A Hot Girl Summer in London

Submitted: 16th July 2024

A Hot Girl Summer in London

This is the kind of energy we need from a book title! Sophie Gravia is having a hot girl summer in London and you are invited along for the ride!

Let’s go to London!!!!

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

Hot Girl Summer Sophie Gravia

I decided to set Hot Girl Summer in central London as I was keen to write about a familiar, elegant area to which the readers could relate. London is such a vast city. So, this allowed me to play around with the varied social class and acknowledge district differences. For instance, the main protagonist, Ava, splits up with her husband. She has gone from living upmarket in Kensington to now raising her daughter in a one-bedroom apartment in Croydon.

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

Sophie Gravia

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

Creating a divide in social class is an important story to tell. It makes the journey of a struggling single mother much more relatable for the readers and allows the character to grow when she overcomes these obstacles. London is a vibrant city with lots of nightlife. It has classy bars and fun places to write about. It enabled me to introduce many diverse characters from different backgrounds we wouldn’t usually see in a small town.

Inner Me! Travers Media Headquarters, Leicester Square

I wanted to tell this story to create a fun, inspiring book to help motivate women worldwide despite their current living situation. I, of course, wanted to write a romance book. However, instead of the classics, I put a twist in the tale. The main thing was to focus on the importance of your female companions and their significance in your life. In my previous novels, the male characters have played such a crucial role in the story. However, here, I felt strongly about focusing on the female characters and showcasing them all individually.

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

Cold harbour Lane – Tony’s Deli is here

This novel is a lovely balance between love, friendship, and, more importantly, realising your own self-worth and full potential in life. I came from an unprivileged background and was a teenage mum of two by age twenty. I fought hard to overcome years of financial restraint. If it weren’t for my female friendships, I would not have believed my life could have got any better. I wanted this book to show others in a fun way that they can do the same, and in years to come, I hope my two daughters read this and realise they don’t have to depend on a man for anything.

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

Sexy Fish, Mayfair

I visit London often, and the bustling streets, the noise and the chaos inspire me. I adored writing about high-end restaurants like Sexy Fish in Mayfair, then switching back to the greasy back street deli, creating a nice contrast between the characters. I also made two of the main female characters from Scotland and the other from Essex, showing the diversity of the multi-cultural a massive city like London has. In a way, they always felt like outsiders but stuck together to accomplish their dreams.

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

High Street Kensington

In particular, I loved writing about Kensington and spent a lot of time researching the more up-market end of the capital. I spent numerous hours exploring the property market and found inspiration in creating characters and their perfect homes from this.

Map of locations in Hot Girl Summer

I explored the varied ends of the poverty scale in London throughout the book, intertwining it depending on each character’s point of view. Another key topic is the importance of independence for women and the importance of discovering your passions and purpose in life by becoming financially independent from your partners. Explored sexuality with one of the characters questioning and battling with his sexual preferences throughout the story was also important to me.

And with that, we’re off back to Sexy Fish to have a girly natter. Enjoy your hot girl summer!