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Hotter in the Hamptons
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Expected 6 May 25"Tinx brings us her fiction debut packed with glamorous escapism, scandal, and sexual tension. Hotter in the Hamptons is the romance for a new generation." - Chelsea Handler
Travel to the heart of the Hamptons in an irresistible summer fling from New York Times bestselling author Tinx!
As New York City's fashion it-girl, Lola has been living her dream. But when her career comes to a screeching halt after a very public snafu, everything Lola has worked for � her loyal following, her designer closet, her perfect boyfriend � starts to go up in flames. And when notorious culture critic Aly Ray Carter lights the final match by writing a scathing exposé, it feels as if Lola has lost it all.
When Lola flees to the Hamptons to escape her mistakes, she expects to spend her summer drinking Minuty by the pool while carefully rebuilding both her confidence and her brand. Instead, she looks over the trimmed hedges to see none other than her rival and newest Aly Ray Carter.
As summer blazes on, Lola is swept into an intoxicating situation with the woman who ruined her life, marred by chaos and confusion as she tries to pinpoint why Aly has her so captivated. She thought the Hamptons would be the perfect place to outrun her mess, but quickly realizes there's no place to run.
Travel to the heart of the Hamptons in an irresistible summer fling from New York Times bestselling author Tinx!
As New York City's fashion it-girl, Lola has been living her dream. But when her career comes to a screeching halt after a very public snafu, everything Lola has worked for � her loyal following, her designer closet, her perfect boyfriend � starts to go up in flames. And when notorious culture critic Aly Ray Carter lights the final match by writing a scathing exposé, it feels as if Lola has lost it all.
When Lola flees to the Hamptons to escape her mistakes, she expects to spend her summer drinking Minuty by the pool while carefully rebuilding both her confidence and her brand. Instead, she looks over the trimmed hedges to see none other than her rival and newest Aly Ray Carter.
As summer blazes on, Lola is swept into an intoxicating situation with the woman who ruined her life, marred by chaos and confusion as she tries to pinpoint why Aly has her so captivated. She thought the Hamptons would be the perfect place to outrun her mess, but quickly realizes there's no place to run.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 6, 2025
6,112 people want to read
About the author
Tinx
2books109followersHailed as “TikTok’s Big Sister,� Christina Najjar―better known as Tinx―is a viral content creator with an audience of over 2 million, known for her real-talk dating advice. Tinx is also the NYT bestselling author of THE SHIFT and host of IT’S ME, TINX on Sirius XM.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
April 5, 2025
I don't usually like to review books that I didn't enjoy, but with Hotter In The Hamptons, it's not that I disliked it and more that this book dealt me increasing levels of psychic damage the longer it went on.
At first I thought that this book was just something that wouldn't be for me, that I had no interest in reading from the POV of an out of touch wealthy fashion influencer whose every other word was 'chic'. But, I wanted to give this book a chance.
Summary:
- Lola is just Tinx. Literally. Down to the design school she went to
- Every character is a total stereotype in the most UNIRONIC way
- Aside from their assigned stereotypes, every character is essentially the same person
- Lola's complete refusal to call herself anything other than straight as if it's the end of the freaking world
- Everything about this book trivializes the experience of being a queer person
At about 30% into the book I decided to look up the author, Tinx, who I'd never heard of before. She's a fashion influencer, who went to Parsons to study fashion journalism & in 2022 she was cancelled. Sound familiar? The main character, Lola, a fashion influencer who studied fashion at Parsons & then got cancelled. At first I thought that it would be interesting to read about how it is to be cancelled and come back from it, to really change and grow from the experience. Boy, was I wrong. Lola (AKA fictional Tinx) does not change or grow from her experience at all. She frequently expresses and demands sympathy for the fact that she was cancelled for "stupid" reasons that aren't a big deal. Is that the attitude that Tinx holds about her experience in real life? I sure hope not. The things she said about other women were vile. She calls herself "Tiktoks big sister" but fatshames women on twitter? Right. I sincerely hope she was more introspective than her characters.
When Aly was introduced and described as a 'heartbreaker' who 'tends to pull straight girls' it was really the first thing that set off my alarm bells. That is famously something that SO many people assume about gay women. For so many queer people it is a reality that when someone finds out you're gay, they assume you're attracted to them or that you're going to try to "turn them gay". And then this was DOUBLED DOWN by Aly not only having been with a straight girl, but also having her whole romance with Lola be made to revolve around the fact that Lola considers herself to be straight. What makes this even more frustrating to me is that this "information" (AKA blatantly homophobic rumor) is relayed to Lola by her best friend Ryan, who is the most stereotypical gay best friend character I've seen outside of an early 2000s romcom. And I don't even think the author realized that she was writing such stereotypical characters, because they are ALL like that (Aly the lesbian that goes after straight women, Ryan the sassy fashionable gay best friend, Justin the boyfriend who doesn't pay attention to or understand his girlfriend, Lola the clueless rich girl who never takes the blame, Colette the jealous ex gf who tries to break them up).
Aside from each character's assigned stereotype, they are all the same person. And they're all freaking awful. Every single one of them is selfish, immature and genuinely frustrating to read about. "Oh you got cancelled? You didn't think about how it would affect ME first? whatever let's get married or break up! who cares?" "Oh you just got outed and aren't even sure of your sexuality yet? and your ex who dumped you after you didn't want to get panic married is back? uhhhh let's break up" "What boyfriend? You didn't tell me that! Well okay yeah you did but what about MY fling with our hot neighbor that ruined my life?"
Throughout her summer fling with Aly, Lola struggles with her attraction to her. She repeatedly says how she's straight, straight straight straight. Couldn't possibly be bisexual. She's just always had sexual fantasies about women, watched lesbian porn, is dating a woman and frequently fooling around with her. But before Aly she only dated men so she's straight. Obviously, everyone's journey with their sexuality is different. As a bisexual woman, I know first hand that finding a label that suits you can be incredibly personal and difficult, particularly when you're attracted to more than one gender. But Lola's complete denial of the possibility of her being bisexual, to the point of melting down over it like a toddler, it's just feels as "bisexual" is a bad word to her. She has gay friends, so many in fact that she claimed to forget that queer language isn't hers to use when she was cancelled for it. But she can't consider that she might be bi? Is gay or straight the only acceptable option? Bisexual is NOT a bad word.
My last issue with this book is that it completely trivializes what it is to be queer. Queerness to this book is a phase, a summer fling. It comes SO close to hitting the nail on the head when Aly literally brings this topic up to Lola while they're fighting. She tells Lola "Some of us don’t have the luxury of just liking who we like. It’s who we are. It impacts our rights.� To which Lola responds "Please don't yell at me." and the concept is just. Never brought back up? It's so frustrating to seeing it come so close to being handled properly and then just dropped.
After their argument about Lola being straight, they spend some time apart, then Lola rides her bike to see Aly, Aly reads her a piece she wrote basically saying that she's in love with Lola, they get it on in the pool & then pretty much immediately break up after that and never get back together. That's it, the end. Happily never after.
At first I thought that this book was just something that wouldn't be for me, that I had no interest in reading from the POV of an out of touch wealthy fashion influencer whose every other word was 'chic'. But, I wanted to give this book a chance.
Summary:
- Lola is just Tinx. Literally. Down to the design school she went to
- Every character is a total stereotype in the most UNIRONIC way
- Aside from their assigned stereotypes, every character is essentially the same person
- Lola's complete refusal to call herself anything other than straight as if it's the end of the freaking world
- Everything about this book trivializes the experience of being a queer person
At about 30% into the book I decided to look up the author, Tinx, who I'd never heard of before. She's a fashion influencer, who went to Parsons to study fashion journalism & in 2022 she was cancelled. Sound familiar? The main character, Lola, a fashion influencer who studied fashion at Parsons & then got cancelled. At first I thought that it would be interesting to read about how it is to be cancelled and come back from it, to really change and grow from the experience. Boy, was I wrong. Lola (AKA fictional Tinx) does not change or grow from her experience at all. She frequently expresses and demands sympathy for the fact that she was cancelled for "stupid" reasons that aren't a big deal. Is that the attitude that Tinx holds about her experience in real life? I sure hope not. The things she said about other women were vile. She calls herself "Tiktoks big sister" but fatshames women on twitter? Right. I sincerely hope she was more introspective than her characters.
When Aly was introduced and described as a 'heartbreaker' who 'tends to pull straight girls' it was really the first thing that set off my alarm bells. That is famously something that SO many people assume about gay women. For so many queer people it is a reality that when someone finds out you're gay, they assume you're attracted to them or that you're going to try to "turn them gay". And then this was DOUBLED DOWN by Aly not only having been with a straight girl, but also having her whole romance with Lola be made to revolve around the fact that Lola considers herself to be straight. What makes this even more frustrating to me is that this "information" (AKA blatantly homophobic rumor) is relayed to Lola by her best friend Ryan, who is the most stereotypical gay best friend character I've seen outside of an early 2000s romcom. And I don't even think the author realized that she was writing such stereotypical characters, because they are ALL like that (Aly the lesbian that goes after straight women, Ryan the sassy fashionable gay best friend, Justin the boyfriend who doesn't pay attention to or understand his girlfriend, Lola the clueless rich girl who never takes the blame, Colette the jealous ex gf who tries to break them up).
Aside from each character's assigned stereotype, they are all the same person. And they're all freaking awful. Every single one of them is selfish, immature and genuinely frustrating to read about. "Oh you got cancelled? You didn't think about how it would affect ME first? whatever let's get married or break up! who cares?" "Oh you just got outed and aren't even sure of your sexuality yet? and your ex who dumped you after you didn't want to get panic married is back? uhhhh let's break up" "What boyfriend? You didn't tell me that! Well okay yeah you did but what about MY fling with our hot neighbor that ruined my life?"
Throughout her summer fling with Aly, Lola struggles with her attraction to her. She repeatedly says how she's straight, straight straight straight. Couldn't possibly be bisexual. She's just always had sexual fantasies about women, watched lesbian porn, is dating a woman and frequently fooling around with her. But before Aly she only dated men so she's straight. Obviously, everyone's journey with their sexuality is different. As a bisexual woman, I know first hand that finding a label that suits you can be incredibly personal and difficult, particularly when you're attracted to more than one gender. But Lola's complete denial of the possibility of her being bisexual, to the point of melting down over it like a toddler, it's just feels as "bisexual" is a bad word to her. She has gay friends, so many in fact that she claimed to forget that queer language isn't hers to use when she was cancelled for it. But she can't consider that she might be bi? Is gay or straight the only acceptable option? Bisexual is NOT a bad word.
My last issue with this book is that it completely trivializes what it is to be queer. Queerness to this book is a phase, a summer fling. It comes SO close to hitting the nail on the head when Aly literally brings this topic up to Lola while they're fighting. She tells Lola "Some of us don’t have the luxury of just liking who we like. It’s who we are. It impacts our rights.� To which Lola responds "Please don't yell at me." and the concept is just. Never brought back up? It's so frustrating to seeing it come so close to being handled properly and then just dropped.
After their argument about Lola being straight, they spend some time apart, then Lola rides her bike to see Aly, Aly reads her a piece she wrote basically saying that she's in love with Lola, they get it on in the pool & then pretty much immediately break up after that and never get back together. That's it, the end. Happily never after.
April 20, 2025
This was such a strange one for me, I sat with my thoughts for a few days and I’m still struggling to process my feelings. When I started this I was looking for a beachy read and this definitely fits the bill. It’s very surface level and looks at the glitzy world of summer in the Hamptons in a very trivial and superficial way. The main character, Lola is hard to really root for, she seems immature for her age and her internal monologue sounds like a horny teenaged boy. This one is super spicy, but like I said lots of the sex scenes were super cringey and maybe there was too much emphasis on the sexual relationships in this one. I did end up liking Lola more by the end of the book but it took forever for her to show some growth and character development. I will say I was somehow still oddly invested here but overall this felt very juvenile and immature.
March 23, 2025
This wasn’t the worst but it also wasn’t the best.
I was actually very intrigued by the whole influencer situation Lola found herself in because I’ve seen how easily you can either make or break your career. However, she got so annoying and whiney in constantly needing that validation from her followers. I know it’s hard sometimes to not seek it but Lola needed therapy.
I was happy to see that little bit of growth at the end but I felt the situation lacked a depth to it. It all felt surface level and it just kind of happened. The entire time I thought she needed to be on her own and I’m glad she finally figured that out.
Here is my concern with this book however. I did not know who Tinx was and I realized she is in fact an influencer. This book is heavy on LGBTQIA+ stereotypes and I’m hoping it’s coming from a place of experience and not just trying to use it for a storyline. I’ve heard it’s even getting picked up to be a series as well so I truly hope this is not a money grab.
I did have moments I enjoyed the storyline but mostly, I just couldn’t get past the whole Aly writing such a mean article about Lola and Lola starts dating her? I love me an enemies to lovers trope but this just felt weird. The spice was a bit spicy though so I give it a 3 🌶� out of 5.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I was actually very intrigued by the whole influencer situation Lola found herself in because I’ve seen how easily you can either make or break your career. However, she got so annoying and whiney in constantly needing that validation from her followers. I know it’s hard sometimes to not seek it but Lola needed therapy.
I was happy to see that little bit of growth at the end but I felt the situation lacked a depth to it. It all felt surface level and it just kind of happened. The entire time I thought she needed to be on her own and I’m glad she finally figured that out.
Here is my concern with this book however. I did not know who Tinx was and I realized she is in fact an influencer. This book is heavy on LGBTQIA+ stereotypes and I’m hoping it’s coming from a place of experience and not just trying to use it for a storyline. I’ve heard it’s even getting picked up to be a series as well so I truly hope this is not a money grab.
I did have moments I enjoyed the storyline but mostly, I just couldn’t get past the whole Aly writing such a mean article about Lola and Lola starts dating her? I love me an enemies to lovers trope but this just felt weird. The spice was a bit spicy though so I give it a 3 🌶� out of 5.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Want to read
April 16, 2025ARC received. The reviews are....interesting?! Will be keeping an open mind going into this one.
Thank you Bloom Books for sending this my way.
Thank you Bloom Books for sending this my way.
April 18, 2025
I hated it and the writing was beyond cheesy but I also couldn’t put it down?
March 19, 2025
The writing in this book was elementary and I really just didn’t appreciate the story. I couldn’t immerse myself in the world the author was trying to create (and I live in nyc and have visited the Hamptons). Most consumer goods described in this book were just labeled as a high-end/luxury items. They were never really described in detail around what they looked like, the texture, etc. which could have brought the characters and landscape to life. I thought the sub theme of fashion, in particular, fell short.
The main character Lola, an influencer, was an insufferable snob and her ‘personal growth� was overshadowed by the external validation she sought from social media. She would have been more relatable, for me, if she had any girl friends. It made sense she didn’t because she was self-absorbed and selfish, but it led to a lack of underdeveloped side characters. I don’t know any girls that don’t have any girl friends and only one gay (male) best friend. I think that trope only exists in pop culture fiction.
Overall, not my fav.
The main character Lola, an influencer, was an insufferable snob and her ‘personal growth� was overshadowed by the external validation she sought from social media. She would have been more relatable, for me, if she had any girl friends. It made sense she didn’t because she was self-absorbed and selfish, but it led to a lack of underdeveloped side characters. I don’t know any girls that don’t have any girl friends and only one gay (male) best friend. I think that trope only exists in pop culture fiction.
Overall, not my fav.
April 11, 2025
I went into this with an open mind, because I don’t really know anything about Tinx, and the summary made it seem like something that would be right up my alley. First I will start with the writing� it’s very elementary. She names popular luxury fashion and home items, but never gets into actually describing them� which is odd in assuming that most people just know what they are. The LGBTQ+ characters felt so stereotypical and they come across like caricatures. Overall, all of the characters are underdeveloped. I won’t even get into the fact that a straight woman wrote these characters. This is such a huge miss, and I think Tinx needs more “no� people in her life.
March 18, 2025
Hotter in the Hamptons was a fast-paced, easy to read book despite the unlikable main character. Lola's emotions felt very realistic and relatable even though her actions were questionable throughout almost all of the book.
My main issue with the book is that it felt as if Aly was purposely being made into an unlikable lesbian stereotype just so that Lola could find herself and be more rightfully angry at her. The portrayal of lesbian culture in her friend group didn't seem realistic (a traditional butch/femme couple is not going to have the butch wearing a dress, for example). Lola annoyed me by all her wishy-washiness about her sexuality and I do not feel as if the novel provided good or realistic sapphic representation. I have noticed a trend of lesbians, especially dominant lesbians, being fetishized while still being treated as suspect simply because they are lesbians, and on a meta level it feels to me as if the novel did this. It's hard to give specifics without giving spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My main issue with the book is that it felt as if Aly was purposely being made into an unlikable lesbian stereotype just so that Lola could find herself and be more rightfully angry at her. The portrayal of lesbian culture in her friend group didn't seem realistic (a traditional butch/femme couple is not going to have the butch wearing a dress, for example). Lola annoyed me by all her wishy-washiness about her sexuality and I do not feel as if the novel provided good or realistic sapphic representation. I have noticed a trend of lesbians, especially dominant lesbians, being fetishized while still being treated as suspect simply because they are lesbians, and on a meta level it feels to me as if the novel did this. It's hard to give specifics without giving spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2025
Liked in some ways but disliked in others! The main upside was the way it read like tea-filled reality TV in the best way, but it fell flat for me in other areas. I was hoping for a bit more of a summery, Hamptons atmosphere—there were the beginnings of that vibe, but we didn’t quite get to the sun-drenched feeling I wanted. I also thought the queer rep was strange. The MC insisted that she was straight and that it was odd/weirdly “political� that the other characters were asking if she was bi or queer when she was fully eating box and saying she was in love with a lesbian woman??? I thought we were going to have a reckoning about internalized homophobia but alas� Overall entertaining & a quick read but unsure if I would recommend or not :/
Edit:: INSTANT one star demotion upon finding out the author says she’s straight and only dates straight men??? What is going on bro
Edit:: INSTANT one star demotion upon finding out the author says she’s straight and only dates straight men??? What is going on bro
March 28, 2025
This had the potential to be good, instead it read like an advertisement of sponsored brands that Tinx was being paid to promote. It was mind numbingly superficial and the label name dropping became tiresome very quickly.
Lola totally doesn’t act like a 30 year old woman. She’s childish, completely self-absorbed, and flighty. This book was very difficult to read at times bc I found Lola very shallow and unlikable & her gay best friend, Ryan, was so cliché. There were no characters that I liked actually.
I don’t know much about the author other than they’re an influencer, but a lot of the book felt incredibly stereotypical towards the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m not sure if they are in that community or if they just used it for the narrative and marketing purposes, but it just felt ick to me, especially the fact that Lola seemed to find the thought of being bisexual (or labeled as such) to be so reprehensible.
Little things irritated me as well, like
writing that you can’t dive gracefully with large breasts, or having Lola make french toast as if it were a difficult meal to make. The paragraph describing what designer sunglasses everyone was wearing in the car was so unnecessary and shallow that I wanted to toss my phone in irritation. Completely unnecessary. More time should have been spent on the characters so they weren’t cookie cutouts of stereotypes but instead Tinx felt it necessary to mention Aly’s Tom Ford sunglasses 5 times�
If you’re a teen or a fellow influencer you might enjoy this book. There’s really not much to it other than designer labels and spice; Lola doesn’t really have a satisfying character arc. If you want to read something substantial and not something that comes across as brand name fan fiction, skip this one.
1 star
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.
Lola totally doesn’t act like a 30 year old woman. She’s childish, completely self-absorbed, and flighty. This book was very difficult to read at times bc I found Lola very shallow and unlikable & her gay best friend, Ryan, was so cliché. There were no characters that I liked actually.
I don’t know much about the author other than they’re an influencer, but a lot of the book felt incredibly stereotypical towards the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m not sure if they are in that community or if they just used it for the narrative and marketing purposes, but it just felt ick to me, especially the fact that Lola seemed to find the thought of being bisexual (or labeled as such) to be so reprehensible.
Little things irritated me as well, like
writing that you can’t dive gracefully with large breasts, or having Lola make french toast as if it were a difficult meal to make. The paragraph describing what designer sunglasses everyone was wearing in the car was so unnecessary and shallow that I wanted to toss my phone in irritation. Completely unnecessary. More time should have been spent on the characters so they weren’t cookie cutouts of stereotypes but instead Tinx felt it necessary to mention Aly’s Tom Ford sunglasses 5 times�
If you’re a teen or a fellow influencer you might enjoy this book. There’s really not much to it other than designer labels and spice; Lola doesn’t really have a satisfying character arc. If you want to read something substantial and not something that comes across as brand name fan fiction, skip this one.
1 star
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.
March 18, 2025
i think books about influencers are just not for me. i am very proud of lola’s growth at the end of the book but overall the book just didn’t land for me. the authors writing style just wasn’t for me.
April 23, 2025
Hotter in the Hamptons by Tinx
Writing: B
Story: C-
Characters: C-
Setting: B
Best Aspect: The first chapter was the best of the whole book, it did suck me in.
Worst Aspect: I was not enjoying myself while reading this, just so far over the top and I did not enjoy the characters.
Recommend: Maybe.
Writing: B
Story: C-
Characters: C-
Setting: B
Best Aspect: The first chapter was the best of the whole book, it did suck me in.
Worst Aspect: I was not enjoying myself while reading this, just so far over the top and I did not enjoy the characters.
Recommend: Maybe.
April 5, 2025
they will never make me like you tinx
Read
April 9, 2025WeWoreWhat x Willa Bennett fanfic
March 29, 2025
Before I get into my review of “Hotter In The Hamptons�, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Bloom Books for the eARC!
I have so many thoughts about this book, mostly negative but let’s dive right in. My biggest pet peeve with this book was with the characters themselves. I honestly couldn’t stand Lola as a character. Yes, I felt empathy for her at certain points throughout the book but most of the problems that arise are all or partially her fault. She did have some excellent character development towards the end that I appreciated.
Both of the FMCs made huge mistakes throughout this book but there was excellent character development.
In the end, I feel like this book is for lovers of “Mistakes Were Made� by Meryl Wilsner, an easy read with a lot of spice.
And remember, sometimes you don’t need a partner; you just need a cat.
I have so many thoughts about this book, mostly negative but let’s dive right in. My biggest pet peeve with this book was with the characters themselves. I honestly couldn’t stand Lola as a character. Yes, I felt empathy for her at certain points throughout the book but most of the problems that arise are all or partially her fault. She did have some excellent character development towards the end that I appreciated.
Both of the FMCs made huge mistakes throughout this book but there was excellent character development.
In the end, I feel like this book is for lovers of “Mistakes Were Made� by Meryl Wilsner, an easy read with a lot of spice.
And remember, sometimes you don’t need a partner; you just need a cat.
April 4, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I did not enjoy this book. I found the characters to be quite unlikeable and harmful lesbian/bisexual stereotypes within it to be homophobic/biphobic at times.
The setting was neat. A sapphic beach romance is always a good idea. I gave an extra star for the spice because it was spicing!
I did not enjoy this book. I found the characters to be quite unlikeable and harmful lesbian/bisexual stereotypes within it to be homophobic/biphobic at times.
The setting was neat. A sapphic beach romance is always a good idea. I gave an extra star for the spice because it was spicing!
April 4, 2025
Oh man, I have a lot of feelings about this book.
As someone who identifies as a straight woman, I hesitated to weigh in on Hotter in the Hamptons and the conversation around Tinx—someone who publicly identifies with a group largely opposed to queer expression—writing from a perspective that clearly isn’t her own. For a fiction debut, it feels like a risky (and arguably tone-deaf) choice, and in a way, she ends up pulling a “Lola� herself. It’s especially unsettling to hear rumors that the story might be optioned for film by individuals aligned with those same opposing views. It just leaves a strange taste, and makes me question who this story was really for.
That said, there were elements I enjoyed, and I can see why some readers will absolutely devour this book. The pacing is quick, the writing is light, and the drama is exactly the kind of glossy escapism you'd expect from a summer read. If your social calendar includes rosé-fueled weekends out east, the hyper-specific references and designer name-drops will feel familiar and fun. Not everyone will get them—and I think that’s kind of the point. This book is niche, unapologetically so.
I was surprised by how spicy the book was (didn’t know Tinx had that in her!), and while I’m not sure the character development fully landed, there’s an undeniable pull to Lola’s unraveling. Still, I’d love to see Tinx step a little closer to the box—or at least toward something that feels more authentically her. There’s potential here, and with a clearer sense of direction, I’d be curious to read what she does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
As someone who identifies as a straight woman, I hesitated to weigh in on Hotter in the Hamptons and the conversation around Tinx—someone who publicly identifies with a group largely opposed to queer expression—writing from a perspective that clearly isn’t her own. For a fiction debut, it feels like a risky (and arguably tone-deaf) choice, and in a way, she ends up pulling a “Lola� herself. It’s especially unsettling to hear rumors that the story might be optioned for film by individuals aligned with those same opposing views. It just leaves a strange taste, and makes me question who this story was really for.
That said, there were elements I enjoyed, and I can see why some readers will absolutely devour this book. The pacing is quick, the writing is light, and the drama is exactly the kind of glossy escapism you'd expect from a summer read. If your social calendar includes rosé-fueled weekends out east, the hyper-specific references and designer name-drops will feel familiar and fun. Not everyone will get them—and I think that’s kind of the point. This book is niche, unapologetically so.
I was surprised by how spicy the book was (didn’t know Tinx had that in her!), and while I’m not sure the character development fully landed, there’s an undeniable pull to Lola’s unraveling. Still, I’d love to see Tinx step a little closer to the box—or at least toward something that feels more authentically her. There’s potential here, and with a clearer sense of direction, I’d be curious to read what she does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2025
We’re having an epidemic of insufferable characters in this country and idk how we’re gonna fix it.
This essentially felt like Tinx wrote a book about herself through a lesbian lens, but like if the lesbian lens was being held by a man.
I mean there was absolutely nothing redeeming about the FMC, she’s fully a narcissist who the entire time struggles to understand how ANYONE could dislike her. The central love interest is manipulative, love-bomby, and shady as hell. The token best friend was the weirdest, almost offensive (?) textbook definition of a gay best friend and honestly should’ve left Lola out in the dust.
I hated every character so deeply that I found myself wishing there was a POV of the ex-boyfriend in medical residency as that seemed like an exponentially more interesting story (ignoring of course all the inaccurate information about wtf a medical residency even is lol)
The strangest part of this perhaps is the fact that this is being promoted as a fun steamy summer romance?? If I bought this to read at the beach I would be spending my entire time in the water and avoiding this mess.
I’m not even gonna get into the terrible optics of a white straight woman writing about a sapphic awakening in the HAMPTONS during a recession year but I’m sure we can all connect those very problematic dots.
The most impressive part of it all is that this has been picked up for a television series before the book has even been released & perceived by the public. A bold move on literally every single person involved but I guess that’s the power of being a rich white influencer baby!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
This essentially felt like Tinx wrote a book about herself through a lesbian lens, but like if the lesbian lens was being held by a man.
I mean there was absolutely nothing redeeming about the FMC, she’s fully a narcissist who the entire time struggles to understand how ANYONE could dislike her. The central love interest is manipulative, love-bomby, and shady as hell. The token best friend was the weirdest, almost offensive (?) textbook definition of a gay best friend and honestly should’ve left Lola out in the dust.
I hated every character so deeply that I found myself wishing there was a POV of the ex-boyfriend in medical residency as that seemed like an exponentially more interesting story (ignoring of course all the inaccurate information about wtf a medical residency even is lol)
The strangest part of this perhaps is the fact that this is being promoted as a fun steamy summer romance?? If I bought this to read at the beach I would be spending my entire time in the water and avoiding this mess.
I’m not even gonna get into the terrible optics of a white straight woman writing about a sapphic awakening in the HAMPTONS during a recession year but I’m sure we can all connect those very problematic dots.
The most impressive part of it all is that this has been picked up for a television series before the book has even been released & perceived by the public. A bold move on literally every single person involved but I guess that’s the power of being a rich white influencer baby!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
April 24, 2025
First, thank you to Bloom Books for sending me an ARC copy—I’m so grateful for this opportunity!
I made the mistake of looking at reviews before fully reading the book and forming my own opinion, and honestly, the reviews took me by surprise. Initially, I found myself genuinely having so much fun reading this book. Not only was some of the dialogue really funny, but as a queer reader, I found the story comforting. The main character was on a journey of self-discovery, and the fact that she had a boyfriend before her queer experience added depth, showing a more complete and nuanced exploration of her identity.
The influencer aspect was also really entertaining to read. It was especially amusing considering the author isn’t part of my generation, so it was interesting to see that world written from a different generational perspective.
Now, as I continued reading, I did start to notice some of the negatives that were pointed out in other reviews. I’ll admit that the book includes several stereotypical characters. Many readers were also upset that Lola didn’t label herself as bisexual. But realistically, she’s a woman trying to figure out who she is and who she’s attracted to. In my opinion, the frustration around that—as well as with Aly, who I thought was toxic and not supportive at all—feels unfair.
In the end, I’m glad Lola chose herself. Neither Justin nor Aly was right for her, and she really started to lose herself when she was with Aly. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book, and I appreciated the representation of a bi-curious woman navigating both her identity and her career.
I made the mistake of looking at reviews before fully reading the book and forming my own opinion, and honestly, the reviews took me by surprise. Initially, I found myself genuinely having so much fun reading this book. Not only was some of the dialogue really funny, but as a queer reader, I found the story comforting. The main character was on a journey of self-discovery, and the fact that she had a boyfriend before her queer experience added depth, showing a more complete and nuanced exploration of her identity.
The influencer aspect was also really entertaining to read. It was especially amusing considering the author isn’t part of my generation, so it was interesting to see that world written from a different generational perspective.
Now, as I continued reading, I did start to notice some of the negatives that were pointed out in other reviews. I’ll admit that the book includes several stereotypical characters. Many readers were also upset that Lola didn’t label herself as bisexual. But realistically, she’s a woman trying to figure out who she is and who she’s attracted to. In my opinion, the frustration around that—as well as with Aly, who I thought was toxic and not supportive at all—feels unfair.
In the end, I’m glad Lola chose herself. Neither Justin nor Aly was right for her, and she really started to lose herself when she was with Aly. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book, and I appreciated the representation of a bi-curious woman navigating both her identity and her career.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 12, 2025I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Hotter in the Hamptons by Tinx is a third person contemporary exploring the cancelation of a fashion influencer. Lola was once an aspiring fashion designer and is now one of the biggest fashion influencers. When she calls an outfit ‘lesbian chic�, she’s cancelled by social media, is called bland, and loses her boyfriend. To get her spark back, Lola spends the summer in the Hamptons with her best friend and the same woman who furthered her cancellation, Aly Ray Carter.
I felt this was a real missed opportunity to discuss the prejudices that are ingrained in those of us who grow up in a white supremacist society (including the main character’s possible own internalized Queerphobia and wrestling with why she has never deconstructed why she never considered that she could be Bi/Pan), the people who expect perfection of public figures despite either hiding their own mistakes behind anonymity or not recognizing their mistakes because no one is holding them accountable, and individual humans making mistakes in this ecosystem. Instead, we got a lot about how the algorithm makes us bland so we can all be marketable. There's nothing wrong with that take, but given the set-up, I was expecting a deeper look at how the internet, especially the American side of it, handles being confronted with the ills of our society and what we can and can't reasonably expect from our fellow humans, whether they are a public figure or not.
Hotter in the Hamptons by Tinx is a third person contemporary exploring the cancelation of a fashion influencer. Lola was once an aspiring fashion designer and is now one of the biggest fashion influencers. When she calls an outfit ‘lesbian chic�, she’s cancelled by social media, is called bland, and loses her boyfriend. To get her spark back, Lola spends the summer in the Hamptons with her best friend and the same woman who furthered her cancellation, Aly Ray Carter.
I felt this was a real missed opportunity to discuss the prejudices that are ingrained in those of us who grow up in a white supremacist society (including the main character’s possible own internalized Queerphobia and wrestling with why she has never deconstructed why she never considered that she could be Bi/Pan), the people who expect perfection of public figures despite either hiding their own mistakes behind anonymity or not recognizing their mistakes because no one is holding them accountable, and individual humans making mistakes in this ecosystem. Instead, we got a lot about how the algorithm makes us bland so we can all be marketable. There's nothing wrong with that take, but given the set-up, I was expecting a deeper look at how the internet, especially the American side of it, handles being confronted with the ills of our society and what we can and can't reasonably expect from our fellow humans, whether they are a public figure or not.
March 25, 2025
This was such an enjoyable and effortless read—quick-paced and lighthearted, yet deeply thought-provoking. It sheds light on the way society tends to idolize its "heroes," only to tear them down just as swiftly. The book explores how people are quick to elevate social media personalities, but just as quick to abandon them when the tide shifts. It highlights our tendency as a society to judge harshly, cancel without mercy, and deny others the grace to make mistakes—let alone have an opinion.
The FMC, Lola, can initially come across as self-absorbed and a bit snobby. Amid the whirlwind of brand deals and collaborations, she's lost sight of why she started creating content in the first place. It takes a rude awakening—watching her life fall apart—for her to rediscover her true purpose and reconnect with what really matters.
I’d give it 3.5 stars, but I’m rounding up to 4. The premise was intriguing, though I do wish the character development had been more fleshed out.
Thank you Bloom Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The FMC, Lola, can initially come across as self-absorbed and a bit snobby. Amid the whirlwind of brand deals and collaborations, she's lost sight of why she started creating content in the first place. It takes a rude awakening—watching her life fall apart—for her to rediscover her true purpose and reconnect with what really matters.
I’d give it 3.5 stars, but I’m rounding up to 4. The premise was intriguing, though I do wish the character development had been more fleshed out.
Thank you Bloom Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
April 20, 2025
If you like Gossip Girl, you'll probably want to read this book.
Rich people of New York, their drama, and a Hamptons getaway...what could possibly go wrong.
I did find the writing to be really weird and corny at times, especially the dialogue. It is really quick to read though because it is written the way that it is.
This book has many unlikable characters that make questionable choices. And I know that some people love that in a book and some people hate that. For me, it depends on the book. I found this instance of it to be a bit annoying, these characters didn't really have any redeeming qualities that made that annoyance worth it.
The references made were very specific, so this will definitely age itself overtime, but for this current moment in time, it works.
I can see a very specific audience for this.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Rich people of New York, their drama, and a Hamptons getaway...what could possibly go wrong.
I did find the writing to be really weird and corny at times, especially the dialogue. It is really quick to read though because it is written the way that it is.
This book has many unlikable characters that make questionable choices. And I know that some people love that in a book and some people hate that. For me, it depends on the book. I found this instance of it to be a bit annoying, these characters didn't really have any redeeming qualities that made that annoyance worth it.
The references made were very specific, so this will definitely age itself overtime, but for this current moment in time, it works.
I can see a very specific audience for this.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
March 30, 2025
ARC REVIEW ⭐️
I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, particularly the influencer situation Lola found herself in, as it’s such a relevant and relatable topic in today’s world. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself increasingly frustrated, especially with how LGBTQIA+ themes were handled. The book leaned heavily into stereotypes that felt shallow and uninformed, which was both off-putting and disappointing. I truly hope these elements were written from a place of genuine experience rather than being used as a convenient plot device or a way to appeal to trends. If this book is going to be part of a series, I hope future installments move away from these tropes and offer more thoughtful representation. What also pains me is that these stereotypes are coming from a straight women, so that is especially harmful.
While there were moments of growth for Lola by the end, the journey felt rushed and lacked emotional depth. Her reliance on validation from her followers was frustrating to read about, and while I appreciated her eventual realization that she needed to stand on her own, it felt like therapy or deeper introspection was missing from her arc.
Another major issue for me was the storyline involving Aly writing such a cruel article about Lola, only for them to end up dating. While I generally enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, this dynamic felt forced and uncomfortable in this context. It didn’t resonate emotionally and left me feeling disconnected from their relationship.
The spice level was decent, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to redeem the overall experience for me. I give this book 3 🌶� out of 5 but sincerely hope future works in this series are more mindful in their portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters and themes.
I was initially intrigued by the premise of this book, particularly the influencer situation Lola found herself in, as it’s such a relevant and relatable topic in today’s world. However, as the story unfolded, I found myself increasingly frustrated, especially with how LGBTQIA+ themes were handled. The book leaned heavily into stereotypes that felt shallow and uninformed, which was both off-putting and disappointing. I truly hope these elements were written from a place of genuine experience rather than being used as a convenient plot device or a way to appeal to trends. If this book is going to be part of a series, I hope future installments move away from these tropes and offer more thoughtful representation. What also pains me is that these stereotypes are coming from a straight women, so that is especially harmful.
While there were moments of growth for Lola by the end, the journey felt rushed and lacked emotional depth. Her reliance on validation from her followers was frustrating to read about, and while I appreciated her eventual realization that she needed to stand on her own, it felt like therapy or deeper introspection was missing from her arc.
Another major issue for me was the storyline involving Aly writing such a cruel article about Lola, only for them to end up dating. While I generally enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, this dynamic felt forced and uncomfortable in this context. It didn’t resonate emotionally and left me feeling disconnected from their relationship.
The spice level was decent, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to redeem the overall experience for me. I give this book 3 🌶� out of 5 but sincerely hope future works in this series are more mindful in their portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters and themes.
March 18, 2025
3.75/5
Spicy, spicy, spicy! This book dives deep into the struggles of popularity, fitting in, and the cost of losing yourself in the process. ARC’s article does a great job of capturing today’s influencer and cancel culture—especially timely given the recent NYC influencer drama. I also loved the mention of box theory!
That said, Lola was tough to root for at times, especially with how she treated Ryan—it was honestly painful to read. But the last two chapters? Perfection. Watching Lola truly discover herself was so satisfying, and I wish more of the book had that energy.
Overall, an entertaining read with some frustrating moments, but a perfect poolside read!
Spicy, spicy, spicy! This book dives deep into the struggles of popularity, fitting in, and the cost of losing yourself in the process. ARC’s article does a great job of capturing today’s influencer and cancel culture—especially timely given the recent NYC influencer drama. I also loved the mention of box theory!
That said, Lola was tough to root for at times, especially with how she treated Ryan—it was honestly painful to read. But the last two chapters? Perfection. Watching Lola truly discover herself was so satisfying, and I wish more of the book had that energy.
Overall, an entertaining read with some frustrating moments, but a perfect poolside read!
March 20, 2025
I miss summers that I spent in the Hamptons. It was just an experience about anything else! The beaches and the friendships were the best! This book follows a rising social media influencer Lola on a journey of finding herself. She goes through some really tough life lessons and hard experiences to see that things need to change for the better. Lola is such a complex character with lots of layers that need to be pulled back to fully understand her and her actions. I loved the side characters in this story and found this one such a fun read. It would be a great book to add to your beach bag for this summer!
March 19, 2025
Lola’s professional and personal life fell apart after the release of a scorching exposé, written by a well-known critic, Aly Ray Carter. Lola takes off to the Hamptons with her best friend, Ryan, to escape the mess that is her life in New York City. Unfortunately for her, she can’t escape Aly because she lives in the house next door.
The situation with her boyfriend was frustrating and problematic for me. I didn't find some of the characters likable, even Lola herself. In part, I sympathized with Lola because it did feel like she was being pressured by everyone. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but in a way, I understand why it ended the way it did.
I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me a free ARC.
The situation with her boyfriend was frustrating and problematic for me. I didn't find some of the characters likable, even Lola herself. In part, I sympathized with Lola because it did feel like she was being pressured by everyone. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but in a way, I understand why it ended the way it did.
I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me a free ARC.
April 1, 2025
nary a likable character nor compelling storyline in sight! and if I read one more brand name, I was going to DNF.
thank you to netgalley and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
thank you to netgalley and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2025
This was like if the girls from "The Clique" grew up in the best way. A perfect beach read: fun, some spice, some personal growth, something for everyone. Extra points for saying ON Long Island and not IN Long Island.
April 23, 2025
First off, let's be real. I only requested this book from Netgalley (thank you publisher/Netgalley for free advanced review copy) to see if it was a shit show. I vaguely remember hearing the name Tinx mentioned on the Who? Weekly podcast, so I only sort of knew her as an influencer. But, you know, people contain multitudes and of course she had a "collaborator" (ghostwriter perhaps?), so I kept an open mind.
At its best, a lot of this book was kind of light, fun fluff. Hot rich people hanging out in the sun, wearing designer clothes, having sex, and causing scandals is pretty easy fodder for a summer beach read. Lola Fine is an influencer who gets canceled for calling an outfit that doesn't fit her vibe "lesbian chic," and then tries to redeem herself with interview with cultural critic Aly Ray Carter. Except in her story, Aly calls out Lola for being a bland shill. Lola's team and sponsors drop her, and her boyfriend Justin breaks up with her because she doesn't want to get married and move back to LA. Lola escapes to the Hamptons with her best friend Ryan, only to find out that her next door neighbor is Aly Ray Carter, who Lola finds unbearably hot. This premise could have resulted in a fun or interesting book.
Instead, what you get is an exercise in seeing how much more vapid Lola could possibly get. That girl does not have two brain cells running in that pretty little head of hers. Truly, Lola is doing her absolute best to not think about anything. The decisions she made in her career that led her here? What she could do to rehab her image? If she even wants to still be an influencer? Does she want to be with Justin? Does she want to be in a relationship with Aly? Is she straight, like she's always thought she was? No, Lola is very intentionally not thinking about any of these things. Actually, there is no evidence of Lola thinking about literally anything except how hot Aly is, how much she needs to be with Aly right at this instant, and, like, what she's going to be eating (not in a diet way, but in an appreciation of food).
The big discourse online around this book so far has been about how Tinx identifies as a straight woman and this is a book about two women in a sexual relationship. I don't think that's automatically bad, however (and we're getting into spoilers here FYI), I do think it's a legitimate discussion to have when Lola spends the book adamantly defending her straightness. She keeps reiterating that she is not bisexual, she is straight, despite having sleeping with a woman every single day for months. It is, in fact, the biggest tension between Lola and Aly and the reason why . You can give Lola (and Tinx) the benefit of the doubt here, because it takes a long time for many people to come to terms with their sexuality. But the way Lola goes about it... you kind of don't want to? For context, there is no implication that literally anyone in Lola's life will be hateful or dismissive if she is not straight. Further, Lola sees that her defense of her straightness is hurting Aly and irritating the queer women she meets, and she doesn't try to reassure Aly that she does have genuine feelings for her. Even if she'd just said something like "I'm mostly straight" or "Aly is the only woman I've had feelings for" or "I'm not sure how I identify" or "I'm not really into labels" (I could come up with a dozen more of these), it would have been less invalidating to Aly, who wants to be in a real relationship with Lola.
Finally, I found the ending to be very lackluster. There is zero closure about .
Some last random thoughts:
-There is so much slang in here that you know this book could not stand the test of time for that alone.
-There is a publicist who mentions maybe Lola could get on the Tinx podcast. That is SO embarrassing for Tinx to include.
-I think I put more thought into writing this review than Lola did into anything that she did in the course of this book.
At its best, a lot of this book was kind of light, fun fluff. Hot rich people hanging out in the sun, wearing designer clothes, having sex, and causing scandals is pretty easy fodder for a summer beach read. Lola Fine is an influencer who gets canceled for calling an outfit that doesn't fit her vibe "lesbian chic," and then tries to redeem herself with interview with cultural critic Aly Ray Carter. Except in her story, Aly calls out Lola for being a bland shill. Lola's team and sponsors drop her, and her boyfriend Justin breaks up with her because she doesn't want to get married and move back to LA. Lola escapes to the Hamptons with her best friend Ryan, only to find out that her next door neighbor is Aly Ray Carter, who Lola finds unbearably hot. This premise could have resulted in a fun or interesting book.
Instead, what you get is an exercise in seeing how much more vapid Lola could possibly get. That girl does not have two brain cells running in that pretty little head of hers. Truly, Lola is doing her absolute best to not think about anything. The decisions she made in her career that led her here? What she could do to rehab her image? If she even wants to still be an influencer? Does she want to be with Justin? Does she want to be in a relationship with Aly? Is she straight, like she's always thought she was? No, Lola is very intentionally not thinking about any of these things. Actually, there is no evidence of Lola thinking about literally anything except how hot Aly is, how much she needs to be with Aly right at this instant, and, like, what she's going to be eating (not in a diet way, but in an appreciation of food).
The big discourse online around this book so far has been about how Tinx identifies as a straight woman and this is a book about two women in a sexual relationship. I don't think that's automatically bad, however (and we're getting into spoilers here FYI), I do think it's a legitimate discussion to have when Lola spends the book adamantly defending her straightness. She keeps reiterating that she is not bisexual, she is straight, despite having sleeping with a woman every single day for months. It is, in fact, the biggest tension between Lola and Aly and the reason why . You can give Lola (and Tinx) the benefit of the doubt here, because it takes a long time for many people to come to terms with their sexuality. But the way Lola goes about it... you kind of don't want to? For context, there is no implication that literally anyone in Lola's life will be hateful or dismissive if she is not straight. Further, Lola sees that her defense of her straightness is hurting Aly and irritating the queer women she meets, and she doesn't try to reassure Aly that she does have genuine feelings for her. Even if she'd just said something like "I'm mostly straight" or "Aly is the only woman I've had feelings for" or "I'm not sure how I identify" or "I'm not really into labels" (I could come up with a dozen more of these), it would have been less invalidating to Aly, who wants to be in a real relationship with Lola.
Finally, I found the ending to be very lackluster. There is zero closure about .
Some last random thoughts:
-There is so much slang in here that you know this book could not stand the test of time for that alone.
-There is a publicist who mentions maybe Lola could get on the Tinx podcast. That is SO embarrassing for Tinx to include.
-I think I put more thought into writing this review than Lola did into anything that she did in the course of this book.
April 17, 2025
ARC Review
I need to stop reviewing books by influencers.
Lola is a vapid self-absorbed character. When she makes an unthinking comment on a live stream, she is characterized as homophobic, and the people cry out for her cancelation. In an effort to save her reputation, Lola does an interview for a hot journalist, Aly, who is known for her affairs with straight women. Instead of resuscitating Lola’s reputation, the article instead calls out the influencer culture and the blandness it had infused into society. With her boyfriend away in California for the summer while they are “on a break�, Lola makes the only logical choice and runs off to the Hamptons with her BFF only to discover that her neighbor is the dreaded journalist lady-killer, Aly.
My biggest complaint with this book is exactly what Lola is labeled as, bland. It was highly predictable, the characters are not very likeable, and it wasn’t very interesting. The characters were over the top. Lola had to hit that influencer vibe so hard, even when pulled away from limelight. It doesn’t feel like she really learns anything from her actions and instead dabbles in fooling around with a woman. It doesn’t feel authentic. What is even odder is the love interest being a person who hurt Lola by writing an article so painful, it caused her to stay in bed for days. If there was true resolution or even a fully formed conversation about this, the enemies becoming lovers would make a little more sense.
As for other characters, Aly was an immature pouty baby. Every time she didn’t get her way, or someone said something meanish to her, she would go radio silent. One would think a fully functioning adult would have better coping mechanisms. The boyfriend Justin makes plans for and about Lola without ever consulting her. There is a scene where Lola looks around their apartment and realizes that the only area she is allowed to make her mark is in one small room. The rest of the apartment is� bland. Ryan, the best friend, seems great but is also super self-absorbed (maybe a commonality that brought Lola and Ryan together as friends). He seems more focused on doing his own thing but when Lola gets wrapped up in her own situationship, Ryan gets upset that she isn’t available for him. He invites her to a party and goes without her. She finds out when he leaves her a note. Yet he gets mad when she misses dinner with his boyfriend to screw around with her love interest. No one is likeable in this entire story.
I will readily admit, I am probably not the preferred audience for this book. I was hoping that this was a fun and flirty LGBTQIA+ summer fling love story. Instead, I got this book. I hope it finds its target audience, and someone out there fully appreciates all it has to offer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an advanced copy of this book.
I need to stop reviewing books by influencers.
Lola is a vapid self-absorbed character. When she makes an unthinking comment on a live stream, she is characterized as homophobic, and the people cry out for her cancelation. In an effort to save her reputation, Lola does an interview for a hot journalist, Aly, who is known for her affairs with straight women. Instead of resuscitating Lola’s reputation, the article instead calls out the influencer culture and the blandness it had infused into society. With her boyfriend away in California for the summer while they are “on a break�, Lola makes the only logical choice and runs off to the Hamptons with her BFF only to discover that her neighbor is the dreaded journalist lady-killer, Aly.
My biggest complaint with this book is exactly what Lola is labeled as, bland. It was highly predictable, the characters are not very likeable, and it wasn’t very interesting. The characters were over the top. Lola had to hit that influencer vibe so hard, even when pulled away from limelight. It doesn’t feel like she really learns anything from her actions and instead dabbles in fooling around with a woman. It doesn’t feel authentic. What is even odder is the love interest being a person who hurt Lola by writing an article so painful, it caused her to stay in bed for days. If there was true resolution or even a fully formed conversation about this, the enemies becoming lovers would make a little more sense.
As for other characters, Aly was an immature pouty baby. Every time she didn’t get her way, or someone said something meanish to her, she would go radio silent. One would think a fully functioning adult would have better coping mechanisms. The boyfriend Justin makes plans for and about Lola without ever consulting her. There is a scene where Lola looks around their apartment and realizes that the only area she is allowed to make her mark is in one small room. The rest of the apartment is� bland. Ryan, the best friend, seems great but is also super self-absorbed (maybe a commonality that brought Lola and Ryan together as friends). He seems more focused on doing his own thing but when Lola gets wrapped up in her own situationship, Ryan gets upset that she isn’t available for him. He invites her to a party and goes without her. She finds out when he leaves her a note. Yet he gets mad when she misses dinner with his boyfriend to screw around with her love interest. No one is likeable in this entire story.
I will readily admit, I am probably not the preferred audience for this book. I was hoping that this was a fun and flirty LGBTQIA+ summer fling love story. Instead, I got this book. I hope it finds its target audience, and someone out there fully appreciates all it has to offer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for an advanced copy of this book.
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