Pretty Mess

by Lily Morton

Kiss him, sleep with him, but don’t ever fall in love with him.

The first time Wes Archer steps into Jack of Clubs, an exclusive London pleasure club, he’s completely confident he can heed the tried-and-true advice about becoming an escort. Wes gives himself away for free with casual hookups all the time. Why not make some cash doing what he already loves? And cash is something he desperately needs. His brother’s gambling addiction has taken their family’s home, saddled Wes with insurmountable debts, and compromised his chances for finishing his degree.

Accepting an offer to spend a few hours of fun with a rich bloke will be a simple business transaction, right?

Wrong.

Wes’s first client is Cormac Reilly. The handsome billionaire is grumpy, funny, and commanding in a way that unlocks desires Wes never knew he had. Cormac is icily determined to keep their arrangement strictly business, but that doesn’t stop Wes from finding him fascinating.

As their one-night contract becomes something much more, Wes can’t deny he’s falling for his client. He knows he’s flouting all the rules, but breaking down Cormac’s barriers is an irresistible challenge, and his reward might be the best prize of all — love.

From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a passionate love story set in London and Paris about two astonishingly different men and one very pretty mess.

Please see the disclaimer at the beginning of the book for content some readers may find triggering.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Audiobook, Gay, Queer

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 17, 2025

About the author

Lily is a bestselling gay romance author.

She lives in sunny England with her husband and two children, all of whom claim that they haven't had a proper conversation with her since she got her Kindle.

She has spent her life with her head full of daydreams, and decided one day to just sit down and start writing about them. In the process she discovered that she actually loved writing because how else would she get to spend her time with hot and funny men?

Her latest release is Under Gorse and Stone, which is a magical Christmas story about a centuries-old dragon and his human mate.

https://getbook.at/UnderGorseAndStone

You can keep up with Lily's latest releases and read the exclusive short stories '3 Dates' and ‘Best Love’ by subscribing to her newsletter: https://bit.ly/LilyMorton-Newsletter

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Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mixed bag for me. The trope is not my favourite, but I liked that the setup was different from this author's other books, and I was interested to see how everything would play out.

Wes and Mac are typical LM's characters – one older and serious, and the other younger and sassy. I liked them well enough, but at times they reminded me too much of her other characters, especially their banter which often missed the mark for me. I also didn't enjoy the brother subplot and some silly unrealistic situations created only to conveniently serve a purpose - like grandpa's house, getting hurt multiple times so that they have to spend the night together, the visit from Wes's brother and their conversation, to name just a few. I prefer things to develop more organically.

There are scenes that I liked, mostly the more romantic ones, and I did enjoy some of their conversations. I liked how Wes was gradually wearing Mac down with his text messages and questions. Since the story is told only from Wes's POV, we know how smitten he is with Mac from the start and there's a lot of pining on his side, which is something that always works for me.

There are a lot of sex scenes (some readers will be happy), but my favourite part of the story was their break-up, or rather the end of their arrangement, and what comes afterwards. I really like how LM writes break-ups and the second chance romance of sorts that follows. She did it so well in her books After Felix and Confetti Hearts, and I enjoyed it here, as well. Including the epilogue.

What else did I like? Oh, the friendship between Wes and Julian. That was unexpected. It's a pity that Julian wasn't present throughout most of the story, but I hope he and certain someone will get their own book. And Paris! I liked the trip to Paris. It was lovely.

One more thing. This story is compared to Pretty Woman, which totally makes sense based on their arrangement. However, Mac reminded me a lot more of Christian Grey. Unbelievably rich, pays for stuff for Wes and takes care of him in every possible way, flies in a private plane to other countries, childhood trauma, hides his feelings behind thick walls, Brandon's character who is identical to that girl Christian was with before Ana. Anyone?

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest, I went into this with low expectations.

The last few Lily Mortons didn’t completely hit for me, so I wasn’t prepared for how much I’d love this. But wow - this was DELIGHTFUL (but also not really a surprise because billionaire romances are my guilty pleasure, there, I said it).

The setup is pay for play but with a twist: exclusivity is part of the deal, thank god.

We follow Wes’ POV - he finds himself quite suddenly and unexpectedly in difficult circumstances and is desperate for money, so he takes the plunge and becomes an escort (yeah, just like that, but whatever lol). That’s how he meets Mac: a gorgeous, sarcastic, seemingly cold billionaire who hides behind walls upon walls. Slowly (and hilariously) Wes wriggles his way right through them.

I adored Wes from the start - all his blurty-ness, snark, and humour felt like peak Lily Morton. I especially loved how he wasn’t intimidated by Mac for even a second. Instead, he just kept chipping away at him with his charm, until suddenly the grumpy façade started to crack.

And oh, those cracks 🫠 The moments where Mac’s walls crumbled and he let his emotions show - telling Wes how beautiful he was, softening at unexpected times - those were everything. The story balanced the trademark banter and sarcasm with some of the swooniest, sigh-inducing soft moments. I kept finding myself whispering a little awww at my Kindle.

Now, fair warning: the first half of the book has a LOT of sex. Given the setup, it’s not exactly a surprise, and it was hot, but for me it just about tipped into maybe too much. Still, once things deepened emotionally, the ratio felt more balanced.

Julian, Wes’ best friend, deserves his own shoutout. Their friendship was a highlight for me, and Julian absolutely stole the scenes he was in. I’m crossing my fingers for a Julian (and Fox??) book because I’m very much intrigued by what’s going on there.

Even the third-act breakup worked for me here, which is rare. It felt natural that they’d need time apart, and it gave Mac the chance to actively pursue Wes for once. The angst hit just right, and the reunion was all the sweeter for it.

The wrap up was a bit sudden though, I wanted a little more insight into Mac (for example the exact moment he fell for Wes, why he was so stunned at the little sunflower etc) and a bit more resolution with the brother.
But all in all, this was a very lovely grump/sunshine romance - except both men are equally sarcastic and snarky, and yet so soft and absolutely obsessed with each other. And I feel like this was classic Lily Morton with all her strengths on display, and it reminded me exactly why I fell in love with her books in the first place.

4,5 ⭐️ and the perfect beach read ☀️🌊⛱️

[taylor :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I’m so in love with it. I literally called out of work one day, so I could finish it (do not tell anyone that). This was one of those “just one more chapter before bed” books for me. It was wonderful, and I enjoyed it so much.

So the premise here is that Wes’s older brother has a gambling addiction. A bad one. Bad enough that when Wes was walking home one day, he found a bunch of men taking his family’s objects out of his house because his brother bet their house, and lost. So here Wes is homeless and broke with no idea what to do. He needs money for school so he can graduate and have a good job to get out of this cycle. He happens to run into his academic rival, Julian, on the street, who lets him come and stay with him and talks him into becoming an escort, like him, essentially. That is how Wes meets Cormac.

Cormac Reilly. Our grumpy, gorgeous, older billionaire. There were a few times that I got so mad at him. I couldn’t understand how he could remain so aloof when he is in the vicinity of our sunshine angel Wes. His attitude makes sense the more you read, but at the time I was like dude!!!! Chill out!!!! But speaking of Wes, I love that man with my whole heart. He’s probably one of my favorite characters I have ever read. He is so funny. I was constantly laughing throughout this book. His humor is my brand of humor. It was amazing. Cormac fell for the same things about Wes that I did. Cormac and Wes’s arrangement was supposed to be a one time thing, that’s usually Cormac’s MO. But he couldn’t help developing a contract or feelings for that matter for Wes. He’s just beautiful and sweet and a darling angel. Ugh I loved him. I really loved Cormac towards the end when he got over himself and let himself love and be loved. It was beautiful.

Also another thing to love about Cormac is his bedroom skills. The sex scenes were so top notch. And there was soooooo many of them, but in a good way. The plot is still plotting and the sex is abundant. I was in heaven.

The only thing I would change about this book is that I would’ve killed for at least one chapter in Cormac’s POV. All the chapters are strictly in Wes’s POV. I would’ve loved to be in Cormac’s head, at least once. But that’s all. Everything else was perfect.

I’m curious to see if the author writes about some other characters in this book. I’m left with questions that I would love answered someday. In the meantime, I must check out more of this author’s books. This was my first book by her and she just blew it out of the water for me. Thank you madame, I salute you. Cheers.

P.S. (This is kinda spoilery, but you must know.) In the content warnings in the beginning of the book, the author mentions that in chapter 15, there is a detailed, on page, SA scene. I was really worried to read this. Like I was dreading the whole book for the chapter. I just want you to know it does not go far. I hate to say it like that because any SA is bad, but this one was not graphic in my opinion. What essentially happens is that Wes gets locked in a bathroom with a gross human being. The man hits Wes a few times, tears his shirt, and pulls his pants down. He 100% had plans to SA him. He says it in this scene. That is as far as it gets. Cormac kicks the door down and beats the man up, and then he goes to Wes to comfort him. The man is pulled out of the bathroom then, and another character says he will take great joy in destroying his life. That’s all. It’s a terrible scene, but I just want you to know that it’s not as extreme as the content warning makes it sound. Honestly I was preparing myself for the worst of the worst the whole book. I was relieved that it was not that, but upset that I was stressed out the whole book. But please take care of your mental health and skim this chapter if you need to. I just want you to know what happens.

I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4**** stars


Dang! I had a blast. The story setup, the witty banter, the characters… fabulous.

“Let’s start the way we did before. Take your clothes off, Wes.” I start to take off my jumper, and he says, “Slowly, please. I vividly remember how, last time, you tried to break the sound barrier with the speed of your disrobing.” “Funny. You try being a new hooker. It’s not easy, you know.”

“Sometimes I think my attraction to you stems from your incredibly varied vocabulary.” “You lie. It’s my anus.” He laughs. “True. It’s the prettiest anus in town and rarely speaks back, unlike its owner.”

I was a tiny bit disappointed by the second half of the book as it somehow lost its pace and intrigue but overall it was still a great read.

(The word throbbing is used a whooping 17 times in the first half of book and that was roughly fourteen times too often if you ask me.)




I have no idea if Lily Morton intends to make this a series but there is def potential. I’d love to get a book for Wes’ best friend and fellow hooker, Julian, and Fox, the owner of the club that provides the platform for the arrangements made there.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m the keeper of his cock, existing to service him and bring him pleasure and then disappear back into the cupboard until he needs me again.

In the words of Wes, “That was so far beyond epic, I’m lost for words.” I thoroughly enjoyed this book- one of my top reads for 2025! Wes and Cormac's love story is messy and chaotic, but all the sweeter for it. They meet at a gentleman's club, when Cormac buys Wes's 'full services' for the night. Wes manages to capture Cormac's attention and they enter into a sugar daddy/sugar baby type of temporary arrangement. But when Cormac finds out why Wes became an escort in the first place, can he overcome his guilt to make the relationship permanent?

I’ve been alone a long time, Wes, and I was always comfortable with it before.” “Before what?” His face is wry but shockingly gentle. “Before you, of course. Somewhere along the line, you made solitary start to look a lot more like loneliness."

Wes turns to escorting after finding himself suddenly homeless and penniless at no fault of his own. He's a champ for rallying and staying positive in spite of everything. I’m such a sucker for a character who is able to maneuver themselves out of a difficult situation while staying true to themselves. Lily writes such amazing characters and I can't decide if I loved Wes's irreverent charm or Cormac's steady loyalty more. If I had one complaint about the book, it would be that I'd have liked to read more from Cormac's POV. He's like a rock for a lot of the book, but I'm sure there was lots going on under the surface that I'd like to have been able to explore. Lily warned us that this book was a bit different than anything she's written lately, and I personally LOVED it! I hope we get more in the series.
Rating: 5
Angst: 3/5
Steam: 3/5

I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was some yummy angst in this one but guess what??? This is the first Morton book in a while that had no caricature asshole that one of the MCs was inexplicably putting up with. There was an asshole, but no one liked him. So yay!

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection.

This is the best Lily Morton book in a hot minute. Or at least since the third Blue Billings book.

I loved that she did something a bit different than her usual with this, but not so different that it didn't work. We still have a sweetie pie of a character with Wes, but she tried something a bit different with a more closed off, perhaps sometimes a bit of an asshole in that he pushes people away, in Cormac, or Mac as Wes calls him.

And it was more angsty than what this author is known for. Also in my memory the author has never done a scene like this, but there is a scene where another character tries to rape Wes and sexually assaults him and the author does warn for this, but just know it's not between the MCs but it's well into the book in Chapter 15, and Wes fights the guy as much as he can before Mac gets there and breaks down the door.

If he hadn't come, though, Wes would have fought but not have been able to ultimately stop it and that's so dark and grim to think about. And aside from the Blue Billings books that deal with murder and spooky ghosts and such, that kind of scene is not this author's MO, so it was definitely something new, and the author handled it very well.

Plus, this is also about Wes having a brother who is a gambling addict, who does horribly shitty things to Wes and others around him but at the same time Wes loves his brother who has always been there for him, so it's hard for Wes to deal with, being angry and hating his brother at the same time he loves him and wants to help him.

But his brother hurts Wes financially too, who is finishing up University and is set to go into a Master's program after, but his brother loses their house as collateral and all Wes' savings and more. It's awful, but Wes has a friend, Julian, who is a sex worker to very rich men, so a high end escort, and says Wes could do that too, as he could make a LOT of money (and pay off the debts his brother has accrued - some even in Wes' name.)

His first client is Cormac, and Cormac is quite closed off at first, and for awhile into their "arrangement", only Cormac doesn't get emotionally attached to anyone, least of all the escorts he has sex with, but of course with Wes that is not the case.

Wes has grown up on the edge of poor his whole life, and he's a sweetie pie who also is a bit of a talker and doesn't quite know how to curb that as a "professional escort" and all, but that's what endears him to Mac, in the end. Wes might not be the usual escort, but that's exactly how Mac falls for him.

For Wes, he's not really cut out to be a sex worker, and he's wildly attracted to Mac, and it doesn't take long for him to become attached to Mac, against all of his friend Julian's warnings and advice.

But when Mac forgets himself and lets his guard down at times, Wes can see the man behind the walls he's erected up. Mac always seems to remember himself and put them back up as much as he can, but it never really works all that well where Wes is concerned.

I absolutely loved their chemistry together and this was some of the best sex Ms. Morton has ever written. I just love, love, loved them together. Their chemistry was fire and their passion and eventual love was so immense.

Mac is a tough nut to crack and we don't get his POV in this - I would have LOVED it so much, but it wasn't detrimental to knowing his feelings, because as closed off as Mac was at first, his feelings started to come through loud and clear, even as he tried to fight them and Wes tried to tell himself Mac didn't feel that way about him.

Hell, Mac tried to tell himself he didn't feel that way about Wes either. But by the end his love is shining through and it's so obvious his POV wasn't needed - even as I longed for it! I wanted to get him crashing out over Wes in his mind, it would have been glorious.

As it is, we do get him crashing out over Wes anyway. All the times he says Wes is beautiful or gorgeous? SWOON. He is so enamored from the get go. And all the times he forgets himself and laughs full body laughs with Wes - the reactions of others around them who know Mac were always so stunned when he did, which tells us all we need to know. Mac being happy and carefree and laughing with Wes is not his usual, ever.

I also loved how this starts out with Mac not wanting Wes to call him "Mac" to then at the end him never wanting Wes to call him "Cormac" as he's just Mac to Wes 🥰

So while we don't get Mac's POV, I wasn't all that mad at it. It was quite obvious how Mac was starting to feel throughout this, despite all his attempts to keep Wes at arms length.

Wes, the sweetheart, is gone for Mac almost right off the bat. He is GONE for this man and it's so completely sweet and adorable. He lives for Mac letting his guard down and laughing with him, and for Mac's epic sarcasm. He never really thinks of himself as a sex worker and never really thinks of Mac as a client. He's just...Mac. From the start. His Mac.

And they were perfect together. And all Mac does for Wes too, without Wes having to ask, was beautiful too.

It was understandable, the more we learned about Mac and his past, why he was the way he was as well. Why he was so scared of feelings and getting attached to someone. So if you feel he's frustrating at first, don't worry, it all makes sense as his past comes to light.

I definitely HIGHLY recommend this, it fired on all cylinders and I zoomed through reading it, I couldn't get enough of it. Even as these two got their well deserved HEA, I wanted more of them! And this author writers a lot of shorts of her couples so I only hope these two get shorts in the future as well.

Also, I don't know if this will become a series, but there were several possibilities for future books. Namely Julian, Wes' best friend. I could totally see him (and potentially Fox?) getting a book. If we do get future books in this setting and with more characters, I absolutely can't wait for them.

As it is, if this is a standalone, Wes and Mac were everything and I couldn't get enough of them.

I absolutely can't wait for more from Ms. Morton, this was amazing! 😍

Until then!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

OHMYGOD I LOVEDDD THIS!!!!! With all the exclamation marks and all caps. It’s one of my fave spicy MM contemporary romances OF ALL TIME!! (More caps! More exclamation marks! More enthusiasm!)

THE PREMISE: When his brother’s gambling debts leave Wes desperate, he ends up staying with his uni rival (and my fave) Julian, who knows a way he could make a lot of money very quickly … as a high-end escort. Where he meets Cormac (also my fave).

TROPES & VIBES:
- Truly god tier banter. I would read about these two doing absolutely anything
- *don’t fall in love with your client*
- Sarcasm as a love language
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Pretty Woman but make it gay
- Hurt x comfort
- “Baby” and “sweetheart”

Thank you Barbie, for the rec 🫶🏼

5⭐️ 3.5-4🌶️

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I don't usually go for Billionaire romances because they're just so utterly unrelatable, but I had a suprisingly fun time reading this! It was a tad too long and it did feel like there were a couple too many plates spinning in the air, but overall I enjoyed the relationship development between Mac and Wes. The locations all sounded absolutely beautiful, but I definitely wanted to go and wander around the house on the island!

Wes made me laugh so much. We have a very similar sense of humour, although my culinary choices aren't quite as questionable... I really liked his friendship with Julian, but he is a much better person than me when it came to the mess his brother got them into. I for sure would not have gone to anywhere near the same amount of effort after what his brother did to him! I also really liked that he didn't just give up his life to become a trophy partner to a rich man, he knew what he wanted to achieve and he went for it and I loved the results scene and the graduation.

Mac was very reminiscient of Richard Gere in Pretty Woman 😂 I couldn't stop picturing him, just with darker hair! He truly was an idiot in love and it was both entertaining and frustrating that he and Wes couldn't seem to have any important conversations for the absolute longest time! I did enjoy their banter and the way Wes treats Mac like he's just any other guy, but my god, miscommunication drives me nuts 😂😂

I also kept thinking that Julian would be excellent friends with Mal and Pip, and Wes would probably get on really well with Dylan, Jude and Dean. I really like how all of these books are in the same story universe and I loved that sneaky little cameo at the end...

I am now desperately hoping we're going to be getting a book for Julian and Fox?! I am already overly invested in their 'relationship' and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review

[Valen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look at me, actually enjoying a sex-worker trope (I usually struggle a lot with this because the power imbalance scares me). My favourite parts were Wes’ friendship with Julian, I want to know more about Julian and Fox!

Mac was a little bit too much of a saviour, with the whole sweeping in and fixing all of Wes and Tyler’s problems, but I was in the mood for a low-ish angst story where things work out in the end, so I’ll go along with it. I really need Goodreads to enable half star ratings because this was a 3.5.

(I was uncomfortable with the liberal use of the word “whore” here, but I tried to ignore it for my own sanity)

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heaped with his brother’s gambling debts, Wes turns to escorting at the suggestion of a friend.

At Jack of Clubs he meets Cormac, a grumpy billionaire that instantly intrigues him from the moment Wes lays eyes on him.

Their relationship is supposed to be purely transactional, but the more Wes gets to know Cormac the more he wants to crack the man’s icy exterior.

Wes and Mac are total opposites in so many ways, but I instantly loved them. The chemistry and snarky banter between them was *chefs kiss* and I devoured Pretty Mess in one sitting.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- escort + client
- age gap
- billionaire
- hurt x comfort
- grumpy x sunshine
- banter

CW: family member with addiction, on page graphic SA (Ch 15)

[Sjoukje · Rating 5 out of 5]

I opened and closed this book at least 5 times, because I knew I would like it but really couldn’t get over the first chapter. When I finally pushed through I couldn’t put it down anymore and read while I should have been sleeping 🤣

So what did we learn from this? Probably that I’m still very bad in giving myself enough sleep and also that sometimes first chapters are not a good indication of the greatness of a story. (Although greatness is probably a bit much for this type of book, but it was very good entertainment nonetheless.)

I did have some issues with the premise of the book. I had the feeling I missed some background story of the club and the reasoning behind why these rich men would have these contracts. Why not just pay per night? If it’s just sex, why would you care so much about exclusivity?
I also don’t think we had enough information about Mac to understand why he was so adamant about sleeping apart.
And I didn’t understand the Brandon storyline. Why didn’t Mac tell Wes about him? And why didn’t Wes just ask what happened there?

Anyway, I liked the whole story a lot. The writing was also pretty good. Almost no off page developments and the feelings were just there, and not overly explained.

I think I’ll reread to understand the book a bit better. And I definitely recommend (after the first chapter) 😄

[Monikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75✨
I can't deny I loved this story. A gorgeous addition to Lily Morton's world.
A beautiful sexy novice sex worker (Wes) - billionaire client (Mac) reluctant romance. There is and has only ever been one client so it's like a paid relationship where feelings bloom. Beautifuly and playfully written to the point I couldn't put the book down. Having Cormac being a brooding, secretive billionaire and Wes a gorgeous, messy ray of sunshine makes this a great read.
Very very British. Very British sarcasm, hiding feelings, awkward deception and avoiding truths and feelings.


(PISSY VENT) SPOILER ALERT:
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Be warned, the end gets dragged out so long it almost ruins the moments🙄. Momentum is everything in a HEA, and dragging things out like this waters it down and makes it feel old. Points off for that🤔

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the Blurb for this one I was eager to see just how Lily would deal with the disparity in wealth between Wes and Cormac and how it would impact on the whole idea of a Pretty Woman scenario story.

Well, of course, she nails it, because Wes not only doesn't care about the wealth, he's actively doing his best to not accept more than he needs to pay off his brother's debts, without letting the man he calls Mac realise he's falling for him.

Mac's an enigma, while he's obscenely wealthy, he also lives a fairly simple life (for a billionaire!) and doesn't flaunt anything about his advantages.

The meet/cute for this one is obviously the foundation of the story's plotline, Wes ends up desperately needing cash after his brother's gambling addiction leaves him and his sister-in-law homeless and with a pile of credit card debts in his name from cards Tyler took out without his knowledge.

His arch rival at university, Julian (his story next please Lily!), turns out to not only be a true friend, but also his avenue for recouping the cash, as Julian works as an escort at a secret club and has been living as a kept man for more than a year.

Lily doesn't shy away from the fact these two young men are selling themselves for money, but it's perhaps got a touch more to the sex work due to the nature of where they go to meet potential clients.

Jack of Clubs is exclusive, filled with rich men seeking a no strings transactional arrangement. There are rules in place to keep the escorts safe and Fox Walker, who owns the club, is presented very clearly as a man you don't want to cross. His rules put the escorts first always and there's clearly something there with him and Julian, hence why his book next please!

The narrative itself winds slowly from the initial encounter through Mac wanting to see this young man who challenges him at every turn,

Wes is like the most snarky and engaging parts of Lily's other characters Oz and Mal (Spring Strings) got married and had a baby.

He's dealing with his feelings of betrayal and hurt because of his brother's actions, but his brother was also the one who made sure Wes stayed with him when their mum died when they were younger.

His fascination with Mac isn't just because of the insane chemistry between them, or the bone-numbing sex they have, he wants to know why he's closed off, what caused the scar on his lower abdomen, why he clearly hates the man he's trying a buy a house off on a small river island outside the City.

The pacing in this book is beautifully crafted, there's a growing sense of a collision on the way as Wes falls more in love and Mac starts to pull back emotionally, while at the same time, offering up more and more opportunities for Wes to spend time with him.

There's a looming sense of dread as you can see the angst building the more time they spend together and the more chances for conversations go begging.

I loved the way Wes' irrepressible nature just kept him moving forward into the danger zone, he knows he's fallen for Mac, he knows that nothing can come of it, he knows his heart is going to be broken, but he keeps straight on the path anyway.

You can see that Mac's opened up more to Wes than anyone else before, he has no other friends, there's only business for him, he doesn't have a confidant, unlike Wes, who breaks more of the rules Julian's tried to instil in him because he knows a broken heart is on the cards.

The fall out comes, as it must, through an element of miscommunication, however, it's not an irritating one, it's not something that a conversation could have easily avoided, it arises due to a traumatic event (trigger warnings are given for this clearly as well as chapter indication that I very much appreciated) at Jack of Clubs.

It's a painful part of the book, but it's a necessary one, for both Wes and Mac need to be honest not only with each other, but with themselves.

Of course, it's a Lily Morton book, so we know there'll be a HEA and the way they reach out and come back into each other's lives is beautifully done.

I also have to shout out to Mac's driver Robert, another wonderfully created secondary character who helps lift up the narrative and probably the closest thing to a friend Mac has. I loved it every time he appeared on the page, he's got a wry sense of humour and a strong sense of loyalty.

Everything about this story worked for me, it doesn't have that element of disbelief that Pretty Woman does imho.

The wealth aspect of Mac's character is only a part of his story, not the driving factor, making him falling for Wes absolutely understandable. Wes breaks down his walls, makes him see that the solitary life he thought he was comfortable with, is actually pretty lonely.

And Wes wants his independence, he doesn't want to be kept once his brother's debts are cleared, he got a First with Honours in his accountancy degree and he's got himself a job (loved the guest appearance here, won't spoil it!) and is standing on his own two feet.

His love for Mac isn't contingent on the money, it's the man himself, the lonely child who turned into a closed-off man, who he loves, and that's as clear as night and day.

Loved this pair enough to stick them behind Caden & Mal as my absolute favourite Lily creations and I will always have my rare breeds farmer and his smart mouthed supermodel as my top pair because their book was written for me 😘😍

I really hope we get Julian's story next, I've a feeling his will be another one that hits hard.

#ARC kindly received from the author via GRR Tours, I am voluntarily leaving a review

[martina (the life of a chaotic reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

few things are as good as the banter in this book.
it’s literally amazing.
i genuinely LOVED their relationship, how it started and how it evolved.
unfortunately, for me mac acted a little too much like an asshole and didn’t grovel enough for my liking.
but that’s just me being a bitch.


now, i would like to talk about the trigger warning for a detailed sa scene.

SPOILERS AHEAD

every kind of sa is terrible, and there isn’t something like being “more” or “less” sexually assaulted.
however, i almost didn’t read this because i felt like there would be a full on, detailed, rape scene.
there isn’t.
there was a plan, however it ends at a non consensual kiss, clothes being torn and the mc getting hit.
i wanted to reassure other readers about what actually goes on in the book, so they can make an informed decision about whether reading this or not, but i really don’t want anyone to take this as me not considering what happens in this book sexual assault.
it is 100% sexual assault and you’re actually legally allowed to punch in the face whoever says otherwise.

that being said, take care and read whatever you’re comfortable with🫶🏻

[Georgie-who-is-Sarah-Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a plot. It's not original, it's not convincing, but it's there.

There's witty banter, descriptions of clothes, at least three highly desirable residences, several meta-references to Pretty Woman and a romantic getaway in Paris.

Only a churl would ask for more.

The cover design, of an anguished young man discovering a zit, is by Natasha Snow Designs.

[Evelyn220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ Lily Morton is an auto-buy for me. Her British humor and angst is always on point. This was by far her spiciest book to date. Sex worker stories are hit or miss for me but I was completely hooked by the angst, drama, and pining in this story. Really enjoyed it.

[Mir · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Okaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy fiiiiiine. I gave in and read it after seeing how many people loved it on Reddit.

A few notes:
- I do not like books about sex workers
- I fucking hate billionaires
- Lily Morton is one of my most favourite MM authors.

This was as good as it absolutely possibly could be when it was about two things that are very much not for me. Lily Morton continues to be a favourite of mine with very few duds, which are the exception that proves the rule. Even she could make me enjoy these tropes. I cannot morally come around to a full five stars but it was so close.

This is so warm and lovely, with the banter you’d expect from this author, an exceptionally paced romance, and beautiful imagery of England and Paris. Nobody captures the spirit of these areas like Lily Mayne.

Ps. If that were my brother or husband I would never ever be as forgiving, even knowing it is a disease.

[Lily Loves 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story and I enjoyed it. Wes is very funny and I love how he brings out the best in everyone around him. Mac could have been a one dimensional character but Morton did a great job at showing more of him through Wes’s eyes.

Most of Morton’s books follow the same formula and I think I’d be put off by that but she somehow can take the poor boy rich man story and make it brand new. I especially loved the visit to a Paris. Her locations are always written so well.

I am so intrigued by Justin and Fox. I hope we get their story!!!!

ARC provided for review all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

At this point, Lily Morton can’t really do anything wrong in my eyes, so when I had the chance to read an ARC of her newest book, I jumped on it! This is definitely an angstier book, so mind the trigger warnings before you start it.

I had a really fun time reading this, but I did have a couple of issues, like it was a smidge too long and there were a few too many things going on at times, but I can live with those. But. I do really really hate miscommunication and that did get a bit frustrating for me and lessened my enjoyment a little bit.

That said, I still loved this! Wes is a really fun character. He’s funny and loyal - maybe a bit too much for his good… - and he knows what he wants. He was easy to root for! Mac on the other hand had a case of “idiot-in-love” which was both endearing and frustrating at the same time. Their banter is A+, because Lily writes the best snarky banter, and I loved how their relationship developed. I think they fit nicely with Lily’s other characters, and seeing as they’re all in the same Lily-verse, I like to imagine them meeting and becoming friends with some of the others.

Overall, another great book by Lily Morton that you should definitely check out when you can!

[itskimmiescorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection!

🥵🥵🥵🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠 the banter, the spice and the gentle moments in between.

I’m in a puddle of goooooo.

[Astrid Inge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily Morton rewrites Pretty Woman, including - well everything as a matter of fact. Nothing new or surprising or even rememberable but I kind of liked it anyway.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I'm a Lily Morton stan now?

I LOVED this book - like could not put it down, went to bed late and woke up early to finish it. Wes + Mac were the best. Their sarcastic banter from the start had me hooked. A perfect grumpy/sunshine duo.

The story itself is pretty standard. Wes, in order to support himself and his family becomes an escort and catches the eye of Mac at party. But the way the characters are written and developed? UGH SO GOOD. I was screaming reading this "YOU IDIOTS JUST SAY YOU LOVE HIM!" multiple times.

Morton also did a great job with all the side characters. They all played an important part in the story and I hope Julian gets his own book!

A steamy, swoony, idiots to lovers romance I want to read again and again. Adding to my comfort read list.

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read a Lily Morton book in a while. Mainly because I tend to OD on all the sarcasm and forced wit.

Wes was a mess a.. pretty mess. Julian gave him a direction to take and that led him to Mac. Mac the most emotionally unavailable character ever written.
Stone walls give more expressions than Mac. 🫠🫣😬

The brother side story was meh as was the absent grandfather plus Brandon, ugh 😑 that should actually make me take a star ⭐️ off tbh.

As a result of the above ⬆️, their journey to an HEA was fraught with major issues and you knew a train wreck was coming 😩eeeeeek BUT the end made me give this 4 stars. ⭐️…

[Sam Reads Books *Just the Highlights* · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025: 3.5

Very cliché and predictable but also reliable


—————

I’m coming back for a small tirade.
I really want to see Lily do *less* billionaires
In fact, after 2025, are we not all completely over that? I think once someone obtains the obscene amount of money required to join the billionaire club they become less human, personally. I can’t think of a single example in real life that isn’t completely squicky. And yes, I get the * fantasy * that you could find one that is both kind and handsome yada yada, but isn’t it time we stop glamorizing those fascists?

Okay I’m done with my rant. The book was fine.

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, Joel Leslie is not my favorite narrator, but I loved reading Pretty Mess so much that I had to give it a listen as well.

Despite not loving the narrator, this was still hands down one of my favorite reads of the year. I just love Wes and Mac so much.

My review from the ebook: Heaped with his brother’s gambling debts, Wes turns to escorting at the suggestion of a friend.

At Jack of Clubs he meets Cormac, a grumpy billionaire that instantly intrigues him from the moment Wes lays eyes on him.

Their relationship is supposed to be purely transactional, but the more Wes gets to know Cormac the more he wants to crack the man’s icy exterior.

Wes and Mac are total opposites in so many ways, but I instantly loved them. The chemistry and snarky banter between them was *chefs kiss* and I devoured Pretty Mess in one sitting.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧:
- escort + client
- age gap
- billionaire
- hurt x comfort
- grumpy x sunshine
- banter

CW: family member with addiction, on page graphic SA (Ch 15)

[Notagingerninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Audiobook 🎧
Narrator: Joel Leslie

OMG the banter in this book was top tier, I caught myself laughing out loud in public on numerous occasions, with no regret but plenty of sceptical glances 😂😂

Both Wes and Mack were hilariously funny, witty and extremely sarcastic and I ate it up. If it wasn’t for the lack of communication from both Wes and Mack, this book may have gone straight to the 6⭐️ (still might 🤷🏼‍♀️)

Fun read, highly recommend. HEA

[Papie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! I’m a big fan of rent boy stories and this was no exception. So fun and sexy!

I think what Lily Morton does best is the cold older rich asshole and the young funny sweet gorgeous guy. Add a Pretty Woman vibe to it and this was delightful!

I can’t wait for Julian’s story. And hopefully Brandon’s.

The epilogue was typical Lily Morton, long and boring, but I can live with that, I just skim.

[Em Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just an OK read for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was entertained but the plot had holes you could drive through. I also wasn’t a fan of the singular POV. The conclusion felt wobbly and Mac remained an enigma until the end. My biggest issue, and one I’ve had for a while, is all of Morton’s books recently feel like a rinse-and-repeat of her previous books. Not only does that get dull, but when the newer books aren’t as well written it feels like more of a letdown.

Idk take my opinion with a grain of salt 😆

[Angela I. · Rating 5 out of 5]

top 5 of 2025 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻