I received the ARC of this audiobook. This is an age gap romance between an influencer in the public eye and a man who is running away from a broken heart. This book contains difficult themes including grief, body image issues, disordered eating, and mental health issues. This book is more than a romance, with many layers!

I absolutely love this audio! Emily McIntire is a wonderful author. Blakey and Jackson are adorable. I love the awareness this book brings with eating disorder and how becoming a social media star can cause so much stress.
I will definitely be recommending to friends.

After being so pleasantly surprised by Beneath The Stands—and having the incredible luck of being gifted two titles from this series—I jumped right into Beneath the Hood. From the very first page, this one was definitely my speed.

Most of the story takes place in LA, immersing the reader in the toxic, all-consuming world of social media influencers and celebrity culture. The depiction is raw, unsettling, and at times, painfully real. I rarely cry while reading, but this book got me. (Yeah, I’m shocked too.)

What truly set this story apart was its stark and unflinching portrayal of mental health struggles, particularly eating disorders, OCD, and panic disorder. I didn’t go in expecting such a deeply nuanced and personal exploration of these issues, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for how much it would resonate with me. As someone who has experienced all of these firsthand, it hit home in a way that felt both validating and gut-wrenching.

I can’t go into too much detail without entering spoiler territory, but if these are struggles you’ve faced—or if they’ve touched your life in any way—this story will definitely work its way into your heart. And don’t worry, I promise you’ll end the book on a happy, encouraging note, too!

It was beautifully written, the characters are lovely, and I genuinely appreciated the care that was taken in portraying such complex, difficult topics with sensitivity and consideration.

I definitely recommend grabbing this book!

𝟏 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 ✮⋆˙

oof this was somehow worse than the book 2, beneath the stands.

i don't mind age gaps but like rational age gaps, but a 19 year old socialite & a 28 year old mechanic is a bit wild. especially when you take into account they literally have nothing in common at all besides their attraction to one another and the fact that jackson has been trying to help her with her e.d.

the amount of details pertaining to her ED is extremely unnecessary and horrible information to have available to people, especially when the book itself does nothing to explicitly warn people about this content. there is no reason to have the details of the food's calorie count and how much calories she tries to burn. it’s just way too in-depth on an unnecessary level. there is definitely a safer way to have this conversation.

once again i unfortunately did not care for any of these characters.

This is a dramatic, high-stakes romance with a mix of small-town charm and Hollywood glam. Blakely’s privileged life clashes with Jackson’s hardworking background, and their secret relationship brings plenty of tension—especially with the age gap.

Blakely’s struggles with body image and disordered eating are a major focus, so the TW is important. Jackson is a classic protective love interest, though his obsession with being her “only one” might not be for everyone. Some parts, like the drawn-out virginity scene, feel unnecessary.

Overall, it’s an emotional read with plenty of angst. If you like forbidden romance and drama, it’s worth checking out—just be mindful of the heavy focus on food and body image.