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simplysifiso's review
dark
emotional
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
_isabel_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Well, excuse me while I cry my eyes out.
"Just Business" was gut-wrenching, intense and absolutely beautiful. Anna Zabo is slowly but surely becoming my go-to author when I want to read something deliciously kinky AND wonderfully angsty.
I loved and preferred "Takeover" a bit more, but I'm still very, very satisfied with this book.
I'm also quite surprised: I was expecting kink and romance and yes, angst too, but not the sheer intensity of this book. Eli and Justin were both fabulous (and fabulously real and complex and flawed) leads, but they're both very, very intense. And both of them are also scarred and vulnerable and insecure, and they fit together so well.
Witnessing their journey was difficult, but an absolute joy at the same time, and I'm so very proud of them both. Eli in particular, I fell for him from the start and I simultaneously wanted to blush from the stuff the says and does and jump into the book to keep him safe.
Justin, on the other hand, was a bit more difficult to love, unconditionally at least: he's been through hell though, and I appreciated how much his past trauma must have scarred him and changed him. I ended up loving him in the end.
Sam's presence was very, very welcome (I LOVE HIM SO MUCH UGH: is it too soon to re-read "Takeover"?), and now I'm so looking forward to reading the next book. I'm not sure what I should expect, but knowing Anna Zabo (and their talent!), I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
"Just Business" was gut-wrenching, intense and absolutely beautiful. Anna Zabo is slowly but surely becoming my go-to author when I want to read something deliciously kinky AND wonderfully angsty.
I loved and preferred "Takeover" a bit more, but I'm still very, very satisfied with this book.
I'm also quite surprised: I was expecting kink and romance and yes, angst too, but not the sheer intensity of this book. Eli and Justin were both fabulous (and fabulously real and complex and flawed) leads, but they're both very, very intense. And both of them are also scarred and vulnerable and insecure, and they fit together so well.
Witnessing their journey was difficult, but an absolute joy at the same time, and I'm so very proud of them both. Eli in particular, I fell for him from the start and I simultaneously wanted to blush from the stuff the says and does and jump into the book to keep him safe.
Justin, on the other hand, was a bit more difficult to love, unconditionally at least: he's been through hell though, and I appreciated how much his past trauma must have scarred him and changed him. I ended up loving him in the end.
Sam's presence was very, very welcome (I LOVE HIM SO MUCH UGH: is it too soon to re-read "Takeover"?), and now I'm so looking forward to reading the next book. I'm not sure what I should expect, but knowing Anna Zabo (and their talent!), I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
millah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this one, especially the writing style with the tempting mix of emotion, tension and humour. The love story pulled me in from the start and the characters and their interaction were engaging. Justin and Eli had huge traumas in their past and I was curious about how that would influence their story. I liked how the tension and attraction built between them. It was intense (almost too much to be believable but not too much, if that makes sense). The hot times between them and the kink were steamy and seemed well negotiated. We got some hints that they both had issues that they didn't talk about and that these things could end up destroying everything. And yes, when the shit finally hit the fan, it was really shitty. I couldn't help feeling that some of it could have been avoided, so the last part of this book felt a bit heavy on miscommunication and trauma-induced angst. Still, the writing was good, and the whole situation made my heart ache for Justin and Eli and kept the tension up. It's hard to resolve a conflict like this in a satisfying way (at least for me and my hangups), but it ended up better than I feared. I won't spoil it, but I appreciated the communication. The last part of the book and the ending was a very sweet HEA ending. To sum it up, this book was an enjoyable read and I'll definitely read the next book in this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Classism, Homophobia, Outing, and Religious bigotry
penguinsquack's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
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