Under the Influence by Karina May
Release date: Thursday, September 1, 2022!

Thank you NetGalley for my free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a like, not a love kind of book. While the description of the book and the cute cover appealed to me, the story itself lacked a bit of substance.

I loved the idea of the trip to Peru in the book, which brought me nostalgia because Peru is one of my favourite countries I’ve ever travelled to! While the author appeared to have researched Peru well as a destination (or traveled there herself) as I could picture the sights and feel the ambience, there was some interchangeability in the use of the terms ‘Inca’ and ‘Mayan’ in the book, which are two different civilizations from two very different geographical areas of modern Latin America. I was a little confused as well when the voluntourist trip described in the story is called off early after it goes haywire, yet the MC returns to her home country in Australia describing the trip as an experience of a lifetime and 'just what she needed'. One of the MCs (Blake) also has his own charity in Peru, called WaterAid—while this charity is fictious, there is an actual WaterAid NGO that exists. I feel that a different name should have been selected by the author and editor to avoid confusion with the true WaterAid foundation. However, I appreciate that the story helped shed light on the water crisis in Peru, which is very much a reality in that country and around many parts of the globe (and not just in middle- and low-income countries).

Most of the characters were well-developed, however I felt a lack of chemistry between the two MCs and love interests. Therefore, I’m not sure if I’d describe this book as a romantic comedy. It’s definitely a ‘fluff’ kind of book, but not quite one I’d really recommend. This book suits YA audiences as well and contains no notable content warnings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Escape Publishing for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, it was an enjoyable rom-com and the plot was really interesting! I love anything with enemies-to-lovers in it! The cover is really cute and that's what peaked my interest at first and made me request a copy. However, I feel like there could a stronger bond between the protagonists and it was a really slow burn book which I did not enjoy very much.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes an enemies-to-lovers rom-com and I look forward to reading more from Karina May!

This enemies to lovers romance will take you on a vacation, all from the comfort of your own home! This was a solid read - I just wish there would have been a little more chemistry between Blake and Louise. Overall, 3/5 stars!!

I DNF'd this at 32%. The premise is so cute, but the execution felt so flat. at 32%, our love interests had only had 2.5 conversations and no real reason to have another one. They both have incredible potential to rely on each other, but I'm just not willing to sit through a romcom that isn't funny or overwhelmingly well-written to get there.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but the execution missed the mark. Too many plot holes and underdeveloped characters for me to connect with the story. Unfortunately, not one I would recommend :(
Thank you to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Escape Publishing for this arc in exchange for a review.

I will start by saying I, unfortunately, struggled a bit with this book. I was intrigued by the premise and was looking forward to the rom-com that it could have been. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me.

What caused me to pause:
- I found there was no real connection between the characters. Instead of focusing on building their connection and relationship, the first half of the book focused on her fertility and break up and his dead father and the family bar.
- I was missing the rom and the com in the story. I get that the story was trying to handle heavy topics - which is fine - but rather than acting as a catalyst for the MCs to get together, it morphed the story into one about their life challenges for way too long in the book.

What I enjoyed:
- I enjoyed that the book tried to tackle heavier topics
- I enjoyed the settings and their roles - interesting to see the 'banker' and relationships they have with clients (even cringey ones!).

Overall, I think this had some potential, I just needed it to develop quicker and make it more of a rom-com as targeted rather than the personal growth and development that it seemed to be.

This is a fun, sweet and sometimes a little bit confused book about two people brought together in the right time. But they don’t know it. I laugh a lot with the main character name Louise Lane, she is like the Superman one in my mind.

Louise and Blake like a couple are so enjoyable, I love this book was set in Sydney, that was refreshing, and even if i think some questions stay unanswered was a good reading. I learn a lot about what really can make a people happy in the end.

The best part for me was the part in Peru… is my dream travel location and this books just confirm that.

Thank you NetGalley and kindly for providing me with an ARC for my honest opinion.

When Louise Lane comes to the end of a long term “comfortable” relationship at the age of 35, she is at a crossroads in her life. Blake Goldfield is a philanthropist who must go home to help his mother with the family restaurant when his father passes away. Louise is the banker in control of whether Blake is approved for the loan to help save the business. After selling the business, Blake goes to Peru to check in on his charity WaterAid. Louise’s best friend wins her a trip to Peru, and she hesitantly (at first) goes on what Louise hopes will be an enlightening trip.

I was captivated by the cover and the blurb, especially because the main female character seemed like a strong, independent woman. The plot was cute, but I was disappointed with how some of the more important parts seemed to be glossed over. I wish the characters were more fleshed out because I felt disconnected from Blake, the main male character, and annoyed by how much time is spent on the frustratingly fake IG influencer Feather Carter. Overall, I thought it was an okay enemies-to-lovers rom-com.

Thank you to Netgalley and Escape Publishing for giving me a copy of this digital book.

The adorable cover and synopsis is what grabbed my attention with this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat from there. The pacing seemed a little off for me. The relationship between Louise and Blake developed really slowly, like painfully slow. It wasn't until the very end/epilogue that I felt the real connection. However, I do appreciate them meeting at the right time, being there for each other in what were trying times in both of their lives. I also loved how it came full circle with the restaurant. The realization about Blake's father and how that came to be was a special moment at the end. Congrats Karina on the debut.

At first, I thought that the book had a rocky start. Mostly awkward, their lives fell apart even before the characters were properly introduced. But I thought to give it a try. Many reviews mentioned that the book was a slow burn. About one-fourth into the book, the protagonists had only interacted with each other twice. There was dislike at first sight yes. But they didn't meet enough to work on that. Both of them were way too occupied with their lives. I couldn't finish this book, because despite what the synopsis said, it was way more long-drawn than any romance books I've read. More importantly, I just failed to connect with the characters.

A book with this cute cover, and the interesting synopsis mixing enemies to lovers trope + travelling background to the beautiful and inspiring country of Peru has everything to make me love it. But...unfortunately, I just liked it. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't a bad book, as I said before, the elements in the narrative are exactly the kind of things that I like to find in a book, and Yet, as I was reading something was lacking to make me imerged with full potential into that world.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers✔️
RomCom ✔️
Slow Burn ✔️
Dual POV ✔️

This cover art?! FREAKIN' BEAUTIFUL & yes, it is what INFLUENCED me in requesting it. & I know that as readers we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but it's totally what I did. After deciding that I LOVED the cover, I moved on to the blurb. I read the first line of the description & I said "Enemies to Lovers? Rom COM!? SOLD! But, unfortunately, that's ALL I liked about this book.

I started this ARC in the beginning of Aug & the first couple of chapters just seem to drag SO much. It just didn't speak to me. I tried picking it up, multiple times and I just couldn't. I skimmed it to get a feel for it & I did realize a couple of things as to why, it didn't work out for ME.

The Characters
- The chemistry between Blake & Louise was REALLY lacking. Like, really.

The Writing Style
- I did notice that this is a debut novel for Karina May (Congrats!) & also that she is Sydney based. Both of these things may attribute to the difference in the writing style?

SLOOOOW Burn
- I love the slow burn as much as the next girlie.. but the slow burn was SLOW BURNING & NOT in a good way. It didn't pick up until AFTER 60%, 70% .

Again, this book wasn't for me but it doesn't mean you might not enjoy it; you may love it.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.

Based on the title and premise of this book, I wanted to love it! I wish that it had lived up to the expectations. I had such a hard time getting into this book, and the characters both just felt unlikeable/unrealistic to me. I ended up DNFing it, but read that it took until the VERY end of the book for them to actually get together? Doesn't feel much like a romance book to me.

Under the Influence, the debut novel by Karina May, is a fun, thoughtful story about two people brought together at the right time- just when they needed each other, yet didn't know it- despite their first meeting being a less than stellar situation. The road to a relationship between Louise and Blake is a true journey, both physically as well as metaphorically, and I found it to be an enjoyable, poignant, sweet story. The author did a good job with both dialogue and descriptions, and I look forward to reading her work in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this title in exchange for my own, unbiased review.

I loved the cover and the description of this book and I’ve tried picking it up on multiple occasions and I just cannot get into it after reading 4 chapters. The characters are difficult to relate to and the writing style is very short, glossing over everything.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.

🇵🇪 I really wanted to like this book by Karina May because of the cute cover, but I ended up disappointed. 2⭐

🚰 Louise is recovering from a break-up and struggling to find herself. Blake is passionate about his charity helping Peruvians access clean water. He is grieving after his father's death and trying to decide whether to keep or sell the family restaurant. Blake & Louise meet initially in Sydney and cross paths again in Cusco.

🥾 The plot picked up pace about 60-70% of the way in and I appreciated that increase in tempo. I also liked that there was discussion of social media perception vs. reality.

🦙 I don't think the title or genre fit well - it's called a romance but most of the action takes place in parallel and there is minimal banter/chemistry. I felt icky at times reading about ecotourism. Even though the author was occasionally critical of the industry, it felt exploitative to me. The book lacked tension, was often tangential, and the writing style lacked punch.

Thank you #escapepublishing and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

⚠️ homophobia, binge drinking, possible infidelity, depression, infertility

Shareability: readers who love a South American setting

Spice: none

Pairs well with: piscos 🍸

thank you so much to netgalley for providing me with an earc for this story! the start was really solid but sadly i had a really hard time getting through it - i found the main character to be veery pretentious and the romance was not it for me at all! for an enemies to lovers i was expecting a bit more...

Three stars for a DNF. The writing was solid and started off strong, but the male lead went full misogynistic and i couldn't handle him. He seemed like one of those guys who get irrationally angry at women for having fun. Very pretentious as well. Not for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC* I liked this book wouldn’t say it was my favorite ever, I did enjoy the characters more then I expected overall an enjoyable read.

The cover of this book was what drew me to request Under the Influence by Karina May. As I started the book I liked how it set itself apart by not having the main characters, Blake and Louise, have an immediate love at first sight connection. I wouldn't have called them enemies, more like two humans at odds with each other due to their personal circumstances.

As the story progressed it felt like two parallel stories that occasionally bumped into each other until the setting takes them to Peru. Even then the chemistry felt lacking and I'm not sure if it was because of the format of the ARC but a bit in the middle seemed out of order and muddled.

Towards the end, I found myself skimming chunks to move the story along but then felt like the story ended so quickly after Blake and Louise finally get together! The epilogue did help ease the abruptness of it being over.

I'm not sure I would have categorized this as a romance or comedy. I'm not mad I read it and if someone asked I would say it was a fine read, a little on the slow side.

Thank you NetGalley and Escape Publishing for the advanced reader copy for my honest opinions.

Over All Rating: ⭐⭐.5
Heat Rating: Squeaky Clean
Emotional Rating: 👍