I found it quite difficult to immerse myself in the world and it didn't quite live up to all the hype I had seen online pre its release.

This book was terribly written and the story was embarrassingly bad - yet I couldn't put it down?

Gabrielle Korn deserved better!

I can see what Tinx is trying to do with Hotter in the Hamptons, I just don’t think she managed to pull it off because the narrator is such a vapid, self-centred caricature of everything society thinks “content creators” (influencers!!) are. This book reeks of privilege (maybe Tink's private school education that she mentions in the acknowledgements has something to do this with this...); I almost guffawed at the narrator claiming her life had been hard in the closing chapter. What was hard about her life? A lot of the difficult things came about because she acted like a complete idiot with no regard for any of the people in her life who she supposedly cared about (the phone call with her mum when she completely ignored everything she said made me furious!!).

I’m not too sure what Tinx’s view of bisexuality is, but the narrator’s is absolutely wild. It was really strange to read a book like this in 2025. Certainly not a book I would be recommending for the sapphic community. There were characters in it who felt almost like caricatures of sapphic women; Aly was literally a lesbian stereotype and her whole going for straight girls thing just felt so early 2000s. So much of this book felt dated. It read like Samantha’s gay 'moment' in Sex and the City. And that was what, 20-25 years ago?!

By the end, Lola has grown as a person, that’s clear. Although she definitely needed to grow as she was utterly unbearable at times. I love a chaotic narrator at the best of times, but there were so few redeeming aspects of her character that I struggled to get through the first 30% of the book. Eventually, when the romance with Aly begins, the story becomes more interesting and different sides to Lola are revealed. It’s almost like her gay awakening makes her slightly more likeable. The chaotic romance between the two is toxic and love-bomby, but I loved it. This part for me was definitely the most enjoyable. Lola was even charming in parts (apart from the whole “who’s Emmett?” part- I felt so bad Ryan!).

All in all, I gave this 2 stars. It was entertaining in parts, despite Lola being a largely unlikeable protagonist, who mistreated the people in her life who loved her and whose privilege carried her through despite her being “cancelled”. Although she claimed to have had it hard, the worst thing that she experienced was a Gen Z teen being a little mean to her. That was literally it. So, Lola, you weren’t for me, but maybe you’ll be more enjoyable for someone else!

I must admit, I had no idea who Tinx was before reading this book. I also admit, I won't be following her socials or podcasts any time soon. But I will be a devout follower of her written work or whoever is her ghost writer. CAVEAT - I did not take this book seriously as anything other than a lite summer read. The book transported me back to a northeast beach summer where the unabashed love for sex worked its way into my body in the most delicious ways.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

there was another review for this book that i read that said something along the lines of reading this book gave them irreparable psychic damage. i couldn’t explain it better myself.

for what is supposed to be a steamy summer lesbian romance, this was honestly ridiculously homophobic. the “i can’t be anything other than straight” mentality was demeaning and weird. every character was a one dimensional stereotype with literally no growth besides realisations about human nature that ive seen five year old girls have. like what do you mean “really looked at him”.

the only slightly redeeming thing about this book is the rumoured ghost writer. like do you understand how much of a terrible person you, the author, have to be to have a ghost writer and then have that ghost writer more than likely go completely out of their way to make you come across as the worst person in this book, and then how also how vapid you must be to read this and go yeah this is a good book! and then have a team of people that say the same thing??? girl take some advice from your own book and fire your publicist.

Thank you #Netgalley for the copy!

I had been hearing about this book and learned it was already picked up to be a TV series. This was a great summer beach read following Lola as her influencer world crumbles and she escapes to the Hamptons with her BFF. There are so many comedic moments and really captures the new influencer world and how quickly things rise and fall. Very quick, light hearted, funny summer read!

The perfect summer read: Drama? Check. A rival? Check. An unexpected "friendships"? Also check. This is exactly what I want to take with me to read on summer vacation. And if there was no summer vacation? Plant me out in my backyard with a hose and an umbrella and reading books just like these make be think I am.

Lola’s professional and personal life fell apart after the release of a exposé, and she heads for the Hamptons with her best friend to escape. Unfortunately her plan didn't work so well.

I really wanted to like this book, but it didn't do it for me, but I finished it.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for giving me an ARC.

Billed as the romance for a new generation, Hotter in the Hamptons follows Lola, a canceled fashion influencer who retreats to the Hamptons with her gay best friend. I, like many others, struggled with this novel as it seemed like a missed opportunity for exploration of character growth and reckoning with Lola's internalized issues. Instead, Lola, who spends a large portion of the novel in a sapphic relationship, refuses to acknowledge her queer-ness and insists on calling herself straight. She ignores those who are close to her without any real contrition, and essentially ends up returning back to her original ways with no additional growth.

Thank you to Bloom Books and to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Hotter in the Hamptons starts with a promising premise: a high-profile fashion influencer, Lola, retreats to the Hamptons after a public scandal, only to find her rival living next door. The setup suggests an engaging story about rivalry, growth, and redemption.

However, the main character’s constant self-absorption and lack of self-awareness made it difficult to connect or root for her. Instead of evolving or learning from her mistakes, Lola remains largely the same throughout the book, which undercuts the potential for meaningful character development.

The story misses the chance to offer a sharp critique of influencer culture, opting instead for a lighter, less challenging portrayal. For me, the narrative didn’t resonate, and even the audiobook version failed to draw me in. While the concept had potential, the execution left me disappointed.

Talk about a missed opportunity. Tinx’s sophomore novel, Hotter in the Hamptons, had all the makings of a deliciously satisfying comeuppance story, but it ultimately falls flat, leaving a bitter taste rather than the sweet satisfaction of justice served. I’m rounding up to 2 stars for the premise alone, which is a testament to how much potential this book squandered.
Our protagonist, Lola, is introduced as a New York City fashion “it-girl” whose life crumbles after a public misstep. She flees to the Hamptons, expecting to lick her wounds and rebuild her brand while sipping rosé by the pool. What she gets instead is her arch-nemesis, culture critic Aly Ray Carter, as her next-door neighbor. This setup promises a clash of titans, a forced reckoning, and perhaps even some much-needed character development.
However, Lola proves to be utterly insufferable from start to finish. She is completely full of herself, wallowing in self-pity while showing absolutely no genuine remorse or understanding of her own flaws. Her social unawareness is astounding, as she blunders through interactions, oblivious to the impact she has on others. Frankly, she’s entirely unlikeable, and it’s a struggle to root for someone so consistently self-absorbed and devoid of any relatable qualities.
The most frustrating aspect of Hotter in the Hamptons is its refusal to challenge Lola. The entire premise dangled the tantalizing possibility of an influencer being humbled, forced to confront her privilege and terrible personality. But no, Lola never has to truly change. She gets her happy ending, not because she evolves or learns any meaningful lessons, but seemingly just because the plot demands it. It’s an absolutely awful message, suggesting that even the most egregious displays of vanity and self-centeredness can be glossed over without consequence. This book had every chance to be a sharp, insightful commentary on influencer culture, but it chose instead to be a bland endorsement of it.

Just not a book for me. I couldn't stand the FMC and the way she acted. I even attempted to listen to the audiobook of the book but it also just proved to me that it wasn't a book for me.

A fast-paced, entertaining novel about a disgraced influencer's summer escapades. Despite some toxic moments, it's a binge-worthy read that captures the essence of Hamptons luxury. Perfect for readers seeking a light, summer story.

I had a great time reading this book, from the main character switching rolls in life and finding herself, to trying to solve why she’s hated by Ali after trying to escape all her bad luck at home only to realize she can’t escape it no matter where she goes because of her rival right next door. Such an amazing empowing reading highly recommended if

I had a lot of mixed feelings about this. I was struggling with getting into the story and the writing style but I think there is something there to be interested in. I think it just wasn't for me. The writing style was a little cheesy and predictable.

3.75 ⭐️ A quick, mildly chaotic palette cleanser. It was fun in moments, a bit toxic in others. But overall, it was entertaining to the point of binging it in one day. It certainly made me want to disappear for a summer and vacation in the Hamptons.

Lola's fall from being an NYC socialite to social pariah sets the stage for a summer escape that leads to the Hamptons! Now, the emotional dynamic and love story are anything but breezy. The tug of war between Lola and Aly Ray Carter—the journalist who hammered the nail in the coffin of Lola's demise—is filled with chaos, a bit of toxicity, as well as unexpected vulnerability. "Should I be rooting for them?" was a thought that crossed my mind more than once.

Lola is a character who's so far up her head, she can't really see the support she's getting from her best friend, which leads to her neglecting the one friendship that matters. But her "coming of age" towards the end of the story does pay off, and ultimately left me rooting for her!

It's certainly not perfect—it's quite messy, actually—but that's kind of the appeal, as unbelievable as it may sound. It's short and bingeable with its drama and sizzling sapphic tension, making it great beach read.

I found the writing style enjoyable but I just couldn't connect with the characters. I want to feel connected to the main fmc but I just couldn't.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. What a fun and perfect summer read, Hotter in the Hamptons, is. The novel's setting in the Hamptons and its exploration of influencer culture added a contemporary flair.

I almost didn't read this because I kept seeing nothing but bad reviews but to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. It was a quick and fun read that gives you a great summer vibe. I started this late at night and finished the next morning. It was definitely a good palate cleaner from all the dark romance/fanatasy that I've been reading lately.


If you've been thinking of giving this a read, let this be a sign to do it!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tinx, and Bloom Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hotter in the Hamptons follows a cancelled influencer named Lola who starts to lose everything she worked hard for (her following, her closet, her boyfriend). Then, critic Aly Ray Carter posts a scathing story about Lola which just seems to make everything worse. Lola panics and flees to the Hamptons, only to find out that Aly, the very same critic who tore her to shreds, is now her new neighbor. Lola soon finds herself in an enemies to lovers romance.

Firstly, I must say that I DNF'd this book about a third of the way through. The main character did not seem to have any real depth other than "I'm an influencer who everyone hates now." The inciting incident that lead to her cancellation also seemed very weird. Saying lesbian chic, to me, reads that "lesbian" is bad and you shouldn't want to emulate it.

The amount of LGBTQ stereotypes showcased in this book is also very shocking. The "gay best friend" archetype with no other discerning personality traits is tired and should be left back in the early 2000s. Additionally, saying a lesbian "only goes after straight girls and turns them" is an extremely harmful rhetoric to spread. Looking into it and seeing that the book was written by a straight woman who only dates straight men, I'm a little baffled that this was even approved by the publishers. Upon reading other reviews for the book, I was glad to see that other LGBTQ readers agreed with me.

The last thing I will touch on is the use of internalized homophobia found in this book. If this book had been written by someone within the community, I may have been a little more lenient, but instead it felt really unrealistic and borderline offensive. Characters can be bisexual! Let Lola be bisexual! Having her constantly remind readers that she's straight as she has sexual thoughts and experiences with woman feels very dismissive of other identities that aren't straight or gay.

Not a book for me, but some of other types of romance readers might find more enjoyment out of it than I did.