I like me a good immersive read. Thankful for my eARC and aARC of Ms. Vs. Hot girl summer by ah Cunningham. Talk about this cover! this was a fun read, and i see a lot of myself in Trinidad. The glaring difference between me and her, though, is I dont let anyone F with my travel, not my mama, bestie, partner, son, nobody. So I'm happy that Ms V not only addressed her past but got her happy endingsss. Give me an Orlando over Milton any day. Im excited to try some of the recipes and can't wait to attend a carnival one day! Thanks ah Cunningham for a good fun story. Look forward to the rest of the world to enjoy on publishing day.

Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer by AH Cunningham is a black romance featuring Trinidad Velasquez, a divorced single mom to 15 year old twin boys, and Orlando Wiggins, head of house and caretaker for his bipolar mother and two younger brothers. Orlando (ten years Trinidad’s junior) plays mentor for her twins, who play mischievous little matchmakers by tricking their mother into going to a Caribbean Carnival under the guise of support for their cheer competition. The only other person in town is Orlando, who arrives early for his own agenda. Their forced proximity allows them the time and space to learn and grow both individually and together.

At the beginning of this book, Trinidad was so ready to settle for someone who she thought she needed but never particularly got her going. Because she tried very hard to play by the rules she and societal expectation put on herself, I was admittedly at times annoyed with her quick judgments of Orlando— how she perceived him and how he lives specifically because of his age; I understood why she felt the need to avoid him, yet I was slightly frustrated because of her inability to even try letting herself see him beyond the “man-child,” even if platonically. But I loved reading her let loose and bring back an old part of her that she felt needed to leave in the past as she realized her dreams of setting up a fulfilling life as a single mother to her teenagers. I loved reading her overcome those initial judgments and her clearly seeing Orlando for who he truly is beyond their ten year age gap. I loved reading Trinidad step into her power and embrace her full self as she opened herself to love and happiness.

As for Orlando, I adored reading this family man. He truly was the type to sacrifice his self for the sake of helping his family, but I loved watching him grow into being able to communicate with his brothers and their mother about their needing to step up and into their family dynamics and responsibilities.

<spoiler> Additionally, a small detail that really stuck with me from this book is how Trinidad helped Orlando open up to his friends and how that consequently further solidified and deepened his friendships. It was so beautiful reading Trinidad defend Orlando and opening his friends’ eyes to their miscommunications. </spoiler>

I can never claim to understand the depth of the experience of being Black in America. However, I hope that I can take part in appreciating and most especially celebrating the black joy and black romance within this book. My absolute favorite thing about this book is that it is truly a love letter to Caribbean cultures and Afro-Latinx folks.

Thank you, Netgalley and Afterglow Books by Harlequin, for the ARC!

I loved this book! A.H. Cunngham's books have made me laugh and cry at the same time. She has become an author that I have added to "authors I will automatically read".

You know when a character at the beginning of a romance is about to commit to someone who is “the mature, responsible” choice, but clearly the wrong choice, that their life is about to be flipped on its head.

Trinidad Velasquez’s mature and stable casual situationship has announced he is considering courting her and perhaps ending his other casual situationships. Even before he comes clean about his motivations (a couples only business retreat), I was shaking my head. Trinidad considers bringing her toys along to take care of her own needs. While compatibility in bed is not the most important part of a relationship, caring for your partner is, and it’s clear he doesn’t think to take care of her. He appears to tick all of her stable and mature boxes, but to me he seemed more staid and selfish. Orlando makes her burn. He’s the person she thinks about with her toys. But, he’s 25 and the passion she feels for him makes her wary (her ex-husband taught her that lesson). What she’s not letting herself see is all the ways he is a good man who, as the mentor to her teen boys, is helping her raise good, confident boys in a world that will try to make them small. Shenanigans ensue when her sons trick her into going to Carnival in a Black town in Florida with Orlando. This is the meat of the book and it is delightful.

As she did in Out of Office, Cunningham is showing her range. Trinidad and Orlando are quick with banter, funny, sexy, and charming, and they are also diving into deeply serious issues – how are they going to provide for and protect their families, what kind of person are they going to be, how much of themselves will they sacrifice for the security of their loved ones? Trinidad has been raising her boys mostly on her own and while she wants a partner, she needs him to be someone who will contribute to the stability of her family. Her desire for Orlando makes it harder for her to see him as that person. In their own ways, they each think they need to be someone they are not in order for the people they love to be safe. So yes, this is a fun and spicy romance perfect for whiling away an afternoon. It is also emotionally resonant, thoughtful, and incisive.

Highly recommended.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Afterglow Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer is pure fun with a lot of heart! I loved how it balanced laugh-out-loud moments with real emotional depth. Ms. V is a character you can't help but root for — confident, messy, bold, and figuring it all out one adventure at a time. The story felt like a celebration of friendship, self-love, and second chances. If you’re looking for a feel-good read that doesn’t take itself too seriously (but still hits you in the feels when you least expect it), this one’s for you! Perfect for anyone who loves strong, relatable characters and a good dose of chaos in their summer stories.

I REALLY enjoyed this read! As someone who doesn’t often read many age gap stories, this book really opened me up more to that trope.

So Boom, I was immediately rooting for Orlando. I saw the vision from JUMP, and it was really nice to see his character development throughout the story.

As for Trinidad…she stressed me out just a little bit. I completely understood her plight with wanting stability and a strong father figure for her boys, but WHEW. I felt she exaggerated the age-gap. Her 35 was giving 55 with some of her antics, but I’m gone stick beside her. I’m so happy that she was able to find a balance that allowed all of her wants AND needs to coexist.

All in all, I felt like I was getting a sneak peak into a culture that I’m not very familiar with, so I definitely enjoyed that aspect. Oan: Shoutout to the twins. We love a visionary. Prayers down for Milton.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio, and A.H. Cunningham for allowing me to have an ALC of Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer! This age gap romance was steamy and HOT perfect for the summer. The drama and build up towards the FMC and MMC together was AMAZING and very realistic with her feelings of reservation. Oh and Ms. V's twin boys were so cute! They truly loved their mother and knew that she should be with Orlando .

SN: That shower scene with Ms. V was something else and I ATE IT UP!!! lol

Great story

This book was amazing. I enjoyed Trinidad and Orlando. Growing relationships so much the emotional intelligence in this book really got to me, orlando's back story of dealing with his mother and the issues he had as the main caregiver, really touched me on a personal level. I really enjoyed the devs in which the author explored both of the mental state of each character coming to a resolution and all of this in one weekend. Wow I look forward to reading more books by this author because this book it's way more than it seems and really gives how Stella got our groove back vibes. And I just really enjoyed this book. Five stars can't recommend this enough

This was an OK read for me. This isn’t one of my favorites from the author. This is an age gap for romance, and the age difference is 10 years: the FMC is 35 and the MMC is 25. Now, the way the author writes the FMC‘s character, you would think that she is at least in her mid-40s, but she is very much still young, and in my opinion, 35 isn’t considered old to me or even close to being old. 10 years is a pretty good gap, but the way the author wrote her character just didn’t match the ages for me. I feel like in my opinion, if she would’ve been like 45 or maybe even 40 and he was 25, then I could’ve been like OK, I could understand like the great conviction she had about pursuing things with him and even her personality: she had a very old soul and she kept representing herself as such like I’m too old, it is, you know, like back in my day, and the sayings that she was referencing throughout the book, the MMC will say oh that’s that, that old people talk and I’m just like these are not old people, this is not old people talk. I don’t know, maybe because I’m the same age it didn’t resonate with me as being an old woman getting her “groove” back, so I’m like this is not old like but all in all, I finished the book and I did enjoy it until once I got deeper into the story, I started to like it more, but that was my only gripe with the story, which is the plot of the story, like the age gap, and an older woman finding her groove basically, I just didn’t identify with that because of the age difference. I love AH Cunningham, but this just wasn’t my favorite of hers.

Ms Vs Hot Girl Summer follows the romance between Trinidad, a 35 year old divorced mother of twin boys and Orlando, a 25 year old animation expert and mentor. Due to some shenanigans by Trinidad’s sons, she gets tricked into a weekend with Orlando during Carnival in Ofele Town, Florida. The two get a chance to act on their growing physical attraction away from their regular lives Their conversations are funny, and sexy but also thoughtful as they discuss the serious aspects of their lives like family responsibilities and mental health. However, their internal dialogues were stilted and read liked they were written by a different author. Overall this is an enjoyable forced proximity age gap romance, Thank you to Harlequin Romance for the digital arc.

A single, divorced Black mother of 15 year old twin boys gets parent trapped when she goes on a much needed vacation only to find herself without a place to stay and forced to share with her son's basketball coach who is ten years younger than her. I loved the reverse age gap, dual POV, forced proximity love story that has two opposites falling hard despite doing their best to resist their sizzling chemistry. This was steamy, had fantastic caregiver/disability rep (Orlando's mother is bipolar and requires a lot of assistance). Great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Tia Williams. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley & Afterglow Books by Harlequin for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Trinidad Velasquez is a single mother. Her main focus is on her children and her job. At one time, Ms. V once lived a life filled with fun and pleasure. But she married and got a divorce. Now she is dating a man who is stable yet boring. She still hopes to stay in a fulfilling relationship.
Even though she is attracted to her twin sons’ teacher, Mr. Orlando Wiggins. The problem is that Ms. V thinks he is too young. Orlando is ten years younger than her. She feels that dating a sexy young man will ruin her improved life. Ms. V is a mom and thinks her fun days are over because of her current life.
Orlando is attractive to her, but she can sense her apprehension. He tries to give her space, which is hard because she picks the boys up almost every day.
He hopes his trip to Carnival can get his mind off Ms. V.

She even plans a vacation with her current boyfriend, even though she doesn't want to go. Her plans are deterred. Her children decided to trick her into going to her favorite event, the Carnival. While there, she has no place to stay. She must stay with the hot teacher.
I enjoyed the book even though it was slow-paced. Most of the time, the main character struggles with her emotions. It frustrated me that she does not go with her heart. Trinidad knows she likes and loves Orlando but is afraid of how it would look. Most people are not even paying attention to these two with the age gap.
I was so glad she came to her senses and decided to give Orlando a chance. He proved to be a mature, passionate, and considerate person.

I love the way A.H. Cunningham displays and incorporates a different culture in her books! This was a really good read! She never disappoints with the spice 🌶️ 🥵! Very good 👏🏾👏🏾..!

Ms V’s Hot Girl Summer

Sun. Skin. Soca.
The perfect backdrop to bringing out the hot gyal you have been hiding in favor of being an adult.

Responsibilities. Age. Life
The things that keep you from truly going after you want and throwing caution to the wind.

This is backdrop to AH Cunningham’s latest release Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer. Trinidad and Orlando in theory can’t work, right? Is passion, and butterflies, and finally being seen really that important? Do they come before duty, responsibilities, and caretaking?

But who says you shouldn’t test theories to prove them right or wrong? With a little parent trapping we get to see if the hot gyal and the younger man can wine their wants and waistlines to the beat and a HEA.

I enjoyed this read. My preference for an age-gap is when the FMC is older. I was able to connect with the characters individually and through the connection they tried unsuccessfully to ignore.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 ⭐️

I truly enjoyed this book!

The author did an amazing job of connecting the couple. Orlando and Trinidad's budding romance was well developed and perfectly paced.

She also providing examples of accountability, self-advocacy, and supporting your partner throughout the book.

The way Ms. V arrived at carnival was stretched but cute.

I would definitely recommend this book to friends, family, and my book club!


Special thanks to the author, publisher, and netgalley.com for the ARC copy of this book!

I almost DNF this book because of the formatting, it was terribly difficult to read - I hope that is fixed before it's published digitally.

I'm not familiar with the carnival culture, so it was a new setting for me. Trinidad's twin sons set her up with their mentor and basically strand her out of town and she ends up hooking up with Orlando at the carnival and she really lets lose for the weekend.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Thank you, Harlequin Romance for the digital arc.

Thank you Harelquin Audio for the ALC.

I absolutely loved this book and I'm super happy I was able to read it. Trinidad, like so many mothers got caught up in her responsiblities as a single to two amazing boys and has forgotten whats its like to free up and enjoy herself. She also has a crush that she thinks is just a fantasy but the magic of carnival will help to change that. As a person of Caribbean heritage, I appreciated this novel even more because the carnival representation was well done! There were several times throughout this novel that I stopped the book to put on some Soca music by Machel Montano and Alison Hinds. This book made miss home and carnival kn this worst way. The romance was very cute and I loved that her boys wanted her to take a break and remember who she was outside of being their responsible mom. I absolutely recommend this one to anyone who likes easy, fun, romances, with a touch of serious topics.

Romance perfection!

Not only is this the perfect formulaic romance, we also get a beloved trope that I desperately look for! Older woman younger man! This is better than me saying a modern day How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

I love that Cunningham makes time for honest conversations before characters take the next big leap of faith all in the name of love!
Steam on point as well!

Trinidad Velasquez plays by the rules. Now she has one chance—one sizzlin’ Carnival weekend—to leave it all behind.

Go on, get spicy…

For the last sixteen years, Trinidad Velasquez has done everything right. Raised her twin sons on her own, worked her butt off and created a stable life. But Trinidad is done waiting for a happy ending to show up at her door, and when her current boyfriend proposes, she can’t help but wonder if, at her age, love should be practical, not butterflies and heart-racing chemistry.

But then her teenage sons trick her into a Caribbean Carnival vacation. And she finds herself staying with the one guy who’s always revved her engine…even if he’s a decade south of her dating range.

Orlando Wiggins has never been able to take his eyes off Ms. V. He’s mentored her boys for two years, and she’s never suggested there could be more. But at Carnival, between the sensual dancing, heated looks and electric touches, whatever he’s been feeling for her is definitely reciprocated.

Now Trinidad is having the time of her life. Every cell in her body is charged, alive. But will this new version of who she’s become stick around for the return to real life?

My Take:
The cover is gorgeous, no? Cunningham delivers on the vividity of the cover, but not exactly the weightlessness of it. Ms. V has responsibilities and so does Orlando, but their collective weight doesn't hold them down, and carried together, lessens. If the cover and the synopsis is intriguing, I do not think you will be disappointed.

This will be such a great summer read! I really enjoyed getting to see Trinidad step back into her hot girl summer business. It was great to see her get to explore that side of herself after years of focusing on her kids and her career. I think that the dynamic between her and Orlando was done very well. This was a fast-paced romance and through their few days together on this forced vacation, they grew a lot and learned so much about each other that the love they showcase felt very real to the reader. The spice was SPICY too, they were a match for each other both in and out of the bedroom WOW. I like that Orlando stood up for his own life and wants with his family as that is a tough situation for anyone to navigate and while he learned new things about himself Trinidad was there as his support. I appreciated how this ended again, given its fast paced plot. Super enjoyable read! This cover is what drew me in (I mean cmon, its GORGEOUS) but the story kept me hooked!