Read Me Slow

by Charish Reid

She writes fantasies. He turns fear into sound. Neither expected desire to be this loud.

Maya Brooks writes romance for a living but she keeps her own life strictly business. At forty-five, she’s single, and has no intention of mixing pleasure with work… until her narrators bail weeks before her hottest book’s release.

Enter Theo Ward. Horror podcaster. Her little brother’s best friend. And thirty-years-old.

He’s back in town and all grown up, with a voice that could ruin lives. When Theo offers to record a chapter “just as a favor,” Maya agrees with every intention of staying in control. But the moment they hit record, the chemistry in the booth becomes combustible.

As their secret sessions spiral into something much more physical, a viral audio clip turns Theo into the internet’s new obsession. Suddenly, he’s not just Maya’s narrator, he’s Scare Daddy, and the world wants more of him. But when fame comes with hungry eyes and loose lips—reputations crack, trust fractures, and Maya’s carefully built boundaries come crashing down.

Now she must protect her pride, or fight for the man who makes her feel truly heard?

A high-heat contemporary romance about intimacy, vulnerability, and what it really means to be seen—Read Me Slow is for anyone who’s ever been undone by a voice they couldn’t forget.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

When Charish Reid isn’t writing romance, she’s watching 1970’s disaster films, reading romance, and hastily preparing lectures for tomorrow’s class. She is a traveling chatterbox with ADHD who enjoys talking to new people in new places. In Bangkok, Charish saw a Thai royal princess in a shopping mall. In Helsinki, she karaoked Alanis Morissette. And in Galway, she found inspiration for her first novel. Charish currently lives in Sweden with her husband and teaches Rhetoric.

Reviews

[b.andherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a filthy delight. Romance author Maya Brooks reluctantly allows her assistant to find an alternative audiobook narrator when the duo who used to read her books are unavailable for her next release. To her absolute chagrin, the very sexy horror podcaster her assistance hires turns out to be her little brother's best friend. Her fifteen years younger little brother's best friend.

Teddy has grown up in all the best ways, and has the perfect narration style for her book. Determined to make the new partnership work, Maya discovers not only does she apparently get hot for Teddy's reading, but for him all around.

SO MUCH FUN. Tight, focused, sexy as heck. I loved it so much.

Teddy is a dreamboat too; I still wouldn't listen to his spooky stories (i'm a baby) but I'd be sorely tempted.

I cannot wait for this one to get the actual audiobook treatment, but for now it is SO worth reading with your eyes.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ no drama, no stress, just steamy feel-good romance 🩷

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good, soft and lovely and sweet, with a romance writer FMC falling for her younger brother’s best friend. He falls first and falls harder, having pined for her for years and it’s sexy and hot and no angst.

[Eleonora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a great time reading Read Me Slow by Charish Reid, it had all the heat and fluff I needed.

I always love an age gap where the heroine is older. Here Theo’s also her younger brother’s best friend and they have to record a spicy audiobook together. He has a horror podcast and he’s quite successful too but has never been a narrator for a full lenght romance novel. I wish Scare Daddy was real and I could look him up on tiktok and the fact that he’s writing and performing a horror podcast makes this particularly delicious to read during this time of the year. I like how much of the story is from Theo’s POV, it was perfectly balanced - almost like it’s made to be an audiobook that I would love to listen to. In that sense it reminds me of Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan, which also had the MCs recording a romance audiobook.

The tension in this was delicious and I ate it up with a spoon. The push and pull while recording was a treat, so much romantic and sexual tension between those two. This was so good I had to stop reading sometimes just to bask in how good that chapter was, metaphorically clutching the book to my chest and smiling. Aside from how beautiful he is and from his sexy voice, Theo is also very intentional in the way he pursues Maya, he lets her know from the get go that what’s brewing between them is not casual, he plans dates, he’s just there for her.

I appreciate the burned out academic that finds comfort in romance books rep, as the heroine Maya dropped out her PhD and started writing romance novel and gets fairly successful as an indie author and in the process she breaks up with her long term booksnob PhD candidate boyfriend, to which I only have to say: so long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye! I dropped out of my PhD in literature like the heroine but for different reasons and like her I started again to love and enjoy literature when I started reading romance. That was almost 4 years ago but I’m very proud of the (many many) books I’ve read and the community I’ve found.

Thank you thank you to the author for this ARC and for this story. The opinions are entirely my own. Go get this book!

[RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Oops. I did it again.

I pre-ordered Read Me Slow and then, as much as I tried resisting, signed up to read an ARC.

Charish Reid is an auto-buy author for me, so I have no regrets!

Read Me Slow introduces us to Maya and her younger brother's best friend Theo. Maya is a successful, driven romance indie author still reeling from a terrible relationship where her ex didn't take her writing career seriously. Theo is a recovering burned out tech guy who now runs a successful horror story-based podcast. Through some crossed wires, Maya, in desperate need of a narrator for the audiobook of her new release, reaches out to Theo to narrate it with her. The rest is high-heat history.

Reid embodies what I love the most about the romance genre with Read Me Slow. She took the age-gap, brother's best friend, and second chance tropes and put her own unique spin on them. I was left engaged, entertained, and gobbling this book up.

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of this book!

[McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one’s for the audio lovers.

Charish Reid delivers yet again with another sweet and (super) spicy treat. I’m a sucker for the “he’s wanted her for years” trope, so I loved how Theo pined for Maya, but I also appreciated how their chemistry developed and grew along the way.

I had a couple of minor issues with the pacing, but overall this is a fun and worthwhile read. I always recommend Charish’s work.

*Thanks to the author for gifting me this eARC*

[Emmalita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to read everything Charish Reid writes, and I’m going to like it because I like the way she writes. Read Me Slow is a lovely steamy short novel about a romance writer who needs a narrator and her younger brother’s best friend, a horror podcaster, who steps in to help.

Maya is doing well as a self publishing romance author. When her usual narrators announce that they are splitting up and won’t be recording her soon to be released book, Maya is in a jam. Her assistant reaches out to a horror podcaster, known to his fans as The Voice, who happens to be Theo, Maya’s brother’s longtime best friend. Theo is very happy to help out, especially since Maya will be narrating as well. Theo has been in love with Maya for years. My only complaint about Read Me Slow is that we don’t get to see Theo fall in love with Maya.

I do love a well done third act breakup, but I also love it when an author knows she doesn’t need one. It takes Theo a good chunk of the 255 pages he’s given to convince Maya that he’s relationship material. The tension between what they want and their concerns about how a relationship would impact their lives and shared circle makes a third act breakup unnecessary. The drama is in the way they work through her reticence to be in a relationship at all, their worry about her brother/his best friend’s reaction, and the complications that arise. I love a romance that lets the characters work through the kinds of anxieties and problems that occur in new relationships.

Read Me Slow explores the similarities between the romance and horror genres, uplifting both while acknowledging that romance is looked down on because it’s primarily written and read by women. It’s also, as intended, a soft break from the persistent horrors of reality. And it might unlock a new interest.

[Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Consider me stretched, hydrated and respectfully feral"

I went into this not knowing what to expect based on the description and ended up devouring this book in 2 days. Maya is a romance author on a deadline. Her normal audiobook narrators ended up backing out last minute and now she needs to find a new narrator ASAP. Her best friend Simone ends up suggesting popular horror podcaster Theo Ward to be the voice of her book character Paul and Maya can voice Yvette. Maya and Theo actually have a little bit of history so Maya didn't think he would agree but Theo ends up being very interested because he gets to be in a room with Maya again.

Being someone who doesn't read contemporary often, let alone an age gap, I wholeheartedly admit I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Theo was incredibly caring and kind, patient and sexy. Maya was so nervous about the whole narration thing but he always made her feel comfortable and was a good coach on the vocal training. Maya couldn't help but fall for him. They both navigated their feelings well while having fun. I loved how Theo introduced Maya to the horror genre and Theo was a defender of romance. The chemistry between these two was delicious and there is one particular sound booth scene I'll remember for a while.

I loved all the side characters as well. They felt like the village you would want to have in your corner and every conversation was straight forward and mature. There is no angst and very little conflict but the story overall is fresh and different. I had the opportunity to receive an ARC for this and it was a great decision. Highly recommend if you're looking for your next great contemporary read.

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal storytelling and character creation as always. The characters and their dialogue feel so real. The book is a quick, easy, sexy read and the relationship developed well.

I will say that for me personally, the age gap was too much given the background created. I'm cool will a 45 year old and a 30 year old getting together. Anybody who knows me knows I love a noona romance. But coupling such a large age gap with her knowing him as a kid pushes things a little into the squick zone. Reid balances it well though, with the facts that:
1. the characters recognize the potential for yikes and
2. they haven't really seen each other in a solid decade and
3. they didn't actually spend much time together when he was a kid and she was an adult.
It all kind of tread the line in a way that let me enjoy the story of them as fully consenting adults without dwelling too much on the uncomfortable moments when they popped up. That might not be a problem for you, or it might be an issue you can't look past. Make wise choices for yourself.

But if you love a sexy romp spiced up with a little bit of spooky storytelling, I really recommend giving this a read.

Thank you to Charish Reid for giving me the opportunity to check out this ARC before the publishing date.

[Baby Got Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to me author and I gotta say I was impressed. Loved this story!

This had lots of stuff you don’t see everyday in romance like a 45 year old FMC Maya a romance author who is left in the lurch by her audio narrators right before her newest book release.

In comes Theo an upcoming horror podcast creator and narrator with the voice to save her project.

The kicker is she knows him already. Grew up with him actually sorta because Theo is her much younger brothers best friend. 15 years younger. She helped Theo and her brother move into their college dorms years ago.

Well anyways he’s always had a crush on her that manifests in real admiration and respect and he’s gonna shoot his shot because they are going to record her hot ass book together!

Honestly it’s pretty fking sexy and really interesting what creative people get up to when they agree to do “everything but”

This was so good! A great read with amazing chemistry, on point banter and really fun writing. Also everyone acts like normal age appropriate adults which I appreciate. Highly recommend and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

[Lucy Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEW THIS IS A HOT ONE.

Look, when I pick up a Charish Reid, I know it's going to be spicy, and Read Me Slow did not disappoint.
Maya and Theo are scorchinggggg hot working on an audio book together. She's his best friend's much older sister and Theo's been crushing on her since he was a teen. Honestly, Theo was written so maturely (love it) that the age gap didn't feel like anything other than a number.
Balancing her career in romance and his in horror was great. I loved that they both worked in two creative fields that are historically "looked down on" and the ramifications of teaming up.

And I have to throw in...as someone who lived in Chicago for 11 years, I was living for all the references! I've been on that ghost tour twice! I know those restaurants! Made me want to revisit my days living there <3

Can't wait for another Charish Reid! Always an auto buy :)

[AGMaynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Excellent, with lovely characters to root for! Takes the well-known themes of brother's best friend, May-September, workplace romance, and supports them richly and even poignantly. Sexy and steamy. And a peek inside podcast and indie romance author worlds. Maya and Theo reach a satisfying conclusion together. Will be recommending to my Romance book clubs! Author provided me an e-arc for review.

[Nicole Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredibly sweet, and gave us so much yearning between two adults with sense in their heads, but who are also so down bad for each other.

He's her younger brother's best-friend.
She's writes high-heat romance.
He's a horror podcaster / narrator.
His voice melts her panties.
She hires him to duet narrate her upcoming release.
They can't keep their hands to themselves.

This was a smoking hot love letter to Romance! I loved it and very much recommend.

[Sandra Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

With loveable, fully developed characters and chemistry that SIZZLES, Charish Reid has done it again!
Theo is officially a new book boyfriend of mine! And Maya is a beautiful, relatable romance author who will do anything to get her book done.

[Jessica Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dug it

This was a smooth read for me. Being able to relate to a lot of it probably helped. Plenty of funny moments, plenty of heat. I admit I wasn't always the biggest Maya fan but she grew on me. Enjoyed it. :)

[Sonya F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything. I will post a longer review closer to release date but listen?!! I loved this!

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conflict free and no complaints