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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Suicide attempt
Dom and Lucky are very complex characters, who have to deal with their mental demons and social pressure. They have to learn to navigate their attraction while Dom struggles to stay in the closet. Their relationship thus is complicated, hidden, at times heartbreaking. But both Dom and Lucky are lovely characters. I appreciated that Dom did not force his wealth on Lucky and allowed his lover to find his professional path.
The book finishes with a quite satisfying HFN and I can’t wait to read more about these two men in the next books of this series.
The book finishes with a quite satisfying HFN and I can’t wait to read more about these two men in the next books of this series.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
READ: Jan 2023
FORMAT: Audio
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance set in London, UK, we follow Dom, a repressed and heavily closeted football star, and Lucky, a man of no fixed address who’s doing what he can to survive and do better for himself. The two meet up over an agreement on Grindr to exchange sexual favours for cash. After their brief encounter, neither man can get the other out of their mind, and it isn’t long before they begin to ask for more from each other.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 3.25 / 5⭐
I had a hard time getting into the first half of this one, but it grew on me towards the second half. As a whole, it didn’t stand out to me in any meaningful ways, but it was interesting enough to keep my attention throughout, and to hope for each of the MC’s to come out better people.
Dom is in a position where he believes being outed is a sure-bet to ending his career. He is usually able to repress his desires enough to go long periods without fulfilling them, but the isolation weighs heavily on him and makes his agent’s job more difficult. Lucky is struggling with income and reliable shelter. He is not above earning a quick buck off of a stranger to help get him back up on his feet, and he is actively working towards find employment and a roof over his head.
Together, I’m not completely sold on their chemistry beyond their attraction to one another. I always like to ask myself what each character brings to balance the other one out. Lucky brings Dom companionship and the opportunity to feel like his authentic self, but I’m having a harder time reflecting on what it is that Dom has to offer beyond a couple hundred bucks, food, a hotel bed and bath, and a good lay. I’d like to say he’s supportive of Lucky’s efforts to make a better life for himself, but Dom is just as in the dark about Lucky’s situation as Lucky is of Dom’s.
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 3.5 / 5⭐
This is my first time reading anything written by Garrett Leigh. It’s not a bad first impression, and I’ll likely visit other works. I’m certainly interested in Isha’s story, so I should at least revisit this series at some point.
I like an author who dares to have their characters Do the Bad Thing. Sleep with the rebound. Backslide on the addiction. Fall into temptation. Get arrested. People aren’t going to be perfect and make the best decisions all the time. Most crises aren’t magically diffused in the nick of time. I felt like the later events in this book were written realistically, and it was refreshing.
This was also my first introduction to audiobook narrator Shaun Grindell. I don’t have any complaints with his performance or his voices. I did need to slow down my typical listening speed because his cadence wasn’t registering completely with my brain, but I wouldn’t have had that problem if I were using headphones.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 3.5 / 5⭐
This story comes with a dose of gritty realism. The only detail reaching towards fantasy is the whole “rich athlete finds love with a penniless street rat” trope. If you don’t mind your romances coming to you from the other side of the tracks, where sex and drugs and violence aren’t swept under the rug and hidden away from view, then you’ll be alright reading through this one.
This book has representation for gay and pan sexualities. A number of people with European backgrounds are portrayed, and at least one character is described as being black.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Vomit
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt
In brief: Dom is a closeted premiership footballer who is meeting what he thinks is a one night hookup. This is Lucky's first time offering sex for cash, and he meets Dom not realising who he is. There's an instant deeper connection between them which leads to both their lives changing.
Gah, where do I start with Lucky and Dom. I read this as part of the box set with the sequels but I think Lucky and Dom are my favourites. Lucky is really anything but that, he's had tough times and struggles to make ends meet but never asks for help or pity. Dom doesn't want for anything financially but his life is so lonely until he meets Lucky and two lost souls come together and it's lovely. It's such a slow burn, both slowly opening up to each other and the possibilities of a life together if they can only take it.
As always with Garrett there's some angst, and more than a few obstacles in their path but I loved Lucky and Dom's story and when they got their HEA, nobody was happier than me.
Gah, where do I start with Lucky and Dom. I read this as part of the box set with the sequels but I think Lucky and Dom are my favourites. Lucky is really anything but that, he's had tough times and struggles to make ends meet but never asks for help or pity. Dom doesn't want for anything financially but his life is so lonely until he meets Lucky and two lost souls come together and it's lovely. It's such a slow burn, both slowly opening up to each other and the possibilities of a life together if they can only take it.
As always with Garrett there's some angst, and more than a few obstacles in their path but I loved Lucky and Dom's story and when they got their HEA, nobody was happier than me.
A book from Garrett Leigh is guaranteed to be hard reading full of strong emotion, desperate situations and men fully deserving of love.
This book follows the story of Dom, a closeted Premiership footballer, and Lucky, a homeless occasional drug user down on his luck. Their meeting through Grindr proves the catalyst in their lives as both find in the other what they've missed from all of their past interactions with others.
It's hard reading about Lucky and what he goes through on a daily basis as well as how he's had to survive these past few years, on the streets and staying at his best friend's whenever possible. Completely opposite but just as hard a struggle is how Dom is not living, just surviving alone too scared to connect to anyone. It's heartbreaking to read but the possibility of what they can create together pulls you along on their story even when both men pull back for their own safety, you're rooting for them to pull through and be strong enough to take the necessary steps.
Garrett is is one of the best at giving us such strong characters that have survived such hardships. The world that is built seems so real and I love that it's in my home country with slang terms I fully know about! We have some great secondary characters, offering great support especially Lucky's best friend Jamilla. With Dom being so distrustful he doesn't have anyone close but there are people floating in his world that show they care in unobvious ways. It's so easy to fall into this story and lose yourself until you come out at the end, fully wrung through with you emotions having been on a roller-coaster and every word is worth it for the journey that you go on with these men.
Highly recommend this book and eagerly awaiting the next!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
This book follows the story of Dom, a closeted Premiership footballer, and Lucky, a homeless occasional drug user down on his luck. Their meeting through Grindr proves the catalyst in their lives as both find in the other what they've missed from all of their past interactions with others.
It's hard reading about Lucky and what he goes through on a daily basis as well as how he's had to survive these past few years, on the streets and staying at his best friend's whenever possible. Completely opposite but just as hard a struggle is how Dom is not living, just surviving alone too scared to connect to anyone. It's heartbreaking to read but the possibility of what they can create together pulls you along on their story even when both men pull back for their own safety, you're rooting for them to pull through and be strong enough to take the necessary steps.
Garrett is is one of the best at giving us such strong characters that have survived such hardships. The world that is built seems so real and I love that it's in my home country with slang terms I fully know about! We have some great secondary characters, offering great support especially Lucky's best friend Jamilla. With Dom being so distrustful he doesn't have anyone close but there are people floating in his world that show they care in unobvious ways. It's so easy to fall into this story and lose yourself until you come out at the end, fully wrung through with you emotions having been on a roller-coaster and every word is worth it for the journey that you go on with these men.
Highly recommend this book and eagerly awaiting the next!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
English mm hurt/comfort romance between a closeted football (soccer) star and struggling, semi-homeless auto mechanic who meet through a Grindr blowjob for pay. I enjoyed the 2nd half much more than the 1st.
I’m not a fan of insta lust or insta love and I really had trouble buying the initial connection between the h/h. But once they started developing more of a connection, I started to care what happened between them.
I’m not a fan of insta lust or insta love and I really had trouble buying the initial connection between the h/h. But once they started developing more of a connection, I started to care what happened between them.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Garrett Leigh has a way of pulling me in, and getting me attached to characters even if I relate to them zero percent. I couldn't be farther away from both of these characters, and yet I absolutely loved them both and loved this story. Everything about it was just so honest. They both struggled in some very dark ways, but they figured out how to get better and be happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content