Book Review: Hot to Go by Kristen Bailey

. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced reader copy.

Let me just say: Kristen Bailey knows how to make a rom-com pop. Hot to Go had me laughing out loud on page one and unexpectedly emotional by page fifty. It’s not just funny—it’s sharp, fresh, and full of heart. The story centers on a fiery, full-of-life protagonist navigating family chaos, messy love, and personal reinvention, all set against the backdrop of a holiday season that’s anything but peaceful. Bailey doesn’t do cookie-cutter characters. These people feel real—flawed, funny, and painfully relatable.

What I loved most was the banter. Every conversation crackled with wit, and even when the jokes came fast, they never undercut the emotional moments. Kristen Bailey strikes this perfect tone: cheeky, but grounded. You can feel the layers underneath the laughter—grief, loneliness, second chances. There’s depth to this rom-com, and that’s what makes it hit harder than most.

Yes, some plot beats were a bit predictable—you can guess the romantic arc pretty early—but honestly, that didn’t matter. I wasn’t reading for twists. I was reading because I cared about these characters and wanted to see them win. The pacing lagged just slightly in the middle, but it picked back up quickly, and by the final chapters, I was racing to the end, grinning like an idiot.

If you’re looking for something light but not shallow, warm but not sugary, this book delivers. Kristen Bailey is now on my must-read list, and Hot to Go is the kind of comfort read I’ll come back to when I need to feel good again.