This book had too many cringe worthy moments for me to rate it higher. I don't mind a storyline with a few awkward moments, but this one just has too many for me. I liked the idea of the main character pretending to be someone she's not at first, but for me there just wasn't a realistic way the plot would be true.

I kept putting this book down and reading other books because I just couldn't get into the unbelievable story.

I did really like the last few chapters and the end of the book. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend.

This was an entertaining read. The main character, Birdy, is so flawed and makes frustrating decisions, but you immediately find her charming and want it to work out for her. In this novel, Birdy decides to pose as her roommate Heather (who is a professionally trained sommelier) and take a post at Loch Dorn, a tumbledown Scottish hotel resort. However, when Birdy arrives from London at Lock Dorn, she realizes that the website is outdated and that lodge has undergone a remodeling and is relaunching with new menus, staff and intentions to attract new clientele. So basically, Birdy has gotten in over her head and must quickly learn the menu of 136 wines so that she doesn't ruin Heather's reputation. This has a little bit of everything - a budding romance, friendship and a coming into yourself for 30-somethings who haven't quite landed yet.

It's inevitable that Birdy's lie is going to catch up with her, the question is just how widespread the collateral damage will be in terms of people and the hotel.

This is a deep dive into the family-like atmosphere of working in hospitality. I loved the Scottish setting and the flawed, but relatable characters that Birdy and Heather encompass.

This gave me Bridget Jones' vibes, but more modern and focused on becoming who you are, not who attracts the "right man".

I enjoyed this book immensely. I found the character interaction to be well defined and the plot moved along at a good pace. While I knew what would happen as the story unfolded, I was excited to see it.

This was fun but definitely missed the mark alittle for me. Would highly recommend to someone looking for something light and can appreciate good chick-lit

If you want to laugh, this book is for you! A hilarious rom-com that delivers lovable characters and, of course, lots of laughs!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!

What if you could be someone else? Just for the summer...

Birdy has made a mistake. Everyone imagines running away from their life at some point. But Birdy has actually done it. And the life she's run into is her best friend Heather's. The only problem is, she hasn't told Heather.

The summer job at the highland Scottish hotel that her world class wine-expert friend ditched turns out to be a lot more than Birdy bargained for. Can she survive a summer pretending to be her best friend? And can Birdy stop herself from falling for the first man she's ever actually liked, but who thinks she's someone else?

One good friend's very bad decision is at the heart of this laugh-out-loud love story and unexpected tale of a woman finally finding herself in the strangest of places.

This was such a delightful read. It is the perfect read for the summertime. If you’re a foodie and love wine, you’re going to love this book! I loved reading this book, it was like an escape from reality. It’s full of romance and a sexy Scottish chef. I highly recommend adding this one to your list!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've gone to so many places in my books this month. Italy, Ireland, Greece and now Scotland? Heck yes, the book gods are giving me a sign and that sign is to freaking travel.

Now I love wine and all things wine - unless it's Pinot Grigio (blegh!). So when I find out this girl is pretending to be her friend, who just happens to be a sommelier? Well I didn't hesitate one bit to jump into The Summer Job. Mostly because I don't know one thing about being a freaking sommelier. I would probably be like..

..this is white wine while looking at a glass of white wine.

So I was very intrigued to see how Birdy was going to do this. Now I liked her and she was a pretty fun character to get to know. I loved how blunt she was at times because it was pretty refreshing. It also made me snort here and there because I sometimes didn't expect it. Which is why I liked her so much.

Other than that, I really enjoyed her adventure and now I need to visit Scotland before I die. Seriously. I need to travel and COVID and all the variants need to calm their tits. I will also look into the next book that Lizzy writes!

I really liked this one! Thanks to Penguin General and Netgalley for the early review copy.

Elizabeth Finch (nicknamed Birdy) is a perfect rom-com heroine. Funny and lovable, she funny and loved by everyone, she finds herself working at a remote Highland hotel and we follow her journey working there, through the funny and sometimes testing times.

Bonus: The author tackles alcoholism and although it is a VERY rare topic to be included, it was written well into the story.

Overall, I liked this! The setting really came alive, so I wasn't surprised to see the author had lived there. Loch Dorn was the standout part of the book for me! I liked the sweet little community of people there, although I wish the relationships had been better developed and fleshed out. Maybe there were too many people to fully delve into? It was most of the way there, just wanted a little more about/from Roxy, Bill, Irene, Anis, Brett. Russell felt too much like a plot device. James was so sweet, but I feel like I don't even know his backstory all that well. It kind of felt like all the secondary characters were pieces in place that just needed an extra boost to truly come to life. Birdy was a lot--it drove me crazy how many silly excuses and avoidable times she put off studying. I just don't think she could've fooled anyone with how little she knew at first. I did enjoy seeing her finally start to work hard and be okay at her job. I feel like her character arc and resolution were a little underdeveloped, too. She goes through such a change and has such a tough backstory to overcome, I think it just needed more time! All in all, I enjoyed reading this and wanted to finish it, but I could tell it was a debut adult novel. Maybe a next book can be a little more focused on developing fewer characters really well because the plot definitely has good forward momentum, there was some good tension (the scenes with The Scotsman reviewer!), the characters are likable, and the setting was scene-stealing!

I love a story set in a restaurant or around food and wine in any way, so this one had me from the synopsis!
I adored the side characters, the Scotland setting, and Birdie’s quirky personality. And any hero who cooks had me at hello. It felt a little slow paced for me in the middle and I always want just a bit more romance. Overall, a great summer read!

The characters are flawed but very believable. The setting and descriptions were vivid and beautiful., I really enjoyed imagining myself at a Scottish Hotel somewhere with no worries.

Thanks to Netgalley, I got a copy of this book to check out and leave my opinion. This book was so entertaining from start to finish! Birdie was a character I will never forget! I was nervous for her pretending to be her best friend as I read the book. It is a great summer read and I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to end their summer in an entertaining way!

The Summer Job by Lizzie Dent is a perfectly sweet and sexy coming into your own story. Plus I loved the Scottish setting and the fact she was working as a sommelier. That combo makes for a perfect summer read, in my opinion; Beach Reads meets Sweetbitter is a perfect comparison. And James was a dream!

I found this to be the perfect blend of substance and lightness. I would recommend to anyone who likes to read romances and doesn't care if they shy away from grief.

Birdy is looking for some spice in her life, so when her best friend, Heather, backs out of a sommelier job last minute, Birdy steps in without Heather’s knowledge. Eek! She spends the summer fumbling her way through the world of wine and making new connections and friendships without Heather’s knowledge. This can’t end well, can it?

This book is a quick, fun read with enjoyable dialogue and banter. Birdy is a character you root for, even if she makes bad decisions.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam & Sons for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Birdy's life is going no where and she doesn't want to admit defeat and move home. When she uses her best friend Heather's name to get into a wine event she never expects to actually pretend to be Heather for more than a night. But when Heather decides to pass on the chance to work as a sommelier at an inn in Scotland Birdie decides to have "a lark" and pretend to be Heather for the summer.. Will Birdy's be able to be Heather for the summer and what damage will she cause?

This was a fun and cute story that really had some depth to it. Birdy was an absolute delight and I loved James as well :)

The story had a lot of actual depth but still ended up balancing the so well with downright hilarious good fun too.

What fun this was to read... What happens when assumptions happen and a tangled web of lies has never been so amusing. It's almost like Bridget Jones meets the wine industry and I would love to see that movie. However, it is not all sweetness and light--there are some serious moments and some lessons to be learned from this book. And although the ending indicates that everything comes out great in the end, one never knows--maybe book 2?

The Summer Job was a solid summer read -- it took me away to the Scottish highlands and a fun new job.

Well, sort of... Birdy bit off more than she could chew when she took a job as a sommelier... considering she has zero training whatsoever. Of course, she didn't actually snag such a position on the basis of her own CV -- she's pretending to be her best friend for the summer. Without her friend's knowledge.

I do think this book could have been shorter, and there was a plot point or two that didn't make total sense to me, but I enjoyed my time spent in Birdy's shoes. The Scottish highlands made for a desirable backdrop, and the cast of characters came alive for me while reading. I wouldn't call this one a must-read, but I'd also be up for a sequel!

I am always a sucker for books that are set in Scotland. because it is super mesmerizing for me and lends itself to romance in my mind, naturally. I am happy to say this book did not disappoint and, in fact, offered all of that and so much more! Birdy experiences such a unique opportunity while assuming the identity of her best friend, Heather, in working as a sommelier at a beautiful location in Scotland for the Summer. While she admittedly knows minimal about wine, she embraces the opportunity and makes the best of everything that is thrown at her on a continual basis! The romantic element is endearing and heartwarming. Also entertaining are the characters and general flow and style of the plot and events that ensue, overall.

I cannot recommend this enough! It was a light, fresh read, and I have not read a lot of books that were as well-rounded yet entertaining as this was!