This is the first book I’ve read from new-to-me authors: Andrea Smith and Eva Lenoir. I feel like I’ve been hiding under a rock since, this audio book has been out since 2015.
I listened to this book with no expectations and honestly, didn’t even read the blurb about it. It has been a sweet surprise. They had me at prologue, wherein Babu eviscerates L. Blackburn’s latest book. It was harsh, brutal and funny. The narrative had me feeling all sorts of different emotions. The MC’s were both hard to like in the beginning. I think that stems from both their stubborn streak. The character development throughout the story was great, it was like peeling an onion layer by layer. Particularly, Babu’s story. It was heartbreaking and it surely explained why he literally built walls around him.
What I love most about this book is that there was no push-and-pull that is common with other books. Both MCs decided they were going for it, and there was no turning back. There was great communication and I love that they both laid their cards on the table. Obviously, both MCs have off the charts chemistry. There’s a fine line between love and hate, and those two danced from one side of the line to the other and boy did they tango all over that proverbial line.
I like flow of conflict and its resolution, albeit very unconventional — how they settled things with Noelle. It was very “show and tell”.
It was realistic how even in the epilogue, they were still growing as a couple and readjusting and settling into their new norm. Ida and Muffy were a dynamic pair. Secondary characters but have a strong presence.
Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book. It’s well-written, it’s hysterical, there’s parts that will break your heart, there’s parts that will make you angry, and there will be parts where you’ll squirm and make you look around because your ears are burning from the steamy scenes.
As always, Joel Leslie, is one fine narrator. His performance, A+!