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4.33 AVERAGE
4.33 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
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
Reread July 2024: still the best Elite 8 book. So absolutely delightfully sweet and hot at the same time.
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Malibu is one of the sweetest, most wholesome books I've read which feels kind of weird to say about a book in a series about sex workers. On top of that, it's super hot, funny, and incredibly well written. And the two main characters Mal and Henrik? Yeah, I'm fully in love with them!
This book blew me away, it was even better than I had hoped and also very different to what I expected. It's so fun when you think you have a beloved genre or trope figured out and then you read a book that doesn't follow the formula as closely. Malibu felt refreshing and unexpected in many ways, including how it dealt with power imbalances (sex worker/client, age gap, socioeconomic differences) and I absolutely loved it.
The way Mal and Henrik navigate their relationship is everything! They both start off having misconceptions about each other but they develop a very natural friendship and relationship. These characters have walls up that've been built from years of pain, and to see them both slowly start to lower them and let the other in, is so satisfying and wonderful.
I wouldn't call it a slow burn but I also wouldn't not call it that? It's such a beautiful and slow relationship progression that had me grinning and making dumb faces at my kindle because I was so gone for them š„°
There are a lot of very intimate and sensual scenes that are ridiculously hot though there aren't that many actual bedroom scenes. Their chemistry and connection really is everything though of course these two idiots (affectionate) both question whether this whole thing is real or just a business arrangement.
There's great mental health and disability rep in this book, and also the cutest kittens, and the most annoyingly supportive friends.
I really loved this book, and my heart feels so full just thinking about it ā¤ļø
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Malibu is one of the sweetest, most wholesome books I've read which feels kind of weird to say about a book in a series about sex workers. On top of that, it's super hot, funny, and incredibly well written. And the two main characters Mal and Henrik? Yeah, I'm fully in love with them!
This book blew me away, it was even better than I had hoped and also very different to what I expected. It's so fun when you think you have a beloved genre or trope figured out and then you read a book that doesn't follow the formula as closely. Malibu felt refreshing and unexpected in many ways, including how it dealt with power imbalances (sex worker/client, age gap, socioeconomic differences) and I absolutely loved it.
The way Mal and Henrik navigate their relationship is everything! They both start off having misconceptions about each other but they develop a very natural friendship and relationship. These characters have walls up that've been built from years of pain, and to see them both slowly start to lower them and let the other in, is so satisfying and wonderful.
I wouldn't call it a slow burn but I also wouldn't not call it that? It's such a beautiful and slow relationship progression that had me grinning and making dumb faces at my kindle because I was so gone for them š„°
There are a lot of very intimate and sensual scenes that are ridiculously hot though there aren't that many actual bedroom scenes. Their chemistry and connection really is everything though of course these two idiots (affectionate) both question whether this whole thing is real or just a business arrangement.
There's great mental health and disability rep in this book, and also the cutest kittens, and the most annoyingly supportive friends.
I really loved this book, and my heart feels so full just thinking about it ā¤ļø
emotional
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
The evolution of Hen and Malibu in this book is amazing. Mal needs money so he can pay for his moms medical bills, that leaves him doing things he wouldn't normally do for money. He gets an opportunity to earn half a mil for 6 months, the catch is he has to stop all his other work(there's an exclusivity clause) and move in with a man he just met. Malibu never expected hen and how much he cared for him and Mal never thought he would care for hen. Hen expected another boy who would be kicked out in a month flat....
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a very emotional book that while it does touch on some very tough topics and describes some of Malibu's heartbreaking history, didn't feel too overwrought to me. But I will caution that those content warnings are no joke.
I pretty much devoured this. Despite the triggers mentioned above, it was really sweet. For context: Mal has panic disorder with multiple on page panic attacks. His tragic backstory (he was abducted and taken to a conversion 'therapy' camp) is described in some detail, and he is later diagnosed with PTSD. Henrik is blind, but it was a gradual loss of sight.
I definitely teared up a few times reading this, but it isn't maudlin. Malibu has been working three jobs to try and pay for his mother's care now that she has dementia and can't live alone. One of those jobs is as an escort and he is hired by Henrik, who is a millionaire entrepreneur and investor who likes to have a live-in companion for sex and someone to attend events, but has never felt the need to have an actual relationship with any of them or seek one out any other way.
Mal is suddenly given lots of free time to figure out what he truly wants, and enough money to not obsess about his dwindling bank account, which causes a different set of anxieties for him. But he does return to therapy and gets back on the medications he had to discontinue because he couldn't afford them and his mother's care.
What this has in common with the first book is an artifice laid over the relationship that makes it difficult for either love interest to know for sure if what they're feeling is real or if the other MC actually cares for them or if it's just an act or for a paycheck. The ultimate conflict is set up early on and does hang over the book as an inevitability, but I appreciated that the third act break was dealt with in a interesting way.
Mal thinks Henrik knows his whole past; he was honest in his escort profile, but Henrik didn't bother to read it. So, he's said some offhand things about his "job" that Henrik is a little confused by, but doesn't really register that it's referring to being a porn star. When he finds out, he has a bit of a wobble in front of his PA and Mal walks in during him shouting, then leaves.
However, that affords Henrik the opportunity to then provide a top tier public groveling scene in front of all of Mal's friends and coworkers. Which I really enjoyed and found very satisfying. The whole book was wonderfully satisfying and I definitely recommend. Will be reading more from this author, for sure!
I pretty much devoured this. Despite the triggers mentioned above, it was really sweet. For context: Mal has panic disorder with multiple on page panic attacks. His tragic backstory (he was abducted and taken to a conversion 'therapy' camp) is described in some detail, and he is later diagnosed with PTSD. Henrik is blind, but it was a gradual loss of sight.
I definitely teared up a few times reading this, but it isn't maudlin. Malibu has been working three jobs to try and pay for his mother's care now that she has dementia and can't live alone. One of those jobs is as an escort and he is hired by Henrik, who is a millionaire entrepreneur and investor who likes to have a live-in companion for sex and someone to attend events, but has never felt the need to have an actual relationship with any of them or seek one out any other way.
Mal is suddenly given lots of free time to figure out what he truly wants, and enough money to not obsess about his dwindling bank account, which causes a different set of anxieties for him. But he does return to therapy and gets back on the medications he had to discontinue because he couldn't afford them and his mother's care.
What this has in common with the first book is an artifice laid over the relationship that makes it difficult for either love interest to know for sure if what they're feeling is real or if the other MC actually cares for them or if it's just an act or for a paycheck. The ultimate conflict is set up early on and does hang over the book as an inevitability, but I appreciated that the third act break was dealt with in a interesting way.
However, that affords Henrik the opportunity to then provide a top tier public groveling scene in front of all of Mal's friends and coworkers. Which I really enjoyed and found very satisfying.
Content Warnings
Malibu was forcibly taken to a conversion camp when he was a teenager and has PTSD. He is not taking meds when we meet him bc all his money goes to keep the mother who put him in the camp at a facility for her Alzheimer's. Henrik is blind; it was a gradual decline in sight, and has trust issues.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
Mal and Hen š I just adored this book so much. Fake relationships and forced proximity are two of my favorite tropes and this book fits with that theme perfectly. Seeing Mal and Hen try to deny their growing feelings for one another was adorable. I loved Henrikās tactile nature and how he couldnāt stop himself from always touching Mal. He was so supportive of Malās panic attacks and anxiety. Mal was just the sweetest guy and it was beautiful to see him find the love and acceptance he deserved. Plus the kittens! So sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
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
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated