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A review by hannahb1533
How to Belong with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall
5.0
Review for series as a whole:
I picked the series up for 3 reasons. 1. I love Alexis Hall and his writing style 2. The first book was on sale for $2.99 and 3. I read it pitched as “gay 50 Shades, but better” and I was instantly intrigued.
Yes there is smut and yes the story is centered around Dom/sub tendencies and practices and kink, BUT this series is so layered and so nuanced that you walk away with so much more. Part of the reason I love Hall’s writing is because of the depth he is able to bring to characters, no matter how many times we see them. Every character woven into this series has a purpose, has depth, and plays an important role in the progression of the main characters.
Arden St. Ives is a graduating Oxford student who gets wrangled into working a donor phone banking night and gets the task of calling Caspian Hart, the UK’s third richest man, Oxford alum, and mysterious enigma. From that phone call Arden finds himself wrapped up in Caspian’s world, being drawn to Caspian’s dominant tendencies, and being one of the few people who can break his serious facade. Throughout the three books you learn the history that has led Caspian to his resistant nature, you see Arden gain more confidence as a person, and you go on a journey of scandal, heartbreak, and love.
Arden is a character written in a way that you can’t help but love him. He is clumsy and unsure of himself but throughout his story he gains confidence and he learns to go for what he wants. The side characters are diverse and provide support and nuance for Arden and Caspian’s journey. Caspian leads a life of privilege but because of the intense and intricate backstory he is given, you won’t find yourself annoyed by his wealth.
Do heed the content warnings. These books contain BDSM themes, sexual abuse, parental abandonment, manipulation, drug use, and kink.
The series becomes intense at times, but if you are able to read through these topics you will be in for a great surprise and probably a deep love for Arden St. Ives.
I picked the series up for 3 reasons. 1. I love Alexis Hall and his writing style 2. The first book was on sale for $2.99 and 3. I read it pitched as “gay 50 Shades, but better” and I was instantly intrigued.
Yes there is smut and yes the story is centered around Dom/sub tendencies and practices and kink, BUT this series is so layered and so nuanced that you walk away with so much more. Part of the reason I love Hall’s writing is because of the depth he is able to bring to characters, no matter how many times we see them. Every character woven into this series has a purpose, has depth, and plays an important role in the progression of the main characters.
Arden St. Ives is a graduating Oxford student who gets wrangled into working a donor phone banking night and gets the task of calling Caspian Hart, the UK’s third richest man, Oxford alum, and mysterious enigma. From that phone call Arden finds himself wrapped up in Caspian’s world, being drawn to Caspian’s dominant tendencies, and being one of the few people who can break his serious facade. Throughout the three books you learn the history that has led Caspian to his resistant nature, you see Arden gain more confidence as a person, and you go on a journey of scandal, heartbreak, and love.
Arden is a character written in a way that you can’t help but love him. He is clumsy and unsure of himself but throughout his story he gains confidence and he learns to go for what he wants. The side characters are diverse and provide support and nuance for Arden and Caspian’s journey. Caspian leads a life of privilege but because of the intense and intricate backstory he is given, you won’t find yourself annoyed by his wealth.
Do heed the content warnings. These books contain BDSM themes, sexual abuse, parental abandonment, manipulation, drug use, and kink.
The series becomes intense at times, but if you are able to read through these topics you will be in for a great surprise and probably a deep love for Arden St. Ives.