Book Review - It's Getting Hot in Here by Jane Costello

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Title: It's Getting Hot in Here

Author: Jane Costello

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 18th July 2024

Rating: 5 Stars

HER HOT FLUSHES MUST BE THE PERI-MENOPAUSE. THEY SURELY COULDN'T BE ... LOVE?

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).

So when Lisa starts feeling overheated every time she clashes with Zach Russo, she convinces herself it will pass. Maybe her HRT just needs adjusting. Until, that is, she finds herself in a sexy - and seriously ill-advised - clinch with him. And then another . .

All of which leads to one question: these long-forgotten feelings couldn't be caused by something else entirely . . . could they?

Fun, frank and fabulous, Lisa Darling is the romantic comedy heroine we've ALL been waiting for!

I gasped and then jumped for joy when I discovered that there was after a long long wait, a brand new Jane Costello novel available. 

And having just devoured it I'm very happy to say she hasn't lost her touch, her writing is still as fabulous and enjoyable as I've always found it, and this is a book that had me giggling out loud from the end of the first chapter.  I also felt right at home within the pages of this book within the first few pages, which always helps my enjoyment. 

It's just brilliant, a look at motherhood, menopause, juggling work and family, friends, the insanity that is the PTA and well an incredibly good looking new colleague, who is only there for a short while, and those are just some of what is covered in this. 

Lisa Darling is a fabulous new character, she has regular to do lists, of which there are some items that literally never ever ever, leave it, seems slightly obsessed with socks (or at least there is far more mentions of socks than I can recall in other books), she has a million and one apps on her phone to in theory streamline and improve her life - if only there weren't constant notifications for them all and she is mother to Jacob and Leo. 

Leo is a typical teenage boy, and appears to be turning into an unrecognisable monster of a thing  by the day - so I suspect many parents of teenage boys will totally relate to this.  And Jacob is 10 years old and loves joining clubs, and seems to have new interests continually.  I loved Jacob! 

I loved Lisa's job working in a streaming service and coming up with new programme ideas, and her colleagues suggestions for shows at times bordered on the bizarre - so probably would be very watchable! 

She is a single mother who has totally sworn off men, so naturally she is attracted to her best friend and colleague's temporary replacement, although she is convinced it's due to HRT rather than lust! And I loved the interactions between her and Zach Russo. 

There is just so much going on this, with plenty of sub plots and action to keep you enthralled the entire time. 

It's a joyous romantic comedy, from one of my auto-read (without looking at the blurb) authors, and I just really hope we don't have so long to wait until her next book. I'd also love a sequel, as I was enjoying these characters so so much. 

Just brilliant, and relatable, and entertaining and many other superlatives! 

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.