Bad Daddy

by Riley Rivers

Bad Daddy is no longer available for purchase.

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

Kindle Edition

Published July 26, 2024

About the author

Riley Rivers has been writing since they were a wee thing and aspires to be That Person who regularly sits in coffeeshops with a laptop and knows all the baristas. They are well on their way to achieving this dream.

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Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️

{ You deserve being happy. } ᡣ𐭩

Oh, I needed a couple hundred more pages of Danny and Haru.
Don’t let the title fool you, Bad Daddy was super sweet and fluffy, loads of hurt/comfort, and no daddy kink [*sad sigh*].
The romance was a nice slow burn, with only one spice scene, but I loved the contrast between how Danny was treated all his life to how Haru adored and basically worshipped him.

“Do you want to come for me? Show me how pretty you look when you come?”

Haru, you sexy angel. The spice scene was very much worth the wait, and it was surprisingly hot & sweet.

The ending did feel a bit abrupt, maybe left open for a book two, and the plot didn’t really feel finished. More of a HFN ending, in my opinion.
Other than that, I really enjoyed this quick and achy read — hurt just enough to make me feel something, and had lots of warm fuzziness to make up for it.

« Haru kissed him the same way he said Danny’s name. Like Danny was precious and important. »

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Sugar daddy relationship (not between MCs)
- Dub-con (not between MCs, not graphic)
- Themes of emotional abuse, manipulation, physical abuse
- Hurt/comfort
- Dyslexic MC
- Asian MC
- Slow burn
- One spice scene

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

- sugar relationship
- hurt x comfort
- age gap
- dyslexia rep

Needing help to pay for college and to make ends meet, Danny signs up to be a sugar baby and meets Clint, a colossal douchebag of a sugar daddy who says and does cruel and hurtful things to Danny just because he can.

Needing Clint to survive Danny takes his abuse, until he meets Haru, who shows Danny his true worth and how he deserves to be treated. Haru is thoughtful and kind, spoils Danny just because, does not judge him for his dyslexia and helps him get accommodations for his classes.

Poor Danny doesn't know what to do and can't believe someone like Haru would like being with him for him and not have ulterior motives, but grows more into himself the more he spends time with Haru.

Honestly Danny and Haru were absolutely precious, and despite how awful things started out for Danny, their story was surprisingly sweet!

[Cindaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story. Danny is loveable and is very easy to empathize with. Haru is a lovely person, and I loved how gentle he was in his pursuit of Danny.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny and Haru ❤️

4 Stars ⭐️

✅ Hurt/Comfort

✅ Slow Burn

✅ Low Spice


This read was adorable. I expected something very different in the main couple kink and spice wise but it was a very cozy love story with precious characters instead and I didn't mind at all. This relationship build from start to finish was everything good about a well written hurt/comfort story. I would recommend.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my
Open and honest review *

[Shelf of Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Read

I ended this book feeling indifferent I wanted to really like it but I honestly think it was so slow burn to the point that the romance aspect was kind of lost Haru and Danny felt more like friends for half book then potential lovers. At of scenes were started in the book than abruptly ended it felt at times like pages were missing but they weren't. We kept hearing about how bad Clint was but we barley got to see him to understand the full scope of their relationship. Overall the book felt unfinished it ended very abruptly it felt more like a HFN than a HEA.

[Shelba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm… well, I’m a little torn.

On the one hand, I enjoyed this book.

On the other hand, it says both in the blurb and in the front matter that:

Bad Daddy contains a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship but no daddy kink, closed-door relations with an antagonist, whump, hurt/comfort, a dyslexic MC, and a HEA.

Sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship with no daddy kink is my jam, constantly on the hunt for but never to be found. So I was excited, but told myself not to get to excited.

And it’s a good thing, because the MC? Sugar baby, for sure. But the sugar daddy? It’s just the antagonist. Haru, the LI, is not a sugar daddy. So, was that warning me there was a SD/SB relationship vs promising me a SD/SB relationship? False advertising or misunderstanding, either way, my disappointment knows no bounds.

The hurt/comfort I agree with, but this was not whumpy enough to be whump, imo. I need the suffering dialed up a few notches for that.

So, if I was rating this on being a SD/SB whump romance, maybe 2 stars. Maybe.

But as just a romance with a Sad Boy TM? I liked it. It was an easy read. I love a Sad Boy TM, after all. So, 3.5, rounded up.

It could have been a 4 or maybe even a 5… but, the pacing was a little off for me. 1/3 of the way into the book, Danny and Haru had only interacted twice. And the issue with the sugar daddy was left unresolved. Sure, Danny ghosted Clint, but Clint sent his driver to look for Danny at his college. And Haru doesn’t know Danny’s sugar daddy is his archnemesis, the vile Clint. We are just going to leave that hanging? Just end things there? I’m all for open endings, but to me, that makes it more HFN than HEA. The whole Haru finding out who the sugar daddy was, was the conflict that this needed. But the author just let the climax fizzle out. Anti-climatic, is what it was. You can’t build that antagonism the whole book and then just drop it.

And while this isn’t something I care about, because I can’t visualize things anyway, I did find it interesting that Danny’s appearance is never described. He is smol, I assume, mainly because he always says how big Clint, Haru, his teacher, his friend, essentially everyone is, in comparison to him. And I know he is 21. Very weird to not describe your MC at all. It had no affect on my rating, but was just odd, considering I’m typically complaining about authors describing every little detail about their characters and ever outfit they wear.

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3
Steam: 2
PoV: single, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: hurt / comfort, class difference, slow burn

Bad Daddy was a sweet and slow romance, full of hurt / comfort!

This story had a lot of things I love, and I'm a total goner for stories like this where one MC finds safety and comfort with the other MC. The hurt / comfort was very present here, and it was so good to see Danny starting to letting people in and accepting help. He'd been struggling on his own for too long and I hated that he felt trapped with his abusive sugar daddy.

Haru was the sweetest and he was definitely the kind of person that Danny needed to have in his life. He was so genuine with Danny and it was clear how badly he wanted to help Danny, but he knew he couldn't push him too much either. I enjoyed seeing how things developed between them and all the support that Haru offered Danny warmed my heart.

The ending felt very abrupt to me, more like a HFN than a HEA, and considering the story was under 200 pages, I felt like there was opportunity to give Danny and Haru a more satisfying ending. I would have loved to see more of them together once the situation with Clint was more settled, and I'm also curious how Haru would have handled the information that Danny hadn't shared with him yet. There were just several questions that were left unanswered here and it threw me a little.

There were overall some things I struggled with throughout this story, but it might just be me issues and based on my own experiences. Some things felt a little drawn out, and I wish the dyslexia rep was written more realistically in terms of being diagnosed and getting accommodations for studies.

Bad Daddy had some fantastic hurt / comfort, and I liked how the story was kept on the sweeter side despite some heavy themes. Danny and Haru were almost ridiculously cute together and I loved to see Danny thrive once he accepted Haru's help and support. If you like sweet slow burn romances that have plenty of hurt / comfort, you might enjoy this one!

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

[Guardian.angel54 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't let the title fool you because this isn't what you'd expect when you see the word "Daddy". It isn't a Daddy/boy story. The term "daddy" strictly comes from the relationship that the MC, Danny, has with a man that is paying for his rent and college tuition as his "sugar daddy". This man is very abusive towards Danny - who is convinced that he doesn't deserve any better and isn't worth more than being treated this way, until he meets Haru. Haru is a young lawyer who is conjoled by a friend into offering tutoring help to Danny, who is studying to be a paralegal, and who, as you might guess, falls for him. This really is a rather sad story - sad as in heartbreaking - and there were several times that I teared up. Danny is such a sweet soul but life has continually beat him down and it all stems from him having undiagnosed severe dyslexia. Despite this he really does try and it broke my heart to read about his struggles. Haru was a great counterpoint to the abusive "Clint" (aka the sugar daddy) - patient, kind, and someone who puts Danny first. Their relationship is a slow burn and there is only one real spicy scene, but it was sweet and totally fit the personalities of the two men. I loved the secondary characters and felt that they were given adequate strength to add to the storyline. The ending threw me for a loop. It's very abrupt and leaves several key points unanswered. I'd call it more of a HFN than a true HEA. Maybe the author is going to have a sequel to wrap things up - which I would be very interested in. As it stands, this story is about two chapters short of pulling everything together. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy reading this, it just ended too quickly. The struggles that Danny went through were very well written and there were no blaring grammatical issues. It's a very touching story and definitely worth reading - the ending aside. This was my first time reading this author and won't be my last. 4/5*

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

BAD DADDY is an amazing book where the title tells you about the antagonist. Danny is a young man who suffers from severe dyslexia and has struggled to make his way through high school and college. To help achieve his goals, he signs up for a sugar-baby website but gets a cruel and controlling person in Clint, who feels better about himself when he makes Danny feel bad. Danny's life turns around when he meets Haru and then the story really kicks off.

This was a slow-burn story with Danny and Haru, but also with Danny and his friends. For a long time, he didn't think he was worth anything to anyone, so for him to realise he had people who cared about him was wonderful to read. And with Haru, it was the contrast between how Clint treated Danny and how Haru did that made it so good. There is one steamy scene at the end that was well worth the wait, but for me, that was just the cherry on the icing on the cake!

One thing that surprised me though was there was no mention of Danny going to the doctor's or any sort of clinic to be tested. I would have thought that would have been one of the first things he would have done or Haru would have suggested, especially considering how Clint didn't like protection!

I'm really hoping this turns into a series and we return to Danny, Haru, Jacob, Manuel, and the rest of them. A great story that I definitely recommend and would love to read more about.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 20, 2024

[Avid Beader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main strengths of this story center around Danny, the main character: his struggles with a crippling level of dyslexia, with a lack of support systems that drive him to an unhealthy sugar-daddy situation, with a lack of self-esteem ground into him through a long series of very difficult circumstances. The author does a very good job of showing what a dyslexic person might experience, along with how the myriad of resources available can help a dyslexic person if they have access. There are also several examples of how friendships can begin and grow and gradually help build the self-awareness and self-esteem of someone like Danny, who is used to trying to survive on his own. The central romance is very much a slow burn, as Haru first has to get to know Danny and become his friend, and then be very careful in his support since the last thing he wants to do is become a new anchor holding Danny back from true independence.

The main weakness for me is the usual thing when a story has super compelling characters: I wanted more. I would have liked to see more of Danny's interactions with Clint; there's certainly enough on-page to show Clint's cruelty, but there is a lot of "tell" through Danny's interior monologues. I think a bit more would have given the plot some extra spice with suspense, with the readers more actively worrying about how Danny might be able to get out of the situation. I also would have loved more denouement, giving us a bit more at the end with Danny and Haru growing together as a couple, as hopefully Danny discovers a career that he never thought of before.

I am glad I bought this book and I know I will read it again.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ This was such a lovely, solid story and I liked it so much!

Since his dad died, Danny has never had anyone in his corner until Haru comes into his life. Until this point, Danny has been struggling - to pay for school and to get through school. To do the first, he signs on to be a sugar baby. To do the second, he signs up for tutoring. For pretty much all of his academic life, Danny has had to suffer through having undiagnosed dyslexia/LD and this has caused so many issues in his life. Luckily, through his tutor Lily, he meets another tutor, Haru, and Haru comes to realize that Danny has dyslexia and helps Danny to advocate for himself - in so many ways.

It would be so easy for Haru to just become Danny's sugar daddy himself and resolve some problems that way. However, instead he helps Danny find the tools he needs to advocate for himself and to achieve independence. The development of their friendship & Danny's coming into his own is beautiful to see. During this time, Danny also finds a found family of his own and it is so sweet how they come together for him.

This story is so sweet & Haru and Danny are precious! I will definitely be rereading this. Also, I would love to see more from them!

What to Expect:

* sugar relationship (not between MCs)
* hurt/comfort
* slow burn
* low spice
* age gap
* found family

[Flick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkably sweet despite some darker themes

I honestly wasn’t prepared for how sweet this was. I had prepared myself for a book that really packed an emotional punch in a painful way. Yes I expected a HEA but when a character starts off with someone awful I always expect it to be emotionally tortured (especially as I’m a total softie). I was actually I see inky (pleasantly) surprised that while this absolutely has heartbreaking things happen to Danny, the sweetness between Haru and Danny is like a soothing balm. I didn’t feel wrecked emotionally after this; I honestly felt light and happy because Danny deserves the world and Haru is right there wanting to give it to him when he is ready. I will say, I feel like there’s more to the story; not in the sense that it was rushed or needed filling out but in the sense that the end feels… I guess a bit like book one in a series? I could see this going for a few books as we get to see Danny grow into the amazing person he’s going to be and Haru and Danny develop the beautiful relationship I know they’ll have long term. I’m not aware of it being part of a series so that’s what’s kept it at a 4 for me as if this is a standalone then I feel like the ending was a little… not unsatisfactory, just a bit less than why I would have liked. But the story is still precious and sweet and lovely and just all round wonderful in any event!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I enjoyed this book, the characters were interesting and complex, and it was a story that left me with a good feeling. It also spoke to my heart, as I was a teacher for almost 50 years, and there were so many children who came through my classroom with learning challenges, and for so many years they weren’t recognized or we didn’t know enough about what to do to help the children as much as we wanted to. I thought the difficulty of dealing with dyslexia was explained well, and the types of technology and other accommodations today (not just at the college level) are amazing. Danny’s feelings of being stupid, hopeless, with little self worth, having no future, were so realistic, highlighting the message they get from others, when in reality above average intelligence is more the norm. Haru’s intuitiveness and understanding, his caring and compassion, asking nothing in return, did so much to bolster Danny’s sense of self confidence and worth, as well as opening Danny up to the possibility of being loved for himself. I just found it very positive and uplifting, happy that Danny found the person he deserved (and Clint did too, in a way.). Glad I chose this book.

I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review.

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It turned out to be a super sweet story. I loved both Danny and Haru. I was so sad for how Danny's sugar Daddy was treating him- all for the ego and because he could.

'If Clint said jump Danny had to say how high... Danny knew that Clint did stuff like that entirely because he could. Clint was the sort of guy who liked having all the power, and Danny was someone who had none.'

Being dyslexic made things harder for him and he just wanted a better chance at life and this was the only way he could see how. I loved his meeting with Haru, who was so kind to him- and very impressed by the things Danny could do. But after all the struggling alone, and being put down by Clint, he felt shamed at his faults. He was an incredibly hard worker and I liked how Haru figured out the problems he was having and offered to find ways to help Danny be able to learn in a way easier for his mind to work out. I loved the way their relationship developed. It was a sweet, slow burn, and hurt/comfort is one of my favorite tropes.

I liked the supporting characters. The ending felt abrupt though.

This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be reading more. 5 stars.

[Tashyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Haru entered his life, Danny had no one to lean on after his dad passed away. Danny has been having a hard time up until now, both financially and academically. The first he accomplishes by enrolling as a sugar baby. For the second, he enrols in a tutoring program. Danny has had to deal with the various challenges that come with living with undiagnosed dyslexia/LD for the majority of his academic career. Fortunately, Danny meets another tutor, Haru, through his tutor Lily. Haru learns that Danny has dyslexia and assists Danny in numerous ways with advocating for himself. If Haru wanted to fix certain problems, he could easily become Danny's sugar daddy. Nevertheless, he instead assists Danny in acquiring the resources necessary to stand up for himself and attain autonomy. Watching their friendship blossom and Danny find his own identity is a moving experience. It is heartwarming to see how Danny's newfound family rallies around him at this time. Haru and Danny are adorable, and the narrative is lovely. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Bre Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Bad Daddy” by Riley Rivers is an emotional rollercoaster about Danny, a young guy with severe dyslexia who’s had a tough life. To pay for college, he becomes a sugar baby and ends up with Clint, a cruel sugar daddy who treats him terribly. Just when things seem hopeless, Danny meets Haruto Nakamura, a kind lawyer who offers genuine help and support.

Haru’s kindness is a stark contrast to Clint’s abuse, and it’s heartwarming to see Danny slowly realize he deserves better. The story is a powerful mix of hurt and comfort, showing Danny’s journey to self-worth and healing. The side characters are also wonderfully nice and welcoming, adding warmth and depth to Danny’s world.

However, one thing that stood out was the lack of a moment where Danny gets tested for STDs after his time with Clint. Given the nature of their relationship, this seemed like a missed opportunity to address an important health issue.

If you like stories about personal growth with a happy ending, “Bad Daddy” is a must-read. It’s a touching reminder that everyone deserves love and respect.

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Daddy by Riley Rivers was such a pleasant surprise. Danny has not had one break in his life until Haru takes him under his wing. Danny has been relying on his ‘sugar daddy’ to help him get through school. However, this man is nothing but an abusive user. Once Danny starts to see success from Haru’s efforts, he has the strength to actually leave his abuser. I loved the relationship between these two. It was very slow-burn but that was needed in this story. The title threw me off slightly because I was expecting Haru to also be a Daddy, but that was not the case. I also would have loved an epilogue to show how Danny and Haru were in a few years. I loved all of the side characters as well (Lily, James, Manuel, and Antonio). I also wanted to know where Danny’s comic/graphic novel ended up. Did it get published? Did he start writing a series? I just needed a little more at the end to tie everything up. I will gladly read whatever this author releases next.

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review

[Reading Rommance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I wanted. It's such a sweet little hurt/comfort read. I adore Danny. He's trying his best and life has just beat him down. But, that doesn't stop him from going above and beyond. Haru is so kind and sweet and thoughtful. I love how he treats Danny with caution and care while still treating him so well. Haru never asks much of Danny and instead helps him in so many ways. It's so sweet. And Danny, for having gone through so much, gives all he can in the ways he can to both Haru and his friends. I love that he's able to make friends and get a job. And all his friends showing up to help? So precious! This was such a sweet little read.

Notes: hurt/comfort, dyslexia, mc with a disability, taking care of the other, financial differences, great friends, financial struggles, sugar baby

[rosdoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great hurt/comfort read. Danny is adorable. I love seeing characters who are mistreated and underappreciated find their strength and worthiness. Haru was the perfect knight in shining armor who helped Danny with resources that allowed him to discover and realize his true potential.

I really enjoyed this book and although Danny and Haru got their HEA, the book felt unfinished to me. There were some loose ends that I’d have liked to see be tied, even if in just a brief status update type of epilogue. There were some really good secondary characters and I would be thrilled to read one of their stories, if there is one to be told, and to hopefully get an update on Danny and Haru, providing some of the tie offs I am craving for this story.

This book provided a nice pastime and I really became immersed in Danny’s experiences.

[Autumn Winchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

There isn't many books that are written like this one.

The author did a great job explaining (showing, not telling) how dyslexia effects someone. While that was a good portion of what this book was about in a real life like setting, this book also had other great tropes. Such as age gap, baby daddy and just enough angst to keep my interest.

Coming across books that have "daddy" in the title are usually full of smut, and hardly anything else. It was refreshing to have a cleaner book to read.

For readers who are more sensitive to topics of abuse, this book glosses over that, and reads more like a fade to black in certain parts. So to me, this is a perfect mix of everything needs in this type of book.

[RomanceLand65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite 4.5 read.
A fantastic read. Low angst well written and very enjoyable characters. I'm so happy I took a chance on this book. She did a marvelous job writing Danny who has significant learning disabilities. As an adult with ADD I can very much understand his struggle. Having two children with add learning disabilities hit home for me! My oldest who struggled immensely in school and the useless teachers telling me he's lazy. Then my now graduated youngest who received the help. And like Danny excelled when given the resources.

I found this book was very much a story of one man who struggled and one man who saw the diamond in the rough. I enjoyed the fact that she told you a story. Lot less physical interludes and telling you a fantastic love story.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny has a learning difference and he needs help and support. When he signed up for a sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship he got someone who was not supportive or helpful and who instead made him feel like he was less and that no one would want to help him. Meeting Haru through his bestie put him in the path of someone who was trying and willing to help and support him. It was lovely to see them link up and for Danny to find someone who wanted to help him and with his actions restored Danny's faith in the fact that he was worthy of being helped, who believed in him and with whom he could find a happier ending than his beginning was as this story started.
I received an ARC for GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Daddy was my first form Riley Rivers. It was such a sweet story and both MCs were lovable I just wanted more. I loved the way Haru treated Danny and the support system that he had when he needed it.

Needing help to pay for college, Danny becomes a sugar baby and meets Clint, a cruel and hurtful sugar daddy. Danny endures Clint's abuse until he meets Haru, who treats him with kindness and respect. Haru helps Danny with his dyslexia, showing him his true worth. As Danny spends more time with Haru, he gains confidence and realises he deserves genuine care. Despite a rocky start, Danny and Haru's story turns out to be surprisingly sweet.

[Deb Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an angsty, emotional rollercoaster that was quite dark in places. Danny was such a sweetheart that makes a mistake when to pay for college he signs up to be a sugar baby but ends up with an abusive, cruel sugar daddy Clint. Not know where to turn he luckily meets Haru who is such a kind person and a lawyer that offers him help and support. Haru is the epitome of what a "Daddy" should be as his kindness and help makes Danny realise that he doesn't deserve the abuse from Clint.
A deep but warm storyline as Danny grows into the person he's meant to be with the help of Haru.
I received a free arc copy from GRR and this is my honest review.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and I really liked this story, Danny hasn’t had an easy life and he wanted to make things better for himself but got stuck in a bad situation, then he meets Haru who helps him get the help he needs to start making things easier because of the help he has time to himself and is able to make friends and a job but he’s still stuck in the bad situation, when he becomes overwhelmed by it ands tells Haru him and his friends help him get out of it and then his life really changes for the better. Good read and will be checking out more from this author in the future. Would have loved an epilogue of how Danny’s education finished and what happened next.

[TUKricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an unexpected wild ride. The cover makes you think nothing but spice, and I know, don't judge a book by its cover. This is a perfect example, because while there is spice, it's controlled and used at just the right time. It's not place for over gratification or stuffed in without merit.

And if you like a build up and slow burn kinda love this is totally it. I very much appreciate how the author did not go into graphic detail about Danny's relationship with Clint, you can assume the severity from the interactions and that's enough to paint the proper picture.

[Readingbks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I've read by this author and it was AMAZING! So emotional, and the story was so good (I teared up several times)! Danny and Haruto's story is one that I'm going to remember for a while. There were great secondary characters too! I thought the ending was a bit rushed. I would have loved an extended ending and to see what happened to Clint. I read an advanced copy of this story and this is my unbiased review! Even though I thought the story ending to quickly with some loose ends I highly recommend this book! I loved it!

[FHR · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his severe learning disability due to his ADD, Danny looks for alternatives to help him cope with life. Some of his choices have not been the best which has resulted in him struggling and suffering more.
When Haru comes into his life, Danny’s life takes a different turn and he finds his confidence in himself one step at a time.

This was such a well written story for me. I loved how well Danny’s struggles were highlighted and how finding the right support system helped. An enjoyable read overall.

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific job with common trope

Nothing to this book by Riley Rivers is out of the ordinary but the way these characters are written drew me in and made me care right from the beginning. We never learn all of Danny’s history and I think it was the best choice not to belabor those parts of his life and concentrate on how he will get through what is going on now and in the future. Haru is just the best kind of sweetheart that Danny needs. I really love how we go along with Danny on his journey to realizing that there are nice people in this world.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

yellow stickies, snowflake shortbread cookies, tips, chimichanga

Such a powerful story that's heart-rending and soul sucking. The emotional anguish and pain that Danny goes through is heartbreaking and excruciating to read. He has close to 0% self-image and 0% self-confidence. It's shameful for someone who's highly intelligent and hard working to feel that way about themself. But no one ever sees that; all they see is a stupid illiterate. Until Danny meets attorney Haruto Nakamura and his compassionate soul and his sense of giving to others.

It's hard to read at times because of the **cringe** aspect of Danny's plight. But it's satisfying to see how he slowly begins to learn to trust himself and others.


Anguish, excruciating, painful, 0% self-image, 0% self-confidence,