✨ 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.

To be completely honest, this book had no substance to it. Not plot other than I think healing a girl’s eating disorder and anxiety attacks? Both characters were broken in their own way and it made the storyline depressing as hell and boring. Also since this was an audiobook I HATED the guys voice and his version of the girl’s voice. Trigger warning that there is some really deep stuff talked about but does that make this a good book? No it does not. Very bad do not recommend. Also I found out that it’s a series??? Cannot believe that. Stunned. What else is there to write about??

First of all, big thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC!!

I gotta say, there were a few things that I didn’t love, and that’s the reason I gave this book three stars. The main issue was that my first interaction with this book was through the audiobook, and the voice the male narrator used, specifically when doing female characters, just wasn’t it for me. I *adore* audiobooks and consume them frequently, so that’s important for me. On the bright side: dual narration! That was really nice.

Going into the story itself, I had trouble connecting with the main characters. While I empathize with her struggles (and I believe we got a pretty decent ED representation), sometimes she gave off that “not like the other girls” energy. And some lines, from both MCs, made me cringe.

I usually have no problem whatsoever with age gaps in fiction (keeping it legal, please lol), but something that bothered me here is that he’s a 28-year-old dating a 19-year-old and gets surprised when she acts immature? Why? She’s supposed to be immature in comparison.

Listen, I’m a slow-burn sucker, so this felt way too insta-love for me. He was obsessed with his best friend from home in one chapter, and like a couple of weeks later, he’s telling our FMC that he loves her? It felt rushed, and repetitive at times. Also, I could see where this book was going from the beginning (even though I gotta admit, I was waiting for the unexpected pregnancy bomb).

The whole idea was fun and I did enjoy listening to this audiobook, but I gotta say, I wouldn’t really want to dive into the rest of this universe. I didn’t love it, but I do believe it’s a matter of personal preference—and I probably picked the wrong book to review.

Like all Emily McIntire, i devoured this book! I love love loved it!

Im so grateful to Blackstone publishing for providing me a copy of the audiobook via netgalley! TYSM!

Blakely is a 19 year old influencer, shes always in the spotlight with every minute of her day planned to perfection. But behind the social media persona, she is an anxious mess with a ton of issues from keeping up the perfect princess appearance.

Jackson is 28 and has a dream of fixing up cars for the big screen but when his boss asks him to babysit his social media influencers daughter Jackson is less than happy, she annoys him more than anyone he has ever met and the thought of spending time with this woman is his worst nightmare. Until it isnt…

The way Blakely’s struggles are written felt so authentic and done with extreme care. It was hard not to feel deeply for her and to then feel relieved when Jackson stepped in as her rock. It was all beautifully done.

I loved them as a couple, there was an age gap but not as big as some of the others so didnt make it feel seedy in any way. They just felt perfect for each other even when they wernt.

Cant wait to read the next

This age gap, dad’s employee romance was so sweet and spicy I could not put it down! Blakely and Jackson were perfect and I cannot wait to read more of this series!

This is not a book for me. I love an age gap romance, but Blakely felt entirely too immature for a relationship with anyone- especially not a full-grown man. And I have almost no triggers, but unfortunately, I now know that disordered eating is one of them.

I am rating this book two stars. I’ll give the author another try, but not this series.

#contemporaryromance #bookreview

Overall I did enjoy this book, I was just hoping I would like it more. I haven’t read many age gap books but I just prefer that Blakely was a little older than 19 years old. I’m currently 28 years old and I could never imagine being with someone 19 years old. I did like the characters and the plot. However, the previous book I read had me constantly thinking about it while I wasn’t reading and I didn’t really have that with this book. I want a book to completely take over my mind and make me want to read continuously until it’s done. While I liked this book I didn’t feel the desire to read it constantly. All that said, I did enjoy this book and would rate this book a 3/5 stars.