!

Well I just finished flying through the arc of The Summer Job and it was a total dream, the perfect escapism. I love a book where the main character doesn't necessarily need a man to complete her but instead just needs a purpose or (and I hate this phrase) to find herself, and boy, does Birdy find purpose (and also a man, but that's by the by!). I fell in love with the characters at the hotel, from motherly Irene, to enthusiastic Roxy and from rugged Brett to poor old Bill. And then there's James, swoon!! This was such an uplifting, fun book to read, would definitely recommend.

This is a fun book, very easy to read, and very entertaining. I didn't particularly warm to the main character, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It would make a great holiday book.

This may be my perfect summer read. The premise: when Birdy's best friend, Heather, decides to jet off to Spain rather than taking her new job as Sommelier at the Loch Dorn and leaves Birdy in charge of letting the hotel know, Birdy instead decides to try her luck at what she assumes will be an easy few weeks' work. Obviously, not everything goes to plan, as it quickly becomes clear that the hotel is a lot fancier than assumed, and Birdy knows absolutely nothing about wine.
The setting is a bit part of why I love this book so much- I wish I could relate more to romcoms set in the perfect tropical paradise but I much prefer this chilly Scottish scene with its cottages and lakes. The Loch Dorn also offers an array of interesting characters; elegant Irene, gorgeous chef James, and Bill, each with their own secrets to hide. The plot has a lot more depth than one can usually expect with a romcom; I didn't predict a lot of the twists that were to come at the end of the book.
It balances this idyllic setting and humourous plot with the constant suspense that Birdy will be caught out. At times, I don't find Birdy very likeable- she has her own issues and I'm glad the book didn't end with her falling in love and magically solving every problem. I'm also glad that there are real consequences to Birdy's actions; I was concerned that it would end with her being found out but being instantly forgiven by all, but I was happy with the ending. Overall, I really would recommend this book to anyone- even people who usually dislike the romance genre. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting, but it was better.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for allowing me early access to this book!

This was so much fun.

The Summer Job is the story of Birdie Finch who steals her best friend's identity and summer job! Birdie is so wonderful, relatable, and funny. I fell into her world easily and got as swept away with Scotland as Birdie did.

There're heartfelt feelings throughout this lovely book, done compassionately but with wit too. I loved the hotel, and could just picture its refurb and how well that went down with the locals! Brilliant side characters, the wonderful Bill, and the irritating Russell.

Swoon-worthy Scottish men too. What more could you ask for?

Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. I have pre-ordered my copy already.

I really enjoyed this book and think it is a fantastic debut! It was funny and heartwarming with plenty of laugh out loud moments. The premise is a little unbelievable (especially with everything online these days) but that was made up with the lovely characters. I would recommend this book to my friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.