Ok. So this is the first book I have listened to from the author, and I have mixed reviews. On the one hand, the audiobook really set the pace and mood of the story, whereas I think if I had read it, I wouldn’t have finished it. The narrators, Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo, did their work perfectly. Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the audiobook.

The FMC Blakely was just driving me crazy, although I do understand that the author intended to make the character as such and depict or address a heavy issue that a lot of people are facing in this new era of social media. But it is what it is, and I felt that she was too much. I blame it on her being so young and the persona she wants the validation off, which is genuine.

What I adored the most was Jax and how well he handled things and how well he understood Blakely. He was there when she needed him, and he was there when things needed to be pointed out. There were so many ups and downs, and then there was Jax’s past that I got to know about, and the misunderstandings getting cleared up was amazing.

In the end, everything went well and healing process is an all time work. It’s never-ending, it takes time, and many will say that he forgave her very easily but I agree with what he said that life is too short to keep thinking about things when you have lost people in your life. Keep grudges never helps anybody. Do give it a try.

3⭐️+1⭐️ for the audiobook.

Blakely is a social media influencer that comes from a wealthy family. Her dad owns a business that works on cars for Hollywood. Jackson is offered his dream job and he comes from the south to work for Blakely's dad. Blakely is 19 and Jackson is 28. Blakely also works for her dad's company and Jackson starts to notice that she isn't treated great around the office. He also thinks she's a spoiled brat and immature. His first impression of her isn't the greatest. When Blakely's dad suggests that Jackson goes to the club to keep an eye on his daughter Jackson discovers that he is intrigued by her and they start to spend more time together. He knows that he cannot date his boss's daughter and that their age difference is also not ideal. With all their time spent together they start to develop feelings and are sneaking around, crossing boundaries and breaking rules. Blakely has a lot of struggles and there is a lot of in depth heavy topics that are also discussed in this book. Please check trigger warnings....

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc copy of this audiobook in return for my honest review.

The story was way more hard hitting then I thought it was going to be. I enjoyed both of theses characters and actually felt their connection. I also loved the age gap had me kicking my feet ! The narrators really brought the story to life. I really felt their emotions throughout the story. I will definitely be going back and reading the rest of the series! Cannot wait for book 4 !

I had the privilege of listening to the audiobook offered by Blackstone on the Netgalley website.
As someone who read the other books in the series, I didn't like it very much...
I love Emily Mcintire and I even think that this book had very important topics to talk about, such as anxiety attacks and eating disorders. But I think that they were not properly and deeply worked on.

I found the characters more spoiled than the rest of the Sugar Lake universe but I also think it was something done on purpose because they were from out of town

As for the audiobook itself, I loved the narration and I have nothing to say... in that aspect I give it 5 stars.

Thank you to Emily McIntire, Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing-Audiobooks for the review copy of Beneath the Hood. All opinions are my own.

Beneath the Hood is the best of the series so far. Our influencer FMC is struggling with very real mental health issues and our MMC is the only one who takes them seriously. Jax is the perfect MMC and after watching him pine for Alina for the first two books, it was so satisfying for him to find his true love in Blakely. This one was emotional, sexy, and such a fantastic addition to this world.

Tropes:
Influencer FMC
Age Gap
Daddy Issues
Mental Health Rep
Forbidden Love
Boss’s Daughter
Virgin FMC

I literally cannot wait until the next book releases on April 15th!

I am a big Emily McIntire fan! Love her dark romance series Never After - and you can allway expect great spice ;)
Which was kind the only thing I liked in this audiobook (sorry). Definitely a me thing, because I see the ratings going high, but this did'nt work for me :) could'nt relate to the characters and story was okay, sooo hopefully orhers will like it.

This is the third book in the Sugarlake series. This book is definitely a more emotional read. Emily done such a great job writing about mental health in this one. I loved the age gap romance story, you have two people who are very different but who were exactly what the other needed. I'm obsessed with this entire series.

Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire is book #3 in the Sugarlake Series and narrated by Brooke Bloomingdale & Liam DiDicosimo. This forbidden romance, age gap romance can be read as a standalone, however I would suggest reading in series order.

Jackson has moved to California and is attempting to heal his broken heart, working on his dream job of restoring classic cars for the big screen. Blakely is a social media influencer, daughter of the most powerful producer in Hollywood, and appears to have absolutely everything. We quickly find out that things are not as they seem and Blakely is suffering with anxiety, panic attacks, and disordered eating/body dysmorphia. Similar to the first two books in this series, there were a lot of really heavy topics and themes in this novel and this was not my favorite as I just really struggled to believe in their relationship for the first 2/3’s of the book. By the end, it was feeling much more authentic and I was much more invested! I enjoyed the dual POV narration, especially the performance by Brooke Bloomingdale.

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks, and the author for this audio e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the story but I really loved the narrator that accent?? Oh my god it was the cherry on top !!
I finished it in one day !

Blakely and Jax couldn't be more different if they tried, and really didn't like each other as he saw her as a spoiled social media princess, and she saw him as just a mechanic that her dad employed. They were both so much more than the surface level they saw in one another, and as their story unfolds, they realize just how wrong their preconceived notions were as they become everything to each other.

I really enjoyed their slow burn, true friends to lovers romance. Once they got to know each other and really started to open up it was apparent how much they truly saw of the other. In fact, I don't think anyone took the time to see what they did in each other and it was so heartwarming and healing to the both of them to finally just be seen and truly cared about.

Jax was a lover boy underneath that gruff exterior and Blakely was struggling in pretty much every aspect of her life, always trying to be what everyone else wanted her to be. I couldn't imagine being a young adult with all the emotional turmoil she was dealing with while the eyes of the world were on her. This felt like a coming of age for Blakely. She was not only discovering what made her happy and what she wanted from her life, but also realizing what true and unconditional love was with Jax. He was so swoony in the way he protected Blakely, not only from herself but others as well. He taught her how to stand up for herself and it takes a real man to want his woman to shine.

Overall an emotionally charged, beautiful story. Blakely and Jax will show you how the love of the right person can heal and help you grow, all while learning to trust yourself in the process.

Liam DiCosimo and Brittany Pressley did an incredible job telling this story. They told Jax and Blakely's story with the love and emotions you felt through their emotional journey. You could feel all the angst through their voices and it made me connect with the characters even more.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ALC.

Beneath The Hood by Emily McIntire was an emotionally story, make sure to read the trigger warnings as it has some pretty heavy content. There are several, and this book may not be for everyone. Age gap trope. This was book three of the Sugarlake series, so now I am going to have to go back and read one and two.
Sweet, sexy Jaxson—forever stuck in the friend zone—finally moves to California to chase his dream of having the cars that he and his dad worked, to be used in movies. He wants to hate Blakely and he avoids her at all costs, but something keeps pulling them together. He’s selfless, protective, compassionate, perceptive—just pure swoon material. Then there’s Blakey—a powerful example of how people hide behind masks. She is a social media influencer with an impossible schedule to fill. At first, she seems very much like a spoiled rich girl, but give her a chance and you will want to just hug her and tell her everything will be okay. This book wrecked me—in the most beautiful way. Emily McIntire’s writing in this one is absolute perfection. There’s nothing I would change (maybe a little less spice) besides that it was a deep dive into both characters struggles and pain. The demons they faced and a journey to self-healing. 4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Absolutely loved this book Emily has done it again. The story line and characters were top notch but i mean it’s Emily of course they were. Small town guy goes to Hollywood and falls in love with an influencer and he helps her heal. Such a cute good feeling love story.

I did not finish the book because of the triggers. The way the main character talks about herself isn't healthy for my mental health.

I do want to thank netgalley for giving me the chance to listen to this book, i Love emily mcintire so much. I feel bad for not continuing this book.

The narration was 4.5stars for me! I really enjoy Liam’s narration. Brooke is new to me but she did a wonderful job.

However, the book fell flat for me. I found the FMC to be intolerable and she did not redeem herself or grovel the way she should have… I love Emily’s books and writing style but this just wasn’t it..

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this Advanced Listener Copy of Beneath the Hood!


3.5/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️

i really enjoyed the female narrator (Brooke Bloomingdale) for this book. she really added depth and emotion to the characters. however, i really did not care for the male narrator (Liam DiCosimo). his narrators for the male characters were fine for the most part, but i would actually cringe basically any time he was voicing any of the female characters. his southern accent also seemed kinda off at times.


to be honest, there were a lot of things that irked me about this story. first of all, i generally don’t mind an age-gap trope, if it’s done well. however, this one did NOT do it for me. why did the FMC need to be 19? tbh it was unnecessary to the story/plot and she could have easily been in her early 20s with the same effect. idk, it just felt icky to me. second of all, jackson was still “in love” with his best friend from back home when he started to see blakely regularly. then, somehow, within a few weeks - he’s suddenly head over heels in love with blakely? it felt VERY insta-lovey to me which i do not enjoy at all. unfortunately this made their romance seem less authentic to me and as a result it fell flat. and third of all - the way blakely broke things off with jackson at the end???? absolutely NOT. i won’t go into detail here but this made me greatly dislike blakely.

with that being said - this book did do a very good job at navigating a main character with an eating disorder and mental health struggles. it was honestly hard to listen to at times because it was clear that the FMC had never confronted her behaviors before and was so deep in her disorder that she didn’t want to even believe it was a problem. i appreciated that jackson helped to address this, even when it was hard. this part of the story is the only reason it’s getting 3.5 stars instead of 3 stars from me.

Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire delivers an emotionally charged romance with a gripping narration that brings the story to life. The main character struggles with an eating disorder, adding a layer of vulnerability to her journey as she navigates self-worth, control, and unexpected attraction. The audiobook’s narrators masterfully capture the tension, passion, and personal growth, making each moment feel immersive. this audiobook is a heartfelt and engaging listen for romance fans.

Trigger alert: Anorexia and extreme exercise

Blakely is living in a posh influencer role and is good at what she does. She is 19 and lives with a mostly absentee father that works all the time with no mother (died in childbirth). She meets Jackson who works for her father, a movie producer working on stunt cars that will be in his movies. Jackson is 28 and getting over a lost "love" when an unlikely match occurs between Blakely and himself. The story revolves around Blakely, her eating (or rather non eating), her crazy exercise regimen, and the love that is developing. Overall I liked the book.

3.5 stars rounded to 4!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy

4 Stars – Gritty, Gripping, and Surprisingly Tender

Beneath the Hood delivers a bold twist on the classic vigilante tale, blending street-level grit with emotional depth. It’s fast-paced and cinematic, pulling you into a world of shadows, secrets, and survival. The main character is tough, raw, and deeply human—flawed but fiercely loyal—which makes the stakes feel real and personal.

What really stands out is the heart beneath all the action. Whether it’s quiet moments of vulnerability or unexpected flashes of compassion, there’s an emotional thread running through the narrative that keeps it grounded.

Some plot points might feel familiar, and a few side characters could’ve used more fleshing out, but the storytelling is strong, the atmosphere is immersive, and the ride is totally worth it.

Another hit from Emily McIntire!! I love her books and this one is no exception. I love the depth of her characters and their connections.

I thought the narrators voices matched the characters well.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Emily does it again, always serving masterpieces.

Jacks dips out of Sugarlake to chase his dreams (and definitely not because he’s running from heartbreak… sure, bud). California hands him a wrench and a new problem: Blakely, his boss’s daughter, aka a walking, talking, designer-clad menace. She’s rich, bratty, and makes his life hell—but PLOT TWIST: she’s also falling apart inside. And when Daddy Dearest asks Jacks to babysit her? Ohhhh, it’s on. Their tension?? Their banter?? Straight-up foreplay. And when they finally snap? I saw God.