A very funny romantic comedy featuring single mum and producer for TV reality shows, Lisa Darling. The chaos of her life is hilarious and highly relatable, as is her romance with colleague Zach and her challenges with the peri-menopause.

Thanks to NetGalkey, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Book Review: It’s Getting Hot in Here

Reading It’s Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello was like finding a kindred spirit in the pages of a book. As a mother navigating the ups and downs of life, I found Lisa Darling’s story incredibly relatable and laugh-out-loud funny from the very first chapter.

Lisa is a high-flying TV executive, but she’s also a mother of two, trying to juggle a grotty teenage son, a demanding job, and the challenges of perimenopause. I could totally relate to her struggles, especially when it came to the daily chaos of family life and the occasional absurdity of PTA meetings. Costello’s portrayal of Lisa’s life had me laughing out loud—and sometimes snorting my drink—at moments that felt like they were pulled straight from my own experiences.

When the handsome Zach Russo enters Lisa’s life, the tension is palpable, and I loved how Costello cleverly weaves in the idea that Lisa’s hot flashes might not just be due to menopause. Their chemistry is electric, and the romance adds a delightful layer to the story. I found myself rooting for their connection, even as Lisa tried to convince herself that it was just a passing phase.

The humor in this book is wonderfully balanced with heartfelt moments, especially as Lisa supports her friend through cancer treatment. It’s a reminder that, even in the midst of chaos, friendship and love can be incredibly powerful.

Costello captures the essence of middle-aged life with such wit and warmth. I laughed, I empathized, and I cheered for Lisa as she navigated the wild waters of love, family, and self-discovery. This novel is a celebration of embracing life’s unexpected twists, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that speaks to the perimenopausal experience with honesty and humor, It’s Getting Hot in Here is the perfect choice. It’s a feel-good read that had me smiling long after I turned the last page!

Thank you to Jane Costello, NetGalley, and Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced readers' copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to learn at a book event with Jane that we were getting a new Jane Costello book (I love her novels as Catherine Isaac so its no slight on those wonderful stories) and was over the moon to be lucky enough to get an ARC.

This is a lush romantic comedy, with some drama and serious subjects touched upon, for older women. I love YA/New Adult and your mid 20s rom come but it was so refreshing to read a spicy book with a 40-something leading lady who was sexy. Also, Zach Russo....Damn he sounds delicious. I don't want to spoil for anyone, so my random bullet points below should be avoided if you want no spoilers, but I will say in summary this was an excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend. Warning it is a SLOW burn, but itso worth it. 

Random thoughts I had while reading:

- The to do lists...I need to do mine
- I have two boys...will this be my life?
- I'm never joining the PTA
- Oh the cockblocking
- We all know an Andrea who is a bit of a pick me woman. Unconscious bias!
- Team Daisy
- Seriously the cockblocking is next level
- Jacob is me as a child...so many hobbies
- Leo is also me
- Debating botox

#bookreview #bookish #books #reading  #emotional #romance #book  #spicy #netgalley #slowburn

Funny,book that is probably relatable to almost every woman reader, you have either been perimenopausaal or been through the menopause or you will do at some point !
I laughed out loud at numerous points in this book but not suprising with Jane Costello as author her books are always well written and humorous
But in amongst there are serious issues facing the youth of today and how hard it can be facing up to it as a single parent, whilst also navigating your own new single life too !
Brilliant read highly recommend

Appealed to me, as I’m a woman of a certain age
Could certainly identify with the main character, Lisa and her struggles with the peri-menopause
Always love Jane’s humorous style of writing and it was the perfect balance of witty banter, humour and the real life struggles of the menopause, with a bit of romance thrown in
A fabulous midlife romcom
Thanks @janecostellobooks @hodderbooks & @netgalley for the laugh out loud read

Hilarious, I love Jane Costello and this didn’t disappoint, as a woman of a certain age the menopause related content was really relevant, I also loved the love hate relationship between the 2 lead characters. I also loved the relationship of the 4 friends and having been on a PTA I could visualise the dynamics. I good light hearted read

I just loved this book so much that I couldn’t put it down. It was very relatable as well as being funny and having inspiring women in it. I really liked all the characters in this book as was they were all different with amazing personalities.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you like a good story with amazing personalities in it but was also very heartwarming as well with a good story.

I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC.

Nice to see a book by Jane Costello again.

47 year old twice-divorced Lisa Darling is juggling single motherhood of a rebellious teenager (and one nice one), work issues, a best friend with cancer, her inability to say no to helping out at the PTA and perimenopause symptoms. But it's the new guy at work who gets her really flustered every time he so much as looks at her. Zach is American and only here for six months so there is a lot of very predictable will they, won't they going on.

I like the subplots because the supporting characters are charming and the love story alone doesn't carry the book. Teenager Leo is very realistic as is Lisa's fruitless attempts to getting round to descaling her kettle.

The menopause subplot is hardly worth mentioning though - I had expected more there, given the title. The character of Zach isn't developed enough and there is a bit more spice than I'm comfortable with but I just skipped a few pages. The ending is a bit abrupt and I couldn't find the advertised bonus epilogue.

All in all, this is an easy and funny read about a middle-aged hormonal woman who always has very long to-do lists because life is so hectic, which is entirely relatable.

I could totally relate to Lisa being a similar age, I thought these aspects her of personal and family life were so well written. It’s a very easy read, Jane Costello always delivers!
Lisa is a 47 yr old mum of 2, her eldest is pushing every button and more. She’s juggling a busy career, PTA meetings and a to-do list which almost matches mine 😁
When her friend gets diagnosed with cancer Zach comes from the US to cover her job for 6 months. The title of It’s getting hot in here at this point is not just her to flushes but the effect Zach has on her 😊
The will they won’t they was just so typically relatable to being a mum with little personal space or time, I laughed and blushed thinking about this.
A great book and I totally recommend.
Thank you NetGalley, Jane Costello and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello

Jane Costello is a bit of a romantic novel factory what with ten books published under this name and five under another. It's probably therefore churlish to say that this is a formulaic plot with a plastic hero and a skittish heroine who eventually gets together with Mr Right.

Lisa Darling, yes really, has a nice job working in Media City in Manchester, has a nice friend who might have cancer and has to deal with her friend’s temporary replacement who, inevitably, turns out to be the hunk. Because she is that sort of heroine, Lisa's life with her children is chaotic and she doesn't seem to be getting final warnings from HR like real people over her attitude to work!

She's also being dumped on by the children's school PTA while the hunk who she is determined not to like turns out to be quite charming in a cardboard sort of way and of course that means hot flushes for Lisa and several hundred pages of will they won't they. Well, of course they will after resolving the crises along the way.

And, yes, it's not giving too much away to say that the book has a happy ending and there is some seamy passion if you stick it out to the end! All in all, it will certainly please Jane Costello's legions of fans but Zach, yes really, is not drawn in much detail and the ending is just a teeny bit preposterous. Anyway, read it and enjoy.

This was great fun to read! Lisa Darling is grappling with her job getting TV shows made, the school PTA cheese and wine night, a hamster called Alan, supporting her best friend through cancer treatment, an argumentative teenager and remembering to take her supplements. The last thing on her mind is romance - then in walks super hot Zach Russo from the New York office!

The chemistry and slow build relationship between Lisa and Zach was just right and felt believable so I could get lost in the vibes! This is the kind of romance novel I like, there is a strong central relationship between the main characters but the side plots are also well thought out and add to the depth. There are a couple of strands going on here that are a pretty accurate reflection of a woman's life in her late 40s - family, work, hormones, parents and friends. All the side plots had their time and it never felt like anything was detracting away from the main characters.

There were loads of funny moments throughout the story and I really liked Lisa's voice. It would be great to get a sequel to find out what happens to Lisa and Zach!

Recommend to fans of Mhairi McFarlane and Emily Henry.

Light hearted easy reading and huge fun! The latest romcom from Jane Costello.
Really enjoyable but not my favourite of her books.
Lisa Darling is mother of two boys, divorced and career oriented, with a lot going on as well as supporting her best friend going through cancer treatment, but having to deal with her replacement at work is another thing altogether!
Nods to a women’s life load, raging hormones, family, love, and desire!
It’s a heady combination and one a lot of women can relate to. Well written, a little predictable but somehow that just added to the joy of reading this tale.
A new take on the rom com genre that brings it fully up to date with how life is in 2024 for many parents.
A few reminders on more serious issues throughout….
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder and Storting for the early read, much appreciated and savoured! Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - the main character Lisa Darling is juggling a job and a family as a single parent and the book follows Lisa’s journey and it is just such an easy and enjoyable read. All of the characters are relatable and I didn’t want this book to end. Definitely five stars from me.

I've always been a fan of Jane Costello and it's wonderful to have a new book from her after quite a few years.

This book in particular appealed to me as being a woman of a certain age I can definitely relate to the main character's struggles with menopause. Although the book isn't filled with hot flushes and moments of brain fog. In fact I thought it was the perfect balance of humour, spiciness and real life struggles.

I really enjoy this author's writing style. It's easy to read with plenty of humour and funny side characters. It is wonderful to read a romcom that's aimed at an older reader.

My thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC.

Best mate is taking a leave of absence to beat cancer. Her opposite number in the USA is coming over to Manchester to temporarily replace her.
Loyalty to friendship and an awkward first meeting leads to resentment.
Single mum to two boys juggling work teenage behaviour, friendship and the PTA obligations. Liza small but supportive friendship group cheer her onwards.
You will recognise things in your own life and keep your fingers crossed for a hea ending.

This book was bloody brilliant from start to finish. Every woman above 35 with kids will be able to identify with Lisa. Weather you've started feeling the perimenopausal symtoms or not isn't important. This book has real laugh out loud moments, and some crying moments if you're anything like me who cries easily. I brought this book along while on watching my kids at the pool, which just really means it's an easy read where you'll still be immersed into Lisa's life.
Blurb;
Lisa Darling - high-flying TV-exec and twice-divorced mother-of-two - has enough on her plate without having to deal with the handsome New Yorker parachuted in to her best friend's job at work. She's already navigating life with a grotty teenage son, organising a PTA cheese & wine event, supporting her oldest friend through breast cancer treatment and, since she hit 47, facing a new perimenopause symptom every day. It's no wonder she never has time for Pilates or that DIY panelling she keeps seeing on Instagram (though she'd be the first to admit she'd rather share a bottle of wine with her friends any day).

A brilliantly funny (and saucy) read from Jane - one for any women in their 40s to have a read of!

Lisa is a single mum of two whilst working in TV and navigating the PTA, school emails, a less than hands on co-parent…. And maybe just maybe a new love interest?

This book made me laugh out loud. I’ve been lucky enough to attend a Q and A preciously by this author and she is just a brilliant in real life as is her writing.

This was such a fun novel! I loved how it made women of a certain age out to be like any other woman. It didn’t talk down to a certain age group of make women feel isolated or lesss than at a certain age. It had me laughing and enjoying the journey and all that is to come someday! It’s a great lesson life isn’t over it’s just getting started if we let it

I thoroughly enjoyed this despite not being able to relate to the FMC and her current stage of life! It kinda made me want to go and apologise to my mum after reading about teen Leo 😭 I found it really enjoyable and even funny at times. There were loads of sub plots within this book which I actually really liked as it was easy to read and follow. If you like romance then this is a very slow burn with all sorts of mishaps getting between Lisa and Zach. My only criticism is that I felt nearer the end it felt a bit rushed and I basically just wanted to read more of the details, and I felt the ILY moment with Zach came about a bit quickly. I would read more by this author, and I might buy this for my mum as I reckon she’d relate to some of the topics in this book!

This is a romantic comedy story that cleverly balances themes of motherhood, work, and personal challenges with light-hearted humor and relatable characters. The story follows Lisa Darling, a single mother of two, as she navigates the chaos of daily life, including dealing with her teenage son, managing a demanding job at a streaming service, and resisting the charms of her attractive new colleague, Zach Russo. The book touches on topics like menopause, but it isn't overwhelming, instead focusing more on the ups and downs of Lisa's life. The writing is witty and engaging, with plenty of subplots and action to keep readers entertained. Overall, it is a joyous and relatable read, with a perfect mix of humor, romance, and real-life challenges.