Under the Influence has a really cute concept but it was really difficult for me to get into. I think this book would be better for other readers, but not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I do want to thank Net Galley for giving me an opportunity to read this arc. I'm a huge fan of romance and romcoms but this one didn't sit to well with me. I think I wasn't able to connect with Louise or Blake. I think I wanted just a little more of the characters in this story. I did finish the story and I'm glad I did. I think there are people out there who would love this one , just this one wasn't for me.

I couldn't get into this book. I didn't like either of the characters so didn't really care what happened. This ended up a DNF for me.

Super cute fun short read. I loved Louise and Blake's story. The trip to Peru & of course all of the Superman innuendos. This is definitely something I would recommend all my rom com lovers to pick up if they're looking for something short and sweet :)

Fun reading, but not my favorite. In a crowded field of meet cutes, I just felt the story was okay, but not a true favorite.

Blake Goldfield is ‘the guy who broke Tinder’ while raising funds for his charity. His friend is actually the one who made the Tinder page for him. Louise Lane is a banker who is overworked. These two clash almost immediately when they meet at Louise’s office party. They continue to bump into each other and eventually start to like seeing each other and find themselves actually seeking each other out.

Louise has a lot of personal things going on and finds herself wanting to take a break from work. So when her friend enters her in a contest to win a trip to Machu Picchu and she wins, she’s kind of excited to go. Blake is also going on the trip because a friend of the family organized the trip with him. They will go and see some sights and also do some volunteer work for Blake’s overseas charity. During the trip, Blake and Louise get closer and we get to see Blake be kind of jealous and super cute.

I loved seeing their relationship blossom, it was so cute. By the end of the book I had tears in my eyes, happy tears and tears because I wanted more for them. But even though I was hoping for more, I thought the ending was perfect as it was because sometimes no matter how much or how hard you wish for something it doesn’t come true. That’s life and life is about adapting to things that can’t be changed, so I loved the ending. I’m sure little Kent is adorable and I love how they gave him a Superman themed name to go with Louise (Lois) Lane and Blake who looks like Clark Kent. This book was absolutely adorable!

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest review!

I was so excited when I read the synopsys--perhaps set up my expectations too high because I have a hard time on finishing this book., so I'm still stuck halfway through. The setting of the story in Sydney and Peru itself was refreshing to read, since I rarely found any YA/Adult fiction set in said cities. Both of the MCs are facing complicated issues and it presented by the dual POVs--though I don't feel like really connected with them or their problems. I was expecting to have their interactions a lot, but it turns out they're rarely interacting with each other especially at before Peru. However, it doesn't works for me, but the story is well-written and complex, so I'm sure the right audiences would like it!

P.S: I really need to finish this ASAP, who knows I'll change my mind after.

When I read the blurb on this book, I thought it would be a fun read, set mostly in my home town of Sydney and Peru, we meet Louise and Blake both are having problems in their lives and are looking to sort things out, can they do it together?

Blake runs a not for profit charity organisation in Peru and has returned home when his father becomes ill to manage the family bar Goldies, what he finds is a company in need of help, which is not going to be easy.

Louise works for a bank and is in charge of approving loans she is engaged and her and her fiancé are trying for a baby, things are not going the best and emotions are running high and Louise is soon single.

Blake and Louise meet at Goldies and there is instant dislike between them but life brings them together and Louise can either help Blake or not, throw in Tom another business owner and things start to heat up, will they sort their lives out and find love?

I struggled with this book, I didn’t connect with either Blake or Louise sadly, there are some great reviews for this book, but it wasn’t for me, it is well written and I am sure there will be lots of people who love it.
2.5 stars

My thanks to Netgalley for my copy to read andreview

The book was a dual pov, alternating between the female and male MCs but I didn't know who I disliked more, Louise or Blake. They were just so annoyingly judgy and self-righteous and while I understood that life dealt them some shitty cards, all they did was bitch and whine and I was not here for it at all.

There was no chemistry between them either. They had so few interactions for this to be considered a romance. There was absolutely no romance. When they did interact, it seemed the one would try and outdo the other on who can make the better wild assumptions and judgements. Before the book was even halfway through, I realised I wanted to DNF. I pushed through with the hope that things would improve, they did not.

I don't enjoy giving bad reviews. And usually I can find at least one redeeming thing in a book. Unfortunately this book was just far too below par to even have any great qualities. I found it boring, the romance and chemistry lacking between the main characters and I didn't like or care about them in the slightest. When the ending came, I was all too relieved. This one was, sadly, a miss for me. Wouldn't recommend.

in this dating tell-all, Poppy recounts dates with many men who portrayed themselves as other than they were and shares lessons learned along the way. While unflinchingly honest, it lacked the humor of Chelsea Handler and was formulaic, unflattering and not compelling.

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review!

this book wasn’t really for me. the synopsis seemed so interesting but unfortunately i was disappointed. the characters were kinda unlikable and the chemistry between them wasn’t there. this is also supposed to have an “enemies to lovers” trope but unfortunately it didn’t feel like it, it was more a dislike between them than enemies. i found myself really struggling to finishing it but because it was an ARC i didn’t want to dnf it

on a more positive note the cover of this book is gorgeous and a huge congratulations to the author knowing this is her debut book.

once again this book might not be for me but some other people might like it :)

I didn't feel any spark from the characters in this story, but I loved the parts of it set in Peru. I haven't read a book about that part of the world.

I put off reading this for awhile, because the cover made me think it was YA, but this is regular adult fiction. Closed door, which is why I didn't want to imply adult with an eyebrow waggle, but not YA.

I have mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the story. It was kind of a fun learning to love again, finding yourself, unexpected romance. On the other hand, it was not as "romance-y" as I wanted and it was slow.

If you have issues reading stories about infertility this probably isn't for you.

The characters were likeable but I didn't feel very connected to them. I wish we would have had more time in Peru with the characters... it felt like it went so fast and the romance was JUST touched on and then the vacation ends. From the books description it seemed like the story would be more based in Peru... but it wasn't.

I liked the untangling of family drama/secrets.

Overall, this story just missed something for me. It was still an okay read but not the travel romance I thought it was going to be!

I didn't really like this book. I really didn't feel like there was a connection with the main characters. For most of the book they weren't even together. I also really didn't find the plot of this book that inresting. I had to force myself to finish this one. I also kind of feel like this book was all over the place. Cute cover though.

Thank you NetGalley, Karina May, and Escape Publishing for the ARC of this book.

This book wasn't what I thought it would be so after just a few pages in I actually DNF it because it wasn't at all to my liking.
I have seen others enjoying this book and I hope if you read it that you will like it.

I really like the premise of this book but the execution fell a little short for me. There was a lot of time spent in the first part fo the book and the new main characters while both having a lot to deal with on their own just didn't feel like a good fit for me. I wanted more chemistry from the main characters and I felt like the side stories took over in a few ways. I did however love the vacation descriptions and the growth of both Blake and Louise.

Based on the cover this book was not what I was expecting, but I was more than pleasantly surprised. This was such a feel good story and I truly loved every minute of it. Louise and Blake’s constant run ins and hatred turned romance was fun to read and all of the characters in the story had to much depth and development. I also found the influencer trip aspect so interesting to read about since they’re so prevalent on social media these days. I loved this book and would highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and Escape publishing for the chance to read this!

I've been reading this on and off for the last month, and have come to the conclusion that it's just not for me. I haven't been able to get invested in the characters or the plotline. The first part dragged quite a bit for me, and I think that ended up tainting how the rest of the story went. I've also become incredibly hesistant with a book being marketed as enemies to lovers when the two people just... don't seem to like each other? I don't class that as enemies as much as I just class that as two people not getting along, and then falling for each other. And for a romance, I didn't feel the tension, chemistry, or attraction like I needed it to. It just kept falling flat for me on every little thing, and overall didn't make for the best reading experience.

However, I see a lot of other people have enjoyed this, and that makes me hopeful that other future readers will enjoy it more than myself!

Again, very thankful for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun read. Blake and Louise don’t have the best start, but it’s engaging and entertaining to watch them grow separately and together. I’d recommend for all my romance lover friends!

From the moment Blake and Louise met, I have been rooting for them at least get together even if it was just a hookup. This book was really good, it gave insights to a sort of midlife crisis with Louise dealing with the ration of trying to get pregnant but also finding joy in her life in her 30's.

What I loved most about this book was the witty characters that were really well thought out and written, each character carried their own story whether it was deep and traumatic or normal. I enjoyed how well the author brought so many real life aspects in this book that is not easily overlooked, there is depth here in terms of societal norms and family expectations.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good rom-com that is a slow burn and a sort of enemies to lovers. This book was well paced and easy to read and follow along.

Blake's story and issues were well written and i enjoyed how things managed to link really well in this book, it's an eye opener for those stressing about their lives in their 30's or pushing themselves beyond their limits.