Calculated Chaos

by Mia Monroe

A weekend of discovery unlocks feelings I didn’t expect. Should we take a chance on love or return to the safety of friendship? 




I’m a steady and responsible guy. I’m predictable, reliable... exciting, right? I guess some people might call it a rut. And by some people, I mean my friends and family. On the eve of my fortieth birthday, they stage an intervention. Traitors.




Led by my carefree best friend, Axel, I’m pushed into having fun (shudder), but I try to enjoy the experience for him. It’s all innocent enough until my purely platonic feelings for Axel start to feel like something decidedly more romantic. Which is weird since I’ve known the guy for thirty years… Did I mention we’re both straight? At least I thought we were.




A discovery like this requires thoughtful planning. My reputation for being the reasonable one might help us navigate our new reality. Our lives have been flipped upside down and I'm afraid we'll make a mistake that we can’t fix. Will a little calculated chaos change our lives for the better, or will we go off the rails and lose everything that matters?




Calculated Chaos is a brand new high heat, low angst, contemporary MM romance from Mia Monroe, featuring two childhood best friends, a weekend of debauchery, double bi-awakening, opposites attracting, friends and family who meddle just the right amount, and an unexpected love decades in the making.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, M M Romance, Romance, BDSM, Contemporary

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2023

Reviews

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Calculated Chaos is a really entertaining dual bi-awakening, friends-to-lovers story. If you are a fan of these tropes, I think this story will be particularly appealing. It is low angst, high heat, and really leans into the sense of self discovery for both men. What I found especially nice here is the way Axel and Hollister go through this whole experience together and come out the other side happily in love and with a new perspective on life.

I found this one a lot of fun and a really entertaining read. I think it will appeal to a lot of readers, especially those that enjoy bi-awakening and friends-to-lovers stories.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of un-fortunate events? I love that Axel is trying to be his best-friend self when he stages an intervention weekend for his best friend who is turning 40 and well on the way to hiding himself away completely behind work ...

Hollister commits to going with the flow - with surprising results and more questions than answers - I love how all these new twists give him confidence and clarity... and I love that Axel is there to support and love him. This is one of those truly feel good romances with the angst and tension falling away as these two men come together through sexual awakening and kink awakening (mild). I honestly love that the angst and drama stays out of their relationship and things progress in a sweet and wonderful way. I love the epilogue and how well the story ties up the loose ends! Sara is a great side character and fun to read too!

I'm sad that this is a standalone romance- I hope these characters find their way into a supporting role somewhere so we can visit them again!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this new, stand-alone contemporary friends to lovers romance by Mia Monroe I couldn’t put it down. I also loved the tie in with her PNR series in New Onyx and brief visit by Thorn, IYKYK. Hollister and Axel have been best friends for decades. When Axel’s planned birthday weekend for Hollister goes awry d/t not reading the fine print they discover hidden parts of themselves, kinky parts. They begin to see their past together in a new light and wonder if their new kinky desires were there all along. Lust opens up their eyes to what’s been missing in their past M/F relationships and realize it’s been each other. They are each the missing puzzle pieces for each other and once they decide to explore their new relationship they are all in. The timeline moves quickly, but yet not b/c the underlying love they’ve had as friends makes it easier to make the leap to lovers. Axel and Hollister find their HEA by trusting in their lifelong friendship and never looking back. I definitely recommend this story.

[DJO · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This had very little depth and felt very textbook. The double bi-awakening was in no way realistic. The romance moved too fast and wasn't believable. Things were settled too easily with no real struggles or difficulties--everything tied up succinctly in an overly convenient, predictable bow. I couldn't keep straight whose chapter I was reading and continually had to backtrack. All that said, there was an undeniable cuteness to the couple that I enjoyed and some very decent sexy times to boot.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆

ᔑᑭᏆᑕᗴ: 🔥🔥🔥
しᗩᑌᏀᕼᔑ: 🤣🤣🤣
Ꭲᗴᗩᖇᔑ:😐😐
ᗰᑕᔑ: Axel, Hollister
ᑭᝪᐯ: 1st dual
Ꭲᖇᝪᑭᗴᔑ: Best Friends to Lovers, BDSM, Double bi-awakening,




Saliendo de mi zona de Confort leyendo BDSM.

Booom bitch!!! ✔️ superado!


Ahora el libro es demasiado adictivo Holl y Axel son perfectos el un para el otro cada detalle entre ellos es único. Todo acá es un viaje para Holl el padre y demás te dejan ganas de matar a ese viejo perpntodo el equipo de trabajo de Holl y demás te ganan con sus acciones. En fin vale la pena el riesgo de experimentar algo nuevo y salir de la zona de confort.

[_booklover_mamas_tomgirl_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! It was such a sweet, Low-agnst, Friends to Lovers read, with supporting family and friends ❤️
I Love Hollister and Axel, Hollister was too uptight and was just existing in his job to impress his father, that's when Axel stepped in to shake things up in Hollister's world, but little did he know that his life will also shake up. But everything turns out to be as it should have been 😍.
Two platonic bestfriends, who never knew that they were always in Love with each other, find their way to the epic Love story of their life.
I Love how Axel supported Hollister throughout everything, I love their relationship but I Love their friendship more ❤️
Eh! The brief appearance of Throne was the cherry on the cake ❤️❤️❤️❤️ it felt so good to meet him and his help and input was very much important for Hollister to decide to step out of his comfort zone.

This is an amazing book, everyone should give it a chance ☺️



#ARC was provided by the author and her team and this is my honest review ☺️

[Thrudr · Rating 2 out of 5]

The romance was pretty cheesy and totally not believable. The kink was well done and obviously the author knows about BDSM so that’s good.

I didn’t believe the love story at all and was pretty uninterested in the “plot”. It gets 2 ⭐️ because the smut was good and BDSM rep done well

[Grace ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I do love a double sexual awakening and add in some sweet kink and Wowzah I’m allll in!

I was excited to jump into a contemporary from Mia again. I’ve really enjoyed her paranormal books but I was excited for this one! Hollister and Axel were so intentional with each other and their relationship. It was clear from the very start that it would be 100% in for both of them. I LOVED that there wasn’t any gay panic freaking out. It truly felt like the romance was just an extension of the love they had already built! Watching Hollister come into his own was so satisfying and Axel was such a supportive and amazing partner.

Overall such a good read with very little angst (really none within the relationship) and some seriously hot kinky dirty talk!!

[Jvles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a friends-to-lovers story with some kink discovery and double bi-awakening thrown in. Although it is written from a dual viewpoint it definitely focuses more on one of the main characters. I would have liked to see some more of the other's life outside of the love story. I liked the supporting people around the couple. The story was sweet, it was hot and you leave it with an overall good feeling. Just what I needed right now.

[Jamie Lee Zonneveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calculated Chaos is a new contemporary romance by Mia Monroe. Calculated Chaos is about Axel and Hollister. I loved their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story, but a bit too surface-level. Especially toward the end, when it was also rushed.

[Sharon L · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Your way always leads to chaos.”

Two men and a journey of self-discovery that was a long time coming. Learning new things about yourself is always good. "You stop being scared by doing what scares you.”

OMG what a fantastic book. I fell in love with this story in the first few chapters and then I was all in. This will definitely be a reread for me!!! I'm rooting for a series from Mia based on this standalone story.

Childhood friends/roommates to lovers, double bi-awakening, controlling father, people pleaser

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww, what a sweet and unexpectedly hot romance between two men who have been platonic best friends forever but now, with Hollister celebrating his fortieth birthday, events lead to a change in outlook on his life and his relationships.
I love the idea of Hollister's closest family and friends gathering to stage an intervention on him. Working too hard and too much, becoming like his father who he works for and can see how bad his lifestyle is for him and all of his ruined relationships. Axel, his best friend, has a whole weekend of celebrations planned, and they are definitely out of the norm for someone who enjoys the quieter side of life. A couple of unexpected surprises really bring things to a whole other level for both men, making it both funny and heated for them. It's endearing to read them both going through the same emotions, having known each other for so long and now experiencing a whole new side to things, personally and with each other. I wasn't expecting where they took that part of the weekend and then developed things themselves, exploring a new found side to their wants and needs. It's hot to read with a crazy amount of chemistry between them but it feels like such a natural development between them, as though that's how they were always meant to end up.
There are also some good and not so good supporting characters. Sara, Hollister's assistant and friend, is fabulous in her support of him at work and with his relationships, especially that with his father, who is definitely the bad guy of the story. Not knowing the good he has in his son until he pushes it away completely.
This is overall a wonderful, low angst romance to read. Hollister and Axel may be opposites in a lot of ways but that just makes them match up even better, in the bedroom and out. Hollister has quite the life epiphany with his forced break from work to celebrate his birthday and it seems like something we should all do to make sure we are happy in life.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a standalone contemporary romance with one very buttoned up accountant, and his best friend who pushes him out of his comfort zone, and ending up in them both finding something unexpected. It's relatively low-angst, with a fair bit of heat and a helping of kink.

I liked both Hollister and Axel right away, especially how willing Hollister was to step out of his rut and try new things, and the absolute trust he had in Axel to look after him and I think in turn, Hollister steadies Axel and together they just work. These two have been best friends for years and already had that base of deep friendship, once the blinders were off and they could see their attraction to each other for what it really was. I loved that once they realised, they were both so quickly all in, but it never felt rushed or too fast, it felt right for these two. I LOVED Hollister finding his confidence at work and the nerve to stand up to his dad in his workplace, that was pretty epic, truth be told.

I loved how supportive Axel was in everything, their dynamic works for them and I did like that they were so willing to discover that part of themselves separately before finding it was much better together. When they did finally get together, it was seriously hot. There's not too much kink, which really worked and I also liked that they went to safe place to learn all that rather just jumping in on their own.

I really enjoyed this, it was unexpectedly sweet.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet best friends to lovers story. It had a double bi-awakening, plus kink discovery. I loved how easily these two worked their new dynamic into their everyday life. They definitely weren't 24/7, but it was cute to see the little D/s interactions during normal activities. There are some nice steamy/spicy scenes. I liked that since they were both inexperienced, they sought some outside guidance instead of just trying to make it work themselves.

I do wish we would have seen more of Axel's life outside of the relationship. I get that Hollister's work/life balance (or lack of) was the catalyst that started everything, and it makes sense that we see more of that from him. But we only get a scene or two about Axel on his own and I wanted more.

Since this was marketed as a standalone contemporary story, I wasn't expecting the shared world from Immortal Assassins or Thorn's appearance. It was a fun little tie in for those of us that have read the series, but they are pretty unimportant details for those who haven't read the other books.

Overall, a sweet yet steamy low angst read. This had several of my favorite tropes. I really enjoyed the light quick read, and the characters were a lot of fun!

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[DMCechak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calculated Chaos - No Broccoli Needed ;)

“I’ve been too good for too long for the wrong reasons.” “Yeah? Tell me about that.” “I followed all the rules, did what was expected, but it’s led to so much disappointment. I want to learn to be good for the right reasons. My reasons.” A slight smile pulls at his lips. “So you want me to be the one to do it?” “Only you. Free me from the past and this boring existence. Teach me who I really am. Show me who you see when you look at me.”

Mia Monroe creates a unique setting where best friends find something deeper than friendship in Calculated Chaos. Hollister has always had deeper feelings for his best friend and roommate Axel, but he didn’t realize that the physical affection Axel showered him with would lead him to find comfort as a sub. Recognizing himself as a Dom has also changed Axel’s perception of their friendship.

Both of these men have had relationships with women that failed and now, after a surprising birthday outing, they are starting to find that they are drawn to each other for a chance for romance that neither ever expected.

Wonderfully written with humor and sensitivity, Mia Monroe seems to be able to take any trope and create literary magic!

[Heather Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

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This book was a delight.

Mia’s new contemporary standalone, Calculated Chaos, is everything you could want from a low-angst, fun, and SEXY story.

We all need a best friend who knows us better than we do. And Axel is that for Hollister. So he’s confident that Hollister needs to shake things up in his life before he turns into his father.

What ensues is a lot of fun and definitely hot. As they explore new activities and feelings they learn that falling in love with your best friend is probably the best thing ever. And perhaps in some ways, they’ve been dating for a while.

There were lots of great moments, and one particularly epic accidental activity planned. All in all, Axel pulled off a pretty epic (and life-changing) birthday for Hollister.

It also has a wonderful happy ever after that will make you glow with happiness.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest standalone bi-awakening romance by Mia Monroe. Axel and Hollister were such great guys to get to know. They didn't feel like they were 40 years old when I was reading them, they seemed younger to me but that didn't lessen my enjoyment as this friendship turned to romance.

This sweet, low-angst romance was fun to read as they both inadvertently, through a series of mistakes by Axel when booking Hollister's birthday surprises, discover things about themselves and each other they had never been aware of. I really enjoyed seeing them both explore their newfound kinks and desires and loved seeing their relationship bloom and change and become even stronger than it was already.

I really liked seeing Hollister come out of his shell and stand up for himself to his father, take stock of where his life was going and look at whether he was really happy on his current path. Axel couldn't have been a more supportive friend, if only we all had friends like him.

I enjoyed the cast of supporting characters too, especially Hollister's assistant, she was good fun.

[Kristy Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear every book Mia Monroe writes is sure to entertain and make you awwww over her guys. Calculated Choas is the story of two best friends (sold me right there), Hollister and Axel. Hollister is a workaholic hell bent on pleasing his unpleasable father. Cue the intervention. Axel plans a full weekend of FUN! He is a little more loose and go with the flow. Unfortunetly, he also doesn't read the full description on the events that he has picked. This leads the guys on some hilarious but enlightening adventures.

Now these two straight men are questioning the straight part. AND questioning the feelings they are developing for each other. But, maybe they have been there all along? Of course they have and let me tell you, them figuring it out is a great ride for us!!

Calculated Choas is a standalone contempory gay romance with a double bi-awakening, a weekend of eye opening debauchery, and opposites atract.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This such a beautiful no angst (between the MCs) journey of best friends becoming lovers and then soulmates, of discovering what they really wanted/needed had been in front of them the whole time.
An intervention leads to world of self discovery, not only for Hollister (who the victim of the intervention) but also for Axel. I loved how there was communication, no misunderstanding or dragged out drama. Just two best friends exploring what they accidentally discovered about each other and themselves, letting their feelings blossom and accepting their new reality. Of course there is panic and doubt, but it is handled with communication and support, like true best friends. And their exploration of their new status as lovers was soooo hot!!
Also, the hidden gem of the little overlapping of the author's worlds was just such a great surprise. If you read their paranormal books pay attention of who gives advise to Hollister when he's sitting at the park 😍

[Jaimed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollister and Axel are great together. I love how much Axel has Hollister's back and how much he wants him to do the right thing for himself and not let his work and father drag him down.

I had some good giggles with these two. I swear Axel needs a PA or someone to help him. All his plans go wrong, but in the best was possible for the two of them. I liked how their relationship unfolds and how they start to open their mind and hearts to other ways of being together.

I am so happy that we have some supportive parents and a helpful and supportive female friend that isn't over the top. I like seeing more variety in family dynamics. I think that Hollister did the best thing for himself and everyone else when he made the choices he did.

I loved the pop in cameo that we had with our lovely Thorn and think it was a great little connection point between the paranormal and the contemporary books.

[Flick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Axel and Hollister are so cute!

This was such a sweet, low angst, best friends to lovers romance. I adored Axel and how much he wanted to support Hollister who, honestly, wasn’t really living but more surviving in his own life. I loved how they ended up discovering that there was so much more between them and how we got to see Hollister grow his confidence in himself. Their journey to their HEA was fun and sweet and just… well bubbly. It made me happy and I was smiling constantly watching these guys fall in love (or more realise their love for each was changing). Also, my beautiful, wonderful, delightful Thorn made an appearance. Needless to say I was ecstatic to see him. It’s been a while since I read anything of Mia’s that was contemporary and I enjoyed it so much. Whilst I think I will always love Mia’s PNR the most, this was a perfect nugget of contemporary goodness!

[Jillian Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Axel and Hollister are so freakin precious I am absolutely swooning over these two beautiful characters Mia brought into our lives.
Besties for decades and one surprise birthday weekend where Axel doesn't read leads to one beautiful dual biawakening story for us. These two have such a wonderful precious friendship but when they unlock new desires for themselves completely by accident it leaves them questioning how they truly feel for one another. They're both so unbelievably hot and steamy together and it comes so naturally for them. I couldn't put it down. Truly a beautiful story of reinventing yourself and letting go and following your dreams.

[Jenn's Book Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★½ STARS!!
This story is all sorts of brand-new discovery and exploration dribbled in kink. Yes, please!! I am here for it. I devoured it. And I love it!! Axel and Hollister are the absolute swooniest.

This book was such an amazing journey between these best friends. They were supportive, respectful of their feelings and responsible and mature on their decisions and navigation into these newly discovered kinks andfeelings. This was very well written. The story flowed nicely and well paced. I very much enjoyed this low-angst, best friends to lovers, kinky love story.

*** ARC provided for an honest review ***

[Sarah Thornburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia Monroe's return to contemporary romance is stellar. I loved 'Calculated Chaos' and its subtle tie-in to her Immortal Assassins series. 'Chaos' is a sweet and steamy journey between two best friends who discover that their desires and sexual preferences are not what they seem to be. I loved Mia's cautionary approach to kink; she had her characters bring in outside help so they weren't diving headfirst into their newly discovered passions. Overall, 'Calculated Chaos' was a fun and steamy read that I would highly recommend to anyone who is just dipping their toes into reading about the lifestyle.

[HarriReadsRoMMance · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the weekend before Hollister’s 40th birthday Axel, Hollister’s childhood best friend and roommate, hosts an intervention for him. His friends and family are concerned that Hollister is too stuck in a rut and want him to expand his horizons and what better time than before he turns 40! Cue a weekend of crazy fun, first time things for Axel and Hollister to experience together.

‘Caluclated Chaos’ is a low angst sexy story with a double bi-awakening about discovering (and embracing) things about yourself you never knew before, and as much as Axel wanted Hollister to learn new things about himself he too made some new discoveries. It’s never too late to go for what you truly want in life. The kink was quite mild and I would have loved a deeper dive into it. There was an unexpected tie-in with her PNR series set in the city of New Onyx and it was wild to wonder if they were partying at the club with any of her vampires!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Madisen Sickler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love Ax and Holl!

There’s nothing I love more than a good bi-awakening romance. I think I love this trope so much because of the amount growth and courage it takes to allow that kind of change and acceptance later in life. And Mia has knocked it put of the park with Axel and Hollister. With their story being friends to lovers, it is so sweet and trusting. I love how their established friendship allows them to really bloom. The slight light and dark to the personalities also…. Swoon. They seem different but work so well. If you’re looking for something sweet, spicy and lots of character growth - you should read Calculated Chaos 🖤

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hollister is a workaholic, not by choice, but because he's working for his father's company and wants his approval. He lives with his best friend, Axel, who was a genius and sold an app for a lot of money and he's waiting for his next inspiration. But on Hollister's birthday, his family and friends stage an intervention and Axel takes him out for a night to get him to relax. Yet, things take a turn when Axel takes Hollister to a gay BDSM club and they both discover something they didn't know about themselves. I loved how the two of them discover a whole new world and they do it together. A great read!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Axel and Hollister! They have a wonderful friendship and are such sweet guys. Total opposites that balance each other out perfectly! I just love how they both take everything in stride even when they’re both learning quite a few new things about each other and themselves. My heart went out to both of them. I couldn’t put this book down. It was very enjoyable and engaging right from the beginning! Very highly recommend! This is my honest opinion of this complimentary copy of this book

[Alison Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect mix of spicy and sweet! While I can always count on Mia Monroe to serve up the most swoony characters and plot lines, I loved this extra spicy story between two friends. Axel and Hollister's path to a HEA was so different from other friends to lovers books and I enjoyed it so much! I was surprised to see this story set in New Onyx, the setting for Mia's PNR series but I loved seeing it through human eyes with some cameos from some familiar faces! Can't wait to see what Mia comes out with next!