A review by anacarter
Hazel and Elijah Find Out: : First They F*cked Around by Marty Vee

emotional inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

4.0

 3.5 stars rounded up, full Review on my blog!

❥Small-town romance
❥Second / Third Chance
❥Bachelor Auction

This was a lot shorter than I expected, fast-paced and I'll be honest, I found this a bit underwhelming.
I did enjoy the romance. But after reading so many books like this one, I've become somewhat desensitized to the allure of these types of stories. While I know many people will love this; I thought it was average. 

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

Hazel and Elijah have a very memorable one-night stand before the events of the book but quickly lose touch. A year later, when Elijah returns to town, they find themselves reconnecting where they left off.

 

“Would you be interested in auctioning your body?”

Is one hell of a way to grab a man's attention after not messaging him for a year! Honestly this was a great start to the story, and I did love the characters and their romance. 

 

A tender heat grew in my chest, wrapping around my heart and easing into my stomach, pleasant and soft. Unlike the all-consuming smolder he’d made me feel in the past, this was something new. Gentle. Sustainable.
“The woman I like asked me to be here, so I’m here,” he stated. 
“You’re here because of me?” 
“I am in this town because of you.” 

Hazel's veterinary clinic has some financial issues so when her friend Nora suggests a bachelor auction as a means to raise funds, she agrees despite Hazel's initial skepticism. Surprisingly, the men of the town eagerly step up to lend their support.

────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────

Hazel, a new business owner, she's hardworking; devoting all her time and energy to her veterinary clinic. Her fiercely independent nature often borders on stubbornness. Despite her reluctance to burden others, she struggles to maintain balance without succumbing to exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Elijah grapples with his tarnished reputation in his hometown, haunted by the shadows of his past indiscretions. As he revisits old stomping grounds, the judgmental eyes of the community weigh heavily upon him. His clear intentions clash with the expectations thrust upon them, adding strain to their budding romance, which seems to put a lot of pressure on him, to the point where he felt like he needed to end things despite him seeking something deeper than a mere repeat of their past encounter.

I felt like it was too fast, they got together, and they were in a decent place besides some insecurities and then he abruptly ended things when there wasn't a real need to. I don't know, I just found it frustrating how he chose to break up with her and how he was upset about it when a simple conversation about his anxieties could have likely resolved the issue.

After two weeks of sulking, Elijah finally gathers the courage to return and confront her. His decision is spurred by the social media post he sees, where Hazel expresses gratitude to everyone involved in the auction, including him, for establishing a fund for the clinic. This post serves as a wake-up call, making him realize the magnitude of his mistake.

Overall, a great story if you enjoy a fluffy romance, there were a lot of cute, 'make your heart flutter' moments, and great characters (even background characters that honestly I wouldn't mind knowing more about).

 Thank you for the ARC, Marty Vee!

_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook