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tofublock's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
iamsammie27's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
daydreamingreview's review against another edition
4.0
I want to start this off by saying that Tessa Bailey is a top 3 author of mine therefore I am always going to have a biased review so just know that. Anywho I loved this book. I have a huge thing for big burly men who feel like they are going to taint their significant other who is a sunshine, sweet bundle of joy and Blake + Autumn fit that description to a T! I loved them and their third act break up lowkey killed me because it hurt real bad to read! I loved that they were making each other better along the way. TB writes some of the funniest characters in my opinion and yes Autumn wanted to be a comedian but like even on her own I found that girl to be hilarious. Their banter was also great, overall I really enjoyed this read. Just be knowledgeable that there is CNC in this book, it might not be something you can handle/prefer to read and so as always make sure you look up your content warnings! TB continues to dish out great reads!
scootie's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
overtherainbow031's review
5.0
"Other people praised its architecture, its give no fucks attitude, its ‘energy’, whatever the hell that meant, but for Autumn Reynolds, the Big Apple was enemy territory and she’d been air-dropped into it without any reconnaissance." - This is just the tipping point for the humor in this story!
Autumn and Blake were just so captivating and you just felt the need to know them and squish them together!
"“Although,” she told the pigeons as she fastened the hoops on her purple plastic earrings. “You’d have to have a death wish to try and fight Blake. He’s basically a sentient brick wall.”" - This really did describe Blake in the beginning. He was very stoic and off-putting. But you keep reading and get to know more about him and of him and you just steadily fall more and more in love with the PMB.
Can I just say that there were times I was blushing and having to take a cool drink to try and simmer down because these women know how to drag you into a scene and make you feel it.
"Ian being a wishy-washy buttplug." This sums up my thoughts on her ex, Ian, and his behavior!
You get to the end of this story begging for it to not be over and then it is and you read this and your icy, black hole, heart just pulls a Grinch and grows 3 sizes.
"“Try frantic. I thought I’d lost the girl of my dreams. I thought I’d—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Of course I love you, I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You made me want to be in the sun again. You made me want to be the one who…gave you the sun.”"
Autumn and Blake were just so captivating and you just felt the need to know them and squish them together!
"“Although,” she told the pigeons as she fastened the hoops on her purple plastic earrings. “You’d have to have a death wish to try and fight Blake. He’s basically a sentient brick wall.”" - This really did describe Blake in the beginning. He was very stoic and off-putting. But you keep reading and get to know more about him and of him and you just steadily fall more and more in love with the PMB.
Can I just say that there were times I was blushing and having to take a cool drink to try and simmer down because these women know how to drag you into a scene and make you feel it.
Spoiler
"He tugged the front of it down, exposing her breasts, and Autumn bit back a moan. The scraping fabric and cool air on her nipples was making her whole body throb. They’d barely done anything, anything, and she was more turned on than she’d ever been in her life.""Ian being a wishy-washy buttplug." This sums up my thoughts on her ex, Ian, and his behavior!
You get to the end of this story begging for it to not be over and then it is and you read this and your icy, black hole, heart just pulls a Grinch and grows 3 sizes.
"“Try frantic. I thought I’d lost the girl of my dreams. I thought I’d—” He broke off, shaking his head. “Of course I love you, I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. You made me want to be in the sun again. You made me want to be the one who…gave you the sun.”"
samsilvester's review
2.0
I really really wanted to like this as I love an unconventional hero (what, he's not classically good looking, ex-military, charming AF and ripped??).
I enjoyed Autumn's brash voice and uncompromising bad language and how starkly different this is to most US-focused tones and all-American heroines. The way they first connected over the sex comic she drew was fun and seemed like the star of something quirky and different (but this skill of hers was never seen again). I liked Blake's introverted nature and how he grew and changed when he felt loved and nurtured. I applaud the tackling of some potentially triggering kinks in a really mature way that is a great example of consensual non-consent (BUT I didn't spot a trigger warning, though I may have missed it). And just occasionally the book made me chuckle a little bit.
So why did I only give it two stars? Because I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters at all, they weren't engaging, they felt a bit whiny and self-absorbed and there just wasn't that connection that made it a must read. In fact, I found myself starting other books and almost didn't finish this one, something which is pretty much unheard of for me. Overall I was bored, and somewhat frustrated that the book blurb seemed to promise something that this was not.
I also found the Beauty and the Beast references off putting. Partly because it seems jarringly childish in a spicy story, but also, just because Blake is big, gloomy (I wouldn't describe him as grumpy, he's more shy) and a bit hairy, does that really justify calling him a Beast? That label felt 'othering' and is part of why I could never see him and Autumn as a valid, engaging couple. It's not about the term Beast per se, more that she had this offensive view of him even outside of their role play and games.
Overall I felt pretty 'meh' about the whole thing, but maybe because I had high expectations given the authors.
I enjoyed Autumn's brash voice and uncompromising bad language and how starkly different this is to most US-focused tones and all-American heroines. The way they first connected over the sex comic she drew was fun and seemed like the star of something quirky and different (but this skill of hers was never seen again). I liked Blake's introverted nature and how he grew and changed when he felt loved and nurtured. I applaud the tackling of some potentially triggering kinks in a really mature way that is a great example of consensual non-consent (BUT I didn't spot a trigger warning, though I may have missed it). And just occasionally the book made me chuckle a little bit.
So why did I only give it two stars? Because I just couldn't bring myself to care about the characters at all, they weren't engaging, they felt a bit whiny and self-absorbed and there just wasn't that connection that made it a must read. In fact, I found myself starting other books and almost didn't finish this one, something which is pretty much unheard of for me. Overall I was bored, and somewhat frustrated that the book blurb seemed to promise something that this was not.
I also found the Beauty and the Beast references off putting. Partly because it seems jarringly childish in a spicy story, but also, just because Blake is big, gloomy (I wouldn't describe him as grumpy, he's more shy) and a bit hairy, does that really justify calling him a Beast? That label felt 'othering' and is part of why I could never see him and Autumn as a valid, engaging couple. It's not about the term Beast per se, more that she had this offensive view of him even outside of their role play and games.
Overall I felt pretty 'meh' about the whole thing, but maybe because I had high expectations given the authors.
book_obsessed_girl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
4.25
littlestqueen's review against another edition
5.0
This book was hilariously perfect.
Not to mention sexy.
Not to mention sexy.
theruinedwriter's review
5.0
Damn. I really loved this book first of all the kinkiest book I’ve read ever. And sooo fucking cute and sad and just I’m in awe I loved this book so much. The link was interesting some people I know have this link so it isn’t super unrealistic but it’s fine I’m not going to link shame anyways Blake has my whole heart I’m so in love with him. Best Tessa Bailey book I’ve read ever!!! Recommend to everyone and their mom!!!!!