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Sugarlake #3
Beneath the Hood
From USA TODAY bestselling author Emily McIntire comes the third interconnected standalone in the Sugarlake series.
Jackson Rhoades has a perfect smile and a broken heart. When he gets offered his dream job in Hollywood, he packs up his shattered pieces and leaves Sugarlake for good.
He thought he was hired to restore classic cars, but instead his new boss tasks Jackson with keeping an eye on his unruly nineteen-year-old daughter.
Jackson agrees reluctantly, not realizing doing so will change his life forever.
Blakely Donahue is one of the biggest influencers in North America. She’s followed by millions, but has never felt more alone. Obsessed with counting calories and drowning under the pressure of perfection, she’s barely holding herself together. When her father’s new employee starts hanging around, Blakely can’t help but feel a pull.
Jackson is nine years older and entirely off-limits, but he’s the first person to look beyond the surface and see Blakely for who she truly is. Before either of them can stop it, they’re crossing boundaries and breaking all the rules.
They know better than to get too close, but for some reason, neither can stay away.
Even if it means destruction for them both.
****
*Beneath the Hood is the third interconnected standalone in the Sugarlake series. It contains mature and graphic content. Reader Discretion is Advised. Full list of TW can be found on author's website.*
Jackson Rhoades has a perfect smile and a broken heart. When he gets offered his dream job in Hollywood, he packs up his shattered pieces and leaves Sugarlake for good.
He thought he was hired to restore classic cars, but instead his new boss tasks Jackson with keeping an eye on his unruly nineteen-year-old daughter.
Jackson agrees reluctantly, not realizing doing so will change his life forever.
Blakely Donahue is one of the biggest influencers in North America. She’s followed by millions, but has never felt more alone. Obsessed with counting calories and drowning under the pressure of perfection, she’s barely holding herself together. When her father’s new employee starts hanging around, Blakely can’t help but feel a pull.
Jackson is nine years older and entirely off-limits, but he’s the first person to look beyond the surface and see Blakely for who she truly is. Before either of them can stop it, they’re crossing boundaries and breaking all the rules.
They know better than to get too close, but for some reason, neither can stay away.
Even if it means destruction for them both.
****
*Beneath the Hood is the third interconnected standalone in the Sugarlake series. It contains mature and graphic content. Reader Discretion is Advised. Full list of TW can be found on author's website.*
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2021
1374 people are currently reading
15268 people want to read
About the author
Emily McIntire
24 books28.4k followersEmily McIntire is a #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author whose stories serve steam, slow burns, and seriously questionable morals. Her books have been translated in over a dozen languages, and span across several sub-genres within romance.
A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
Sign up to Emily's VIP List and never miss a New Release! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
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Latest Release:
Hexed
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X -> https://www.x.com/authoremilym
Website -> https://www.emilymcintire.com
A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily enjoying free time with her family, getting lost in a good book, or redecorating her house depending on her mood.
Sign up to Emily's VIP List and never miss a New Release! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Upcoming Release
Burning Daylight
Latest Release:
Hexed
Find Emily!
Newsletter sign up -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Reader Group -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcincult
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/itsemilymci...
TikTok -> https://www.tiktok.com/@authoremilymc...
X -> https://www.x.com/authoremilym
Website -> https://www.emilymcintire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,018 reviews
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October 19, 2025pre-read:
my second audiobook! this has been on my shelf for the longest time and i just really want to listen to something while i’m busy. starting this without any expectations as this is also my first book of the author!
my second audiobook! this has been on my shelf for the longest time and i just really want to listen to something while i’m busy. starting this without any expectations as this is also my first book of the author!
May 30, 2025
3⭐️
While I did end up liking this, there were some parts I really struggled with. I thought overall it was an enjoyable read, but I just couldn't full immerse myself into this story which was disappointing.
I really really did not like Blakely's character in this book. I didn't mind her in the very beginning and I think that was only because I didn't really know her. While I did admire her strength and perseverance to deal with her eating disorder, the part of her I didn't like was how she would treat Jackson. This girl could be so damn selfish and she never once looked up from her own problems to see how she was hurting the one person who was trying to help her. Jackson was an angel -- so patient and loving and sweet. I would die for that man. But I felt that in this book he was just too good for her.
This book delves into very heavy topics that one of them is the fact that we get an inside look into Blakely's eating disorder and her unhealthy relationship to food. I think it was handled well and delicately in just that sense. I can't even imagine the amount of stress you have to be under when your entire life is under a microscope, especially in this day in age. However, I don't think that was excuse to treat those who helped you like shit. Blakely had severe issues that she needed to deal with and I was very happy when she finally came to realize she needed help, but the damage was already done and by that time there was no saving her character for me. Hurt people hurt people point blank.
One thing I really like about these books is that there's an underlying plot that usually doesn't get addressed until the epilogues of this series, but the way it keeps you guessing and hooked to read what's going to happen next is highly interesting. The spice is this book was very heavy but I do that to say that I really enjoy it with this series; it's written well and it's entertaining! This book was very character driven rather than plot driven and that's not always a bad thing. I just think this book needed more substance and that wow factor that I thought was severely lacking. I'm not the biggest fan of the influencer/celebrity trope, but this was okay. I didn't absolutely hate it so that's something.
Overall, I'm still enjoying this series even though it's not perfect. The characters are different and each story is unique. This one was just kind of lackluster for me; I didn't find much to be special about it. Please be aware that if you read this the eating disorders and mental health issues are covered HEAVILY and if that's something that triggers you I would suggest skipping this one. I would say that I am interested enough to keep reading since I think there's only 1 or 2 more books and I want to find out what happens to Lily. Very fun yet heartbreaking read. 🥹
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
I loved the first book in this series and hated the second, so I'm a bit nervous going into this and don't know what to expect. It has a trope that I'm not the biggest fan of (celebrity/influencer) but I'm keeping an open mind 🩷
While I did end up liking this, there were some parts I really struggled with. I thought overall it was an enjoyable read, but I just couldn't full immerse myself into this story which was disappointing.
I really really did not like Blakely's character in this book. I didn't mind her in the very beginning and I think that was only because I didn't really know her. While I did admire her strength and perseverance to deal with her eating disorder, the part of her I didn't like was how she would treat Jackson. This girl could be so damn selfish and she never once looked up from her own problems to see how she was hurting the one person who was trying to help her. Jackson was an angel -- so patient and loving and sweet. I would die for that man. But I felt that in this book he was just too good for her.
This book delves into very heavy topics that one of them is the fact that we get an inside look into Blakely's eating disorder and her unhealthy relationship to food. I think it was handled well and delicately in just that sense. I can't even imagine the amount of stress you have to be under when your entire life is under a microscope, especially in this day in age. However, I don't think that was excuse to treat those who helped you like shit. Blakely had severe issues that she needed to deal with and I was very happy when she finally came to realize she needed help, but the damage was already done and by that time there was no saving her character for me. Hurt people hurt people point blank.
One thing I really like about these books is that there's an underlying plot that usually doesn't get addressed until the epilogues of this series, but the way it keeps you guessing and hooked to read what's going to happen next is highly interesting. The spice is this book was very heavy but I do that to say that I really enjoy it with this series; it's written well and it's entertaining! This book was very character driven rather than plot driven and that's not always a bad thing. I just think this book needed more substance and that wow factor that I thought was severely lacking. I'm not the biggest fan of the influencer/celebrity trope, but this was okay. I didn't absolutely hate it so that's something.
Overall, I'm still enjoying this series even though it's not perfect. The characters are different and each story is unique. This one was just kind of lackluster for me; I didn't find much to be special about it. Please be aware that if you read this the eating disorders and mental health issues are covered HEAVILY and if that's something that triggers you I would suggest skipping this one. I would say that I am interested enough to keep reading since I think there's only 1 or 2 more books and I want to find out what happens to Lily. Very fun yet heartbreaking read. 🥹
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
I loved the first book in this series and hated the second, so I'm a bit nervous going into this and don't know what to expect. It has a trope that I'm not the biggest fan of (celebrity/influencer) but I'm keeping an open mind 🩷
May 21, 2025
3.65 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the ALC via NetGalley! 💌
AGE-GAP ROMANCE + ANGST + HEARTBREAK + HEALING = EMILY MCINTIRE DOING HER THING!
This book had a LOT going on, and honestly? I was kinda unsure about it at first. The age gap? The emotional baggage? The messy, self-destructive choices? But the more I listened, the more it pulled me in. 😮💨💖
📖 THE STORY:
Blakely Donahue is a 19-year-old influencer—gorgeous, famous, and absolutely drowning under the weight of perfection. Social media loves her, but no one actually sees her. Her entire world is controlled—her diet, her workouts, her schedule. The pressure? Crushing.
Enter Jackson Rhoades. 28 years old, heartbroken, and just trying to focus on his new Hollywood job restoring classic cars. Except… SURPRISE! His real task? Babysitting his boss’s ‘rebellious’ daughter.
And you already know where this is going. She’s too young. He’s off-limits. But they’re the only ones who actually see each other. So yeah, lines get crossed, rules get shattered, and hearts get tangled.
💭 MY THOUGHTS:
🔹 Blakely was so raw and real. Her struggles with OCD, anxiety, and disordered eating were handled with such care and accuracy that some parts actually hit too close to home. Her pain, her loneliness, the way she grasped for control over her life through numbers and routines—it all felt painfully authentic. 💔
🔹 Jackson was a freaking dream. This man was patient, kind, and so aware of Blakely’s struggles. He didn’t try to ‘fix’ her—he just stood beside her. And honestly, that’s the kind of love story I live for. 😭
🔹 The AGE GAP THING? Look, I don’t always vibe with it, and this book definitely didn’t let me forget it. It’s mentioned A LOT. I mean… NINE YEARS. That’s a big one, especially when one person is still a teenager. It wasn’t my favorite trope, but the emotional depth made up for it.
🔹 THE SPICE? 🌶️ Oh, it was SPICING. And the narration? CHEF’S KISS! Brooke Bloomingdale brought Blakely to life beautifully. And Liam DiCosimo? His Southern accent was smooth as honey—deep, rich, and completely immersive.
📌 FINAL VERDICT:
✔ If you love angsty, emotional romances with deep character growth? You’ll eat this up.
✔ If mental health rep is important to you? This one’s handled with care.
✔ If age-gap romances are your thing? You’re gonna LOVE this.
AGE-GAP ROMANCE + ANGST + HEARTBREAK + HEALING = EMILY MCINTIRE DOING HER THING!
This book had a LOT going on, and honestly? I was kinda unsure about it at first. The age gap? The emotional baggage? The messy, self-destructive choices? But the more I listened, the more it pulled me in. 😮💨💖
📖 THE STORY:
Blakely Donahue is a 19-year-old influencer—gorgeous, famous, and absolutely drowning under the weight of perfection. Social media loves her, but no one actually sees her. Her entire world is controlled—her diet, her workouts, her schedule. The pressure? Crushing.
Enter Jackson Rhoades. 28 years old, heartbroken, and just trying to focus on his new Hollywood job restoring classic cars. Except… SURPRISE! His real task? Babysitting his boss’s ‘rebellious’ daughter.
And you already know where this is going. She’s too young. He’s off-limits. But they’re the only ones who actually see each other. So yeah, lines get crossed, rules get shattered, and hearts get tangled.
💭 MY THOUGHTS:
🔹 Blakely was so raw and real. Her struggles with OCD, anxiety, and disordered eating were handled with such care and accuracy that some parts actually hit too close to home. Her pain, her loneliness, the way she grasped for control over her life through numbers and routines—it all felt painfully authentic. 💔
🔹 Jackson was a freaking dream. This man was patient, kind, and so aware of Blakely’s struggles. He didn’t try to ‘fix’ her—he just stood beside her. And honestly, that’s the kind of love story I live for. 😭
🔹 The AGE GAP THING? Look, I don’t always vibe with it, and this book definitely didn’t let me forget it. It’s mentioned A LOT. I mean… NINE YEARS. That’s a big one, especially when one person is still a teenager. It wasn’t my favorite trope, but the emotional depth made up for it.
🔹 THE SPICE? 🌶️ Oh, it was SPICING. And the narration? CHEF’S KISS! Brooke Bloomingdale brought Blakely to life beautifully. And Liam DiCosimo? His Southern accent was smooth as honey—deep, rich, and completely immersive.
📌 FINAL VERDICT:
✔ If you love angsty, emotional romances with deep character growth? You’ll eat this up.
✔ If mental health rep is important to you? This one’s handled with care.
✔ If age-gap romances are your thing? You’re gonna LOVE this.
April 7, 2021
Beneath The Hood is one of the most beautiful and emotional stories, I have read. Without a doubt, I didn’t expect this book to be on this level, and thank you to the author for proving me wrong. I seriously cried like a baby.
Take the trigger warning seriously, there are several, and it is not for everyone. The author also suggests trusting the process and keeping that in the back of your head while reading this. Glad I did.
My sweet sexy Jaxson, forever stuck in the friend zone, permanently moves to California to heal, move forward, and continue his dream. If you read the series, you know his story. I have to say I loved him before, but now I am in deep. He is a selfless, caring, compassionate, protective, perceptive, and such a swoon-worthy man. We all need Jaxson; he owns a part of my soul.
Blakey is a perfect example of placing a mask on your face, and not everything is what it seems. I went in with an open mind on her character. In the beginning iI was on the fence if I was going to like her. Honestly, I fell in love with her. I wanted to give that girl one series hug and tell her I would adopt her.
This book wrecked me in the most gloriously. Emily McIntire’s writing is absolute perfection in this book. There is not one thing I wish would change, no questions unanswered. She exposes the character's pain, demons, and struggles in their life and journey to healing without shying away from messiness and touchy subjects. To me, that is perfection. I hope my review did this book justice; it's one of my top reads of the year. I highly recommend this book and the series. I am hooked and can't wait for the next book.
Take the trigger warning seriously, there are several, and it is not for everyone. The author also suggests trusting the process and keeping that in the back of your head while reading this. Glad I did.
My sweet sexy Jaxson, forever stuck in the friend zone, permanently moves to California to heal, move forward, and continue his dream. If you read the series, you know his story. I have to say I loved him before, but now I am in deep. He is a selfless, caring, compassionate, protective, perceptive, and such a swoon-worthy man. We all need Jaxson; he owns a part of my soul.
Blakey is a perfect example of placing a mask on your face, and not everything is what it seems. I went in with an open mind on her character. In the beginning iI was on the fence if I was going to like her. Honestly, I fell in love with her. I wanted to give that girl one series hug and tell her I would adopt her.
This book wrecked me in the most gloriously. Emily McIntire’s writing is absolute perfection in this book. There is not one thing I wish would change, no questions unanswered. She exposes the character's pain, demons, and struggles in their life and journey to healing without shying away from messiness and touchy subjects. To me, that is perfection. I hope my review did this book justice; it's one of my top reads of the year. I highly recommend this book and the series. I am hooked and can't wait for the next book.
April 7, 2025
This is my least favorite book in the series. Usually, I'm all in for an age-gap romance, but not this one. Why did she have to be nineteen?? Jacks loved her so fast that I believe she was a rebound even if he himself doesn't think so. It reminded me of anime where the high schoolers bragged that they were dating older guys. It's so disappointing 😭 😭
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 23, 32, 37, 38, 39, 48, epilogue
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I actually want to bang my head against a wall 🫠 sm tell me why I always get the second or third book in a series when I requested BOTH of the books 🙃 I really think I am cursed Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the free audiobook copy - please approve my other request 🥹- 🩷
Find my review on Instagram
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 23, 32, 37, 38, 39, 48, epilogue
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I actually want to bang my head against a wall 🫠 sm tell me why I always get the second or third book in a series when I requested BOTH of the books 🙃 I really think I am cursed Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for the free audiobook copy - please approve my other request 🥹- 🩷
Find my review on Instagram
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January 16, 2022 It's LIVE!!!! and Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Beneath the Hood is live and I cannot wait for y'all to dive into Jax and Blakely's world.
Here's an excerpt:
“I love your mouth.” His thumb brushes over my lips, his touch lingering until I’m sure he can feel the heat of my skin blooming underneath his fingers. “Every time you speak, the world quiets so I can listen.”
My stomach tightens.
His hand moves down, tracing along my neck, his touch branding me with every pass. Emotion swells in my chest and I squeeze my eyes closed. His hand wraps lightly around my throat and my gaze springs open, a flare of desire curling through my insides at the dominance in his position.
“I love your eyes,” he continues. “The way they show me all your truths. No one has ever consumed me with a single look, but you...” He blows out a breath. “You fucking wreck me.”
I swallow and his grip tightens, making heat pulse between my legs.
What is happening?
His hand slides slowly from my throat, tracing along the edges of my collarbone. My core contracts. He continues his trek down my arms until his fingers reach mine, twining them together and wrapping them around the front of my waist.
“I love your hands. The way they fit so goddamn perfectly in mine.” His fingers weave back and forth between mine, tingles racing up my arms.
My knees grow weak from his perusal and I press further into him until the back of my head rests against his chest. He brings up my right hand and I watch our reflection, drunk off the sight of him as he kisses the inside of my wrist, his breath hot against my skin.
My heart pounds against my ribs, anticipation careening off my insides as his palms leave mine, gliding back up until they reach my shoulders. He squeezes slightly, sending shockwaves of pleasure rolling through me.
“I love your shoulders. The way they hold the world, but don’t buckle from the weight.”
I scoff, my vision blurring. “All I do is buckle.”
His head shakes. “Falling down doesn’t mean you break, Blake.”
My throat swells at his words, tears escaping the corner of my eyes.
“Your strength is when you rise back up.”
———————-
Keep reading (Free in Kindle Unlimited or $2.99 for a limited time!)--> mybook.to/Beneaththehood
Beneath the Hood is live and I cannot wait for y'all to dive into Jax and Blakely's world.
Here's an excerpt:
“I love your mouth.” His thumb brushes over my lips, his touch lingering until I’m sure he can feel the heat of my skin blooming underneath his fingers. “Every time you speak, the world quiets so I can listen.”
My stomach tightens.
His hand moves down, tracing along my neck, his touch branding me with every pass. Emotion swells in my chest and I squeeze my eyes closed. His hand wraps lightly around my throat and my gaze springs open, a flare of desire curling through my insides at the dominance in his position.
“I love your eyes,” he continues. “The way they show me all your truths. No one has ever consumed me with a single look, but you...” He blows out a breath. “You fucking wreck me.”
I swallow and his grip tightens, making heat pulse between my legs.
What is happening?
His hand slides slowly from my throat, tracing along the edges of my collarbone. My core contracts. He continues his trek down my arms until his fingers reach mine, twining them together and wrapping them around the front of my waist.
“I love your hands. The way they fit so goddamn perfectly in mine.” His fingers weave back and forth between mine, tingles racing up my arms.
My knees grow weak from his perusal and I press further into him until the back of my head rests against his chest. He brings up my right hand and I watch our reflection, drunk off the sight of him as he kisses the inside of my wrist, his breath hot against my skin.
My heart pounds against my ribs, anticipation careening off my insides as his palms leave mine, gliding back up until they reach my shoulders. He squeezes slightly, sending shockwaves of pleasure rolling through me.
“I love your shoulders. The way they hold the world, but don’t buckle from the weight.”
I scoff, my vision blurring. “All I do is buckle.”
His head shakes. “Falling down doesn’t mean you break, Blake.”
My throat swells at his words, tears escaping the corner of my eyes.
“Your strength is when you rise back up.”
———————-
Keep reading (Free in Kindle Unlimited or $2.99 for a limited time!)--> mybook.to/Beneaththehood
March 20, 2025
“So I’ll stay in my spot. And I’ll keep coming back, so she isn’t alone. The lighthouse to her darkness, guiding her through the shallow waters.”
I was not sure how to feel about this book when I first started it. I was convinced it was gonna be a 3 stars at best but I changed my mind! This book is filled with a shit ton of issues but they were described and worded so well that I just had to go 4 stars.
This book follows Blakely. Blakey is a famous instagram influencer/model who got a career thanks to her dad being extremely famous in the Hollywood industry. She takes her job very seriously but does not get taken seriously herself. The people around her see her as “just a 19 year old girl” and presume she has no idea how to handle the real world because in their eyes she’s a kid. Everyone around her treats her the same. Resulting in Blakely feeling very lonely and misunderstood. Everyone, but one single guy. His name is Jacks.
Jacks seems like the ideal guy. He understands her problems and takes the time to listen to her and offer help the best he can. There are only two problems. First of all, he’s 28. A liiiiiittle too old for 19 year old Blakely. Second of all, he’s her dad’s employee. Neither of these things seem to stop them though. Jacks is currently heartbroken because the one girl he’s ever had feelings for, chose his best friend over him. He’s desperately looking for ways to get over her. Moving to California was one of those ways. Sleeping around with random women is another. Overall though, he is very tentative and kind hearted. I could not find a single red flag about him except his age. Age cap is not really my kind of trope and it was very upfront in this book. It got mentioned about every other chapter which got a little on my nerves.
Blakely had OCD which results in her obsessively checking what she eats, marking her calories and spending hours upon hours a day in her gym. As someone who tends to struggle with food, this was kind of hard to read sometimes. There were moments where I resonated with Blakely a lot and there were moments where I felt very triggered by things that were said and done. Blakely also had extreme panic attacks which in my opinion were written perfectly. Reading this felt very realistic. I guess it didn’t at first which is why I was hesitant on my rating. The eating thing felt very exaggerated but as I kept reading I’ve come to realize it’s not. I am so proud of Blakely for the girl she has become and I hope she’s gonna start loving life the way every human deserves to.
This book is cute, heartfelt, sweet and fluffy but also extremely heartbreaking and sad. I wanna keep these characters save forever and make sure nothing and no one harms them. Also I do recommend reading these books in the reading order provided by the author. This was the first book in this series that I read and I do think that my reading experience would have been more fun, had I read the first two books first. especially towards the end when a certain thing happened and I felt very clueless and confused because I had no idea what it was about. This series is definitely worth your time!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and the author of this book Emily McIntire, for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this ALC!!
I was not sure how to feel about this book when I first started it. I was convinced it was gonna be a 3 stars at best but I changed my mind! This book is filled with a shit ton of issues but they were described and worded so well that I just had to go 4 stars.
This book follows Blakely. Blakey is a famous instagram influencer/model who got a career thanks to her dad being extremely famous in the Hollywood industry. She takes her job very seriously but does not get taken seriously herself. The people around her see her as “just a 19 year old girl” and presume she has no idea how to handle the real world because in their eyes she’s a kid. Everyone around her treats her the same. Resulting in Blakely feeling very lonely and misunderstood. Everyone, but one single guy. His name is Jacks.
Jacks seems like the ideal guy. He understands her problems and takes the time to listen to her and offer help the best he can. There are only two problems. First of all, he’s 28. A liiiiiittle too old for 19 year old Blakely. Second of all, he’s her dad’s employee. Neither of these things seem to stop them though. Jacks is currently heartbroken because the one girl he’s ever had feelings for, chose his best friend over him. He’s desperately looking for ways to get over her. Moving to California was one of those ways. Sleeping around with random women is another. Overall though, he is very tentative and kind hearted. I could not find a single red flag about him except his age. Age cap is not really my kind of trope and it was very upfront in this book. It got mentioned about every other chapter which got a little on my nerves.
Blakely had OCD which results in her obsessively checking what she eats, marking her calories and spending hours upon hours a day in her gym. As someone who tends to struggle with food, this was kind of hard to read sometimes. There were moments where I resonated with Blakely a lot and there were moments where I felt very triggered by things that were said and done. Blakely also had extreme panic attacks which in my opinion were written perfectly. Reading this felt very realistic. I guess it didn’t at first which is why I was hesitant on my rating. The eating thing felt very exaggerated but as I kept reading I’ve come to realize it’s not. I am so proud of Blakely for the girl she has become and I hope she’s gonna start loving life the way every human deserves to.
This book is cute, heartfelt, sweet and fluffy but also extremely heartbreaking and sad. I wanna keep these characters save forever and make sure nothing and no one harms them. Also I do recommend reading these books in the reading order provided by the author. This was the first book in this series that I read and I do think that my reading experience would have been more fun, had I read the first two books first. especially towards the end when a certain thing happened and I felt very clueless and confused because I had no idea what it was about. This series is definitely worth your time!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and the author of this book Emily McIntire, for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this ALC!!
March 11, 2025
I felt so much for the FMC, Blakely. I can't imagine how hard it'd be in the public eye constantly having people spread gossip and rumors about you. Her anxiety and panic attacks were relatable as I also have anxiety. I felt like Jackson was so amazing helping her through those moments. Jackson was just amazing in general!!! And the spice was spicing! I loved the dual narration. It truly added depth to the characters and audiobook. Brilliantly done!
I received this Audiobook from Blackstone Publishing to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.
I received this Audiobook from Blackstone Publishing to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.
April 6, 2021
Age gap taboo, emotional storytelling, and an author I’ve been dying to read? Why yes, it was time for me to pick up this series, and let me tell you, I’m kicking myself for not diving in sooner. I’ve moved right on into the Sugarlake magic, and I’m pretty sure I’m never going to leave.
Fans of the series will know this is Jackson’s story, the sweet bestie whose permanent friendzone status with his best friend/love of his life ultimately had him fleeing Sugarlake to return to California to live his and his beloved father’s dream of building cars for the big screen. A job that puts him in the sights of the much younger thorn in his side, Blakely, daughter of Jax’s producer boss. But some light flirting and a chance intensely vulnerable moment between them opens the door to their relationship being something else- only these two have more baggage than a LAX baggage claim- baggage that will become an obstacle not only to their happiness together but also their own self-identity.
I expected to not like Blakely- or to at least need time to warm up to her. On paper, Blakely is the kind of character I tend to dismiss. A social media influencer, a marionetted socialite, and later teen who complains about her privilege. But Blakely is truly none of those things- she’s such a special heroine. Mature beyond her years, she’s simply a survivor. A woman trying to cope with her own demons, a girl trapped by responsibilities that subversively traumatize her. There is an irony in her contrast- a woman with millions of instagram followers is one of the most heartbreakingly isolated and lonely characters I’ve read. A girl whose image is so disgeneously curated yet she’s perhaps one of the most genuine, REAL heroines I’ve read. I felt so connected to her- empathize with her, but I love how Emily kept us from pitying her. Because while Blakey is broken and beautifully flawed, she’s also quietly strong, determined, and vivacious. We experience her mental health struggles and her existential dilemmas so vividly - but we also see her sass, her energy, and her big beautiful heart that is so desperate to be seen.
Jackson- SWOOOOOOOOON. I am obsessed with this man. He’s just so charming- emotional aware, protective, compassionate and caring, reliable and honorable. He’s so resolutely strong -and he relishes being needed, caring for others- but that also makes him fragile, because the last person that needed him broke his heart. I am a goner for him-- he owns me.
I can not get over these two together. While they seem so different, they are two halves of the same soul. They both just want to be VISIBLE, they want to be chosen, to matter to someone. They want their pain and their hearts to be seen and cared for by someone else. And they find that in each other- establishing a sweet, sincere, and deeply intimate chemistry. We get to watch these two fully let down their walls, find their truest selves with one another, and confront their deep baggage, baggage that stems from the very people they love most in this world. Scars from those they hold dear. Their love is intense, emotional, and fiercy exposing, but also profoundly restorative. They ground each other, but they falter, they struggle as they grapple with parts of themselves, but they evolve- together as a unbreakable couple but also as individuals. As people who recognize that in order to choose another, you have to choose yourself. You have to love yourself.
Telling a story about a man who has spent years pining over another woman and somehow convincing the reader he’s moved on is a TALL task, even taller when his new interest is considerably younger, and a girl he’s not exactly been fond of. To be honest, despite the immediate chemistry I felt between Blakely and Jackson, I wasn’t sure Emily could convince me that Blakely wasn’t just the second choice of a man whose baggage is that HE was the second choice. But Emily proves me wrong- and she somehow does it in a way that honors both Jackson and Blakely’s connection as well as Jackson and Lee’s. She doesn’t erase or negate the emotions Jackson has felt and experienced prior to this story, rather she brilliantly uses them. She exposes them, makes them front and center, doesn’t shy away from their messiness. She lets Jackson struggle with them, even Blakely struggles with them, and then she does something even more brilliant- she finds a way to juxtapose both for us visibly. We see the difference, we feel it, and we process it alongside our characters. And by leaning into that tension, she makes Jackson’s heart so transparent. But most importantly, it makes his shift authentic, believable, and most importantly, emotionally catalytic.
In case you’ve yet to discover her yet, let me tell you, Emily McIntire can WRITE! I was sleeping on these books- but I have been AWAKENED. Emily is on my one-click list now. She scribes prose with flows like the practice of a veteran, there’s an easy confidence to this narrative that belies how meticulously and lovingly this story was created. Her story telling is poetically descriptive, engaging but artful, but what is most mesmerizing is the authorial voice that seems to be unique to Emily McIntire. Being inside her characters’ heads a unique and transfixing experience- she imbues them with such emotional transparency, a bleeding meta-vulnerability that makes this book feel so intimate and deeply emotionally resonant. Emily is clearly an author that lives and breathes her characters so tenderly- and her writing prowess uniquely positions us to live and breathe them, too. Oh, and this woman can write STEAM. (*fans self*) All, of course, with a poignant and meaningful thematic underpinning that speaks not just to her characters but to us as humans. Engaging story, delicious steam, captivating character development, and a thematic undertone - she’s got it all. And I am hooked on this series!
Fans of the series will know this is Jackson’s story, the sweet bestie whose permanent friendzone status with his best friend/love of his life ultimately had him fleeing Sugarlake to return to California to live his and his beloved father’s dream of building cars for the big screen. A job that puts him in the sights of the much younger thorn in his side, Blakely, daughter of Jax’s producer boss. But some light flirting and a chance intensely vulnerable moment between them opens the door to their relationship being something else- only these two have more baggage than a LAX baggage claim- baggage that will become an obstacle not only to their happiness together but also their own self-identity.
I expected to not like Blakely- or to at least need time to warm up to her. On paper, Blakely is the kind of character I tend to dismiss. A social media influencer, a marionetted socialite, and later teen who complains about her privilege. But Blakely is truly none of those things- she’s such a special heroine. Mature beyond her years, she’s simply a survivor. A woman trying to cope with her own demons, a girl trapped by responsibilities that subversively traumatize her. There is an irony in her contrast- a woman with millions of instagram followers is one of the most heartbreakingly isolated and lonely characters I’ve read. A girl whose image is so disgeneously curated yet she’s perhaps one of the most genuine, REAL heroines I’ve read. I felt so connected to her- empathize with her, but I love how Emily kept us from pitying her. Because while Blakey is broken and beautifully flawed, she’s also quietly strong, determined, and vivacious. We experience her mental health struggles and her existential dilemmas so vividly - but we also see her sass, her energy, and her big beautiful heart that is so desperate to be seen.
Jackson- SWOOOOOOOOON. I am obsessed with this man. He’s just so charming- emotional aware, protective, compassionate and caring, reliable and honorable. He’s so resolutely strong -and he relishes being needed, caring for others- but that also makes him fragile, because the last person that needed him broke his heart. I am a goner for him-- he owns me.
I can not get over these two together. While they seem so different, they are two halves of the same soul. They both just want to be VISIBLE, they want to be chosen, to matter to someone. They want their pain and their hearts to be seen and cared for by someone else. And they find that in each other- establishing a sweet, sincere, and deeply intimate chemistry. We get to watch these two fully let down their walls, find their truest selves with one another, and confront their deep baggage, baggage that stems from the very people they love most in this world. Scars from those they hold dear. Their love is intense, emotional, and fiercy exposing, but also profoundly restorative. They ground each other, but they falter, they struggle as they grapple with parts of themselves, but they evolve- together as a unbreakable couple but also as individuals. As people who recognize that in order to choose another, you have to choose yourself. You have to love yourself.
Telling a story about a man who has spent years pining over another woman and somehow convincing the reader he’s moved on is a TALL task, even taller when his new interest is considerably younger, and a girl he’s not exactly been fond of. To be honest, despite the immediate chemistry I felt between Blakely and Jackson, I wasn’t sure Emily could convince me that Blakely wasn’t just the second choice of a man whose baggage is that HE was the second choice. But Emily proves me wrong- and she somehow does it in a way that honors both Jackson and Blakely’s connection as well as Jackson and Lee’s. She doesn’t erase or negate the emotions Jackson has felt and experienced prior to this story, rather she brilliantly uses them. She exposes them, makes them front and center, doesn’t shy away from their messiness. She lets Jackson struggle with them, even Blakely struggles with them, and then she does something even more brilliant- she finds a way to juxtapose both for us visibly. We see the difference, we feel it, and we process it alongside our characters. And by leaning into that tension, she makes Jackson’s heart so transparent. But most importantly, it makes his shift authentic, believable, and most importantly, emotionally catalytic.
In case you’ve yet to discover her yet, let me tell you, Emily McIntire can WRITE! I was sleeping on these books- but I have been AWAKENED. Emily is on my one-click list now. She scribes prose with flows like the practice of a veteran, there’s an easy confidence to this narrative that belies how meticulously and lovingly this story was created. Her story telling is poetically descriptive, engaging but artful, but what is most mesmerizing is the authorial voice that seems to be unique to Emily McIntire. Being inside her characters’ heads a unique and transfixing experience- she imbues them with such emotional transparency, a bleeding meta-vulnerability that makes this book feel so intimate and deeply emotionally resonant. Emily is clearly an author that lives and breathes her characters so tenderly- and her writing prowess uniquely positions us to live and breathe them, too. Oh, and this woman can write STEAM. (*fans self*) All, of course, with a poignant and meaningful thematic underpinning that speaks not just to her characters but to us as humans. Engaging story, delicious steam, captivating character development, and a thematic undertone - she’s got it all. And I am hooked on this series!
June 10, 2025
This was good to me but not great. I was intrigued enough to continue reading, but the pacing was off for me. I felt like I was missing a lot because I had not read the first two books in this series even though it is noted as a standalone. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters fully which I believe was because of the pacing. The chemistry between them just seemed a little off. They went from her being flirty and him being like it's never going to happen to I think I am in love within a short span. I did think everything about Blakely was very eye opening in regards to being in a job where you are in the public eye. I appreciated how Emily handled the topics of heavy anxiety, depression and eating disorders. I appreciated how much Jackson supported her through all of this and was ultimately the only person in her corner that recognized she needed help. I liked the age gap between them and that even though Blakely handled everything poorly overall she just needed someone to believe in her for HER not for what she put online. I think Jackson did a good job navigating those waters with her and helping her to the other side.
Blakely has an image to uphold for her followers. She has events to attend and outfits to where. She has to eat healthy. She hates reading the comments people say about her. So she does what she can to avoid them. Something that has recently caught her eye though is Jackson Rhoades- a man working for her father. He is older and so handsome. And she loves needling him and getting a rise out of him. She has to put on this front like she has more experience than she does, but she realizes rather quickly that he can see right through her charade. She secretly likes that he can see that side of her and still be around. She LIKES the attention he gives her because it is for the real her. But her inner demons are hard to not listen to. She thinks he won't like her for long or he won't stay around long- no one in her life seems to. But Jackson seems to be here to prove her and her thoughts wrong. He makes her feels things she hasn't felt before. He makes her feel safe. But then their secret relationship blows up in her face and she is forced to make a harsh decision that will ultimately save him. Of course it backfires and Blakely finds herself asking the hard questions and recognizing she needs to take some time for herself before she can be the woman she wants to be for Jackson.
Jackson is literally living his dream. Or him and his father's dream. He has always wanted to work on cars, and that is what he is doing. He needed to take some time away from his small town and all that heartache. So here he is in California. Noticing his 19 year old boss's daughter. The one who can't seem to stop trying to poke at him. The beautiful one who lives in a world he never has bothered to play in- social media. But he finds himself intrigued enough to play back. And before he knows it lines are crossed. He really likes HER. HER without the mask. The woman that no one gets to see but him. It makes him feel special that she shows him and no one else. But there are so many demands with her job that seem to hurt her and somehow she doesn't see it. She doesn't see that she needs help. That her anxiety is taking control and that the only person in her life who seems to have her back is him. He is willing to stand up and shout that they are together for the world to know. But she is scared of the backlash. So when she makes a decision without him to ultimately save him, he cuts town and decides to lick his wounds at home. He knows he loves the real woman in there but doesn't know if she will ever be ok enough to just be with him.
There were a lot of heavier topics discussed in this one. Like I mentioned anxiety, depression, eating disorders as well as family problems and death of a parent (not on page). I appreciate those heavier topics sometimes as unfortunately that is part of life and thought that Emily did a great job of navigating that territory. I just had a hard time with the pacing which affected other things. I felt like I had whiplash when I was trying to keep up with the trajectory of their story. I am honestly not sure if I am interested enough to continue the series, but we shall see. I also had a hard time with the male narrator which probably also affected my enjoyment of this too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Blakely has an image to uphold for her followers. She has events to attend and outfits to where. She has to eat healthy. She hates reading the comments people say about her. So she does what she can to avoid them. Something that has recently caught her eye though is Jackson Rhoades- a man working for her father. He is older and so handsome. And she loves needling him and getting a rise out of him. She has to put on this front like she has more experience than she does, but she realizes rather quickly that he can see right through her charade. She secretly likes that he can see that side of her and still be around. She LIKES the attention he gives her because it is for the real her. But her inner demons are hard to not listen to. She thinks he won't like her for long or he won't stay around long- no one in her life seems to. But Jackson seems to be here to prove her and her thoughts wrong. He makes her feels things she hasn't felt before. He makes her feel safe. But then their secret relationship blows up in her face and she is forced to make a harsh decision that will ultimately save him. Of course it backfires and Blakely finds herself asking the hard questions and recognizing she needs to take some time for herself before she can be the woman she wants to be for Jackson.
Jackson is literally living his dream. Or him and his father's dream. He has always wanted to work on cars, and that is what he is doing. He needed to take some time away from his small town and all that heartache. So here he is in California. Noticing his 19 year old boss's daughter. The one who can't seem to stop trying to poke at him. The beautiful one who lives in a world he never has bothered to play in- social media. But he finds himself intrigued enough to play back. And before he knows it lines are crossed. He really likes HER. HER without the mask. The woman that no one gets to see but him. It makes him feel special that she shows him and no one else. But there are so many demands with her job that seem to hurt her and somehow she doesn't see it. She doesn't see that she needs help. That her anxiety is taking control and that the only person in her life who seems to have her back is him. He is willing to stand up and shout that they are together for the world to know. But she is scared of the backlash. So when she makes a decision without him to ultimately save him, he cuts town and decides to lick his wounds at home. He knows he loves the real woman in there but doesn't know if she will ever be ok enough to just be with him.
There were a lot of heavier topics discussed in this one. Like I mentioned anxiety, depression, eating disorders as well as family problems and death of a parent (not on page). I appreciate those heavier topics sometimes as unfortunately that is part of life and thought that Emily did a great job of navigating that territory. I just had a hard time with the pacing which affected other things. I felt like I had whiplash when I was trying to keep up with the trajectory of their story. I am honestly not sure if I am interested enough to continue the series, but we shall see. I also had a hard time with the male narrator which probably also affected my enjoyment of this too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
June 25, 2021
Book 3 in the Sugarlake Series by Emily McIntire. Nothing like her first original book Beneath The Stars at all. Mediocre at best, very slow moving, repetitive and predictable. This series is not my cup of tea after Book 1. I am an avid reader and this is my last attempt to find her books interesting. I read 5 chapters hoping to enjoy the book. The characters need to be more developed. The story is more of a plug and play script. Don’t waste your time
March 17, 2025
Thanks to Emily, her publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALC of the re-release of her novel, Beneath the Hood.
3.5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
I absolutely love Emily’s books and was excited to see her publisher pick up her first series to re-release them! This one follows Blakely, a 19 year old social media influencer and Jackson, a 28 year old, who works on prop cars for movies. They meet because he works for Blakely’s dad’s business.
This book has:
- age gap romance (9 years)
- virgin(ish) FMC
- mental health rep
- disordered eating rep
It was cute and had a lot of stuff you see in an age gap romance. I appreciated Emily’s take on mental health (panic attacks, anxiety/depression, OCD) and disordered eating.
The audiobook: I loved Brooke Bloomingdale as Blakely. I didn’t love Liam DiCosimo as Jackson. His fake southern accent felt really wrong and not genuine for the part. Especially considering Jackson didn’t live his whole life in the south (Sugar Lake, TN).
3.5/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️
I absolutely love Emily’s books and was excited to see her publisher pick up her first series to re-release them! This one follows Blakely, a 19 year old social media influencer and Jackson, a 28 year old, who works on prop cars for movies. They meet because he works for Blakely’s dad’s business.
This book has:
- age gap romance (9 years)
- virgin(ish) FMC
- mental health rep
- disordered eating rep
It was cute and had a lot of stuff you see in an age gap romance. I appreciated Emily’s take on mental health (panic attacks, anxiety/depression, OCD) and disordered eating.
The audiobook: I loved Brooke Bloomingdale as Blakely. I didn’t love Liam DiCosimo as Jackson. His fake southern accent felt really wrong and not genuine for the part. Especially considering Jackson didn’t live his whole life in the south (Sugar Lake, TN).
September 15, 2022
blakely & jackson reminded me so much of ryke & daisy i can’t handle it 😭😭
i’m obsessed with this series and i love all of these characters so so much
i’m obsessed with this series and i love all of these characters so so much
July 20, 2025
4.5 Stars – A Story of Redemption, Healing, and Unexpected Love
I know that every time I pick up an Emily McIntire book, I’m going to devour it. She has a way with words that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. That’s exactly why she’s an auto-read and auto-buy author for me.
I’ll be honest: in the previous books, I loathed Jackson. But that actually made Beneath the Hood all the more satisfying. Watching him away from Sugar Lake and genuinely trying to move past his feelings for Lee gave his character depth I didn’t expect. He’s a hard worker with a heavy past, and even when it was tough, I found myself rooting for him.
Then comes Blakely. At first glance, she made me cringe. She seemed shallow and surface-level. But as her layers peeled back, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug. From her OCD to her obsession with control over food, exercise, and life itself, her struggles felt painfully real. Being a woman is hard enough, but living under a microscope where every flaw is magnified is heartbreaking.
I’m so glad Jackson was the one to meet her where she was and help ground her. Watching them slowly fall for each other was such a breath of fresh air. The way he pulled her out of her shell and allowed her to just be was beautiful to witness.
I will admit the miscommunication near the end did frustrate me. But honestly, it led to the growth both of them needed to have a more grounded, healthy love.
I’m so excited (and a little emotional) knowing there’s just one more book left in this series. Emily McIntire never misses.
I know that every time I pick up an Emily McIntire book, I’m going to devour it. She has a way with words that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. That’s exactly why she’s an auto-read and auto-buy author for me.
I’ll be honest: in the previous books, I loathed Jackson. But that actually made Beneath the Hood all the more satisfying. Watching him away from Sugar Lake and genuinely trying to move past his feelings for Lee gave his character depth I didn’t expect. He’s a hard worker with a heavy past, and even when it was tough, I found myself rooting for him.
Then comes Blakely. At first glance, she made me cringe. She seemed shallow and surface-level. But as her layers peeled back, I just wanted to give her the biggest hug. From her OCD to her obsession with control over food, exercise, and life itself, her struggles felt painfully real. Being a woman is hard enough, but living under a microscope where every flaw is magnified is heartbreaking.
I’m so glad Jackson was the one to meet her where she was and help ground her. Watching them slowly fall for each other was such a breath of fresh air. The way he pulled her out of her shell and allowed her to just be was beautiful to witness.
I will admit the miscommunication near the end did frustrate me. But honestly, it led to the growth both of them needed to have a more grounded, healthy love.
I’m so excited (and a little emotional) knowing there’s just one more book left in this series. Emily McIntire never misses.
March 31, 2025
This one was really tough for me to rate… because I loved the story and the characters individually. The character development really helped to boost my rating.
The main problem I had with the book was the relationship they had. Although there is nothing wrong with a 9 year age gap, (i too have a large age gap in my personal relationship) something about this just felt wrong. Blakely comes off as super immature for the majority of the book, and something is just off putting about a 28 year old taking an immature 19 year olds virginity. I know it’s legal, but to me her immaturity just made it feel wrong😅
I wish she was aged a little bit older (maybe 21,22) because then I would have been able to rate this a little higher.
The main problem I had with the book was the relationship they had. Although there is nothing wrong with a 9 year age gap, (i too have a large age gap in my personal relationship) something about this just felt wrong. Blakely comes off as super immature for the majority of the book, and something is just off putting about a 28 year old taking an immature 19 year olds virginity. I know it’s legal, but to me her immaturity just made it feel wrong😅
I wish she was aged a little bit older (maybe 21,22) because then I would have been able to rate this a little higher.
March 18, 2025
I didn't hate it. I didn't love it, though.
Ngl, influencer AU is not my cup of tea. I'm fine with age gap. Forbidden romance can be okay.
In this book specifically, it was okay. I wasn't blown away, but eating disorder and OCD was written well. And she sought help with a specialist, no magic cock curing her which, given the romance market, is a rare thing to include in your book.
Maybe I'd like it more if influencer au was taken in a different direction, had a twist to it, since all books about social media focus on it being fake. Why so many people do it if so bad?
Romance-wise it was okay, but I didn't care for them.
For the audiobook, I think we, as a collective, the man doing high pitched female voice, and the woman doing raspy low male voice, leave in 2024. Also, the man narrated slower than the woman. Her POV I listened to x1.25, but his POV was too slow, and x1.5 for her POV was too fast.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the Audiobook! I screamed when I got it. Love you Emily. Will check out the other sugarlake books as I wait for the Never After Book 7. <3
Ngl, influencer AU is not my cup of tea. I'm fine with age gap. Forbidden romance can be okay.
In this book specifically, it was okay. I wasn't blown away, but eating disorder and OCD was written well. And she sought help with a specialist, no magic cock curing her which, given the romance market, is a rare thing to include in your book.
Maybe I'd like it more if influencer au was taken in a different direction, had a twist to it, since all books about social media focus on it being fake. Why so many people do it if so bad?
Romance-wise it was okay, but I didn't care for them.
For the audiobook, I think we, as a collective, the man doing high pitched female voice, and the woman doing raspy low male voice, leave in 2024. Also, the man narrated slower than the woman. Her POV I listened to x1.25, but his POV was too slow, and x1.5 for her POV was too fast.
2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the Audiobook! I screamed when I got it. Love you Emily. Will check out the other sugarlake books as I wait for the Never After Book 7. <3
March 24, 2021
Thank you to Emily herself and letting me be a part of the early ARC review team to get the chance to read this book. I devoured it in one day and it did not disappoint! I think I loved this one just as much as I did the first two books in this series and I loved Jackson's story. I love a good love story and this one definitely hit the spot. At first I didn't like Blakely's character, she got annoying and her calorie counting/ weight issue was driving me insane (which could have been tied down just a bit) but her character eventually grew on me and got better. Jackson deserved to be happy and he got what he wanted and that was love. FINALLY. Yay Jackson! Such a sweet and caring, loving character! <3
Highly recommend reading this series so I hope you all give it a chance!
Highly recommend reading this series so I hope you all give it a chance!
April 18, 2022
Overall, this was a good story. Once again, I love that the author actually tackles heavy subjects and that the characters actually work on their healing using professionals. I loved Jackson in previous books and this one was no exception. Blakely was not my favorite heroine, but she was still ok. I can't wait to read book #4.
March 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing and Emily McIntire for this audio arc copy. I will be giving my honest review.
3.25⭐️
Disclaimer: So to be 100 with you this was my first foray into the sugarlake series. Why do I read interconnected standalones out of order you ask? Because I love a lil mystery. No honestly mostly because second chance is my favorite trope so picking a book in the middle kinda gives that energy. The characters probably had some sort of interaction in a previous book I’m unaware of which gives a certain weight to their on page interactions ya know? Mmm the added depth is *chef’s kiss.
The story picks up with Jackson who is hired to keep watch over Blakely an influencer as well as his boss’ daughter. Off-limits, age-gap shenanigans ensue and I enjoyed the push & pull between them.
The audiobook version is so good! Narrated by both Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo. I’m a sucker for a dual narration in general but Liam’s slightly southern twang had me giddy. (I blame my “collar is blue like my vote” fyp fixation)
A full list of TWs is listed on the author’s website. There were two of them that were sometimes painful to read in their authenticity if that makes sense. Like it read so true that I appreciated the representation of it but the accuracy of said representation felt kinda like a dagger at times.
I also found her influencer jargon or talk to be a bit much at times. The multiple mentions of specific items while she does her skincare felt like an ad while simultaneously throwing me back to YouTube beauty influencer binge days.
Then because I picked this one of the series first it kinda soured my opinion of Alina grrr
Overall such an enjoyable listen // read for sure with deep and emotional themes.
3.25⭐️
Disclaimer: So to be 100 with you this was my first foray into the sugarlake series. Why do I read interconnected standalones out of order you ask? Because I love a lil mystery. No honestly mostly because second chance is my favorite trope so picking a book in the middle kinda gives that energy. The characters probably had some sort of interaction in a previous book I’m unaware of which gives a certain weight to their on page interactions ya know? Mmm the added depth is *chef’s kiss.
The story picks up with Jackson who is hired to keep watch over Blakely an influencer as well as his boss’ daughter. Off-limits, age-gap shenanigans ensue and I enjoyed the push & pull between them.
The audiobook version is so good! Narrated by both Brooke Bloomingdale and Liam DiCosimo. I’m a sucker for a dual narration in general but Liam’s slightly southern twang had me giddy. (I blame my “collar is blue like my vote” fyp fixation)
A full list of TWs is listed on the author’s website. There were two of them that were sometimes painful to read in their authenticity if that makes sense. Like it read so true that I appreciated the representation of it but the accuracy of said representation felt kinda like a dagger at times.
I also found her influencer jargon or talk to be a bit much at times. The multiple mentions of specific items while she does her skincare felt like an ad while simultaneously throwing me back to YouTube beauty influencer binge days.
Then because I picked this one of the series first it kinda soured my opinion of Alina grrr
Overall such an enjoyable listen // read for sure with deep and emotional themes.
July 7, 2021
Okay I'm just gonna dive right in and say I was so disappointed. I saw that as the series continued, the ratings were going up and maybe I had such high expectations but this did not meet it. If I'm being honest, the 2 stars here are only because of Jax, Chase, Lee and that freaking BOMB AF epilogue!! I want to start with saying how excited I was for this book and I just expected so much out of it. I love Jax. You can't help but love this guy that you meet in the first book. I loved his personality and I wanted to know more about him. I definitely wanted to see how his story was going to unfold with the unrequited love story. It's something I'm going through now and a lot of people do so I was excited to see how it would be handled. I was a little wary from the start since we knew Blake was from Hollywood and that's a red flag for me honestly.
The main downfall for this book was Blake to be honest. I didn't like her. Mostly I couldn't stand her. I couldn't get myself to empathize or sympathize with her, which is unfortunate given that we both do struggle with mental health. I just couldn't put myself in her shoes. And I don't mind the age gap but her age just really shows in this book and I didn't like that. I wish that there was another plot surrounding her eating disorder and panic attacks than social media. And I know, a lot of mental health is perpetuated by social media and beauty standards. So I get it but as someone who has never agreed to those standards, it was hard to understand Blake's struggle. Plus she annoyed me so that also added to it.
Influencer. Ahhhh that grates me. Okay so while Hollywood tropes already annoy me, this just exacerbated it. It was just ugh, all of it, so annoying. I have no problem if someone uses their social media for good, to influence for good, to show people real things and real struggles. Social media already has enough problems with lies and hiding reality. Blake wants to be an influencer to promote brands and her body and that doesn't sit right with me. It's her body and life and she can do whatever she wants but she knew what it would be like going into this. She lives in this, obviously its a toxic thing but she wants to stay in it to be relevant. People wanting to stay relevant for the wrong reasons, just to be known (and not even known for the real you) just puts a sour taste in my mouth. I think the whole hollywoodness (not a word, I know) diminished the impact of ED and GAD because instead of focusing on those, I kept trying to not get irritated by that lifestyle. I just felt like she could've been a better character. It would've been better for me if she was trying to be like a fitness influencer and teaching people who to live while struggling with mental health. Instead she's struggling with mental health because of (what I feel are) superficial things like relevancy and outer beauty. Because of all that crap, I hardly enjoyed this book. I skimmed through most of it and didn't even care about the romance because I felt Jax's love story deserved better.
Now what I loved!!! Jax and Chase FINALLY talking things out! I wish it was a little more detailed because it was literally the most interesting part of the book. They were my original brotp! I really wanted them to fix things and I'm so glad that they are finally working on it. I really did wish it was fleshed out more. I wish that they had started talking to each other when Chase was in Cali but alright, better than nothing. It's funny because I totally understood both sides of their stories. They both felt abandoned by their best friend, both valid reasons. I was actually more inclined towards Jax until Chase explained his side. I was like wow, different perspective. And I think that's what I love about these books. It showcases just how different people view things. It also shows the devastation of relationships with lack of communication.
THAT EPILOGUE!!! OMG LILY!!!!! I'm so excited to read her story!!! And just going back to my problem with this book and Hollywood. While mental health isn't to be taken lightly at all, I felt like the addition of Hollywood made the trauma Blake went through felt ... not as significant as the other characters. And I know that's a totally shitty thing to say and I'm not saying that it diminishes the trauma Blake went through but idk. Yeah her father is pretty absent but she had her father. She wasn't abandoned at a gas station. She was well provided for and had luxuries that so many didn't and it just grates me. But again, this just all shows her age that she ignores the multitude of opportunities and blessings that she has that others don't have. She literally could have done anything with her life, the world was open for her to do something meaningful. She had all the money in the world to make a real change but what she chose felt very superficial. Sorry Blake
Like I said, not my type of book but I still liked what it's all about and I still bought the physical copy of the book lol. I missed Sugarlake though. This book didn't have that small town vibe that I wanted.
The main downfall for this book was Blake to be honest. I didn't like her. Mostly I couldn't stand her. I couldn't get myself to empathize or sympathize with her, which is unfortunate given that we both do struggle with mental health. I just couldn't put myself in her shoes. And I don't mind the age gap but her age just really shows in this book and I didn't like that. I wish that there was another plot surrounding her eating disorder and panic attacks than social media. And I know, a lot of mental health is perpetuated by social media and beauty standards. So I get it but as someone who has never agreed to those standards, it was hard to understand Blake's struggle. Plus she annoyed me so that also added to it.
Influencer. Ahhhh that grates me. Okay so while Hollywood tropes already annoy me, this just exacerbated it. It was just ugh, all of it, so annoying. I have no problem if someone uses their social media for good, to influence for good, to show people real things and real struggles. Social media already has enough problems with lies and hiding reality. Blake wants to be an influencer to promote brands and her body and that doesn't sit right with me. It's her body and life and she can do whatever she wants but she knew what it would be like going into this. She lives in this, obviously its a toxic thing but she wants to stay in it to be relevant. People wanting to stay relevant for the wrong reasons, just to be known (and not even known for the real you) just puts a sour taste in my mouth. I think the whole hollywoodness (not a word, I know) diminished the impact of ED and GAD because instead of focusing on those, I kept trying to not get irritated by that lifestyle. I just felt like she could've been a better character. It would've been better for me if she was trying to be like a fitness influencer and teaching people who to live while struggling with mental health. Instead she's struggling with mental health because of (what I feel are) superficial things like relevancy and outer beauty. Because of all that crap, I hardly enjoyed this book. I skimmed through most of it and didn't even care about the romance because I felt Jax's love story deserved better.
Now what I loved!!! Jax and Chase FINALLY talking things out! I wish it was a little more detailed because it was literally the most interesting part of the book. They were my original brotp! I really wanted them to fix things and I'm so glad that they are finally working on it. I really did wish it was fleshed out more. I wish that they had started talking to each other when Chase was in Cali but alright, better than nothing. It's funny because I totally understood both sides of their stories. They both felt abandoned by their best friend, both valid reasons. I was actually more inclined towards Jax until Chase explained his side. I was like wow, different perspective. And I think that's what I love about these books. It showcases just how different people view things. It also shows the devastation of relationships with lack of communication.
THAT EPILOGUE!!! OMG LILY!!!!! I'm so excited to read her story!!! And just going back to my problem with this book and Hollywood. While mental health isn't to be taken lightly at all, I felt like the addition of Hollywood made the trauma Blake went through felt ... not as significant as the other characters. And I know that's a totally shitty thing to say and I'm not saying that it diminishes the trauma Blake went through but idk. Yeah her father is pretty absent but she had her father. She wasn't abandoned at a gas station. She was well provided for and had luxuries that so many didn't and it just grates me. But again, this just all shows her age that she ignores the multitude of opportunities and blessings that she has that others don't have. She literally could have done anything with her life, the world was open for her to do something meaningful. She had all the money in the world to make a real change but what she chose felt very superficial. Sorry Blake
Like I said, not my type of book but I still liked what it's all about and I still bought the physical copy of the book lol. I missed Sugarlake though. This book didn't have that small town vibe that I wanted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
March 23, 2021
This story is so heartwarming and amazing. The author only gets better with each book. I've been dying for Jax's story since Beneath the Stars, and BThood did not disappoint. McIntire has a way of writing about real life issues such as addiction and ED with such accuracy and authentication, which I really appreciate.
We love a good Age Gap story and this house and BThood hits all the marks.
Plus that ending??? Hello paging Emily McIntire, paging Emily McIntire- I'm going to need to know what happens asap, please and thank you.
We love a good Age Gap story and this house and BThood hits all the marks.
Plus that ending??? Hello paging Emily McIntire, paging Emily McIntire- I'm going to need to know what happens asap, please and thank you.
January 27, 2024
4.5⭐️!!!
June 27, 2025
Jackson’s story
This one has been my fave so far, and wow it goes into deep dive of OCD, I don’t think I’ve read someone that captures the feel of it- as a survivor it hurt and helped and loved. Of course check your triggers.
This one has been my fave so far, and wow it goes into deep dive of OCD, I don’t think I’ve read someone that captures the feel of it- as a survivor it hurt and helped and loved. Of course check your triggers.
March 24, 2021
Gahhhh.
I knew I loved Jackson but now I KNOW.
Beneath the Hood has everything.
Love that isnt supposed to be, mental health themes, age gap.
The love story between Blakely and Jax was everything I hoped it would be. The angst was 100% there and you saw Blakely grow into herself which I felt was really important for this storyline.
Jax is carrying around alot of hurt that started in Beneath the Stars so it was really great to see him get past it and find happiness.
Also that epilogue. The final word. Goosebumps.
I knew I loved Jackson but now I KNOW.
Beneath the Hood has everything.
Love that isnt supposed to be, mental health themes, age gap.
The love story between Blakely and Jax was everything I hoped it would be. The angst was 100% there and you saw Blakely grow into herself which I felt was really important for this storyline.
Jax is carrying around alot of hurt that started in Beneath the Stars so it was really great to see him get past it and find happiness.
Also that epilogue. The final word. Goosebumps.
August 11, 2021
TW: ED, OCD, Panic Attacks
This book was difficult for me to read as I can sympathize with Blakely’s disorder. Very rarely do I think mental health is written correctly and in this case, I think the author nailed it. All of Blakely’s issues with counting calories, panic over food, obsessive weight control, it all felt super accurate to what I have experienced. I could tell the author did her research and really cared about presenting things in a realistic way.
Jackson and Blakely’s love story was sweet, innocent and covered in all of the sugarlake goodness. I’m excited to finish this series with the cliffhanger ending
This book was difficult for me to read as I can sympathize with Blakely’s disorder. Very rarely do I think mental health is written correctly and in this case, I think the author nailed it. All of Blakely’s issues with counting calories, panic over food, obsessive weight control, it all felt super accurate to what I have experienced. I could tell the author did her research and really cared about presenting things in a realistic way.
Jackson and Blakely’s love story was sweet, innocent and covered in all of the sugarlake goodness. I’m excited to finish this series with the cliffhanger ending
April 7, 2021
4.5 stars!
Beneath the Stands is Emily’s third book, and I still can’t believe this author is so early into her writing career, from her stories and characters you would not know it at all. She brings out every emotion of each character so perfectly, that you experience them too. Jackson Rhoades has had a place in my heart ever since the first book in the Sugarlake series, and I knew it would have to be a special girl to win him over, but nothing could’ve prepared me for Blakely Donahue and their rocky road to love.
Jackson has fled his hometown of Sugarlake to go to LA after the girl he loved got back with her own true love. He’s chasing his late dad’s dream of having his restored classic cars in Hollywood films, and that’s all he’s there for, until he’s asked to keep an eye on his boss’ 19-year-old daughter, influencer, and socialite Blakely Donahue. Blakely lives her life in the limelight, every second of the day planned, but underneath she’s hanging by a thread, craving constant control and consistency, something she missed during her childhood. As Blakely gets closer to the edge, she realises only one person sees beneath her public mask, Jackson, the one person who she can lean on and be her real self. Jackson, whilst at the start annoyed to be babysitting a woman who’s much younger than him despite their attraction, he soon realises how important they’ve become to each other. But with so many factors against them, including their age gap, Blake’s dad, or their own issues, will they ever be able to make it?
I loved how Beneath the Hood was different to Emily’s other two books, but similar in some ways too, highlighting real life issues, but also how sometimes, you are your own worst enemy, and that the bumps in the road of a relationship can come from within, and not just external forces. Jackson and Blakely both had to face their own problems head on, and solo, before they could be ready for each other. They are both broken in their own way, but they are the only people they can be vulnerable with, and whilst it’s a slow burn, their relationship develops at the perfect pace, making their coupling so much sweeter when it finally happens. Jax and Blake had such a strong bond, they just got each other. Blakely could be real with Jax, and that scared her because he was the only one who looked deeper than the persona she put out to the world, and in return Blake let Jax be there when she fell, something she never let anyone else, which was ultimately their downfall.
Blakely’s self-esteem and confidence are broken, despite how much she’d like to show the world she is this beautifully put together untouchable woman. But Jackson exposes all the cracks in her armour, the things she wants to keep in the shadows he casts right into the light, meaning she can’t ignore them any longer, no matter how hard she tries. Her problems were clear from the start, and as Emily peeled back each layer of her character, you began to understand what made her the way she was, and it broke my heart. But her strength was something there all along, even when she thought she was weak, it just took a while for that strength to become enough for her to fight back.
Jackson was lost, running from his hometown, so used to feeling second best, as if he wasn’t a priority, and was desperate to find someone to love and who loved him. He was a hard character to read because even though you’d seen him in previous books, you barely scratched the surface of his character, and as you got to know the real Jax, you could see how much healing he still had to do from not only losing his dad so young, but the other people in his life who left by choice. He needed some semblance of closure from them before he could properly move on as well as the support of another person, who saw him for him and calmed the loneliness he felt. And that person was Blakely, and she let him be her pillar of strength in her times of need, and in return he was everything she needed, the perfect boyfriend, who she never had to be fake with, which was so swoon worthy at times!
These characters were in no ways perfect, they both had to work on themselves before they could be properly ready for each other in the ways they really needed. It’s proof sometimes you need to face your own demons before you are ready to open your heart properly to someone else. Emily writes this story in such a real way, I feel like these characters could jump out of the pages, which is the mark of a brilliant author. She speaks about sensitive subjects, such as mental health and loss in such an incredibly heartfelt and meaningful way, not overdramatised for the sake of the story, but exactly how it would be approached when discussing them with a loved one.
Beneath the Hood is another incredible instalment in the Sugarlake series, and to be honest one I didn’t know I needed, but I am so glad that Jackson got a story, and a happily ever after. After finishing book one, Beneath the Stars, I was desperate for Lily’s book, and knowing that it’s coming next means I am waiting on the edge of my seat for the answers to the questions I’ve had for months. Sugarlake feels more like home every time I revisit this group, but these characters are firmly cementing themselves in my heart!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. *
Beneath the Stands is Emily’s third book, and I still can’t believe this author is so early into her writing career, from her stories and characters you would not know it at all. She brings out every emotion of each character so perfectly, that you experience them too. Jackson Rhoades has had a place in my heart ever since the first book in the Sugarlake series, and I knew it would have to be a special girl to win him over, but nothing could’ve prepared me for Blakely Donahue and their rocky road to love.
Jackson has fled his hometown of Sugarlake to go to LA after the girl he loved got back with her own true love. He’s chasing his late dad’s dream of having his restored classic cars in Hollywood films, and that’s all he’s there for, until he’s asked to keep an eye on his boss’ 19-year-old daughter, influencer, and socialite Blakely Donahue. Blakely lives her life in the limelight, every second of the day planned, but underneath she’s hanging by a thread, craving constant control and consistency, something she missed during her childhood. As Blakely gets closer to the edge, she realises only one person sees beneath her public mask, Jackson, the one person who she can lean on and be her real self. Jackson, whilst at the start annoyed to be babysitting a woman who’s much younger than him despite their attraction, he soon realises how important they’ve become to each other. But with so many factors against them, including their age gap, Blake’s dad, or their own issues, will they ever be able to make it?
I loved how Beneath the Hood was different to Emily’s other two books, but similar in some ways too, highlighting real life issues, but also how sometimes, you are your own worst enemy, and that the bumps in the road of a relationship can come from within, and not just external forces. Jackson and Blakely both had to face their own problems head on, and solo, before they could be ready for each other. They are both broken in their own way, but they are the only people they can be vulnerable with, and whilst it’s a slow burn, their relationship develops at the perfect pace, making their coupling so much sweeter when it finally happens. Jax and Blake had such a strong bond, they just got each other. Blakely could be real with Jax, and that scared her because he was the only one who looked deeper than the persona she put out to the world, and in return Blake let Jax be there when she fell, something she never let anyone else, which was ultimately their downfall.
Blakely’s self-esteem and confidence are broken, despite how much she’d like to show the world she is this beautifully put together untouchable woman. But Jackson exposes all the cracks in her armour, the things she wants to keep in the shadows he casts right into the light, meaning she can’t ignore them any longer, no matter how hard she tries. Her problems were clear from the start, and as Emily peeled back each layer of her character, you began to understand what made her the way she was, and it broke my heart. But her strength was something there all along, even when she thought she was weak, it just took a while for that strength to become enough for her to fight back.
Jackson was lost, running from his hometown, so used to feeling second best, as if he wasn’t a priority, and was desperate to find someone to love and who loved him. He was a hard character to read because even though you’d seen him in previous books, you barely scratched the surface of his character, and as you got to know the real Jax, you could see how much healing he still had to do from not only losing his dad so young, but the other people in his life who left by choice. He needed some semblance of closure from them before he could properly move on as well as the support of another person, who saw him for him and calmed the loneliness he felt. And that person was Blakely, and she let him be her pillar of strength in her times of need, and in return he was everything she needed, the perfect boyfriend, who she never had to be fake with, which was so swoon worthy at times!
These characters were in no ways perfect, they both had to work on themselves before they could be properly ready for each other in the ways they really needed. It’s proof sometimes you need to face your own demons before you are ready to open your heart properly to someone else. Emily writes this story in such a real way, I feel like these characters could jump out of the pages, which is the mark of a brilliant author. She speaks about sensitive subjects, such as mental health and loss in such an incredibly heartfelt and meaningful way, not overdramatised for the sake of the story, but exactly how it would be approached when discussing them with a loved one.
Beneath the Hood is another incredible instalment in the Sugarlake series, and to be honest one I didn’t know I needed, but I am so glad that Jackson got a story, and a happily ever after. After finishing book one, Beneath the Stars, I was desperate for Lily’s book, and knowing that it’s coming next means I am waiting on the edge of my seat for the answers to the questions I’ve had for months. Sugarlake feels more like home every time I revisit this group, but these characters are firmly cementing themselves in my heart!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. *
gave-up-on
December 22, 2025DNF. MMC is in love with another woman, and has been in love with her for like 10 years (but has been friend zoned). Not my idea of a romance book lol.
March 31, 2021
The readers have been asking for a Jax book since they fell in love with him in Beneath The Stars . I know the author , Emily McIntire felt the pressure and let me tell you - she did not disappoint.
She had my attention from the dedication page. It was one of those books that you want to read in one sitting but at the same time want to stretch it out for as long as you can cause you don’t want it to end.
Seriously , if you haven’t read any of these books , you should definitely start.
She had my attention from the dedication page. It was one of those books that you want to read in one sitting but at the same time want to stretch it out for as long as you can cause you don’t want it to end.
Seriously , if you haven’t read any of these books , you should definitely start.
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