Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. I usually love Emily McIntire books, but this one I found the mfc to be insufferable, the whole book she whines that she has to work for her father’s company and that no one takes her seriously that she wants to be an influencer and need to have the perfect image. She has an eating disorder that send her reeling anytime something isn’t cooked plain with absolutely no extras, and in one part of the book someone comments that she looks fat causing her to spiral even more.
He’s 10 years older and protects her after being directed to by her father and falls for her quickly but knows that their age gap it would be wrong since she’s only 19. He tries to help her be her and helps her thru her anxiety.

If you have food sensitivities or eating disorder I would stray from this book, as the mfc stresses A LOT over food so much so as to have a panic attack after having a slice of pizza and has major anxiety with any food in general.

I was so excited for this book. I loved book 1 in the series and liked book 2, but I was excited for Jackson. However…this was painful. The majority of the book documented body dysmorphia in great detail, but then completely skated past the therapy and road to recovery. The romance was basically insta-love because you NEVER learn anything about her personality to understand why he likes her other than she breaks down when things don’t go her way. Also, the privileged sob story is so so bad, and combine that with an influencer and you’ve completely lost 99% of readers. Just was not for me.

Although I absolutely loved how cute this book was and how much I absolutely ADORE Emily McIntire, I was not prepared for the FMC to have an eating disorder. This is something that is triggering for me and I often have to prepare myself when beginning to read a book with triggers. However, I was surprised by this as it was not mentioned in a trigger page. I highly suggest proceeding with caution if this is something that is a trigger for you!

Let me first start off by thanking NetGalley, Emily McIntire and Blackstone Publishing for gifting me the ALC of this book!
I absolutely loved this book! It was beautifully done! I felt all of the feels! The way mental health was represented in this book made me feel so seen!
Jaxson land his dream job of fixing classic cars in California. He soon learns that his “real” job would be to keep an eye on his boss’s 19 year old daughter. Blakely is a world famous influencer. Her life is completely in the public eye. Everything she does and says is on display and criticized. The fame she thought she wished for comes at a cost. The need for perfection or appearance of it has led to her suffering panic attacks and an eating disorder. When she looks in the mirror she only sees the flaws. After they start spending time together, Jaxson and Blakely soon can’t fight the attraction and chemistry building between them. He sees her. The real her and loves her flaws and all! Trying to get her to see that her flaws are beautiful isn’t easy and hiding their relationship and feelings is even harder.
The emotion, pain, and love I felt with this book make it a 5 star read! Thank you Emily for this beautiful book!

This book has been released in eBook and paperback. It will be available on audio on March 18, 2025. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks, Emily McIntire, and Netgalley for this ALC. It did not affect my review.


This book is not your typical romance book. It's not all fluff and love. It's a deep dive into past trauma, vulnerability, and healing. Jackson Rhoades is a 28-year-old mechanic with a wounded heart. He never thought he'd be responsible for a 19-year-old influencer, but since Blakely Donahue's dad is his boss, he can't say no. Blakely is far more complex than the carefully curated online persona she's created. She’s fighting battles no one sees, and Jackson—whether he likes it or not—becomes part of her journey.

What stood out to me most was the balance of emotional depth with romance. This isn’t a lighthearted love story—it’s raw, sometimes heavy, and deeply human. Blakely’s struggles felt heartbreakingly real, and Jackson’s quiet strength made him the kind of book boyfriend you can't help but root for. Their connection is slow-burning, complicated, and beautifully messy.

The narrators did an amazing job. I've loved Brooke Bloomington's work, but I was new to Liam DiCosimo. I can't wait to listen to more.

📖 Tropes you'll find in this book:
🔥 Age gap (9 years)
🏠 Forced proximity
💔 Damaged hero/protagonists with past trauma
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found family elements
❤️‍🩹 Emotional healing through love
⏳ Slow-burn romance
🌸 Virgin heroine

⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
🔞 Explicit sexual scenes
😰 Panic attacks
💭 Anxiety disorder
🥀 Eating disorder
⚡ Past trauma

That said, if you’re looking for a romance that’s all about butterflies and grand gestures, this might not be the book for you. The love story explores broader themes like mental health, identity, and discovering self-worth beyond societal expectations. And for me, that made it all the more powerful. Don't get me wrong, though; there is a love story too.

If you love emotionally charged stories with complex characters and a romance that feels earned, this one’s for you. But be warned—it will hit you right in the feels.

🔥🥵 Spicy chapters are 32, 37, 38, 39, 48. 🥵🔥

#BeneaththeHood #EmilyMcIntire #NetGalley

Beneath the Hood is the third book in the Sugarlake series. You can read in order or as a standalone. This book was about Blakely & Jackson. As I said before, Emily never disappoints. This was a 4 star read for me. It wasn't my favorite in the series so far, but it was still good. If you love a good slow burn age gap romance book, then I highly recommend you checking out this one.

I have been WAITING to hear Jackson’s story! The fact that this was an age gap made it 100x better!
Emily does such a good job with banter between her characters and I can’t wait for the next book!

Wow this audiobook was something else! Emily McIntire delivers an emotional, forbidden romance that pulls you in from the very start, and the narrators, Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo, absolutely nailed it! Their performances bring Jackson and Blakely to life in a way that makes you feel every ounce of emotion.

Jackson is the broody, emotionally scarred mechanic with a heart of gold, and Blakely is the seemingly perfect influencer crumbling under the weight of expectations. Their chemistry? Off the charts. Their push and pull? Addictive. And the age gap? Just the right amount of forbidden to keep things deliciously angsty.

The narration truly elevates this story. The emotions hit even harder because of the narrators’ delivery, making it impossible to stop listening.

If you’re into age-gap, forbidden romance with raw emotion and spice (okay, a lot of spice), then this is definitely for you too!

- [ ] This is an ARC review. I want to thank Emily McIntire and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me the chance to read this book ahead of release day! After reading the Never After Series, Emily McIntire immediately became one of my favorite authors! This book absolutely lived up to the hype I created in my head for her next book outside of the series. With this being an age gap (19/28) story I couldn’t resist. The sexual chemistry from the get go was a 10 out of 10. And then only increased as the book went on. Blakely is a representation of women’s insecurities at the forefront! Trying to live up to everyone’s expectations especially looks wise…sounds exhausting. Same with the positivity around mental health from the main characters is such a good representation and counter to the stigma of mental health disorders. I don’t know what Emily expects for all of her readers except for them to be in constant wanting while reading and after. It’s rude honestly! I usually read during work and well this is NOT a book to read/listen to while working. And yet I am wanting to reread/listen to the book again it was so good!

Beneath the Hood
By: Emily McIntire

The vibes:
- age-gap romance
- celebrity + non-celebrity
- secret romance
- part of a series
- FMC's dad asked MMC to "keep an eye on her"

This story was good and I enjoyed the secret romance trope! I gave 3 stars because I felt the physical aspect happened really fast in their relationship, and sometimes that was a little uncomfortable due to FMC being 19 and MMC being 28, and some of the dialogue felt a bit clunky or cheesy as well. Other than that it was enjoyable!

I really liked the audiobook narrators and will look for more books by this author!

Trigger warnings: Eating disorder, OCD related to eating and weight/body image, cheating

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was a part of Emily's ARC team a few years ago when this series was released. I loved all three and when I had the chance to listen to the audio, I started it right away. The narrators did these characters justice.
Being my favorite of the three, I love Jackson and Blakely's story. Also... Blakely's best friend is Kayla... being my name, I rarely see it in books.

I loved dipping back into this world. Anything Emily writes is amazing, but this series made me fall in love with her writing!

Let me start off by saying that I typically like Emily's writing and have loved several of her books. This one is not one of them.

This book is like a guidebook to having an ED and although it doesn't trigger me, I don't have the best mindset around food and the constant talking about food/exercise/calories was redundant and needless. I get that this girl strives for perfection and she is an influencer, etc, but we need more examples of real life characters and not ones trying to live up to some impossible and unrealistic standard. I admit since I'm choosing not to finish this book, there may be some redemption but I cannot get that far, sadly. DNF@40%

I think the narration by Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo is done well.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️ Just Not for Me

Unfortunately, Beneath the Hood didn’t work for me. I found both main characters mildly insufferable, and there was little chemistry between them beyond Jax’s constant need to take care of Blake whenever she was crying or having a panic attack—which felt like every other chapter. I don’t mind age gaps in romance, but this one felt off-putting, with Jax babying her rather than treating her as an equal partner.

Blake’s eating disorder seemed to be the only defining trait of her character, reducing her to little more than a walking, talking calorie counter. While I appreciate when books tackle difficult topics, this one didn’t leave room for her to be anything else. If there are trigger warnings, they need to be much more explicit—while I wasn’t personally affected, I can see how easily this book could push someone over the edge.

I listened to the audiobook, and while Blake’s VA did a good job, Jax’s exaggerated southern drawl was hard to take seriously.

Overall, I think I’m realizing this author’s style just isn’t for me.

I am grateful to have received this audiobook from Blackstone Publishing as an ARC. Content warnings: eating disorders, OCD, loss of a parent.

I appreciate that this book takes a look at eating disorders and OCD. How social media can exacerbate both of these conditions. How important therapy is (though I wish there was more about the therapy process added in).

I am glad that Blakely’s father stepped up in the end and realized his daughter needed help, thanks to Jackson’s efforts.

I appreciate that both Blakely and Jackson work on themselves/healing before trying the relationship again.

I loved the female narrator, but the male narrator seemed a bit stiff and awkward at times.

I enjoyed this audiobook, but the CONSTANT reminder of the age gap was too repetitive. I almost DNF’d due to this. Would have been a 4 star read had the age gap been mentioned less.

This is book three in the Sugarlake Series and tells the story of Jackson and Blakely's love story.

Jackson moves to Hollywood from Sugarlake to pursue his dream job of restoring classic cars. His boss asks him to keep an eye on his influencer daughter, Blakely, and things start to heat up. They both have their own issues, and it seems like no one wants them to get a fair chance at a relationship.

Jackson is getting over heartache and rejection back in Sugarlake. Blakely deals with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and body dysmorphia due to constantly being under public scrutiny, but Jackson helps her realize what unconditional love is.

This is an age gap, forbidden/ hidden romance, with some spicy scenes. The plot deals with real life sensitive issues, and you really see major character development with Blakely throughout the story. Some other characters from the previous books make an appearance, but the story mainly focuses on Jackson and Blakely's relationship. I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read book four!

The epilogue gives you a little morsel and leaves the story open to continue into book four with some other Sugarlake characters.

DNF @ 38%.

TW: commentary about EDs. I really gave "Beneath the Hood" by Emily McIntire a solid chance, but I am tapping out at 38%. This book is so detrimental in so many ways. I never read reviews before reading a book, but I had to see if the triggering content ever had a point. Many reviewers swear that it does, but it hasn't even begun to happen at this point in the book, and I just can't take it anymore. That's totally on me for picking a book about eat1ng d1sorders. The mental health representation and representation of panic attacks might be on-point, but the ED stuff is way, way too much. Calories this, over-exercising that, I have no doubt this will resonate with people in our image-obsessed culture, but the writing, the lack of accountability, feels borderline dangerous to me for younger readers to consume. On top of this, everyone who is around Blakely in her life is such a POS person, including Jackson, who is 28 years old to her 19 years old. Usually, I don't mind age-gap romances, but this feels like a bit much. Blakeley is written in such an immature way that it was hard for me to remember she was an adult. Her mannerisms are more juvenile and less vulnerable. Jackson comes across as lecherous in an 'older guy who is ONLY into younger girls' kind of way. He even makes comments about being apprehensive about giving her alcohol, but then does it anyway!?!?! Taking advantage much?!?!? Don't give me that "she's so mature for her age" garbage! Blakely's agent is also awful and lets her suffer multiple ways to boost her clout as an influencer. This was just a tsunami of bad for me. I did enjoy Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo's narration, though.

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily McIntire, and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobook for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.s

Okay so the book for me is 5 stars!!!
But this audio was not my favorite. It makes me so sad to say because I was sooo excited to be approved for the ALC but the MCs accent was so incredibly distracting for me. I feel like it took away from how great the novel is. So I have to rate the audio lower. But of course, that is just my personal preferences.

Thank you so much for the ALC, I will only be posting a review of the physical book on my socials.

I always strive to finish every book I start, but I found it challenging with Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire. While the writing is commendable and the narrative shows promise, certain elements hindered my overall enjoyment.

The portrayal of the female main character (FMC), Blakely Donahue, who is dealing with an eating disorder, is poignant yet unsettling. The lack of support from those around her, with some characters either ignoring or exploiting her vulnerability, left me uncomfortable. This dynamic, coupled with the significant age gap between Blakely, a 19-year-old, and the male main character (MMC), Jackson Rhoades, seemed to amplify her susceptibility, even if unintentional.

Despite these concerns, McIntire's storytelling ability is evident, and I remain interested in exploring her other works. However, this particular narrative didn't resonate with me as I had hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I felt so much for the FMC, Blakely. I can't imagine how hard it'd be in the public eye constantly having people spread gossip and rumors about you. Her anxiety and panic attacks were relatable as I also have anxiety. I felt like Jackson was so amazing helping her through those moments. Jackson was just amazing in general!!! And the spice was spicing! I loved the dual narration. It truly added depth to the characters and audiobook. Brilliantly done!

I received this Audiobook from Blackstone Publishing to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.

I absolutely adored this audiobook! I had so much fun listening to it, and it gave me all the feelings. It was such a great, compelling story!