Scan barcode
shxrizxrd_'s review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
balletbookworm's review
5.0
Jenny Nordbak - of Wicked Wallflowers and Bonkers Romance podcasts fame, among others - tears it up in her debut novel. I loved it.
This was described as grumpy/sunshine where the grumpy is the FMC and the sunshine is the MMC, but I was like "uh, Elena is very practical bc this is her job and Alex is kind of a smarmy dick in this first meeting?" (he turns out not to be, luckily) The two of them get along REAL well, though, if you catch my meaning. Fabulous tension between them and while Elena would probably murder me for saying there was pining on both sides, despite the extremely sexy, five-chili-pepper sex scenes between the two characters there was DEFINITELY pining from both characters because the demarcation of "fake" relationship and "real" relationship got very murky quickly.
One of the absolute best books I've read with a dominatrix and the BDSM scene. Sometimes you read a book and it's like "oooh, a little D/s for spice haha" and that's...fine...but Elena's job as a dominatrix - and a very good one at that - is her profession and Norbak (who knows of what she writes) brings the reader into Elena's workspace and her headspace brilliantly. If you weren't very familiar with scenes or are curious how scenes work, how consent is negotiated, etc. this is a good book for showing how it works with out "explaining" in an infodump (it does help that Elena has to do this with various characters in the novel so it's a great way of getting that information into the book).
Content warnings: #metoo becomes a part of the book (which brings up an incident from Elena's earlier years working as a sub), as well as the treatment of sex workers and their depiction in the media
This was described as grumpy/sunshine where the grumpy is the FMC and the sunshine is the MMC, but I was like "uh, Elena is very practical bc this is her job and Alex is kind of a smarmy dick in this first meeting?" (he turns out not to be, luckily) The two of them get along REAL well, though, if you catch my meaning. Fabulous tension between them and while Elena would probably murder me for saying there was pining on both sides, despite the extremely sexy, five-chili-pepper sex scenes between the two characters there was DEFINITELY pining from both characters because the demarcation of "fake" relationship and "real" relationship got very murky quickly.
One of the absolute best books I've read with a dominatrix and the BDSM scene. Sometimes you read a book and it's like "oooh, a little D/s for spice haha" and that's...fine...but Elena's job as a dominatrix - and a very good one at that - is her profession and Norbak (who knows of what she writes) brings the reader into Elena's workspace and her headspace brilliantly. If you weren't very familiar with scenes or are curious how scenes work, how consent is negotiated, etc. this is a good book for showing how it works with out "explaining" in an infodump (it does help that Elena has to do this with various characters in the novel so it's a great way of getting that information into the book).
Content warnings: #metoo becomes a part of the book (which brings up an incident from Elena's earlier years working as a sub), as well as the treatment of sex workers and their depiction in the media
bandherbooks's review
4.0
Lady Elena is hired to both pretend to be super star and Hollywood golden boy Alex Chase's fake girlfriend and his coach ahead of the filming of a popular BDSM romance series turned movie. Alex might have the looks and the smolders, but Elena needs to teach him how to really be a leading man.
I very much enjoyed the positive depiction of sex work and BDSM, which did sometimes veer into explain-y territory but in the context of this story worked for me, since Elena is teaching Alex. I also looooved the edging in this book. Alex and Elena are dancing around each other, in a very steamy way, and with many rules, and wow that works for me. Elena's friends and family, both coworkers, her bridge club, and her chosen family, were also a wonderful cast of characters and I cannot wait to learn more about them.
The reveal of how slimy Alex's director was a timely and deftly handled plot point, CW for discussion of sexual harassment and assault.
What a debut!
Thank you to the author for the review copy; we are friendly on social media
I very much enjoyed the positive depiction of sex work and BDSM, which did sometimes veer into explain-y territory but in the context of this story worked for me, since Elena is teaching Alex. I also looooved the edging in this book. Alex and Elena are dancing around each other, in a very steamy way, and with many rules, and wow that works for me. Elena's friends and family, both coworkers, her bridge club, and her chosen family, were also a wonderful cast of characters and I cannot wait to learn more about them.
The reveal of how slimy Alex's director was a timely and deftly handled plot point, CW for discussion of sexual harassment and assault.
What a debut!
Thank you to the author for the review copy; we are friendly on social media
yourkindredreader's review against another edition
3.0
I like the characters, and while this is a fake dating trope, there's still a lot of subjects and complexity on the characters' traits that make this story engaging. I love the focus on consent and respect over a person's passion and kinks. I did wonder over the MMC's mother and the FMC by the end of the story. Did they get along? Anyway, looking forward to the next book!
(This gets a 3-stars because even though I did generally like it, I almost DNF this halfway through. The stars for me is my rating of how I'm likely to read it again.)
(This gets a 3-stars because even though I did generally like it, I almost DNF this halfway through. The stars for me is my rating of how I'm likely to read it again.)
difficultwomanreads's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
scribblinaway's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
theyreadromanceetc's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it, hoping to see more of the side characters in future books.
maureenlikethetango's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been in a reading slump for ages and this finally jolted me out of it. Jenny’s writing is vibrant and fun and grabs you by the throat and never lets go. Elena is fierce as hell, much like the author herself, and we could all use a bit more of her courage. And Alex is swoon!!! 5 stars for chemistry, plot, all of it.