I wish I was into this story more but I felt like the whole age gap trope was too forced. I get it, there's an age gap between Jaxson and Blakely. Take all that repetitiveness out and I think I would've liked it more. The pacing of it was REALLY slow too...

I don't know, in theory the premise and storyline are ALL there but just not executed well?

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the ALC of this title!

The writing is good, the story is good. I did struggle a bit because I am not super excited to read about a heroine that struggles the whole book. There is a great message in the story, so I don’t want to discount that, it is just hard to have so many pages devoted to sad topics. But I did root for the couple and the glimpses of their happy kept me going. I would say this book is for a younger adult rather than an older adult.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the copy for review.

This is a great audiobook! The narrators do a wonderful job bringing the story to life. I loved this one so much! Blakely and Jackson took me on an emotional rollercoaster in the best way. I was rooting for them the whole time. Their forbidden love story has delicious tension. And I liked that there is representation for mental health. As someone who struggles with that I feel seen and can definitely relate. This book is filled with such heart and healing. I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to this audiobook ahead of release in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall, 3 stars. The story was interesting, but I had a hard time connecting with Jackson and Blakely. I liked the mental health rep and learning about Blakely's struggles with control, food, and the image of perfection. At times I felt so much pity for Blakely, all the money and fame in the world can't replace a good parent or a loyal friend.

Spoiler alert: I wanted more groveling at the end. What Blakely did was way too big of a F U to Jackson. He should've made her work for it.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks for the advance audiobook!

Format: audiobook

This book is the third in the Sugarlake series. It is an interconnected standalone in the series that features Jackson, who left his hometown of Sugarlake to mend his broken heart and the betrayal of his best friend and headed to California to pursue his late father's dream of restoring cars for movie sets. There, he meets the 19 year old daughter of his boss, Blakely, who is working as a receptionist for his film company when she is not a social media influencer. Even though Jax knows she is forbidden for many reasons, he can't stop thinking about her, and Blakey keeps sneaking out to meet him. We learn there is more to this 19-year social media darling than meets the eye and anxiety and food issues are addressed in a very tasteful way.

4.5/5⭐️
1.5/3🔥

-her dads his boss
-age gap
-she’s a famous influencer, he rebuilds cars for movies
-mental health representation (check triggers)

Book 3 in the Sugarlake Series! I loved this one! The dynamic between Jackson and Blakely was everything. There was teasing, there was banter, there was trust that needed to be built, there was comfort in having that one person who actually understands you.

I think this is the first time where I read a book where one of the main characters is an influencer. It’s talked about a lot in the book, the roles and requirements of her job. I loved how we got to see the negative side effects of how much pressure came with this position. I feel like it seems so glorified and there’s not enough representation of the negative toll it can be on someone’s mental health. This book was able to capture the raw/real way being in the spotlight can trigger negative mental health.

I highly recommend this one, the character development of being able to be open and trust the other was phenomenal!

both narrators did a fantastic job and the production of the audiobook was amazing!! loved getting to reread this one via audio

I was surprised by my enjoyment of the book, the first couple chapters I was thinking this would not have been for me but the more the book went on I did start to warm up to the female lead. Not 100% of the romance in this book, I think it was more about being an influencer and the struggles the female lead goes through than exploring in more depth the actual romance between our two characters.
I do really like when books don’t shy away from the topics touched in this book and I do think that Emily handled these topics very well, which honestly can be quite hit or miss a lot of the time when also handled in a romance book. I do like that we get some healing for both characters and don’t feel like one character overshadowed the other even thought their trauma is quite different.

I received the ARC of this audiobook. This is an age gap romance between an influencer in the public eye and a man who is running away from a broken heart. This book contains difficult themes including grief, body image issues, disordered eating, and mental health issues. This book is more than a romance, with many layers!

I absolutely love this audio! Emily McIntire is a wonderful author. Blakey and Jackson are adorable. I love the awareness this book brings with eating disorder and how becoming a social media star can cause so much stress.
I will definitely be recommending to friends.

After being so pleasantly surprised by Beneath The Stands—and having the incredible luck of being gifted two titles from this series—I jumped right into Beneath the Hood. From the very first page, this one was definitely my speed.

Most of the story takes place in LA, immersing the reader in the toxic, all-consuming world of social media influencers and celebrity culture. The depiction is raw, unsettling, and at times, painfully real. I rarely cry while reading, but this book got me. (Yeah, I’m shocked too.)

What truly set this story apart was its stark and unflinching portrayal of mental health struggles, particularly eating disorders, OCD, and panic disorder. I didn’t go in expecting such a deeply nuanced and personal exploration of these issues, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for how much it would resonate with me. As someone who has experienced all of these firsthand, it hit home in a way that felt both validating and gut-wrenching.

I can’t go into too much detail without entering spoiler territory, but if these are struggles you’ve faced—or if they’ve touched your life in any way—this story will definitely work its way into your heart. And don’t worry, I promise you’ll end the book on a happy, encouraging note, too!

It was beautifully written, the characters are lovely, and I genuinely appreciated the care that was taken in portraying such complex, difficult topics with sensitivity and consideration.

I definitely recommend grabbing this book!

𝟏 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 ✮⋆˙

oof this was somehow worse than the book 2, beneath the stands.

i don't mind age gaps but like rational age gaps, but a 19 year old socialite & a 28 year old mechanic is a bit wild. especially when you take into account they literally have nothing in common at all besides their attraction to one another and the fact that jackson has been trying to help her with her e.d.

the amount of details pertaining to her ED is extremely unnecessary and horrible information to have available to people, especially when the book itself does nothing to explicitly warn people about this content. there is no reason to have the details of the food's calorie count and how much calories she tries to burn. it’s just way too in-depth on an unnecessary level. there is definitely a safer way to have this conversation.

once again i unfortunately did not care for any of these characters.

This is a dramatic, high-stakes romance with a mix of small-town charm and Hollywood glam. Blakely’s privileged life clashes with Jackson’s hardworking background, and their secret relationship brings plenty of tension—especially with the age gap.

Blakely’s struggles with body image and disordered eating are a major focus, so the TW is important. Jackson is a classic protective love interest, though his obsession with being her “only one” might not be for everyone. Some parts, like the drawn-out virginity scene, feel unnecessary.

Overall, it’s an emotional read with plenty of angst. If you like forbidden romance and drama, it’s worth checking out—just be mindful of the heavy focus on food and body image.