The Step Dare is so good! This book is fun, hot, and brimming with heart. Riley Hart and Devon McCormack have crafted a low angst, friends to lovers romance that effortlessly blends humor, heat, and unexpected depth.

Taylor and Brenner are the perfect opposites attract duo. Taylor, the quieter, more reserved of the two, is perfectly balanced by Brenner’s easy charm and confidence. Their chemistry is palpable from the start, and watching Taylor explore his curiosity with his best friend made for a deeply compelling read. The playful dares between them evolve into something much more intense, and their dynamic shifts in a way that feels natural and inevitable.

What I loved most about this book was how it took a trope that could have been overly dramatic—best friends hooking up only to find out their parents are getting married—and made it feel refreshing and real. There’s tension, of course, but it never falls into unnecessary angst. Instead, the emotional stakes build in a way that makes you root for Taylor and Brenner every step of the way.

The spice is off the charts. These two have a magnetic pull that makes every interaction sizzle, but it’s also layered with tenderness and genuine affection. And while the book is definitely hot and steamy, it doesn’t shy away from exploring themes of grief, change, and what it means to truly trust someone with your heart.

If you love a friends to lovers romance with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and just the right amount of emotional depth, The Step Dare is perfect for you. Riley Hart and Devon McCormack have delivered a story that’s both ridiculously fun and undeniably heartfelt.

🔥 Tropes: Best Friends to Lovers, Bi Awakening, Stepbrother Romance (but not messy), Low Angst, Steamy

Thank you to Riley Hart, Devon McCormack, and The Author Agency for the eARC of this book.