If you're looking for a hot, easy, summer romance read, this is for you! Susie and Charlie's chemistry is as hot as Mallorca in June and I love the way life keeps bringing them together. I also love the dynamic between Susie and her cousins. They are the sisters she never had.

Personally I did not love the writing style. I found the way dialogue and inner monologues bled into each other to be hard to differentiate, and I love dual pov, but I wish they had been separated by chapter. (I did read an ARC so this may possibly change?) I also felt as if the third act break up was rushed and was not a huge fan of the end, chance meeting as it leaves an open ending, but overall, Hot to Go is a great beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC!

This was a hilarious, laugh-out-loud book that's good for a summer vacation vibe. However, it threw me for a loop when (view spoiler) I know, I know. I shouldn't be uppity about it but it's just a preference of mine as a reader. (and as a person as well) It was a fun read but my personal biases was a hindrance to my enjoyment towards the end of the book.

One-time read. A bit slow. Nice writing style.

First thing I saw when I came across this book is the author name. I think I know that name. I googled. There it is..the author of 'Great Sexpectations'. I remember that I liked that book. This one had a fast start but it went a bit slow going on.

First thing that irritated me is the long chapters. I am more into short chapters. I liked dual POV though.
The concept of destiny brings us together is nice and the setting is also nice except when they meet in Paris at last. That felt artificial and pushing.
I liked the characterisation of both the leads, The famous six sisters and the siblings.

Overall, it is a nice read for me but unfortunately not so memorable one.

First off, I want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with the ARC of this book. I’d never read anything by Kristen Bailey before, but I have to admit she completely won me over! Now I’m really curious to check out her other works.

Tropes:
Summer romance
Teachers
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
One bed

Suzie Callaghan, a heartbroken French teacher, decides to turn over a new leaf after a betrayal that left her shattered. Having moved to London for a fresh start, she heads off to Mallorca with her cousins looking for sun, relaxation, and a few glasses of sangria. The last thing she expects is to fall in love, especially with a Spanish stranger who comes to her rescue after a late night swim.
What starts as a steamy summer fling, built on white lies and made up identities (she pretends to be “Aurelie,” he goes by “Carlos”), turns into something way more complicated when her mysterious Spaniard shows up at her school as Charlie Carter, the new Spanish teacher. Now they have to pretend they don’t know each other during department meetings, while both feel betrayed by each other’s lies and wonder if that summer magic can survive everyday reality.

Suzie is the kind of protagonist you can easily relate to: vulnerable but determined, hurt but ready to put herself back out there. Her healing journey after the betrayal feels authentic and touching. She’s witty without going overboard, strong without being perfect. Her growth throughout the story is well-crafted, though sometimes I wished I could get to know some aspects of her personality better beyond her role as a teacher.

Charlie is charming, funny, and has that touch of mystery that never hurts. His connection to family, especially his role as guardian to his brothers, adds depth to his character and makes him even more appealing. He’s sweet but not saccharine, confident but capable of vulnerability. The fact that he’s also looking for a fresh start after some issues at his previous school makes him more human and relatable.

The chemistry between Suzie and Charlie is electric. From their first beach encounter to the awkward situations in school hallways, every interaction between them sparkles with tension and connection. Their dialogue is brilliant, full of sharp banter and moments that make you smile.

Kristen Bailey’s writing flows beautifully and draws you in, with humor that wins you over page after page. Dialogue is her strong suit: natural, witty, and never forced. Using dual POV lets you get inside both protagonists’ heads, making the story richer and more layered.

The secondary characters, especially Suzie’s cousins, are a real plus: chaotic, funny, and incredibly loyal, even if they’re a bit nosy at times. Charlie’s family adds sweetness and authenticity to the story.

However, not everything is perfect: sometimes the perspective shifts can feel a bit confusing, and the relationship, while intense, maybe relies too heavily on physical attraction in the early stages.

In conclusion, “Hot To Go” is the perfect read for anyone looking for a summer rom-com.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

🇮🇹
Prima di tutto, voglio ringraziare NetGalley e Storm Publishin per avermi fornito l’arc di questo libro. Non avevo mai letto nulla di Kristen Bailey prima d’ora, ma devo ammettere che mi ha conquistata completamente! Ora sono davvero curiosa di scoprire le sue altre opere.

Tropes:
Summer romance
Teachers
Workplace romance
Forced proximity
One bed

Suzie Callaghan, insegnante di francese dal cuore ferito, decide di voltare pagina dopo un tradimento che l’ha lasciata a pezzi. Trasferitasi a Londra per ricominciare, parte per Maiorca con le cugine in cerca di sole, relax e qualche bicchiere di sangria. L’ultima cosa che si aspetta è di innamorarsi, soprattutto di uno sconosciuto spagnolo che la soccorre dopo un bagno notturno.
Quello che nasce come un’avventura estiva piccante, costruita su bugie bianche e identità inventate (lei si spaccia per “Aurelie”, lui per “Carlos”), si trasforma in qualcosa di più complicato quando il misterioso spagnolo si presenta nella sua scuola come Charlie Carter, il nuovo insegnante di spagnolo. Ora devono fingere di non conoscersi durante le riunioni di dipartimento, mentre entrambi si sentono traditi dalle reciproche bugie e si chiedono se quella magia estiva possa sopravvivere alla realtà quotidiana.

Suzie è quel tipo di protagonista con cui è facile immedesimarsi: vulnerabile ma determinata, ferita ma pronta a rimettersi in gioco. Il suo percorso di guarigione dopo il tradimento è autentico e toccante. È spiritosa senza essere eccessiva, forte senza risultare perfetta. La sua evoluzione nel corso della storia è ben costruita, anche se a volte avrei voluto conoscere meglio alcuni aspetti della sua personalità oltre al suo ruolo di insegnante.

Charlie è affascinante, divertente e ha quel tocco di mistero che non guasta mai. Il suo legame con la famiglia, soprattutto il ruolo di tutore dei fratelli, aggiunge profondità al personaggio e lo rende ancora più attraente. È dolce ma non sdolcinato, sicuro di sé ma capace di vulnerabilità. Il fatto che anche lui stia cercando un nuovo inizio dopo alcuni problemi nella scuola precedente lo rende più umano e relatabile.

La chimica tra Suzie e Charlie è elettrizzante. Dal primo incontro in spiaggia alle situazioni imbarazzanti nei corridoi della scuola, ogni loro interazione scintilla di tensione e complicità. I loro dialoghi sono brillanti, pieni di battute taglienti e momenti che ti fanno sorridere.

La scrittura di Kristen Bailey è scorrevole e coinvolgente, con un umorismo che ti conquista pagina dopo pagina. I dialoghi sono il suo punto di forza: naturali, spiritosi e mai forzati. L’uso del doppio punto di vista permette di entrare nella testa di entrambi i protagonisti, rendendo la storia più ricca e sfaccettata.

I personaggi secondari, specialmente le cugine di Suzie, sono un valore aggiunto: caotiche, divertenti e incredibilmente leali, anche se a volte un po’ invadenti. La famiglia di Charlie aggiunge dolcezza e autenticità alla storia.

Tuttavia, non tutto è perfetto: a volte i cambi di prospettiva possono risultare un po’ confusi e la relazione, pur essendo travolgente, si basa forse troppo sull’attrazione fisica nelle fasi iniziali.

In conclusione “Hot To Go” è la lettura perfetta per chi cerca una rom-com estiva.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for sending me this ARC!

Hot To Go was a lighthearted, easy-to-read romance book. I enjoyed the POV switch between Suzie and Charlie; it was good to get both of their perspectives. I did feel like something was missing though - I wish that Suzie and Charlie had more communication once they recognised each other (text chains or emails or something) so they could rebuild the chemistry slowly instead of it dissolving to nothing, then picking back up again the moment they left the UK. The 3rd act 'break-up' felt a bit rushed, and there should have been more drama with Paul to make Charlie's decision to leave feel more realistic.

The cousins were my favourite characters, and I wish we had more of them as they provided great comic relief. I also loved the neighbour!

Overall, a fun read, but not my favourite. 3.5 stars.

Sparks fly when Suzie and Charlie meet on vacation, both looking for fun under fake personas. But when they wind up working together a few months later, real life’s complications get in the way.

So many romance tropes rolled into one! I laughed out loud several times, especially with some of the side characters’ dialogue. Charlie’s modern slang irked me a bit, but that’s definitely a me-thing. Overall, it was cute, a good balance of character development and steamy scenes!

This book was hilarious. Seriously so funny. Multiple times I found myself literally laughing at loud and talking to people about just how well the humor was written into the story. Overall, I found the book to be cute, engaging and entertaining.
The only true criticism I have is with the number of times I found myself having to read in different languages. The characters being teachers of two different languages was cute but just perhaps slightly overdone with the writing being in that language. Yes, most times it was translated shortly after but I could have just used a little less of it.
I really enjoyed this book and have recommended it to my fellow reader friends who are now waiting for the release date to downloaded it. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Steam Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (moderately descriptive open door scenes)

Quick Notes:
*Single Guardian
*Teachers
*Four Parts
*Spanish Culture
*Romantic Comedy

My Thoughts:
Kristen Bailey is a favorite of mine when it comes to romantic comedies. Her writing is easy to binge and has that witty and fun banter that never crosses over to slapstick immaturity.
I loved how this book centered around teachers like some of her previous books, and I definitely loved that the FMC shared my name! Both Charlie and Suzie were lovable, fun characters that had great chemistry together. I also enjoyed how fate kept throwing them together in totally unexpected circumstances. Charlie's love for his family was really endearing, and I would have loved just a bit more of that along the way. It was nice to see his siblings cheer him on and encourage him to find happiness.
Suzie's storyline did rub me the wrong way just a bit near the end when some information was revealed that totally caught me off guard. I understood why those circumstances caused conflict, but I really wished it had been addressed a bit earlier. There was already a good amount of miscommunication, and this secret was just a bit much.
The other thing that kept this from being a full 4 stars is that the relationship relied heavily on the physical. I am fine with reading open door books, but I wanted a little more time with the characters getting to know each other other than what we did get. While most of the intimate moments were fade to black, the details were brought up in conversations later, making this book very much open door. There's also lots of innuendo and comedic situations involving intimacy that would make it hard for closed door readers to skip.
I'll definitely still read more from Kristen Bailey, but this one just wasn't quite a hit for me.

Hot to Go
Kristen Bailey
Read and Reviewed: June 2025
Publication Date: 18th July 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I just adore Kristen Bailey books so I was delighted to be sent an advanced copy of this latest one in exchange for my honest review and it was every bit as good as I knew it would be.

Thank You Netgalley, author Kristen Bailey and Storm publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy.

I read this one by the pool on holiday in beautiful sunny Greece so I loved the European holiday vibes from this one. It is the perfect holiday read guys.

It was just such a cute, light hearted, easy read and I loved it from the very first page.

I loved the sound of the blurb for this one and the plot was so well executed, the entire story just flowed really well with really likable characters. Perhaps a teeny bit cringey at times but nothing that would take away from the story in any way shape or form. It is a RomCom so a bit of cringe is par for the course really.

Our female main character, Suzie, a secondary school french teacher, has just had her heart broken and as a pick me up heads off on a much needed girlie holiday with her crazy cousins to Mallorca (Kristen's past books focus on the cousins stories so I was familiar with a lot of the side characters prior to reading this one) This one can absolutely be read as a stand alone though so can still be followed if you havnt read any of her other books guys, dont worry.

The furthest thing from her mind is romance after her recent seperation but on their first night in Mallorca, Suzie ends up getting seperated from her cousins and is rescued by Carlos aka Charlie!

The two hit it off and a brief holiday romance ensues.

What happens on holiday stays on holiday...right!

After returning home however, Suzie starts her new job as a french teacher in a secondary school and who does she run into on her very first day only fellow new teacher and her Mallorcian fling Charlie aka Carlos, who is also starting at the school as the new spanish teacher.

The remainder of the book follows the heat and banter (and a bit of spice) between the two.

This was such an easy read.
A sweet story with a lot of humour, a lot of heart and I binged it in one sitting while lazing by the pool!

I didnt love it as much as some of her previous books but it was a really enjoyable Rom Com filled with many a laugh out loud moment and really likable characters. Kristen really can write situational romantic comedy really well.

'Hot to Go' was the perfect summer or beach read! It was such a sweet and fun story and not at all taxing on the brain. The perfect escapism. I will defo be recommending this one guys! It's the perfect summer read so add it to the lists!

Cant wait to see what Kristen comes up with next!

Thanks once again to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of Hot To Go. It has an expected publication date of 18th July 2025 so get it pre ordered girlies!

A lovely read and I will defo be recommending it.

4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm blown away by how much I loved this book!!! A textbook summer romcom with all the elements I like, from the beginning I knew it was going to be a hit!!!!

Two London professors who meet in Mallorca, where they share everything for a night and a day, with that beginning, how could I not like it? A wonderful and very well constructed plot, endearing characters with a beautiful evolution, a real and intimate love story... it's worth reading every damn page of this novel. I felt as if I was part of that story, and when I finished it I felt a huge emptiness, as if a little piece of my heart had been ripped out.

The author's pen manages to grab you from the very first moment, and it's a perfect summer read!!!!! It reads really fast and is super addictive!!!! I hope to read more from the author because it's so worth it!!

*4’5 stars

My Rating: ⭐️ 5/5

Author: Kristen Bailey
Publication Date: July 18, 2025
Publishing House: Storm Publishing

FMC: Suzie Callaghan | MMC: Charlie Shaw
First person POV, dual narratives
Linear timeline (Written in 5 parts based on setting)
Settings: London, Mallorca, Seville, Paris

M/F Romance
Spice Level: 🌶️ 3/5 mild-moderate explicit scenes

Tropes/Themes: meet-cute, holiday(vacation) romance, rom-com, same workplace, ex encounter, tight knit family, shenanigans, starting over, healing from grief

CWs/Potential Triggers:
Breakup/Divorce, Alcohol Use, Identity Deception, Infidelity, Misogyny, grief/parental deaths

Summary:
After a messy breakup and a tough year, Suzie Callaghan is so not looking for love, but then she meets Carlos (Charlie) on a much-needed holiday with her five hilarious, loving female cousins, in Mallorca. He’s charming, hot, and just flirty enough to make her believe in fun again. One unforgettable night later, she figures she’ll never see him again…until he shows up as the new Spanish teacher at her school.

Cue the chaos, the awkward hallway run-ins, the slow-burn tension, and all the laugh-out-loud moments as Suzie tries to navigate her new life, second chances, and an unexpected shot at something real. It’s flirty, funny, and full of heart!!

My Thoughts: I laughed out loud and swooned so many times throughout this book!! This is the perfect summer rom-com! I loved the different settings that were vividly described and set the scene perfectly. I also appreciated both Suzie and Charlie’s relationships with their family and the important roles their family members also play.

Thank you Storm Publishing for providing me a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own!

This was the perfect beach read!! I finished it in a day and loved the characters. Susie and Charlie are perfect for each other and even the best universe knows it. I loved the witty banter, cute storyline and the different POVs had me always saying oh just one more chapter. I cant wait for this book to be published so I can add it to my shelf. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

💭I enjoyed this one. It was a light, easy, summery read. I really liked the characters both individually and together and it was hilarious (as are all Kristen’s book🤪) but something was missing for me.

💭All the other books I’ve read by Kristen have either been 5 or 4 solid star reads so this is definitely in the minority for me.

💭If you love a rom com with lots of hilarious British banter then this is the book for you for sure! (Tyler’s scene was my fave. SO funny😂).

A fun, yearny, steamy summer romance! The couple are lovely and there is such a fun, full cast of background characters filling out the story!

Hot To Go is a fun, lighthearted rom-com that’s perfect for summer. Suzie and Charlie’s awkward start and playful banter made me smile, and the vacation setting added a nice touch. Some of the inner thoughts were a bit confusing, but overall it was a cute, easy read with great chemistry and charm!.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Hot To Go by Kristen Bailey

Hot to Go is one of my favourite books of 2025! This book was so funny, witty, emotional, and I could not put it down. I loved having Suzie and Charlie’s perspectives it made each chapter so much fun to see how it all played out. The spice was perfectly thrown in and I loved that it was realistic sex scenes not super over the top. My favourite type of romcom is when they get to know each other and I love that that’s what they needed to make it work. this was such a fun read and such a rollercoaster. I rooted for Suzie and Charlie throughout and I loved the ending 🩷

Thank you to Kristen Bailey, Storm Publishing, and Net Galley for allowing me to read this book before it’s been released!

A very cute story and just right for those who love the romance genre. The characters were relatable and the story was easy to follow. Give it a try!

3.5 stars for a solid rom-com! I looooooved Textbook Romance and also loved the cameo of its characters in this book. I enjoy a good divorcee comeback story, teacher characters, and laugh out loud moments and this book had them all. There was a lot of inner dialogue going on in between actual dialogue and sometimes I wondered if they were supposed to be speaking these things out loud or not?

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.

3.5 Stars

I think this would be a great easy summer beach. It's quick and easy to follow with some humour and a vacation background. The main characters were likeable and although there was miscommunication it didn't lose me.

Something fun to pick up for summer.

3.5 I enjoyed this book. It was a fun and lighthearted story, perfect for summer or when you want a cute, easy read. Suzie and Charlie's story started in a very funny and awkward way. They met on holiday in Mallorca and had a one night stand, but both lied about their names. Later, they found out they worked together at the same school as teachers, which made things complicated but also very entertaining. The chemistry between Suzie and Charlie was great, and their banter made me smile many times.Sometimes the writing was a little confusing because the point of view switched and I had to think about who was talking. Overall, this was a cute and enjoyable read with likeable characters and a good story. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review