This reminded me of the movie "How Stella got her groove back" but the latin version. An older woman finding love with a younger man at a Caribbean carnival setting. This book was a cute and fun romance. I'm not really into the instant love/attraction relationship which is what this book fall underneath. I would've loved for this book to build on Mrs. V and Orlando's chemistry but overall this was good read.

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the ARC.

Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer strongly aligns with themes I consistently enjoy.

Though I’m not an Age Gap Romance fan this wasn’t over the top. A Single Mom protagonist (a theme present in favorites like Broken Clocks). Its lighthearted and funny mood matches many of my highly rated contemporary romances (e.g., The Corner of Olive and Oak, #Blessed By Malakai), and the medium pace fits comfortably within my preferred reading speed. So consider if you're specifically in the mood for this vibrant, vacation-centric backdrop alongside the familiar romance dynamics.

I didn't know what to expect from this book, but (wow did it deliver.) This romance follows Trinidad Velasquez a 30 something divorcee who's looking for love that lasts longer than the friends with benefits she has with Milton. Her twin sons have a mentor named Orlando Wiggins who Trinidad fantasizes about when she has time with DeMarcus the III. Iykyk. 🙂‍↔️ She doesn't know that she's always been on Orlando's radar ever since the day they met. He's healthily obsessed with her. This is the first time I've read an age gap romance where it's older FMC to younger MMC and I didn't dislike it.

The audiobook had a dual POV with two narrators reading for Orlando and Trinidad. They both did such a good job with navigating the more tough subjects. Such as divorce, getting older, finding your place in life, and taking care of a bipolar parent, respectively. The way they used the inflections in their voices to carry just the right amount of emotions was very thoughtfully done.


Thank you to NetGalley and Afterglow Books for the ARC copy in return for an honest review!

Trinidad Velasquez is a divorced and single mom of 15 years old twin boys. She loves her boys and does all she can to make them happy. Without a father around, she knows the importance of a male figure in their lives and Orlando Wiggins seems the perfect man to mentor them. However, he does present Trinidad with a predicament. Even though he is younger, she finds herself attracted to him. However, her sons, being impulsive as teenage boys often are, conspired to get the two adults together and, of course, a series of events take place, but I’ll leave you to find that out when you read the book!

Both Trinidad and Orlando are likeable protagonists, despite the fact that they are total opposites. Trinidad is vibrant and spontaneous while Orlando is calm and often the voice of reason. The attraction between them, however, boils beneath the surface, I could not help but anticipate them doing the dirty. It was worth the wait.

I totally enjoyed MS. V’S HOT GIRL SUMMER by A. H Cunningham. There were so many aspects of the story that were refreshing to me. The author has a unique, vibrant voice and blends witty repartee with serious issues done through the voices of the main characters, Trinidad and Orlando. The characters are all well-written and, as a reader, I found them appealing. Trinidad is a good mom, but she is very much a woman with normal desires and is not afraid to embrace her sexuality.

I also loved the numerous references to carnival events and, as a Bajan, the author’s knowledge of our Crop Over and Trinidad’s ties to Barbados, made me connect to the story and main characters even more. Finally, this story is not for the prudish. It’s gritty, raw, sexy and takes the readers right into the bedroom, so be sure to have your AC on when you read it. This review is based on the audio version. I love both narrators, Jade Wheeler and Jesus E. Martinez who brought the book and its many emotions to life.

MS. V’S HOT GIRL SUMMER is a bold, vibrant read and is sure to please fans of Ms. Cunningham’s and earn her new ones. I definitely recommend this new release

Trinidad Velazquez has been raising her two boys for the last 16 years and doing it all on her own. She was responsible and goal oriented.

She’s picked out the right on paper man to be her next husband and new father to her boys… That is until her twin boys decide he’s not right and push her towards their Big Brother, Orlando.

Push together during carnival weekend in Florida needs to let the Sparks fly that I’ve been barking off of each other for years ! But Orlando is younger than Trinidad and in a different stage of life, is he ready to be what Trinidad needs?

This book was a lot of fun and delightfully steamy! This is my second book I’ve read by A.H. Cunningham and I love how they take powerful women in help them find love matches to add a little fun and zest to their routine/ life!

The dual narration provided by Jesus E. Martinez; Esme Ramos was absolutely perfect! Both encapsulated their characters to perfection. I loved the accents to the narrators provided, and the enthusiasm within their reading. A delight to listen to.

I’ve been eager to get my (virtual) hands on this book ever since I first saw the cover—a stunning illustration of a beautiful Black woman with a blissful expression, dressed in a gorgeous carnival costume. The description hooked me even more because I’m a sucker for stories about dedicated single moms finding their groove again.

I dove into the book fully expecting to fall head over heels for the story, but that didn’t quite happen. Things started off strong, but when I reached the part about the “trick” Trinidad’s sons pulled to get her to connect with Orlando, the love train derailed. I can usually suspend disbelief enough to enjoy slightly far-fetched forced-proximity setups, but this one actually made me frown in real life. Thankfully, things got back on track, but in the end, I liked the book rather than loved it.

I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrators were serviceable, doing a solid job handling the dual POV format. Their performances helped ground the story even when the plot veered into less believable territory. While not especially memorable, the narration was clear, well-paced, and easy to follow—enhancing the overall experience.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable story that just fell a little short of my (admittedly very high) expectations.


#MsVsHotGirlSummer
#NetGalley

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Great narration that made the spicy scenes even spicer. I love when the narrators really put their all in. I enjoyed hybrid reading this sexy carnival romance that's perfect for summer.

This was my first successfully completed age gap romance and I LOVED it! First of all, what a gorgeous cover. I was intrigued from the cover reveal day onward and was obsessed with this story from page one! A Black parent-trap-esque romance was what I’d clearly been missing in my life! I loved all the characters but Ms. V might be one of my favorite characters ever. She’s hilarious, silly, a little freaky and such a good mom. Her and Orlando are quite literally the ambassadors of “find someone who matches your freak” because their chemistry was insane. Like, will make you red in the face and sweaty as you read. The setting was perfect and I found myself completely immersed in Carnaval festivities.

I loved how this story balanced wholesome self-discovery and FREAKY times perfectly. A.H. Cunningham is a new auto-read author for me!

The narrators for this audiobook did an excellent job with voice acting as I felt completely immersed in each character and found myself relating to their monologues.

This book is overall just a jolly good time. It evokes a wide range of emotions and that alone captivates you. I am a big age gap romance girl but I don't really love insta-love. However the combination of the two really worked for me! Not a huge fan of the Milton story line though... I don't know if I missed the necessity of it or not but it was a distracting part of the story.

This cover immediately drew me in! It's absolutely gorgeous 😍

Trinidad Velazquez is a single mother in search of stability and a rold model for her sons. Said sons have someone else in mind. Their mentor, Orlando, is their pick in spite of the 10 year age difference. Intent on making their mother realize what a better match Orlando is, they organize a trip for her and arrange an 'only one bed' situation with Orlando.

I loved the Afro-Latine and Carnaval rep in this book! This was such a fun romance with a perfect balance of humor, spice, and levity. A perfect summer read!

I was ready for this as soon as I saw the cover lol Idk who designed it, but Lordt I love it so much. And it was everything that I thought it might be. Short, spicy, and fun!

The thing that stood out most to me with this book was the romance. It’s been a long time since I’ve read an age group. And in this one, the FMC is the older one and I loved it. And the way their culture is mixed all throughout the romance. There’s Caribbean and Afro Latine rep throughout the entire thing. And of course, being honest, this book is definitely spicy. It was more spicy than I was expecting actually. So if you add this to your TBR, please know that they don’t hold back on the spice.

I did think it was a bit insta-lovey? I’m not sure if it was that or if the pacing was off, but it seemed like it was moving SO FAST. In almost every chapter they were talking about each other lol And like normally that doesn’t bother me, but at the same time, it felt like I didn’t get much of the story? It didn’t feel like a real timeline. Like I knew time was passing, but the way it read it went so fast. And to make it worse I read it in one sitting and I had the audio speed on 2x’s. It made the timeline go by even faster. And I think that threw me off.

The plot of this was hilarious tho. I don’t think there is an actual time when this might happen, but Lordt it made me laugh. But I know one thing, she is definitely a Black mama because the way she yelled at them at that hotel was actually hilarious. But I will say, they weren’t scared enough for me tho lol But the revenge they got on them kids at the end was pretty hilarious. I would have paid to see their faces.

This was good, but I did see some things that I wish had been a little different. Definitely something that fit right in with the afterglow line! I love this imprint, I just wish I paid more attention to what’s coming out so that I’m not surprised by the spice in the first chapter lol

Ms V's Hot Girl Summer is the epitome of a summer beach read. Sassy, saucy, quick.
The narrators of this book were great. The portrayed the characters nicely and brought that little bit of flair to make me continue listening. However, for me, this book wont be memorable. It was a good listen and one that I'd recommend others to pick up, it just didn't do it for me. When I finished it was another notch on my list, not "oh wow that'll stick with me for a while". I can see why others would like it. It's a fun, quick, age gap romance.

I ATE THIS UP!!!!

Trinidad is a 40-something entrepreneur and single mom. She is ready for a serious relationship and is following all the rules to give her sons the life they desire. Orlando is also single, serving as the primary caregiver to his mother and adult brothers. He is a people pleaser who recently discovered something that will change everything.

I saw myself in both main characters for various reasons. I loved how the cultures were included in the story organically. The character development felt rushed at times. The story leaned more towards insta-love, as it began to feel hurried towards the end. That said, I enjoyed my read.

This story follows Trinidad Velasquez, a 35-year-old woman with twin sons, a full plate, and a situationship that feels more convenient than passionate. She’s convinced that love—the kind with butterflies and breathless moments—is behind her. But when her sons trick her into a Caribbean Carnival vacation, she ends up staying with Orlando Wiggins, her sons’ mentor and the one man who’s always managed to get under her skin. He’s 10 years younger… and the chemistry is undeniable.

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. The premise had promise—forced proximity, vacation vibes, and an age-gap romance—but the execution just didn’t land. It’s not the age gap itself that bothered me, but how it was framed. Trinidad refers to Orlando as a “child” in one breath, then makes explicit comments about him in the next, and the shift felt jarring. She’s also written as much older than 35—like she’s in full premenopausal reflection mode—which didn’t match her age or life stage.

And while she’s been through a lot, I struggled with how emotionally immature she came across. Some of her assumptions, reactions, and arguments felt more like a teen romance than that of a grown woman who’s raised twins.

That said—this story might be for readers who enjoy a messy, age-gap dynamic with heat, angst, and vacation romance. If you’re into forced proximity and characters navigating big emotions (sometimes clumsily), you may enjoy the ride more than I did.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was such a good read! The chemistry between the two MC's was hot and sweet at the same time, and the build up didn't drag too long. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Overall: 4
Spice: 2.5

Ms. V, a confident and unapologetically bold woman who's determined to make this summer one to remember—on her own terms. After a tough year, she decides to take control of her life and embrace her sexuality, confidence, and freedom in a way she’s never done before. Ms. V break free from societal expectations and find joy in her independence, all while navigating romantic entanglements that add spice and depth to her life. The book is about reclaiming confidence, enjoying life unapologetically, and owning your decisions. There’s a lot of humor, some steamy moments, and plenty of personal growth of Ms. V.

A fast read with a plot that’s a little wonky. This is an age gap romance, but Trinidad the FMC really played the Señora card hard for only being a 35-year-old. This this story gives forbidden Insta-love vibes. The only reason why it’s forbidden is because Trinidad is so pressed about the age gap, the MMC just wanted to get down lol I will say the representation was top-notch and I loved every second of that. I even love how her sons are incorporated into the story. The audiobook itself was pretty good and the narrators kept the story interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for lusty moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this eARC and 🎧 ARC.

Why was this so good! Age gap (she’s older) found family, vacation vibes, self discovery… I ate this all up! There was healthy conflict, there was accountability conversation and SPICE. The SPICE!! It was perfect! This book is if How Stella got her Groove back was sprinkled with arroz con pollo. Absolutely loved this. The storyline was captivating, the scenes were described vividly and the characters were relatable.

This was my 1st book by this author. The book didn’t hold my attention as I thought it would.. The book was an interesting, I would try another book by the author. The female narrator was ok but her male voices just weren’t there for me.

This book was an enjoyable read with a great mix of spice and heartfelt emotion. It’s a story that resonates with women who often carry the weight of responsibility and end up losing sight of their own happiness and needs in the process.

Trinidad, a devoted single mom to teenage twins, has built a solid life for her family while putting her own happiness on the back burner. When her sons surprise her with a trip to a carnival weekend, it sets the stage for some much needed personal rediscovery.

I appreciated the age gap dynamic, with the woman being older, which is a refreshing change from the usual trope. The relationship was handled thoughtfully, and it added depth to the story.

That said, while I thoroughly enjoyed Trinidad’s journey and found her very relatable, there were moments that didn’t quite hit as strongly for me. Some parts felt a bit predictable or rushed, and I wish certain aspects of the romance had been explored with more nuance.

Still, A.H. Cunningham’s writing is compelling, and the narrators of the audiobook brought the story to life beautifully. I’m grateful to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the advanced listener copy. It was a delightful experience overall.