ARC REVIEW
Rating: 4/5
Spice Level: 3.5/5
Tropes: Forbidden Love · Age Gap · Boyfriend's Dad
I’ll be very honest. I picked up this book for the tropes. My absolute favorites: forbidden love, age gap, and the ultimate scandal, boyfriend’s dad.
But then I saw "cheating" listed in the trigger warnings, and it immediately turned me off. I can accept a lot of things in fiction, but cheating? It’s a hard limit for me. I didn’t read the book for an entire day. Then I pushed myself to give it a shot.
And you know what? I didn't regret it.
Initially, I assumed Joey would be the one to cheat (sorry, Joey), but I was wrong. By Chapter 15, I was completely hooked and actually rooting for Abigail and Joey. Their connection was intense, but they were moving way too fast.
Then I remembered, Daddy Nick hadn’t even entered yet! And he's the actual MMC. I was almost a third into the book, wondering where he was. But when he finally showed up... damn. His charm blew me away.
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Abigail: A strong, complex woman with trauma and commitment issues. She frustrated me at times, but I appreciated her honesty and growth. She says what she feels, and she owns it. I loved that about her. Also minor spoiler I had a feeling who might cheat first... and I wasn’t wrong. But since it wasn’t a committed relationship, I could let it go.
Nick: Twenty years older, and I get why Abigail was drawn to him. He’s hot, supportive, caring, emotionally mature, and yes, good in bed. Bonus points: he’s a math professor who might spank you with a ruler.
Joey: Surprisingly amazing. He has the most growth out of everyone—transforms from a careless f*ckboy to a man who genuinely wants commitment. Sweet, supportive, and actually a great partner. I rooted for him... until I didn’t.
What I loved most? Both men made Abigail feel seen and beautiful. She’s curvy and insecure, but they lifted her up with both words and actions. Joey calling her “beautiful”? Instant swoon.
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What Didn’t Work for Me:
Nick should’ve entered the story earlier. As the main male lead, he deserved more chapters and a quicker introduction.
Abigail didn’t get justice. Her abuser deserved consequences, and it felt unfinished.
The emotional reveal about her past? I wanted dialogue and real-time reactions, not just narration. That moment deserved more weight.
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Final Thoughts:
Despite a rocky start, this book won me over. It's a messy, emotional, and addictive love triangle with real character development and emotional weight. While it didn't hit 5 stars for me, I still highly recommend it for fans of older men, student/teacher tension, curvy FMCs, and emotionally layered romance.