When I started reading and encountered Birdy and her thoughts for the first time, I was apprehensive about my reading experience. I have been ploughing through a ton of books this year and might even beat out my usual tally( some I enjoyed more than the others), so I thought I would just need to work my way through it and review it in a neutral manner. One of the main reasons was the reliance on getting drunk in the initial stages. I knew going in that it is a book where the lead character is a wine expert, but I hoped for something more. Luckily for me, I got that something more about halfway in.
This is one of the rare books where the lead protagonist, whether she is the right or not, puts in the grunt work required. The work she does is detailed within the story's framework and is not just left to our imagination. I should now move a couple of paces back and talk about the plotline (although the blurb does it all in detail, as does the cover itself!)
Birdy has had a flighty life (sorry for the pun, I couldn't help myself - maybe I saw it somewhere), she has not had a happy upbringing. The one constant in her life is her friend. This friend is willing to turn down a job at a Scottish castle in order to spend secret time with a man who is not exactly treating her right. Birdy is torn between being supportive and realistic. In the midst of all this, she impersonates said friend at an award ceremony that forces her to continue the charade much further than is safe.
Up till this point, it seemed like the lead protagonist was not a concrete enough person to carry the weight of the book. Then she decides that hard work could tide her through and ensure that all the people depending on her are not in trouble. The pages that outline the events that follow are what endeared the book and the character to me. It fits into the genre by providing a much better ending than I thought was possible, given how the events were unfolding.
I am late on the review for this since there have been quite a few varying reviews floating around online, but I will tack on my own recommendation (for those who read the genre) for this book to others who did the same.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

My thanks to NetGalley and Viking for a copy of “ The Summer Job” for an honest review.

A decent, if a little too predictable , summer read with a beautiful Scottish setting.
I didn’t particularly warm to the character of Birdy , which didn’t help, but the book, on the whole ,was an ideal lightweight holiday read.

When up and coming sommelier Heather decides to run off on a romantic holiday rather than take her new position in a remote Scottish hotel her childhood best friend Birdy assures her she will let the hotel know. But a case of mistaken identity and dire need leads Birdy to head up north instead, taking both Heather's job and identity. Without telling her. Can Birdy blag her way through recommending wines when she can't even pronounce half of them? And how can she let herself get close to the first man she ever really liked when he doesn't even know who she really is?

Sweet, dryly amusing with hidden depths this is a gem of a book. Birdy is flawed but likeable and the supporting characters are more than two dimensional foils for her story. Not my usual kind of book but a welcome change.

Oh, how I loved Birdy! Such a perfect lead character for a tale of warmth, fun and humour, beautifully flawed, pretty lost, but with a heart in the right place. The plot, whilst a teeny bit farfetched, romped along at the perfect pace; the supporting cast of characters felt real and human, especially James, Irene, and Roxy; and the ending was spot on. Always erring on the side of touching, not emotional, this is a book that hooked me from the start, made me root for Birdy, the hotel, and its staff, and was a joy to read.

This was such an anticipated read for me for 2021 and so I wanted to love this one but unfortunately it fell short for me. Struggled through it and probably because I honestly found the main character to be a bit annoying.

I was excited to read this book as it sounded different from anything I'd read before.

Birdy has no job, struggles to pay her rent and so when her best friend turns down a Summer job in rural Scotland as a sommelier, Birdy sees an opportunity to earn some money.

I found myself rolling my eyes at the start of this book. The start feels like your typical rom-com, girl arrives from London and falls for the local man. I wasn't feeling my usual pull towards a book but I found myself getting more engrossed around the 30% mark. I found myself rooting for Birdy and hoping that she can pull it off.

If you are looking for a lighthearted read, look no further. A funny rom-com with a little bit of cheese 🧀

I liked this book. An enjoyable, escapist read which held my attention throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

A fun story full of laughter that will keep your interest until the last page. Although it deals with sensitivity with the heavy issue of alcoholism, it is also a feel-good book about the power of female friendship. With a beautiful setting of a luxury hotel in the Scottish countryside, it is a lovely book for a day at the pool.

Adorable summer fun that was just an absolute joy to read and a definite must in these uncertain pandemic times. Thank you Lizzy Dent for writing this great read!

A really nice chic lit book it has romance, seriousness and it is funny in bits.

Birdy has not had a happy upbringing and the only good thing in her life is her best friend Heather who is always there for her. Birdy is living with Heather but what happens is Heather decides to go and see her boyfriend and rents the place out while she is away, so Birdy is homeless for a few months. Birdy decides to pretends to be Heather in the job she was meant to take.

Will Birdy be able to do the job or will she be found out only time will tell.

I really enjoyed this book.

I just adored this book. Birdy was such an easy character to love straight from page one. The depiction of Scotland and the hotel industry made me desperately want to go on an adventure. Overall, a heartfelt incredibly funny book with a flawed yet totally lovable protagonist that I couldn’t put down.

A fun read that didn't quite work for me due mainly to the main character who was kind of annoying and silly.

This was quite a fun light read. Birdy takes the place of her sommelier friend at a Scottish hotel and gets in over her head with her lies. The story was a feel-good one as Birdy realises she likes this new life and wants to make something of her self.

This was a really fun book! British rom-com in a book is always my go-to for a feel good story and this one didn't disappoint. The characters were all heartfelt and humorously flawed. It was a touch predictable at times, but an enjoyable enough ride that you didn't really mind.

Birdy Finch has had a rough life. With an alcoholic dad and not quite there mother she’s lied her way into most of her jobs. Out of a job once again, Buddy decides to impersonate her best friend Heather when she’s unable to make it to a job. How hard can it be to fake being a wine expert in a mediocre hotel right?

Expecting a rundown location, Birdy is surprised when she arrives, as the hotel is clearly very posh. But when she stays to fall for the chef how long will she be able to keep up the lies. And will James forgive her when he finds out the truth.

This was a cute summer read that ultimately I didn’t end up enjoying as much as I thought I would.

The romance was so sweet, and it hit all the right spots that a romcom should. It was at in the beautiful Scottish highlands which provides the perfect escape for the MC and readers alike.

But I found the narrator a little whiny. And the MC really annoyed me.

Other than that it was a great summer read. Sometimes the characters can just hit you wrong.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc to review!

The Summer Job was a fun a quick read, a book that you will devour in a single sitting.

Birdy’s character was an interesting one, I couldn’t imagine trying to impersonate anyone… let alone my best friend and think I will get away with it.

I look forward to reading more from Lizzy Dent in the future.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for gifting me this novel to read.

An easy, quick summer read. The character of Birdy was underdeveloped but Iiked the Scottish setting.

I didn't particularly like Birdy as a person. I found the concept of imitating your best friend, who is a first class sommelier, as not plausible. This is a light summer read and has some amusing moments if you accept the idea that someone could get away with the deception.

It sounded great, a fun read but sadly it wasn’t, at least not for me. To be honest I knew from the first few pages that I wasn’t going to like it but struggled on for as long as I could. I was hoping it might get better as it went on. Birdy wasn’t a nice person, a bit of a chancer. She was far too annoying and always moaning. This will be a winner for those who like frothy rom-com novels.

Good fun - I do enjoy a decent romance, especially with a Scottish setting! Perhaps a little underdeveloped, and predictable.