The Heir's Disgrace

Doormen of the Upper East Side

by August Jones

Drew Riley: Night Doorman of The Eastmoor on Park

I’m stuck in an uptown lobby while my dreams of making it as a model in New York hang by a single thread. Meanwhile, Olivier Arnaud lives his best life as a useless socialite, flaunting his wealth, his looks, and his privilege. His gaze taunts, and his nightly, condescending smirks burrow deep beneath my skin where I simmer with bitterness and hate.

The day he asks me to deliver his mail directly to his 12th floor penthouse, he makes it personal, and the thread snaps—violently. With my hand around his neck, I feel alive for the first time in months. Though my frustration may have found the outlet it craves, my body’s response causes everything I thought I knew about myself to shift.

Faced with vastly different but equally uncertain futures, our baser needs align, turning our increasingly heated encounters into a reckoning—both sexual and shockingly emotional. I know I have to stop. The last thing I can afford to lose in this heartless town is one more piece of myself to a man who already has everything.

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Contemporary, Mental Health, Dark, Queer

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2024

About the author

August Jones (She/They) is an author of queer romance and a voracious reader of smut. She resides in Texas with her family, pets, and books. However, she reads mostly on her phone because she’s cheap, it has a built in backlight, and it’s almost always in her hand.

If you ever discover her real name, don’t tell her, just read the books she’s published (you’ll like them) and thank her later with a rating or review. Mwah!

Books: KU, Paperback, & Audio
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Reviews

[Emna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @64%
WELL...EWWWWW
I have 7 trillion nerves in my body, and they STILL MANAGED to get under every single one 😭🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂💀💀💀💀💀💀… AND even invented new nerves just to annoy me more....

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Wow, what a great story from August Jones who just goes from strength to strength with each book published. August manages to balance the elements of great characterisation, an interesting plot, laughs, and lots of romance and satisfying smut all with reasonable depth.

This is the story of Drew and Olivier. Olivier is a spoiled rich kid and man whore who lives with no responsibility or regard for anyone and doesn't want to grow up. Drew is the Doorman in his apartment who is depressed and wears a thin mask of apathy and anger. Drew is crippled by broken dreams and feels like New York has chewed him up and spat him out .

These two hate each other, every interaction marked with sneers, insults, snark and power plays...but we all know from reading MM romance that there is a fine line between hate and lust / love 😉

There were alot of tropes here:
Opposites attract - rich boy and working class boy
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy/Sunshine (maybe a bit more vapid rich manwhore?)
Bi-awakening/gay for you for both MCs
Vers dynamic - which I would have liked them to do more of 🥵👀
Forced proximity
Mental health rep e.g. depression and suicidal ideation
Drug use
Breath play, dominance and submission, aggressive primal play
Found family
Grief and loss
Parental neglect - off page
Domestic violence - off page, perpetrated by parent towards adult child
HEA
AND Weed Lube people!! WEED LUBE!!!

August Jones tackles all of these themes exceptionally well however at times I felt like it was a lot to cover and contributed to a hefty page count of 440 pages (it kinda felt longer).

In saying that, this was a fully realised story, and I probably could've hung out with Ollie and Drew for a bit longer 😅 They were such perfectly flawed and likeable MCs.

Other comments about the book:
- I liked the exploration of how the characters coped when faced with difficult life circumstances; Olivier thrived, sadly, Drew did not.

- Olivier started off as a spoiled and shallow brat but ended up being kind, generous, loyal, and selfless when provided with the right conditions. Loved Ollie to bits!

- Found family rocks!! 💜

- The female characters in this book weren't portrayed as psychos or bitches, which was refreshing, except for Olivier's mum, who was a total bitch.

- Olivier and Drew's initial hook-ups were aggressive, angry and primal e.g. breath play and shoving/slapping which were hella hot 🔥 and served to meet their base level needs for connection (as they both seemed lonely and disconnected).
By doing so, they were able to do away with all pretence and just be honest about their needs and be seen by one another. These dynamics were interesting to observe as they unfolded into something deeper between the two.

- Drew's depression and mental health deterioration was realistic and well handled. This was an underlying theme permeating throughout the book and it was inevitable that Drew would eventually crack. Poor baby x

- As Drew and Ollie wondered if they were doing "gay sex" right, the take home message was "There's no right or wrong way to be gay, it's just what works for you!" 🏳️‍🌈

I totally recommend The Heir's Disgrace!! 💯
A stand out for 2024!!

[KnittingMamaBear-Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5⭐ 5/5🌶️ 2/5😱 5/5😍

I have a funny thing with August Jones - either i LOVE her work, or it makes me mad.
Guess which one this was 😹

The Heir's Disgrace is sort of like The Influencer in the dynamic between the 2 MC's, but different in that the relationship development here was deeper and more heartfelt. TLDR on the plot premise:

Ollie, the 'Heir' lives in this penthouse (parents are rich, he is a spoiled rich kid with no hobbies, job or college degree, but drug abuse patterns, and a full disregard for personal safety or his future). The apartment building has doormen, and Drew is one. Drew is a depressed, repressed and hot as shit aspiring model who feels like he's been kicked down by life. Oh, did i mention, both of them are straight and Drew is in a relationship.

I loved their initial dynamic, loved how it transitioned seemingly inconspicuously into a relationship, and then love. Obviously this ends on a HEA but the road there is BUMPY.

Themes, tropes, triggers, sub-genre notes:

🚪double bi-awakening
🚪rich vs poor / class difference
🚪cheating (not between MC's)
🚪arranged marriage between 1 MC and a FC
🚪M/F sex between the above (off page but important to the story)
🚪found family
🚪heavy mental health rep and triggers - mentions of self harm, clinical depression, medication, drug abuse and hypothetical OD's

The spice: i was surprised to read about their first 🍑 time 🍑and to see that it was not irrefutably amazing. Very often we read about the first times and like there is this epiphany that this was how the MC's were supposed to have sex always. Here, it was clearly amazing but not necessarily without bumps on the road. With this more realistic depiction, it made the scenes more about their connection and less about prostate pegging, and i appreciated that.

I hated Ollie at first, and liked Drew throughout. Ollie really grew on me so much, the development his character goes through, the growth, and the love you see bloom throughout the book were just all 🤌.

Just a side note on the cover - as always of course i'm going to be all snarky about it - this is Drew, on the cover, i expect? And if so, respectfully, are doormen in NY looking like this now? I live in Europe, where our little socialist society structures won't allow for this shocking extravagance of an apartment building having a doorman to what, push the elevator button, and bring up your breakfast? So yeah, holy socio-economic privilege of imaginary Manhattanites, way to conform to classist norms and perpetuate useless jobs. But also, this man on the cover is not a doorman. He doesn't eat carbs, you say? Okay...

I highly recommend this book if you read spicy M/M romance.
Maybe check CW's in case you are a sensitive reader.

[Megan [At The Cottage] · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM Romance
Hate To Love Double Bi-Awakening
4 Stars ⭐️


So…I feel like this review is going to be all over the place so I apologize in advance. There’s a lot I absolutely fucking loved about this book and it’s making it impossible for me to rate this any lower than 4 stars especially because of the couple but the things that annoyed me have me feeling a bit ranty. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I absolutely fucking love this couple. OMG Drew and Olivier were just everything. This thing between them may have started violent and a bit unhinged but it grew into such a beautiful relationship. This was a double bi-awakening and I loved what they found in each other. They not only had amazing chemistry and the sex scenes were FIRE🔥 but for all their differences they were the same at the core. Both Ollie and Drew were extremely lonely people that found solace in each other. For something that started so violent, I couldn’t believe how absolutely adorable they became. I was living for their cuddling, neediness and just overall inability to be apart. I loved how they always fought for the other even when shit seemed hopeless. The scene with Ollie needing a hug and Drew talking him through it because they couldn’t touch 🥺🥰 I loved how these two talked and showed their vulnerable sides with each other once things progressed more. The jealous possessiveness hooked me too especially when it was ridiculous. I mean who thinks it’s a good idea to go on a double date with your significant others when you guys are fucking? Talk about a clusterfuck but they hated being apart so they’d put themselves together even if it was not in their best interest. 😂🙄

This book pulled me in and had me in such a chokehold that I couldn’t put it down however I had issues with how much this book dragged near the end. I feel like what happened was needed especially when it came to Drew getting proper help but I just wish the author hadn’t waited until the very end to address it. When I get to 85% of a book I’m looking to wrap shit up and this just felt never-fucking-ending and it’s what is preventing me from giving this 5 stars. There were other things that I didn’t quite vibe with like epilogue 2 (it’s ok to let shitty people stay shitty!!!) and some of the family dynamics but I would have overlooked them had I not had to deal with the pacing at the end of this. The family dynamics were really weird though because Ollie seemed to have a good relationship with his parents, having brunch with them everyday and talking about everything but with one scandal they all but abandoned him and it just felt like a bit much? However, this scandal brought us Elodie and I fucking loved her. She definitely surprised me in a good way.

But I just keep going back to this couple and how much I adore them and it’s what is keeping my rating so high. And this had one of the hottest sex scenes I’ve read in ages. 🥵🥵🥵 I also liked how realistic their first time having sex was because these two had never been with men before so them being great at it wouldn’t have made sense. This has lots and lots of fuck hot scenes and I was living for them. I’ve never read this author before but I am definitely going to look into the rest of their books.

I will say though that both Drew and Olivier were hard to like at the start but they grew on me as time went on. I had read the sample for this book when it first came out and I didn’t like it and wrote it off but then my friends wanted to do a buddy read and this was chosen. It wasn’t until I opened it up that I realized this was the book I had written off but I committed and if nothing else buddy reading a shit book is a bonding experience but once I got past chapter 5 I started eating this shit up. I could not put it down and I stayed up into the night to read it. Just a heads up that there are a lot of despicable characters in this book and these guys are cheating on their significant others to be together. Personally I didn’t care about any of this because they were so hot together but I know cheating is a deal breaker for some people.

I feel like this review is repetitive and all over the place but listening to music and trying to put my thoughts together while singing along isn’t doing me any favors.

Lastly, it’s incredibly unfair for this author to mention flip fucking in the epilogue but not show it on page. Same goes with the leather cock ring. Just saying. And how come Drew was able to come and go from Ollie’s apartment and no other doormen said anything? Like someone had to of seen these guys with the way the building was and all the cameras. But somehow Drew could practically live there and still go to work in the lobby and no one said anything. What? 🤣


”Show me what a good boy you are, baby. Show me how hard you come with my cock in your ass and my hand on your throat.”

[…]

“Lie back for me, baby.”
He whimpers against my mouth. “What happened to Peach?”
“It was always supposed to be baby.”

[…]

“It’s not your fault, baby.”
I’m about three of Drew’s babies away from declaring my undying love for him, so he needs to watch it if he doesn’t want to wind up stuck with a clingy, destitute hobo with no job skills and a bad attitude.”


& thanks for buddy reading this with me discord peeps plus my favorite person to buddy read with ever, 🫶🏻 mug 🫶🏻 the number of times we said the same thing at the same time was a bit unnerving. same name, same thoughts 😂😂😂😘

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** stars


This was a mixed bag for me. One that eventually worked for me but wasn’t quite sure a few times if it would. I’m glad it did, tho.

“If I wanted to blackmail you, I would have done it already.”
“I don’t know. What if I piss you off?”
“You constantly piss me off.”

•
“Eric moved out. Silas is moving out. Chris found some place to stay—I can’t afford this town.”
I slide my hand over the one he has resting on the mattress. “Blackmail me. I’ll pay.”

This was def an intense story and Drew and Olivier had to conquer quite the amount of obsticales to be together but they fought. Hard. And a little unfair maybe. And throw in a few fairy godmothers there in the end to make these two love birds come out on top and you got yourself a very satisfying HEA.

I totally liked that this was smutty af but the two epilogues could’ve done without it, tbh. Please heed the TWs at the beginning of the book, there are quite a lot.


I really liked it. Tho I’m still not convinced this author’s stories are really a good fit for me. So I’m probably not going to return to the Upper East Side.

*************
Doormen of the Upper East Side Series

Book 1 - The Heir's Disgrace - 4.0 stars
Book 2 - The Muse’s Undoing

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book so, so much!!!

I wasn't sure what to expect as this is the first August Jones book that I've read, but it was so up my alley it was like it was written specifically for me!

Drew was such a great character. I loved his story, I cried for him and I loved the way the story ended. I kinda would have liked a showdown with Peggy, but also that's just the chaos gremlin in me and the way it was resolved was healthy instead 😂😂

Ollie annoyed the fuck out of me to begin with, but I ended up loving his character too. I usually hate the rich boy character who thinks they have to make some ridiculous deal to keep their family money rather than be with the person they love, but for some reason I genuinely loved him and felt so bad for him! His mother was absolutely disgusting!

Elodie was also a great side character and I love all of the friendships and the found family feel to this book.

So excited to start the next one!

[Bookbingewithsteph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutey mastered tension and undeniable chemistry. Can’t wait to read more from this author

[TrippyBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 this is my first book by this author and I was thoroughly enjoying myself. I’ll definitely read more from them.

If you are looking for some seriously hot smut , toxicity & some sizzling chemistry this is the book for you

Their relationship starts off a bit dodgy with cheating involved( not on each other) but what can I say? I only care about my ship 🤭

Double bi awakening
Choke kink
Mental health rep

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: rich/poor, grumpy/sunshine, hate to love
Feels: 3/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: BDSM, rough sex, marking, breath play
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: depression, suicidal thoughts, cheating (both of them were cheating on other partners and cheating between MCs imo), stupidly unsafe sex, DUI, unsupportive parents, money struggles, ill parent, drug and alcohol abuse, blackout substance abuse, domestic violence (minor character), rape (not between MCs, consensual somnophilia turned into non-consensual condomless sex trying to get pregnant)

3.5 stars. I did enjoy this quite a lot at times. But it was inconsistent, a lot of negative headspace, and so many parts just didn't sit well with me, so I'm rounding down.

Drew is 30 and he's working as a doorman at a really exclusive building where all the tenants are super super rich. He's in New York and he's been trying to make it as a model but feeling to break through. He's one of five children and his family isn't wealthy, his dad has been sick and one of his sisters has been pressuring him to help financially and now he's very much in debt when he was never well off, he was always struggling for money himself. He's been struggling with depression for years and years but he's too poor to get mental health treatment. He's been in a relationship with his girlfriend Jericho for 3 years but he's not as into her as she is into him. He struggles with a low sex drive because of his depression.

Ollie is 24 years old and he's one of the tenants at the building. He's a child of billionaires and he is super spoiled. He's never worked a day in his life. He's always been close to his parents in his mind, he has brunch with them everyday. But he comes to learn that it's a superficial closeness. Ollie's been using drugs and alcohol since he was 15 years old. He's a bit of a sex addict. He's constantly bringing home different women every night sometimes multiple women. And he rubs it in Drew's face because he can tell Drew is envious of the women. I should say they both think they're straight, Drew and Ollie, before they hook up with each other and have their bi-awakenings.

Drew hates Ollie initially. Drew is delighted when Ollie gets a DUI and gets arrested in a incredibly viral scandal. He cackles at his misery. Ollie f***** up bad and his parents hate this scandal that he's created and they decide that he needs to get married and try to rehabilitate his image. They arrange a marriage for him. At this point Ollie has been abandoned by all of his friends because they consider him social suicide. Ollie pushes Drew too far one day, and that turns into choking, marking him. And Ollie is surprised to find himself extremely turned on. Ollie chases Drew in hopes to manipulate him into more choking and breath play and sex. They start hooking up. But it's complicated because they're both cheating and they're keeping their relationship secret. Ollie would be giving up on a lot with his family and money if he chose Drew. And Drew is struggling with his mental health and his financial crisis is that a melting point and he has to make some life decisions and he's not sure if he's willing to blow up his life for Ollie.

I have some complicated feelings about this book. There was a lot that made me uncomfortable, that were complete turn offs for me in a romance book and there were times where I wanted to jump ship and dnf. There was a lot that was incredibly unromantic, at times I was judging the book for not being an enviable love story in a million ways but at the same time I was thinking I should be respecting the author at times for not making it a too easy love story.

My thoughts as I was reading:

- Active drug abuse is difficult to watch
- Ollie seems to me to have a sex addiction
- Ollie is messy blackout on drugs and drink and presumably has sex with a pornstar during the wild night, can't remember if he used protection
- Drew wakes up one morning amid a depressive episode that has been lasting weeks to his girlfriend riding him without a condom. The somnophilia is fine, it's part of their relationship, but she's trying to get pregnant and she refuses to listen to him when he says stop. That's rape.
- Ollie's behavior when he gets arrested is so unappealing to me as a romantic lead. His behavior is so horrible and unsafe. Driving while intoxicated, being a dick in front of the cops, fleeing, being so blackout that he doesn't know if he had protected sex with someone who has more risks than the everyday person
- I like that Drew legit hates Ollie and I cackled at their early dynamic of taunting each other.
- There's a bunch of on and off page sex with other people before they get together and that's fine. But it bugged me that after Drew and Ollie have been hooking up, Drew has sex with Elodie (his fiancee). He was pressured into it and he didn't really enjoy it. But Drew was jealous and ticked. And it was really spineless of Ollie to give in. Not a good romantic lead decision. Drew doesn't have sex with Jericho after he hooks up with Ollie fyi.
- I dislike rich characters that don't have jobs. Ollie has never worked a day in his life, and I find that lack of ambition and Independence really unattractive in an MC.
- I hated that Drew and Ollie didn't use condoms. And there wasn't really a detailed to talk about safe sex, other than Ollie saying he was negative. Drew has had unprotected sex often with his girlfriend in the last week or so. And Ollie has had a very risky sex life up until that moment. He had sex with a pornstar blackout under the influence and sex with a wildly sexually active Elodie a couple days ago, plus a whole bunch of other random people in the last 2 weeks. I don't care if he had a negative test 3 days ago or a week ago or what he shouldn't be having sex without a condom. It's very irresponsible.
- After they have anal sex for the first time,vOllie goes into a shame spiral and Drew is unhappy. These guys don't get to enjoy a post sex happy glow, and that's a parallel for a lot of moments in this book. They don't have a very romantic journey as a couple, all those little moments are negative moments. In most romances you'll see moments of happiness, were they smile to themselves, or the other person just makes them happy and they enjoy and relish it. But in this book all those little moments are tainted by negative emotions and their struggles, and you just don't get that feeling that they make each other happier until very late in the book. There's a lot of well why are they together if they're this unhappy? I hate that neither Drew nor Ollie has a romantic bone in their body. Neither of them are willing to take a risk on love, neither of them have any hope in the feeling. It makes it really hard to see them transitioning to being in love and living a real life.
- Random dumb moment. It seems kind of stupid that they only have 20 minutes for a hookup at Ollie and Elodie's engagement party and they are deciding to have Ollie bottom for the first time. That's not really something they should rush.
- Page 273, finally one of them is taking a risk and talking about having feelings for the other!
- page 280 -this has been bugging me for a while now but it really comes to a head when Drew calls in sick to work. I don't get how they think they're keeping their relationship secret from the other staff at the building. The doormen keep track of which guests have visitors and who. They are all up in the business of the tenants of the building, for safety reasons of the other tenants. There's probably video of the doors. Drew playing sick and then walking in and out of Ollie's room/building must be a big giveaway.
- Drew's mental health struggle is real and well told. It's good that sex and love aren't being portrayed as a magic solution for depression. Even while Drew is happy in his relationship he's probably at his worst mental health wise until he gets actual help in therapy and with drugs for his depression.
- I do love the banter between them, and I love how obsessive and possessive they feel about each other
- another dumb moment - apparently Ollie's dad plans to turn his business over to Ollie when all he turns 30 in 6 years. If you're grooming your child to take over the family business, you should be making sure he's actually capable of it, make him get an education, make him work and develop the skills that are needed to manage your business. It's unrealistic that he would just hand over his company at that age. Especially because Ollie's dad is not so old that he would be out to pasture in 6 years. It's kind of ageist lol.
- Various typos
- I like the epilogues into the future to see Drew and Ollie happy. And I like that Ollie eventually made up with his Dad, it was realistic though that he didn't make up with his mother.

Some notable moments:

"Drew’s warm, strong hand settles on my shoulder. “It’s not your fault, baby.” I’m about three of Drew’s babies away from declaring my undying love for him, so he needs to watch it if he doesn’t want to wind up stuck with a clingy, destitute hobo with no job skills and a bad attitude."

"Do I feel loved? Absolutely. More than loved. Vital. Do I love him? There’s more to it than that. I choose him. He’s more important to me than high ceilings and a park view. He makes me feel safer than money ever has. He’d be devastated if I stopped breathing in my sleep. He’d never take his eyes off me again, and I wouldn’t mind."


*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.

**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.

[Marilla ☘︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5✨

Wow, I could not put this book down! Olivier and Drew's relationship was everything! And I love them + their found family so soo much!!🫠❤️

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not get enough of this new-to-me author's newest book.

While it took me a bit to warm up to Olivier, because he certainly does not make it easy to like him for a bit, I was able to warm up to him eventually and came to really enjoy his character.

Drew is the 30 year old doorman working the nightshift at the building Olivier works at. He moved to NYC when he was 18 to try to make it as a model - he is absolutely drop dead gorgeous - but has failed to make a career out of it so far. That has caused him, over the years, to steadily become more and more depressed, like clinically depressed. He has feelings of great inadequacy, feeling he is a failure and just not worth it.

He's never quite gotten to suicidal, though. He's been able to kind of coast through life so far, with some upswings to kind of balance his downswings. It has slowly, steadily been getting worse, though.

He does eventually get to a rock bottom in this though, and has some thoughts of suicidal ideation (he gets help before it gets really bad, though). So heed the trigger warnings in this.

Olivier seemingly has it all. He's had parents who (seemingly) love loved him all his life, and their riches to live off, using to basically party, do drugs, drink, and have a lot of sex 24/7. Just enjoying life, is his philosophy. But everyone has to grow up sometimes. And at 24, it's really getting to be that time for him. Especially when he has one too bad of a scandal for his parents to ignore or try to hush up, and he's then put into an arranged marriage situation with another "screw up" socialite, Elodie.

But as that's all going on, he loves to rile up Drew, his doorman, and be as obnoxious to him as possible. But Drew's depression has underlying tension and anger slowly building up inside him, and he hates Olivier. Hates how he has it so easy, and flaunts his riches in his face, and never takes anything seriously - oh and also orders Drew to do the most easy, menial tasks that even a rich boy could do all on his own.

One day Drew just snaps, and things get violent - but then...Olivier kinda totally...loves it?

These two are also seemingly straight, so the attraction that builds between them surprises them both. Olivier gives into it a little bit easier than Drew, though. But Drew, inevitably, can't help himself.

But also, he has a girlfriend, and what he and Olivier are doing is wrong. Doesn't matter that he and his girlfriend were long heading for a break up, they're still together. Jericho, his girlfriend, is of course pretty great, so it makes it all the more shitty (although in the beginning she *does* ignore him telling her to stop during sex, so...idk. That happens, but then after she's just always great. But....also Drew kinda totally forces his cock down Olivier's throat in their first real sexual encounter, even though Olivier finds out he loves it and eventually takes control of the blowjob, it's still forced at first, so....everyone's being dubious all over the place in the beginning of this)

So the cheating tag is for Drew cheating on her with Olivier. These two never cheat on each other - hence my no-cheating tag also.

I did ultimately like that Jericho and Elodie became so great, and they were all able to become friends and best friends. When Elodie was introduced, she could have easily gone the way of some other romance books out there where she's just insufferable. But her behavior was more to do with her own trauma, and she did her own growing too.

Also Jericho had one of the best reactions I've ever seen of finding out your partner was cheating on you? Like damn, okay, you are a saint ma'am. She even wanted Drew to tell her about them and what was happening in their relationship, like...oKAY! I guess she also felt her and Drew were headed for the scrap heaps and had accepted it by then to be able to react that amazingly to it.

As for Drew and Olivier...they got me. Like one minute they hated each other, then were hooking up, saying it was casual and meant nothing, and then just naturally went from that to eventually falling in love, and it never felt out of place or too fast or like it didn't make sense.

Like they fell in love pretty fast after they started hooking up, but it didn't feel fast. Their chemistry was also just off the charts amazing. I never got tired or bored of their sexcapades (which were many, as these two are perpetually horny for reach other - and I'm not mad about it at ALL. So hot, so fun to read. Although if a LOT of sex is not your thing, this might not be the book for you. These two go at it like bunnies most of the time.)

Seeing Olivier's transformation was wonderful too. He matured without loosing that Olivier...ness. He lost all the obnoxious, annoying qualities and became a much better version of himself. Still somewhat spoiled and all that, but also someone so caring and loyal and ready for fight for the love of his life.

Drew goes threw it as well. Like, his depression is pretty bad, and Olivier helps alleviate it for a time - and they truly do absolutely love each other - but even someone you love like crazy can't heal you of a mental illness. And once Drew has reached his own rock bottom, and has to finally do something real about his depression, things get SO much better, for Drew and for them as a couple.

Also Olivier finding a way to get out from his parent's thumbs and be financially independent was wonderful as well.

Olivier's father at the end coming around was a bit out of left field, but I was so happy for Olivier - and Drew - getting to be even happier in their HEA that I didn't mind too much. It just would have been nice to see a bit of a hint that the father felt differently than Olivier's mom...but ah well, what can you do.

So overall, I absolutely loved this. It was amazing. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

This was an absolute win for me.

Can't wait to see what this author gives us next! 😍😘

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Twice as long as it should be, with all the plot in the first 15%, and the last 20%, all telling no showing. 95% of the book takes place in Olivier’s penthouse, which is very repetitive on top of the absurd number of similar sex scenes.

Like the second Drew cums when topping this is the “love mode activated beep boop” internal monologue we get:
“Everything—and I mean every fucking thing shifts for me behind these black gauzy curtains.
What was once want becomes caring. What I used to know for certain was craving becomes a desire so deep, it vibrates my bones. What I used to hate, I’m falling for, one curl, one smirk, one jab, one unreasonable request at a time. I fucking called him baby.”
——————
The following events occur off-screen and we are told them in infodump form later, typically when we are once again in the penthouse:
Any conversations not about sex or the marriage plot
Ollie getting clean and sober
*note the rest of these off-page plot dumps all occurred after the 75% mark in quick succession
All modeling for both of them
Olivier learning to cook
The entire rehab time
Finding the brownstone
Shopping for and designing the brownstone renovation
Talking more to the ghostwriter
Funeral for his dad
Being around his family and back home for the first time in years after the funeral
The panic attacks that led to the hospitalization
Drew talking to his mom in the hospital
Public reaction to the tell-all book
The wedding or meeting Drew’s family
Speaking to Drew’s family longer than to make them leave so they could have sex again in the epilogue

The word cum is used 51 times (after accounting for 1 use of documentary and 8 circumstances) to give you an idea of how many sex scenes there are.
But they are all pretty much back-to-back with the MCs arguing and having long internal narrative updates on their feelings and mental states, between the 20-70% marks with plot happening before and after.
In some scenes the characters reversed positions they had in the previous scene (of who is all in and who is doubting) even recycling the other’s argument back at them later that same day.

Frustrating to see what could have been an interesting story bloated and paced badly like this. I skimmed most of the sex scenes to try to get to *something* happening
——————
Some cringe quotes for the road:
Because he’s broken in a way I might never understand but yet sort of want to fix?

An angel mid-fall from grace.

I just left with my relationship status now in the “it’s complicated” category. I hope I didn’t hurt her. But I know I did. I can only hope it hurts more like a terminal illness…an expected death. Like accepting the inevitable. Not like I took a hammer to her heart.

His lips are soft and plush like his ass,

“Drew…” he sighs, fingers still fucking me slowly.
“Whose hole is this?” I ask. It’s a test.
“Yours.” He passed.
“Good boy. Now, feed it your cock. It’s hungry.”

Yes, it’s way too soon, and most of what we do together is sexual… I want to be the person he turns to when he needs anything. If I can’t give it to him, I’ll figure it out. I want his laughter and his tears. I want his fear and his sense of adventure. I want him to be mine. Only mine. That’s love in my book.

My feelings for him make no sense, but maybe I need to stop trying to make sense of them. It’s only making me more depressed. In my head it’s all wrong. But in his arms, everything is right. (This is basically said 50 times, presumably to punish me for a sin in a past life)

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite August Jones book to date. I really enjoyed it.

[Mug · Rating 4 out of 5]

ollie and drew are the most soulmate mfs I swear😩😩 they started out toxic and rough af, like concussion level rough, and goddamn was it sexy af fuck!!!! like sorry I don't make the rules, almost suffocating is in now💀💀

I LOVED the way ollie just jumped right into being attracted to drew, like the man wants what he wants and he has no problems bulldozing until he gets it😂 like they were giving boyfriends from early. drew also dives headfirst into ollie, his preexisting relationship be damned. and here's my thoughts about that:

cheating between the two mcs: 😤🚫😒🚩👹
one mc cheating on their partner to be with the other mc: 😍💘😏✅😋

i’ve never had reading morals a day in my life btw🤷‍♀️🤣

so yes, I ate it all the way the fuck up. plus the smut??? FUUUUUUUCKKKKK it was sooo sexy, my god I was drooling🤤🤤 like what do you meannnn "i need new bruises, these are fading, freshen them up"🥵🥵 and the possesiveness, the "MINE MINE MINE", the "I did my research", the "tell me you love me, I'll fucking choke it out of you if I have to"....these two were ELECTRIC, they invented chemistry!!!! even when they were fumbling morons, they were FIREEE🔥🔥🔥 and soo soo sweet🥺🥺 and then when they started to actually CARE about each other, fall in love with each other, CHOOSE each other over and over, hold it down and be there for each other time and time again???? omfg heart palpitations fr like they just fucking BELONG together!!!! god you could really just FEEL how much they BURNED, how much they NEEDED and WANTED each other😩😩😩 even when they argued, you could tell it was all bc they cared so deeply. I could've read a hundred of those scenes, it was so realistic and heartbreaking, but also amazing bc you get to see them fight for each other and they want it sooo bad, they’re not willing to give up on each other or let the other give up on them😩😩 their bond is unbreakable, I'm telling you, idgaf if only took them 2 weeks to fall in love, I was thoroughly convinced!!!

the plot was questionable and kinda all over the place tho😂 first of all, why tf were ollie's parents so bent out of shape about his scandal??? I feel like those kind of scandals are par for the course for rich people💀 just have ollie lay low for a couple months or send him to rehab. the arranged marriage and radio silence for months was dramatic overkill fr (and solved so anticlimactically). plus literally why would two billionaire families announce their engagement by being photographed proposing with a 5 carat ring in a restaurant???💀💀💀 first of all, a billionaire would never be caught dead giving or accepting a 5 carat engagement ring goodbye!!! and proposing at a restaurant??? that's for normal people, billionaires take day trips to French chateaus or private islands with their yachts to pop the question, even if it’s fake, this whole thing is about reputation and i don’t think billionaires worried about reputation are allowing 5 carat rings and restaurant proposals🤢💀 but i will say ollie’s fake fiancée, elodie, grew on me soo bad, i ended up loving tf outta her

second, jericho was WAYYYY too nice when drew told her it was over and he'd been cheating on her😭 like sorry but what girl who's been in love with her bf for 3 years is gonna be calm and rational and generous enough to comfort her cheating ex when he cries????💀💀💀 ig it’s the girl who stayed in a relationship with someone who never said "i love you" the entire 3 years😭😭 could never be me baby, but stay safe out there tho😂 and then they immediately stayed friends?? jericho, ur one tough ass bitch fr like what are ur secrets😂

there were a few eyeroll moments tbh like when ollie bottoms for the first time in a bathroom when they only have 20 minutes to fuck💀 like not happening babes but love the use of artistic license😂😂

this was literally 5 stars for me all the way up until the last seemingly 100ish pages turned into the most dragged out, convoluted, extended epilogue possible....too many damn storylines going on at once and then taking sooo much freaking time to wrap it tf up like goddamn I could've cried💀💀 and wtf was going on with epilogue 2 and the whole let's redeem ollie's shitty booty ass father with no explanation from him??? and then ollie's apologizing to his father too??? gag🤢 like literally for what!!!!!🤕 ollie has absolutely nothing to apologize for rn tf???? i'm erasing epilogue 2 from canon idc.!!!!

also the fact that ollie once said that being cut off or disowned would be the worst thing in the world short of death and then he ends up CHOOSING DREW and basically initiates the cut off and disownment😩😩😩💘💘 my fucking weak heart will never recover😭

buddy read this with the discord (biggest shout out to whoever chose this book, many forehead kisses to u💗) and megan, who's basically my twin atp, which was SO MUCH FUN🫶🫶💓🙏 I love how aligned our tastes are when buddy reading lmao😂

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I mean when I say I want pain and angst in a book. Emotional, gut-wrenching pain. Seeing no way out for them that doesn't leave them in ruins. I used to pray for times like these.

“I want you,” I whisper.
“I know you do.”
“But I don’t know how to want you.”
“I think that’s something we can figure out,” he tells me.

"Why?"
“Is there something specific you need to hear me say?”
I love how they keep insisting on things.

So this is probably toxic AF but what I loved most was their recklessness in saying hurtful things during fights. No holding back. Everything felt raw and authentic with these two.

"I want you to stop expecting me to change my entire life for someone I’ve been hooking up with less than a month.”
Gut punch. But also. It needed to be said💀

I like the way they hold their feelings over the other like a hammer.
"If you love me, don't leave me."
"If I give you some time, are you going to break up with your girlfriend?"
"Don't marry her."
"I don't want to share you."
"I don't think I can get through my engagement party without you there."

Yessssssss. Say it. Say all the things that need to be said even if the asks are selfish and unfair and sometimes borderline unhinged. It's ridiculous and toxic and so, so good.

“You’re catching me at a really low point,” I say.
He smirks. “Believe me, I know. That’s why I’m taking full advantage.”
💀💀💀💀And he bloody means it too. How can you not root for this?

Also, Drew was such a fucking runner, he should have signed up for marathons OMG.

“I can’t answer that today.”
“When can you answer it?”

The pressure and aggressive accountability in this relationship, I swear to God 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Like, what do you mean you need a moment to think?! Choose me and fuck the consequences.

In another life, I WANT to be as annoying as Olivier, I swear.

This book isn't just light and fuckery, though. It also explores depression in a way that feels.....maybe I don't know the right word to use here. But I like how it was handled.

It's not sanitized but also doesn't give off the vibes that someone needed to be 'cured' before they could find love.

Anyway. 10/10 book. A new author whose books I now get to read.

[JonathanSamuelReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What happened to Peach?”
“It was always supposed to be baby.”

Ummmmmm okayyyyyyyy Okayyyy 🔥 🥵

[melancholy_reader [hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a mess. 🫠
But I loved it somehow?? If I had to consider how the story developed, I'd probably give it 2 stars --and maybe I should have because there are really annoying flaws, like the idiotic 'you cheated on me but it was with a man so it's kinda of cute' scenario. Jericho, you're the worst. I think that's such a stupid and ignorant thing to say --whatever.

Also, things like Drew's depression and rehab could have been developed to 30% of the book not to 80%, the pace was so slow at some point. I really hope the author finds a new editor because there was so much potential! However, Ollie and Drew took my mind off these flaws, and hooked me with their toxic, unhinged, so intense feelings for each other, so yayy, they won.

It's so hard for me to find a contemporary romance with 'enemies to lovers' right now that I was afraid I would be disappointed, but I got good vibes from this couple and the 4 stars are for them alone. ✨✨

That being said, we fucking deserve the flip-fuck scene. So, dear August Jones, give us a bonus now, or we'll riot!

[Shonee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this book turned out a lot better than the summary let on. RUDE.

[ancientreader]

No star rating, because I don't feel like writing a thorough review. But if like me you get hooked by the initial general unpleasantness of the MCs and the hostility between them, to say nothing of the dubcon breathplay, take note that the more the relationship between them grew, the less interesting they and their sex life got. What a shame. Cf Ari Baran's Game Misconduct, in which the nasty sex stays excitingly nasty even when the relationship gets real.

[ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

After about 30% I ended up loving this so much that my mind is as a jumble of a mess as Drew’s and Olivier’s was for the majority of the book.

I have 592 MM romance books under my belt, and this is one of the better new releases I’ve read in a while, when lately a lot of them have felt copy/paste, rushed, repetitive, and phoned in.

Just could have been edited down a lot more for length.

Heed the TW/CW.

[Bree | breesoleilreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dayyummmm this book was so fucking hot from the beginning 🥵 I was truly highlighting for my life right from the start. But also? It was wayyyy more painful and raw than I thought it was gonna be, I went in blind and I’m glad I did.

This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, Olivier and Drew were messy, intense and perfect for each other once they gave in to their feelings and got their heads out of their asses. It was toxic af at the beginning and dammit if I wasn’t eating that shit tf up. That enemies to lovers dynamic was delicious and the shift to lovers was hectic but also so beautiful and natural, the course of their change over time felt earned. I was truly locked in from the start, so much so that I binge read it for 8 hours straight 🤯

Olivier could’ve easily been an obnoxious character because of his snarky, sarcastic personality. He was clearly all bravado from the first POV, I loved how truly soft and squishy and sweet his heart was underneath the mask he put on for the world. The friendship between Ollie and Elodie was a highlight of this book for me, the loyalty and understanding between them was so beautiful to read. And how he managed to become exactly what Drew needed without trying to “fix” him? Oh, I severely swooned.


Drew, damn, my heart broke for him with how much he went through. I related to his struggle with depression so much. The need to hide how much you were feeling to not burden anyone else with the depth of how far the pain goes just resonated with me. He did a lot of fucked up shit, don’t get me wrong but even the reasons for that still had you rooting for him. He was super flawed but felt so deeply and intensely that gave his character a richness and rawness that I haven’t seen in a long while. And the way he and Olivier (eventually) actually communicated and talked like adults was truly refreshing.

I cannot leave this review without talking about the sex! Holy fucking hell the sex was soooo good and plentiful. I felt visceral reactions at how detailed and descriptive and delicious every single scene was. 10/10 recommend 🥵🥵🥵


August Jones’ writing captured my attention from the start and literally never let go until the end of the book. Their writing is so descriptive, visceral and real, I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and screech about it to anyone who’ll listen 🗣️

[Tare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating - 4.5 Stars

This is the first book I’ve read by August Jones and to say I devoured this was an understatement. This felt like a guilty pleasure book in the best way. It was kind of OTT, packed full of smoking hot sex and characters that you can’t help but completely root for.

It’s a double bi-awakening between Olivier (a rich, privileged little shit) and Drew (his clinically depressed doorman who hates Ollie with a passion). These two antagonize each other so much and things kind of line up for them both at a critical time and some lines get crossed between hate and getting off (honestly damn those first few scenes 🥵). Their chemistry and the sexual tension was off the charts.

Watching them experiment sexually with a man for the first time and all the ups and downs that come with that and figuring out what they both like felt realistic. It wasn’t always easy for them to feel comfortable in what they were doing but they figured it out along the way with each other.

And while the smut continues throughout (bless) these two also grow more tender and fall in love. I honestly loved the little moments of them showing vulnerability and how it all happened so gradually.

The ride was a little bumpy - Drew has a girlfriend (yes there is cheating), Olivier is in an arranged marriage to please his parents (Elodie girl I hope you get everything in life you could ever want 💗), and Drew has to deal with his mental health. But in the end these two got their HEA and I ate it up.

I will definitely be giving August Jones another go because this one was addictive in all the best ways.

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader*]

I'm not sure what to think. I ate this shit up. I read It in a day. But... I don't know. I loved it and also kept on thinking wtf.
What I loved was the depression rep. That was amazing, no magic dicks here.

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐, but I'll round it down.

The last third of the book after the conflict (fake engagement and wedding, etc) was what made the decision for me to round down this rating, because the story was dragging out at that point and put too much emphasis on sex overall while quickly giving resolve to quite a few conflicts.

I enjoyed it, it's a good setting but there's too much sex and it takes a long time until the MMCs gain some depth.

🟢 Old money / a doorman and failed model
🔵 Rags to riches
🟣 Double bi-awakening
🟡 Age gap - 6 years
🟠 Cheating (it says not between the MMCs, but there's one scene that was just that, so yeah, a lot of cheating overall)
🔵 Depression, trauma, assault, dub-con, arranged marriage (not between MMCs, but affecting them)
🌶️ A lot of sex; it gets to be too much in the last third; both vers

Drew is the guy on the cover; he's 30 years old and someone who's gone to New York to fulfill his dreams of being a model, but didn't really make it. At all. He's depressed about it, he doesn't get along with his folks, has a girlfriend he ends up cheating on and lives in a place with 3 other friends who are just as broke.

Olivier is old money rich, he's a socialite, a 24 - year old playboy who's taunting Drew -- his hot doorman -- all the time while partying, bringing home models to his penthouse and living a lifestyle Drew can only dream of.

"He makes me feel like no one in my life ever has— like I’m worth more than my name or my inheritance. Like I’m worth more than an hour a day. Like I’m just plain fucking worth it."



Their story was pretty good, Drew and Olivier had some intense chemistry and the bi-awakening was good, it developed gradually and believably and even though these two were more or less assholes throughout the book, I kind of liked it.

It's not always fated and groundbreaking with a nice bow on top, oftentimes it's just what this story's about - messy relationships, toxic family, mental health issues and two guys that don't really know if they want to risk it all for being together.

That might turn off a few readers, I'm not gonna lie, some things here weren't digestible -- like their endless dialogues that were getting them nowhere. It was painful reading them talk and they always ended up fucking after that, so 400 pages was a bit too long if you ask me, it's just those irritating dialogues and sex and it got very repetitive.

Olivier and Drew both seem very shallow for the most part and Olivier can't decide if Drew is worth losing his inheritance, so when they do get to that love part, you can hardly believe they made it, because it's just money, cock and mediocre communication with them, not to mention the uncertainty of it all -- they aren't sure for the longest time if they really want to give it a go. They do know they can't stop fucking each other though.



The cheating part might be a problem for some. Drew has a serious girlfriend and a shit sex drive because of his mental health issues. It's clear they should've ended things a long time ago, but he doesn't. Even when he's actively and consciously cheating on the girlfriend, he kind of doesn't really want to break it off. God knows why.

Olivier is meant to marry a girl picked out by his parents, so he's engaged the whole time and presumably has to have sex with her - and he does. So he's seeing Drew and then has sex with her (once), so that changes the dynamic a bit as well. It's a mess, a complete mess but at the same time it's not a fairytale scenario and I kind of liked that.

The epilogues also weren't up my alley. Their wedding was off-page. Nothing was said about the consequences of Olivier's book. The modelling career just sort of perfectly happened. They got the house and the penthouse, just like that. They went from almost impossible to very standard, I guess. It's a good ending but there was just something missing and it started when Drew left his job.


In general I'll say I liked it, sure. It's not a fantastic story, but better than average and I'll read the second installment.

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5
Steam: 5
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary erotic romance, MM
Main tropes: opposites attract, hate to love, sexual discovery

August Jones has this uncanny ability to write highly addictive stories and characters - and The Heir's Disgrace was no exception!

I was so intrigued by these two and their... violent attraction to each other. What Drew and Oliver shared was initially raw, toxic and destructive, and it was difficult to see how anything good could ever come from that. It was easy to feel for them though, and it didn't take long before I was completely invested in everything going on. I loved how Drew and Oliver kept surprising me with their actions, and they both went through a lot of personal growth throughout the story.

Drew and Oliver's story was messy, almost chaotic, but in the best of ways. They were really hot together, and while their whole dynamic felt like it came from some kind of sexual desperation and frustration, it wasn't long before an emotional connection formed as well. The hate to love, opposites attract and double sexual discovery were all very well written here, and I loved the ways things progressed between them, however messy and wild it was.

They both had their fair share of struggles, and there were a lot of things happening throughout the book: scandals, family issues, struggles with mental health, cheating... But even so, the story never felt particularly heavy or dark. There was always a sense of humour and lightness present without taking away the underlying seriousness of the situations, and the support and understanding that developed between Drew and Oliver helped too.

The Heir's Disgrace was a highly entertaining and wild ride all the way through, and I loved the pacing and the twists and turns. Drew and Oliver were both characters that grew on me, and I was rooting so hard for them. I'm really looking forward to more books in this series, and if you enjoyed August Jones' Manhandled series, I'm sure you're going to enjoy this one as well!

-
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Heir’s Disgrace


cw: dubcon, rough sex, drug & alcohol abuse, cheating (not between MCs), domestic violence (off page), depression


”I’m ready to lock this in. To commit myself to this. The jealousy and possessiveness that’s been gnawing at me has to do with one thing and one thing only—I want to be the person he turns to when he needs anything. If I can’t give it to him, I’ll figure it out. I want his laughter and his tears.
I want his fear and his sense of adventure. I want him to be mine. Only mine.”


”His body overtakes mine like it’s his to use. And I want it to be. I want someone to want it. That Drew wants it means everything. He hated me so much, and he changed his mind. Or I did. We changed each other, and that’s so fucking beautiful. It’s terrifying, but it’s a miracle, too.”

— bratty rich kid/doorman who’s a model
— hate-to-love
— bi-sexual awakening
— angsty but also funny
— fake marriage with woman (side character)
— effed up family dynamics
— kinky sex

[reverie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐rounded up. i picked this up specifically to have something trashy and mindless to read through the weekend, and ended up tripping my way into a surprisingly touching story about love and friendship.

this book probably isn’t for everyone--one of the main characters has a girlfriend through most of it, and i know that’s hard no for some people--but it scratched enough itches for me to be a happy camper 🤷‍♀️

[Chu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow ... I just inhaled this book! I couldn't put it down. I feel so raw and happy and so many other things after finishing it. I won't say much .. Just read it

[BeckieLouLou · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Yowza, spicy with a wonderfully unexpected take on some very traditional tropes. Super glad I went in blind or I would have skipped this one. I did ask a book-friend for a tiny spoiler about 30% in and I’m so glad i trusted their opinion and kept going. This author waived their magic wand over these tropes and turned them from my least favorite into incredibly interesting and endearing storylines. Arranged marriage, fake-ish engagement, cheating and dating women are on my no-way list, but man oh man did this author turn the table and make me LOVE this story. I devoured this book and had a hard time staying away from it in order to work my 9-5.

Not a typical rich/poor, not a typical fake marriage…great imaginative take on these themes. The third wheel in this storyline became one of my favorite things about the book. So well done, much kudos to this author for taking us on this less traveled road.

Super spicy, mildly toxic, breath play, bruising, HEA, fake-ish engagement, arranged marriage, mild enemies to lovers, cheating, double bi-awakening, NYC, model, rich/poor.

[Yue · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author provides the TW at the beginning of her book, which is always appreciated.

However...

One of them is "Cheating (not between the MCs)" so silly me assumed it would be of secondary characters. Nuh-uh. It should have been "Cheating (from the MCs)" which for me automatically rates a 1; the author has to be really good to make me give it at least a 2 stars.

That is right, both leads have someone else on the side. From Olivier's side, fine, he is forced in a marriage of convenience, but please note (this is important for everyone who doesn't like their leads sleeping with other people) that he has sex all night with his fiancee once he and Drew started their "something". He is "forced" to do it because his parents make him and bc his fiancee is a nympho. And even when they are both into their agreement, Drew still has his gf on the side bc he cannot bring himself to break up with her. They even both go on a double date 🤮 and Drew is being pounded for a couple of weeks while her poor gf is waiting for him 🤮

I have so many other issues with this book, I swear the only thing that made me finish this was the smut, which still could have been less (50% less at least!).

Other problems I have with this, besides the f**ing cheating:

- Olivier is a f*ckboy and has been sleeping around every night with a different girl (of sometimes, girls at the same time, since he was a teenager (he is 24). He may have slept with all the women in his city. But still, the first time they go all the way, they are "you clean?", "yes, me too" and do it bare 🤮 Drew (besides the fact that he is in a relationship) witnessed all those nights when Olivier was a f**boy, how could they??

- Olivier is a momma's boy, he doesn't know how to work, how to do anything besides living lasciviously. So of course if his parents arrange a marriage with someone he doesn't want, he still goes ahead because he needs the money. Oh right, Elodie becomes his bff and he also wants to help her, turns out her father is violent with her and blah blah, wow how much crap! I couldn't believe all the drama and how assholes Olivier's parents were, he wasn't actually loved, blah blah, but look at that, almost at the end, his father comes with weepy eyes, he wants to be a parent to Olivier, etc, etc 🙄 And Olivier still marries Elodie (but of course in name only, they will get divorced later, etc etc) while Drew is the side lover.

- Both leads are assholes at the beginning (and they still are till the end). But Drew specially was an ass when they start their arrangement because he gets to sit there and enjoy all the bj from Olivier. But of course Olivier, being the promiscuous boy he is, doesn't mind much, as long as the breath play and slaps continue, but still, Drew was an ass! Even when they first go all the way, he just lays there, taking the pound and even thinking "oh well, this is not that bad".

- This wasn't a romance for me. I didn't feel the love at all, I wanted butterflies in my stomach and I only got my smut craves satisfied 🤭 But still, it was lust at first, and then out of nowhere Drew gets all possessive (hello, they didn't even kissed yet.. they didn't even really talked yet; heck, Drew didn't even touched Olivier yet). It was a double bi-awakening so of course they were horny for each other all the time, specially because of the illicit feelings (their words, not mine). And then it comes the "I love you forever" when they have only talked a couple of weeks ago! And not really "talk", more like insults and mocking, which lead straight to sex and nothing. Drew only knows Olivier is a rich, spoiled f**boy and Olivier only knows Drew is hot and trying to be a model (bc he looked on his IG).

- Too much drama! Olivier is alone in the world, has nobody except Elodie and Drew, people he knows for a couple of weeks only, so in a way it feels like his relationship with Drew is more on the co-dependency aspect. His parents don't love him, Drew has a problem with his older sister mainly because of money, then it happens the issue with his father; then it is the money (or lack of); then it is Elodie and her father, then it is money (solved very quickly at the end, because both leads are "model material" 🙄); Drew and his depression, the marriage arrangement, etc, etc.

- The last 2 or so chapters were so rushed, why the need to add all the cheesiness and "character development" and even NEW characters?? (for the sequel, obvs). In the final 2 episodes, Drew goes to a mental facility, Olivier and Elodie get their book written, Oliver introduces Drew to his parents, which leads to them kicking them out; there is the wedding, the death of Drew's parent; Olivier and Drew getting a model contract, also getting married, also getting new friends, also Elodie maybe into their female ghostwriter (???), blah blah blah. Let's say this book is 25 chapters: 23 of smut and the last 2 the solving everything??

- They also both say some things that were "alert! alert! these 2 will not last!". For example, and he is right of course, Olivier saying he cannot trust Drew 100% because, what if some day he cheats on Olivier like he did to Jericho, his gf? Or when Olivier tells Drew "he is just a doorman" (Olivier didn't even finish college, the nerve!).

So I checked this author's other works, and it seems she is not for me. Looks like she likes the MMF or on others, not the exclusivity, which nope, not for me.