This novel left me with mixed feelings. While I appreciated its story development, the angst on every page made for an uncomfortable reading experience at times. The motivations of several main characters were unclear to me, which created distance between me and the story.

The pacing proved to be my biggest challenge. This is a plodding novel that takes considerable time to develop character dynamics, and I found myself struggling to pick it up. At one point, I seriously considered not finishing it.

Despite having a protagonist in her early 40s, this reads like it is supposed to be a slow-burn coming-of-age story. I suppose that is feasible as she had to overcome several types of abuse. But her taking up with two much younger characters didn’t resonate with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline / Wildfire for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. I wouldn’t recommend this one.

Hot Wax is a raw, haunting, and beautifully written novel that proves M.L. Rio’s range and growth as a storyteller. If you’re expecting another If We Were Villains, think again. This is slower, more character driven, and somehow even more emotionally intense.

I was captivated by the unique structure (A-Side, B-Side, and Snapshots), and Suzanne is one of the most complex protagonists I’ve read in a long time. Flawed, real, and unforgettable. The prose is lyrical, the themes heavy (grief, trauma, identity).

It’s weird, visceral, and a little bit unhinged in the best way.

⚠️ Content warning: Includes a scene involving child abuse. Please read with care.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and M.L. Rio for the ARC. This one is going to linger!

I didn't know what to expect going into reading this novel, but it drew me in right away with its complex, flawed family relationships and a main character who, decades later, is still processing her past. Suzanne is such a compelling character to follow, and ML Rio is fantastic as always in taking us on an emotional but cathartic ride. It's very different from If We Were Villains, but equally breathtaking and very much worth the read!

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

I loved If We Were Villians and was subsequently disappointed by Graveyard Shift. Despite my best efforts, I could not bring myself to even finish my advanced reader copy of Hot Wax. (Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster!).

I sense that I’m likely to be in the minority with this opinion, but I truly could not stand the overdone language. It looks the writing principle “show, don’t tell” in the face and laughs.

If that doesn’t bother you and you’re looking for a sweaty, grungy, multi-character contemporary fiction (because the vibe is on point, I’ll give it that), then you might like it.

What do I mean by verbose, unnecessary, overdone language? Two examples, to help you decide for yourself if it’s a dealbreaker:

“…Skittles. An old favorite with a sharp mnemonic aftertaste. She liked to crush them between her thumb and index finger, making flat crackled starbursts when the candy shell split.” - just eat the damn skittles, what is the point of this whole charade?

“Because there was Gil's handwriting in sticky black ballpoint. Suzanne, it said, the letters printed so carefully, like he was trying them out for the first time.” - I understand the emotional sentiment she’s trying to convey, but it’s a throwaway description; clearly he’s written letters before, probably even her name, and it reads as an asinine, unrealistic thought.

I found while reading this I really wanted a playlist by M.L. Rio…but of course couldn’t find one. M.L. Rio transports the reader in Hot Wax into a time where rock and roll reigns supreme. There was a time in my life that I was going to be a music teacher. I listened to a lot of music, even more classic rock. In this we have an interesting chapter structures. This is divided into 5 parts. We do have snapshots where it will give us a time and a place. After tha we do have time jumps where we see past time periods where they are labeled as “A side”: for those chapters and “B side” for the present.
We go from the time where Suzanne is on the road with her father, Gil and his rock band. To the present where she is on the road again but this time Gil has now died and she is on the run from her husband. I found the story overall to be very well crafted. This is my first M.L. Rio book. I do own Graveyard Shift and If We Were Villians and now I am going to have to go on and read them. I liked the pacing of this. I really like how the story was developed and executed. This does contain some subject matter that some may find disturbing so I reccomend checking out and authors notes or content warning as always.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ok, I really hate to say this but I struggled with Hot Wax which sucks because ML Rio wrote one of my all time favorite books, If We Were Villains. I also enjoyed her Novella, Graveyard Shift. But this one isn’t hitting the same. I’m not sure if it’s the timelines or the POVs, but I just couldn’t get into the story like I did with her previous books. I do plan to reread on audio upon release because I’m desperate to love all of her works.

There's just something about books the delve into the music scene and celebrity culture that does it for me every time. Suzanne's dad has died and he left her a car and other personal items. In the past as a child, she toured with her father and his band. Now in the present day she goes on a road trip. There are a lot of TW's in this book, like drug use, and violence, mostly described through the eyes of a child. But overall, this was a face-paced read that I enjoyed.

Even though Hot Wax is a tangible shift in setting and interests from If We Were Villains and Graveyard Shift, it still felt distinctly and wonderfully ML Rio. The writing was sharp and intelligent, but not unattainable or pretentious. Impactful, gut punch lines would come out of nowhere, with so much emotion. The characters immediately felt so real and Suzanne’s relationship with her father was layered and subtle and complex.

Let me start by saying I love music (I played viola and am a vocalist, I married a professional musician who plays in bands and music plays a huge part in our family’s life. As a result, books about music always hit it for me. And this was no exception. Although, I was glad my experience married to a musician wasn’t the same as Suzanne’s mother’s experience. 😂

I do think this was a slower burn and even more of a character focused book than If We Were Villains, Rio’s debut that this will certainly be compared to. If you go into this expecting the exact same book as IWWV, you might be disappointed, but I found this to be a really interesting and strong development of Rio’s craft and really enjoyed the differences!

Something about the way M.L. Rio writes amazes me - the imagery, the metaphors, the sentence structure - altogether it makes for very compelling reading!

I loved the chapter headers and book structure - “A side” was for flashbacks to young Suzanne’s life and “B side” was today, as Suzanne runs from her adult home (and husband, Rob) in the butter yellow Ranchero left to her as a part of her fathers inheritance. “Snapshot” chapters reflect Suzanne’s photography and tell short stories and flashbacks that don’t fit well into A or B side chapters.

The middle part of the book feels a little slow, but there’s a ton happening and simmering beneath the surface that all comes to a head, so I thought it went well with the story.

Please check the trigger warnings for this book - there is one particular scene that I could see being very triggering for anyone who has survived child abuse, so I want folx to be aware.

Thank you so much to the author, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for early access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

someone make a movie right now! the writing is so immersive i truly felt like i was in the 80s & am now on such a rock n roll kick! i did not want this book to end and found myself putting it down just so that i could make it last longer. vibes are dark daisy jones n the six x thelma n louise? but it really is a book of its own, i’ve never read anything like it. pls disregard the average rating and pick it up once it comes out m.l. rio you can do no wrong 🙏

thank you netgalley for the arc!

M.L. Rio’s newest release packs a punch, much like her earlier works. This book dives deep into grief, childhood trauma, and the unraveling of a painful past as Suzanne’s present fate slowly unfolds. It’s messy, but intentionally so. Suzanne is a disaster, both as a child and an adult, and you’re never quite sure whether you love her or hate her. That emotional push and pull, paired with a hauntingly vague ending, is classic M.L. Rio.

While others have mentioned the beginning felt like a slow trek, I found it more compelling than the second half. The story seemed to lose a bit of its grip as it moved forward, and I felt the ending didn’t quite deliver the climax the buildup promised. Still, one standout for me was getting the perspective of a main character in her forties. Something refreshingly different from the usual 20 something protagonists in most fiction.

If you’re looking for a story about music, the long shadows of abuse, complex and messy characters, and a woman navigating a full blown midlife crisis with a thrilling element this book might be exactly what you need.

Hot Wax is moody, intense, and soaked in atmosphere. M.L. Rio delivers that signature blend of lyrical prose and emotional grit, pulling you into a world that feels raw and unfiltered. The vibes are strong - grimy, nostalgic, and a little unhinged in the best way. It’s not always a smooth ride, and the pacing can meander, but if you’re into character-driven stories, this one will stick with you.

This was very different from the last novel I read by ML Rio, and it was equally as good. I really enjoyed the whole story, well written.

When I first saw the advertisement for Hot Wax, I was immediately drawn in. I love books about fictitious bands and the dynamics that go with them. I also loved the suspense that was woven throughout the book, as well as the back-and-forth timelines. I was a bit disappointed in the culmination of the "A-Side" sections; I wanted a bit more bang for that portion. I do understand that our main character wasn't present for it, but it would have been nice to have a bit more details as to why the relationship ended the way it did. I loved all the little details about the printing of the book, with the "A-Side" and "B-Side" timelines, and the "Snapshots" that look back. Overall, this holds up against M.L. Rio's other books, and I will continue to look for more of her work.

This book was pure fire, equal parts raw, weird, and totally unforgettable. Hot Wax blends horror, queer desire, and artistic obsession into something that feels like a fever dream you don’t want to wake up from.

The prose is sticky and visceral (in the best way), and the main character’s descent into this molten, surreal world of wax and transformation is both horrifying and strangely beautiful. I couldn’t look away.

Definitely one for fans of Tender Is the Flesh or Boy Parts, but gayer, messier, and more haunting. Unsettling in all the right ways.

The biggest thank you for NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC of "Hot Wax" by M.L. Rio. I've had this pre-ordered for ages now. This is my must-read book recommendation of the year.

I can't exactly find the words to describe how amazing this book was.

The writing had an absolute visceral energy - I loved it. Reading through Suzanne's eyes broke my heart but also healed some part of me that I was trying to forget.

'Hot Wax' felt like a punch in the gut, but it also felt like coming home.

Welcome to the world of rock and roll.

M.L Rio does not disappoint with this new novel. Filled with blistering prose, this novel explores one woman's self discovery and reckoning of a lost childhood surrounded by music and filled with conflicting memories. It is a riot of a novel - a love letter to metal heads and music lovers.

M.L Rio doesn't hold your hand throughout the story and entrusts the reader to make connections and work through the raucous cadence of the story. The flipping between perspectives was very successful, in my opinion, and each time flop added another greasy layer to the story.

What I found most exhilarating reading was the descriptions of the music and the concerts. It was so palpable. I could feel the energy. Fans of metal rejoice cause baby this one is for us. It's a special kind of wild to be able to viscerally picture the fictional concert M.L is describing. I felt as if I was right there with Suzanne watching her dad perform in all his glory. And if you've never had the opportunity to go to a concert, which I am so sorry for you if you haven't, ML descriptions are spot on.

I don't even know how else to describe how much I enjoyed this book. Daisy Jones' who? Gil and the Kills forever.

Honestly, I feel like some people won't like how it ended...I most certainly had a "wait that's it!?" but after simmering in the beat of the story I think it was the most fitting ending.

As always, I will read anything M.L writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Simon & Schuster as well as NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. What a ride this book was. I knew from the get go that this was going to be something entirely different from what I usually read, but after being first introduced to M.L. Rio through If We Were Villains, I knew this was going to be great! Rio has a way with writing that is just so visual and poetic, it becomes immersive.

The story goes back and forth between Suzanne’s childhood years touring on the road with her father, Gil, an up and coming rock star to her adulthood years where she is on the run from her husband and their shared lifestyle after finding out her father passed away. The only thing that her father left in her name was his old car, and Suzanne didn’t understand why. Desperate for answers and trying to connect the events that led her to being the person she grew to be now, she leaves her life behind.

The descriptions are fantastic, the flow of writing is so easily to follow along, and the characters themselves are so interesting. If you like rock and roll music and a bit of mystery, then pick this book up!

HOT WAX is a triumph of a road trip novel. Filled with suspense of what the hell happened to the band in the past and how is our heroine meant to build a new life with all that behind her. A propulsive look at the world of rock and roll and what it means to define yourself outside of a parent's shadow.

Wow. This was a wild ride (in the Ranchero) from start to finish and had such a satisfying ending.

The character development was UNREAL and I really got a sense for everyone in this story, even the smaller ones like Vince and Elko. Rio really has a way with writing that lets the reader capture every scene, every character, and every little detail perfectly in their mind. Hot Wax is no exception to that. I felt like I was there with Suzanne, through all the pieces of her life. My heart broke with her and for her.

It really felt like I was on the road with Gil and the Kills too, living vicariously through Suzanne like a groupie for a rock and roll band in the 80s. It wasn't all pretty, and Rio doesn't hold any punches getting to the nitty gritty of life on the road. Also, I SERIOUSLY hated Rob. And Skelly, because I felt betrayed by him at the end. He wasn't likeable to begin with, but something about his relationship with Suzanne really broke my heart after the big reveal.

TLDR: I LOVED this and I'll read anything M. L. Rio writes because she's incredibly talented.