I was very excited to read Scot and Bothered based on the advance praise it was garnering and the fantastic cover art. Alexandra Kiley does an excellent job at describing places. She captures the architecture of Edinburgh and the natural beauty of Skye and puts the reader right there with her characters. I wanted more of that in this book.

Unfortunately, for me, the overall pacing of the story didn't work. The Then/Now dual timeline was unnecessary because it was clear what caused the big issue at the university very early on. I also didn't care for how much of the Now relationship was each character just fantasizing about the other as they hiked. If these two soulmates just had a conversation now and then, I wouldn't have been so frustrated.

Because the narrative constantly bounces back and forth between Then/Now, the characters and their woes become repetitive. "I want to be a dentist, I mean a photographer." "I have to graduate from this specific writing school to be an author." I never really learned why these two are soulmates because the Then relationship mostly focused on physical attractiveness. I also don't understand how an American on a student visa can be expelled but land a freelancing gig to stay in the UK for 7 years? Or does she do all her writing in the US and was on a tourist visa to attend the book signing and have some meetings? I also expected there to be a bigger reveal about the thunderstorm while camping.

I loved Mhairi McCallister and would have liked more of her story <spoiler> (I love that she attended her own celebration of life!)</spoiler>, more Scotland, more of the hiking on the trails and less of the past.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.
#scotandbothered #netgalley

Again, not as invested in this series as I was hoping to be. I did enjoy the characters going on this hike. Through the isle of sky and learning about connecting with nature.

I do wish that they had brought up why Brooke was so upset and mad at Jack for the past 7 years earlier in the story. Most of it was alluded to, until, like 80% of the way through the book.
And I feel like honestly, they were both at fault for having a student/ta relationship and not disclosing it or before starting the relationship discussing, what the ramifications could be if they were found out.

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy

3.5 stars

Scot and Bothered was not everything I wanted it to be but it was sweet, fast-paced, and set in Scotland so enjoyable all the same. Unfortunately, it felt a little insta-love at times and I wasn't entirely convinced by Jack and Brooke's feelings for each other since it seemed to be built on one interaction and never really grew from there.

Miscommunication is a huge no for me when it comes to a plot device and a lot of this story could have resolved itself without all of the miscommunicating - not to mention the seven years it took for them to come back together. I had also hoped for some more banter between the two of them because, when reading a romance novel, I want to giggle and kick my feet. Alas, there was very little giggling and no feet kicking to be had.

I love a second chance romance and I greatly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Scottish setting. I wish I had enjoyed every other aspect just as much but this fell a little flat for me. Despite that, I would recommend it to anyone looking to cleanse their palate with a cute, low-stakes romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this one! I love the setting and the characters and the accents, oh my! Another great book from Kiley. Thank you for the opportunity to read this early!

So, this book? Total surprise in the best way. I went in expecting a light, fluffy second-chance romance—something cute and easy, you know? But turns out, it’s way more than that. Sure, it’s got all the charm and feel-good vibes you’d hope for, but there’s this sneaky depth woven into the story that hits way harder than you’d think. The author somehow nailed that perfect blend of humor and heartbreak, and it just works.

The chemistry between the main characters? Absolute fire. But the real hook is how messy and complicated their history is. There’s all this raw tension and vulnerability as they try to sort through their past while still being pulled toward each other like magnets. Watching them try to juggle all their baggage while figuring out how to make it work? It’s addictive.

This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a whole rollercoaster of forgiveness, growth, and taking another shot at something real. I couldn’t put it down, and honestly, I loved every single second of watching these characters stumble their way back to each other.

This isn't "just another romance" book, but has life and feeling and pushes you to look inward as you read as well. I was immediately able to tell I would enjoy this book based on the skill of the author's writing. She evoked a sense of familiarity with the FMC, Brooke, for me - like she and I would have been close friends due to trauma bonding and our occasional self pity. Her flashbacks vividly portray the stereotypical college experience and fledgling first love that I feel like a lot of readers could relate to.

The initial jump to the MMC, Jack's, POV was a little jarring for me, but I quickly found it delightful. The dual POV kept reminding me that how we interpret someone's speech or actions does not change their intention behind them. I liked that I would be completely invested in the portion of the story I was reading, and then be pulled and thrust into another POV. I could NOT stop reading, and found myself googling all of the places mentioned so I could imagine their experiences more in the moment.

There were also several surprises sprinkled throughout to warm your heart. If you've ever been hiking or had a profound experience with nature that set your heart aglow for the world or the people in it, this is definitely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an e-arc of this book!

Hollywood take note, this would make for a very cute, rom-com! Scot and Bothered is a second-chance romance with time jumps from our lead couple's history to present day. We get to see how things unfolded in the past to separate them while watching them get to know each other again. I am not crazy about miscommunication as a break-up trope, but in this case it made sense especially for the age Brooke and Jack were when they met the first time in college. The couple comes back together to hike the Skye Trail on the Isle of Skye and oh, boy will it have you Googling and maybe even booking your own stay on Skye. I love to hike and knew next to nothing about this trail, but now it's a bucket list item for sure! A couple of romance trope things I really liked in this: there is a big reveal of a secret kept, but after the initially reactive feelings around the news, the couple actually communicates well about the situation and with understanding. That said there is a 3rd act break-up, but it is done well too and leads to a very satisfying conclusion. There is dual narration on the audiobook and I will never say no to a good Scottish accent! This was my first Alexandra Kiley novel and now I'm off to read about Jack's brother, Logan!

Thank you to HTP Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy and to Harlequin Audio for the advance listener copy. These opinions are my own.

I had been so intrigued by who Jack's great love was when I read Kilt Trip. Scot and Bothered is their story and a second chance romance.

In this book, Jack and Brooke get thrown together into forced proximity for a hike along the Skye Trail on the Isle of Skye. And their journey becomes both literal and metaphorical.

I appreciated all of the themes about going after dreams and who gets to make the choices that shape your life. I found the book deeply emotional, in part because of its plot and in part because of where I'm coming from. It handles a storyline about grief and loss incredibly authentically. I cried a bunch while reading it, but in a good and cathartic way. I highly recommend the story.

Angus King and Savannah Davies made listening to this audiobook a delight. I was completely enthralled by their performances.

4.25 stars

This was super sweet and so unexpectedly tender. I loved the true second chance romance and how we got to be a part of their story so intimately both times. I was honestly so touched and emotional at the end! Loved loved loved!

Well first off this book has me dreaming (and planning) a trip to Scotland asap. It was such a fun read and I loved how descriptive it was of the scenery. Beyond the scenery, I went back and forth between physical and audio and the narrators were perfectly casted.
I was a big fan of the time jumps with the build up to the betrayal that led the Brooke's expulsion. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance so obviously this checked all the boxes. Both in the present and in the past Brooke and Jack had amazing chemistry and it made it seem like the story just flew by.
Highly recommend picking this one up!

Brooke Sinclair has always dreamed about being an author. After her dreams were derailed, she focused on writing other people's stories as a ghostwriter. When her mentor offers her the opportunity to co-write her memoir, Brooke knows she has to get this right, even if that means hiking the Skye Trail with the one person who destroyed her dreams and her heart. Can the adventure of a lifetime bring these two back together?

I love second chance romances and the blend of romance with the adventure of the Skye Trail made this a great story to listen to. Brooke and Jack's chemistry was perfect in both present day as they travel the Skye Trail and when Brooke first met Jack at the University of Edinburgh. I enjoyed how they each pushed the other to pursue their dreams while rediscovering their love and trust in each other. This was a very enjoyable read, and I am excited to go back and listen to the first book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trading Publishing and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to review Scot and Bothered. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved the writing of this book!
Brooke (FMC), and Jack (MMC), are former lovers whose paths cross after years of not seeing one another and are immediately thrown into each other’s personal space by being tasked to work together on Brooke’s mentor’s memoir. The two have an amazing chemistry and are both longing for their former relationship to not matter anymore.

The yearning, dual timeline & dual POV establish an amazing comfort within the universe that you can’t help but idealize as you read.

while the premise of this was super cute and i LOVED the cover - i just didn’t feel drawn into the story. i found myself forcing myself to pick it up. i will say i did enjoy the scottish setting and the chemistry between brooke and jack

A raw, beautiful story about second chances and the journey to self discovery. I loved that these characters were in their late 20s-early 30s and struggling to figure out what they wanted to do with their lives. It was so realistic and beautifully written. Thank you Alexandra Kiley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This review was shared to Goodreads on 3/21/2025.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, I just really couldn’t get into it and DNF early on. There was just too much telling and not enough showing in the early chapters and it felt tedious when I just wanted to escape into a romance.

Last year, I read The Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley and when her newest book popped up on NetGalley, I knew I needed to request it. I absolutely loved the characters and their journeys of self discovery while also coming back to one other 🤍🤍

Nice follow up to Kilt Trip. Scot and Bothered was a bit slower with many flash backs to tell the story of Brooke and Jack. Second chance, slow burn romance.
Parts of this book were so sweet, parts of the book were drug out and a bit dull. Even so, I’m glad to have gotten to know Jack and Brooke! I look forward to another Kiley adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

romance? Yes, please! That’s one of my absolute favorite tropes, and this book delivered in spades. But wait, it gets better—add only one tent into the mix (cue the delicious tension), and then throw in the stunning backdrop of Scotland.
Jack and Brook are perfect for each other. They’re the kind of couple who don’t just love each other...they genuinely support each other. Their dynamic is so real and heartwarming. They both carry each other’s burdens, lift each other up, and really champion each other’s growth. It’s so rare to see characters with such an authentic and balanced relationship. I absolutely loved watching their bond evolve as they navigated their shared journey. The setting in Scotland added so much magic to this book. This book was the perfect blend of humor, heart, and adventure. If you're a fan of second-chance romances, only-one-tent situations, and swoon-worthy couples in beautiful places, this is your kind of book. Trust me, you won't want to miss this one!Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion and review!

I only got about half way through this book and determined that it was not for me. If you like second-chance romance, this may be for you but I found their re connection implausible and could not get past that. The reason behind their break-up in the first place made it hard to believe that she could forgive and get back together with him. If you like travel books, one bed, and international scenery you may like this book but it just was not for me.

I somehow loved Scot and Bothered even more than Kilt Trip—I didn’t know that was possible!!

I actually chuckled out loud multiple times reading it (e.g. Brooke writing about the bugs). Also—the hiking/camping setting was EVERYTHING. AND ONE TENT. The tension was SO GOOD. I also just loved Brooke and Jack so much. Everything just came together in a such a perfect and satisfying way.

This book tugged at my heartstrings in a way a romance book hasn’t done in a while and I suspect will be one of my top romance reads this year.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to the NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.