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A review by ditten
Malibu by Emmy Sanders
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Malibu is one of the sweetest, most wholesome books I've read which feels kind of weird to say about a book in a series about sex workers. On top of that, it's super hot, funny, and incredibly well written. And the two main characters Mal and Henrik? Yeah, I'm fully in love with them!
This book blew me away, it was even better than I had hoped and also very different to what I expected. It's so fun when you think you have a beloved genre or trope figured out and then you read a book that doesn't follow the formula as closely. Malibu felt refreshing and unexpected in many ways, including how it dealt with power imbalances (sex worker/client, age gap, socioeconomic differences) and I absolutely loved it.
The way Mal and Henrik navigate their relationship is everything! They both start off having misconceptions about each other but they develop a very natural friendship and relationship. These characters have walls up that've been built from years of pain, and to see them both slowly start to lower them and let the other in, is so satisfying and wonderful.
I wouldn't call it a slow burn but I also wouldn't not call it that? It's such a beautiful and slow relationship progression that had me grinning and making dumb faces at my kindle because I was so gone for them 🥰
There are a lot of very intimate and sensual scenes that are ridiculously hot though there aren't that many actual bedroom scenes. Their chemistry and connection really is everything though of course these two idiots (affectionate) both question whether this whole thing is real or just a business arrangement.
There's great mental health and disability rep in this book, and also the cutest kittens, and the most annoyingly supportive friends.
I really loved this book, and my heart feels so full just thinking about it ❤️
This book blew me away, it was even better than I had hoped and also very different to what I expected. It's so fun when you think you have a beloved genre or trope figured out and then you read a book that doesn't follow the formula as closely. Malibu felt refreshing and unexpected in many ways, including how it dealt with power imbalances (sex worker/client, age gap, socioeconomic differences) and I absolutely loved it.
The way Mal and Henrik navigate their relationship is everything! They both start off having misconceptions about each other but they develop a very natural friendship and relationship. These characters have walls up that've been built from years of pain, and to see them both slowly start to lower them and let the other in, is so satisfying and wonderful.
I wouldn't call it a slow burn but I also wouldn't not call it that? It's such a beautiful and slow relationship progression that had me grinning and making dumb faces at my kindle because I was so gone for them 🥰
There are a lot of very intimate and sensual scenes that are ridiculously hot though there aren't that many actual bedroom scenes. Their chemistry and connection really is everything though of course these two idiots (affectionate) both question whether this whole thing is real or just a business arrangement.
There's great mental health and disability rep in this book, and also the cutest kittens, and the most annoyingly supportive friends.
I really loved this book, and my heart feels so full just thinking about it ❤️