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Hot and Bothered Reviews!
From BUST Magazine
"The newly divorced narrator in Hot and Bothered is busy getting acquainted with the rhythms of her new life: raising two kids, dealing with her over-the-top family, and looking for love. Though fictional, the book portrays single-mom dilemmas, like being financially beholden and balancing romance and parenting, in a way that feels real. Downey lets her narrator make mistakes, such as tossing her cell phone in the garbage and trekking to Alaska to get laid--only to discover that her wannabe boyfriend offers very little in return. Her relationship with her kids (her daughter looks at her with "I'll-get-you- back-rotten-mommy-eyes") is turbulent but honest, and their adjustment to her dating patterns is an integral part of the book. She's forced to learn about who shis is without a husband to hide behind. Making peace with her past, while wearing hot pink clogs and maintaining a steadfast sense of humor, is what her journey's all about. " Rachel Kramer Bussel
From Booklist
The chirpy heroine in Downey's debut is surprised to find herself at a crossroads when, at age 39, her husband ("Ex-Rat") leaves her with two children and an identity crisis, presumably to join Sex Addicts Anonymous and gallivant around with a new girlfriend. Saddled with a sassy best friend, a flaky mother, and a gigantic crush on a charming professor ("Perfect Guy"), she thinks that it's a miracle when she finds time for herself. She tries meditation, she tries a part-time job, she even tries shopping for sexy lingerie, all while parenting and hosting holiday dinners. Told in flashes, Bridget Jones-style, the short, page-length snippets, with titles like "A Manic Moment" and "Cheese Danish," give the sense that the author, like her main character, is always on the run. Still, Downey pulls off the fast pace, and readers will root for this single mom to find her prince, however unconventional the pursuit may be. Will she end up with Perfect Guy? Ex-Rat? Rugged Alaskan Man? Now that she is thriving, who cares? Delightful. Emily Cook (Copyright, American Library Association. All rights reserved)
From The Library Journal
"Meek and passive, this book's unnamed-until-the-last-minute thirty something narrator juggles her acidic ex-husband, recalcitrant children, meddling maternal realtives, tough best friend, and dueling paramours. It's no wonder, then, that she doesn't feel like she fits into her own house, her own family, or her own skin-until she decides to take charge of her life. When an unexpected detour in Cape Cod puts her resolve to the test, this newly independent woman finds out if she's got the mettle to stick to the changes she has made in her life. Downey, a regular contributor to Hip Mama and Vermont Woman Magazines, has penned a debut novel full of wit, humor, and offbeat characters. Her journal-style prose offers readers an immediate intimacy with the narrator's life and sharp-edge personality, at some expense to the development of the other characters. No matter, Downey delivers with a well-worth-it conclusion, the strongest part of this unconventional mom lit that dares to let it all hang out. Recommended for larger public libraries.--Amy Brozio-Andrews, Albany P.L., NY.
From Body & Soul Magazine (from the publishers of Martha Stewart Living)
"Chick lit grows up, gets married, and then gets divorced in Hot and Bothered (Algonquin Books), the debut novel from Hip Mama contributor Annie Downey. Like Bridget Jones, our heroine keeps a diary full of witty, self deprecating comments on her daily comedies and tradegies. Unlike Bridget, however, she is a single mom trying to juggle a philandering ex-husband, an Alaskan mountain man, and a single-dad university professor she calls "Perfect Guy." Throw in a man-crazy friend, a self-centered macrobiotic mother, a gay father with a fear of flying, and other eccentric characters, and this romp through the latte-sipping streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts, turns into an entertaining, if tidy, tale of love conquers all. A guilty pleasure, predictable but fun."