"Scot and Bothered" by Alexandra Kiley takes you on a stunning journey through the Scottish Highlands. The descriptions of the Scottish landscape are breathtaking, transporting you to the rugged beauty of the Skye Trail. The exploration of both Brooke and Jack's struggles to find their place and pursue their passions resonated deeply with me. Mhairi, Brooke's mentor, was a fantastic character, adding a layer of warmth and wisdom to the story.

The story itself is intriguing and I was hooked wanting to know what Jack did to Brooke. The flashbacks, while meant to provide context, felt a bit jarring at times, disrupting the flow of the present day narrative.

Ultimately, "Scot and Bothered" is a bittersweet journey with a satisfying, if slightly predictable, ending. It's a reminder that second chances can be messy, but sometimes, the rewards are worth the climb.

I enjoyed this book. It was slow to start but the characters developed well. Very nice enjoyable read. The characters are well developed and the author does a good job of making the reader invested in them and their story.

This was such an unbelievably easy read. I knew I would like it because I was obsessed with Alexandra Kiley’s first book Kilt Trip, but I absolutely fell in love with this story and these characters. This was a second chance romance and I loved the chapter jumps between Then and Now with Brooke and Jacks romance. One thing with second chance romance is I like to be rooting for the couple from day one and I truly was. I was rooting for this couple the whole time no matter what. The ups and downs and emotions of being young and in love but then coming together when you’re older and that love still burning bright was so beautiful. I love her writing so much and I loved traveling back to Scotland in this book! Easy 5 stars.

I would put this in the RomCom file because of the punny title and the cover alone. But then you open it and start reading it and honestly, it's not a RomCom. It has steam, but no swoon. It has the terrible RomCom trope of miscommunication (JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!!!!). I found it hard to really understand both of the main characters. I thought of the MMC as a golden retriever with puppy dog eyes mooning over this girl that I'm pretty sure he could have gotten back if only they'd just TALKED TO EACH OTHER! And the FMC was not appealing either. I feel so bad, because I was genuinely rooting for them, but they did nothing for me. And the MMC's parents - ugh, they were the worst. They loved him, but they were forcing their dreams on him and again if he would just SPEAK UP, he could have staved off seven years of feeling like he was not able to do what he wanted to do with his life. I wanted to like this more than I did, but it just didn't do anything for me.

I absolutely adore the Highlands, especially Skye, so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Alexandra takes you on an emotional journey of second chances in life and love, as well as painting a beautiful picture of Skye and its many breath-taking terrains. The book is dual POV, which lets you truly experience the emotional conflict both MC’s experience. I particularly enjoyed how she chose to tell the story by using flashbacks and present day to explain emotions and events as they unfolded. If you enjoy romance, a cinnamon roll MMC, and a determined and independent FMC this book is for you!

This newest novel from Alexandra Kiley is a sweepingly beautiful look at life and the choices we make. What would you do when your second chance, your most important work, and the opportunity of a lifetime all descend upon you at once? Jacks career and adulthood is preplanned for him by well meaning family, and Brookes has her mind toward one goal and can only run at Olympic pace straight towards it - all other wants be damned. There is a WEALTH of knowledge to take away from this book, and Alexandra Kiley has woven the most important life lessons into this book in the most masterful of ways. She writes characters that bring out the best in each other in all the ways that truly count, intensely real situations that each of us can face in our real lives, and creating the most VIVID landscape for my mind to walk through with the characters. This is so much more than a romance, or a love story, its a map back to our innermost selves and a guide for living authentically.

"Like a camera, up here he zoomed out and the perspective shifted, bringing different details into focus"

3.5 ⭐s, rounding up soley for the last 30% of the book.

Scot and Bothered is a thoughtfully written second chance romance with immersive atmospheric writing that will transport you to scenic Scotland.

I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the self journey these two characters went on, more than the romance aspect, which was a nice bonus to me. I love the reflective hikes and the whole thought provoking nature of it all—the subplots, the setting, second chances.

The Now Scenes (told in then/now timeline)—the hiking scenes—were so beautifully written. I just wish the romance aspect was just as strong. I needed to feel a stronger pull to make their getting back together feel inevitable and undeniable.

I still recommend this book for when you’re looking for a reflective read.

Thank you for the ARC.

CW: loved one diagnosed with terminal illness (cancer).

I received this novel as an advanced reader copy for net. Kelly in exchange for an honest review. The chemistry between the two main characters was fabulous and the setting of Scotland, is gorgeous especially the Isle of Skye. I recommend this as a quick, romantic read.

Scot and Bothered
By Alexandra Kiley

I was really excited for this book because I love a good romance abroad and I just went to Edinburgh with my husband a few weeks ago. Anyways a few things didn’t work for me, especially the writing style. I don’t mind books written in third person but the POV here was just not doing it, the style of writing and the voices of each character in past and present were hard to follow. The changes in time (past/present) and in character pov changed every chapter so there wasn't much time to settle into either story. I feel like everything was just told to me instead of shown. One of the reasons I was motivated to finish was that I related to both MCs in that they felt their careers were unfilled/unfinished and were trying to find themselves. Other than that connection to them, there wasn’t much that I enjoyed aside from the recognizable Edinburgh references. I felt the romance lacking a bit, the focus was so much on the past and on fighting pure physical attraction that the romantic connection wasn't explored much.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this gifted arc!

I really enjoyed this one and don't believe anything I can write will do the story justice.
I am happy with stories of redemption and second chance romance and this was done well. Flashbacks provided great insight into where they love began and where it went so wrong. Of course, the wrong could have probably been fixed with a simple conversation, but I will give that they were young passionate college students rather than rational adults.
The description of the wilds of Scotland really paint an amazing picture and the struggles these two face to complete their trek, not only physically but emotionally as well, is felt. I fought back tears more than once which is rare for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

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

Scot and Bothered was a cute love story about Brooke and Jack as they reconnected on a trail through the Scottish Highlands.

This book had as much pining as it had descriptions of the scenic Scottish setting/trail. It was truly a love story to the location as much the characters.

I don’t typically like second chance romances but I think this book did a good job of traversing the issues of the past and the ripple effects into the present without being too repetitive or simplistic. The dual timeline definitely helped as we got to learn about the past and the characters took to the trail in the present. It was also fun to see the characters up to their college shenanigans as a contrast to where they are now as adults.

The grief each character is processing added to the deep emotional nature. But it didn’t overpower the story.

And who doesn’t love some Highland coos?

Tropes: second chance, dual POV, dual timeline, only one tent, grief

In this love letter to Scotland and second chances, readers follow native Jack Sutherland and American Brooke Sinclair as they travel the literal trail across an island and the figurative trail across their failed relationship of nearly a decade ago.

Back then Brooke was poised to have it all: graduating from university in Scotland, the chance at a prestigious writing seminar with her idol, and a once in a lifetime love affair with Jack.

Except not.

When we meet Brooke now, she’s a ghost of her previous self. Literally. A college drop out, she’s making a living as a ghost writer, alone, and without a dream for better.

She’s still working with her idol who is now her mentor, Mhairi, helping craft her memoir. When the work is criticized as missing a spark, Brooke is encouraged to trace the trail Mhairi trekked across the Isle of Skye. Except Mhairi is also Jack’s aunt and she’s asked him to tag along, too, to photography the journey.

As they traverse dangerous terrain both professionally and personally, we learn of their past and present, and the events that tore them apart. As days pass and the trail and weather challenge them, Brooke’s anger toward Jack and their past begins to soften and they find the connection they forged as students remains.

This book is the epitome of second chance told effortlessly with dual POV and dual timelines. It’s an emotional rollercoaster both in their reckless past and their guarded present. This is a story of love, loss, ambition, grief, and rediscovery. Often second chance books lack adequate insight into their first chance at love, but this excels. It’s a must read love story.

Plus Jack has both abs and glasses, so no notes.

☆☆☆☆
4 out of 5 Stars

This book really made me want to visit Scotland, even more so than the book before it, Kilt Trip.

I enjoyed reading this story, but surprisingly I think the parts about being outdoors in Scotland will stick with me more than the romance. There were details and themes from each timeline that informed each other, but there were times when I think it made the book feel a little long

•Second Chance
•Dual Timeline
•Camping in Scenic Scotland
•Forced Proximity
•Dual POV (third person)
•Open Door Spice (mild)

Thank you NetGalley for giving me access to an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My goal is to reread this when the final version releases since the arc felt unstructured, It might have been how it downloaded to my Kindle.
Time jumps- sometimes my brain has a hard time with time jumps, but I was ok with the ones in this story.
The scenery was vivid and immersive—I felt like I was there with the characters, and now I want to add visiting Scotland to my bucket list!
The romance had great tension, and the characters kept me rooting for them. Overall, I enjoyed this book and the storyline.

I’ll post a full review on Goodreads once the final version is released and I complete my reread. Thank you, NetGalley, and Alexandra Kiley for the opportunity to read Scot and Bothered.

This book really wasn’t for me. Well, I’m glad I gave it a try. It was just middle to low-grade for me.

I requested Scot and Bothered from NetGalley because of my love for all things Scotland and a good rom-com, but I had no idea the treasure I was about to uncover. This book has become one of my absolute favorite reads of the year. Much like Happy Place by Emily Henry, which blends its bright, fun exterior with surprising depth, Scot and Bothered offers so much more than its charming premise suggests. It’s tender, yearning, and brimming with love—not just romantic love, but love for adventure, self-discovery, and the people who shape us.

*Second Chances, Done Right*
Second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes, and Alexandra Kiley delivers it perfectly here. Often, I’m left wishing for more insight into the couple’s original love story, but with the dual timelines and alternating third-person narratives from both Brooke and Jack, we get two fully realized love stories. Watching them fall for each other—not just once but twice—makes their reunion deeply emotional. You feel every moment of their joy, heartbreak, and longing.

*Unforgettable Characters*
Brooke and Jack aren’t just caricatures; they’re vividly real and wonderfully nuanced. Brooke is a ghostwriter grappling with the loss of her dreams, and Jack is a quietly kind and thoughtful nature photographer. Jack has officially joined my book boyfriend hall of fame—he’s unassuming yet quietly passionate, supportive, and, yes, rocking glasses and a six-pack. Their dynamic is a partnership in the truest sense, with each cheering the other on and providing comfort in a way that feels deeply authentic.

*A Love Letter to Scotland and Beyond*
The Scottish Highlands and the Skye Trail aren’t just a backdrop—they’re characters in their own right. The story’s love for Scotland shines through in every description of the rugged landscape. For me, as someone who has lived and traveled as an American expat for years, the depiction of finding connection and community with fellow travelers resonated deeply. There’s something magical about that shared sense of adventure and even the occasional awkward apology for being American (ha!).

*Heart and Grief Interwoven*
Mhairi, Brooke’s mentor and Jack’s aunt, adds so much depth to this story. Her larger-than-life personality and role in their lives bring beauty and heartbreak, as her battle with pancreatic cancer looms over the journey. Her memoir ties their stories together, making her presence felt in every step they take.

*Final Thoughts*
Scot and Bothered is more than a rom-com—it’s a poignant exploration of love, loss, ambition, and the courage to begin again. If you love second-chance romance, dual timelines, and books that make you feel everything, this is an absolute must-read. This book is a gift to readers, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Canary Street Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Alexandra Kiley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I *gasped* when I got the approval for this arc. I loved Kiley’s book Kilt Trip and was so excited to read more in this series. Scot and Bothered was everything I hoped for and so much more. Kiley does an excellent job of giving readers fun and exciting characters and settings with real depth and emotions. I was simultaneously giggling and sobbing my way through this.

I love books set in Scotland and this one makes Skye a character on its own. I felt like I was hiking the trail with Brooke and Jack, looking out over sparkling water and rocky terrain. The people we meet along the way were also given their own depth while helping to propel the story along.

Brooke and Jack are a new favorite couple for me. I was frustrated reading their past, but loved seeing them come back together in the present. And the way the chapters are laid out? Perfection. Watching them fall apart in the past as they fall together in the present was great. I wish we had a bit more of the past (like what happened after the break up?) and how Brooke and Mhairi developed such a strong relationship. If I think about Mhairi too much, I will likely cry.

Everything about this book spoke to me in ways I didn’t expect. Kudos to Kiley for an incredible story.

Scot and Bothered is the stand-alone sequel to Kilt Trip and honestly I think I loved this one even more than Kilt Trip!

Brooke, a ghostwriter for celebrities, is writing a memoir with her good friend and mentor, Mhairi. But something is missing from the memoir and Mhairi requests that Brooke backpack the hike she created on the Isle of Skye to gain some perspective. Oh and her nephew, photographer for the book, will be going with her. Oh and he’s Brooke’s ex that ruined her life and career.

This book deliciously serves up:
- second chance romance
- Only one tent

With second chance romances, the reason they break up and then the reason they’re able to get back together has to be plausible for me to enjoy the book, and this definitely did. The characters have depth to them and have grown in the timeframe they’ve been apart. The reasons for keeping them apart are no longer present.

The backpacking through the Isle of Skye was so fun. It is my actual dream to do that and this was beautifully descriptive and made me even more excited to go!

We also explore loss and grief in this book towards the end. I think it’s don’t well but maybe didn’t explore it to the full potential. I realize that’s sometimes hard with a romance book trying to balance the HEA with sad subject matters.

Overall, loved it! Definitely recommend for romance lovers that love a Scottish setting and a second chance romance.

I was looking forward to reading this book because I loved Kilt Trip. This book had a slower pace and a more sad tone. It may be hard to march the energy and sparks of Logan and Adie, especially since this is a book about reconnecting after a break up and grief.

Again the best character is Scotland itself as Brooke and Jack travel a trail to capture the voice of Jack's aunt and Brooke's mentor Mhari. The story was interesting. I don't know if the dual timeline helped the story because the fight between the two was a fizzle not a fight. I was thinking it would be more. And the consequences made no sense (it would never have been handled this way at an American college but maybe Scotland is different... I say this as someone who works at a college). The feeling is truthful though. Women have different consequences for the same actions.

I wanted so much for these characters to get it together. Both for their own growth and self healing and for the relationship. I was definitely invested. I will definitely keep reading Kiley, even though i think this wasn't as strong as her debut, it was still enjoyable. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Canary Street Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Firstly, I am an absolute sucker for anything set in Scotland so I knew I had to check this one out. A second chance romance set in literally the most swoony location? Yes, please. The scenery is so well described and helps you feel like you are there. I thoroughly enjoyed the dual timelines which gave a lot of insight into why previous situations played out the way they did. Both of the main characters were likable and compelling and kept me invested in their story. The side characters were so lovable! I would love to experience this one via audio with the accents and everything!