I wobbled between giving this one three or four stars throughout my entire read - but damn if this book didn't make me smile. Not every book has to be a plot heavy masterpiece, sometimes you just need a lighthearted sapphic beach read that tears your heart into a million pieces and then stitches it back together again!

Steamy, lighthearted, and hilarious, this book was the perfect read to get me out of the winter funk. The chemistry between Cas and Ada was immediate, and while the characterization for the rest of the ensemble was light and lacking, Hot Summer more than makes up for it in adorableness.

Don't go into this book expecting Anna Karenina, sure, but if you want a quick and quirky beach read, this one is absolutely worth picking up. Especially if, like me, your guilty pleasure is watching years and years of Bachelor nation.

Would recommend!

Ohhhhh my god! Where do I even start?! 5 stars no question.
This was like a warm hug to my frozen gay little heart.
I am not typically a fan of books written in third person, especially romance novels, but Elle Everhart did it so well I may have to change my stance on that. Every single character in this book was so hard not to fall in love with. Except for you Brad, you know what you did.
Cas and Ada? Immediately moved to my top 3 book girlfriends, my favorite leading ladies of all time. The tension, the spice, the natural chemistry between all of the characters was just lovely. As someone who is a true whore for trashy reality tv, this was sooo fun to read. There were some points where I genuinely forgot I was reading a book and was like "oh I need to go watch the latest episode!" only to be crushed when I remembered I can't actually watch these beautiful people and their messy drama on my tv screen. So unfortunate.
I am beyond excited to see what Elle comes up with in the future, because I'm sure it will be genius.

I saw this book on someone’s IG page sharing books that were coming this summer, as soon as I saw the cover I just knew I needed to read this book and boy am I glad that I have.

🩵 Feel Good
🩵 Reality TV
🩵 LGBTQ+
🩵 Romantic Comedy

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish, it sucked me in from the first page and I smiled the whole way to the end.

In this book we first meet Cas, she is an event planner for a dating company and while she loves her job, she is definitely looking for more. When her boss asked her to go on a reality tv show with the promise of promotion afterwards she was there for it. What a life changing experience that turned out to be, and a whole lot of drama too.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this book a lot, I thought they all were such different personalities but all just seem to fit together. Funnily enough i don’t watch reality tv shows but I always enjoy reading books with that as the main plot.

This book was escapism at its best, such an easy light fun read that made me happy. I absolutely recommend that you go grab this one.

Thank you so much to the author, Penguin Group, Putnam and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.

This one is for Love Island fans everywhere! I enjoyed this cute spin on the well known dating show with a cute take on what being there for the right reasons really means. The characters were fun to love/despise and the drama was very reminiscent of what is seen on TV every summer.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely fell in love with the characters in this one. It feels like forever since the last time I had such a fun experience reading a book with just completely fun vibes. It was giving summer. It was giving romance. It was giving everything I asked for, really.

The chemistry between Cas and Ada was just so completely there from the moment they met, and I was sucked into their relationship. But it wasn't just their romance that I fell in love with, the book came with such a good set of side characters. I adored the friendship between Cas and Femi, definition of platonic soulmates for real!!

What's even more fun was I found that there were twists I didn't expect! The plot itself was so fun to follow (but that could be partially related to how much of a sucker I am for reality shows lol).

Overall I'd rate this series about a 4.5, because I don't see myself as completely OBSESSED but it's definitely worth reading and I will be recommending it when it is officially released.

Thanks to Elle Everhart, Penguin Group Putnam-G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and NetGalley for this delightful ARC of Hot Summer!

Hot Summer is a queer romcom with a reality dating show (think Love Island) as a backdrop. Cas Morgan is a woman who has been slogging through running dating events for her employer, Friday. She gets the chance to move beyond that and into a more lucrative and work/life balanced position if she goes on the show, Hot Summer, and makes it close to the end. She happens to be very private, not one to be vulnerable due to a very bad breakup four years before. There she meets a cast of characters who will fill your heart with laughter, joy, and irritation. Ada is also a queer woman who is on the show, but her search is to find love.

As you can imagine, somehow word is leaked that she is a plant and that she is only there for the job. She hadn’t shared this with anyone. Hurt feeling, rejection and guilt ensue.

Both main characters (and many secondary characters) are people I would like to know in real life. I think my favorite part of the book is the dialogue between Ada and Cas. It filled with patience, understanding, support, and love and was a gift to read.

This is the second book I have read by Ms. Everhart and she is now solidified as one I will buy the book next time one of hers comes out.

I loved Hot Summer! This is everything I’ve wished for out of straight dating shows in a book! A perfect read for any fans of shows like Love Island who also wish there was more sapphic representation. Cas and Ada are super cute, and I loved all of the other contestants being so supportive of them. This was a super cute read and I would definitely recommend it in the future!

This was a super cute quick read. Thank you NetGalley for this arc. I enjoyed the writing style and the ending was chefs kiss. 😘

—Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you loved the Wanderlust by Elle Everhart then you’ll love this one even more!
If you love reality tv inspired books but one them to be sapphic then look no further. These women are so strong and so fun. Their love was soo swoonworthy.

1) I am GAY
2) I am a LOVE ISLAND fanatic
3) I went absolutely feral for this

A great sapphic romcom-- lovers of reality tv will love the BTS details !

Get ready for a Hot Sapphic Summer!

Hot professional party girl Cas is given an offer she can’t refuse - get to the finals on the dating show Hot Summer and she’ll be made head of a new marketing department at work. Cas is ready for a stable 9-5 job and accepts - she’s a huge fan of the show and is confident she can play the game.

Unexpectedly, she develops feelings for fellow contestant Ada, who’s able to make Cas open up and be vulnerable for the first time in a long time.

Will Cas and Ada be able to continue their relationship on the outside?

This is a fun, fairly predictable sapphic romance. Most of the characters are cardboard cut outs we don’t really get to know at all outside of one or two defining characteristics. The contract Cas is forced into is unethical and unbelievable, but tropes do as they must.

All in all, this is a quick read with some sexy scenes, recommended for reality tv fans and anyone looking for a beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC! As someone who loves reality tv & sapphic romance, I loved this book! It felt like binge watching the season of Love Island that all your friends are talking about in the best way. I truly could not put this book down and I highly recommend to anyone who wants to read a fun summer romance!

I’m officially a fan. The character growth was great, and I loved the behind the scenes look at a reality TV show featuring LGBTQ+ characters. It was definitely a slower burn, which I personally enjoy.

I honestly can’t praise this book enough. Very excited for when I can get an official copy of my own!

Such a great summer read, I say in January when there is literally snow outside. This book had good romance, wholesome friendships, a bit of spice, and a nice setting.

Reality shows but make them queer is one of my favorite things to read recently and this book did such a good job of it. While this does play into the miscommunication trope it was resolved in a satisfying way. There were definitely a few characters that had me yelling at the producers for sure.

This was a fast-paced read, with a dating based reality show inspired vibe with a sapphic main couple. It was well-written and had a lovely ending.

BRING ON ALL THE REALITY TV VIBESSS!! I needed this to heal my post bachelors, Love is Blind, Too Hot to Handle Era.. I couldn't put this book down until the end. It was a constant page turner that forced me into the story and made me feel like I was on set with them.. Elle Everhart killed it with this book!!

In Hot Summer, Elle Everhart pens a captivating tale of love, drama, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a sizzling reality dating show. Cas Morgan, a dedicated viewer of the popular TV program, finds herself unexpectedly thrust into the limelight as a contestant. With a chance to secure a long-awaited promotion, Cas embarks on a journey of transformation to win over the audience. However, her plans take an unexpected turn when she meets Ada, a fellow contestant who challenges her preconceived notions of love and relationships. As Cas and Ada's connection deepens, Cas faces a dilemma: to follow her heart or prioritize her strategic game plan. The villa becomes a crucible where Cas's values and aspirations are tested, forcing her to confront her inner demons and embrace her true self. Everhart skillfully weaves a narrative that explores the complexities of love, identity, and the pursuit of happiness. With its steamy romance, intriguing characters, and thought-provoking themes, Hot Summer is a compelling read that will keep readers glued to the pages. Everhart's writing is sharp and witty, capturing the essence of the reality TV genre while delving into the poignant emotional journeys of her characters. Hot Summer is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance, women's fiction, and anyone who enjoys a good dose of escapism.

Big fan of this author after this book. Her first book doesn't look like it's a lesbian novel, so I'm going to skip that, but will be reading any other wlw books from her.

I've never watched Love Island but I knew right away it was a take on that show and to my uneducated brain, it seemed very true to what I think that show is like. Loved the chemistry between Cas and Ada, and loved both characters in their own ways. They seemed to really complement each other.

This book is also told completely from Cas' POV, which is my favorite way of storytelling. It makes me feel like I really got to know and like Cas (the more "closed off" character) while also leaving a bit of mystery about Ada (the more "open" character).

Overall, I really liked this book and could see myself reading it a 2nd time.

"Hot Summer" is outside of my normal wheelhouse as someone who doesn't watch much reality TV and has never seen "Love Island." However I was quickly drawn in by the characters, especially Cas, Ada and Femi and the delightful drama. Elle Everhart created engaging characters with enough spice and emotional depth to have readers cheering them on. Fun romance to get us ready for summer.

I would give this book a 3.5. I knew the reality show concept was going to be hard for me. There are just too many characters. At one point later in the book, a Gemma is mentioned, just once and I thought ‘wait, who is that.’

I liked Cas and the build of her character and the tease leading up to the romance.

There were moments I felt the syntax was repeated too much and it could have been rewritten to remind the reader differently. I also felt the reconciliation (because you know there is one) happened too close to the end. Which made the epilogue a necessary addition.

All in all, I read this book on vacation and it was the perfect steamy beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not much of a fan of reality tv, but I did really enjoy this book! While the plot was predictable at the end (hello miscommunication?) but the rest of it made up for it. The characters were so very loveable. The ending was a bit rushed for my taste and the epilogue was a bit confusing, but otherwise would recommend.