This series has been so fun! It’s my first time reading anything by this author even though I see her all over TikTok! The narration for this book was fantastic! I was so excited to get a book about Jackson after reading the last couple books in the series! I typically love the age gap trope! However, the fmc was so bratty at the beginning I just found her insufferable and it was hard to root for her. As the book went on, she did become more tolerable. I did love Jackson though!

This was definitely my favorite in the Sugarlake series so far! Emily McIntire delivers another emotionally charged, character-driven romance with Beneath the Hood—and the audiobook narration only made it better. The voice work was fantastic, bringing depth and emotion to both Jackson and Blakely’s perspectives.

I loved Jackson as a broody yet caring lead, still reeling from heartbreak but trying to rebuild his life in LA. Blakely’s character felt raw and real—famous, lonely, and battling intense pressure behind her influencer image. Their chemistry is immediate, intense, and full of tension as they navigate forbidden feelings and emotional healing.

The age gap and “off-limits” setup adds that extra dose of angst, but McIntire handles it with care and heart. There are tough topics here (disordered eating, mental health, grief), but they’re handled with sensitivity and make the romance feel earned rather than rushed.

It’s emotional, a little messy, and deeply human—which is exactly how I like my contemporary romance. Plus, I loved the added dimension of hearing it all unfold through a great performance. Highly recommend if you enjoy angsty, emotional slow burns with flawed but lovable characters.

Okay so full stop I am nottttt an age gap romance girlie butttttt this book felt different than how I usually feel about it. I actually enjoyed this book A LOTTT! I didn’t feel that Blakely was immature like I usually see in age gap! I absolutely was so excited to read Jackson’s story because I loved him so much in the first two books.
Jackson and Blakely were meant for each other from the start and you can just feel the love radiating off of Jackson. I know that’s what I Blakely has issues but Jackson saw right through them and helped her as best as he could. I genuinely believe that Blakely’s dad’s ultimatum saved her and made her realize she needed to get help for herself. I absolutely adored this book and I have had the best time reading this story so far. The narrators have been phenomenal throughout this series and have allowed me to have a connection with each character. The only criticism I have is that I would’ve loved to have more of the characters searching for Lily. I feel kind of thrown into the next book without having any idea of what is going on with Lily and we haven’t heard much of her since the first book. But honestly I know I will get those answers from the last book!
Thank you so much NetGalley, Emily McIntire, and Blackstone Publishing for giving me a copy of this ALC!

I liked this book! Tackled some difficult topics. I don’t have experience with them but it seemed like they were talked about in a very good way. I’m looking forward to more of the Sugarlake Series

As much as it absolutely pains me to say this, I was not a huge fan of this book. I adored Jackson's character, and he really did deserve to have a happy ending. Should it have been with Blakely? That's debatable. She was a very unlikable character for a lot of reasons not the least of which was that she was young and incredibly naive. While this is not surprising for a girl of 19 or in a story ABOUT a girl of 19, it was an annoying choice for the FMC for Jackson's story. After everything he went through with Alina, he just deserved better, and it made me sad to see him settle for less... again.

Emily has an incredible way of telling stories that draws me in, and even though this was not my favorite book of this series, I still really enjoy her writing and the worlds that she builds. I'm looking forward to reading Lily's story. I think that one is going to be the most emotional one yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Emily McIntire for an advanced listener's copy of this book.

I love everything Emily McIntire writes and I love being able to listen to some of my top stories from her. It really brings the story and characters to life.

✨ Arc Review ✨

✨ Age gap and enemies to lovers fans, you’re going to love this one!

Blakely Donahue is one of the biggest influencers in North America at only 19.
At 28, Jackson Rhoades has his dream job of restoring classic cars for Hollywood movies.
Jackson left his small town of SugarLake to mend his broken heart.
Blakely has never had a boyfriend. She feels alone most of the time even though she’s constantly around people and followed by millions.
Blakely‘s dad hires her to help out at the front desk of the business where Jackson restores cars. She loves to try to get under Jackson’s skin and annoy him on purpose. He tries to avoid her, but then her dad asks him to babysit her essentially. Jackson reluctantly agrees.
Blakely has some deep rooted issues with trying to be perfect. She has an eating disorder and severe panic attacks if the slightest thing is not in her control. Jackson quickly realizes she’s not what she puts out there for the world to see and during one of her panic attacks he grounds her when everybody else in her world just acts like she’s throwing a temper tantrum. He sees her. She feels a strong pulled towards him even though she knows he’s off-limits !!!

✨My thoughts: I identify so much with the FMC. This really was a hard read for me and I just wanted to reach in the book and hug Blakely. I broke my heart to see her go through everything she went through. Jax is such a great guy. The way he was there for her no matter what she needed was so sweet. I do wish he wouldn’t have treated her so much like a rebound at first.
They do both show a lot of character growth throughout the story but I can just never get behind miscommunication and a third act break up.
Also, while I really connected to the FMC, I did not care for the side characters at all.
I know this is the 3rd book in an interconnected series & I think I need to go back & check out the first 2. Maybe reading those 1st would’ve helped me to connect to the other characters more.
Overall, this is my first book by @itsemilymcintire & I would definitely recommend!

I love Jax way too much to care about the age gap though, sometimes it did give me a little bit of the ick, especially since she’s a virgin (19 and 28). It didn’t take away from how hooked I was a though.

The storyline is dark and emotional but the mental health representation was so good. I’m so excited to finally find out what happened to Lily in book 4.

The narrators were perfect for this audiobook.

This just wasn’t for me. I LOVE a good age gap, but having the FMC a 19 yr old influencer just felt ick. Her issues with food were a huge role in this story, and both characters needed some healing, but having her worrying about 112 lbs felt just TOO off.

This age gap just didn’t do it for me. I did appreciate Blake’s inner dialogue and issue towards foods. Many people can relate to that.

This is the only book I have read in this series, so I didn’t have a look into the dynamic of Jackson’s relationships prior to him moving to California. But lawd did I wish he would stop being up his ex/friend whatever they were.

And I LOVE a good age gap, but 19?! This girl is barely an adult and her actions showed it.

All in all it was and I enjoyed listening.

This book was really heartfelt and I like that it dealt with real issues of friendships, self care, that young women sometimes face. I like how the central issue of her relationship with food and coming to terms with her needing and embracing help unfolded. I think for the audio or the written text a link of resources or where folk can get help should be included. I love that male character in this role that he was not a stereo-typical one that we have seen before and that he came from small town living into the world of Hollywood.

Thank you Netgalley and Emily McIntire, for the ALC.

Unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. The story line didn't quite grab me and pull me in...

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had the audio for this one. I had a hard time getting through it. I understand that she has issues but the whole weight thing in the beginning had me zoning out immediately.
I’m not sure if it was the narration that had me constantly switching books mid read but it was hard for me to stay focused. Her being 19 was a bit weird for me and I don’t mind age gap books at all.

I really wanted to like this one. It’s definitely no my favorite my Emily. This took me almost a month on audio to finish this book.

TBH I was not vibing with the male narrator at all.

This book is a perfect fit for readers who are captivated by emotionally intense, forbidden love stories that delve into the contrast between public image and private longings, all told from the perspective of both protagonists. The narrative will likely explore themes of societal expectations, personal desires, and the sacrifices made in the name of love or duty. The dual perspective adds depth and complexity, allowing readers to fully understand the motivations and internal conflicts of both characters as they navigate their hidden relationships.

Just finished listening to an audio arc of, Beneath The Hood This is the third book in The Sugarlake series. This story is about Jackson, Alina and Becca's friend from the first two books. When he moved to Sugarlake as a teen with his mother, it was right after his father passed. Jax and his dad loved to work on classic cars together, and after his dad passed, working on cars helped Jax feel closer to him. His dad's dream was for cars they worked on to be on the big screen. So when Jax was offered his dream job to do just that, he couldn't turn it down. Plus he needed a reason to get out of Sugarlake anyway to mend his broken heart. While working at his new job in Cali, he finds out he's not only there just to work on cars for the movies but also to keep an eye on his boss's famous daughter Blakely. Blakely is an influencer with tons of followers, someone who posts what she's wearing and keeps count of what she eats. Jax thinks she's fake and superficial, but as he spends more time with her he starts to see the girl behind all that. He begins to truly see her and he finds someone he truly enjoys spending time with. He's healing from his broken heart, she finally found someone she can be herself around, and their chemistry is undeniable. But they're nine years apart, she's famous, and her dad is his boss... Yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. This was a really great story! I loved how they saw each other, flaws and all, and they helped each other heal and grow. I really enjoyed this and I'm so excited for the next one! 🧡📚

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this audio ARC of Beneath The Hood, in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this one. The narration wasn't bad, but I did not feel connected to the storyline. I have read other works by Emily McIntire, but this one might not be for me

Thank you NetGalley for the ability to listen to this ARC for honest feedback!!

Let’s start with the positives, I liked Jackson. I think his character was fitting the his personality. He was likable and I enjoyed the car flipped aspect of his career. The story itself had the most potential but it just missed the mark for me.

The age gap didn’t feel great. Blakely was a little too immature and young for my liking. The mental health rep was good but her personality just wasn’t my favorite. I really struggled to connect with this book and the characters

4 stars. Tender, taboo-ish, and totally wrecked me......in the best way.

Let’s get one thing straight: if you’re coming to Beneath the Hood expecting just a sexy car-mechanic-meets-influencer slow burn with a few spark plugs thrown in…SURPRISE! You’ve actually walked into an emotional demolition derby wearing a glitter crop top and accidentally falling in love with the pit crew.

Brooke Bloomingdale voices Blakely with the perfect balance of sass, sadness, and simmering hope. You can practically hear her trying to hold it all together through the filter of influencer polish. Liam DiCosimo, meanwhile, gives Jackson a gruff warmth that oozes protective energy, daddy issues, and just enough broken-boy charm to ruin your life (in a good way). Together, their narration chemistry sparks like jumper cables on wet pavement.

Jackson Rhoades is the human version of a country song, he’s got a dream job in LA, a heart held together with duct tape, and enough emotional baggage to charge for extra luggage. What was supposed to be a chill gig restoring vintage cars turns into surprise! babysit the boss’s Insta-famous, messily glamorous daughter, Blakely.

Blakely, meanwhile, is not your average rich-girl rebel. She’s vulnerable, painfully human behind the filters, and trying desperately not to unravel under the weight of “perfection” and her calorie-counting, validation-hungry existence. She’s not looking for a saviour, but Jackson might be the first person who sees her, not her social media stats.

Cue: forbidden tension, shared trauma bonding, late-night conversations that should NOT be happening, and a whole lot of emotional slow burn so intense it should come with a fire extinguisher.

❤️ Tropes Served Hot:
* Grumpy x Vulnerable Sunshine™️
* Age gap with actual emotional maturity discussions (9 years and a WHOLE lot of therapy material)
* “You’re off-limits but I’d burn down a city for you”
* Found-family ache and real discussions around disordered eating, mental health, and trust

🔧 What Makes It Rev:
* Emotional depth that goes beyond “he’s hot and fixes cars” (although...yes)
* A romance that’s earned, raw, and genuinely healing on both sides
* Intense chemistry but balanced by actual consent and conversations about power dynamics
* Low-key commentary on how broken people can still be worthy of love

⚠️ Pump the Brakes:
* This book doesn’t shy away from heavy themes—check the trigger warnings if needed
* Some side plot threads resolve a bit conveniently
* You may want to yell at both characters...frequently. But it’s mostly with love.


Beneath the Hood is more than just a romance, it’s a beautifully messy exploration of grief, trauma, trust, and how hard it is to believe someone could want you, not the curated version of you. McIntire delivers a raw, redemptive story with just enough steam to fog the windshield and Bloomingdale and DiCosimo make it feel like you're living every moment.

9 year age gap?? He works for her dad?? FORBIDDDDDENNNN ROMANCE?? Baby, I’m sat. I had water, snacks, and I ATEEEE THIS SHIZ TF UP! And the EPILOGUE?!;!!,!:$,$jejcjjejcjdjdkjfjkfjcjr yasss

PLEASE! CHECK! TRIGGER! WARNINGS! BEFORE! READING!!

I love Emily. Her writing style pulls me in every time and I always fall in love with the characters she writes.