fantastic
loved this book loved this series it was so great I really was nervous for how this would conclude but it was worth it.

"Tanked" by Mia Hopkins takes readers on a captivating journey through the lives of characters facing personal demons while navigating life and second chances. With rich character development and a plot brimming with emotional depth, the novel explores themes of perseverance and self-discovery.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I liked the pandemic portion of the book. I liked that someone told a story as it related to real life. FInding love with a mask on was not fun.

I had a hard time reading this one - the characters fell flat, and the language leaned heavily on gender essentialism and so was pretty alienating.

Mia Hopkins' Eastside Brewery trilogy is truly something special! Tanked is the third book in the series, and it follows Angel, the youngest Rosas brother. He hasn't been able to shake thoughts of Deanna Delgado since their one-night stand three years ago (!!) and when they reunite it's clear the passion between them hasn't faded.

The first two books in this series are single POV, and this one is dual. I wasn't sure what to expect, but Hopkins hooked me from the start! That three year time jump from their first night together to their reunion had me feral in the best way. I think I'm realizing a one-night stand to a time jump with some pining mixed in is a trope that I really enjoy—so let me know if you have recs!

Both Angel and Deanna are a bit lost when the book begins—Angel not knowing where he fits in at his family's brewery and Deanna having recently lost her job. I loved how they helped each other find their way forward, and particularly liked how Hopkins handled Angel introducing Deanna to the fact that he's an underground fighter. Having experienced domestic violence, Deanna has a visceral reaction to seeing a fight—and as always Hopkins handled their discussion of what being a fighter means to Angel and Deanna’s concerns with such care and nuance.

This book also surprised me by tackling the ongoing pandemic. I really appreciated the way Hopkins looked at it through the lens of how it impacted the Latinx community the characters live in and the small business that the Rosas brothers run. I don't think I'll ever actively seek out books set during these tumultuous years, but I think Hopkins offers a great example of how to write about it in a way that's sensitive and sheds light on the realities of her characters' lives, without overwhelming readers still living through it.

If you haven't read this series, definitely start with book one (Thirsty) and prepare for steamy and amazing reads!

First time reading this author. Overall a good book. I would continue reading her. I will definitely go back and read her backlist.

It turns out I just cannot read books that have the pandemic in them. Everytime the pandemic was mentioned (which is a lot), I felt myself come out of the story so I couldn't finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me this eArc to review and I will be giving this book 2.5 stars because from what I read of the book, the story and writing was just fine.

I hadn't read any other books from this series prior to this one. However I will be going back to read them.
This book was so good! I really enjoyed her writing style and the smut was so good. It did not disappoint when it came down to the hot and steamy scenes.
I recommend reading this book especially if you are ready for some good smut/spice!!

[ARC Provided by NetGalley in Exchange for An Honest Review.]

i actually haven't read the previous books, but now that i've gotten a taste of these brothers, i just might dab my toe in, if you know what i'm saying.
on a serious note though, the characters are so diverse & even when we get little glimpses of them, you get a sense of their differences.
i especially loved the history that we get, not only angel and deanna's shared history, but from both individuals on their own. you get a sense that they want the reader to know who they are. and it was so easy to fall in love with them.

there was a time or two in the book where i felt a little weird with word usage, especially when our main character mentioned her "lady parts". i feel like there are other words or other descriptions we can use when we refer to these things. but that's about it.

the writing was beautiful and simplistic. with a hint of prose that gave off major poetic vibes. i think it just added to the story. it was really lovely.

tanked is real and sexy and cute and i can't wait to read the other two eastside brewery books.

Another great romance from Mia Hopkins featuring the Salas brothers and their brewery. Deanna is a social worker who hasn’t put much hope or effort in finding a partner after an ugly breakup. Angel is literally and figuratively the bottom of the pecking order among his brothers and as an employee at the brewery. Deanna and Angel had a one-night thing 3 years ago, and while they had an immediate, intense connection, Deanna wasn’t in a place to take it further. They reconnect during the height of the pandemic, and we see that neither has forgotten the other. They fall into a relatively easy and yet intense relationship. This is a hot and steamy read, the intimacy is so well done, showing how their connection is equal parts emotional and physical.

The author is adept at drawing real and raw characters that have been through the ringer, and yet she doesn’t pull them through excessively painful experiences or high stakes drama. For all the grit and realism in the story, there’s no unnecessary hurdles or illogical breakups en route to the HEA. The characters have a couple conflicts that feel true to life but they also work through them without extended melodrama. I think the trigger warnings in the author’s note are helpful. There are some troubling topics but I never felt like the author was punishing the characters as can sometimes happen when authors cover sensitive issues.

I really liked how the characters *get* each other and seem to see strengths that others have missed. Both MCs’ families have some blind spots, and Deanna and Angel help their families better understand them.

This is the first book I’ve read that acknowledges the Covid pandemic, and I really appreciate how the author has handled it. The book is not about the pandemic, and Covid is not a significant plot driver, but it *is* relevant to the story. I found it oddly comforting to read a romance with our real pandemic experiences acknowledged but not as a means to add trauma for the MCs.

I’ve read the Thirsty (first book in this series) but not Trashed (the second book), and I do think this third book in the series works as a standalone, though I also highly recommend Thirsty and I’m hoping to read Trashed soon. I love the world and the characters Mia Hopkins has created in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A good book overall but unfortunately it didn't grab my attention like I thought it would. A very slow burn book... A different reader might just love it...

This series ender is very current and relevant and worth the three-year wait. Mia's integration of the pandemic in Angel and Deanna's story is super realistic and seamless in a way that enriches the background and provides tension without being too heavy to cause distress in the reader. Tanked tells an incredibly sexy, edgy yet soft, and highly evocative wrap-up to the Rosas Brothers saga. With its dual PoV, a departure from the two previous books, this is my favorite of the series.

Tanked is the third book in the Eastside Brewery series. If, like me, you haven't read the previous books in the series, then it doesn't really matter as it works perfectly well as a standalone story.
Tanked tells the story of social worker Deanna and brewery worker Angel. Deanna finds herself at a crossroads, her job is coming to an end and she isn't sure where she is going in life. She had a one night stand with Angel three years earlier, but scared to get involved, particularly with a man eight years younger than her, she didn't stay in touch with him. Now, they're back in each other's lives and it's almost impossible for her to resist him.
I loved Deanna and Angela as a couple. They give each other everything that the other needs. Not realising to begin with how much difference they can make in each other's lives.
This is more than a simple romance, it's very much a book of now, dealing with the difficulties that many face with the COVID pandemic destroying lives and businesses. Although it's sometimes nice to get away from the harsh reality of life, I liked the way these things were woven into the story.
Deanna and Angel make a great couple and I really enjoyed following their story, I'd certainly like to go back and read other books in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

As much as I've been excited about this, this kinda fell flat for me. Via the Blurb it's implied that Angel is a player, yet he's completely head over heels for Deanna from page one. Add in the pandemic and it hit a bit too close for me. I liked it but didn't love it like I hoped I would

I enjoyed the first two books in this series and have waited patiently for the third and final book. Tanked focused on Sal and Eddie's baby brother, Angel. He was the brother that was sent away to live with relatives after their mother died. The story utilized one of my favorite tropes (ym/ow) and Angel was the lovely younger man.

It's inevitable to want to compare books in a series, but especially stories that are tightly connected like these books via family, community, and careers. What was different in Angel's story was his background. It was still fraught with some disadvantages, but he sidestepped the gang affiliations and incarcerations that his brothers endured. Sal and Eddie's stories were strong because of their histories and overcoming, but their romances were lacking a bit. Angel's romantic storyline was stronger and had two developed narratives between him and Deanna. I did enjoy seeing the brothers and their families regularly inserted into the story, as well as also witnessing Deanna's family dynamics.

Surprisingly, the age difference wasn't really a conflict in the story. Their separate conflicts were between them and their families. The separate conflicts were similar and therefore, Angel and Deanna could relate to and advocate for each other. This made for an easier and lighter angst romance.

My only real issue with this book was the sex scenes. Of course, this is subjective, but I want those scenes to feel organic and they didn't always feel like that here.

In the end, this story was lighter in tone than the previous books, but the overall story felt more developed between both Angel and Deanna, as well as their separate narratives. I really enjoyed the ending.

Love this book, series, and author! There's a tone in this series that always feels genuine and approachable, never forced. These characters are people you want to have a beer with (pun unintended), want to talk to, and yes, want to date.

The covid sub-plot was jarring at first because I read to escape, but once I leaned in, I embraced the challenges and subtle plot points that the pandemic created.

This book was both sweet and spicy and I enjoyed the age gap. I loved Angel's journey to accept his value and strengths, and cheered for Deanna's neighborhood pride.

This was a sweet story. At first I struggled with the whole pandemic theme and it being the main issue surrounding the main characters but it grew on me, especially toward the end.

This book takes place at a time when the world is just coming out of the extended lockdown after/during the pandemic. Deanna Delgado is our main FMC, she is a social worker who is extremely passionate about her job and helping those in her community transition back into society after being incarcerated.

“I swim in an ocean of words and fight everyday against the tide to be understood and to understand.”

Then there is Angel Rosas (the sweetest MC). During the day he works at his family’s small local brewery and at night he’s a fighter in underground fight clubs. He’s had a troubled upbringing and fights to understand who he is as a person.

Deanna and Angel have a one night stand pre-pandemic. Deanna ends up ghosting the man that brought her one of the best night of her life. Three years later they run into each other by chance, sparking the flame that’s been in the back of their minds since that night.

Throughout their budding romance they face the struggles and aftermath of the pandemic. A struggling business, lack of employees leaving them overworked, being laid off, and sick family members, etc.

My favorite thing that helped me through the almost depressing pandemic storyline was how genuine the MCs were. Both Angel and Deanna cared so much for their community and each other, my heart just couldn’t take it. The way Angel was so attentive and sweet toward Deanna through it all was heartwarming.

Sometimes it’s hard to read about a topic that is still affecting the real world and knowing that what you’re reading is just so accurate to real world problems we’ve all seen these past two years. But this story was sweet (and extremely hot if I do say so myself, like you may need a fan nearby because LORD BABY JESUS Angel is a fine dirty talker).

My goodness ya'll there is so much heart in this story. The author touches on some important topics and really brings a unique aspect to the story in the way she approached ex cons. She reminds us that people make mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance.

Angel and Deanna together are honestly one of my favorite book couples, they are just so dang cute together!! They constantly build each other up and help each other grow. They come from such different backgrounds but they are willing to listen to each other's perspective on things. They are also spicyyyyy, they have some good spicy times!!

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Stone Press for the chance to read an ARC of Tanked and share an honest review.

Deanna and Angel have a one night stand with lots of passion and are then separated by circumstance for three years. They reunite and give their attraction another shot.

This was an earnest and heartfelt read. I loved that the characters were real and raw. Their struggles made their relationship stronger and their connection honest.

This is the first book I’ve read that featured the reality of the pandemic. The author reflected the reality thoughtfully and with grit. I felt the dread I’ve felt for the past two plus years as the characters experienced it. This was probably the best portrayal of a harrowing time like the last two years that I could have imagined. I don’t know if I will seek out pandemic focused books again but this was done exceptionally well.

This book is so well written, the dialogue and character development is moving and captivating. It is a part of a series but it stands alone and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything having not read the first two books.

I recommend this if you are looking for an honest look at finding love and super hot steam.

Thanked by Mia Hopkins is the third book in the Eastside Brewery series. I haven't read the first two books and felt like this read like a stand alone.

The story is set during the pandemic. It highlights the loneliness, isolation, and economic burden in a realistic way. The story is about Angel, the youngest of the Rosa brothers and about Deanna Delgado, a social worker who is an idealist wanting to improve her community. It is told in a dual POC which I liked.

This book was beautifully written and tackled a lot of topics not typically addressed in romance such as housing insecurity, gentrification, PTSD, and reentry after incarceration. The story was relatable and realistic, especially its take on the pandemic.

The romance is hot and steamy. Angel and Deanna had amazing chemistry. Their second chance romance and happy ending was just what I needed to read.

Trigger warnings: pandemic, deaths from Covid-19, domestic violence, body shaming, and post-partum depression.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Little Stone Press for the e-ARC of Tanked by Mia Hopkins in exchange for an honest review.*