Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. This gives you an insight to a reality tv show. I enjoyed the characters, however I thought it was predictable. We all knew the secret would be exposed. This was an easy read.

As a big fan of slow burns with very long push and pulls I was absorbed from the start. Hot Summer is the perfect blend of light-hearted, sentimental, and cute--a wonderful summer read. I don't watch a ton of reality television, but I did really enjoy this, and the peak behind the curtain this also gave.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately DNFed this book at 53%, I wasn’t enjoying myself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the eARC!

This book started off compelling despite its somewhat contrived premise. Cas, a grunt worker at a dating-app company (whose job seems to be an exhausting cycle of hosting late-night singles’ mixers) is offered the promotion she’s been waiting for, contingent upon her entering, and making it to the finals of, the reality dating show Hot Summer. (Which is essentially just Love Island.) There’s some connection here with the dating app building a brand partnership with the show that maybe makes sense, but still seems kinda goofy; nevertheless, Cas is determined to net herself a real office and more consistent working hours, so she agrees. She’s not looking for love at the Hot Summer villa but, of course, it finds her anyway.

As someone who doesn’t watch reality dating shows (my working knowledge of Love Island comes exclusively from an SNL skit that spoofed the show), I was pleased that the book was still easy to sink into. The characters were extremely likable, with a couple of standout secondary characters who were extremely charming and fun. The problem, I think, is that eventually, I just got bored. Watching reality TV, which has been spliced and edited to be exciting, is not the same as watching reality TV get made; the reality is that Cas, her love interest Ada, and the other characters are essentially locked in a fancy house for weeks on end, with the monotony occasionally broken up by the introduction of new people arriving at the villa or challenges where they get to know one another. There wasn’t even really any juicy drama, except for what’s going on with background characters; most of the main cast of characters in this book are just nice people getting along really well and being supportive. Which is fine! I like people being nice! But when they’re pretty much doing nothing most of the time, even I felt myself craving a little drama.

The main romance was fine, as was the fact that the show, and all the cast members on it, were really kind and supportive of it. The book itself just had such a hard time keeping my interest. I definitely think there’s an audience for this—reality TV fans, or people just looking for something sweet and a little soapy to read on the beach.

I really liked the premise for this book. I am often drawn into reality dating type shows such as Too Hot to Handle and Love is Blind. And I also typically enjoy romcom style books. This had both aspects so I enjoyed that very much. I liked meeting the different characters and found their individual traits to be unique and fitting for each one. I enjoyed seeing the relationships grow and develop throughout the course of the book. I did feel like it was longer than expected and just got to the point it felt to be drawn out a little too much. The details and conflict made it drag on longer than I would have liked.

I may hate dating shows but I love dating show romance novels, and Love Island is one of the few dating shows I actually have watched some of, so I was very excited at the prospect of a sapphic Love Island romance novel.

Overall I liked this book. I loved the characters, especially Femi, and the plot was enjoyable. It wasn’t perfect. I do think the pacing could be better and I frankly found the reason for the third act breakup to be kind of stupid. (I’m sorry but who cares why she was on the show? I get the fans caring but Ada? And I know she kept it secret but she had an NDA and you’re literally surrounded by cameras and mics 24/7? That warrants a conversation not a breakup imo.) But it was still a fun summer beach read and I’m glad I read it.

I had a difficult time connecting with the characters.
I liked the concept, and wanted more depth in order to care more about the relationships being built.
It probably didn't help that I'm not a super huge reality tv fan.

8/19/24
As a Love Island lover, the minute my best friend sent me a post about this book I KNEW I would have to read it. Who hasn’t dreamed of a queer Love Island couple? (Seriously though - when is a queer season coming? Can you imagine the drama?)

This book definitely for you if you’re looking for a little Love Island fix during the off season.

Shockingly, it was not as dramatic as I would’ve liked. And I felt like the climax was lacking. It felt predictable.

I kept being like “yeah it feels like Love Island but it doesn’t FEEL like Love Island because I barely know the side characters.” Like, Freddie never even had a purpose aside from “get Cas and Ada together.” We don’t even know if he found anybody in the villa! I need to know!!

We don’t find out much of anything about any of the other couples either! Like, at the reunion we’re supposed to be like “omg drama these two won’t sit too close” but we didn’t have enough information about them for me to really care.

Every time somebody got voted off or got sent home, it just felt lackluster because I couldn’t find it in myself to care.

Yes, I know a book cannot replicate the 1+ hour episode 6 nights a week but I should at least care about the other islanders - er, “lovers” - outside of our main character’s best friends there. Love Island is an ensemble cast at its core.

Anyway! I feel like I’ve spent a lot saying why I had to take a star off. But genuinely, I highly enjoyed this! It’s very easy to read and just as addictive as Love Island. I just happened to put it down for like a week or two there🤣

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for an ARC of this!

Hot Summer by Elle Everhart 4 ⭐️

Cas Morgan works for a dating app company and is provided the opportunity to go on Hot Summer to hopefully make it to the finals and secure her promotion. Things get sticky when she forms actual relationships with her fellow housemates.

I really enjoyed this fun read and blew through this book in 4 hours! I was initially overwhelmed by the sheer amount of names I was trying to remember but once I realized that there was only a core group that truly mattered to the plot line (aka Cas) it got easier to keep track. I loved that Cas not only built a strong relationship in the villa but also built strong friendships. I thought that Cas’ abandonment/commitment issues were well discussed and I appreciated that she was still conflicted with them throughout the story. I feel like sometimes those issues are resolved super quickly when the MC meets the “one”. I also liked that we got to see the relationships between the other contestants develop. The yearning is TOP TIER!! Cas and Ada’s relationship developed naturally and in a way that I could actually believe. I also liked the “live” tweeting aspect of the book and thought it was a fun way of showing the audience’s perspective.



Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Felt like a good reality tv show, Hot Summer was a mess in the best way! Fun and all over the place and had some darling characters and some beautiful friendships and romance! So hot! So summer!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable sapphic romance. I am realizing I don’t necessarily love the dating show trope, but I was able to get past it because I really did enjoy all of the characters and getting to know them. I loved Cass and Ada, as well as the background characters, Femi and Sienna, I would happily read more books by this author as I had a hard time putting this book down it was a perfect beach read summer read all around enjoyable.

Hot Summer is a delightful, heartwarming, and drama-filled sapphic romance. 🌞💕 The writing skillfully captures Cas’s emotions, and I appreciate how neither Cas nor Ada are portrayed as perfect characters. Both are given raw, authentic emotions and unique personalities, and their actions are refreshingly unpredictable. It’s incredibly sweet how Cas and Ada’s lives are transformed in just eight short weeks by each other and their new friends. 🌈
I absolutely adore the book’s concept and believe it’s brilliantly brought to life by the off-screen details, setting, and plot twists. 📚✨ Fans of dating reality shows will find this book a captivating read!

The slow build was nice, even though it felt like it could've been a little bit shorter. Even knowing how the climax was going to happen based on the initial setup, it still delivered and had me near tears. Definitely recommend this book!

I'm not even a fan of reality tv shows, much less dating reality tv shows so I didn't know what to expect from this book. Turns out, you don't need to be a fan of those shows to enjoy this book. I actually loved it and found Cas and Ada phenomenal characters and love interests. It would be easy to get lost in the amount of characters in this book but Everhart does a great job with making each main character stand out and I really liked the friend relationships in this book. This was my first Elle Everhart book but it won't be my last. Highly recommend!

If you're like me and can't get enough of reality dating shows, especially Love Island, then you’re going to love Hot Summer by Elle Everhart. This book is a total treat and perfect for summer reading.

The story follows Cas Morgan, who’s suddenly plucked from her regular life to join a reality dating show that’s a lot like Love Island. She’s hoping to play it smart and win over the public to snag a promotion at work. But things take a turn when she meets Ada, another contestant who’s there to find real love. Ada is charming and gorgeous, and Cas can’t help but fall for her, even though it complicates her strategy.

Everhart’s writing captures the fun, drama, and sun-soaked vibes of reality TV perfectly. The chemistry between Cas and Ada is fantastic, and their romance has just the right amount of spice and sweetness. I loved the banter and the little twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.

If you’re into reality TV, sapphic romances, or just need a fun summer read, Hot Summer is a great pick. It’s got everything you want—flirty, funny, and full of heart. Grab a copy and let yourself be whisked away to an island where the drama is hot and the romance is even hotter!

*Hot Summer* is a sizzling, addictive dive into the world of reality TV romance. The vibrant setting of a sun-soaked Cypriot villa perfectly frames the intense, drama-filled interactions among the contestants. Cas's journey from a strategic player to someone who opens up to genuine emotions is both compelling and relatable.

Ada's authenticity and the undeniable chemistry between her and Cas add depth to what could have been a typical reality show narrative. Their relationship challenges Cas to confront her true desires, making for a heartfelt and transformative read.

The book deftly balances humor, romance, and the high stakes of reality TV, making it a perfect summer read. Whether you're a fan of dating shows or just looking for a captivating love story, *Hot Summer* promises plenty of heat and heart.
Cas and Ada's love story is the summer romance we all dream of—unexpected, passionate, and utterly unforgettable.

Hot Summer is the perfect steamy, summer read for Love Island super fans! I had a lot of fun reading, though I did feel the pacing dragged in the middle there.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. If you ever wondered if reading a reality show would be better than watching, this book will answer that question. This was certainly a different take on the romance genre, but didn't stand out in any way from others I've read. There wasn't a lot of depth to the characters, but I did appreciate the epilogue.

As someone who is completely obsessed with both reality tv and romance novels, this book was an absolute win for me! This book was written well and had me hooked from the start. There was enough drama for it to be entertaining but not too much where it became taxing to read. There were minor issues with redundancy and rushing the storyline towards the end, but ultimately it wasn't enough to deter me from finishing and loving the book. The lighthearted summer vibes is going to make this an absolute treat of a summer read!

Super cute and quick read. If you like love island, this book is perfect for you. This was a gay love island and I absolutely wish real love island could have that twist!