"Fuck, Simone. The dirty, filthy things I want to do to you..."
One chapter in, and I knew I was reading my new all-time favourite novella of Laurelin Paige.
Heck, this just might be my new all-time favourite read of hers, period. Which I didn't think would happen since Simone - our heroine, and a character who's been a part of the Dirty Universe since the very first book as she's the PA of Donovan Kincaid - wasn't a character I all that much cared for. She seemed rude and annoying and like she was above everyone around her, and so I just didn't care to have more of her. However my curiosity piqued about her after reading Kincaid and getting a little sneak peek into her and Steele's dynamic, because what did he mean when he said she owed him?!
And I kid you not, but I wasn't even five pages into this story when any kind of dislike I'd previously felt for Simone vanished. And two pages after that is when I knew I'd be rereading this book as soon as I finished it for the first time. And I did just that. I reread this book... three times... before even sitting down to write this review. And I honestly regret nothing.
Because look, as far as first interactions go, Steele Sebastian and Simone Lima win, hands down, for the most memorable. They also win for the most epic of banter delivered between them as is proven by the fact that they'd barely exchanged ten sentences together before I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. Their chemistry was instant and fierce, and their back-and-forth jabs were so fun to read that I had the biggest smile plastered on my face as I devoured this novella in near enough one sitting; a novella that's told entirely in Simone's perspective as she finds herself becoming infatuated with a man she absolutely should not be infatuated with. And she shouldn't for two reasons:
Firstly, he's the brother of a man who's desperately trying to get a hold of Simone's boss, Donovan.
And secondly... he let her choke.
...I'm really going to hate this prick if he ends up making me not hate him at all.
Steele and Simone served hate-at-first-sight. They also served hate-I-can't-get-enough-of-you too, and thanks to both their stubbornness and unique showing of affection, it meant that there was never a dull moment between them whenever they were in close proximity. They met each other blow for blow, banter for banter, and blackmail for blackmail, and I swear it's such a shame that they only got this novella - that's ten chapters + an epilogue long and starts at 18% only to then finish at 88% - rather than the full-length novel they deserved. And it wasn't because there were things left unsaid by the time the final word was delivered; it's because this book was so good and so flawless - with so many highlight worthy quotes, unforgettable laugh out loud moments, and a whole lot of dirty, filthy smut - that I just did not want it to end whatsoever.
I just wanted so much more of Simone and Steele, because I could not get enough of them. Steele was everything I hoped he'd be - a Sebastian through and through who had me wanting to both swoon for him and slap him at the same time - and Simone... well, I think I've already said how I feel about her. I love her, and I related to her so much when it came to her love of food and her hatred of people that come to think of it, how could I hate her when I saw so much of myself in her?!
Now, I do wish we got to see more of Simone's interactions with Donovan, as I've always been curious about their friendship and dynamic overall, since it takes one hell of a person to put up with a man like Donovan for as long as Simone has. And Dirty Filthy Billionaire really showed a side of them that we never got to see before; it showed that Simone is the sister Donovan not only never had but certainly never wanted, yet he has her anyway and their back-and-forth jabs were just as funny as Simone's were with Steele. And like I wanted more with Simone and Steele, I wanted more of Simone and Donovan too. More of them just... interacting together. Because Simone may hate everyone, and Donovan may only love Sabrina, but they have this friendship that no one can match nor top, and I just absolutely loved it.
I loved everything about this book. It's a standalone through and through - though the first two chapters do overlap a scene from Kincaid, however you really do not need to read that book to enjoy this one - that delivered everything I love in a Laurelin Paige story. And it was truly so funny that I know if I ever need a book to get me out of a reading slump, or just a life slump in general, this'll be the one that I'd revisit to do just that. It's a story that exceeded all my expectations, I know I won't forget it anytime soon, and I truly cannot recommend it highly enough!
...he kisses me like he's been dying to kiss me since we've met. Like he's only barely holding back. Like he might never stop...
ARC provided by author for honest review