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3 The Hard Way

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Royce “Turk” Atkins has always been about two

His brothersAutumn Shaw
Where people understand his loyalty to Set, Nut, and Shad, few people understand why he won’t leave Autumn alone. From his family, to his friends, to the rest of the city, no one can figure out what it is about the beauty that has had him hooked for two decades, how he convinced her to have his son, or why he refuses to seriously entertain anyone else when she’s had a serious girlfriend, Patience, for years.

Turk doesn't believe in explaining himself to anyone, though. Especially when some days, he doesn’t quite understand the hold she has on him, either. And when he starts seeing the consequences of a wild night with Autumn and Patience months prior, he’s left even more confused.

He’s spent years teasing Patience, overstepping boundaries, and fighting and bickering over his place in Autumn’s life, but when she needs help, he steps into the role of her protector without prompting. When secrets and danger begin to lurk around every corner, Turk finds himself moving for her how he previously only moved for Autumn. Lines begin to blur, and everything Turk thought he knew about love and relationships is forever changed.

His loyalty has never been tested like this before. Lies and half-truths are exposed, and Turk must choose between the family he’s created as a boy with his gang, and the one he’s creating as a man. And when Patience’s past finally catches up to her, the surprising connection between Turk and Patience that’s revealed may be their salvation, or everyone’s downfall.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2025

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About the author

Jessica A.

12 books39 followers
Jessica is an LA girl that has been writing fiction and poetry since middle school. She holds a BA in English from Xavier University in Louisiana, and an MFA in Fiction from San Diego State University. She's a dog mommy to the infamous Dijon Mustard, and in addition to writing all the stories that play out in her head, she enjoys yapping on facetime with her homegirls and long walks on the beach.

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5 stars
134 (59%)
4 stars
68 (30%)
3 stars
21 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
416 reviews7 followers
April 22, 2025
Dastardly isn't tbe word

The saying, " Oh what webs we weave, when first we learn to deceive." Is the summation of this book. We continue the series with Turk, Autumn, and Patience. The commonalities between these three are so multitudinous that it only makes sense that they find each other. I found myself cackling out loud at the banter and yelling, "This crafty heffa!" As the politics unfurled and the plot twists revealed themselves. I am fully invested in this series, and everyone will know about it.
Profile Image for TheTBRWhisperer.
214 reviews
March 9, 2026
I could write a book trying to review this book.

This has been my favorite book in the series so far. Yes, they're interconnected standalones but I'm reading them in order.

I also want to state that this has been my favorite book with this (m/f/f) trope I've read.

Spicy- yes!

But the intimacy and connections APART from sex- well written and represented for me.

Let's not forget the intricacy of the storylines and plot twists!!!!

THE GROWTH & EMOTIONS...

Even loving this story, about 63% in, the author had me intrigued and invested on WTF was going on with Shad (next book) while still keeping me present in this story.

For me, I loved Autumn but I feel like her POV in this book was another high risk decision the author made that PAID OFF for me.

I loved it because I felt like the author was trying to accurately present and express this throuple to the readers.

The author had already established a palpable connection between Autumn/Turk and Autumn/Patience. It was no questioning Autumn's role in their love and relationship.

The author made it clear that Autumn was the glue/heart of the group.

However, Turk and Patience- that was new. I love how the author took time to cultivate that relationship WHILE showing Autumn's joy and understanding as it established.

I feel like because the author took THAT calculated risk, the throuple felt connected at all points and not just connected through Autumn.

It felt organic and inclusive to all three!

There is so much more I can say about this book but just know- I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

The Magic Hour novella should definitely be read before this book to enhance this read!




144 reviews
April 2, 2025
This book was good.
We got more into the background of Autumn, Turk, and Miss Patience Fox.

What I liked: seeing how Turk navigated his feelings for both Autumn and Pay. Him and Autumn were already locked in since 8, she is his first BM and though their love is chaotic, it is real. Him and Pay were polar opposites but I enjoyed reading about how they began to feel about each other.

Turk is really a protector, provider, and rider. Autumn is too. Pay’s life was so interesting but I won’t spoil it lol.

This book was super hilarious too, and the spice was on point, though our throuple didn’t really interact much until towards the end.

Things I’m still questioning: What happened to Autumn that Ty, Reem, and Rico had to handle? Like the book kept dancing around it, and it was making me mad 🤣😭 cuz just say it!
I also wish we would’ve gotten a bit more detail about this boyfriend of Autumn’s that Turk ….. well read the book to find out lol
Speaking of — Who the hell ARE Ty, Rico, and Reem? They just got plopped into the story lol. And WHO IS THAT DAMN BABY’S mama? 😭

All in all, Jessica A’s books have been very enjoyable to read, and it’s looking like Shad is up next 👀 and I’m ready, because we all wanna know wassup with him and Wynter!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Taees_Cozy_Corner.
886 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2025
The understanding of love, family drama and fighting through doubts and trauma that is trying to hold you back is so real in this book. Turk, Patience and Autumn are all the same side of a coin. Learning to navigate in a space where your past isn’t the leading lady anymore is extremely hard.

Patience, despite having been gone from her family and friends for 16 years still held on to all the hurt and pain that caused her to leave. She still cared and wanted to do the right thing in some ways even though it would only be more hurt for herself. She refused to tell Grimey’s secret even though it could be the thing that set her free. Her obligation and seeking of love and validation from her father was the driving force to her putting herself last. In the end I love how she grew and was able to fight for herself and even let don her guard and open up to the people truly wanting to love her and make space for her.

Autumn, this poor angel came in the world to bullshit and chased love and validation from the people who should give it freely, your family. Her parents were true trash and I do hope in this series at some point they get taught a lesson. She held on to burdens that should have never been hers but allowed it to keep her from the greatest love she’d even known for years because she was not prepared to forgive herself some the sins and words of others. She took what her mother said to her and made it her driving for to never deserve or want more from love. Her heart is so beautiful and pure that it was only right my girl ends with the greats love story!!!

Turkey!! My Turkey!!! This was a man of if I ever knew one. The amount of patience and care he gave to Patience despite how she continued to push him and bait him into an argument was amazing. Even when it came to his brother he was never overly aggressive but simply just not allowing him to take what Turk felt was his. I could say so much more but. I won’t I love Turk and he got everything he deserved in the end and I love that for him.

Miss Jessica A., you doing the damn thing with this series and I’m hooked. The amount of emotions you are pulling from me is unreal and imma thug lol u ain’t gone keep making me cry lol.
Profile Image for Lia.
334 reviews9 followers
June 14, 2025
Again, I read this long book lol to the end and I enjoyed it. Autumn, Turks and Patience were the most unconventional relationships I've ever read. But somehow Jessica normalised it.

The story focused on Turks and Patience interaction and we watched them build a connection. But Autumn was happy and pleased about all three of them becoming a blended family.

Honestly, I didn't care for Patience's backstory which took up most of the book. I couldn't empathise with her reason for leaving. It reminded me of Sabrina's story when she left her home to start a new life....I didn't care for her storyline either.

The plot twist with us discovering Turk's real identity was okay... again, I didn't care for his background but we didn't get as much about him. This book revolved around Patience.

But learning about Autumn's trauma because of her decision to not save her sister's life was heartbreaking... Again, we only got a chance to see a glimpse of Autumn's past in this book.

But the ending though? I thought Sabrina killed Sincere? How is he still alive? now that I think about it...did they confirm he was dead? They were more distracted with Sabrina being able to protect herself...🤣

I love how Jessica gets us so invested in these characters lives lol I could imagine this being a TV series.
Profile Image for Ali.
82 reviews12 followers
November 23, 2025
Review

⭐ 4/5
🌶️ 4/5 (the spice was SPICY-SPICY 😭🔥)

Book Review:
This third book didn’t grasp me the way the first two did, but it still kept me intrigued enough to push through — mainly because of my love for Turk and Autumn. Those two? Their chemistry, their history, their pull… yeah, they kept me locked in.

Now Pay…I liked her, but I never crossed over into loving her, and the more I think about it, it’s because so much about her felt surface-level. I couldn’t settle into her character emotionally, and the dynamic between Pay + Turk without Autumn? Yeahhh, that just didn’t sit well with me.

And listen, I’ll admit it:
I’m a selfish ole thang 😭
So maybe the poly just wasn’t my vibe for THIS book🤷🏽‍♀️

There was a lot of independence, sneaking around, and unspoken secrets. I get why some of it was happening, but other parts felt like they could’ve been resolved WAY faster if Turk, Pay, or even Autumn had just opened their mouths and TALKED. Communication was on life support for half the book.

BUT BABY…
What WASN’T lacking?
➡️ THE SPICE.

🦃🦊🍎Final Vibes:
I just wish we’d seen more of the throuple functioning as true life partners, because at times it felt lopsided. Still worth the read and it kept me intrigued!
Profile Image for Gabrielle  Johnson.
31 reviews
April 1, 2025
2.5 The Hard Way…

I just completed the series and it’s a solid start for a new author. In this book we have Patience, Autumn, and Turk as the leading characters in what will later be a polyamorous relationship. Sadly, we don’t see them interact all together until about 90% in, which is risky for the author because she’ll attract customers based on the name alone and some people may feel a way about that.

We get to see each character’s backgrounds somewhat individually and learn more about how their experiences have shaped who they’ve become. Patience wasn’t my favorite character just because in the previous books you root for Autumn and Turk to find find their HEA and in this book the author shows more of the relationship between Patience and Turk and if you’re loyal like me you’re giving Turk a serious side eye because what about Autumn?! Even in the final few scenes I still hold a little resentment towards Patience.

The author sets up the next book nicely and hopefully we’ll see more of Autumn, Turk, and Patience in the next one.
Profile Image for Lyshanna.
54 reviews
February 16, 2026
Daddy Turk👌🏽

Turk is a good man in Savannah!! I love a story about a lover boy who doesn't play about the women he loved. And that man is Turk. He was so patient with Patience while still supporting her process and trusting that she'd eventually open up to him on her own. I love how he was able to insert his dominance in a loving manner and how Pay naturally submits to him. Their spicey scenes were really good🤭 I enjoyed learning more about Autumns past trauma and her family dynamics growing up. I love even more the history she and Turk has and how he's always had her back. Overall this was so good and I want more!

I am a huge fan of this author's work, and I don't hear enough people talking about this series.
Profile Image for Tisha.
1,310 reviews
April 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Auty, Pay, and Turk were so much more than I expected. Each book of this series gets better and better. Now some of the switch ups with the characters is a wee distracting.

I’m not sure if it’s intentional that we’re not learning the full story. Like what did Wyn do that almost got Rico and Auty killed? What was the outcome with the Shaws?

I’m hoping more will be revealed in Shad’s story. One thing about this author she has my attention. Each ending and sneak peek has me ready to immediately jump into the next book.

But now I’m not only locked in with Foe Dub, but I’m also loving the First Nation 🥷🏾s.

*took one star off on the distracting errors*. But the storytelling was top tier.
Profile Image for Lisa.
2,069 reviews13 followers
January 7, 2026
This SAS do emotional!

I really enjoyed this novel! At one point I thought Autumn and Patience were done and Royce was going to hook up with only her. Now they're in a thropple!!!! Grimey knew the truth but wouldn't own up to it and Trell has been lied to his whole life! So glad Brina was not made a widow but they are going to have to deal with the ghost from the past. Shad is dealing with his own issues, shunning everyone for awhile, hopefully he'll get the counseling he needs and heals. So glad the gang reconciled! What will happen to Wynter???? This series is so emotional frfr! Loving it!!!
Profile Image for Lauren.
117 reviews5 followers
April 2, 2025
another great book!

This author has quickly made their way to my immediately read list. The storytelling is top tier. I usually dont enjoy books with a lot of flashbacks but the way its woven into the plot is effortless. So much revealed in this book while still giving space for the relationship between autumn, pay and turk to be front and center. Good balance of action, suspense and romance. Im ready for the stories of all the other dub members now!!! Im most interested in Reem….whose baby is that? Anyway read the book. But definitely read the others on the series first.
Profile Image for Tyjah.
38 reviews
June 3, 2025
I’m Hooked!

JESSICA… girl! I think you’ve made it to my favorites. I love this series down. The Magic Hour is what hooked me as a first read, and I already loved their story before I actually know who and what was what. I can’t even decide who my favorite is. Now on to see what’s coming for my Shotta.
Profile Image for Shei Polk.
144 reviews
September 4, 2025
Foe over everything!!

Read the series! I feel in love with all these characters.


Brian, Set, Nutty, Dallas, Turk, Autumn, Shad went through the unimaginable but the bond they have with each other was unbreakable.

None of them had it easy but made it out together.

I truly enjoyed this series and can’t wait for more.
Profile Image for Keyarica Teyonna.
29 reviews4 followers
Did Not Finish
March 12, 2026
The novella “ The Magic Hour” was really good so I decided to read the next part. It’s not the same 😩 I felt like Autumn isn’t really mentioned much. It’s mainly about Royce and Patience. This book doesn’t feel like a poly romance. I found myself getting bored and skipping over paragraphs so I’m DNF at 59%
Profile Image for Reading2escape .
6 reviews
May 23, 2026
This wasn’t bad but it wasn’t my favorite of the series so far. Idk I felt like Turk and Pay relationship just came so suddenly. Plus I wasn’t feeling Autumn being left out majority of their relationship. I didn’t really see the chemistry between them. I loved all the back stories of each character I was locked in. Definitely worth the read.
162 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2025
Big turk

I really loved this story line its definitely outside the box , however patience got on my nerves soo bad , I also felt like they love wasn't given to my girl autumn equally but I love them as a thruple , turkey is definitely that guy and he don't play i loved it!!
Profile Image for tanessia ford.
4,092 reviews
April 19, 2025
yasss

So far out of all the books. I think this was my favorite one. Patience really pissed me off for along time. But once I got back over that I was good again. The plot twist was twisting. I need more.
Profile Image for Cardi Blue.
566 reviews12 followers
May 25, 2025
Uhhh

So many twists and turns. And just a lot of it was so good. Where did that baby come from that Reem has? I better get an answer in the next book. There’s so much going on. Also does nobody use condoms in this county with the random babies and daddies?
Profile Image for Nomathemba Mtsweni.
221 reviews8 followers
March 10, 2026
This was great I enjoyed reading about Pay and Turk but I was hoping to see Pay and Autumn too😔did not see any lovey doves

*yawns*. That covenant thing was sort of boring expected more dramatic things with them.
13 reviews1 follower
April 2, 2025
5/5

I loved every moment of this book this is actually my fav and I’m actually mad that it’s over I wish it was longer that’s my only complaint I wanted more good moments.
Profile Image for Val but you can call me Shug.
206 reviews
August 1, 2025
I need more

I need more of this throple. I loved Auth and them together. Pay had to grow on me. Turk is always with the $4!ts especially about he fruit
Profile Image for Shahtia Gay-hairston.
3,518 reviews27 followers
April 17, 2026
3

Autumn, Patience, and Royce had a story to tell! Collectively and individually their backgrounds were intriguing. The first book I read where poly makes perfect sense!
Profile Image for BaNana.
38 reviews
May 24, 2026
I wanted to fight Patience but I ate this book up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
153 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2026
Most definitely was side eyeing Turk but Jessica has this way with making you figure out the why. I didn’t like how Autumn was left out but they got it together in the end.
Profile Image for SM.
687 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2026
I mean the spice. The fact that we got preggo on the birthday night events. You could tell he was gonna be down bad for both Auty and PayPay. I didn’t see her family history plot twist coming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Toi Cooper.
22 reviews
April 1, 2026
My man, my man, my man. When Turkey tells you he’s going to take care of HE DOES. That is a good man hunty and good man that has enough love for the world. 6 star read the plot was everything and the passion and love and understanding exceptional. This series hands down top 5 of all time 💙
Profile Image for Taryn Johnson.
662 reviews6 followers
December 16, 2025
This was a really good pickup from the last book in the series. I loved the way the relationship built naturally throughout the story. Each lead had some heavy things to work through, but facing that trauma together ultimately made them stronger as individuals and as a unit. I really enjoyed the overall vibe of this book, it felt balanced, emotional, and satisfying. The spice was definitely there and well done, adding to the connection rather than overpowering the story. Most importantly, the throuple earned their happy ending, which made the journey completely worth it.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews