Unfortunately this wasn’t a book for me. It was very hard for me to get into, and I think it took the longer route to get to the point.

At the time I picked it up, I had been reading a lot of books in this genre and the stylistic choices and lengthy context-setting felt uninspired. I really wanted to have a fun breezy summer read. I really tried.

The main characters were very likeable and the supporting characters were also well developed. The tension between the leads felt real and palpable. The romance was well paced, the writing engaging, the spice level just right. A fun summer read.

The Queen of Chaos is back, baby! You already know that any day we get graced by a new Kristen Bailey title is gonna be a good one.

The fabulous Mrs Bailey has such a way of taking everything cheesy, cliché or a little cringy that we love about romcoms and turning them into one of the most fun things you can do with your clothes on. (Or off, I'm not telling you how to read!) So just let yourself enjoy the drama and get the damn book.

Think of one-bed tropes, frustratingly stunning book boyfriend love interests, intensely stupid choices, inappropriate oversharing, shout-at-the-page frustrating misunderstandings and one night stands who reappear - of course set in a little slice of sunny paradise that would make it hard not to fall in love or into bed.

OG fans (me included) are going to go feral for this one as we revisit the Callaghan sisters from Baileys previous pentalogy, meeting Suzie and her dickhead husband before she embarks on a trip to a wedding in Mallorca where she can escape the life she's leaving behind for a while and enjoy being reckless, single and stupid for a while. Until of course, Charlie appears again in real life and - say it with me now - chaos ensues. The whole storytelling gives me 'drunk talks on garden furniture' vibes'; it moves at a quick pace, but the narration feels conversational, personal, friendly - making it far too easy to connect and fall in love with the characters even when you want to grab them and shout at them a little bit with each perspective bringing something new. For quick readers who might miss POV switches, at times it moves a little too rapidly but it's easy to get back into the flow and into the story.

In between some sickeningly sweet romance and a lot of steam, there's also that lovely undercurrent of a woman walking away from a bad life , trying to unlearn the expectations weighing her down and trying to figure things out through in a beautifully messy way.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Hot to Go by Kristen Bailey is a hilarious read that had me laughing from beginning to end. The humor is spot-on, with witty dialogue and quirky moments that make it feel like you're sharing inside jokes with a good friend. The playful banter between the characters is fantastic, and the lighthearted tone kept me hooked throughout.

What I really loved about this book was the unique central trope—it’s something different from the usual rom-com setups, which made the story feel fresh and exciting. Bailey did a great job putting a fun twist on a familiar theme, and the character dynamics were really enjoyable to watch unfold.

That said, while I was entertained for most of the book, it did feel a bit stretched out at times. There were parts that seemed to drag a little, and I think the story could’ve been a solid 50 pages shorter without losing any of its charm.

Overall, Hot to Go is a perfect pick if you're in the mood for a funny, feel-good rom-com with a unique plot. Definitely worth the read, just be prepared for a slightly longer ride than you might expect!

This romantic comedy was such a delight. This has such a good summertime feel and is a lighthearted read. I enjoyed their first author’s style of writing and feel that the storyline flowed at a perfect pace.

The MCs, Suzie and Charlie meet on vacation and have instant chemistry. Then come to find out Charlie is also at the school Suzie starts teaches at. The bantering is hilarious and so were the side characters. I loved their first meeting relationship they have with their families as well as how they relate with their students. Suzie and Charlie are such lovable characters and this has been such a fun read.

This book starts off absolutely HILARIOUS! Part 1 had me laughing so hard I cried! The rest of the book starting in part 2 really mellows out. It's kind of like seat belts on, here's the much more toned down, real life focus on Charlie and Suzie. I enjoyed the back and forth, but really missed the hilarity of the first part.

Charlie and Suzie, two people we get to see the story play out from their view points, happen to both be vacationing in the same place at the same time. It's a meet cute... with quite a bit of fibbing on both of their parts. Then real life hits...

This was a funny and sweet romance—absolutely perfect for a summer read.

Charlie is a Spanish teacher who's had no luck in love. After a bad breakup, he decides to switch schools and start fresh after the summer. But then, an unexpected encounter with a beautiful, unforgettable woman in Spain leaves a lasting impression he can’t shake.

Suzie, meanwhile, is reeling from the heartbreak of discovering her husband’s betrayal. She leaves her home and job behind to move closer to family and start over in London. When her cousins invite her on a vacation to Spain, romance is the last thing on her mind—until she meets a mysterious man she can’t seem to forget… even though she never got his real name.

This unexpected and heartfelt story is light, warm, and perfect for summer.

I've read a few of Kristen Bailey's books and really love her humour and how much heart she puts into her characters. Suzie and Charlie are no exception and they make this fun, summery beach read more rounded and full. I love Suzie's cousin's (I think I might be missing some backstory though from a previous series) and how they surround her with love and support as she deals with the break up of her marriage. Charlie is the sweetest too though there were parts were I wanted to give him a little shake.

The whole meet cute was really sweet and it got spicy very quickly. I thought the surprise twist was maybe a little obvious but still fun. I was a little surprised how much their coworkers knew about their personal lives right from the get go. I get that people talk but I'm surprised they would overshare like that so soon maybe? I really enjoyed the slower build of the romance that budded between them after meeting again and wish that there was more of them like dating before they hopped right back into a more physical relationship. The miscommunication part was super frustrating for me and I wish that the two main characters would have handled that part better instead of running away because in the end they seem to have moved the relationship along pretty quickly without seeing much other than sexual chemistry between the two of them. I would have loved more emotional bonding and playful intimacy I guess overall.

In the end, this book was fun and heart warming and full of family and new relationships. I will definitely be looking for the next of Kristen's books since I enjoyed this one so much!

I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Hot To Go had me cackling so many times. I just love Kristen's humour. As with any book I've read by this wonderful author, I've thoroughly enjoyed this laugh outnloud, swoon worthy amd at times, rather spicy read. It was a pleasure to see the Callagahan sisters pop up again along with my favourites Ed and Mia. I'm sure we will see them again at some stage. This book left me needing to book a sun holdiay as soon as possible. As always, I'll look forward to Kristen's next release.

This is a super fun summer read. I think those of us with families we are close to can relate to wanting to spend time with them after heart break. If you need a book for your labor day weekend trip, this one is for you!

Loved this book, a funny romcom which I read on holiday - a perfect holiday read!
Brilliant writing, good storyline, interesting characters
Plenty of smiles from me - recommended
Thanks to Netgalley, Kristen Bailey , and Storm Publishing for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

An amusing romcom with lots of half truths told whilst on holiday, that come back to bite you on your return home.

Suzie is on holiday in Majorca with her female cousins and whilst trying to avoid the police whilst skinny dipping one night she bumps into a guy who helps her and says his name is Carlos. Of course she gives him a fake name. Then a very short holiday fling occurs, then they lose contact when Carlos doesn't turn up, mainly because he's been injured whilst on his brother's stag do.

Then back in the real world it turns out both Suzie and Carlos, actually Charlie, are new teachers at the same school. So lots of shock and drama with a running theme of will they, won't they, get together in the end throughout the rest of the book.

There are also a few more serious parts that balance things out a bit, but mostly this is a funny, lighthearted read with plenty of sizzle!

This genre isn't usually at the top of my 'to-read' pile - but this summer I have really been celebrating light reads that pair well with linen, sunscreen, and cherry juice stains. With a "teacher falling for teacher" trope at play, I figured why not!

This is definitely hot, like the title says - I found myself blushing on more than one occasion (especially in the first quarter). I chuckled a few times too. On the flip side, there were also some cringy moments in the way the main characters interacted with teenagers in their classes/school, which gave me pause - like, wouldn't HR be involved? Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the writing, and I would recommend to anyone looking for a rom com beach read. It is what it is!

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing , and of course Kristen Bailey
for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review. I am behind on my reviews, so Hot To Go already came out this week (July 18th)! #ARC #NetGalleySummer #SummerReads #NetGalley

Meet Susie, a French teacher blindsided by her husband’s betrayal, and Charlie, a Spanish teacher who has always put his siblings first after the tragic loss of their parents. Neither is looking for love—just a little fun. But the universe has other plans.

This book is the perfect summer romcom escape, full of heart, heat, and humor. What starts as a vacation fling slowly unravels into something deeper, as Susie and Charlie navigate the emotional minefields of their pasts and the unexpected feelings of the present. They’re charming, flawed, and incredibly relatable, making their journey from guarded flirts to something real a joy to read.

Between the hilarious family antics, sizzling chemistry, and moments of true vulnerability, Hot to Go is equal parts sweet, spicy, and laugh-out-loud funny. Kristen Bailey nails the balance of comedy and heart, making it impossible to put down.

A fun, feel-good read that’s perfect for fans of romantic comedies with depth—this book had me smiling the whole way through.


Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

This book was average. I found myself not wanting to pick it up and losing interest while reading it. There was a lot of good one liners and banter but the rest was just sub-par.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my review!

Thank you to Kristen Bailey and NetGalley for this ARC!

Hot to Go was such a charming and lighthearted beach read. I was in need of a pallete cleanser after a heavier dark romance book and this really hit the spot.

No spice in this one but I still felt the chemistry and found myself rooting for Suzie & Charlie.

I recommend for anyone looking for a fun pool day read.

Hot To Go is a quick, sweet little romance. A good beach read, whether you're in Mallorca or anywhere :)

Suzie just had a bad break up. She wants to start fresh in London. First, she goes on a trip to Mallorca with her cousins. There she meets Carlos and they have a very quick fling. At her new school, where she is teaching French, she finds out that Carlos is in fact Charlie, and he is teaching Spanish. So they are in the same department pretending that they haven't seen each other naked. A school trip to Seville adds another twist where they find each other hard to resist.

I really liked Suzie and Charlie. This is a dual POV. There is a lot of back and forth that makes it a little hard to follow. There are several twists and turns in the story. Not a ton of drama at all. Side characters (some of who have their own stories) who really add to the whole story. A tiny bit of steam but close enough to being closed door.

This would be a great book for this hot summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the e-ARC of this book. This review is my own opinion.

Susie and Charlie meet in Mallorca and have an instant connection. They spend a steamy romantic day at Susie’s villa and plan to meet the next day…fast forward to the beginning of the school year…Susie and Charlie meet again. Can they get back to the magic they found in Mallorca?
Real life London reveals that Susie is dealing with a broken heart and Charlie is managing a family situation while exhausted from dating the wrong girls. The couple has to overcome trust and timing issues in order to move forward which leaves the reader with lots of emotions. Hot to Go was a fun romantic comedy with a lot of heart.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hot To Go seemed like a great book and loved the author’s other books but I didn’t love the characters. I thought they were both annoying. I really loved Kristen Bailey’s other books but I just couldn’t get into this one. The writing style was still great and the plot was funny, it was just the characters I didn’t like. Also, that school seriously needed HR. Based on other reviews, a lot of other people liked the book so if you are a fan of Kristen’s other books, I would still give this a read. Just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you won’t.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

What happens in Mallorca, stays in Mallorca... or something like that.

When Aurelia and Carlos have the holiday of a lifetime and they accidentally can't turn it into a two-parter, they come to terms with the fact that they'll never see each other again. There may have been some tears in there, too. So, imagine their surprise when they realize that they'll be co-workers in the same department. Oh, and their names are actually Suzie and Charlie.

It's fate! It's destiny! It's a crash-and-burn for these two when they realize that the hot chemistry they had on vacation doesn't quite translate to the real world. This summer crush turns very complicated as they both realize how much they need to learn about each other and themselves.

Hot To Go by Kristen Bailey is a sun-soaked, intimate, and beautiful portrayal of the love surrounding our main characters. They've gone through so much trauma and are still working on figuring out how to move past it and let themselves be happy again. They're doing that with such a caring support system at work and at home, and it's heartwarming to see how devoted they all are to each other.

The pacing, however, felt a bit uneven. While the early promise and buildup are delightful, later sections seemed to juggle too many characters, causing some moments to feel rushed and others to be bogged down in detail.

Despite these pacing issues, the playful banter was top-tier. The way they kept bumping into each other, too? Ugh, it's like the universe couldn't wait for them to figure out their issues and just be together already. My hope is that in future books, we'll delve more into Max and Amy or any of the cousins, because they all seem like they'd be fun to get to know.

So, if you want your next beach read, this romance is definitely it. I'm so inspired to take some trips in Europe now, too.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!