Scan barcode
msjessc's review
5.0
I tried to quit this book I really did. About 30 pages in I realized this wasn't a trope I enjoyed. So I was just going to quit. I am the queen of quitting books, but maybe after the next chapter. Or perhaps when the story slowed. Trouble was it never did. The pace and writing are impeccable. Both Ellis and Luca are flawed and perfect and absolutely loveable characters. I never found a place I could quit, and then I didn't want to, and then somehow, I finished the whole book in one afternoon. Really, an absolutely delightful story.
jazgeox's review
5.0
1000/10
I forgot to review this book the first time I read it so I figured I’d do it now, I’ve loved every single book that I’ve read by S.E Harmon and this one is no different. Luca is an absolute sweetheart and I adore him so much, but Ellis, god, he has my whole heart and soul. That boy is so strong and thoughtful, I fell more in love with him as the book went on and I’m probably gonna spend a few weeks thinking about my sweet little angel like the delusion woman that I am
I forgot to review this book the first time I read it so I figured I’d do it now, I’ve loved every single book that I’ve read by S.E Harmon and this one is no different. Luca is an absolute sweetheart and I adore him so much, but Ellis, god, he has my whole heart and soul. That boy is so strong and thoughtful, I fell more in love with him as the book went on and I’m probably gonna spend a few weeks thinking about my sweet little angel like the delusion woman that I am
readbystace's review
emotional
funny
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? N/A
4.0
casadilla12's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-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
artareadsatnight's review
5.0
4,5 stars rounded up. This was good. Light in a meaningful way. Not too heavy but exploring heavy topics. Not a romcom, but funny at times. I actually laughed out loud a few times. It was clever and well written. Maybe it lacked some depth, so I can’t give it full 5 stars. But but no means was it shallow. A very decent, relatively light read.
ditten's review
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
3.75
This was a great book. Luca's a chef who's somewhat reluctantly had to take over his dad's restaurant, while Ellis is struggling to make ends meet and thus takes up escorting. Luca's one of Ellis' clients, and when Luca finds out Ellis has recently become homeless, he offers Ellis his guest room and a job at his restaurant.
haletostilinski1's review
5.0
⭐︎4.75 "I'm Addicted to Ellis D Too" Stars Rounded Up!⭐︎
Oh, I adored this.
It pulls you in right away with Ellis having a really, really hard go of things. He just got fired from his latest job - which didn't pay much to begin with - and his roommate and friend, Jamie, is a sex worker who is moving to Philly to be kind of a "kept boy" as it were for a john, who Ellis rightfully doesn't like.
The guy offered to take both of them, but for Ellis personally, he hates sex work. It's not for him. But he's done it in the past to survive, and he just might have to do it again...
When Jamie leaves, that means Ellis is out on the streets, as he can't afford the rent of the apartment Jamie is living in. He starts out in a motel, but when a john gets violent, he has to leave immediately in order to be safe.
It seems that things get worse from there for him. He ends up living in his car. He's officially homeless, and has to get by with washing in a gas station bathroom or getting a shower once a week at a bus shelter.
The one highlight of his life, is Luca, one of the very few johns Jamie left him with he actually likes. There's two others that are fine. But Luca isn't just fine. Quickly, Ellis begins to really like, and lets be real here, fall, for Luca.
Luca, in turn is getting heavily attached and falling for Ellis as well.
Luca is a 38 year old chef who has had a tough go of things lately. His beloved father, Stefano, recently died in a car crash.
What's worse, things are stressful for Luca as he tries to keep the restaurant afloat because of a mess his father left behind. Which include gambling debts to unsavory loan sharks which Luca has been paying off for the past 3 years.
And he's been keeping this particular part of the stressful pie to himself for the past 3 years on top of that. His friends and coworkers at the restaurant don't know. His family doesn't know. He's taking it all on by himself.
The one thing for himself he allows is paying for sex. Ever since his divorce from Colin, he isn't in the mood for having to make any connection and just wants sex for sex's sake. So he's been paying for it.
He had been a regular with Jamie, but with him gone, in steps Ellis. Who is nothing like Jamie, and that attracts Luca to him. Ellis is outspoken and upfront and he doesn't pretend just because it's his job. Luca likes that.
What starts out as sex quickly becomes more between the two. Luca doesn't know the full picture with Ellis' situation, but he knows he has a it rough, so he hires him on at the restaurant a few months into their arrangement.
Ellis, who has since lost his car since it was impounded, and recently got mugged - of all the money he'd been saving up to rent an apartment too - doesn't have much fight in him to say no.
Of course, Luca feels that continuing anything with Ellis would be taking advantage and that Ellis needs a friend more than some guy who wants to bone him - which, of course Luca does, but he's a good guy, and he doesn't want to take advantage.
Especially when it comes to light that Ellis isn't just struggling, he's homeless, and so Luca offers to have him stay at his place.
Ellis, who is as into Luca as Luca is into him, wants to be more. Ellis, for all that he's been through, is wonderfully open to more with Luca. He doesn't push at first, as he fears Luca doesn't want him anymore when Luca puts a stop to their sexual encounters.
But Luca still wants him, even more as time goes by and they get to know each other more. He just has some worries and hang ups they need to dive past. Like their age difference - about 14 years - and all he's doing for him and not wanting to take advantage, etc etc.
I liked that it wasn't Ellis who was the one holding them back. I feel like usually it would be, after all he's been through. But Ellis is a smitten kitten and wants to continue to be and he's determined to get his man.
And Luca, for all he's trying to put a stop to it, can't resist him for long, and it's wonderful.
I did give a tiny .25 off just because I wanted a little more on the steam end. What we got was great, but I wanted more. We got a great first time of Luca bottoming, but I wanted Ellis' first time bottoming too, which we didn't get. We just get a line close to the end with Luca being all "we like to switch it up from time to time, although I mostly bottom" and it's like...wait, when did you start switching it up? I wanted to see that *hmph*
The one scene we got of Ellis bottoming was good, although we didn't get to see the finish and it wasn't as detailed as I would have liked.
Just me being greedy, really, but I can't help it. Give me all the steam! Especially if they're verse, mmkay? I want to see both haha.
But anyway, I digress.
Aside from that very small niggle, I adored this, it is *definitely* worth a read.
I highly recommend! Two massive thumbs up from me!
Oh, I adored this.
It pulls you in right away with Ellis having a really, really hard go of things. He just got fired from his latest job - which didn't pay much to begin with - and his roommate and friend, Jamie, is a sex worker who is moving to Philly to be kind of a "kept boy" as it were for a john, who Ellis rightfully doesn't like.
The guy offered to take both of them, but for Ellis personally, he hates sex work. It's not for him. But he's done it in the past to survive, and he just might have to do it again...
When Jamie leaves, that means Ellis is out on the streets, as he can't afford the rent of the apartment Jamie is living in. He starts out in a motel, but when a john gets violent, he has to leave immediately in order to be safe.
It seems that things get worse from there for him. He ends up living in his car. He's officially homeless, and has to get by with washing in a gas station bathroom or getting a shower once a week at a bus shelter.
The one highlight of his life, is Luca, one of the very few johns Jamie left him with he actually likes. There's two others that are fine. But Luca isn't just fine. Quickly, Ellis begins to really like, and lets be real here, fall, for Luca.
Luca, in turn is getting heavily attached and falling for Ellis as well.
Luca is a 38 year old chef who has had a tough go of things lately. His beloved father, Stefano, recently died in a car crash.
What's worse, things are stressful for Luca as he tries to keep the restaurant afloat because of a mess his father left behind. Which include gambling debts to unsavory loan sharks which Luca has been paying off for the past 3 years.
And he's been keeping this particular part of the stressful pie to himself for the past 3 years on top of that. His friends and coworkers at the restaurant don't know. His family doesn't know. He's taking it all on by himself.
The one thing for himself he allows is paying for sex. Ever since his divorce from Colin, he isn't in the mood for having to make any connection and just wants sex for sex's sake. So he's been paying for it.
He had been a regular with Jamie, but with him gone, in steps Ellis. Who is nothing like Jamie, and that attracts Luca to him. Ellis is outspoken and upfront and he doesn't pretend just because it's his job. Luca likes that.
What starts out as sex quickly becomes more between the two. Luca doesn't know the full picture with Ellis' situation, but he knows he has a it rough, so he hires him on at the restaurant a few months into their arrangement.
Ellis, who has since lost his car since it was impounded, and recently got mugged - of all the money he'd been saving up to rent an apartment too - doesn't have much fight in him to say no.
Of course, Luca feels that continuing anything with Ellis would be taking advantage and that Ellis needs a friend more than some guy who wants to bone him - which, of course Luca does, but he's a good guy, and he doesn't want to take advantage.
Especially when it comes to light that Ellis isn't just struggling, he's homeless, and so Luca offers to have him stay at his place.
Ellis, who is as into Luca as Luca is into him, wants to be more. Ellis, for all that he's been through, is wonderfully open to more with Luca. He doesn't push at first, as he fears Luca doesn't want him anymore when Luca puts a stop to their sexual encounters.
But Luca still wants him, even more as time goes by and they get to know each other more. He just has some worries and hang ups they need to dive past. Like their age difference - about 14 years - and all he's doing for him and not wanting to take advantage, etc etc.
I liked that it wasn't Ellis who was the one holding them back. I feel like usually it would be, after all he's been through. But Ellis is a smitten kitten and wants to continue to be and he's determined to get his man.
And Luca, for all he's trying to put a stop to it, can't resist him for long, and it's wonderful.
I did give a tiny .25 off just because I wanted a little more on the steam end. What we got was great, but I wanted more. We got a great first time of Luca bottoming, but I wanted Ellis' first time bottoming too, which we didn't get. We just get a line close to the end with Luca being all "we like to switch it up from time to time, although I mostly bottom" and it's like...wait, when did you start switching it up? I wanted to see that *hmph*
The one scene we got of Ellis bottoming was good, although we didn't get to see the finish and it wasn't as detailed as I would have liked.
Just me being greedy, really, but I can't help it. Give me all the steam! Especially if they're verse, mmkay? I want to see both haha.
But anyway, I digress.
Aside from that very small niggle, I adored this, it is *definitely* worth a read.
I highly recommend! Two massive thumbs up from me!
endemictoearth's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
mr_emma's review
3.0
“I’d rather not have the neighbors see me chasing after him down the street like a crazy man.”
I liked this a lot. The humor was nice, not forced ever. Both characters had a hilariously, sometimes dark, humor. There were some unanswered plots or more like why was this even included and I would have like some more set up to what I imagine still be more books connected to this novel.
I liked this a lot. The humor was nice, not forced ever. Both characters had a hilariously, sometimes dark, humor. There were some unanswered plots or more like why was this even included and I would have like some more set up to what I imagine still be more books connected to this novel.