★★★★☆

Enemies-to-lovers romance set against the vibrant backdrop of Peru? Yes, please. 'Under the Influence' packs a punch with charming characters who are unapologetically real at life’s crossroads. Blake and Louise collide with just the right mix of witty tension and undeniable chemistry.

Louise’s guarded exterior meets Blake’s philanthropic charm in a journey filled with laugh-out-loud moments and tender revelations. Though the pacing occasionally wavered, their dynamic more than made up for it, keeping me invested in their growth and blossoming relationship.

This book nails the spirit of adventure and self-discovery, making every twist feel like a step toward something bigger. While some plot points felt familiar, Karina May’s fresh humor and authentic exploration of what truly matters left me both grinning and cheering for their happily-ever-after.

TL;DR: A delightful enemies-to-lovers rom-com that blends witty banter, self-discovery, and the magic of Peru.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I decided to pick up Under the Influence after seeing the intriguing synopsis and the promise of a compelling enemies-to-lovers romance. Unfortunately, while the plot had potential, I struggled to connect with the characters. Blake and Louise's interactions lacked the spark and tension needed to make their romance believable.

On the positive side, the book was an easy and light read, perfect for a quick escape. I appreciated the unique settings, especially Louise's trip to Peru, which added an interesting backdrop to the story. However, the overall lack of chemistry between the leads kept me from fully enjoying the book.

In conclusion, while Under the Influence didn't quite hit the mark for me, it may still appeal to readers looking for a straightforward contemporary romance with themes of self-discovery and second chances.

It took me far too long to read this book as the pacing was off, there seemed to be too much backstory for each character seeing as we were 50% of the way through the book before they got to the vacation and interacted for more than a fleeting moment. Even then I felt like I was pulling myself along trying to get through the book, I didn’t care enough about the characters despite the massive amount of back story o received.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I loved the title and cover so much but it lacked a lot of substance. I had a hard time believing the chemistry between the pair. I thought the plot had a tons of potential but it didn't give me alll the warm and fuzzies that I come to expect from romance novels.

This book was cute but the ending left something to be desired. It had a good plot but I would’ve liked more fun banter and more back story.

Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope and I LOVED this book so much. The cover really drew me in but now I must read everything Karina May has written.

Unfortunately, I only got about 1/2 way through before I had to give this one up. I was really excited with the blurb, title, cover, and the first half was promising enough but it just dropped off.

The pace was a little too slow for me.

"Under the Influence" by Karina May is a passionate and emotionally charged romance that explores the complexities of love, desire, and the power of connection. May's storytelling prowess shines as she crafts a tale of attraction, conflict, and unexpected feelings. The book's well-defined characters and engaging plot create an immersive reading experience that keeps readers eagerly turning pages. May skillfully captures the intensity of emotions and the intricate dynamics of relationships, adding depth to the narrative and making it a captivating read for fans of the romance genre. "Under the Influence" is a reminder that sometimes, the strongest connections are forged amidst the most intense emotions, leaving readers with a warm and satisfied feeling as they journey through the ups and downs of love.

In "Under the Influence," Karina May presents a thought-provoking debut that delves into themes of family planning, grief, and secrets, giving the story a weighty depth. Louise Lane and Blake's serendipitous connection unfolds against the backdrops of Australia and Peru, though the slow-burn romance might challenge some readers' investment in their evolving relationship.Under the Influence offers a unique and emotionally charged narrative that hints at May's potential in future works.

Really enjoyable story, great characters and a story that was different than expected but fantastic all the same!

Unfortunately this was not my cup of tea. Just couldn't get into it. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read.

Fun easy read that covered some heavier topics. Loved the cover on this one, which was initially what drew me to it.

This book was a little difficult for me to find the motivation to finish over the course of a couple weeks. The first half of the book I felt too long and could've been condensed, but then the two main characters time in Peru went too fast. I felt like both main character showed good moments of personal conviction which was good for readers of all ages and stages, then a chapter later they would do a 180 that was hard to follow. Had a happy ending, as expected.

This is a difficult one to judge because I enjoyed the characters and their banter as enemies to lovers. I adored many of the side characters. However, nothing happened until it was nearly done and it felt like it just continued to drag. Once it hit it was great but for how long it took, was just hard to get invested

Thank you to NetGalley, Escape Publishing, and the author for letting me read this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest feedback!

I had a really tough time getting through this one. There was SO much going on with the main characters, Louise and Blake, that I couldn’t keep up with the storyline nor could I see any character depth.

For example: During this book Louise is dealing with high expectations and awkward relationships with her family, a breakup with her fiancé of three years, insane work hours at a job she doesn’t love, an incredibly discouraging infertility journey, finding out her fiancé is gay, and coping with all of the above with heavy drinking.

Brett on the other hand is dealing with the death of his father and the guilt he feels because of their strained relationship, running an international nonprofit in Peru, trying to save his family’s business back in the States, a very strange relationship with his friend/possible sister/nemesis Feather, and finding out later that his dad died from cancer and that both of his parents kept it from him.

The fun getaway to Peru for adventure and relaxation and healing was only about 10% of the book and the rest was just so much to juggle at once.

And the romance…. well there wasn’t any??? Louise and Blake are awkward acquaintances, kind of friends for most of the book, and then they have their first kiss 7 pages before the book ended. So much more time was spent on all of the above that their relationship was completely on the back burner and the book ended without any major emotional pull.

Disappointed with this one! ⭐️⭐️/5

Enjoyed the book but didn’t really connect to any of the characters. It’s a good read to do but I didn’t really like it as much as I would want to that’s why I gave it a rating of 3.5.

I loved this witty, thoroughly relatable rom-com. The classic enemies-to-lovers story is set against a plot grounded in the weight of family expectations, the corrosive impact of secrets, and what happens when life refuses to follow the script you set for yourself.
The chemistry between Louise and Blake is zinging right from the start and I loved following their journey set against the flashy influencer scene in Sydney all the way to beautiful Peru. The vivid scenery matches the vibrant storytelling and the cracking pace had me hooked.
This is such a funny story with genuine LOL-worthy moments, but it's balanced with real heart and emotion as we explore Louise's inner turmoil about her future and the story behind Blake's family trauma. I can't wait to read more from this author!

This book was entertaining. While it didn't blow me out of the park, it was well-paced, written and thought put, with well-developed characters and story.

3.5 stars from me.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

I thought it was really interesting.