ARC review
An atypical twist on typical tropes - this isn't your run of the mill billionaire/enemies-to-lovers romance.
*Minor spoilers*
🚨TW: domestic abuse, sexual assault, substance abuse, addiction, sexual harassment, mental health, violence. References to incest, abortion, murder, miscarriage, derogatory usage of R-word.
📋Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, billionaire, manwhore X virgin, office romance, age gap.
🔥Heat: 3.75 out of 5. While there is quite a bit of verbal/descriptive interaction, this is a slow burn angsty story. ♨️
🌶 Spice: 3.25 out of 5. It takes awhile to get there, but once the main characters stop hate-lusting and fighting each other, things get spicy.
MMC Bo Nash is a young pharmaceutical billionaire with a tragic past, but he isn't stereotypically broody or cold. He is a kind, charming, funny, gracious, momma's boy with a penchant for using nicknames. Bo is also an unapologetic f***boy purposely using sex as a way to avoid intimacy.
In his mind, if Bo doesn't go on dates, doesn't hold hands, puts zero effort into a woman beyond sleeping with her, then he will never have a relationship and therefore never evolve into the monster his father was. Growing up in an affluent home where his father was a womanizing abuser, Bo's sole life ambition now is to never become anything resembling his father. As an adult, several of the coping mechanisms he's developed to further that goal are no longer serving him but instead leave him with severe anxiety and panic attacks.
MFC Arrow McCall is a timid law student hired to work as an executive assistant by Bo Nash's corporation. Arrow sought out the position, in part, with ulterior motives and preconceived notions regarding Bo Nash. This is further complicated when the meet-cute ends up being a potential HR nightmare. During a business trip, Arrow rather quickly discovers Bo's paternal traumas and realizes Bo is unlikely to be the villain she thought he was.
The pair form a shaky bond and team up to figure out the truth behind manipulations and lies. In the process, Arrow learns how to be open and finally speak-up for herself.
Pros: The banter is amusing so readers who love witty dialogue will love the exchanges between characters. POV alternates between Bo and Arrow so readers gain insight into their frame of mind. On the surface, Bo may have the most growth over the course of this book but I felt like Arrow's arc was more interesting to watch unfold and likely will be more relatable for readers. Though the overall tone & style aren't my usual taste, the author's pacing, plot devices, and conflict development were nicely executed, characters are well fleshed out and dimensional.
Cons: Characters are over-the-top emotional operating at an extreme, seemingly at all times. Most deep discussions or heated debates between characters involve all parties becoming sobbing messes. Despite Bo's past trauma and current anxiety, it's a stretch that he'd constantly be brought to his knees with tears streaming down his face at the slightest trigger particularly as his internal monologues reflect someone with keen emotional self-awareness. A few minor editing issues with incorrect pronoun references as well as a couple sentences cut off abruptly without any punctuation; that could just be an ARC version problem resolved in final ebook and print copies.
🌟 General Rating: 3.75 out of 5 Stars.⭐️
This is the second book in the Dysfunctionally Perfect series but may easily be read as a stand alone as plenty of throwback context references are provided. Readers of book one will already be familiar with Bo's history and will be happy that Hail and Violet (along with Violet's sass) make plenty of appearances throughout book two.