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readingsugar's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness, Dysphoria, Vomit, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Grief, Deadnaming, and Suicidal thoughts
galleytrot's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
READ: Jan 2023
FORMAT: Audio
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, Declan wants an older mature man to be his Boy. Owen has just entered the world of empty nesting, and now that his workload as a dad has lightened, he might have the chance to focus on his lack of a love life. Now he has to struggle with the idea of calling an attractive, controlling man (young enough to be his son) his Daddy.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 1.75 / 5⭐
Nope. Nuh uh. I’m not having it. Early on in this book, I thought “Yeah okay it’s not great, but it won’t do me any harm to just get through it.” Towards the end of the book I said, “Nope, I’m done with this. I cannot bear another moment of this awful man-child preparing for death over what’s obviously a (insert unsurprisingly correct diagnosis here).” I almost DNF’d, but I only had 45 minutes of listening left, so instead I spent that time getting angrier and angrier.
This book portrays a relationship that’s not nearly as healthy as it thinks it is. Owen is thrust into Declan’s kink without any conversation about consent, because Daddy Knows What His Boy Needs. Declan lets his play bleed out into situations that are completely inappropriate. It is absolutely shocking to me that, for the entire final act of the book, Owen doesn’t just shut down the play entirely for the sake of health? He had the power to put a stop to everything, and just let things get worse instead?
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 2 / 5⭐
There was so much inconsistency in this book. Things like Owen stating how he’d never heard from Jenny, didn’t know where she was, if she was even alive, etc. and then Owen’s family claiming that Jenny ran off with some woman as if it was a well-known fact? Just one of many things that made me question the writing.
I don’t think the characters’ dialogue was very believable. There were many words used in conversation that you would never hear used today. The 19-year-old especially would use turns of phrase that almost felt like historical fiction dialogue. I did not care for John Solo’s narration. His performance was fine, but his voices were not very pleasant to me. In particular, I couldn’t handle his voices for any woman character, or for Ridge.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 1.75 / 5⭐
If you’re looking for a book where two adults have a conversation about exploring spanking, with wonderfully-written scenes portraying the catharsis and beautiful release that can come with such play, please, please, PLEASE check out Roan Parrish’s “Best Laid Plans.”
If you want a book that features a heartwarming relationship between a young dom and a mature sub that explores BDSM and kink in an extremely healthy way, I truly can’t recommend Alexis Hall’s “For Real” strongly enough.
This book does cover some broad LGBTQIA+ representation, with gay, bi, and lesbian sexualities included, as well as trans characters who have transitioned.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Vomit, Abandonment, Cursing, Alcohol, Grief, Dysphoria, and Medical content
Minor: Emotional abuse and Infidelity
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