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bzzkolla 's review for:
Hold Me For Now: A Dark Romance Novella
by Lexi Davis, Lexi Davis
Thank you NetGalley for this eCopy to review
I picked up Hold Me For Now expecting a steamy, emotionally intense novella—and while it definitely delivered on the spice, the story itself didn’t quite land for me. It’s a bold concept with some tender moments, but the execution felt rushed and a bit too contrived to fully resonate.
🛏️ Plot Summary
Kristi signs up for an experimental sex therapy program after years of feeling broken and disconnected from her own body. She’s paired with a stranger—T—in a clinical setting overseen by a mysterious figure known only as Dr. Desire. The goal? To help each other overcome intimacy issues through guided physical connection.
What begins as a controlled, therapeutic exercise quickly turns into something more. As Kristi and T open up emotionally and physically, they form a fragile bond that neither expected. But with anonymity, emotional baggage, and the looming end of the program hanging over them, the question becomes: can something real grow from something so artificial?
🔥 What Worked
Unique Premise: The clinical sex therapy setting was definitely different. It’s not often you see a romance explore vulnerability and dysfunction in such a direct way.
Emotional Honesty: There are moments—especially Kristi’s internal monologues—that feel raw and relatable. Her struggle with self-worth and intimacy is handled with care.
Short and Steamy: If you’re looking for a quick, spicy read with a heavy dose of angst, this fits the bill.
😕 What Didn’t Work (for Me)
Underdeveloped Characters: With only 85 pages, there just wasn’t enough time to fully flesh out Kristi or T. Their emotional connection felt rushed, and I didn’t quite buy the depth of their bond.
Heavy-Handed Dialogue: Some of the lines meant to be profound came off as melodramatic. It felt like the book was trying too hard to be both sexy and soulful.
Clinical Setting Felt Contrived: The whole setup—anonymous sex therapy with a one-way mirror and a voice-modulated doctor—was more bizarre than believable. It pulled me out of the story rather than immersing me in it.
Predictable Arc: Despite the unconventional premise, the story hits familiar beats and wraps up a little too neatly for my taste.
🧾 Final Thoughts
Hold Me For Now is a daring novella that tries to blend eroticism with emotional healing. I appreciate what Lexi Davis was aiming for, and I can see why it resonates with some readers. But for me, the story didn’t have enough space to breathe, and the emotional payoff felt unearned.
If you’re in the mood for something short, spicy, and emotionally intense—with a heavy dose of forced proximity and strangers-to-lovers tension—it might be worth a try.
I picked up Hold Me For Now expecting a steamy, emotionally intense novella—and while it definitely delivered on the spice, the story itself didn’t quite land for me. It’s a bold concept with some tender moments, but the execution felt rushed and a bit too contrived to fully resonate.
🛏️ Plot Summary
Kristi signs up for an experimental sex therapy program after years of feeling broken and disconnected from her own body. She’s paired with a stranger—T—in a clinical setting overseen by a mysterious figure known only as Dr. Desire. The goal? To help each other overcome intimacy issues through guided physical connection.
What begins as a controlled, therapeutic exercise quickly turns into something more. As Kristi and T open up emotionally and physically, they form a fragile bond that neither expected. But with anonymity, emotional baggage, and the looming end of the program hanging over them, the question becomes: can something real grow from something so artificial?
🔥 What Worked
Unique Premise: The clinical sex therapy setting was definitely different. It’s not often you see a romance explore vulnerability and dysfunction in such a direct way.
Emotional Honesty: There are moments—especially Kristi’s internal monologues—that feel raw and relatable. Her struggle with self-worth and intimacy is handled with care.
Short and Steamy: If you’re looking for a quick, spicy read with a heavy dose of angst, this fits the bill.
😕 What Didn’t Work (for Me)
Underdeveloped Characters: With only 85 pages, there just wasn’t enough time to fully flesh out Kristi or T. Their emotional connection felt rushed, and I didn’t quite buy the depth of their bond.
Heavy-Handed Dialogue: Some of the lines meant to be profound came off as melodramatic. It felt like the book was trying too hard to be both sexy and soulful.
Clinical Setting Felt Contrived: The whole setup—anonymous sex therapy with a one-way mirror and a voice-modulated doctor—was more bizarre than believable. It pulled me out of the story rather than immersing me in it.
Predictable Arc: Despite the unconventional premise, the story hits familiar beats and wraps up a little too neatly for my taste.
🧾 Final Thoughts
Hold Me For Now is a daring novella that tries to blend eroticism with emotional healing. I appreciate what Lexi Davis was aiming for, and I can see why it resonates with some readers. But for me, the story didn’t have enough space to breathe, and the emotional payoff felt unearned.
If you’re in the mood for something short, spicy, and emotionally intense—with a heavy dose of forced proximity and strangers-to-lovers tension—it might be worth a try.