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A review by vrstal
Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert
5.0
5/5. Highlights may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Content Warnings for book: Reference to drug addiction and rehab, reference to homophobia, stalking, guns, violence
Kink: N/A
Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert is a bodyguard/charge, brother’s best friend romance featuring a retired Navy SEAL and a retired child actor, who discover new things about themselves as they form an unlikely bond.
Daniel and Cash were a very sweet couple together. Daniel is a recovered drug addict, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and learning how to orient his life again without falling into old habits. However, this has really limited his social life and lead to a lot of loneliness, especially because it feels like those around him just want to “handle” him more than see him for who he really is. Cash is a veteran who is feeling directionless after not having a purpose anymore, and is crashing on his friend’s couch until he figured out what his next move is — all he knows is he definitely won’t be a bodyguard. These two both have strengths and differences that play to each other’s desires.
Cash learns his attraction to men that he hadn’t realized before, even if there were moments in hindsight that pointed to his sexuality. I loved how this awakening didn’t make it seem like Daniel was the only man he had felt attraction for, but how repression in his youth along with the homophobic messaging of his environment, even when he felt unfulfilled in past relationships and sexual experiences. I liked that Daniel never tried to force a label and was careful about not placing too many expectations on cash, even if it felt like leaving his own heart in limbo for awhile. The way Cash was fulfilled through taking care of Daniel in different ways… ah! It was just so great.
These two were swoony, hot, and so sweet. Daniel needed praise and to be given someone who helped foster the confidence he deserved. When he felt vulnerable, Cash helped him learn how to feel strengthened within himself and teach him skills no one had bothered showing him before. Their age gap showed but it wasn’t in some creepy way, for sure, it was instead how their different life experiences both in class and age brought them to have different wisdom for each other. I was often touched emotionally by the narrative Albert weaved.
I felt the ADHD rep, while not a focus or constantly present, was well done. There’s a specific scene when Daniel is talking to the police that clicked with me specifically. Plot wise, a stalker is pretty typical in these types of stories — but I didn’t mind it. It wasn’t the most action-y or anything, but I preferred the focus on their developing relationship anyway.
I seriously recommend this book if you enjoy these tropes!
Content Warnings for book: Reference to drug addiction and rehab, reference to homophobia, stalking, guns, violence
Kink: N/A
Tough Luck by Annabeth Albert is a bodyguard/charge, brother’s best friend romance featuring a retired Navy SEAL and a retired child actor, who discover new things about themselves as they form an unlikely bond.
Daniel and Cash were a very sweet couple together. Daniel is a recovered drug addict, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD and learning how to orient his life again without falling into old habits. However, this has really limited his social life and lead to a lot of loneliness, especially because it feels like those around him just want to “handle” him more than see him for who he really is. Cash is a veteran who is feeling directionless after not having a purpose anymore, and is crashing on his friend’s couch until he figured out what his next move is — all he knows is he definitely won’t be a bodyguard. These two both have strengths and differences that play to each other’s desires.
Cash learns his attraction to men that he hadn’t realized before, even if there were moments in hindsight that pointed to his sexuality. I loved how this awakening didn’t make it seem like Daniel was the only man he had felt attraction for, but how repression in his youth along with the homophobic messaging of his environment, even when he felt unfulfilled in past relationships and sexual experiences. I liked that Daniel never tried to force a label and was careful about not placing too many expectations on cash, even if it felt like leaving his own heart in limbo for awhile. The way Cash was fulfilled through taking care of Daniel in different ways… ah! It was just so great.
These two were swoony, hot, and so sweet. Daniel needed praise and to be given someone who helped foster the confidence he deserved. When he felt vulnerable, Cash helped him learn how to feel strengthened within himself and teach him skills no one had bothered showing him before. Their age gap showed but it wasn’t in some creepy way, for sure, it was instead how their different life experiences both in class and age brought them to have different wisdom for each other. I was often touched emotionally by the narrative Albert weaved.
I felt the ADHD rep, while not a focus or constantly present, was well done. There’s a specific scene when Daniel is talking to the police that clicked with me specifically. Plot wise, a stalker is pretty typical in these types of stories — but I didn’t mind it. It wasn’t the most action-y or anything, but I preferred the focus on their developing relationship anyway.
I seriously recommend this book if you enjoy these tropes!