I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC from NetGalley and Karina May!

This book follows Louise and Blake, who both have some difficult family tendencies that create situations for themselves. Both characters are in their mid-thirties and give life a run for their money. Louise is just off of a broken engagement and has been struggling with infertility - neither of which she really talks about with her family. No one in her family knows about her infertility issues, but yet she snaps at them when they continuously bring up when she’ll have a baby - to me, I think the lack of communication creates hostility between both sets and it gets frustrating and I found myself yelling, “talk to them!”. Then there’s Blake, who runs a charity to run a water filtration system for villages in Peru. His family’s business has been failing and it has only come to light after his father passes. He holds a lot of hostility and resentment to his father that could have been cleared out before he died. Instead, the he carries negative feelings for his deceased father until just about the very end.

If you’re looking for spice, this is not the book for you. I think there may have been like 2 kisses tops, but the book relied heavily on the interactions after Louise finds herself in Peru after her best friend won her a vacation with a social media influencer. Blake, in Peru for his charity, connects with a long-time family friend to help promote and gain some additional money for his charity - enter how these two are kind of thrown together after a bizarre mix up at a Christmas party.

2.5 stars

Dnf at 78%.
I thought this story's plot was very interesting, so I was excited to read it, but the main problem I had with it was the pacing and the format of the book. Now I understand that arcs are not the final draft, but for the edition I read, many times, especially in the beginning, there were no indents, and the text was all in left alignment, and it just made it very difficult to read and follow along, and that made me want to put it down constantly.
So, honestly, I did not have a problem with the story and the book's plot itself, it was more about how the book was put together, so I would consider reading the book once it is officially out!

thanks netgalley & escape publishing for the e-arc!! :)

"Machu Picchu may be the love of some random archaeologist's life, but you, Blake Goldfield, are mine."

Under the Influence follows philanthropist Blake Goldfield and banker Louise Lane, who meet at her office Christmas party and serendipitously continue to run into each other. They're both at a life crossroads: Blake is trying to decide what to do with Goldies (his family's embattled restaurant) following his dad's passing and Louise is dealing with infertility struggles and her breakup with her fiance. From Sydney to Peru, the book sees them find their HEA in the most unlikely place.

Blake was just the quintessential genuine good-natured Aussie bloke who was always trying to do his best. In this instance, he wanted to save his dad's business and help a community less fortunate than his own in Peru through his charity, WaterAid. My heart went out to him as he battled with his tumultuous feelings towards his late father and his indecision about what to do with Goldies.

My heart also went out to Louise. I love how she had an epiphany at Machu Picchu and decided to start appreciating "all the amazingness in her wonderfully full life" and to stop focusing on what she didn't have. I internally cheered her on as she stood up for herself at the end and found what she was looking for.

Finally, the Peru setting was magical and I truly felt like I was transported there. I'm so glad these two were able to forgive themselves and move on together to a future that was perfect for them.

Thank you to Escape Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Under The Influence is a novel about Louise Lane, a banker who is in need of a break after failing to conceive a child with her now ex-fiance, and Blake Goldfield, a man who broke a dating app after getting the most swipes ever within one minute and who is struggling to keep his father, who just recently passed away’s business intact.

I thought this book had so much potential but it ended up really disappointing me :( When the book first started, I didn't really know what was happening. It’s not so much because the book wasn’t clear and more so because I wasn’t committed to it to actually fully comprehend what was happening. That was already an aspect that showed me that the book was not for me.

The next thing I realized was that the chemistry was. not. there. I feel like the author was going for a slow burn/enemies to lovers aspect but it did not work out that way. With those tropes, there’s usually already some tension and chemistry at the beginning of the book but this one just did not have any whatsoever. I feel like the MCs barely even saw each other at the beginning of the book…

I also found myself struggling A LOT to get through this book which is not a good aspect for a book to have. Ever. If I'm being honest, practically every other chapter felt like a filler to me, which is something I like more in (some) shows and less in books.

All in all, this book gets 2.75 stars from me.

Thank you Karina May, NetGalley, and Escape Publishing for this arc.

took me way too long to figure out out that louise and blake were a Dc Superman reference. I mean how cute is that???? Blake who looks like Clark Kent and Louise Lane ( lois lane😧😧😧).

I feel like this book had lots of potential especially when the were both in Peru, a lot of tension and angst could have been built which would have then lead to a magnificent slow burn.

The writing style also could have been better. There were times where perspectives would change unexpectedly in the most random places which did not make sense to me.

I really wished we could have explored Louise and Blake more as a couple as they only got together in the last chapter!!!! They had way too much potential.

Overall this was a decent read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this arc :)

I really enjoyed this book, with its quick pace, I really like when a book gets to the point and resolves quickly. This is a classic enemies-to-lovers trope book, which I adore. This book featured a cute, clean romance that was easy to read in just a few sittings, which would make this a perfect beach day or rainy day read, I would have liked to see a little spice in there, but nevertheless I enjoyed the reading and the flow of the story.

Both main characters, Blake and Louise, have their own set of problems they are going through, in relation to family, personal expectations, and societal expectations. The characters had some depth, witty banter, and fantastic chemistry, and are creatively written.

Thank You, NetGalley and Escape Publishing for providing me the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! This was everything a rom com needs! The way that deeper plots like family expectations is woven in is amazing! I love how the relationship between Blake and Louise developed!

First and foremost, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COVER. LOOK AT THATTTTT sfkfjskjfsjf

Obviously, I am disappointed with this book because it sounds so good, especially the synopsis, but it turns out that the synopsis and the cover are the only enjoyable aspects of it.

Aside from the unlikable characters and the lack of chemistry, I'm hoping it improves because I was expecting this to be an enemies-to-lovers story, but NOPE.

I suppose the writing is only tolerable here, but there is also some ambiguity in the story's execution making it hard to follow.

WELP

Thank you for the e-ARC, NetGalley.-

I wish I could give this book more stars because I do truly think the concept was great and it had so much potential. I just couldn't get into the book. I found it generally cringy and that made it impossible for me to enjoy it. I don't think this should stop anyone from reading this book if they like the concept, because I know I've read reviews complaining about books being cringy that I absolutely did not agree with, and that may very well be your case. It just sadly wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Escape Publishing for this ARC.

Under the Influence ticked so many of my boxes that it's not even funny. This is a hilarious enemies to lovers rom com that had me swooning, laughing and crying within the span of one afternoon. I cannot wait to read what Karina May does next.

The story of Blake and Louise. They don't get off to the best of starts, but when they meet in Peru they seem to bond. Will they have a chance at being together? A fun read.

I really wanted to love this since it sounded like it hit all the romance marks for me and I’m also dying to go to Peru. But, it just didn’t do it for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters and I struggled to get through it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is Karina May’s debut novel, and it’s not too bad for a debut. I was quite interested in the enemies to lovers, traveling to Peru, and social media influencer aspects of it, which is why I wanted to give it a read (and I mean, there’s a llama on the cover - who wouldn’t want to check it out)!

Once I started reading, I didn’t stop, though there really were a whole lot of things happening that I needed to stop and sort out in my brain and start reading again (I didn’t put it down but did need to pause frequently to ensure I had things straight). There were so many characters, so many story arcs crossing over each other, and back and forth, that it got a touch confusing and I had to make sure I had it sorted before continuing. Side characters, exes, parents, real estate deals, restaurants, water companies, friends in Australia, Peru, etc.!

I have only rated this a 3-star simply because I found it so much harder to follow (plot, characters, story - everything) than pretty much everything else I read - and I read and review a ton! I think some further time taken in editing or beta reader suggestions perhaps could have ironed out a lot of kinks and awkwardness. Otherwise, it had a ton of potential to be really, really great!

If you’re not going to be turned off with the above, and know it has potential to be a great read (and can ignore or get past some awkward stages), then I would recommend it! It’s a good enemies to lovers and travel themed romance!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Escape Publishing, and this is my honest feedback.

First of all as always thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This book was not it for me. I really went in super excited to read it and as the book was taking off it was not doing it for me. It was a slow burn. It was something I did not start to enjoy as much as I wanted to. I was struggling so much to keep up with it that I stopped reading it for a while.

At the end I just ended up not finishing it. I struggled a lot to keep my attention in it. I wish the story would of had more attention grabbing parts. That would of definitely helped more.

Okay, this one is a tough one because this had such potential to be great! Louise needs a break after trying IVF with her now ex boyfriend and never getting pregnant and Blake is stressed out after having to sell his family business, being involved in a Tinder scandal involving his charity water project and just wants a chance to makes things right and buy back the business.

Louise and Blake have several interactions and then more for all meet when Louise is a banker Blake sees to try to get back the family business to no avail. So he teams up begrudgingly with an influencer he knows on a trip to Peru (which Louise also happens to win a free spot on) to help out his charity water project. The influencer is selfish and entitled and cares only about appearances for Instagram which enrages Louise when they didn’t book the tickets that were promised to explore Mach Pichu and they can’t get I. For another two weeks.

Louise and Blake have a slow burn to start liking each other throughout this novel which is fine and their chemistry is fine but there are so many plot points that are never summed up and the ending is so abrupt it’s jarring, leaving the reader scratching their head and wondering how the characters even got to the point they are at the six months in the future.

Louise’s IVF journey is never resolved we never find out if she still wants to try with Blake now or if she decided she doesn’t want children or anything at all, we have no idea how Blake and Louise finally become a couple there’s no explanation at all for how Blake buys the business back it’s just suddenly theirs in the future, it felt like the editor left out the entire third act of the book. Because what????

2 stars

⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alrighty so this definitely is a super SUPER slow burn! Know now the actual romance doesn’t set in until almost towards the end of the story. If you’re okay with this the jump on and enjoy the ride!

Blake and Louise are very much the stubborn enemies to lovers trope. Both with their own struggles and drama dragging them around by the nape of the neck. The do have some funny witty banter back and forth but their chemistry is pretty meh, at least to me.

A lot of side characters are introduced to us as well and it didn’t seem like they were they for much besides being a filler.

This book was really trying to be angsty and lovable but I think with a bit more time and more added to the overall story it really could have been more! I will definitely be giving Karina May another shot as she releases more novels, this one for me was just not my cup of tea.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Under the Influence
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book ended up not being as enjoyable because I feel like I went in thinking it would be something different than it was. The cover had me thinking it would be a cute romcom, and while it at times had those vibes, the romance ended up being a small focus in my opinion. Instead, this story focused on issues like infertility, family dynamics, poverty, lack of access to safe drinking water, and self discovery. While I don’t mind reading about these things, I was just more caught off guard especially since the romance didn’t take place until the last few pages of the book.

However, if you’re interested in reading a book that is realistic in the fact that it touches on everyday issues, and also provides some great information about Peru, check this book out when it releases in just a few days on September 1, 2022. If you don’t mind limited romances and no spice(like, none at all) , I can see you really liking the main characters Louise and Blake for who they are, and the goals they accomplish throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Blake needs money to save his fathers business, but Louise works for the bank and won't give it to him. Blake runs a charity in Peru to provide clean water to the locals, and he goes back to Peru after his fathers business fails. Louise decides she needs to take a trip after she wins a "volunteerism" trip from an influencer to - you guessed it - Peru. I thought this was an overall cute story, but I felt like the transitions between scenes were very abrupt. I also felt like the main characters had potential to have great chemistry but I felt like it could have been played out a lot more.

Ended up DNF this book. It sadly was just not for me, but could be great for people that are interested in travel and lots of it

Under the Influence by Karina May
Release date: Thursday, September 1, 2022!

Thank you NetGalley for my free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a like, not a love kind of book. While the description of the book and the cute cover appealed to me, the story itself lacked a bit of substance.

I loved the idea of the trip to Peru in the book, which brought me nostalgia because Peru is one of my favourite countries I’ve ever travelled to! While the author appeared to have researched Peru well as a destination (or traveled there herself) as I could picture the sights and feel the ambience, there was some interchangeability in the use of the terms ‘Inca’ and ‘Mayan’ in the book, which are two different civilizations from two very different geographical areas of modern Latin America. I was a little confused as well when the voluntourist trip described in the story is called off early after it goes haywire, yet the MC returns to her home country in Australia describing the trip as an experience of a lifetime and 'just what she needed'. One of the MCs (Blake) also has his own charity in Peru, called WaterAid—while this charity is fictious, there is an actual WaterAid NGO that exists. I feel that a different name should have been selected by the author and editor to avoid confusion with the true WaterAid foundation. However, I appreciate that the story helped shed light on the water crisis in Peru, which is very much a reality in that country and around many parts of the globe (and not just in middle- and low-income countries).

Most of the characters were well-developed, however I felt a lack of chemistry between the two MCs and love interests. Therefore, I’m not sure if I’d describe this book as a romantic comedy. It’s definitely a ‘fluff’ kind of book, but not quite one I’d really recommend. This book suits YA audiences as well and contains no notable content warnings.