Review: Lauren Asher is the reason why I have unrealistic expectations of men at this point, her writing is just too good.   

 

“Terms and Conditions,” the second book in the “Dreamland Billionaires” series, alternates between Declan Kane and his assistant Iris’ points-of-view. Declan’s character was briefly introduced in book one, but this novel sheds light on the reasoning behind his cold exterior. Through his viewpoint, the reader learns that he was physically abused by his father after his mother passed away from cancer. As an adult, he learned to isolate himself to avoid feeling the pain that comes with losing people. 

 

Iris is the sunshine to Declan’s grumpy, but she did not grow up without hardship. Before he left, Iris’ father was verbally and physically abusive towards her mother. As a result, Iris developed deep-seated trust issues despite her mother and grandmother’s best efforts to make sure she grew up in a loving environment. 

 

Iris agrees to marry Declan so that he can fulfill his inheritance clause and become the next CEO of his family’s media empire. Their marriage is supposed to be merely contractual, but it does not take long for them to realize that their differing personalities only deepen their love for one another rather than keep them from developing feelings—making for an addicting read. 

 

Like the novel that came before it, “Terms and Conditions” has fantastic diverse representation. Within the first few chapters, Asher establishes that Iris is a person of color and dyslexic. Iris acknowledges that her learning disorder is a part of her, but she does not let it define her. Instead, she views her reading dis/ability as motivation to work harder, which many readers may find empowering. 

 

Because the “Dreamland Billionaires” series is made up of interconnected standalones, characters from “The Fine Print” and “Final Offer” make appearances. I particularly enjoyed catching up with Rowan and Zahra and seeing a new side of their relationship! I also loved reading chapters surrounding Iris and Cal’s friendship—it is so wholesome. Cal’s strong presence in “Terms and Conditions” gives the reader insight into his character in preparation for reading “Final Offer,” the final book in the series.