4 stars for me. My first book by this author, and it will not be the last.

Molly Quinn has no choice, her ex put her in the debt, and there is no other options then accept a job at Southside Strength gym. She have to help the owner to get more clients and make it more popular.
One of the workers/owners Nic Rosetti, don't like the idea of Molly walking and making videos.

Trough workouts, tension and just hookup maybe they find more then they expected?

I enjoyed this book, Molly dislike and suffering the workouts make me laugh, I understand her pain:)).The chemistry between Molly and Nic was executed well,they didn't just meet and jump at each other, there was first dislike, cutting comments, heated conversation, and then explosion. Hot,hot hot.
Read the warnings first.

Overall I would recommend this book for steamy, fun romance fans.

The beginning of this book seemed a little slow. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the book fully but after a few of the interactions between some of the characters, I was pulled in. This was a nicely written book that had lots of heart and a whole lotta spice. I enjoyed the banter and the arguments between the two main characters. I think the secondary characters really brought the whole story together and they made me laugh a lot more than the two main characters. I did thoroughly enjoy the book and enjoyed the ending.

Ooof, this book!

I really enjoyed this story and LOVED Molly! As a social media manager myself, it was nice to see us depicted accurately and to see that we do in fact, have so much fun planning content, and heck yes, we are smart!

The spice in this book... well, it was certainly spicing! It was a little more aggressive than I normally enjoy, but I think that was mostly because of Nic being an MMA fighter and generally all around grumpy! It would have been nice to see more of his softer side!

I did find that the repetitive nature of each point of view for certain moments a little, not boring, but it made me a little frustrated!

The humour, though? HILARIOUS! There were so many quotes I saved!

Thank you, NetGalley and BooksGoSocial, for this intense read!

Summer Hustle by Brooke Straiton is a fun, fiery, and irresistibly addictive romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. Molly and Nic’s chemistry leaps off the page, blending laugh-out-loud banter with sizzling tension and heartfelt moments. I loved every second of their push-and-pull dynamic and couldn’t stop turning the pages. An entertaining, spicy, and feel-good read that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. Five stars.

I love the short chapters that actually have titles. That’s right. You heard it here first — Brooke Straiton has chapter titles in her books! I feel like that just never happens anymore and I actually miss it. But enough with that, let’s dive into what I loved about this book. It’s super easy… everything. I don’t know Brooke’s secret but she is a phenomenal writer. She has the best banter, the best tension, the best plot points, and she’s the best at figuring out where spice should go without it being over the top or cringey. Seriously, this Indie Author needs a huge book deal for this Summer series. First we had Summer Heat that literally felt like a reality TV show and now we have Summer Hustle which feels like an early 2000’s sports romance movie like The Replacements, Just Wright, Fever Pitch etc. I love that there were some cameos in this one from the first book. I’ve been blessed with the ARC of book 3 and really hope I can get the one for book 4 as well. I’m loving Brooke Straiton and cannot wait to share more about her books!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A laugh-out-loud, slow-burn sizzle with surprising depth

Summer Hustle by Brooke Straiton is the perfect summer read—funny, messy, irresistibly sexy, and unexpectedly heartfelt. It’s a grumpy-sunshine workplace romance that takes two broken, stubborn people and throws them into close quarters with emotional baggage, gym gear, and enough chemistry to short-circuit a ring light.

Molly Quinn is in full crash-and-burn mode—broke, jobless, and running out of options. Armed with a marketing degree, a bold wardrobe, and sheer force of will, she lands a last-chance job trying to rebrand a rundown gym in South Philly. It’s supposed to be a stepping stone, not a new beginning. And definitely not the start of something real.

Then she meets Nic Rosetti—grumpy, gorgeous, and completely allergic to social media, attention, and change. Naturally, Molly is all three.

Their dynamic is combustible from the start. Straiton nails the banter, the slow-burn pacing, and the magnetic push-pull between two people who want everything but can’t admit it. Their verbal sparring is top-tier, and the spicy scenes? 🔥 Let’s just say if this book were a gym class, it would be extra credit cardio.

But what really elevates Summer Hustle is its emotional core. Both Molly and Nic are layered—Molly with her loud confidence masking quiet insecurity, and Nic with a past that keeps him rooted in guilt and guarded silence. Watching them slowly peel back each other’s defenses is incredibly satisfying. The vulnerability sneaks up on you between all the sass, sweat, and sarcasm.

Yes, some plot beats follow familiar romance tropes (girl saves business, guy resists change, forced proximity, etc.), but the execution is fresh and funny enough that it never feels stale. And as a standalone in the Summer Series, it’s perfectly readable without needing to pick up the first.

TL;DR:
If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, steamy gym scenes, and messy characters with real growth, Summer Hustle delivers. It’s spicy, smart, and packed with heart—and will leave you wanting more from both the author and this delightfully chaotic cast of characters.

fun,spicy and gorgeous read for me. tense,romantic, gentle and a ride. the chemistry was oof, you could feel it tingling off the pages. there was somehow heart in this book too with regards to that found family and supportive roles. there was that wit and side character love we also love to see in books like this. where they play their own staring roles and add to the back and not just there for fluff.
our main character female was fab. our main character male was good hearted. these are the characters we want to get to know and be involved in. we want to see where this will go and how it will grow.
this book was feel good and witty and i love those books. the romance was warming and electric all in the right balance.
the development of both the plot and our characters have you here for it right until the end and you are rooting for them from the off both as individuals and together. i loved how they were their own people but also worked together so well.
the gym parts were totally laugh out loud and somehow relatable too!
no one is feeling grumpy reading this book and everyone is leaving feeling all sunshine feels reading this book. talking of grumpy sunshine...
well this is what they call the type of characters in this book. i prefer often to look of them as human, but i get it. i do think when we want to we might take a deeper look of why the males and females have these troped roles in these books? but i know a certain crew wont like me challenging that so i will leave it for a different time and place lol. but one day...because something deeper and darker when hits the other end of the scale and where it comes from.whether we want to hold a mirror to it or not lies behind these 'roles'. but i a sucker for it when i get off my soapbox and am fully aware of what that makes me. and the reason these books work away from that is because the roles are often blurred and dont fall into red flag territory. which i guess means i should button it.

I'll start by saying this book was steamier than I expected, and I loved it!

One of the things that attracted me to this book was that it is set in a gym. I'd never read books set in gyms, and this book didn't disappoint. This book managed to transmit that sense of community we feel when we go to the gym, when we workout with people who end up becoming friends.

I have found this feeling and have found amazing people along the way; and this book made me look at my gym community and appreciate them for who and what they are.

The romance in this book was just the added bonus, the cherry on top.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. I guarantee that you will enjoy it, laugh out loud with some of the crazy antics of the characters, and the next moment you will just want to hug them.

**NOTE: I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summer Hustle is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud, and utterly relatable romp through the most frantic months of one woman's life. Brooke Straiton infuses laser-sharp humor, sun-kissed vitality, and perfectly balanced emotional profundity into a story of pushing past burnout, striving for ambition, and trying not to come completely undone in the process.
The protagonist is a total disaster—and that’s what makes her so lovable. She’s broke, sweaty, juggling side hustles, and emotionally spiraling, but she narrates it all with biting sarcasm and self-deprecating humor that had me cackling out loud. It’s like Fleabag meets the modern gig economy, with a dash of millennial “I’m fine… but not really” energy.

The supporting ensemble is crazy and wacky in the absolute best way, and there's enough slow-burn romance (and sex tension) to balance out the comedic breakdown. Straiton nails the Gen Z/Millennial voice without overshooting, and beneath the jokes there's a genuine exploration of uncertainty, friendship, and how to redefine success when it feels like everything is blowing up.

There are a few scattered bits here and there, and the rhythm breaks somewhere in the middle, but the voice and personality carry it through. It's playful, unapologetic, and totally unhinged—if in the most adorable possible way.

Perfect for fans of:

• Sassy, messy female leads
• Summer-set books that don't romanticize the grind
• Fiction that will laugh, cringe, and nod in aching familiarity

I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, this review is my honest opinion!

Note: After finishing the book, I stumbled upon a post where the author announced that they use AI to help organize their characters and their backstory, to edit and rework paragraphs if they don’t sound right, and create images of the characters using her own descriptions of the characters. I do not support the use of genAI in any form for writing books or for any character art and think it is right to warn other readers who may stumble upon the book and feel the same way. Due to the authors use of AI, I will not be reading any other books by this author.

Here is the link for post in reference: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1YxJ...

Prior to finding out about the AI, I really enjoyed this book, I ended up getting hooked from the start and finished the book quickly. I did enjoy the characters, the spice and the overall story. Due to the authors AI usage, I personally do not recommend reading this book if you do not support AI but I am leaving space for readers to decide if they will read the book or not! :)

Hustle Summer hooked me right from the start. The pace is energetic and the story unfolds quickly, which made it a really fun and easy book to get into. I enjoyed the summer setting, the emotional stakes, and the way the main character’s journey played out.

What I liked most was how fast the plot moved — it never dragged, and I always wanted to read “just one more chapter.” The ending was especially satisfying and wrapped things up in a way that felt earned.

If I had to give one piece of feedback, it would be that a few moments early on felt a bit rushed. I would’ve loved more time getting to know the characters on a deeper level before the action took off. A little more emotional build-up could have made the later payoffs even stronger.

Overall, Hustle Summer is a solid, enjoyable read that’s perfect if you’re after something fast-moving with heart. I’ll be watching out for what Brooke Straiton writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Highly entertaining, very spicy. Molly Quinn is a perky, down-on-her-luck influencer who signs on to help a struggling gym. Nic Rosetti is a brooding, hot, silent man with a past. Their chemistry is undeniable though I feel like some of it was a bit too heavy-handed.

Ultimately, this is a fun summer read.

It’s 1 AM as I’m writing this review. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting! GrumpyXsunshine with a bit of dom/sub. The spice is spicing in this book, and there’s plenty of tension too. 🥵🌶️

This story had me literally laughing out loud. The side characters are all amazing. They add so much to the story. Tina is hilarious! The storyline and character development were solid and executed well.

This book is absolutely worth a read! I already downloaded the author’s other book and can’t wait to read it!

And I did read the acknowledgements. Can I please get five points for Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor? And can you please keep writing books like this?! Thanks!

Definitely sweaty, definitely steamy and also made me want to put more effort into my morning exercise classes that I do every morning as well as my cardio sessions twice a week. Man I felt like I was failing when the workouts were described, but in a good, motivational way. Sore muscles are okay to have as well as some fun and past demons can be conquered were the messages that I got from this book.

I was enjoying this enough to give it at least a 3 star but at 25% in I found out the author uses GEN AI to "organise the characters and their backstory" (whatever that means, I take that as AI created the characters and wrote their backstory). Further she uses AI to rewrite her paragraphs if they don't sound right. ICKED out, AI shouldn't be used to write books.

Amazing book loved the characters and plot. I couldn't stop reading I stayed up all night. I loved the book so much thank you for the arc.

Couldn't put it down. This is just the perfect some afternoon romance. Hot, Sexy, and fun.

If you love lots of witty banter with a fun cast of characters, this is the book for you! Highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Oh
My
Goodness

Sweat, protein, a massive dollop of testosterone amd then some more smut and sweat !

This book is hilarious. The first in a long time to make me actually laugh out loud. The chemistry between Nic and Molly is off the charts hot. I took pictures of a couple spots in the story to send to my husband, laughing the entire time, both because they were funny, and because maybe they could be inspiration for our own lives. If you like your books with hilarious banter and a whole lot of spice, I highly recommend picking this one up.

This was a very entertaining read and I know that because I was getting strange looks on the bus because I was laughing out loud on the way to work.. its a really fun, funny and steamy summer read. Our man couple had great chemistry , it was a fantastic pick me up, definitely recommend