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The Night Cap
Come out to the bar, they said.It'll be fun, they said.But waking up in a stranger's apartment with nothing but a snarky note to guide me isn't actually all that fun.It is enough to make me curious though, and enough to make me want to go back.When I find out that the tall, rugged, tattooed, grumpy bar owner not only took care of me when I got too drunk to go home but also let me crash at his place and cuddle his equally-grumpy dog, I know I need to make it happen again.And again.And maybe one more time, just to be safe.They say opposites attract, after all... and I'm definitely attracted.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2023
346 people are currently reading
2403 people want to read
About the author
Octavia Jensen
37 books383 followersOctavia Jensen is a coffee addict, a tale-spinner and a hopeless romantic, usually in that order. She spends her free time chasing adrenaline rushes or writing steamy, romance novels, and sometimes, those feel like the same thing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
August 28, 2024
I've never tried this author before, but after reading the blurb, I knew I wanted to give this book a shot. And I liked it. I really did. While I found the blurb a bit misleading (Who is they? And I thought the notes left by Harvey were kinda dope), it wasn't hard to immediately get sucked into the story.
Both characters were messed up, but they somehow worked together really well. At least when Harvey would get out of his own way. And when they came together... *heh heh* ... it was great. I'll definitely be trying this author again.
Both characters were messed up, but they somehow worked together really well. At least when Harvey would get out of his own way. And when they came together... *heh heh* ... it was great. I'll definitely be trying this author again.
July 25, 2023
*3.5
Cute and fun but not much plot. I think novellas just aren’t really my thing. I feel like they don’t have enough substance for me to fully care or connect to a story. I would read something else from this author though, I really liked these characters and their chemistry. The writing was also solid. I just think I needed more time to really like this. Grumpy/Sunshine remains superior though.
Cute and fun but not much plot. I think novellas just aren’t really my thing. I feel like they don’t have enough substance for me to fully care or connect to a story. I would read something else from this author though, I really liked these characters and their chemistry. The writing was also solid. I just think I needed more time to really like this. Grumpy/Sunshine remains superior though.
July 24, 2023
Oh my gosh, I absolutely adored this story! I found both the MC’s extremely relatable, especially the MMC.
And who doesn’t love a cute grumpy/sunshine trope? I devoured this in a single sitting; my first from this author but I’ll definitely be checking out their other work! Highly recommend 🩷
And who doesn’t love a cute grumpy/sunshine trope? I devoured this in a single sitting; my first from this author but I’ll definitely be checking out their other work! Highly recommend 🩷
July 26, 2023
This was pretty stinking cute, it was too good of a story for a novella though, it needed more
January 7, 2025
Grumpy tattooed man owns a bar. Grumpy tattooed man falls for sunshine girl and hires her at his bar. Grumpy tattooed man grovels. Me like.
November 7, 2024
Cute read
May 9, 2023
This book begins when Callie, our ☀️, wakes up in a strange bed, with no memories of the previous alcoholic night, with only a grumpy note on the bedside table informing her that she herself took off her pants and nothing happened. And a warning not to pet the dog - which she promptly ignores.
The bed belongs to Harvey, the owner of the bar and the 😠 of the story. However, Harvey is tall, muscled, bearded and tattooed, so Callie, our ☀️, wakes up in a strange bed, with no memories of the previous alcoholic night, with only a grumpy note on the nightstand informing her that she herself took off her pants and nothing happened. And a warning not to pet the dog - which she promptly ignores.
The bed in this case is Harvey's, owner of the bar the night before and the 😠 of the story. However Harvey is tall, strong, bearded and tattooed, so Callie obviously does what any rational woman would do: she comes back the next week. And the next. And the next. Until no one wants her to leave anymore. 😅
I love this story and this couple. Thanks to the complete ray of sunshine dressed in gaudy colors that she is, Callie infuses herself into the bar, the house, the dog's heart, and Harvey's group of friends before anything happens between them (and he loves it). It's a pretty funny relationship to read about, actually, because they don't have anything yet, but they're already kind of a couple. 😂
This book is entertaining, it has excellent witty humor. It gave me some good laughs, and the goddess knows that everyone needs it.😅
Also, Callie is a naughty girl (I love it) with no filter whatsoever, so when you mixher dirty talking with Harvey's... 🔥.
I also love that these characters are pretty normal people, with baggage, traumas, family (Callie has some delicious siblings, I already want their books) and normal jobs.
I really love Octavia's books and her fluid writing style. <3
The bed belongs to Harvey, the owner of the bar and the 😠 of the story. However, Harvey is tall, muscled, bearded and tattooed, so Callie, our ☀️, wakes up in a strange bed, with no memories of the previous alcoholic night, with only a grumpy note on the nightstand informing her that she herself took off her pants and nothing happened. And a warning not to pet the dog - which she promptly ignores.
The bed in this case is Harvey's, owner of the bar the night before and the 😠 of the story. However Harvey is tall, strong, bearded and tattooed, so Callie obviously does what any rational woman would do: she comes back the next week. And the next. And the next. Until no one wants her to leave anymore. 😅
I love this story and this couple. Thanks to the complete ray of sunshine dressed in gaudy colors that she is, Callie infuses herself into the bar, the house, the dog's heart, and Harvey's group of friends before anything happens between them (and he loves it). It's a pretty funny relationship to read about, actually, because they don't have anything yet, but they're already kind of a couple. 😂
This book is entertaining, it has excellent witty humor. It gave me some good laughs, and the goddess knows that everyone needs it.😅
Also, Callie is a naughty girl (I love it) with no filter whatsoever, so when you mixher dirty talking with Harvey's... 🔥.
I also love that these characters are pretty normal people, with baggage, traumas, family (Callie has some delicious siblings, I already want their books) and normal jobs.
I really love Octavia's books and her fluid writing style. <3
July 26, 2023
3.5 stars :)
quick read and cute story
quick read and cute story
May 15, 2023
“I’ve done my fair share of running in my life. She’s finally given me a reason to stop.”
The Night Cap follows Calliope (Callie) & Harvey. A grumpy bar owner and a sexy, sunshine patron he just can’t get out of his head. Callie was such a fun character. I loved how happy she always was and just went with the flow; Callie also wasn’t a pushover which I was grateful for. She made Harvey work for her, as she should.
The angst in this was FIRE. I felt all of the characters emotions because Octavia’s writing just sucks you in and doesn’t let you go, which I love. I read this book so fast because I just can’t get enough of Octavia’s writing. Harvey & Callie were a blast to read about and I loved seeing them get their well-deserved HEA.
The Night Cap follows Calliope (Callie) & Harvey. A grumpy bar owner and a sexy, sunshine patron he just can’t get out of his head. Callie was such a fun character. I loved how happy she always was and just went with the flow; Callie also wasn’t a pushover which I was grateful for. She made Harvey work for her, as she should.
The angst in this was FIRE. I felt all of the characters emotions because Octavia’s writing just sucks you in and doesn’t let you go, which I love. I read this book so fast because I just can’t get enough of Octavia’s writing. Harvey & Callie were a blast to read about and I loved seeing them get their well-deserved HEA.
August 1, 2023
I would have liked this better if it weren't for the h being acholic with zero brain cells after she
wakes up in a strange bed
I take it as a bad sign it's a bad way to start a book I thought that was a one-time thing u know! I started putting excuses for her behavior and I would finish the book if that was the case but no, nope a week later she did it again, the drinking thing, and who knows how this time gonna end maybe she will quit drinking when something bad happpen to her
( now I feel weird writing about her like she's a natural person, but I get to spend time and fantasy about the character so she's real enough to me, well enough to despise her) anyway
I couldn't go with the book and finish it knowing that the Mc I'm reading about is unworthy of the time wasting
wakes up in a strange bed
I take it as a bad sign it's a bad way to start a book I thought that was a one-time thing u know! I started putting excuses for her behavior and I would finish the book if that was the case but no, nope a week later she did it again, the drinking thing, and who knows how this time gonna end maybe she will quit drinking when something bad happpen to her
( now I feel weird writing about her like she's a natural person, but I get to spend time and fantasy about the character so she's real enough to me, well enough to despise her) anyway
I couldn't go with the book and finish it knowing that the Mc I'm reading about is unworthy of the time wasting
May 17, 2023
3.5⭐️
This felt like a 4 star read but the end fell a little flat. But overall this was a nice quick read.
POV: Dual, 1st person.
SERIES or STANDALONE: Standalone.
TROPES: M/F adult, small town, work colleagues romance.
SIZE: 127 (last page) Kindle pages.
CHARACTERS: Harvey (mid 30s?) & Calli (29)
PLOT: 📚📚📚📚/5
ROMANCE: ❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
SPICE/STEAM: 🌶🌶/5
DARKNESS/TRIGGERS: N/A
⚠️ My bookshelves can contain spoilers.
This felt like a 4 star read but the end fell a little flat. But overall this was a nice quick read.
POV: Dual, 1st person.
SERIES or STANDALONE: Standalone.
TROPES: M/F adult, small town, work colleagues romance.
SIZE: 127 (last page) Kindle pages.
CHARACTERS: Harvey (mid 30s?) & Calli (29)
PLOT: 📚📚📚📚/5
ROMANCE: ❤️❤️❤️❤️/5
SPICE/STEAM: 🌶🌶/5
DARKNESS/TRIGGERS: N/A
⚠️ My bookshelves can contain spoilers.
December 31, 2024
2.5 stars
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨
Woman drinks her way into a hottie’s bed
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Started well
Dog daddy
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Veered off track for me
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨/𝙨𝙪𝙗 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨
Instalust
Forced proximity ish
Employer employee ish
Grumpy sunshine
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨
Callie wakes up in a strange bed one morning with no real recollection of the night before, aside from the fact that she went to a bar by herself the night before.
Thankfully, it turns out that she’s in the bar owner’s apartment above the bar, and he was just helping her out when she was too drunk to function.
Turns out he’s a total hottie though and she wants to tap that, so she keeps turning up to the bar and getting drunk enough for him to offer her a place to stay. Sadly he never joins her in the bed…but surely she can find a way to change that?
This started off as cute and fun. I liked that Callie was so bold and kinda quirky , and that Harvey was so grumpy but reluctantly drawn to Callie. He absolutely had a giant heart of gold under his grump. Didn’t hurt that he had a grumpy dog too, and both of them only liked Callie.
But at some point 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯 kind of morphed into 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦.
I love me some smut, and I have nothing against the sex scenes themselves, but the dirty talk and “I’m your good girl” stuff from Callie just didn’t feel right for her character. I can’t put my finger on why, but it just felt forced and cringeworthy.
And I think I’m a little bit over the whole push people away to protect myself thing. It feels really overused and whenever I read a book with this microtrope now it just annoys me.
Unfortunately, not the best rating for my final read of 2024, but the book started well and had a dog so…bonus points for that?
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
🤤🤤🤤
💦💦💦💦
🤣🤣
😭
🌟🌟💫
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨
Woman drinks her way into a hottie’s bed
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Started well
Dog daddy
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Veered off track for me
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨/𝙨𝙪𝙗 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨
Instalust
Forced proximity ish
Employer employee ish
Grumpy sunshine
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨
Callie wakes up in a strange bed one morning with no real recollection of the night before, aside from the fact that she went to a bar by herself the night before.
Thankfully, it turns out that she’s in the bar owner’s apartment above the bar, and he was just helping her out when she was too drunk to function.
Turns out he’s a total hottie though and she wants to tap that, so she keeps turning up to the bar and getting drunk enough for him to offer her a place to stay. Sadly he never joins her in the bed…but surely she can find a way to change that?
This started off as cute and fun. I liked that Callie was so bold and kinda quirky , and that Harvey was so grumpy but reluctantly drawn to Callie. He absolutely had a giant heart of gold under his grump. Didn’t hurt that he had a grumpy dog too, and both of them only liked Callie.
But at some point 𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯 kind of morphed into 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦.
I love me some smut, and I have nothing against the sex scenes themselves, but the dirty talk and “I’m your good girl” stuff from Callie just didn’t feel right for her character. I can’t put my finger on why, but it just felt forced and cringeworthy.
And I think I’m a little bit over the whole push people away to protect myself thing. It feels really overused and whenever I read a book with this microtrope now it just annoys me.
Unfortunately, not the best rating for my final read of 2024, but the book started well and had a dog so…bonus points for that?
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
🤤🤤🤤
💦💦💦💦
🤣🤣
😭
🌟🌟💫
October 11, 2024
Cute, quick, and dirty 😉
It's not my favorite by the author, but it's still a fun, quick read.
There isn't much of a real polt. Sunshine meets Grumpy, Sunshine wants Grumpy, Grumpy messes thing up. It's a rehashed plot. Same as so many lifetime movies. Nothing new. There is nothing to write home about. Just a quick, fun, dirty little read.
The characters are likable but not fleshed out enough to be lovable.
Little Miss Sunshine has almost no backstory, just four brothers. There is nothing really deep we get to know about her. She wants the man and goes for it. She is sweet and definitely lives up to the sunshine marker.
Grumpy as a tad more backstory ( there is always a reason behind the grumpiness) He is tall, dark, and brooding with an ex-wife and a dog. He can never let his heart be broken again and doesn't want to let Callie in. Of course he does in the end.
The book is pure fluff. Tried and true Grump/Sunshine novella.
It's not my favorite by the author, but it's still a fun, quick read.
There isn't much of a real polt. Sunshine meets Grumpy, Sunshine wants Grumpy, Grumpy messes thing up. It's a rehashed plot. Same as so many lifetime movies. Nothing new. There is nothing to write home about. Just a quick, fun, dirty little read.
The characters are likable but not fleshed out enough to be lovable.
Little Miss Sunshine has almost no backstory, just four brothers. There is nothing really deep we get to know about her. She wants the man and goes for it. She is sweet and definitely lives up to the sunshine marker.
Grumpy as a tad more backstory ( there is always a reason behind the grumpiness) He is tall, dark, and brooding with an ex-wife and a dog. He can never let his heart be broken again and doesn't want to let Callie in. Of course he does in the end.
The book is pure fluff. Tried and true Grump/Sunshine novella.
September 11, 2023
˗ˏˋ⋆ ⋆´ˎ˗
﹌﹌﹌
2 stars! It was good, but it was also horrible, so I need to think about this.
Okay, after giving it some thought, the one positive aspect was when Daria would reprimand Harvey. Daria beats out the two main characters because I liked her better.
﹌﹌﹌
﹌﹌﹌
2 stars! It was good, but it was also horrible, so I need to think about this.
Okay, after giving it some thought, the one positive aspect was when Daria would reprimand Harvey. Daria beats out the two main characters because I liked her better.
﹌﹌﹌
October 11, 2024
Cozy romance
I enjoyed this cute romance. The banter was fun and the book flowed smoothly making it easy to read the book in one setting. I enjoyed the characters. Harvey's notes he left on the night stand for when Calli woke up were just chef's 💋!!
I enjoyed this cute romance. The banter was fun and the book flowed smoothly making it easy to read the book in one setting. I enjoyed the characters. Harvey's notes he left on the night stand for when Calli woke up were just chef's 💋!!
June 18, 2023
Short, sweet, sassy, steamy. Makes for a great palate cleanser.
July 31, 2023
This was a cute and quick read, the characters were a bit lacking but I enjoyed the storyline over all. I’d recommend!
November 13, 2023
If you want a grumpy/sunshine trope where the main characters literally call each other 'grumpy' and 'sunshine', then this is for you. This book was a fun and cute read.
November 10, 2024
This was just bad
May 16, 2023
quick + cute
February 27, 2025
Kinda shallow and the insta love and insta violence aren’t really my thing, but it was ok. Their pet names are not for me.
April 26, 2025
Is it just me or was it weird as fuck when her brothers walked in on them and saw her bare ass??
At least it’s a book towards my goal this year.
All I can say is yikes
At least it’s a book towards my goal this year.
All I can say is yikes
August 4, 2023
DNF. Writing was atrocious and cringy. It's a short read and I couldn't even manage to finish.
January 25, 2025
3,5/5
This book was fun & fast read.
Callie wakes up in Harveys bed because she drank too much. He’s the bar owner and let her spend the night at his place. Callie got home the next morning but went there again because she wanted so see the grumpy bar owner who helped her out last time. Their chemistry was really great. It was really nice to get to know both of them and what made them who they are. Harvey dog is just as grumpy as Harvey himself but he had a soft spot for Callie too
This book was fun & fast read.
Callie wakes up in Harveys bed because she drank too much. He’s the bar owner and let her spend the night at his place. Callie got home the next morning but went there again because she wanted so see the grumpy bar owner who helped her out last time. Their chemistry was really great. It was really nice to get to know both of them and what made them who they are. Harvey dog is just as grumpy as Harvey himself but he had a soft spot for Callie too
May 1, 2025
Dearest Unhinged Reader,
You know that post—the one where someone wakes up in the bouncer’s house after one too many, and instead of being a walking red flag, he’s actually respectful, left water and snacks, gave directions to the phone, and had a dog you’re allowed to pet?
The Night Cap by Octavia Jensen takes that exact vibe and runs with it—except Harvey, our grumpy bartender, specifically says not to pet the dog. (Kissing his soft little 90lb forehead doesn’t count, right?)
This book is a perfect sunshine-meets-grump romance, with Callie bringing all the chaotic charm and Harvey… well, trying his best to remain unaffected and failing gloriously. Harvey owns the bar, lives like a hermit with emotional walls stacked higher than his liquor shelf, and Callie—delightfully unbothered by said walls—basically bullies her way into his life (and heart) by getting a job at his bar.
The side characters are chef’s kiss. Daria, the bestie bartender, is a wingwoman for the ages. Callie’s brothers bring the sibling chaos. And of course, there’s Dammit, the best pupper in the world, who totally deserves his own novella.
The writing? Hilarious and heartfelt. I found myself laughing out loud, then blushing, then squealing—sometimes all in the same chapter.
Favorite quote?
“No way he leaves random notes with scribbles on them, so my nosey self snatches it up to read it:
Relax, I didn’t kidnap you. For the record, I had nothing to do with you taking your pants off. You yelled “pants are for bitches” and fell over trying to get them past your ankles. I’m honestly a little impressed you succeeded. Keys are on the table. Don’t pet the dog.”
The spice? Delicious. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The vibe? Cozy, chaotic, sexy, and full of heart.
The rating? Easy 5/5. No notes. Just vibes.
You know that post—the one where someone wakes up in the bouncer’s house after one too many, and instead of being a walking red flag, he’s actually respectful, left water and snacks, gave directions to the phone, and had a dog you’re allowed to pet?
The Night Cap by Octavia Jensen takes that exact vibe and runs with it—except Harvey, our grumpy bartender, specifically says not to pet the dog. (Kissing his soft little 90lb forehead doesn’t count, right?)
This book is a perfect sunshine-meets-grump romance, with Callie bringing all the chaotic charm and Harvey… well, trying his best to remain unaffected and failing gloriously. Harvey owns the bar, lives like a hermit with emotional walls stacked higher than his liquor shelf, and Callie—delightfully unbothered by said walls—basically bullies her way into his life (and heart) by getting a job at his bar.
The side characters are chef’s kiss. Daria, the bestie bartender, is a wingwoman for the ages. Callie’s brothers bring the sibling chaos. And of course, there’s Dammit, the best pupper in the world, who totally deserves his own novella.
The writing? Hilarious and heartfelt. I found myself laughing out loud, then blushing, then squealing—sometimes all in the same chapter.
Favorite quote?
“No way he leaves random notes with scribbles on them, so my nosey self snatches it up to read it:
Relax, I didn’t kidnap you. For the record, I had nothing to do with you taking your pants off. You yelled “pants are for bitches” and fell over trying to get them past your ankles. I’m honestly a little impressed you succeeded. Keys are on the table. Don’t pet the dog.”
The spice? Delicious. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The vibe? Cozy, chaotic, sexy, and full of heart.
The rating? Easy 5/5. No notes. Just vibes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2023
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
CW - impact play, pleasure kink, edging
Tropes - grumpy x sunshine, workplace, jealousy
This is a short and sweet novella; it's fluffy with loveable characters.
Calliope is the sunshine FMC who goes to a bar and gets wasted. She wakes up in a bed that is not her own with an impersonal note informing her not to think the worst and not to pet the dog. Callie's interest is peaked (because whose wouldn't be) and she decides she wants to meet her new knight.
Harvey (MMC) is said knight. He's a grump and a divorcee with walls taller than him and struggles to let Callie in. I particularly loved how often he turned to violence where Callie and other men were concerned; idk what this says about me and my reading tastes but that's just the way it is 💀. Seeing his walls come down for her was sweet and I felt like they were a good match.
I've really enjoyed everything I've read by Octavia Jensen and this one is no different; I'm excited for what she releases next!
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
CW - impact play, pleasure kink, edging
Tropes - grumpy x sunshine, workplace, jealousy
This is a short and sweet novella; it's fluffy with loveable characters.
Calliope is the sunshine FMC who goes to a bar and gets wasted. She wakes up in a bed that is not her own with an impersonal note informing her not to think the worst and not to pet the dog. Callie's interest is peaked (because whose wouldn't be) and she decides she wants to meet her new knight.
Harvey (MMC) is said knight. He's a grump and a divorcee with walls taller than him and struggles to let Callie in. I particularly loved how often he turned to violence where Callie and other men were concerned; idk what this says about me and my reading tastes but that's just the way it is 💀. Seeing his walls come down for her was sweet and I felt like they were a good match.
I've really enjoyed everything I've read by Octavia Jensen and this one is no different; I'm excited for what she releases next!
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek
May 17, 2023
Well, I'm obsessed. This cute, angsty, slow burn of a relationship was everything. Callie and Harvey are perfect for each other whether he liked it or not.
Callie is the only girl sandwiched between 4 brothers (2 older and 2 younger) so she's always been well protected, but also strong minded. She knows what she wants, and she does everything she can to get it. That is until she meets Harvey. After a very blacked out drinking night she finds herself in his apartment, with no pants. Apparently, she doesn't like pants and took them off, but all Harvey did was put her to bed and he slept on the couch and was gone before she even woke up. And she did this twice. Both times he protected her and this has her interested in him. So, she does what any sensible person would do and wiggles her way into a job at his bar to be near him whenever she can to get under his skin. She wants him but does he want her?
Harvey is a very protective man. After his wife left him and took everything, he built his walls up so high no one has come close to taking it down. That is until she walked through the door of his bar and slowly starting to get to his heart. He doesn't deserve her and he's terrified of getting hurt again. But his cowardness won't get him far.
I love how Harvey kept trying to deny his feelings for Callie and when he ultimately blew it his own dog was mad at him. Like you know you messed up when your own dog wants nothing to do with you until you fix what you broke. But not only that Callie is a force to be reckoned with. She kept pushing and pushing and wasn't giving up on Harvey right away. Their angsty love made this story that much more desirable. That overcoming your past pain and trauma can lead you to a life of happiness. You only have to trust yourself and be brave.
Thank you, Octavia for an ARC copy of The Night Cap. This may have been my first book by you but it definitely won't be my last. I'm so glad I got introduced to you by Kady!
Callie is the only girl sandwiched between 4 brothers (2 older and 2 younger) so she's always been well protected, but also strong minded. She knows what she wants, and she does everything she can to get it. That is until she meets Harvey. After a very blacked out drinking night she finds herself in his apartment, with no pants. Apparently, she doesn't like pants and took them off, but all Harvey did was put her to bed and he slept on the couch and was gone before she even woke up. And she did this twice. Both times he protected her and this has her interested in him. So, she does what any sensible person would do and wiggles her way into a job at his bar to be near him whenever she can to get under his skin. She wants him but does he want her?
Harvey is a very protective man. After his wife left him and took everything, he built his walls up so high no one has come close to taking it down. That is until she walked through the door of his bar and slowly starting to get to his heart. He doesn't deserve her and he's terrified of getting hurt again. But his cowardness won't get him far.
I love how Harvey kept trying to deny his feelings for Callie and when he ultimately blew it his own dog was mad at him. Like you know you messed up when your own dog wants nothing to do with you until you fix what you broke. But not only that Callie is a force to be reckoned with. She kept pushing and pushing and wasn't giving up on Harvey right away. Their angsty love made this story that much more desirable. That overcoming your past pain and trauma can lead you to a life of happiness. You only have to trust yourself and be brave.
Thank you, Octavia for an ARC copy of The Night Cap. This may have been my first book by you but it definitely won't be my last. I'm so glad I got introduced to you by Kady!
April 26, 2025
⭐⭐½
"The Nightcap" had a promising concept—a quirky night-shift bartender and a mysterious customer—offering the perfect setup for a slow-burn romance with some intrigue. However, what we got was insta-love on steroids, with zero build-up or chemistry. One moment, they’re exchanging awkward, unnatural dialogue that sounds more like a series of forced one-liners than genuine conversation, and the next, they're declaring their undying love.
"You don’t understand… I’m drawn to you in a way that doesn’t make sense."
Yes, we get it, insta-love is the thing, but this was too much too fast and it made the whole plot feel hollow and unbelievable. The storyline itself felt thin, almost lacking the depth and complexity that would have made the concept shine. There’s potential here, but the execution is definitely a miss.
Honestly, the dialogue felt so stilted at times that I wondered if the characters were reading from cue cards. It didn’t flow in a natural way at all, and rather than feeling emotionally invested, I felt more like I was being hit with random catchphrases. For a book that aims for romance and tension, it missed the mark. Just a quick drink and forget, honestly.
"The Nightcap" had a promising concept—a quirky night-shift bartender and a mysterious customer—offering the perfect setup for a slow-burn romance with some intrigue. However, what we got was insta-love on steroids, with zero build-up or chemistry. One moment, they’re exchanging awkward, unnatural dialogue that sounds more like a series of forced one-liners than genuine conversation, and the next, they're declaring their undying love.
"You don’t understand… I’m drawn to you in a way that doesn’t make sense."
Yes, we get it, insta-love is the thing, but this was too much too fast and it made the whole plot feel hollow and unbelievable. The storyline itself felt thin, almost lacking the depth and complexity that would have made the concept shine. There’s potential here, but the execution is definitely a miss.
Honestly, the dialogue felt so stilted at times that I wondered if the characters were reading from cue cards. It didn’t flow in a natural way at all, and rather than feeling emotionally invested, I felt more like I was being hit with random catchphrases. For a book that aims for romance and tension, it missed the mark. Just a quick drink and forget, honestly.
May 12, 2023
This is cute. It's quick, (eventually) dirty, and low angst. These short novellas help break up those larger reads.
We have Calliope/Callie who ends up in our Hero's bed a few times because she drank too much at his bar.
We have Harvey, a bar owner with a troubled past with females.
And then we have the best character in the whole book, a dog named Dammit. Hahaha I love that dog.
Overall, this book is predictable, cheesy in parts, over-the-top male jealousy resulting in ridiculous bar fights, instalove with some mild "will he won't he" angst, and just a sweet little love story. It is grumpy/sunshine with plus-size representation.
Something random and completely not the author's fault: I despise the name "Calliope". I KNOW is pronounced "Cuh-lie-o-pee" BUT my brain refuses that. Every. Single. Time. my brain says "Callie-ope". It takes me out of the story because I feel like I have to reread it correctly. This is a total me problem and I just wanted to rant about it somewhere.
We have Calliope/Callie who ends up in our Hero's bed a few times because she drank too much at his bar.
We have Harvey, a bar owner with a troubled past with females.
And then we have the best character in the whole book, a dog named Dammit. Hahaha I love that dog.
Overall, this book is predictable, cheesy in parts, over-the-top male jealousy resulting in ridiculous bar fights, instalove with some mild "will he won't he" angst, and just a sweet little love story. It is grumpy/sunshine with plus-size representation.
Something random and completely not the author's fault: I despise the name "Calliope". I KNOW is pronounced "Cuh-lie-o-pee" BUT my brain refuses that. Every. Single. Time. my brain says "Callie-ope". It takes me out of the story because I feel like I have to reread it correctly. This is a total me problem and I just wanted to rant about it somewhere.
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