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The Last Single Man in Texas
“They’re not going to pay me, I have no idea what my job is, and I have to spend the next six months in a cage match with Satan in Chuck Taylors. I can already feel the blistering hatred that’s about to break out between us, like the tingle before a herpes sore.”
When River O’Sullivan meets Benjamín Reyes at a job interview for a Houston tech firm it’s loathing at first sight. River thinks Ben is a spoiled, snotty rich brat who knows far too well that he’s gorgeous, while Ben dismisses rough Philly kid River as a hypersensitive pathological liar who dresses like ‘a dollar store Tyler Durden.’
To make matters worse they are forced to together in competition for an unpaid internship at a workplace so lousy with corporate jargon and motivational nonsense that neither of them knows what the company even does, or what they’re supposed to be doing there, beyond picking up after their slimy boss Blair’s dog. It’s only when River and Ben finally admit to each other that they have no idea what their jobs are that they realise their pure and uncomplicated hatred of each other is the one small island of sanity they’re clinging to in their lunatic workplace. And that said hatred would be much better focused on Blair.
As hate gives way to grudging respect and affection, River begins to wonder if he could ever get Ben to consider him as more than just an unlikely friend, or if that’s a thing that would never happen, even if River was the last single man in Texas.
Dog theft, revenge porn, corporate skullduggery, and a deeply regrettable incident with an electric banana – it’s all going on in this enemies to lovers slow burn romance.
When River O’Sullivan meets Benjamín Reyes at a job interview for a Houston tech firm it’s loathing at first sight. River thinks Ben is a spoiled, snotty rich brat who knows far too well that he’s gorgeous, while Ben dismisses rough Philly kid River as a hypersensitive pathological liar who dresses like ‘a dollar store Tyler Durden.’
To make matters worse they are forced to together in competition for an unpaid internship at a workplace so lousy with corporate jargon and motivational nonsense that neither of them knows what the company even does, or what they’re supposed to be doing there, beyond picking up after their slimy boss Blair’s dog. It’s only when River and Ben finally admit to each other that they have no idea what their jobs are that they realise their pure and uncomplicated hatred of each other is the one small island of sanity they’re clinging to in their lunatic workplace. And that said hatred would be much better focused on Blair.
As hate gives way to grudging respect and affection, River begins to wonder if he could ever get Ben to consider him as more than just an unlikely friend, or if that’s a thing that would never happen, even if River was the last single man in Texas.
Dog theft, revenge porn, corporate skullduggery, and a deeply regrettable incident with an electric banana – it’s all going on in this enemies to lovers slow burn romance.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2021
19 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Jess Whitecroft
24 books130 followersJess Whitecroft was born and educated in the UK, where she was once voted 'Most Likely To Think That Writing A Romantic Comedy About Bigfoot Is A Good Idea'.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.
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December 22, 2021No rating.
Dnf @ 50% I can't stand anymore poop talks. Ewww!! I understand it is a natural part of human blah blah system. But Lawd! No! Just No!
Dnf @ 50% I can't stand anymore poop talks. Ewww!! I understand it is a natural part of human blah blah system. But Lawd! No! Just No!
June 12, 2024
June 2024 - 4.5 stars
This book has been on my mind a lot lately, and after reading and not loving another Jess Whitecroft book, I figured I should re-visit. It was just as I remembered it: very enjoyable and relatable couple, hilarious, but slightly held back by pacing and editing issues.
Oct 2023 - 4 stars
Hilarious! Absurd! Alarmingly relatable!
This was very well written and I honestly laughed out loud many times. It's the first book I've read by Jess Whitecroft but it definitely won't be the last because the writing style really worked for me.
I absolutely adored all of the workplace elements here. I unfortunately actually know people in real life who talk just like Blair. I also would want to pee in their executive coffee maker to make up for even having to share air with them.
The main characters are flawed, realistic and ultimately very likeable. I thought once they both got over themselves a bit, that they actually seemed to be a really good pair, supportive and complementary, and they never even explicitly acknowledged it but it felt like Whitecroft laid clever groundwork with their common love for reading. It didn't feel like she forced the characters together, it just felt right. In terms of interpersonal drama, this was more than manageable. There were some hurdles, and some wobbly communication here and there but they handled it all pretty maturely.
I enjoyed all the plot absurdities, in large part because it's pretty tongue in cheek and the characters acknowledge how bonkers everything is and how exhausting it was to live like that. It's a nice departure from the eye-rolling that this kind of thing usually causes in me. Instead of going, "yeah, yeah, raccoons, sure," *eyeroll*, I was all, "hah! racoons!!" *chuckle*. I guess the raccoons may also have reminded me of possum-drama so common in suburban Australia, but I digress.
I will say, I feel like this had a bit of a lull in the middle, from maybe 40-60%, where I feel like we were going in circles and nothing much was happening either at work or between the MCs.
I'm glad I pushed through though because after that point the pace picked up and the insanity and absurdity of the work aspects got ramped up to 11. It was great, I was having a blast. I only wish that the last chapter before the epilogue had been a bit more detailed on the outcome, it was a bit anticlimactic.
There were more than a few editing slip-ups/missing words in this. One that baffles me is "renumeration" used in the place of "remuneration" no less than 3 times. I initially thought, because it was Blair saying it, that it was a clever little show of his wanting to be impressive with big words but getting it wrong, but alas it was just a mistake.
And there was nothing wrong with the setting, and I liked the title and how it worked into the narrative, but honestly the fact that this was set in Texas seemed pretty irrelevant to the plot.
All in all though, a very enjoyable book. Now I might finally read The Odd Throuple which was recommended to me several months ago!
This book has been on my mind a lot lately, and after reading and not loving another Jess Whitecroft book, I figured I should re-visit. It was just as I remembered it: very enjoyable and relatable couple, hilarious, but slightly held back by pacing and editing issues.
Oct 2023 - 4 stars
Hilarious! Absurd! Alarmingly relatable!
This was very well written and I honestly laughed out loud many times. It's the first book I've read by Jess Whitecroft but it definitely won't be the last because the writing style really worked for me.
I absolutely adored all of the workplace elements here. I unfortunately actually know people in real life who talk just like Blair. I also would want to pee in their executive coffee maker to make up for even having to share air with them.
The main characters are flawed, realistic and ultimately very likeable. I thought once they both got over themselves a bit, that they actually seemed to be a really good pair, supportive and complementary, and they never even explicitly acknowledged it but it felt like Whitecroft laid clever groundwork with their common love for reading. It didn't feel like she forced the characters together, it just felt right. In terms of interpersonal drama, this was more than manageable. There were some hurdles, and some wobbly communication here and there but they handled it all pretty maturely.
I enjoyed all the plot absurdities, in large part because it's pretty tongue in cheek and the characters acknowledge how bonkers everything is and how exhausting it was to live like that. It's a nice departure from the eye-rolling that this kind of thing usually causes in me. Instead of going, "yeah, yeah, raccoons, sure," *eyeroll*, I was all, "hah! racoons!!" *chuckle*. I guess the raccoons may also have reminded me of possum-drama so common in suburban Australia, but I digress.
I will say, I feel like this had a bit of a lull in the middle, from maybe 40-60%, where I feel like we were going in circles and nothing much was happening either at work or between the MCs.
I'm glad I pushed through though because after that point the pace picked up and the insanity and absurdity of the work aspects got ramped up to 11. It was great, I was having a blast. I only wish that the last chapter before the epilogue had been a bit more detailed on the outcome, it was a bit anticlimactic.
There were more than a few editing slip-ups/missing words in this. One that baffles me is "renumeration" used in the place of "remuneration" no less than 3 times. I initially thought, because it was Blair saying it, that it was a clever little show of his wanting to be impressive with big words but getting it wrong, but alas it was just a mistake.
And there was nothing wrong with the setting, and I liked the title and how it worked into the narrative, but honestly the fact that this was set in Texas seemed pretty irrelevant to the plot.
All in all though, a very enjoyable book. Now I might finally read The Odd Throuple which was recommended to me several months ago!
May 1, 2024
I think what I love most about this book is that we got to know the MCs as individuals before they become a 'we'.
I love how authentic their connection seemed to be. The rivals to lovers aspect was really well done. I loved how unexpected it was that most of the sex scenes were fade to black, especially given how lurid the details got in the non-sexual aspects of their lives.
Also, this workplace was toxic positivity on steroids. Yeeish.
I love how authentic their connection seemed to be. The rivals to lovers aspect was really well done. I loved how unexpected it was that most of the sex scenes were fade to black, especially given how lurid the details got in the non-sexual aspects of their lives.
Also, this workplace was toxic positivity on steroids. Yeeish.
May 18, 2021
I'm a fan of Jess Whitecroft, but I know she's a Brit and I'm a native Texan and have been a Houstonian for over 20 years so I was a bit skeptical as to how well she'd do with this story set in Texas. I'm not sure why she chose here, because honestly, there was nothing in the story that demanded it, but she did fine with it. I can overlook the couple instances of "yoghurt" vs "yogurt" and the British brand name for Plexiglass, because the rest of the story was on point. It's a coworkers, rivals/enemies-to-lovers tale, and a slow burn one at that. By about 50%, I wondered if the two MCs were ever going to get personal enough to get physical, but once they did, WOW. It got hot fast. A fun read. Highly recommend.
August 31, 2023
This is the (third? fourth?) Jess Whitecroft I've read, and something about their style and humor really works for me. If you can accept the premise -- and just let the fundamental ridiculousness of the coerced unpaid internship competition wash over you, life is too short to unpick certain things -- then this is a fast, sexy, fairly low-angst read that whooshes along. Whitecroft is a genuinely funny writer with a knack for writing characters with chemistry; and while there are some heavier themes here -- CW for past suicidal ideation and -- it never feels weighed down.
Dinging for a few too many typos.
There's something so relaxing in picking up a book in full confidence that you will be entertained because the author is good at their job. Jess Whitecroft is good at her job.
Dinging for a few too many typos.
There's something so relaxing in picking up a book in full confidence that you will be entertained because the author is good at their job. Jess Whitecroft is good at her job.
September 4, 2023
I’ve loved every book that I’ve read by Jess Whitecroft. That last single man in Texas is certainly a good story. It took me awhile to like Ben and River. They both started out the book with a chip on their shoulder, and it made it hard to care about them.
However, as I got to know them I grew to care and was wholeheartedly rooting for their HEA. I highly recommend the book.
However, as I got to know them I grew to care and was wholeheartedly rooting for their HEA. I highly recommend the book.
May 19, 2021
The first thing I feel I need to address is that cover. You're probably asking yourself, just like I did, "What in the actual Hades is going on here and what does any of that have to do with The Last Single Man in Texas?" Well, my fellow reader, you'll just have to read the book and it will all make sense...if you can continue reading through tears of laughter.
Whitecroft's latest release is everything I love about her writing. The characters are quirky, the dialogue is sharp, and the humor is wickedly smart. She has this phenomenal talent of treating serious topics, such a mental illness, respectfully, while maintaining her unique brand of comedy.
There's not much else I can say without spoiling the best parts of this book because I think all parts are the best parts. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers or workplace romances, eccentric plot lines and even more eccentric characters, you must read The Last Single Man in Texas.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Whitecroft's latest release is everything I love about her writing. The characters are quirky, the dialogue is sharp, and the humor is wickedly smart. She has this phenomenal talent of treating serious topics, such a mental illness, respectfully, while maintaining her unique brand of comedy.
There's not much else I can say without spoiling the best parts of this book because I think all parts are the best parts. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers or workplace romances, eccentric plot lines and even more eccentric characters, you must read The Last Single Man in Texas.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2021
I loved this book. River and Ben, what a pair. With The Last Single Man in Texas, Jess Whitecroft delivers an excellent gay romcom. With -
Snark
Enemies to lovers
A slow burn, then...
Face-melting sex
Laugh out loud moments that made me snort too often for my own good
Delicious pop culture and literary classic references littered throughout
Overall it's sexy AF and great fun.
Blog Review-
Snark
Enemies to lovers
A slow burn, then...
Face-melting sex
Laugh out loud moments that made me snort too often for my own good
Delicious pop culture and literary classic references littered throughout
Overall it's sexy AF and great fun.
Blog Review-
May 18, 2021
Hilarious! I laughed, snorted, and wheezed, "Oh my dear god," so many times while reading this, I couldn't venture to count. The humor was razor sharp and British (my fav). But instead of playing it safe, Whitecroft took it just to that line of inappropriate, then vaulted over it.
The whole premise of Ben and River interning for a company where neither could figure out what the product was, was hokey and purely ridiculous. Honestly, it would've seemed way over the top...except I've worked for a company that pretty much used this MO with their management team. This is probably why I found this whole book so freaking brilliant.
Crazy workplace management mumbo-jumbo aside, the chemistry between Ben and River was as volatile and fast burning as a lithium-ion battery under pressure. Definitely some of the best banter--and eventually, the best hate-sex-- that I've read in a while.
But at the end of the day, the reason I love anything Whitecroft publishes is her quality of writing--doesn't matter the plot or trope. Whether the tone of the book is serious, or seriously ridiculous, her writing chops always manage to impress me.
The whole premise of Ben and River interning for a company where neither could figure out what the product was, was hokey and purely ridiculous. Honestly, it would've seemed way over the top...except I've worked for a company that pretty much used this MO with their management team. This is probably why I found this whole book so freaking brilliant.
Crazy workplace management mumbo-jumbo aside, the chemistry between Ben and River was as volatile and fast burning as a lithium-ion battery under pressure. Definitely some of the best banter--and eventually, the best hate-sex-- that I've read in a while.
But at the end of the day, the reason I love anything Whitecroft publishes is her quality of writing--doesn't matter the plot or trope. Whether the tone of the book is serious, or seriously ridiculous, her writing chops always manage to impress me.
February 2, 2022
I think something got lost in translation, since I am a South African and the writer is British writing about two American guys in Texas. I did not catch the jokes, and the long monologues about some vaguely political/philosophical themes went right over my head. I did not know the literary figures the characters were talking about, the pop culture was lost on me and the only thing I did get was the speech about electrons dancing. That was a great explanation. I'm sure if you catch the jokes, and see the political and social commentary in perspective, it would be great. I didn't, so I did not enjoy this book as much as I did some of her previous books. In fact, this book left me slightly depressed. Not for me, but it was well written and I think other readers will enjoy this book a lot.
May 19, 2021
Rating: 2.5/5
Feels: 😑😂😑
One Liner: A bit funny, ridiculous, OTT and very extra
Rec: If you like funny books with snappy characters and a lot of pop culture references and some ridiculousness sprinkled in then you should give this book a try.
I will start by being lame and saying 'it was probably me and not the book'. While I can't say I personally found the book to be enjoyable (I did manage to read the whole book in a day though), I can see how some people might. It's one of those books that is hard to really talk about because it is all a bit random and ridiculous on purpose and if you like that kind of thing you might like it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Feels: 😑😂😑
One Liner: A bit funny, ridiculous, OTT and very extra
Rec: If you like funny books with snappy characters and a lot of pop culture references and some ridiculousness sprinkled in then you should give this book a try.
I will start by being lame and saying 'it was probably me and not the book'. While I can't say I personally found the book to be enjoyable (I did manage to read the whole book in a day though), I can see how some people might. It's one of those books that is hard to really talk about because it is all a bit random and ridiculous on purpose and if you like that kind of thing you might like it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 28, 2021
Tech start-up shenanigans!
Jess is so good at writing unique romances and this definitely fit the brand. This book made absolute fun of tech start-ups, self help BS and worthless unpaid internships. I found it all hilarious. And then add in two interesting main characters, a lot of sass and sarcasm, and a very sweet romance? I just loved everything about this book. I highly recommend all of this author’s books
I did have to rate this book 4 stars because it needs some serious proofreading - a lot of basic grammar and spelling issues. Not sure what was going on in getting this book ready to be released, but I don’t blame somebody for being unable to finish the book because of these reasons. I love Jess’ storytelling so much that I personally kept reading.
Jess is so good at writing unique romances and this definitely fit the brand. This book made absolute fun of tech start-ups, self help BS and worthless unpaid internships. I found it all hilarious. And then add in two interesting main characters, a lot of sass and sarcasm, and a very sweet romance? I just loved everything about this book. I highly recommend all of this author’s books
I did have to rate this book 4 stars because it needs some serious proofreading - a lot of basic grammar and spelling issues. Not sure what was going on in getting this book ready to be released, but I don’t blame somebody for being unable to finish the book because of these reasons. I love Jess’ storytelling so much that I personally kept reading.
May 18, 2021
Fab!
The Last Single Man in Texas is a funny and ever so slightly crazy book and one I absolutely enjoyed. I loved that random lines from the book popped into my head days after reading, making me laugh.
I genuinely liked River and Ben, another great read from this author!
The Last Single Man in Texas is a funny and ever so slightly crazy book and one I absolutely enjoyed. I loved that random lines from the book popped into my head days after reading, making me laugh.
I genuinely liked River and Ben, another great read from this author!
May 21, 2021
3.75 stars
June 3, 2021
I feel like Jess found the stock photo on the cover and desperately worked it into the story. To be clear, this is a compliment.
November 14, 2021
Jess Whitecroft has characterizations to spare. Her characters are always complex creatures and just as endearing. I love them. Nothing spices a story more than characters that feel real. This is enemies to lovers that peaks high on the hot department. River and Ben come from different social status but they show that dysfunctional doesn't discriminate. Rivals for a position in a shady startup they slowly come together to face discover what their Elon Musk-y boss is actually all about.
I wish we could get a Celia/Autumn sequel because I got some vibes from those two.
I wish we could get a Celia/Autumn sequel because I got some vibes from those two.
May 21, 2021
There’s a lot to like about this novel, and honestly, I was all in even before the first Pinky and the Brain reference, but I appreciated it all the more for them. River and Ben are both deeply interesting people-- in messy, glorious, occasionally infuriating ways. It’s impossible not to feel for them both, and to really enjoy watching their enemies-to-lovers magic build over the course of the story. The snark is epic, as are the many, many things that befall them (brace yourself for the banana thing). As an added bonus, the author really captures the mind-numbing magical thinking of the corporate culture of their workplace, which involves empty motivational rhetoric, a megalomaniac boss, some distinctly undignified duties made even more hellish since as interns they don’t get paid, and the very real possibility of being another Theranos situation. I liked, so much, the supporting characters as well, especially Ben’s parents and his sister, the lawyer I hope I never need but would be super lucky to have. A really enjoyable read, highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2021
I'm going to put it out there that everyone should be reading Jess Whitecroft! Her stories are brilliantly conceived, multi-layered, imbued with humour and snark and are most all-round rewarding reads. I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Last Single Man In Texas'. You will too.
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 25, 2021
Zany, smart, witty, hilarious, and hot. The blurb really doesn't do this book justice. I laughed a LOT.
The voice took me a couple of chapters to vibe with. It felt a little distant and like a voice-over, but once I finally settled in, I was very entertained. River and Ben are both interesting and complex characters. Riding around in their heads was tons of fun.
The ending was just a little abrupt IMO and there were some annoying grammar issues scattered throughout, but it's still a solid 4 star read for me. Definitely will be checking out other books by this author.
The voice took me a couple of chapters to vibe with. It felt a little distant and like a voice-over, but once I finally settled in, I was very entertained. River and Ben are both interesting and complex characters. Riding around in their heads was tons of fun.
The ending was just a little abrupt IMO and there were some annoying grammar issues scattered throughout, but it's still a solid 4 star read for me. Definitely will be checking out other books by this author.
July 22, 2021
There is nothing wrong with this book, however I couldn't completely get on board with it. There was a lot of waffle in my opinion - and not just the waffle spouted by Blair. I think maybe I'm the wrong demographic for the book? Anyway, I liked the main characters and the supporting family members. I just really struggled to get into the book and felt like I forced myself to get to the end.
June 15, 2021
Wonderful and hilarious
This story is amazing, because when you get the image on the cover you just won’t be able to stop laughing. This book struck the balance of laugh out loud hilarious coupled with seriousness to make it feel real. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
This story is amazing, because when you get the image on the cover you just won’t be able to stop laughing. This book struck the balance of laugh out loud hilarious coupled with seriousness to make it feel real. Can’t wait to read more by this author.
November 13, 2023
This is the story of River, brilliant son of a poor and chaotic single mom whose life is best symbolized by the raccoons that fell through the ceiling on his head as a child, and the brief prison stint he did for driving his sister's abuser's Porsche into the river. It's also the story of Benjamín Reyes, ex-underwear model and son of a politician, who's trying, in between sex with the gardener, to pull himself out of the rut of dependence on his family.
The two men meet in competition for an internship that turns out to be an unpaid gofer job in the warrens of a tech startup with a mountain of jargon and no clear purpose. When they're both hired, their competition begins to fade in the WTF of "did the boss just spend an hour telling us to visualize prosperity" and "do you have any clue what this company actually does?"
River, with the need for an actual income to supplement the internship his parole officer insisted he take, begins doing sex cam work. Ben's caught by his mother giving a blow job to his gardener fuckbuddy. Then there's the boss's neglected pug, whose care and burgeoning anal sacs Ben is assigned to provide for. Life is chaotic, although perhaps not raccoons-to-the-head level, and the two men find in each other a person with a sense of humor, a willingness to listen, and a sizzling attraction. What could go wrong?
This was light and a little farcical, but yet it kept pulling back to a core of genuine emotion and character development. I read it in one sitting (and I had other things I was supposed to be doing.) I didn't find the absurdities laugh-out-loud funny, but was pulled in to care about these two men and everything they did to stay sane in an insane world. And most of the side characters (other than the boss) turned out to be more nuanced than they seemed at first glance.
The two men meet in competition for an internship that turns out to be an unpaid gofer job in the warrens of a tech startup with a mountain of jargon and no clear purpose. When they're both hired, their competition begins to fade in the WTF of "did the boss just spend an hour telling us to visualize prosperity" and "do you have any clue what this company actually does?"
River, with the need for an actual income to supplement the internship his parole officer insisted he take, begins doing sex cam work. Ben's caught by his mother giving a blow job to his gardener fuckbuddy. Then there's the boss's neglected pug, whose care and burgeoning anal sacs Ben is assigned to provide for. Life is chaotic, although perhaps not raccoons-to-the-head level, and the two men find in each other a person with a sense of humor, a willingness to listen, and a sizzling attraction. What could go wrong?
This was light and a little farcical, but yet it kept pulling back to a core of genuine emotion and character development. I read it in one sitting (and I had other things I was supposed to be doing.) I didn't find the absurdities laugh-out-loud funny, but was pulled in to care about these two men and everything they did to stay sane in an insane world. And most of the side characters (other than the boss) turned out to be more nuanced than they seemed at first glance.
May 21, 2021
This was just the book I needed at the end of a long lockdown! As always with Jess's books, the characters are funny, loveable and have whip-sharp dialogue. River in particular is a joy: a young man out of prison on parole, forced to take whatever work he can get, he ends up on an unpaid internship at a tech startup called CoLab. He's highly intelligent and he schools Blair -- the narcissistic, smooth-talking con artist heading up the place -- in quantum mechanics early on. I particularly enjoyed this aspect, since waffle about quantum pseudoscience is tediously popular with the Blair type! Ben, a former underwear model and son of a local senator, also ends up on an internship at CoLab, and he is deliciously bratty. Naturally, Ben and River hate each other. At first, before they both realise the obvious. The romance is fairly slow burn, but the smut, when we get to it, is beautifully executed. My only tiny gripe is that I really got into the plot; I wanted to know exactly what happened with Blair and his henchwoman/sidekick Cadence, and this wasn't tied up quite as neatly as I was hoping. But, hey, this is a romance, not a mystery novel. Overall this was a delight, and will definitely make you chuckle.
May 21, 2021
Jess Whitecroft is probably one of my favorite MM writers & yet she is much more unrenowned than I can understand. She is witty, clever & sometimes goofy in my favorite way. I appreciate the fact that she takes certain problematic subjects and shines a light on them but can still inject a sense of humor into them.
Another thing I like is that her stories are both character and plot-driven so I think they are the whole package. In this book, you have River, who comes from a poor background with basically constant turmoil & dysfunction so it became his norm. Then there's Ben, who comes from a loving family but his father is in politics and Ben feels as if his father is trying to control his every move & since he has some issues with some mental problems it feels overbearing. These two together were a hoot but I could see how they could have their insecurities poked at in the work environment where they are meant to be competing for a job. The whole "Toxic Positivity" gave me flashback-like hives from the weird atmosphere there.
In the end, it was a great story with a nice wrap-up and I can't wait to read the author's next story.
Another thing I like is that her stories are both character and plot-driven so I think they are the whole package. In this book, you have River, who comes from a poor background with basically constant turmoil & dysfunction so it became his norm. Then there's Ben, who comes from a loving family but his father is in politics and Ben feels as if his father is trying to control his every move & since he has some issues with some mental problems it feels overbearing. These two together were a hoot but I could see how they could have their insecurities poked at in the work environment where they are meant to be competing for a job. The whole "Toxic Positivity" gave me flashback-like hives from the weird atmosphere there.
In the end, it was a great story with a nice wrap-up and I can't wait to read the author's next story.
August 18, 2022
This was a delightful enemies-to-lovers story that was actually the most believable one I've read? Maybe? Two guys vying for an internship that neither of them actually want but need to be able to do the things they do actually want but find commonality over a shared hatred for their boss.
This looked like it was on the path to cultish stuff like Arcana but it ended up much more mundane. Still, the relationship was well crafted (which is saying a lot. Writing a believable enemies-to-lovers relationship takes finesse.) and the dialogue was awesome. It took a while for the guys to get to where they're going (like, over halfway through the story) but once they got there, they kept going, if you know what I mean. So that was nice.
Overall, it's one of my favorites by Whitecroft. It will definitely leave you wanting a margarita!
This looked like it was on the path to cultish stuff like Arcana but it ended up much more mundane. Still, the relationship was well crafted (which is saying a lot. Writing a believable enemies-to-lovers relationship takes finesse.) and the dialogue was awesome. It took a while for the guys to get to where they're going (like, over halfway through the story) but once they got there, they kept going, if you know what I mean. So that was nice.
Overall, it's one of my favorites by Whitecroft. It will definitely leave you wanting a margarita!
November 21, 2021
This was Jess Whitecroft as I love and enjoy it. Always so well researched, and always in a totally new setting. Whitecroft does not repeat her story’s.
Throughout the story we get little hints that both Ben and River are hiding quite a lot, and slowly their stories unfold. Just the way I like it.
But most of all I know this will be a book I’ll read again like other favorites of Whitecroft because of the way she can write “falling in love”. I so hoped I would get the full Whitecroft experience in this book and for quite some time I doubted it. I shouldn’t have. All the softness, the sweetness, the hotness, and of course the feelings happened.
Loved it. Maybe it’s time to read some of the older books again…?
May 20, 2021
I was drawn in to this story from the beginning. The introduction to River drew me in and indicated that this was going to be a quirky and engaging story. It did not disappoint. This story made me laugh with its zaniness. River and Benjamin work together, are rivals for they are not sure what and they eventually get to a more personal relationship. I liked this slow burn story and recommend it as a fun read. No spoilers here.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 31, 2022
Tremendously fun and frequently laugh-out-loud funny. The leads were believably young and messy twenty-somethings without being obnoxious about it, and their rivals-to-lovers chemistry was great. The pacing in the last third was kind of off for me; the plot resolution felt pretty rushed. I think this could have stretched its plot for another 50 or so pages worth of investigative lolz as River and Ben attempted to figure out what was going on at the company they were interning for and/or taking down their boss. Still, I had a lot of fun reading this!
August 10, 2024
I don't even know how to review this. I mean, Jess Whitecroft is my favourite author, so I obviously love it, but even among Whitecroft's catalogue this is special and one of my absolute favourites. It's just a great mix of humour, heat and genuine romance. Ben and River er are both fantastic characters, flawed and messy but eminently loveable, and it was a privilege to watch them evolve and develop throughout, and their relationship along with them. I think it's the fifth or sixth time over read this, and I rarely reread-- Jess Whitecroft has just got this something that means I can keep reading and I'm always drawn straight back in like it's the first time. It's a real problem actually. The amount of times I've just opened a Jess Whitecroft book to check something, and accidentally emerged five chapters later blinking, because I was sucked in immediately despite having already read it multiple times. A truly excellent and amazing book that I highly recommend.
May 19, 2021
Excellent book! This was so much fun to read, the workplace "gaslighting", the gradual enemies-to-lovers, and a very satisfying ending. I love this author's books, good characters and great writing! The workplace actually gave me the willies, but River and Ben managed to build a relationship. Highly recommend this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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