Quick Facts
- Release Date: May 19, 2020
- Page Count: 160
- Publisher: Unknown
- Kindle Unlimited? Yes
This was a great book! It’s lighthearted, funny and a quick read that can be read in one sitting if you’re determined. I wish it had a bit more of the sexual tension I associate with romance novels, but overall I definitely recommend it
Synopsis
Hot Mess is a contemporary romance that begins when a famous vlogger named Elle finds out that her ex leaked a sex tape of them. If that wasn’t sufficiently horrific, you later learn that most of her vlog following are girls under the age of 18, so it makes the tape particularly bad for her career.
Elle responds in a perfectly reasonable way – by running away from New York, ditching her phone, and driving off the grid until she hits the Florida Keys – which, honestly, is probably what I’d do as well. This is where she meets Theo, the sexy Brit renting his beach house, and the story begins.
Review
The first thing that struck me about this book was the cover! It completely called out to me, with popping colors and a flirty picture on the front displaying a girl in the buff with a scandalized look on her face. It conveyed to me that this book was fun, sexy, and playful. And it did not disappoint!
Elle and Theo are instantly lovable and relatable characters. Where Elle is charming in her clumsiness, Theo begins as the prickly and protective single dad. I liked how he didn’t just start out as the knight in shining armor. He had to work around his own biases to get there. I also loved Ari, Theo’s daughter, as she added a realistic aspect to the story. So often I see kids being portrayed as perfect angels in romance novels, and, I’m sorry, but that’s just not true. Ari avoided this stereotype by challenging her dad’s authority often and giving him attitude, as most normal 9-year-olds would.
The only minor disappointment I had with this book was that I felt a distinct lack of sexual tension between Elle and Theo. While they were definitely attracted to one another, at no point were either of them close to losing control, which is always fun to read about. Another minor gripe, at one point Elle’s sister points out that she’s living in a romance novel. I’m not a big fan of this because it’s kind of like breaking the 4th wall for me.
Summary
I loved this book! It’s lighthearted, funny and a quick read that can be read in one sitting if you’re determined. If it had a bit more of the sexual tension I associate with romance novels, I would have given this book a 5-star rating. I would definitely recommend it!
Link to Author’s website: https://www.emmahart.org/
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