What Are The Odds?

by R.M. Virtues

When Caius divorced my older sister, I never thought he would divorce me too. We went from best friends to strangers from one day to the next, and I’ve spent an entire year telling myself it’s for the best. That’s what you do after a divorce. You take the side of your sister, even if she’s in the wrong. But then I run into him at a bar one night a few weeks before my college graduation, and all of a sudden, all those feelings I’d buried beneath denial and shame come flooding back. And then some. Only then do I realize how much I’ve missed him.

And I am not willing to lose him again.

CONTENT WARNING: Breeding kink, raw sex, talk of pregnancy, pregnancy (not with the main characters but with a side character), mention of infidelity

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Erotica, Second Chance, Adult

206 pages, Paperback

First published May 14, 2021

About the author

A profound lover of love and self-proclaimed son of the old gods, R.M. Virtues is an Afro-Native, Two-Spirit bestselling author of romance filled with mythology, fairy tales, and folklore. He currently resides in Nevada on unceded Nuwuvi lands. When not writing, R.M. can be found watching horror movies, playing rpg video games, or falling down a research rabbit hole.

You can currently find him online at rmvirtues.com or @rmvirtues on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Patreon.

Reviews

[mina reads™️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

the only double sister dipping i approve of.

[book bruin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure how to feel at first since the MMC is the FMC’s ex-brother in law, but I’m so glad I read this book! What Are the Odds? is a sexy and delicious read and Cai and Elena will have you fanning yourself. Seriously, I thought my kindle might melt during certain scenes! Dirty talk can be hit or miss for me sometimes, but this one worked (even if some of the word choices weren’t my favorite). The drama was a little over the top (especially with Naya), but I loved Elena’s character arc and how mature she was when things got complicated with Cai and his grief/feelings. A quick and sexy read that left my heart happy!

Thank you Charlotte for the author recommendation! #TransRightsReadathon

CW: death of sibling (drunk driving related, past), grief, MMC’s ex cheated on him (past), manipulative/toxic family members

[Byron Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight Fiyah!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

This book was so good and soooo nasty, from a male author's perspective. I was reading this thinking, "This dude is using my lines!!! Get it!!!"😁😁😁

If you like it hot, buy it, read it and enjoy!👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rapidly becoming obsessed with RM Virtues stories. I can assure you that I'm going to be reading anything he publishes and I'm one-clicking everything that gets published lol. I love how he tells stories, plus the characters are so soft and the romance is out of this world.

What Are The Odds? has sister's ex-husband, breeding kink, and estranged best friends. It captured my heart instantly because Elena and Caius are just so perfect together and the story starts very quickly and develops in a way that you won't be able to stop reading. They used to be best friends until Caius divorced Elena's big sister after she cheated on him. Then they didn't talk for a whole year. The story starts with them reuniting at a bar and they sure have some catching up to do.

Just like in Drag Me Up, I love that the characters have a very healthy relationship where if there is an issue they quickly tell the other person instead of creating misunderstandings. I love that it's very low on the angst and you enjoy very much reading about the progress of them falling deeper and deeper in love with each other. Elena and Caius are so great together and I loved how Caius just constantly calls Elena "baby"!!!! (He literally has the best dirty talk PLUS THESE TWO? CONSTANTLY HORNY. Love to see it).

[✧ FLINN ✧ (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good! Sweet and steamy !

Re-read 18/05/2024

[Andria Potter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I managed about twenty percent and gave up. The writing was good but I just can't with the sister and mother in this book. So frustratingly irritating! I did like Elena and Caius and I might come back to this in the future but for now I'm giving this 3 ⭐.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

CWs: manipulative and neglectful family relationships, discussions of loss/death of a sibling, explicit on page sexual content

First of all, thank you to R.M. Virtues for not only allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book, but also for once again blowing me out of the water with his writing. This interracial romance was one for the books okay! I’m pretty sure I told ya’ll this is an R.M. stan account when I SCREAMED about Drag Me Up, but in case I didn’t, let me tell ya’ll again: THIS IS AN R.M. STAN ACCOUNT.

Romance books, and especially erotic romance, have a great way of giving your pairings and tropes that you didn’t necessarily know you even needed in your life. It’s like the entire genre literally just knows exactly what you need and when you need it. Did I ever think I was going to be here telling ya’ll to pick up a book about a girl who hooks up and falls in love with her sister’s ex-husband? NO! Is that exactly what I’m sitting up here doing? YEP!

Elena has just found out some amazing news about her future, but unfortunately she doesn’t have anyone to bask in the glory with. Her self-centered sister is running around pregnant and making life all about her as usual and both her sister and her mother have made it clear that what she wants isn’t exactly a priority. It’s while she’s out celebrating all on her own that she sees Caius for the first time in a year. Caius who was not only her best friend, but also her sister’s husband. The very husband she cheated on while he was in the middle of grieving the loss of his brother. The chance meeting is all the two need to rekindle their friendship and it turns out that the friendship they held so close, may have actually been destined for more all this time.

I absolutely adored Caius and Elena. Like….can I just love on my babies and keep them safe please? The way they love and support each other is just out of this world. Caius believes in Elena and her dreams just as much as she does, if not more. He doesn’t hesitate to tell her to go for what she wants, doesn’t hesitate in celebrating her, and doesn’t hesitate in standing in her corner when she needs it. They may not have seen each other in a year, but they pick up right where they left off as if nothing has changed. Well, I take that back. At least one thing has changed. Now that Caius is free from Elena’s evil sister’s clutches, the magnetic energy between them becomes electrically charged and honey when I tell you that things get HOT, they basically get set on fire okay. Not only is it clear that these two care about one another, but the sex…..THE SEX.

“You wanna cum for me again, right? You want me to dig you out until you cum all over the fucking furniture, don’t you?”

UMM YES PLEASE!!!! Whew chiiiiile, let me tell ya’ll how I will never look at ottomans the same ever again after reading this. I lie to you not, I was in the furniture store over the weekend, passed by an ottoman sectional and literally could not stop smiling because I immediately thought about a very particular scene in this book. Yep, R.M. has officially ruined my life for the better. Now I just need to find someone to…you know what, nevermind lmao. Anyway, Caius and Elena cannot keep their hands off one another and I love that for them.

What I also appreciated was the fact that this was a very low angst read. Sometimes it’s hard not to wait for the other shoe to drop, especially in romances, but this book was so stress free, even with the circumstances that our main characters found themselves in. Sometimes I don’t want a whole bunch of drama and struggle in my romance! Sometimes I just want lots of love and hot sex okay!!!

Another amazing aspect of this book was Caius’s family. While Elena’s family leaves quite a lot to be desired, the bond that Caius has with his family, and what they have with Elena, is so beautiful I almost couldn’t take it. It was so amazing to see a Black family that believed in positive and open communication, that did NOT subscribe to toxic masculinity, and also loved one another to the fullest extent. Not only that, but Caius has a trans sister and a sapphic sister. There’s no struggle around either of those characters and their romantic partners are fully present in the story and in the family. WE LOVE TO SEE IT!!

At one point Caius and his sister Ty are having a conversation about relationships and she explains how coming out to her boyfriend as trans was difficult, but what was even more difficult was the “after” of coming out. The issue wasn’t his reaction because as she put it “he just said ‘Alright is there anything you need me to do'”. The scary part was that now that everything was laid on the table and he still loved her, what if it was some other flaw she had that ruined the relationship? What if now it didn’t work out because of something else? How do you face the fact that you might lose someone because of who you both are as people and how you handle situations as opposed to something you can’t control? Listen….this conversation was just a whole word and just cemented how much I loved this book

[Paige]

DNF at 22%

Clearing out my KU and I genuinely don’t remember starting this

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious

So enjoyed this one!! It was sweet, it was REAL sexy, and I loved Elena & Caius❤️ there were a few moments I felt could’ve been a ~titch~ tighter, but that’s probably just me bc I’m a wee bit pedantic about book length lol🤷🏼‍♀️ regardless this book was delightful and would definitely recommend!!

[Joharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Estranged best friends to lovers or my sister's ex husband, this was a short and steamy read that had its cute moments. However, I felt like it dragged on and I wasn't really invested in their relationship.

My disconnect with this romance is due to the writing style. Some words were used that took me out of the flow of the story and the internal monologues were too long at times.

I think this book has great communication between the couple and 0 drama in that aspect plus a supportive family and I loved that we get to see the characters consumed by their love but also spending time with their families and still pursuing their dreams. The sex was really good although some lines made me cringe.

[Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when the love is so easy 💜

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

zyaada romance bhi nahi padhna chahiye

[Tomiwa Sobande · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 27%

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW/CW: family manipulation, infidelity, pregnancy, death of a sibling

I am so freaking glad that Elena took control and did what she wanted to do and not what her family wanted her to do. Her relationship with her family is so toxic.

Loved the relationship between Caius and Elena and that they made their way back to each other. They are perfect for each other and the romance is STEAMY!! **fans self**

[Purabi, Boookishfeelings · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review closer to release date but it's simply swoony perfection. your heart will feel all the emotions in just 187 pages and we stan that,,, and i *guess* it helps that the book is SERIOUSLY steamy (and a kink that's gonna jump @ u and have u 🥵),, you didn't hear hear from me tho ♡

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowww I was pleasantly surprise! At first I was worried because this is a rather angsty subject and if done wrong then it could completely twist the reader’s opinions of both MC’s. When I saw the page count I was like hmmm will there be loose ends? But no I really enjoyed it. It was so cute and wholesome!

And the crystal clear communication? 😗🤌🏻 no misunderstandings? YES PLEASE.

The only thing I wish I saw more was the fallout from the sister. Like did the mom ever put her in her place? What happened there so that both Elena and Caius could freely see her mother without a fight, ya know?

Anyways 5/5

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still my beating heart. This was damn good. There was so much depth, meaning, relatability, on-point comedic timing, and swoonworthy romance. The writing really worked for me. Friends-to-lovers is my least favorite trope; it's hard for me to believe in a friendship between the heroine and hero before the story that takes places in the book, but the author does a wonderful job with the heroine and hero. Their connection felt so real.

Some of my favorite quotes:
“I had no clue that your mother was the one. All I knew was that I wanted her to be. And she wanted me to be. And we wanted to be that for each other. That was enough.”
“And you just - were?”
“Sometimes, it can be a choice, Caius, but it is a choice both people must make every single day.” He takes a moment, contemplating before he says, “There is a feeling though, one that might help you decide if you should make that choice.” I perk up. This is different. “It can vary for everyone, but the basis is simple. For me, it’s like this. When I found your mother, everything and everyone else seemed to dull and fade into the background, like a picture. The world still seemed brighter, but she was more in focus than anyone else around me. And I didn’t care because she was the only person that mattered.” (p. 66)

“And what do I do next time? To keep from making that mistake again?”
“Well, the only thing you can do. When someone shows you who they really are, don’t question it. Don’t challenge it, and don’t put it on yourself to try and change it. Just believe them.” (p. 67)

“He - he cares about my career and how I feel and what I think, and he’s sweet and kind and so funny (p. 107)

what were the odds? How lucky could I possibly be, you know? But I realized that it was always gonna be kinda scary once I fell for him because if you’re not afraid of losing somebody, why are you there in the first place?” (p. 139)

Topics addressed: difficult families (no obligation); toxic masculinity; true love

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cai and Elena unexpectedly meet at a club after not seeing each other in a long time, ever since Cai and Elena's sister got divorced. Before that, they were very close, really good friends. Then they meet the next day, after Elena tells her mom and sister she is going away because she got accepted into a dancing school, which does not go well at all because they aren't supportive - they think she should stay home to help with her future nephew. When she went to Cai's house, things escalated quickly and I was not feeling it. They hadn't seen each other in so long because Cai ghosted Elena after the divorce and it hurt her, so I think they should have spent some time reconnecting as long time friends before hooking up, instead of just jumping each other the second they met. Especially since their situation was complicated due to him being her ex-brother in law.
But I liked Cai and Elena. I loved how he was so supportive of her and her dreams. I liked that she finally stood up to herself and told her mom how she felt and told her sister to grow up. Her sister really pissed me off, thinking it was Elena's responsibility to basically take care of her. I'm glad Cai's family loved Elena and cared for her and supported her, since she didn't really have that with her own family.
This book was really good, I just wish it had more of how Cai and Elena's relationship was, instead of so many sex scenes - but I understand, because R.M. Virtues writes erotic romance.

[Gab With Purpose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m rating this 4 1/2 stars cuz whew Lord! ❤️

I generally am not a fan of friends to lovers (not enough angst for me) but this was a really great read and the angst was present with the relationship between Elena and her sister Naya, so i got my fix.

Caius did seem like a static character with two sides (sounds weird but you’ll understand if you read it), and I would have loved more insight into the confident alpha side of him. This didn’t detract from the story though, I’m just a selfish reader that loves to know more. Plus we get just a taste of his sexual dominance and I really wanted to dive into that (again, purely selfish)

Even though Naya’s “presence” is throughout the book (impacts the MCs motivations just enough to make her important) I’m always down for a horrible ass villain that keeps popping up. The scenes she did show up in definitely counted though and I was here for it! She’s such a nasty evil thing and I love to hate her!

Beautiful writing per usual and the story gave what it was supposed to have gave ok 👌🏾
Would definitely recommend!

[Kimberley (pennedbykdb) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just so perfect!

I loved every minute of Elena and Caius’ reconnection and the development of their relationship. The writing was amazing and the different tropes featured were chefs kiss.

I loved the fact that while the ex-wife played a part in Caius’ struggles with trust and giving love another chance, that she was a non-muthafuckin factor in their overall relationship! Because sis deserves to kick rocks!

I enjoyed seeing Elena come into her own and stand up for what she wanted and deserved from her family. R. M. did his thing with this book, it was a good time and I was here for all the filth 😩

All around, this was an awesome, spicy read and I cannot wait to read more from R. M. Virtues.

Tropes Featured: friends-to estranged friends-to-lovers, breeding kink, forbidden romance (sisters ex-husband)

[Alysses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estranged best friends to lovers---Sister's ex husband is the best friend to lover in the situation.

Let me tell you, this could have gone left so quick and it didn't. It speaks to the writing. One of the highlights for me is that the writer was able to treat a taboo subject (for some) with care and clarity. Not once did thoughts of the sister/ex permeate their thoughts while being intimate with one another or even while hanging out with one another unless said sister actively did something at that moment. The couple had great communication, mutual respect and didn't let outside noise permeate their circle. Not all family was on board but it is what it is and it was handled.

This was just a nice and beautiful read.

[Kierra Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Book

I loved the emotions and the dirty-talk-filled sexy scenes in this book. Cai’s grief over the loss of his younger brother, along with the pain of a divorce caused by cheating, was written with so much depth. Elena’s struggles with always picking up the slack for her sister and never receiving the same attention from her mother were just as impactful—and I loved the moment when she finally stood up for herself. The chemistry and communication between Cai and Elena were beautiful, supported by a strong system of friends and family who didn’t let outside noise interfere with their bond. The side characters were also fantastic, each offering the main couple meaningful advice at just the right time.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great taboo read with a ton of spice. Shew. It certainly won’t be the only book I read by RM Virtues.

With Cai being Elena’s sister’s ex-husband there are significant ties and reasons why they shouldn’t be together; RM completely erases those thoughts from your mind as their story unfolds.

I love a forbidden theme but I enjoy it even more when it’s written with tact and depth. What Are The Odds pulls on your heart strings while simultaneously lighting you on fire as Elena and Cai’s connection becomes unstoppable.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was a really cute short book. The main character did not forgive the shitty sister/family, fucking finally. And the book ended with a nice epilogue. I will say that in the cw, it says breeding kink but I personally thought it was really light. Like it was maybe one scene and all the rest were just like he got turned on but like his cum being in her but not necessarily like her getting pregnant.

[jasmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decided to read this cause I saw a few people rated it highly so trusted their judgement and didn’t actually read the blurb before starting. Kind of wish I did because I didn’t enjoy this. The main plot line was just them f*cking, like everything else came second. It got boring pretty fast, especially with nearly ever chapter turning into a smut scene. The epilogue also wasn’t as fulfilling as I hoped it would be. Idk it had potential to be more.

[Brittany (BritReadsBooks)]

I did not have the sister’s ex-husband trope on my bingo card for this year but I already need more! He literally stayed away because after his divorce he wasn’t sure if what he was feeling for his best friend was real or if he was just feeling things in the moment because he was hurt. There is tons of communication in this and lots of self-healing and a whole lot of sexy times with a heavy dose of breeding kink.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy and engaging story

Sexy, well-written, engaging story. Loved the twist of the estranged best friend being her sister’s ex-husband. The sister is pretty awful though so that all makes for a few complications. Well rounded cast of characters and just a great read.

[SJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 40% through. To be fair I've read so many books like this, so maybe I'm more jaded than most, but I found the story boring and drawn out and struggled to stay invested in the characters or their relationship. Sometimes you're just not feeling a book!

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the romance. It was steamy and I especially liked reading from the male's perspective. The only drawback was thatI felt that it was a little drawn out, which is odd as the book was less than 200 pages. I'm looking forward to reading more books by R. M Virtues in the future