This irresistible adult debut from beloved YA author Jennifer Dugan is a queer romcom for fans of Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Written in the Stars, in which a woman gives a drunken bathroom pep talk to a hot stranger, only to find out it’s the bride-to-be she has convinced to leave her fiancé the night before the wedding.
The gym is Lizzie’s life—it’s her passion, her job, and the only place that’s ever felt like home. Unfortunately, her bosses consider her a glorified check-in girl at best, and the gym punching bag at worst.
When their son, Lizzie’s best friend James, begs her to be his plus one at his perfect sister Cara’s wedding, things go wrong immediately, culminating in Lizzie giving a drunken pep talk to a hot stranger in the women’s bathroom—except that stranger is actually the bride-to-be, and Lizzie has accidentally convinced her to ditch her groom.
Now, newly directionless Cara is on a quest to find herself, and Lizzie—desperate to make sure her bosses never find out her role in this disaster—gets strong-armed by James into “entertaining” her. Cara doesn’t have to know it’s a setup; it’ll just be a quick fling before she sobers up and goes back to her real life. After all, how could someone like Cara fall for someone like Lizzie, with no career and no future?
But the more Lizzie gets to know Cara, the more she likes her, and the more is on the line if any of her rapidly multiplying secrets get out. Because now it’s not just Lizzie’s job and entire future on the line, but also the girl of her dreams.
Jennifer Dugan is known for her YA titles and graphic novels. Hot Dog Girl was one of the many YA books I have read over the years so I was interested in how different (or not so different) Jennifer's writing would be with a different audience. Spoiler alert: If you liked Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Written in the Stars, this book is for you.
The gym is Lizzie’s life—it’s her passion, her job, and the only place that’s ever felt like home. Unfortunately, her bosses consider her a glorified check-in girl at best, and the gym punching bag at worst.
When their son, Lizzie’s best friend James, begs her to be his plus one at his perfect sister Cara’s wedding, things go wrong immediately, culminating in Lizzie giving a drunken pep talk to a hot stranger in the women’s bathroom—except that stranger is actually the bride-to-be, and Lizzie has accidentally convinced her to ditch her groom.
Now, newly directionless Cara is on a quest to find herself, and Lizzie—desperate to make sure her bosses never find out her role in this disaster—gets strong-armed by James into “entertaining” her. Cara doesn’t have to know it’s a setup; it’ll just be a quick fling before she sobers up and goes back to her real life. After all, how could someone like Cara fall for someone like Lizzie, with no career and no future?
But the more Lizzie gets to know Cara, the more she likes her, and the more is on the line if any of her rapidly multiplying secrets get out. Because now it’s not just Lizzie’s job and entire future on the line, but also the girl of her dreams.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy from Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, via NetGalley. The following thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Spoilers below. Read at your own risk.
Jennifer Dugan is known for her YA titles and graphic novels. Hot Dog Girl was one of the many YA books I have read over the years so I was interested in how different (or not so different) Jennifer's writing would be with a different audience. Spoiler alert: If you liked Delilah Green Doesn’t Care and Written in the Stars, this book is for you.
Lizzie, our leading lady, works at a gym run by her best friend's parents (one of many spoiler alerts: they are the worst). Lizzie is a gym rat (said with affection) and dreams of someday owning and running her own gym. While the gym may be her home away from home, it's not a supportive environment. Her bosses are emotionally abusive and classist, and Lizzie's self-confidence takes hit after hit. One of the only silver linings was her bestie, James, her bosses' son. The story gets rolling with James asking Lizzie to be his plus one to his sister Cara's wedding. After consuming an unrecommended amount of alcohol, Lizzie has a drunken pep talk with a woman in the bathroom. Turns out, it was the bride and said bride bounces from the wedding. Cara, ex-bride, is determined to find herself and James assigns Lizzie to keep watch, but also "guide" her around. As Lizzie and Cara get to know each other, things get a little heated...and messy. I'm talking about rom-com level messy. There's lots of emotional trauma and drama to go around. Lizzie and Cara were relatable in different ways. Lizzie's relationship with her mother was hard to read about. She deserves better!
4 stars
About the Author
Credit: Amber Hooper Photography
Jennifer Dugan is an avid YA and comic writer that strives to create the stories that she wishes she had growing up. Her debut novel Hot Dog Girl was released April 30, 2019 from Penguin/Putnam. She is also the author of Verona Comics and the forthcoming novel Some Girls Do and graphic novel Coven.
Jennifer Dugan is represented by Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties, with film rights being handled by Mary Pender-Coplan at United Talent Agency.
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