The Menagerie

by J.P. Caruso

Rowan Campbell loves his life, finally. He’s happy. He’s happy, but… there’s something missing. Some itch under his skin he can’t quite scratch through his work as a paramedic or hobbies or family gatherings or casual hookups alone. Then one day he responds to a 9-1-1 call at an exclusive BDSM club, the Menagerie, and immediately splurges on a membership. He isn’t expecting much… until he meets the notoriously hard-to-please club veteran, Malcolm Savaryn. Mal is a firecracker of a man: Sharp and witty with a take-no-shit attitude, he fascinates Rowan from the start.

Rowan has a big secret he’s afraid to share, and Mal has walls that seem impenetrable. Both men have dark pasts, and mental health struggles have marred them, leaving them wary of relationships. Their chemistry is immediate and unmatched, though, and they quickly enter into a steamy Dom/sub relationship, meeting weekly at the club. It’s just sex, right? But can they keep things strictly sexual, or will one or both of them develop feelings along the way? And if so will they find the courage to admit them and risk their hearts?

The Menagerie is a compelling exploration of BDSM, trust, and the slow evolution of friendship and love between two complex characters.

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Romance, Erotica, Spicy, LGBT, Smut

424 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

About the author

J.P. Caruso is from Massachusetts’ North Shore, where she lives off of iced coffee year-round. She is a scientist with a background in art and aspirations in the stars. When she isn’t working, she’s playing survival-crafting videogames, drawing spicy art, or practicing krav maga and muay thai kickboxing, in which she is a first-degree black belt.

Primarily a M/M romance writer, J.P. has been in love with love her whole life, and she has been honing her writing skills since she was a teenager. Her first foray into writing was through fanfiction, and she has participated in numerous fandoms throughout the years. Since then, she has written everything from TV commercial scripts to poetry to scientific manuscripts. Her fiction writing features detailed world-building, feel-good character development, flowing descriptions, and poignant turns of phrase.

Reviews

[Jess]

…hear me out. for the first half of the book i couldn’t shake this odd feeling like something just wasn’t clicking for me. and then it dawned on me, it reads like one of those national geographic or animal planet videos lol.

*in my best david attenborough voice*

in the natural habitat of the menagerie, here we have a rowan in the wild, a baby dom competing with other doms for the submission of mal, who is greatly desired as they are fascinated by his beauty. you see those mating dances they’re all doing? it seems like the sub is interested in only one…

lmao so yes, the book essentially opens with rowan participating/competing in a gangbang with 9 other men to be mal’s dom. why mal is a super celebrity at the club? i don’t really know. it’s reiterated how gorgeous he is and how everyone loves his performances but we don’t really get to see mal in that element outside of any of his scenes with rowan. and no, those were not public.

lust at first sight & we get rowan’s pov the whole book but both he & mal were equally annoying? one annoyance: mal kept testing rowan at different points in the book… like hellooo, rowan stand up for yourself a little bit? one scene in particular i felt like rowan shoulda put his foot down & said he was not comfortable but nooo let’s do what mal wants because i really like him blah blah blah.

if you LOVE details then babe, this is the book for you. we got the description of every. single. man. who participated in the opening act, the decorations of the clubhouse, the kinds of liquor behind the bar, every single answer to rowan’s membership questionnaire, even down to ‘the exact same platform bed that has been in every other room so far’ like please, chop these descriptions in half lol.

it was very kinky, very dom/sub, very bdsm with bondage of a few different types, spanking, choking, edging, toys, etc etc. for most of the book we got the scene on saturday night, diner after to recap, see you next week & then rowan in his head until the next meet up. we barely got them together after they realized they had feelings for each other.

there were also a few inconsistencies that my brain could not ignore. not to mention having sex in a club bathroom stall & completely taking off your pants & underwear… who does that lmao. maybe i was so appalled i read it wrong???

anyway. i mean, i didn’t hate it? but i am kinda mad at myself that i read it lol.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very slow burn. The book was quite long (usually a good thing in my opinion) but very little happened besides weekly appointments (you couldn’t call them dates).
The sex scenes were ok but I also want to know the characters and there was too little of that. The whole story was from Rowan’s PoV so we did find out a little more about him but not as much about Mal.
Also not a huge fan of this style of writing tense (present continuous?) but that’s a me thing.

[Jenny (Nyxie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely emotional horniness. Obliviots who were just fuckbuddies catching feelings, my favorite.

Tags: BDSM club meet, emotional slow burn, kink, BDSM, spanking, toys, breath play

[Tascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast heat, slow burn, a gangbang meet cute, a scrappy bottom sub who will be your new favorite character and lots and lots of consent and communication. Chef’s kiss. 😙🤌🏻

[Lyn Solomon-Linville · Rating 5 out of 5]

It starts with an EMT/Paramedic call at a BDSM club. Rowan realizes what is missing from his life, where he used to find pleasue before his Depression and PTSD was diagnosed, before he ended up in the psych ward. Now he can handle it, he's in a good place. After he joins he meets Malcom, a legend. Rowan is an inexperienced Dom, Malcolm is a power bottom. It starts with a gangbang and then hang on for a ride provided by this author who knows BDSM, but most of all knows people, their trauma, growing up Southie in Boston, how important it is to be seen, have a found family and being "on the verge of drowning in the torrent that is Mal Savaryn" Carry on. You will not be sorry.

[369Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐️
A BDSM romance novel that focuses heavily on the scenes. Rowan is a paramedic that feels something is missing, until he discovers the Menagerie, a BDSM club where he joins a group scene featuring the club’s most famous sub, Malcom. Mal and Rowan soon begin a their own relationship that later, slowly, turns into something more.

This book had a lot of elements that I usually find interesting: fast spice but slow feelings, characters with complexities, and a mysterious character that doesn’t like to reveal a lot about themselves. Those that like the writing style and execution of this book and also like this content will likely enjoy this book.

For me, I didn’t hate it. I don’t think it’s a bad book. The issue for me is that I was just terribly bored while reading it. Like, during an intense BDSM scene, I’m supposed to be at least curious or interested…but I felt like it was just being described to me what was happening. I didn’t feel any EMOTION or intensity, even though what was happening was objectively pretty intense. I also felt the character development and parts between the spicy bits boring too 😭 I was like, forcing myself to finish the book.

Slight spoilers in case you’re interested and want to know more before reading:
-a huge amount of this book, especially the beginning, is focused on describing scenes. There is not exclusivity between MCs during the book, but they do end up together in the end.

[edmn · Rating 4 out of 5]

its been so long since I read MM romance that’s actually well realized,well written and not just same thing over and over again,this was one of those books,it really proves there can be spice with actually compelling relationship and compelling plot,and
like I said spice was good but I did feel like Rowan was a little bit too perfect and we never got to see him get really carried away,so I do wish we got more scenes where they really let loose and we didn’t get that a lot,for that reason this isn’t 5 stars but other than that I absolutely loved,so to sum it up relationship and pace great but with a little better spice it would be even better,either way can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Sarah☀️ Somerville]

DNF @ 59% - Stopping here because I'm just not particularly interested. Rowan is just too perfect (as a Dom) given his inexperience. The BDSM is missing all the elements that I find interesting, so this book is just one sex scene after another. I'm interested in Rowan and Mal's issues, but so far Rowan's are all reported to be in the past, and we're not seeing more than a hint of Mal's given the book isn't from his perspective.

[Adeselna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing could have prepared me for this book, and I am still shocked this is J.P. Carusso's first book, because wow! The book does start a bit slow in the first two chapters with Rowan being called to attend an emergency at the BDSM club, but once he’s in and he meets Mal, their first scene together with the g*ngbang was awesome.

Both Rowan and Mal have struggled with a lot of issues from their past, but they each find themselves safe inside their scenes. Mal is adorable. He takes his duty as a sub seriously, and the way he was involved with the club and the rules was really cool. A lot of BDSM books just talk about the fetiche part, but in this book there is a lot of attention towards little details from the club. Rowan is a great Dom, he focuses on Mal’s comfort while being strict. While most Dom’s just want to use Mal’s body and use him for their own pleasure, Rowan pays attention to his body language, he realises when something is amiss or when Mal needs more. That does not mean that Mal is helpless. He’s feisty, he knows what he likes, and it’s really awesome to read a sub who knows what they like and demands that pleasure from their Dom.

“The Menagerie” is just another amazing BDSM book to add to a catalogue of new k!nky books that focus on consent, but also using BDSM as healing.

[Laurie Kleveland · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5! For a debut, the writing was phenomenal. The language was simple and easy to follow, yet also provided depth to the scenes.

The book itself is basically all vibes. The characters meet at a gangbang at a sex club, which tbh was an amazingly written scene. Depending on what’s going on some sex scenes get lost and hard to follow for me, but this was written so well I never felt like I had to re read something to see what was going on. The rest of the book is a lot of sex between the MCs as Rowan struggles with his growing emotions for Mal. Both characters were sweet and spicy, and the decision to make the book entirely Rowan’s POV was definitely the correct one for the story. All that being said, if you don’t like sex this book might not be for you.

My issue was the book was very long and didn’t really have a lot of variety. The scenes they did together were always different, but it was 500 pages of intense sex, followed by a diner “date” over and over again. They learn a little bit about each other here and there as this goes on, but it never felt deeper to me. You felt a lot of emotion through the writing and language, rather than the character interactions. The chapters are also long ones with by the end of the book not a lot to separate the events in my mind.

Overall, it was fun to read. It had some of the best written sex scenes I’ve ever read especially in BDSM (and it’s very very light BDSM for those who it’s not their jam). However, it felt long and repetitive at times. All their personal interactions outside of sex felt like they were missing something. I also wanted more cute or emotional hurt/comfort moments between the MCs since there was a lot of potential for that. It would have also been nice to get more time of them as a real couple too since I spent the whole book waiting for them to come to their senses.

TLDR: 3.5 stars because It was extremely enjoyable, with great writing, but just felt a little flat outside the sex and too long for not much but the same thing happening over and over again. Also as a personal preference I love non-sexual emotional moments between the characters and it just wasn’t there for me.

Side note: at one point the book says “it set Rowan’s heart ablaze” and now I really need to know if Demon Slayer influenced this lol

[vera3.14 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, just to get this out of the way, I did enjoy most of the book and how the more explicit scenes were written— and there's lots of those in here! The dialogue during those kinds of scenes actually feel pretty natural IMO, and wasn't so cringeworthy compared to other stuff I've come across, so that's a plus. I was also genuinely rooting for the main couple to get together! I think they're super cute!

In any case, I just think there are several things holding this book back from being higher up on my list despite it generally being a fairly good casual read for me. First thing: I think the conflicts were all over the place and could've been mitigated had the story just focused on like one or two of them. Deeefinitely think we should've gotten more insight into both Rowan and Mal's inner struggles and pasts, especially with how mired, complex, and traumatic it is?? Idk, even though it was touched on several times, I feel like it wasn't explored to its full potential.

Also, I get the feeling that the main leads weren't allowed to really clash with one another, since their arguments usually get resolved in like… a few pages, which is a shame. Speaking as someone who heavily relates to Mal, I sure as hell wouldn't forgive some of the stuff Rowan had said and done so easily 💀. I definitely would've preferred that kind of genuine confrontation between them over some of the more absurd stuff that actually ends up happening in the story (Those plot points seemed as if they were done to tick off a checklist for "mandatory low points" in your typical romance story… which I found especially unnecessary considering that both of the leads ALREADY have some very compelling reasons to conflict with one another, which weren't explored nearly as much as I hoped it would).

Would I recommend this book? Yeah. I personally read it on vacation (Mostly during my flight); it's just the right amount of filth to keep you engaged when you're a little tired and want something to read. Just prepare to get a little pissed off with some of the choices that are made later on in the book, lmfao.

[Misc · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been years since I last read a BDSM MM book that shows its writer actually understands the subject matter a little deeper than shallow depictions in the media. Granted, I haven't read a lot of BDSM books, but still. The mature writing style probably also helps to ground this book and makes it more believable than the usual edgy wannabe yet hopelessly juvenile and laughable style I've seen in many books.

Also bonus points to this book for not succumbing to the norm and for keeping it strictly narrated from one perspective only. Most dual-POV books, especially 1st-person dual-POV, on the market nowadays are rubbish since many writers frankly aren't competent enough to delve into the mind of separate characters in a convincing manner, and yet they still do it either because it's a popular framing device that sells well for romance books, or they're just that delusional in their writing prowess I guess.

That's not to say that this book is perfect, because it isn't. I personally didn't mind the lectures about kinks because I'm not well-versed in the subject, and the writer consciously incorporated the characters' relationship progress in them instead of just dumping them willy-nilly without much purpose like some books I've read, but I can imagine the large swaths of BDSM lessons can get a bit tedious at times for more seasoned kink enthusiasts. I also felt the detailed play scenes could've been tightened in pacing and shortened in length, even if I did enjoy them as a whole. This is a common trait in many new writers, so I hope that this debut work is also a learning experience for the author and they'll pay more attention to the editing stage and how to trim the fat, so the speak, in future works.

And I guess Rowan is a bit idealistic for a protagonist (again, not surprising since this is a first published work), but whatever, I don't care because I love him lol. The dynamics between the characters, the banter and the budding romance are what pushed me to give the book the highest rating, even with its hiccups here and there.

[Sade · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

This book is basically a kinky Ian x Mickey from Shameless fan fiction but worst

Want proof? Rowan is a red headed paramedic from the south side who struggles with his mental health. He’s had a rough past consisting of being raised by his older siblings due to his parent’s neglect which led him to engaging in risky behaviours as a teen where he used drugs, had sex with older men and worked at a nightclub.

Malcolm has black hair and is also from the south side. He’s described as “scrappy” and has a close-ish relationship to his sister. He also suffered neglect from his parents especially from his racist and homophobic father.

Shall I say more or do we get the picture?

So yeah, Ian and Mickey but with an extra cautionary tale on the toxicity of an avoidant x anxious relationship. If we can even call it that since the book decides to end right as we finally get to that part.

Because yes, after reading so many endless pages of essentially the same thing over and over again we don’t even get to see their dynamic as a couple outside of sex.

The book started to feel like a humiliating ritual at some point for both Rowan and ME. Not having Mal’s pov did the story such a disservice. He was portrayed as being nonchalant the whole time and I just kept wondering why Roman even liked him in the first place. He kept having to make concessions over and over while Mal kept taking and giving nothing in return. Not only was it annoying but it’s in no way sustainable. And then we’re supposed to believe it’s love after getting almost no indication that he truly liked him and no hint of romance.

This book was a roller coaster and not a good one. If the author genuinely thinks this is what love is then I feel terribly sorry for them because I wouldn’t wish this type of relationship on anyone!

[Macrochiroptera · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually don't have any problems reading novels that used to be fanfics, especially if the editing is well done. In this case it took me about two chapters to find out I was reading a fanfic. The moment Mal was introduced I knew this was a gallavich fanfic of the tv show Shameless. It was even more obvious and glaring the more I read: we don't get introduced to the characters, snippets of life (Rowan's backstory, his father, Mal's father, Rowan working at his sister's diner etc.) are thrown in the story like a wink and a nod instead of elements that are part of the narrative. There was no attempt to tell a story and let me learn about the characters because this was a barely edited fanfic where I was supposed to already know the characters.

Another thing was how up till 50% nothing happened. Because this was a Ian/Mickey fanfic maybe, where a reader might be content of seeing their favourite characters in situations, or simply because the book was just slow. At least up till 50% most of the story is:
- barely any attention to Rowan (his interesting backstory is simply Ian's from Shameless, and it's there because it was in Shameless not because it has some sort of weight on his character development or the book's story)
- lots of talking that led to a long bdsm scene
- no friction or conflict
Rowan was perfect, Mal seemed quite good too, the bdsm was just... There. Not as a way to explore any possible angsty problem.

[Marjolein (Dutchromancereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a moodreader, sometimes I crave something filthy and erotic. And when this cover comes along somewhere, you just jump in. No questions asked. And it definitely delivered on the smut scale. Top tier scenes. And a lot of them too. Yet despite being pure erotica, the story still manages to feel surprisingly tender and romantic, giving the book a nice emotional balance.

It quite literally starts with a bang, a gangbang to be precise, where one man being used by 10 others in the safe environment sexclub The Menagerie is. In this unconventional version of a meet-cute, Rowan, a new member, meets Mal, the man at the center of the scene, and the chemistry between them is instant.

Mal asks Rowan to become his Dom, and soon their weekly encounters at The Menagerie become a ritual of desire, tension, and exploration. Rowan falls hard for Mal almost immediately, but keeps his feelings hidden. Mal, emotionally guarded and closed off, insists their connection remains purely sexual. Still, through all the scenes, silences, and carefully negotiated boundaries, the two slowly begin building something deeper.

The plot mainly revolves around their weekly meetings, but honestly, that never becomes repetitive. The scenes are incredibly well written: raw, emotional, and charged with tension. They explore vulnerability, insecurity, pain, degradation, praise, trust, bonding, and pleasure in ways that feel both intense and intimate. Watching these two emotionally reserved men slowly learn to trust, understand, and value each other is what truly makes the story shine.

Don’t go in expecting a plot-heavy romance or deeply layered character studies. This book knows exactly what it wants to be: a sensual, emotional, and very steamy ride — and it delivers beautifully.

[Irene ˙ᵕ˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was… unexpected. I went in with low expectations and came out as someone who wants to give five stars but also feels slightly embarrassed about it. (But fuck it, did it anyway)

It was definitely spicy. Like 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. High heat, absolutely, but slooooow burn.

The funny thing: the BDSM could not have interested me less. What absolutely wrecked me was the evolving relationship between Mal and Rowan. The pining. The yearning. The longing. The absolute exquisite torture of the growing feelings and the what-the-hell-am-I-supposed-to-do-with-this??

And it was so much more emotional than I expected. I am, apparently, a complete sucker for watching an intense connection grow from nothing.

The consent, the communication, the checking in. It was devastatingly intimate in a way I did not see coming. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but it kinda was for me.

And yes, it is also scorching hot, because let’s say 90% of this book is just fucking. But my absolute favorites were the kisses. The first and the second kiss scene ❤️ I will not elaborate because you need to experience them yourself, but phew.

My only complaint is that I would have loved some POV switches to get a little peek inside Mal’s head.

[Melissa Downer · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP Caruso- I need more of your work! I was immediately hooked on this story and love your style and detail.

The Menagerie was the book I didn’t know I needed in my life. My new fave and obsession!

On top of the intriguing, sexy premise of Rowan and Mal’s D/s relationship, the world-building and carefully crafted detail mixed with tension is PHENOMENAL. I felt immersed in the BDSM world with the two MMCs and enjoyed the secondary characters, as well. I cannot say enough how incredibly spicy and sexy Rowan and Mal’s scenes were each and EVERY time…Holy HELL!

J.P. Caruso: I think you’ve ruined me for at least the near future because as soon as I finished my first read, I immediately started reading the novel again. I can’t get Rowan and Mal out of my head! PLEASE tell me when/if I can expect more novels from you…Maybe even in the same world of The Menagerie?? I’d read anything you write.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love loved it. The writing. The progression of their relationship! Starts off with a bang (literally) but it's such a good read because of the progression of them getting to know each other is so juicy. I am obsessed with their banter and the conversations and how they talk, but get to know each other so slowly and organically. It’s so good. I gave up sleep a few nights to read this, and I’d do it again. (and probably will on a reread.)
I love Rowan and Mal’s chemistry. Learning about the BDSM world along with Rowan is so interesting.
I love how open it is about sexuality and kinks and what it all means for the characters and for someone. You don't have to be into BDSM or some of the stuff they do or talk about to find this hot and love this book.

Oh man. When he pulls out the condoms it’s like a knife to the heart. Aaaahhhh. Makes the end even better.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t stop thinking about this for one major reason - the single POV third person of the *inexperienced* Dom character being the biggest one. It was such a unique and refreshing way of telling the story compared to sooooo many others out on the market today.

There was essentially insta-love, which, ugh. But both characters waited until they had a deep emotional connection before confessing it. A lot of the dialogue between the two of them was just going over what they’d done in scenes and deciding they both liked it - some more conflict there, especially on Rowan’s part, would have been welcome. And while Rowan’s mental health issues eventually reared their ugly head, it basically was just Fine. Everything in the book was Fine, except for one scene when Rowan saved the day and basically was a vehicle to move their relationship forward.

So yeah, I guess the book was Fine.

[Squoob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow! First off, this book is really mostly smut. But really, really GOOD smut! I appreciated the in-depth conversations about kink negotiations, maintaining the importance of safe, sane, and consensual, sub/dom drop, all the things one would want out of a BDSM book with the subject matter written appropriately.

Looking past that, I was really taken by Rowan and Mal's relationship. I love the way it evolved- the jealousy on Rowan's part didn't develop into any angsty plot points, the yearning was THERE, the soft intimate moments were explored outside of the sex, it all had me by a chokehold (ha!). I rate books on a scale from S tier to F tier and I think this book is an S tier. Just a really beautiful love story between two imperfect people who are navigating who they are while they orbit one another on a collision course of emotions. *Chefs kiss*

[unknownliah · Rating 3 out of 5]

GALLAVICH FAN FIC??
ok liked the book it was a good read but I couldn’t get over how many shameless similarities there was like Rowan is a redheaded paramedic with mental issues that he got from his mother and his father was a drunk thief named Hank(in shameless it’s Frank) and his mother ran out, leaving his older sister and brother to raise him and his siblings and when he was going through his first mental breakdown or whatever he used his brother “jay” identity to enlist in the army at 17 and then he worked at strip clubs

Then for now, dark hair, pale, the tattoos across his hands, the sister with abusive boyfriend, the father, who was a racist homophobe, whose name was Larry(in shameless it’s Terry)

Good book overall it just made me laugh. How many similarities I found there was a bunch more, but I can’t really remember right now.😂😂😂

[Natalia Liszewska · Rating 5 out of 5]

For all the filthy, filthy, oh how deliciously filthy smut, you would think you wouldn’t be waiting like crazy until they kiss, right? Well, jokes on you.
This book surprised me. It kind of reminded me of Ilyas and Shane’s relationship from Heated Rivalry with how it starts super spicy but somewhere along the way feelings get involved.
What kind of bummed me is that I wasnt really feeling it from Mal’s side. While Rowan’s feelings were very easy to understand (and they hurt so beautifully sometimes), Mal’s were kind of cryptic, confusing at the times and I could see his actions going both ways. He kind of seemed a little too unfazed in my opinion.
Nevertheless, really this was really interesting experience. Go for it dirty little bird 🧎‍♀️

[kelbeans · Rating 4 out of 5]

BDSM club life and gangbang meet-cute

The Menagerie is a steamy, character-driven erotic romance that blends intense club scenes with a tender, slow-building emotional connection. It’s a sensitive introduction to BDSM club scenes and D/s dynamics. The experienced sub/new dom dynamic adds a fresh angle, and their chemistry carries both the heat and the quieter, more intimate moments. It’s low on heavy angst but still emotionally engaging, with a strong focus on trust and growth. It’s also worth noting this story began as Gallavich (Shameless) fanfiction, which explains the very familiar character dynamics and backstories - heavy on the Southie dialogue.

[Courtney Clavel · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a book that is 95% sex scenes, this is a very wholesome romance. I really like Mal and he is really such a sweetie with a tough exterior. Rowen instaloves Mal and I think that is both the book’s strength and weakness.

This is a true slow burn, like no kiss until like 90%, so you spend a lot of time finding out while Rowen loves Mal. Towards the 2/3 point, it did feel a little like an unearned self imposed exile. I understand that depression and PTSD can cause people to be insecure, but it’s SO clear that Mal is down bad.

This is a great, sexy read.

[Mystisith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟 Now that was different. The writing is very dry + 3rd person & I needed a bit of time to get used to it but once warmed up... It is a kind of reverse slow burn with our 2 emotional porcupine men meeting at a cold gangbang & learning how to navigate their relationship from there. The BDSM component is perfect & the way trust & feelings are treated is realistic. Negokink for the win! The sex is borderline clinical & won't be everyone's cup of tea but there's a learning curve for the characters that translates into the wording too. The ending is highly satisfying.

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you I couldn’t put this book down I mean I finished it in roughly 12 hours because it didn’t leave my dang hands! I was OBSESSED!!!

Mal and Rowan are the freaking cutest and were literally maaaaade for each other!!! The way neither judged one another and wanted to help each other was beautiful. The communication was great in some aspects and they worked on it in others. They literally grew as individuals together and it was beyond beautiful.

One of my favourite books this year by far!

[etoile1996 · Rating 4 out of 5]

very spicy, but also emotional love story

Enjoyed this debut, the two leads have some baggage and hang-ups but from the moment they meet it’s clear that something more connects them.

My only quibble is that at some point in the middle of the book, the author or the editor conflates Boston’s South End with Southie. And it was so distracting because those are very distinct and different parts of Boston. (The author means Southie always in those instances.)

[Zoë Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts with a g a ng. b a n g

Got your attention? Great! Cause this book was amazing !!

We have a bratty power bottom (or as Malcom likes to call himself “The best bottom in the world” , and Rowan, the inexperienced Dom who struggles with depression.
But when they come together , pure magic and chemestry happens!

The Club/BDSM scenes were so beautifully written with so many emotions and so much detail. The yearning tho , oh my …all the feelings ❤️‍🔥

[Letizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75✨

I admit, i never thought i was gonna read a slow burn where the characters meet at a gangbang

At about 50% i was getting a bit bored, not gonna lie, but I’m glad i finished it
The second half felt more interesting, the burning was still slow but we had some stuff happening that kept my interest going
I’m a bit sad we didn’t really get to know more about Mal, we do learn a lot about Rowan since it’s from his pov, but Mal is still a bit of a mystery

All in all a nice book

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok loving a book with, erm, this subject matter was not on my bingo card. Literally could not put it down. The only reason it’s not a 5 is because I had a hard time with Mal. The mental image I built up in my mind was so jumbled. I couldn’t put all the pieces together in a way that made sense so I pictured him differently pretty every time and it took me out of it. I also didn’t like the way he talked? He had no personality.

Characters 4
Plot 4
Romance 5
Spice 5