Definitely reads like a slow-burn introduction to a more meaty second novel (which is what it appears to be, which is why I'm being generous with the star rating because it was an enjoyable read despite me hitting the end like 'wait, that was IT???')

I enjoyed Arden's internal monologues and overthinking, he's a neurotic love-starved and touch-starved mess, and I really enjoy those ones as POV characters, obviously your mileage may vary.

Caspian is curious as the 'but we mustn't' dominant, and I do think he kind of belaboured the point a little bit too much at times. I kind of wanted Arden to make him get a kink-friendly therapist as a condition of the future of their relationship, lol. He's a billionaire, he can afford it! I liked that we did get to see moments of his vulnerability, and I like that the bits we see of his predatory sadism seem *real* and not a mask.

Their chemistry was lovely, and the tantalising hints of what's to come are promising, and their dialogue is great. I loved what we saw also of Arden's family, and less so of Caspian's (which feels like a thing Hall has done before, with 'rich man with asshole family vs. less rich man with too-honest eccentric family' in Boyfriend Material.)

I know this is meant to be a 50SOG parody or whatever, but I haven't read 50SOG and I don't think it matters. The Pretty Woman references were amusing to me, but idk how they'll go down with younger generations, but there's also a ton of literary references I didn't get so I'm not sure it matters much (even having done literature myself, I just didn't do *that* literature, lol). I like that Hall has an ability to put in lots of references across a lot of subjects without actually ever making you feel stupid if you don't get it.

Anyway, enjoyed this, looking forward to reading the second. ( )

This is the first book of a trilogy. The second one's out as I type, but this one ends... Not settled, but so satisfyingly, that I don't have to hurry into the next one. I can wallow a bit here, grinning and happy. Perfect for a romance if it must be more than one book.

Arden... God, I love the goofball SO much. I will absolutely finish this series. Heck yeah. ( )

I re-read this mostly because I want to continue with the series. I knew I liked Alexis Hall as a writer, but somehow I forgot how well his humor works for me.

This book is basically a funny, gay version of Fifty Shades with good writing, a less problematic approach to kink, and characters that have good and bad qualities, but assholery doesn't go uncontested. Also, nobody is inexplicably clumsy or overly dependent on biting their own lip.

The plot isn't the shining star of this book, but it delivers what you'd expect - it's funny, steamy, and oddly romantic. Arden is a good main character and the side characters are people in their own right.

Exactly the light and entertaining read I went in looking for. ( )

Better than I thought it would be ( )

An amazing book filled with complex characters brought to life by the unsurpassed narration of Joel Leslie!

One serious peeve with the audiobook production... DO NOT muffle the last words of the book with a seriously crappy and distracting music overlay. Just... DO NOT! ( )