Fading Desire

by B.J. Dolan

She swore she’d never fall for him. Now, she doesn’t even remember that she did.

Maya always knew the rules — you don’t fall for your best friend’s brother. But Tommy was different. Charming, protective, and utterly off-limits.

One moment, Maya is holding onto the greatest love she’s ever known. The next, Tommy is just her best friend’s brother — a stranger.

As Maya tries to piece her life back together, Tommy is forced to relive their love story alone, torn between protecting her and fighting for the truth of what really happened. Or who.

A heart-wrenching, steamy romance filled with longing, second chances, and the kind of love that refuses to be erased.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

Reviews

[Catherine Heeson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly one of the best books I've read in such a long time! The e author had me gripped from the first page and I binge read it in no time at all!
desperate to read the next one in the desire series!
100% Recommend!

[Emma Austwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to B J Dolan and Beth at wings and words for allowing me to arc read this. Well what can I say this book had me crying, I loved it. This book follows maya who is a hairdresser who is stuck in an abusive relationship, and is finally ready to end things with Jake, while on a night out she connects with her best friends brother, who was told to stay away from her, this had me gripped I loved it 100% recommend this.

[Louise Smalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Premise: A Heartbeat Forgotten
What happens when the person who knows all your secrets becomes a total stranger? B.J. Dolan’s Fading Desire takes the "best friend’s brother" trope and flips it on its head with a devastating, amnesia-driven twist.
Maya spent years building a life and a secret love with Tommy—a man she once swore was off-limits. But in a cruel blink of an eye, her memory of their entire history is wiped clean. To Maya, Tommy has reverted to being just her best friend's brother. To Tommy, Maya is still the love of his life, and he is now a ghost in his own relationship. ~I thoroughly enjoyed his book and Thank you, Beth, and the rest of the Wings and Words Arc Community for the free Arc of this book. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.~

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice fast paced spicy read, the plot had me hooked from the beginning, I knew going into the book that there was memory loss but was not expecting it to turn out the way it did!!

You go from a small town 2nd chance romance to a romantic thriller. I love it when 2 of my favourite genres combine in the most delightful and unexpected ways.

All I can say is I would have loved to have gotten more out of the ending, I don't really like it when the the hea ends with the default will you marry me.

[Leanne Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute easy read, kind of felt like a deep dive into the 50 shades plotline with Jack. The perfect holiday read

[T || · Rating 4 out of 5]

thanks to wings and words for this book.

it felt like the ending could have been wrapped up better. it felt abit messy in places that practically depicts life so I liked it.

overall, it is an enjoyable read. but it is not one i would run back to read again- which is reflected in my rating.

[Heather Deffley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book, I really enjoyed the story and it was written really well.

Who doesn't need a great bunch of strong, funny and caring friends? They had such a fab dynamic and even owned a business together.

Doesn't hurt that the MMC is caring, considerate and rich!!

A nice read, I'd highly recommend reading it.

Thanks Wings and Words for letting me read as an ARC reader.

[Jessica Lyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have liked a bit more of a closing to find out what happened to Jake

[Danielle Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!! what a book. I loved Maya's story, the poor girl went through so much, and still came out the other side fighting. I loved Tommy so much and he just shows that he would do absolutely anything to protect his true love. I cannot wait for book 2

[Soha Amer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional, intense, and quietly heartbreaking.

Fading Desire is a story that leans heavily into emotions—love, loss, and the complicated space in between.

It explores what happens when feelings begin to change, when passion fades, and when relationships are tested by time and reality. The emotional depth is what stands out the most—it feels raw and honest rather than overly dramatic.

The characters feel real in their struggles, especially in how they navigate distance, misunderstandings, and shifting emotions. It’s not always easy to read, but that’s what makes it impactful.

A thoughtful and emotional story about love that isn’t always simple or permanent.

[KJ Pointer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The storyline was great and I was really invested in what was happening. Tommy and Maya have always had feelings for each other but never did anything about it due to Tommy being mayas best friends brother. Fast forward a few years and now they’re about to try dating when their world descends into chaos. I loved the romantic suspense element and I also loved what a green flag Tommy was even if he’s a bit of a grump at times. Highly recommend.

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started as a nice, small town missed connection-type friends to lovers type of story became elevated to a thriller - and I am here for it!
The characters are well-rounded (and my God do I want some of the MMC in my life!), the spice is spicing, and I couldn't stop reading.
It's a light, easy read, perfect for a summer afternoon in the garden! looking forward to rhe next one now ✌️

[Cazlovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya knows she really shouldn’t fall for her best friend’s brother… but then there’s Tommy. And he’s kind, protective, and it just feels right. She’s genuinely happy for the first time.
Then it all goes wrong.

Maya gets hit by a car driven by her unstable ex, and when she wakes up, she doesn’t remember Tommy at all. To her, he’s just her best friend’s brother — awkward, familiar, and definitely not the love of her life.

Now Maya’s trying to heal and move on, while Tommy is stuck loving someone who doesn’t remember him, quietly hoping she’ll find her way back to him.

This book was absolutely beautiful but also completely heartbreaking. I loved Tommy and Maya’s story so much. Parts of it are genuinely infuriating, but watching them fight their way back to each other makes it worth it. There are some heavy themes — including mental abuse, DV, and kidnapping — so definitely check the trigger warnings. That said, the love story at the heart of it all is powerful and makes the ending incredibly satisfying.

[Ells Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm giving out 5 stars constantly atm but honestly these books deserve the hype 🤌 i've followed the author for a long time on tiktok and have been so excited to read this one and it did not disapoint! The book is a romance with thriller vibes and some dark themes. It was perfectly paced and so easy to follow/read. I honestly was expecting a typical fluffy romance but it was not the typical romance. It was so different in such a good way. It made the book (in my opinion) completely unique and i LOVE that so much. It means you'll remmeber it 😍 The characters were all easy to relate to and follow. It was emotional but beautiful how the characters (especially the main characters) developed throughout the book. Really happy with this read and Beth, you should be proud 🫶 cannot wait for book 2!

[Abbey Wales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

Just finished Fading Desire by B.J. Dolan and wow what a journey! 💫

This book had so many twists and turns, with longing, mystery, and love woven into every chapter. 

Maya always knew the rules, never fall for your best friend’s brother, but Tommy was different. Their connection is intense, emotional, and completely convincing, and the way the story unfolds had me hooked from start to finish. 

The blend of small‑town charm, forbidden love, and second chances made this such a captivating read, and the emotional depth stayed with me long after I closed the book. If you’re in the mood for romance with heat, heart, and unexpected suspense, Fading Desire absolutely delivers. ⭐️🔥

[Waseema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book.
5 stars is not enough. It has been a a few months since I read a book I could not put down.
You have romance, intrigue, stalkers, best friends and a HEA!
The pace was amazing.
Maya the fmc is young beautiful and hard working. Trying to build a stable life for herself. Working with her best friends. She starts off by dumping Jake! Thankfully she dumps him I should say.
We then meet her bff Fallon's brothers Max and Tommy! Oh Tommy the love of young Maya's life. Her knight in shining armour.

I wanted more but also needed the ending here as the twists and turns were horrific.

A brilliant story!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt a little like 50 shades of grey towards the end and it was readable but lost steam. The Jake/Jack stalker problem went on for too long and it just seemed like a predictable, weak storyline.
These two were over the top with the love and didn’t really face problems other than he (ex boyfriend) wanted to kill hef for not being with him. It was too lovey dovey for me and felt exhausting like a cringey marathon bc there was no angst.
If something is forbidden then it should feel that way. Tommy and maya didn’t feel forbidden bc the sister really didn’t care! It felt like instalove which is boring. The accident with memory loss isn’t original and didn’t make me feel bad for them bc they weren’t developed enough as a couple. This book was annoying to read bc of the difference in dialogue from UK and American. It was forgettable bc it wasn’t original.
I could also do without the cringey nick name “Maymay” she’s not a dog or five!

[Miss Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to have access to a preview of this book. As a mum of 3, time to myself is limited and I’m not easily drawn into a book, but I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put it down! The suspense draws you in and you have to keep reading to find out what happens. I also felt it was the perfect balance to reality and you can fully vision this story coming to life. I now am in suspense until the next book in the Desire series is released and I’m no longer waiting in suspense for the next romance to unfold!

[Camilla Blomgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a steamy small-town romance about second chances, and it was so easy to fall into the story and completely fall in love with the setting.

The characters felt relatable, and the plot had plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. The writing was easy to follow, and I really enjoyed that it was written in dual POV, giving us both Maya’s and Tommy’s perspectives.

I loved that Tommy was protective, it added so much intensity to the romance and made their connection feel even stronger. However, I did feel like some parts of the story were a bit rushed. I would have loved more depth and detail in certain moments to fully immerse myself in the emotional development.

[abbiscosycorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! It definitely was a rollercoaster of emotions, twists and turns and a whole lot of love which keeps you gripped!

The story follows Maya, who is in a bad relationship and wants out and her ex doesn’t seem to agree with that. She then reunited with Tommy and the connection they have is undeniable.

Tommy well that man feel hard, head over heels and I ate this up. I would say there is definitely an aspect of insta love but this has been growing for years. He is a billionaire, childhood friend and best friend’s brother.

The twists in this book I did not expect and they gripped me and shocked me! The found family element was incredible. The relationship between the girls, love them! And Max well he was so funny! Overall, really good read, funny, loving with twists and drama!

Favourite quote: ‘I would wait a million lifetimes for you’ 🥰 swooning!

[Helena Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Gripped from the very first page. Haven read a book in 6/7 years, however I feel I may have just fallen in love with reading all over again. A great read about beautiful friendships, true love and plenty of spice. My only complaint it that I need to read the other books in the series immediately. Thank you for making me fall back in love with reading!

[Davina Coogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this debut novel .. the story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, twists, turns and of course the spice!. Each character is brilliant and their relationships are fun and full of witty banter. Tommy and Maya's story is written so well and has you gripped from the start. Looking forward to the next book!

[Becks O · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The FMC is strong and independent, and her friend group is just as amazing – love seeing that kind of female solidarity. Then there’s Tommy and his friends, give me a hot millionaires and I’m sold, and these guys definitely hits the mark.

The plot takes you on a total emotional rollercoaster too. One minute you’re feeling all the feels from the love and found family vibes, the next you’re on the edge of your seat with angst, plus there’s a villain I absolutely loved to hate (which is always a win in my book). The steamy scenes are written so well, and it all wraps up with the sweetest HEA that left me grinning like an idiot. Basically, if you want passion, drama, and a happy ending, this one’s for you.

[Alexandra Middleham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Had the perfect amount of spice and so different to any other romances I’ve read before! Loved the twists and the friendship and would really look forward to seeing more books on the relationship of the other characters mentioned!

[Hayley Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book gripped me from the very start. A rollercoaster of emotions, a mixture of romance/spice and dark thriller. It made a cold hearted girl feel emosh! I loved every single character and I can’t wait to see who the next book is going to focus on. A m a z i n g, 5/5 ⭐️

[Jeana Cheque · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both the book and audiobook needed better editing. Low production value on the audiobook, and the narration fell flat if there wasn't dialog. The writing wasn't the best and the storyline had some plot points that made no sense. The FMC ignored red flags, which is a red flag that I won't love the book. It was ok for an indie author and newbie narrator.

[Emma Sharman · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want an easy read with plot twists and a good amount of spice then this is it!
You also become invested in the characters!
Definitely a great holiday read!

[Megan Wignall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I’ve read this year! Had me that hooked I read it in one sitting, finally got me back into enjoying reading again! Can’t wait for the next book 💖

[Sarah Glynn-Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this last year 2025 and couldn't put it down.
They've loved each other since they were teenagers and you just know they were meant to be together.

[tonicha Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fading desire is a roller coaster of a book, emotions were everywhere. I loved it, it was addictive, funny, sad, and shocking all at the same time. the twist and turns in their love story is gripping. I loved the characters, even the friends and family around maya and Tommy. I cant wait for the next book highly recommend reading this book