content warnings: online harassment, implications of sexual assault, racism, sexism
representation: black main characters

“Why did he enjoy it so much when Nina went into professional, capable mode? Well, he knew why—because capable women turned him on, and Nina was the queen of capable. But understanding his weaknesses didn’t make them any less inappropriate. He was supposed to be supporting her here, like a friend, not drooling over her.

Maybe she wouldn’t mind both.”

Every time I start to lose faith in the romance genre, Talia Hibbert delivers a masterpiece and reminds me why it rules.

This is a novella spin-off of Wanna Bet? (which I haven't read so you're fine to read this as a standalone) that follows Nina, a political activist who has been receiving death threats, and James, her brother's best friend who she's staying with until things cool down. They also definitely don't have incredible sexual chemistry and are madly in love with each other.

Nina and James are such wonderful characters, and the fact that they're so well-developed and three-dimensional is particularly impressive considering the short page count. They have such fun banter and seem to have a real friendship as well as their more romantic feelings for each other, something which a lot of authors don't do in their friends-to-lovers romance (one of the main things that tends to turn me away from that trope).

Talia Hibbert really doesn't waste a second with this novella, making the plot as well as the characters and relationships all incredibly compelling while still having time for life changing sex. And boy, I had forgotten how great Hibbert is at writing sex scenes. Great doesn't even describe it; god tier might be more applicable. She can write two characters sitting on a couch together and make it the most erotically charged scene you've read all year... that is, until you read an actual sex scene.

There are still lot's of people who apparently don't read Talia Hibbert? What are you all doing? GET. ON. THAT. If you enjoy romance/erotica even a little, you will not regret picking up one of her books, pinky promise.

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.