2.5-3/5

The story begins with Blakely who is a 19 year old influencer among the Hollywood elite struggling with her peers. She is so young and hasn't had much guidance in her life. Her Mom passed away when she was born and her Dad is absent a lot of the time. Jackson (who is 28) works for Blakely's Dad making prop cars for movies. He has his own set of issues ranging from his Dad dying when Jackson was only 16 and his best friend betraying him. When Blakely and Jackson get together needless to say there is drama and lots of it.

There is a lot of trauma going on in this story and I would recommend checking the trigger warnings prior to reading. I can't really say this was my favorite. I found some of the spicy scenes to be more cringey than anything and I had a hard time getting past Blakely's immaturity. I did listen to this book and the narration was very well done. Brooke Bloomingdale is so talented she reminds me so much of Brittany Pressley whom I love so much.

If age gap Hollywood romance is your thing then check this one out when it is released on March 18!

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing, Emily McIntire, and NetGalley for my ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Now available as audiobooks, the Sugarlake series by Emily McIntire, is a must-listen!

The third of the four book series is available via audiobook on Tuesday, March 18! These books can be read as standalone but I highly recommend the full series. Especially because you will get the opportunity to fall in love with this book’s MMC from the very beginning.

Beneath the Hood follows Jackson, who relocated to LA to pursue his father’s dream of showcasing classic cars in Hollywood folks, attempting to mend his broken heart. He meets a young fierce and independent social media influencer grappling with anxiety and pressures of public life. Jackson Rhoades is everything you want in a book boyfriend. I was Team Jax from book ONE and it was so nice to see him find love in Blakely.

The fourth audiobook, Beneath the Surface will be available April 15!

This was my first time listening to both these narrators and it won't be the last. I have read other Emily Mcintire booksalong with listening to audios as well but this is the first in this series that I've listened to. The way both Brooke Bloomingdale portrayed Blakely and Liam DiCosimo's southern draw as Jackson was perfection. You felt everything Blakely was feeling as she went through her panic attacks. The way she calmed herself down was felt in every second. Beneath the Hood is an age gap story that captures your heart from the beginning. Blakely is an influencer making millions but deep down she is suffering from various mental demons. By not having the proper support system in place it is damaging her even more. Jackson came to California to make his dads dream of building muscle cars for movies a reality. It is through working for Blakely's dad that they meet and grow to become so much more. A forbidden romance where in the end Blakely finds her person but more importantly finds someone to care enough to make her believe in her inner and outer beauty. She finds someone that will make her a better person.

Listened to this arc in 3 days it was so hard to stop!
So to start off I really enjoyed this, Blakely dealing with anxiety and other mental health problems was really relatable because I feel like we all go through a lot of similar situations. Jaxson was so awesome always being there when she truly needed someone. Things I didn’t like was not being up front and honest when decisions were made before speaking to your significant other and jumping to conclusions before having a conversation. I absolutely loved when Blakely finally stood up for herself! And I definitely teared up and let some tears fall a few times during this listen. Loved the ending, you should always fight for what you want in life 😊

I was not expecting this book to hit so close to home and made me tear up as much as it did 🥺.

It was so sweet but so powerful at the same time, so many emotions!
I was so happy to see all of Blakely's characters' development. Especially her relationship with her daddy, it was such a beautiful scene.

Thank you NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Emily McIntire for this audio arc copy. I will be giving my honest review.
3 ⭐️
Disclaimer: So to be 100 with you this was my first foray into the sugarlake series. Why do I read interconnected standalones out of order you ask? Because I don’t like being told what to do & I love a lil mystery. No honestly though mostly because second chance is my favorite trope so picking a book in the middle kinda gives that energy. The characters probably had some sort of interaction in a previous book I’m unaware of which gives a weight to their on page interactions now. Mmm the added depth is *chef’s kiss.
The story picks up with Jackson who is hired to keep watch over Blakely an influencer as well as his boss’ daughter. Off-limits, age-gap shenanigans ensue and I enjoyed the push & pull between them.
The audiobook version is so good! Narrated by both Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo. I’m a sucker for a dual narration in general but Liam’s slightly southern twang had me giddy. (I blame my “collar is blue like my vote” fyp fixation)
A full list of TWs is listed on the author’s website. There were two of them that were sometimes painful for me to read. Painful because it felt like such an authentic portrayal of them. At least for me.
I also found her influencer jargon or talk to be a bit cringe at times. The multiple mentions of specific items while she does her skincare felt like an ad while simultaneously throwing me back to yt days.
Then because I picked this one of the series first it kinda soured my opinion of Alina grrr
Overall such a fun listen // or read while the things keeping it from a 5 star seem super personal.

Beneath the Hood is an emotional and heartfelt read about love, healing, and self-discovery. It follows Blakely, a socialite and influencer struggling beneath her perfect image, and Jackson, a quiet and steady mechanic who sees past her facade. Their connection is deep and transformative, with an age gap that adds complexity but is handled well.

Emily McIntire does a great job of making the characters feel real, tackling tough topics with care. While part of a series, this book stands on its own. If you like emotional romances with personal growth and deep connections, this one’s worth checking out!

3.5 with a generous round up. I really wanted to love this, but unfortunately something just wasn't clicking for me. I haven't read the previous books so maybe that was part of it, I also think it was all a little too Hollywood for my liking maybe. I like the characters but didn't love them. I appreciated the plot, and tackling such heavy topics such as active eating disorder, body dysmorphia, OCD, GAD, and grief, however it also felt really drawn out and I found myself frustrated with the slow to get there feeling. The narration was good, but not great, there were some weird accent things going on that were not consistent. I just felt a little removed from he story and not swept up in it. Would be willing to give the other stories a chance as we meet the previous two couples and the epilogue sets us up for the fourth book.

Anyone with diet talk triggers should avoid this book entirely.

Thank you to the publishers for this ALC opportunity.

Beneath the Hood
by Emily McIntire
Narrated by Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley.

The narrators were great. Parts of this book were great. But, overall, I just didn’t feel the romance.

A big part of my inner judgmental self kept balking at the 9 year age difference (19 and 28). But, I realize that’s my own problem and not a fault on the author’s part.

Overall, some good, some great, but I just wasn’t that into it.

Age gap with dad’s employee, forbidden love. I did really appreciate the eating disorder education and OCD rep in this book. It felt like an average story - nothing out of this world but still a sweet story.

However, the audio was rough. The female narrator uses a horrible southern accent for Lee. The male narrator changes his accent throughout the entire book but in chapter 41, he has a thick Louisiana accent, despite being from TN and then suddenly it’s gone.
If you’re going to read the book, READ the book because the audio is not it.

I personally was not a fan of this book. As someone who is plus size, I did not enjoy the eating disorder issues in this book. I did not appreciate there not being any trigger warnings in the description.

I received an early copy of the audiobook from Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley.

Book three follows one of the best friends, Jackson. This story does have triggers for mental health including panic attacks.

I am not sure why, but I just could not get into this one as much as I did both books 1 and 2. I do recommend reading these in order so you have an understanding of the characters and their back stories!

This one ended just the way you would want to hook you in for book 4! I have been dying for Lily's story since book one and am so ready to jump into it and see what happens.

3.5⭐ rounded up

Beneath The Hood is the third book in Emily McIntire's Sugarlake series and while it might be better to read them in order, I went straight into this one without having read the first two and had no issues following along.

Our female main character Blakely is a 19 year old social media star who struggles under the unrelenting pressure of needing to be perfect and in control at all times. She's doing her best to prove herself and be taken seriously.

Jackson is a 28 year old mechanic (?) who gets a job with Blakely's father restoring classic cars. He knows he should keep away from Blakely but when her dad asks him to keep an eye on her that becomes somewhat impossible.

This was cute. I really enjoyed Jackson and Blakely's connection and the way their relationship evolved.

I enjoyed both of the narrators for the most part. I felt there was a bit of a difference in pacing between which was a little bit frustrating at times but not too bad.
There were a few bits that were a bit cringe but that might have just been how I felt listening to it vs reading it.

Worth noting there's definitely a lot in this book on eating disorders that some people may find triggering.

I am so happy to get Jackson's story. With his heartbroken with Alina falling for his best friend, he moves to Hollywood when an opportunity of a lifetime comes to him.

He is working his dream job and meets his boss's daughter and they have an instant attraction. The forbidden trope is my favorite so I was so ready for their love story. Not only is Blake, forbidden being the boss' daughter but she is also 10 years younger than her.

I felt the story truly showed how naive Blake was and I was frustrated with her at times with her not standing up for herself and her obsessiveness with food. There was a lot of internal dialogue that I did not enjoy. I did enjoy seeing her growth journey.

Their love story was great and though the story doesn't end in a cliff hanger; it does set perfectly to Chase's sisters' story.

Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo did such a great job with the narration and bringing all the characters to life.

Thank you @blackstonepublishing for a copy of this audiobook.

**Book Review: *Beneath the Hood* by Emily McIntire (4⭐️ Story, 4⭐️ Narration)**

*Beneath the Hood* by Emily McIntire offers a raw and emotional journey as it explores the complicated romance between Blakely, a 19-year-old social media influencer, and Jaxon, a 28-year-old mechanic. Both characters are dealing with deeply personal struggles: Blakely grapples with an absent father, an eating disorder, and mental health challenges, while Jaxon is haunted by the death of his father and the shifting dynamics in his friendships.

The book takes a slow, sometimes frustrating path as Blakely's issues seem overwhelming and Jaxon falls into the role of her emotional rescuer. There were moments in the story where I considered walking away, as the narrative felt bogged down by the characters’ baggage. However, McIntire masterfully turns the story around in the last quarter, offering redemption and hope that made the journey worthwhile.

I appreciated the author’s decision not to gloss over the difficult topics, such as eating disorders and grief, which added depth to the story. While some readers might feel that the progression is slow, the eventual payoff is worth the wait.

The narration also deserves mention for bringing the emotional weight of the story to life, adding a layer of empathy and nuance to the characters' struggles.

Overall, *Beneath the Hood* is a journey of growth, healing, and self-discovery. It’s a story that demands patience but rewards readers with a satisfying, realistic conclusion. A solid read for those willing to embrace the characters’ messy, imperfect paths.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the Audio ARC!

4 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

First of all I haven’t read the other books in this series yet but I have them on hold at my library! That being said it didn’t matter I hadn’t read the others first. I loved this book so much. I really related to the FMC Blakely. I’ve been there having people spread rumors and gossip about you. But the way she handled it was beautiful. The way Emily wrote it was perfect. I also loved the MMC Jackson he handled it all beautiful and was really there for Blakely. I loved the dual narration that’s always a huge plus for me. I can’t wait to read the others in this series now.

Why are people not talking about the Sugarlake Series?! Contemporary romance readers unite because this book has all the spicy romance AND explores tough topics like eating disorders, mental health, and grief. Not to mention the age gap if you are into that type of thing. This is for the girlies that liked Melissa Ferguson’s Famous for a Living, Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver, and Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings.

I listened to the audiobook for this one, and the production was beautifully done. I could not stop listening. Brooke Bloomingdale and Lia DiCosimo were perfect for the parts.

Thank you NetGalley for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook and book were spectacular! I was so excited to receive this early. This has such amazing tropes! Age gap, a little “touch her and die”, and of course fixing a broken heart. Emily also does a great job touching on some hard topics and writes in the most respectful way. The book made me laugh, had me in tears, and swooning for sweet Jaxon who makes the most unlikely fit for Blakely. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book!

"Beneath the Hood" by Emily McIntire is a deeply moving story that highlights the challenges of living under constant public scrutiny. The emotional depth of the characters makes their journey incredibly compelling, and the romance is nothing short of epic. The narrators bring the story to life beautifully, capturing every emotion and nuance, making the audiobook an unforgettable experience

I didn't read the first two books in the series and enjoyed the book. I would recommend reading the triggers before reading. I did listen to the book and enjoyed the narration. The FMC, Blakely, I felt for her and the need to prove herself to everyone and not being seen by others. Jackson was a perfect match for Blakely even though he doesn't like her at first, he truly sees Blakely for herself. Blakely and Jackson were great together and complement each other. I can't wait to read or listen to the other books in the series.