This book had a lot going on and some of it might be my fault for getting into book 3 in a series without having read the prior books but I wasn’t sure at first.

I am normally okay with age gap, but it’s harder for me when one of them is still a teenager and it was mentioned a lot in here. Also let’s face it, Blakely is not super mature and going through a lot, I felt like she could have used a big brother looking out for her more than anything.

But it’s on me to take the trigger warnings seriously.

As an audiobook I enjoyed it, I loved both narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced listening copy, all my opinions are my own.

Beneath the Hood, the third book in the Sugarlake Series focuses on Jackson (Jax) and Blakely and their unlikely romance. Jax, who we learned to love in prior books in the series, has given his heart to another woman who will never love him back in the way he wants. In an effort to reset his heart, he moves to California to fulfill his deceased fathers dream - to have his cars on the big screen in Hollywood. Blakely, the daughter of Jackson's boss, is a much younger woman who is an influencer, working to maintain her status as glamourous and present in a highly publicized world, full of expectations and unrealistic expectations. This world has created demons for her to constantly fight and while she wears the mask well, it begins to fall and crumble. Jax, unable to stay away, is the first one to really see her for who she is, and while he wants nothing but the best for her, is met with resistance and pushed away. How can he get her to look beyond the world that she is so heavily reliant on? Overall, this was a great story and I loved that the author brings us uncomfortable but relevant topics that resonate with many people in today's world.

I loved the first book in this series so i was super exited and grateful when i received this arc audiobook of Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire. Unfortunately the narration was not enjoyable and i couldn't get past the narrators i felt like they didn't match up with the characters, BUT since i was so interested in the story itself, i picked up a physical copy of this book and i must say it was a much more enjoyable way to consume this story in my opinion. I loved Blakely and Jacksons relationship and banter. I also loved the representation of mental health and felt that Blakely's struggles were very relatable. Overall great story and cant wait to read the next one!

The story was so much fun and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romance story.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, funny and heartwarming read!

Book 3 of the Sugarlake Series!

Narrated by Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo!

I love a solid age gap book and Brooke and Liam narrated this book so well. The “we shouldn’t but can’t stop” trope is always my favorite one with an age gap! I love that they have a conscious but always let their heart lead the way! Jax, and Blakely were so perfect. Blake who has everything handed to her, being the daughter of a Hollywood producer, and Jax who has worked his whole life to bring his father’s dream to fruition is the perfect clash of the princess and the peasant. Even though they are worlds apart they still see eachother for who they are, I loved that Jax saw through the Hollywood persona that Blake put on and knew she needed help. And that Blake saw through his troubled past and saw what a good man and heart he had that just needed to be loved. Brooke and Liam put the passion into this narration and at every pivot of the book I could feel the butterflies in my own stomach for their feelings and the passion. When Blake was having food troubles I felt her pain, and when Jax was being torn away my chest ached for him!

This book was a deeply emotional and, at times, challenging read, and not due to the writing itself, but because of the intense personal reflections it stirred within me. I strongly recommend reading the trigger warnings before diving in, as the story touches on sensitive themes that may be difficult for some readers. The hardest part for me was touching on the anxiety rep.

That said, I found the narrative both tender and compelling. At its heart, the book tells a sweet and poignant love story that left a lasting impression. The age gap and forbidden elements of the relationship were handled with nuance and care, adding depth and complexity without feeling sensationalized. These aspects contributed to the emotional stakes and made the connection between the characters feel all the more meaningful and powerful.

Despite the heavy moments, the story is ultimately one of healing, resilience, and love that defies expectations. The ending was especially satisfying, it offered closure on the series and a sense of hope that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

Another beautifully written by Emily and emotionally resonant novel, this is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time. The narrators really brought this story to life.

This one was a little slower for me. I didn't quite believe the love story between Jax and Blakely. It felt a little rushed, considering he was still in love with Lee. Also, Blakely's character read very young, so it was hard for me to connect.

What I did love:
Therapy and mental health/ healing have been a consistent part of these characters as they grow. I love it when a book doesn't shy away from topics that so many people experience. I also loved seeing Jax and Chase begin mending their friendship. It's never black and white, and Emily does a great job navigating the nuances.

Age-gap, mental health, disordered eating, heartbreak and healing

This book deals with a lot of issues but Emily McIntyre writes them so well. And for once the character gets professional help.
Blakely is a social media influencer, loved by many but knocked down by more. She puts so much pressure on herself, to the detrement of her health, only encouraged by people who should be looking out for her. Meticulously planning her meals, counting every calorie, recording her weight and punishing herself in the gym. Blakelys OCD controls her life and brings on panic attacks, that this close to her treat as tantrums. Used by her friends, Blakeley is lonely.

Her father, too wrapped up in his own work, doesn't see her, doesn't see her struggles and believes she's wasting her life. Believes she's rebelling.

In steps Jax. Working for her father, he's enlisted to 'babysit' Blakeley. He is the only one who sees her, sees her struggle. Jax, brokenhearted from unrequited love, tried to keep his distance. He's too old for her, she's his bosses daughter, he still has feelings for the girl who chose his best friend. But he's there for Blakely. He doesn't try to fix her issues, he listens, he supports her, he's tentative and loving. He's the green flag guy.

They both need to heal and battle with their demons before they can fully give in to what they feel for eachother. Blakley and Jax have to work for their relationship, which is a refreshing change.

Liam DiCosimo's delicious Southern drawl, smooth and rich, brings Jax to life. And I loved Brooke Bloomingdale, from some of my favourite smutty books, as Blakely.

This is the first book in the series I've read and my first by Emily McIntyre. I enjoyed her writing, how she wrote about hard real life issues with mental health, exposing the characters pain. I would definitely recommend this book. Yes it's spicy but there's a decent story to run alongside the spice.

Review of Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire (Audiobook):

Beneath the Hood is a gritty, slow-burn romance that blends danger, desire, and emotional healing. Emily McIntire delivers a story filled with tension and chemistry, set in a world of underground mechanics and hidden pain. The audiobook narration adds depth to the characters—especially the brooding, guarded male lead and the fierce, resilient heroine—bringing their emotional journeys to life. With vivid storytelling and a strong emotional core, Beneath the Hood is a compelling listen for fans of dark romance with heart.

After listening to book two, I was really invested in Jax's story. Unfortunately, for me, this book just didn't hit the mark. It deals with some very heavy subjects in Blakely having an eating disorder and panic attacks. She is surrounded by people who not only promote her disordered eating but belittle her and her mental health at every opportunity. Plus, we are also in her head, so we're listening/ reading her justifications for how she is treating herself under the guise of being 'healthy'. It really felt like Jax was a crutch rather than a partner, add in that she is 19 and he is 28, and he keeps referring to her innocence, as well as her being treated like a child by everyone, and it just didn't hit the mark for me. This book felt less about the romance and more about Blakely overcoming her health/ mental health issues, and Jax's hero complex. That being said, I feel that Emily McIntyre handled the health/ mental health with care and empathy, really delving into accurate representation. Brooke Bloomingdale was fantastic and really blew me away in this book, with as stated, some really difficult scenes. Liam DiCosimo was great as Jax, but I did struggle with his voice for Blakely and it wasn't always clear which masc character he was voicing when it came to secondary characters. If you are looking for a book that isn't an easy read but is full of emotion and eventual growth, this is the one for you!

This book was not for me. I normally don't mind age gap romances but I could not get past that Blakely is only 19 years old. I also had issues with her fixation on her weight and how many calories she consumes. Her preoccupation with her influencer status. I know that she had OCD and other issues but I found her character to be toxic to any young woman facing similar problems.

Rating: 3.25 ⭐️

I liked this book. I’ve seen multiple reviews talking about how childish the characters come off as, but the FMC is 19. So I gave her a bit of grace.

Generally, influencer MCs come off as selfish and entitled, but Blakey didn’t give me that vibe. I really enjoyed her. She was surprisingly down to earth. And Jackson was incredibly supportive of her from the beginning. It was so sweet.

I was on the fence about the instalove trope at first but didn’t end up too bothered by it. The overall story was good. I’d say if you like age gap, instalove romances and don’t mind a late-teen character, give this one a chance.

That said, there were no content warnings listed at the beginning of the audiobook or the NetGalley listing. If you’re sensitive to on-page panic attacks or eating disorders, tread lightly. The MCs disordered eating habits are mentioned in-depth multiple times.

Age gap, Forbidden romance, Dating a celebrity, He’s a mechanic x she's a celebrity, Nickname: Princess, eating disorder rep, anxiety rep.

Was not a huge fan of this age gap romance, as it felt very insta-love. However, the description of the anxiety and eating disorder was written very well!

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire
Genre: Contemporary romance
Rating: 5 stars!
Audiobook Narration: 5 stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for an advance listening copy of this book!

This book was a fun read! The audiobook was a great way to consume this book. There’s a lot about this book that I actually liked *more* than Beneath the Stands. The relationship felt a bit more consistent and less instalust than Stands, but I really loved the emotional development of the characters in Beneath the Hood. (Make no mistake, Beneath the Stands is still a great read, but the beats of Beneath the Hood appealed to me more!)

One area where I feel like this book really shines is how it approaches mental health. Emily doesn’t shy away from hard topics. She brings us the angst, but also allows time and space for the main characters to work on themselves and become better versions than when we first see them. This work doesn’t feel shallow or quick, and seems to follow a very natural progression.

I am always a bit so-so about age gaps, but this one did a great job. Jax and Blakely have great chemistry with one another. Jax is struggling to get over feelings for a character from a previous book in this series, and his relationship with Blakely finds him at a point where he is working to set boundaries with this friend to help him move on. Blakely suffers from OCD and also an eating disorder, and Emily does such a great job showcasing some of the demands and darker side of social media. Anxiety, calorie counting, obsessing over comments about her appearance, needing to stay active on social media - she has a lot going on, and all the while, her father berates her for not having a “real career” and doesn’t take her seriously.

I know many people find their way to Emily from her dark romance books, but this series has been solid so far. I love the dark fairytale spin of the Never After series, but I really love how diverse her characters are in the Sugarlake series. Every one is imperfect and they are all doing what they can to be better people. I have a soft spot for a story where either our main character(s) realize they are not the best version of themselves, and put in time and work to be a better individual, especially if it’s needed before diving into a relationship.

I look forward to working backwards to book 1 (the audiobook ARCs I’ve received so far have been for books 2 and 3), as well as reading book 4! Emily has done such a great job with the Sugarlake series!

Thank you so much NetGally for providing me with an audio copy of Beneath the Hood by Emily McIntire!

This book was well written and the pacing was fast and entertaining. It is obvious that Emily McIntire put a of thought into these characters and trying to show a variety of issues.

That all being said this book was a no for me! There are a lot of problems I came across when reading this story, the main ones being the age gap between the male and female characters and the extreme focus on Blakely’s eating disorder.

The age gap in this text was pretty disappointing. It is very clear from the start of the story that Jackson sees Blakely as a child. He describes her as an annoying kid which makes sense since she is freshly 19 at the start of the story and him being near thirty.

Blakely also seems like an overly stereotypical version of an influencer. The most annoying aspect of this was the way her eating disorder was described. At the beginning of the story it is almost made to seem normal the way Blakely eats and anyone eating anything separate than her, like pizza, is shamed for putting unhealthy food into their body. It also seemed to be the main focus of her character which I think is very disrespectful to her as a person mainly dwindling her down to just a character with an eating disorder.

3.5 rounded up: This book tackles heavy topics well, but I struggled to connect with the characters. The age gap was challenging for me. While I enjoyed the narration, I wished for a deeper investment in the story. Blakely was a highlight, and I appreciated Jackson's supportive role without trying to fix her.

influencer who despite being a self made millionaire at the age of 18 deals with the disapproval of her father who believed her career choice isn’t a career at all so he forces Blakely to work at his garage. A garage where Jackson works. As much as they at different and fight their attraction, It grows.. This book deals with some heavy issues such as eating disorders and OCD. Tropes include; Age gap, opposites attract, bosses daughter., forbidden romance to name a few. The narrators Brooke Bloomingdale, Liam DiCosimo did a fantastic job. It did take some time to get used to the male narrators voice and I cannot say with 100% certainty that I feel his voice for the character but I still enjoyed the story.

This book is cute, heartfelt, sweet and fluffy but also extremely heartbreaking and sad. I wanna keep these characters save forever and make sure nothing and no one harms them.

🎧 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 🎧

✽ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Blake Bloomingdale & Liam DiCosimo

This was such an amazing listen. Addictive and extremely emotionally charged. I really related to Blakely and her anxiety and panic attacks. I suffer from anxiety and panic disorder and have done nearly all my life so my heart broke for her. She was so strong though and I really admired her. She kept her head held high even with the public eye constantly on her, the gossip continuously spreading and the never-ending rumour mill about her. I mean all of those things are enough to break anyone. Enter is Jackson. He was everything and more. He was everything Blakely needed that she didn’t realise she needed. They were perfect together in every way and it was hard not to fall in love with them as individuals and as a couple. This love story may have been emotional and quite deep in your feelings, but it also held some light-hearted moments and spice. Woah… Emily McIntire, you write the best spice!! Another amazing, addictive and emotionally charged story that I couldn’t put down!

FIVE STARS
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