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A review by dinipandareads
Malicious Compliance by E.M. Lindsey
4.0
Well, that was unexpected! I can't believe that this ends on such a cliffhanger but I'm also glad that I can jump straight into the second book, which I'm about to do after I finish quickly writing down my thoughts about the first book in this series!
Content/Trigger Warnings:
Jules was an easy character to empathise with. After he's unceremoniously kicked out of the home he shared with his manipulative ex-partner in London, he returns to NYC with barely anything in his pocket and with a threadbare will to keep going. I admired his determination in the face of what felt like such hopeless circumstances, especially when his ex is such a powerful player in the world where he earns his living. It's a bit slice-of-life as we follow Jules in the act of rebuilding his life as he processes the trauma of his past relationship and as he figures out who he is now that he's free of that toxic relationship. The only person I didn't really like in his life was his sister—maybe she did have good intentions but she was very judgemental, unwilling to understand his circumstances, and wasn't what he needed in his life.
The romance was a little fast and sort of insta too, as it happens in the span of a little over a month (if my timeline isn't mistaken), but I surprisingly didn't mind that and it didn't feel particularly rushed. Despite there being a literal wall between them, it's clear that these two find comfort in the connection that they form and as a reader, I could feel that as well, especially as Jules quickly opens up about his past. There was a soft tenderness to their interactions and I thought we'd get to learn more about Forrest by the end but alas, I guess that'll only come in the second book that's told from his perspective. Also, this does get a tiny bit steamy towards the end but it does prove how great their chemistry is even with the wall. I can't wait to see what it'll be like when they finally meet!
Overall, this was a pleasant surprise and not at all what I expected. Very different to the romances I normally read and I'm here for it!
Content/Trigger Warnings:
Spoiler
abusive/manipulative past relationship, homophobiaJules was an easy character to empathise with. After he's unceremoniously kicked out of the home he shared with his manipulative ex-partner in London, he returns to NYC with barely anything in his pocket and with a threadbare will to keep going. I admired his determination in the face of what felt like such hopeless circumstances, especially when his ex is such a powerful player in the world where he earns his living. It's a bit slice-of-life as we follow Jules in the act of rebuilding his life as he processes the trauma of his past relationship and as he figures out who he is now that he's free of that toxic relationship. The only person I didn't really like in his life was his sister—maybe she did have good intentions but she was very judgemental, unwilling to understand his circumstances, and wasn't what he needed in his life.
The romance was a little fast and sort of insta too, as it happens in the span of a little over a month (if my timeline isn't mistaken), but I surprisingly didn't mind that and it didn't feel particularly rushed. Despite there being a literal wall between them, it's clear that these two find comfort in the connection that they form and as a reader, I could feel that as well, especially as Jules quickly opens up about his past. There was a soft tenderness to their interactions and I thought we'd get to learn more about Forrest by the end but alas, I guess that'll only come in the second book that's told from his perspective. Also, this does get a tiny bit steamy towards the end but it does prove how great their chemistry is even with the wall. I can't wait to see what it'll be like when they finally meet!
Overall, this was a pleasant surprise and not at all what I expected. Very different to the romances I normally read and I'm here for it!