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Much Obliged
Breakfast TV producer Petey Boy Topham dreams of producing the reality shows he loves to watch. When he finally lands a job on The Love Manor—a Regency-inspired dating show filmed at an actual country house—it’s his golden ticket to his career ambitions. If he can impress his new boss, she might give him his own show.
William Winters is infamous in the tabloids as the “Bisexual Baron Buckford”. But this rugby-playing, fantasy-novel-obsessed aristocrat never wanted the title or the media attention. After a family tragedy, he’s inherited not only a crumbling manor house, but millions of pounds of debt. To save his estate, he’s let The Love Manor’s cameras in.
Each man would do anything to make the show a success. So when the contestants discover there’s a real-life baron in residence and abandon the dating format to pursue him instead, there’s only one solution: a fake engagement between producer and baron.
Living together in Buckford Hall’s romantic folly, confident Londoner Petey Boy might be up for a no-strings fling with the sexy baron—but bookish William is far from the rake the papers make him out to be. Soon, what started as a desperate lie begins to feel dangerously real.
When news of their “engagement” leaks to the press and the consequences of their deceit spiral out of control, will their fake relationship survive the chaos long enough to become a reality?
William Winters is infamous in the tabloids as the “Bisexual Baron Buckford”. But this rugby-playing, fantasy-novel-obsessed aristocrat never wanted the title or the media attention. After a family tragedy, he’s inherited not only a crumbling manor house, but millions of pounds of debt. To save his estate, he’s let The Love Manor’s cameras in.
Each man would do anything to make the show a success. So when the contestants discover there’s a real-life baron in residence and abandon the dating format to pursue him instead, there’s only one solution: a fake engagement between producer and baron.
Living together in Buckford Hall’s romantic folly, confident Londoner Petey Boy might be up for a no-strings fling with the sexy baron—but bookish William is far from the rake the papers make him out to be. Soon, what started as a desperate lie begins to feel dangerously real.
When news of their “engagement” leaks to the press and the consequences of their deceit spiral out of control, will their fake relationship survive the chaos long enough to become a reality?
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2026
22 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
D.P. Clarence
4 books202 followersI was a journalist for a long, long time before finally deciding to bite the bullet and do the thing I always wanted to do — write books about boys kissing other boys.
My debut novel, gay rom-com The Paper Boys, was released in February 2024.
I am an avid reader of everything from rom-coms to literary fiction — but I especially love LGBTQ+ fiction. You can see what I've been reading lately on Instagram and Goodreads.
Originally from Australia, I now live in London with my husband and our very smiley corgi.
www.dpclarence.com
My debut novel, gay rom-com The Paper Boys, was released in February 2024.
I am an avid reader of everything from rom-coms to literary fiction — but I especially love LGBTQ+ fiction. You can see what I've been reading lately on Instagram and Goodreads.
Originally from Australia, I now live in London with my husband and our very smiley corgi.
www.dpclarence.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 13, 2026
2.5 “More Com than Rom” Stars ✨
Sigh! It started off so well.
The premise of a regency themed “love island” reality show was funnier than expected. The meet cute was amusing, and some of the earlier antics of the cast and crew had me laughing out loud.
However, it went downhill the moment Petey Boy 🙄 tried to shove his tongue down William’s throat, after he’d just relayed how his father and brother had both died. At times, he lacked empathy and it put me off, not to mention his constant use of “innit”, “ain’t” and “bruv” was jarring to say the least.. Although, William was quite sweet, he came across much older than 25. His habitual need to go everywhere dressed in nothing but red satin boxer shorts (that were washed every other day) was weird. I was relieved when we’d got to the third act separation, only to discover we were only halfway through. Sadly, I didn’t care anymore about these two as a couple.
The author is clearly talented and funny (think pre woke Richard Curtis on steroids), but regretfully it wasn’t my cup of tea and I found the romance underwhelming.
Sigh! It started off so well.
The premise of a regency themed “love island” reality show was funnier than expected. The meet cute was amusing, and some of the earlier antics of the cast and crew had me laughing out loud.
However, it went downhill the moment Petey Boy 🙄 tried to shove his tongue down William’s throat, after he’d just relayed how his father and brother had both died. At times, he lacked empathy and it put me off, not to mention his constant use of “innit”, “ain’t” and “bruv” was jarring to say the least.. Although, William was quite sweet, he came across much older than 25. His habitual need to go everywhere dressed in nothing but red satin boxer shorts (that were washed every other day) was weird. I was relieved when we’d got to the third act separation, only to discover we were only halfway through. Sadly, I didn’t care anymore about these two as a couple.
The author is clearly talented and funny (think pre woke Richard Curtis on steroids), but regretfully it wasn’t my cup of tea and I found the romance underwhelming.
March 11, 2026
Another incredible addition to The Brent Boys series.
I really love The Paper Boys, I read it multiple times and listened to audio book BUT dare I say I like Much Obliged more?! Whaaat? I know! It's my new favorite.
I can't rave enough about D.P. Clarence books. Absolutely underappreciated and under hyped stories!!
Like all books in this series, it got me crying laughing. The meet cute was hilarious. The characters couldn't have been better. The weird guys are WEIRD, the evil guys are EVIL and the sweet guys are SWEET. I want to shout from the rooftops that people should read these books, Hear ye, hear ye-style.
Shout out to Jonty. I always loved him and I'm so happy for him. It was great to hear how his Hazel Dormouse obsession came about.
To be honest I was scared to read this book. Petey is a slut, let's call a spade a spade and no slut shaming but I was really afraid that there is any intimacy with other men. I'm SO GLAD that there wasn't.
Not a big fan of characters that hook up a lot so I wasn't overly fond of Petey before the book but after reading it, I can officially call myself a Petey Boy fan. He was a great character. He had depth and I was excited for every layer William could reveal.
William alias the sweetest nerdiest naked puppy. He is SPECIAL and everybody be nice to him! He had me laughing out loud. He is a sunshiney himbo.
I wished we got to see Sunny and Ludo's wedding, unfortunately we didn't. Maybe in the next book? Please? Pretty please?
I truly enjoyed every page of this story. It's definitely one of my new favorites. If you want a fun, almost no angst book, that makes you laugh out loud, PLEASE give ths book a try! 6 ⭐
I really love The Paper Boys, I read it multiple times and listened to audio book BUT dare I say I like Much Obliged more?! Whaaat? I know! It's my new favorite.
I can't rave enough about D.P. Clarence books. Absolutely underappreciated and under hyped stories!!
Like all books in this series, it got me crying laughing. The meet cute was hilarious. The characters couldn't have been better. The weird guys are WEIRD, the evil guys are EVIL and the sweet guys are SWEET. I want to shout from the rooftops that people should read these books, Hear ye, hear ye-style.
Shout out to Jonty. I always loved him and I'm so happy for him. It was great to hear how his Hazel Dormouse obsession came about.
To be honest I was scared to read this book. Petey is a slut, let's call a spade a spade and no slut shaming but I was really afraid that there is any intimacy with other men. I'm SO GLAD that there wasn't.
Not a big fan of characters that hook up a lot so I wasn't overly fond of Petey before the book but after reading it, I can officially call myself a Petey Boy fan. He was a great character. He had depth and I was excited for every layer William could reveal.
William alias the sweetest nerdiest naked puppy. He is SPECIAL and everybody be nice to him! He had me laughing out loud. He is a sunshiney himbo.
I wished we got to see Sunny and Ludo's wedding, unfortunately we didn't. Maybe in the next book? Please? Pretty please?
I truly enjoyed every page of this story. It's definitely one of my new favorites. If you want a fun, almost no angst book, that makes you laugh out loud, PLEASE give ths book a try! 6 ⭐
March 9, 2026
William is a lovely buff erstwhile rugby player, horse fanatic, and very reluctant heir to a huge and near-impossible to maintain multi-generational Leicestershire country estate. Petey is an aspiring TV producer with a flamboyant fashion sense and very active queer social life in London but he's also bored of his day job. When Petey is given a potentially career making role as an assistant producer on "The Love Manner", a new reality/dating show format - "it's basically Love Island in fancy dress... Pride and Prejudice with promiscuity" - it's off to William's estate to try to wrangle a highly challenging shoot. It's a high pressure make-or-break time for both Petey and William, very much not aided by William's eccentric mum, Bunny, a house run amok with social media influencers, and the always exacting requirements of the legendary and formidable TV producer in charge of The Love Manner, Indira Murray. Will William save his family's legacy? Will Petey survive the chaos and impress Indira? Will Bramley, William and Bunny's long suffering butler/only member of staff survive the manor's best efforts at crumbling around them? And will William and Petey actually work out they are basically perfect for each other, as extremely unlikely as that seems?
Much Obliged is the third of DP Clarence's wonderful Brent Boys series of novels - whilst each is written to stand on its own, they are definitely more delightful to read as a group, with little in-jokes and character overlaps that play out best in sequence (The Paper Boys, Going Solo, and then Much Obliged). And there's a treat in the form of Jonty Boche, the brother of Ludo (from The Paper Boys), featuring here (again) as a bringer of disruption - but in a more endearing way this time around. Like both of Clarence's previous novels, Much Obliged is full of beautifully written characters and a huge dose of infectious humour - and in this case its a particularly joyful and silly kind of humour. Clarence has said he was reading a log of PG Woodhouse at the time of writing and Much Obliged certainly has a good hearted (if not terribly intellectual) romantic lead, immensely forgiving staff and much country pile farce. Despite some very economically privileged characters, Clarence manages to make them deeply sympathetic - they are flawed and human and trying to do their best even if they struggle with the best way to do that. There may be no shortage of romance novels or films featuring at least one member of the landed gentry, but this feels like a lovely addition - with William questioning his position even as he strives to preserve his legacy, and Petey sufficiently privileged to need no rescuing, and instead being the one to support and encourage new possibilities.
Much Obliged is a lovely pacey book, with a lot going on including: a strong sense of the (often quite dull) realities of TV shoots, especially those featuring stronger semi-famous "characters" and the need to craft compelling TV storylines; and that very familiar (especially to queer readers) wobbly balance of real, broken, infuriating, but still loved "real" family coexisting with loving and easier to deal with, but also sometimes more fragile-feeling found family. Clarence leans into both the unglamorous challenges of mega-scale building repairs amid tax bills and a pittance in cash flow, and the enviable fantasy of growing up in a space that feels so "other " in comparison to conventional modern life. Its both a hugely romantic story and yet a very pragmatic route that William and Petey take to gradually build friendship and trust and partnership and love. At the same time as basking in traditions, rituals, and legacy, a healthy eyebrow is also raised to all of that sense of expectation and what it means to fulfil expectations, all wrapped up with a deeply satisfying resolution. And, as in all Clarence's previous books, there are some absolutely scene-stealing older women here, including Bunny, Petey's Gran (Peggy), and Indira - whose presence is minimal but deeply felt and highly memorable.
Overall this is such a warm, funny and heart-warming read - a lovely antidote to the wider world right now, even though the grounded characters, the humour and challenging but navigable family conflict is just cynical enough to make this feel plausible and hopeful, rather than too fantastical. Highly recommended, but even more so if read as part of the Brent Boys trilogy.
Some bonus comments including a few spoilers (because some elements deserve specific praise) here:
I think its worth noting that Clarence has written William as a hugely endearing and authentic-feeling demisexual character - something rarely seen and certainly rarely done well in the MM romance genre. His apparent obliviousness to his own charms (and constant near-nudity!), and William's growing but hard to verbally or physically articulate affection for Petey is a lovely variant on what you tend to see more of in this genre - yearning for overly long (sometimes with excessively well intentioned but clumsy explainers), and/or vigorous enthusiasm paired with artificial obstacles (not that those aren't fun dynamics too). Here emotional intimacy builds relatively quickly, whilst physical intimacy is slow burn and carefully negotiated, and all the more effective for that. Great care has been taken over that representation and it is handled refreshingly lightly. I think its particularly compelling and believable that Petey's personal history of an active and varied sex life and engagement in kink lends him immense understanding of consent and negotiation of boundaries, rather than expectations or frustrations around this very different person becoming so important in his life. That honesty also feels very authentic to the character, and allows a growing sense of confidence and variety in their intimacy to be understood as fulfilling for both characters, even though this is largely "closed door" / low (on-page) spice romance.
Much Obliged is the third of DP Clarence's wonderful Brent Boys series of novels - whilst each is written to stand on its own, they are definitely more delightful to read as a group, with little in-jokes and character overlaps that play out best in sequence (The Paper Boys, Going Solo, and then Much Obliged). And there's a treat in the form of Jonty Boche, the brother of Ludo (from The Paper Boys), featuring here (again) as a bringer of disruption - but in a more endearing way this time around. Like both of Clarence's previous novels, Much Obliged is full of beautifully written characters and a huge dose of infectious humour - and in this case its a particularly joyful and silly kind of humour. Clarence has said he was reading a log of PG Woodhouse at the time of writing and Much Obliged certainly has a good hearted (if not terribly intellectual) romantic lead, immensely forgiving staff and much country pile farce. Despite some very economically privileged characters, Clarence manages to make them deeply sympathetic - they are flawed and human and trying to do their best even if they struggle with the best way to do that. There may be no shortage of romance novels or films featuring at least one member of the landed gentry, but this feels like a lovely addition - with William questioning his position even as he strives to preserve his legacy, and Petey sufficiently privileged to need no rescuing, and instead being the one to support and encourage new possibilities.
Much Obliged is a lovely pacey book, with a lot going on including: a strong sense of the (often quite dull) realities of TV shoots, especially those featuring stronger semi-famous "characters" and the need to craft compelling TV storylines; and that very familiar (especially to queer readers) wobbly balance of real, broken, infuriating, but still loved "real" family coexisting with loving and easier to deal with, but also sometimes more fragile-feeling found family. Clarence leans into both the unglamorous challenges of mega-scale building repairs amid tax bills and a pittance in cash flow, and the enviable fantasy of growing up in a space that feels so "other " in comparison to conventional modern life. Its both a hugely romantic story and yet a very pragmatic route that William and Petey take to gradually build friendship and trust and partnership and love. At the same time as basking in traditions, rituals, and legacy, a healthy eyebrow is also raised to all of that sense of expectation and what it means to fulfil expectations, all wrapped up with a deeply satisfying resolution. And, as in all Clarence's previous books, there are some absolutely scene-stealing older women here, including Bunny, Petey's Gran (Peggy), and Indira - whose presence is minimal but deeply felt and highly memorable.
Overall this is such a warm, funny and heart-warming read - a lovely antidote to the wider world right now, even though the grounded characters, the humour and challenging but navigable family conflict is just cynical enough to make this feel plausible and hopeful, rather than too fantastical. Highly recommended, but even more so if read as part of the Brent Boys trilogy.
Some bonus comments including a few spoilers (because some elements deserve specific praise) here:
I think its worth noting that Clarence has written William as a hugely endearing and authentic-feeling demisexual character - something rarely seen and certainly rarely done well in the MM romance genre. His apparent obliviousness to his own charms (and constant near-nudity!), and William's growing but hard to verbally or physically articulate affection for Petey is a lovely variant on what you tend to see more of in this genre - yearning for overly long (sometimes with excessively well intentioned but clumsy explainers), and/or vigorous enthusiasm paired with artificial obstacles (not that those aren't fun dynamics too). Here emotional intimacy builds relatively quickly, whilst physical intimacy is slow burn and carefully negotiated, and all the more effective for that. Great care has been taken over that representation and it is handled refreshingly lightly. I think its particularly compelling and believable that Petey's personal history of an active and varied sex life and engagement in kink lends him immense understanding of consent and negotiation of boundaries, rather than expectations or frustrations around this very different person becoming so important in his life. That honesty also feels very authentic to the character, and allows a growing sense of confidence and variety in their intimacy to be understood as fulfilling for both characters, even though this is largely "closed door" / low (on-page) spice romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
I love Dan's books so much!
Petey Boy and William stole my heart 🤍 They are extremely loveable, the humour, as always, is next level (this book should NOT be read in public; unless you want people to question your sanity, then go for it!) and the slow burn is perfect 🤍
Petey Boy and William stole my heart 🤍 They are extremely loveable, the humour, as always, is next level (this book should NOT be read in public; unless you want people to question your sanity, then go for it!) and the slow burn is perfect 🤍
March 8, 2026
I was lucky enough to be given the chance to beta read this for Dan; I already knew it was going to be amazing, and now having just finished my read-through of the final book, I can confirm that it absolutely is! I adore Dan’s writing, it’s so funny and feel-good 💕 If you’re after a sweet romance full of comedy, love and hijinks, this will be perfect!
It follows Petey, London born wannabe TV producer. He’s always felt like a disappointment to his high-flying family, so when he is given the chance to work on ‘Love Manor’ a regency themed dating reality show, he leaps at the chance. Especially as there’s the chance to meet ‘Bisexual Baron Buckford’, the hot aristocrat who owns Buckford Manor, the set of the show.
But William, Baron Buckford, is a disaster. He’s broke, grieving and totally lost in life, after having unexpectedly inherited the title after the death of his father and brother. ‘Love Manor’ is his last ditch attempt to save the estate from bankruptcy, but things keep going wrong, and matters aren’t helped by the strangely compelling Petey who is desperately trying to keep the show on track.
I loved both of the main characters in this - they are both Going Through Stuff™️ and despite them dealing with a lot, they always make time for each other. This read as a classic Black Cat x Golden Retriever, with Petey desperate to make the show a hit and prove himself against all odds, and William wandering around in his boxers getting in the way whilst being posh. Of course, this all goes further awry when they have to pretend to date each other to keep the contestants on track (because who wants to date a social media influencer when they could date an actual Lord??). William’s realisation that he is Demisexual was so powerful for me to read, as I love seeing Demi rep in the big wide world!
The fabulous cast of side characters was compelling and we get cameos from some of the Brent Boys, which I loved! (Plus Ludo’s younger brother Jonty, who is simply chaos incarnate!). Do yourself a favour and pick this one up - it’s absolutely worth it!
Read Much Obliged for:
✨ Hilarious romantic comedy
✨ Regency reality TV show
✨ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨ Fake dating
✨ Set in a crumbling regency manor
✨ Characters Going Through Stuff™️
✨ Demisexual awakening; virgin MC
✨ Amazingly written side characters
✨ Is London cursed, or am I?
✨ Slightly unhinged geriatrics
✨ The media being dodgy AF (as usual)
This is available now and you should 100% go and grab a copy!!
It follows Petey, London born wannabe TV producer. He’s always felt like a disappointment to his high-flying family, so when he is given the chance to work on ‘Love Manor’ a regency themed dating reality show, he leaps at the chance. Especially as there’s the chance to meet ‘Bisexual Baron Buckford’, the hot aristocrat who owns Buckford Manor, the set of the show.
But William, Baron Buckford, is a disaster. He’s broke, grieving and totally lost in life, after having unexpectedly inherited the title after the death of his father and brother. ‘Love Manor’ is his last ditch attempt to save the estate from bankruptcy, but things keep going wrong, and matters aren’t helped by the strangely compelling Petey who is desperately trying to keep the show on track.
I loved both of the main characters in this - they are both Going Through Stuff™️ and despite them dealing with a lot, they always make time for each other. This read as a classic Black Cat x Golden Retriever, with Petey desperate to make the show a hit and prove himself against all odds, and William wandering around in his boxers getting in the way whilst being posh. Of course, this all goes further awry when they have to pretend to date each other to keep the contestants on track (because who wants to date a social media influencer when they could date an actual Lord??). William’s realisation that he is Demisexual was so powerful for me to read, as I love seeing Demi rep in the big wide world!
The fabulous cast of side characters was compelling and we get cameos from some of the Brent Boys, which I loved! (Plus Ludo’s younger brother Jonty, who is simply chaos incarnate!). Do yourself a favour and pick this one up - it’s absolutely worth it!
Read Much Obliged for:
✨ Hilarious romantic comedy
✨ Regency reality TV show
✨ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
✨ Fake dating
✨ Set in a crumbling regency manor
✨ Characters Going Through Stuff™️
✨ Demisexual awakening; virgin MC
✨ Amazingly written side characters
✨ Is London cursed, or am I?
✨ Slightly unhinged geriatrics
✨ The media being dodgy AF (as usual)
This is available now and you should 100% go and grab a copy!!
April 24, 2026
DNF @ 42%
I liked the first two chapters a lot. The humor was pretty good in William's chapter, particularly him yelling for Braxton every few lines. One weird point of dialogue though, William's mom said that she "loved it when the sun caught the red" of William's hair, but neither of the guys on the cover have any hint of red in their hair? I guess William is supposed to be the brown haired dude by how Petey describes him as having "auburn" hair, but the shade on the image is a cool brown so idk how red would somehow appear when the light hit it.
Not sure I really understood why Petey didn't just fuck off when his family started blatantly insulting him. Wasn't it him saying that he was used to handling difficult personalities because of his job? Did that mean sitting around and letting people tell him that he was worse than dog shit? I don't understand authors who write absolutely heinous family dynamics and expect us to believe that independent MCs, who hadn't shown insecure attachment signs, would willingly stay in contact with the toxic family WHEN THERE'S NOTHING REDEEMABLE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP. Emotionally abusive relationships are predicated on the illusion that a need is being addressed. People stay in contact with toxic people because there's a history of positive interactions and, despite how horrible things are in the present, there's always the false promise of a return to the good times. Petey literally said that his parents and brother had always been dismissive and that he even grew up with his grandparents, so there should've been absolutely no reason keeping him from just leaving. Instead he sat there and cried about being verbally lambasted. It didn't make me feel bad for him when he literally had all the power to make his situation better simply by cutting off his hilariously villainous family and just keeping in contact with his grandma.
The start of filming went on well enough. I liked that the side characters all got some characterization appropriate for influencers on a reality tv show. I liked how natural the conversations between William, Petey, and Indira were (as natural as they could be for a show-runner taking no shit could be).
I wished that things progressed slightly slower between Petey and William though. The way they just started off being so compatible kinda took a bit of tension out of their interactions.
The faux fox hunt was HILARIOUS.
How the hell did Petey have enough time to go on a date around town with William in the middle of filming? I can't imagine they had days off considering the reality show didn't just stop recording content.
TL;DR: Good humor, but that's kinda it. Both Petey and William weren't written in a way that matched people who desperately wanted something, and the romance suffers because there's no real conflict or tension to make it feel real or worth reading. 2 stars.
I liked the first two chapters a lot. The humor was pretty good in William's chapter, particularly him yelling for Braxton every few lines. One weird point of dialogue though, William's mom said that she "loved it when the sun caught the red" of William's hair, but neither of the guys on the cover have any hint of red in their hair? I guess William is supposed to be the brown haired dude by how Petey describes him as having "auburn" hair, but the shade on the image is a cool brown so idk how red would somehow appear when the light hit it.
Not sure I really understood why Petey didn't just fuck off when his family started blatantly insulting him. Wasn't it him saying that he was used to handling difficult personalities because of his job? Did that mean sitting around and letting people tell him that he was worse than dog shit? I don't understand authors who write absolutely heinous family dynamics and expect us to believe that independent MCs, who hadn't shown insecure attachment signs, would willingly stay in contact with the toxic family WHEN THERE'S NOTHING REDEEMABLE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP. Emotionally abusive relationships are predicated on the illusion that a need is being addressed. People stay in contact with toxic people because there's a history of positive interactions and, despite how horrible things are in the present, there's always the false promise of a return to the good times. Petey literally said that his parents and brother had always been dismissive and that he even grew up with his grandparents, so there should've been absolutely no reason keeping him from just leaving. Instead he sat there and cried about being verbally lambasted. It didn't make me feel bad for him when he literally had all the power to make his situation better simply by cutting off his hilariously villainous family and just keeping in contact with his grandma.
The start of filming went on well enough. I liked that the side characters all got some characterization appropriate for influencers on a reality tv show. I liked how natural the conversations between William, Petey, and Indira were (as natural as they could be for a show-runner taking no shit could be).
I wished that things progressed slightly slower between Petey and William though. The way they just started off being so compatible kinda took a bit of tension out of their interactions.
The faux fox hunt was HILARIOUS.
How the hell did Petey have enough time to go on a date around town with William in the middle of filming? I can't imagine they had days off considering the reality show didn't just stop recording content.
TL;DR: Good humor, but that's kinda it. Both Petey and William weren't written in a way that matched people who desperately wanted something, and the romance suffers because there's no real conflict or tension to make it feel real or worth reading. 2 stars.
April 14, 2026
DNF 41%
I liked this author's first two books but am finding this one difficult to get into. Petey is a slut who does not get William's inexperience. Moreover he is just such a cliché of anyone his age, young, idealistic and in his righteous bubble: he is fighting with his father who is a bigshot solicitor for defending metoo accused. This does not sit well with me: in our society everyone has the right to be defended. The more I read the book, the less I liked him. I agree about William too: I thought he was older and those red shorts are weird and unhygienic. I have read only about the third of this book but I have lost interest. The only really fun thing in this book is William's kooky mother and the whole reality dating show: the book would have been more interesting if the MCs were contestants...
Sorry
I liked this author's first two books but am finding this one difficult to get into. Petey is a slut who does not get William's inexperience. Moreover he is just such a cliché of anyone his age, young, idealistic and in his righteous bubble: he is fighting with his father who is a bigshot solicitor for defending metoo accused. This does not sit well with me: in our society everyone has the right to be defended. The more I read the book, the less I liked him. I agree about William too: I thought he was older and those red shorts are weird and unhygienic. I have read only about the third of this book but I have lost interest. The only really fun thing in this book is William's kooky mother and the whole reality dating show: the book would have been more interesting if the MCs were contestants...
Sorry
March 8, 2026
Absolute sunshine of a book. As always, thank you Dan for sending me an ARC and these Brent boys do make my life happy every single time. Petey boy & Dub Dub has my heart. Also, I do really enjoy the hilarity of the ensemble cast Dan always brings in. I wish love manor was a real reality show because I'd watch it. Loved this book and can't wait for more of his work. ❤️
March 25, 2026
The best book of the series!
This book is exquisitely written and hilarious! I absolutely devoured it. Petey and William are absolutely adorable together! Buy this book, you will not be disappointed. I guarantee it!
This book is exquisitely written and hilarious! I absolutely devoured it. Petey and William are absolutely adorable together! Buy this book, you will not be disappointed. I guarantee it!
March 18, 2026
I loved this, I would definitely say this is my favourite book of the series so far. This was genuinely funny, very sweet and had so much heart.
I read a lot of Jilly Cooper as a teen and this reminded me so much of those novels - the same incredibly gorgeous love interests, the mix of aristocratic and tv worlds, brilliantly eccentric extended families and a very rural British setting.
Absolutely recommend to everyone and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I read a lot of Jilly Cooper as a teen and this reminded me so much of those novels - the same incredibly gorgeous love interests, the mix of aristocratic and tv worlds, brilliantly eccentric extended families and a very rural British setting.
Absolutely recommend to everyone and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 13, 2026
As always, a laugh-out-loud 4.75 star read.
D.P. Clarence's books are always reliably heartfelt, funny, and original. I read the other two before I had a Goodreads account, so I haven't gone back and reviewed them (I should), but I'd say much the same.
If you need a good laugh (which who doesn't these days), go pick up this book or the first in the collection,l. They are all worth the read AND they'll make you smile!
D.P. Clarence's books are always reliably heartfelt, funny, and original. I read the other two before I had a Goodreads account, so I haven't gone back and reviewed them (I should), but I'd say much the same.
If you need a good laugh (which who doesn't these days), go pick up this book or the first in the collection,l. They are all worth the read AND they'll make you smile!
March 11, 2026
I'm a big fan of D.P. Clarence and the two previous entries in this series (I devoured Going Solo in particular, magnificent), so I really wanted to love this one - and I did read it in three days, so it's not that I didn't enjoy it. I liked William a lot, the reality TV backdrop was a lot of fun, Clarence's writing is as strong as ever, but there were a few things that dropped this a few stars for me.
- Petey Boy is ... fine, but there was just something missing for me with his and William's relationship, and I didn't completely buy that he would give up his life in London to move to Buckford Hall. Their ending feels slightly more 'happy for now' than happy ever after. Their reason for fake dating (a trope I don't love anyway) felt a little weak, but appreciate we gotta get these boys together so...
- William's mother. Oh boy. So many issues with this character. The fact she's basically been leaving William to deal with the manor's upkeep by himself. The totally inappropriate way she acts around him (one scene he's revealing a little too much, and she's all 'I didn't wanna say'). The fact she got herself and Petey's gran stoned on one of the most important days for Buckford Hall's future. A nightmare mother, and William had much more patience with her than I would have. I think this was an attempt to subvert expectations of what we expect a Lady of the Manor to act like, but I couldn't believe her actions throughout the whole book.
- The reality TV setting is great, and Indira - the producer - is one of my favourite side characters Clarence has produced across all three novels. Chainsmoking Scottish fearsome producer? Yes please. Loved her. Then she all but vanishes in the second half of the novel, when I was having such a great time with her! If you're looking for a book that has the reality TV setting from start to finish, this is not for you, as that aspect disappeared a lot sooner than I expected it to.
- I do love this writer's humour, but there are moments that are a little ... crass when they don't need to be. For example, didn't really need to know their 'arseholes clenched in vivid anticipation' when they were just sitting down to watch a video...
But all in all, and despite the above, this was an easy read that I largely enjoyed, William in particular was delightful, and I'll always appreciate M/M storytelling written by gay male authors. It didn't quite hit the heights of the previous entries of this series, but is a nice addition to it.
- Petey Boy is ... fine, but there was just something missing for me with his and William's relationship, and I didn't completely buy that he would give up his life in London to move to Buckford Hall. Their ending feels slightly more 'happy for now' than happy ever after. Their reason for fake dating (a trope I don't love anyway) felt a little weak, but appreciate we gotta get these boys together so...
- William's mother. Oh boy. So many issues with this character. The fact she's basically been leaving William to deal with the manor's upkeep by himself. The totally inappropriate way she acts around him (one scene he's revealing a little too much, and she's all 'I didn't wanna say'). The fact she got herself and Petey's gran stoned on one of the most important days for Buckford Hall's future. A nightmare mother, and William had much more patience with her than I would have. I think this was an attempt to subvert expectations of what we expect a Lady of the Manor to act like, but I couldn't believe her actions throughout the whole book.
- The reality TV setting is great, and Indira - the producer - is one of my favourite side characters Clarence has produced across all three novels. Chainsmoking Scottish fearsome producer? Yes please. Loved her. Then she all but vanishes in the second half of the novel, when I was having such a great time with her! If you're looking for a book that has the reality TV setting from start to finish, this is not for you, as that aspect disappeared a lot sooner than I expected it to.
- I do love this writer's humour, but there are moments that are a little ... crass when they don't need to be. For example, didn't really need to know their 'arseholes clenched in vivid anticipation' when they were just sitting down to watch a video...
But all in all, and despite the above, this was an easy read that I largely enjoyed, William in particular was delightful, and I'll always appreciate M/M storytelling written by gay male authors. It didn't quite hit the heights of the previous entries of this series, but is a nice addition to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alright historical romance readers, we've got a contemporary romance for you all. William aka Dub Dub aka Lord Buckford was never meant to inherit, but his father and older brother died in a tragic plane accident. Now William is dealing with propping up his failing ancestral estate and his own crushing expectations. What to do except allow a successful reality TV producer, Indira, to film Love Manor on the premises?
Peter Topham aka Petey Boy is a TV producer, and Love Manor is his big chance to prove himself to Indira. After the contestants realize there's an actual IRL lord living at Love Manor, Petey takes one for the reality TV team and agrees to announce his engagement to William. It's a fake engagement, obvs, but Petey moves into William's folly (not a euphemism) and their forced physical proximity brings them closer emotionally.
William tells Petey about his money issues. Petey tells William about his unsupportive family. There are sexy horseback rides and romantic picnics and a suit of armor that fits really, really well. And, while William may have been dubbed the "Bisexual Baron" by the gutter press, he's actually a sweet demisexual virgin himbo who pretty much needed his love interest to move in before he could feel comfortable with ... anything?
DP Clarence is always hilarious, especially if you like your humor a little on the crude side; the romance is SO sweet and the slow burn really pays off. So if you like a good MM contemporary but sometimes think "this could use a little inspiration from Tessa Dare," you'll be wanting to pick this one up.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel. Full disclosure: we are social media mutuals with the author.
Peter Topham aka Petey Boy is a TV producer, and Love Manor is his big chance to prove himself to Indira. After the contestants realize there's an actual IRL lord living at Love Manor, Petey takes one for the reality TV team and agrees to announce his engagement to William. It's a fake engagement, obvs, but Petey moves into William's folly (not a euphemism) and their forced physical proximity brings them closer emotionally.
William tells Petey about his money issues. Petey tells William about his unsupportive family. There are sexy horseback rides and romantic picnics and a suit of armor that fits really, really well. And, while William may have been dubbed the "Bisexual Baron" by the gutter press, he's actually a sweet demisexual virgin himbo who pretty much needed his love interest to move in before he could feel comfortable with ... anything?
DP Clarence is always hilarious, especially if you like your humor a little on the crude side; the romance is SO sweet and the slow burn really pays off. So if you like a good MM contemporary but sometimes think "this could use a little inspiration from Tessa Dare," you'll be wanting to pick this one up.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel. Full disclosure: we are social media mutuals with the author.
April 8, 2026
Both William and Petey were such great characters. William never planned to be the Baron and was overwhelmed with the crumbling finances and infrastructure of the estate after the death of his father and older brother. He doesn't know where to turn, but decides to allow a reality TV show to be filmed on his estate for the money. He comes face-to-face with Petey, an associate producer of the shows. The two of them have to fake a relationship in order to insulate William from the cast members.
The two of them start to grow close. Neither one of them had a true relationship before, and it was great watching their relationship develop.
I loved how they helped each other out. Petey, as a producer, knew how to face problems and find solutions. He helped William focus and become motivated to save the estate.
Petey needed someone who believed in him, especially on a job that would determine his future success. After being called a "disappointment" most of his life, Petey never had someone believe he was successful, never had someone in his corner like William was.
I loved the whacky world of The Love Manor, both the craziness of the setup along with the secondary characters it brought to the book. But what I really loved was William's family and Petey's grandmother. Oh my. Those characters and their antics made me laugh out loud. Which was good, because there were times I wanted to shake Petey's immediate family. How William deals with them was incredibly enjoyable to me.
This is my first book by D.P. Clarence, but it won't be my last. I'm going to read the rest of the books of the series.
The two of them start to grow close. Neither one of them had a true relationship before, and it was great watching their relationship develop.
I loved how they helped each other out. Petey, as a producer, knew how to face problems and find solutions. He helped William focus and become motivated to save the estate.
Petey needed someone who believed in him, especially on a job that would determine his future success. After being called a "disappointment" most of his life, Petey never had someone believe he was successful, never had someone in his corner like William was.
I loved the whacky world of The Love Manor, both the craziness of the setup along with the secondary characters it brought to the book. But what I really loved was William's family and Petey's grandmother. Oh my. Those characters and their antics made me laugh out loud. Which was good, because there were times I wanted to shake Petey's immediate family. How William deals with them was incredibly enjoyable to me.
This is my first book by D.P. Clarence, but it won't be my last. I'm going to read the rest of the books of the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
D.P. Clarence has rapidly been becoming one of my favourite authors and this book perfectly captures why. It was perfectly funny and sweet, wholesome and cheeky, and just full of dry British humour. Such a fun read!
Petey and William are a perfect opposites attract duo in a lot of ways. When they meet, William is a down-on-his-luck Baron, struggling to keep his family’s crumbling manor afloat. Petey is the producer of the regency-themed reality dating show filming at the manor (see: William really needed the money!). Petey is a savvy Londoner, William is a nerdy country boy. Petey is sexually adventurous, and William is a demisexual virgin looking for his true love. But they have great chemistry and their slow burn romance was a delight to read (and I loved the meet cute - could not stop laughing that whole scene).
The secondary characters are also all amazing. The reality show contestants were a lot of fun, but my personal favourite was William’s free spirited mother. You can certainly understand how the manor got into financial trouble with two hippy parents like that! She’s hilarious but also has a total heart of gold.
From start to finish I really enjoyed this book! Read if you like:
💜 Opposites attract
💜 Forced proximity & fake dating
💜 Hilarious secondary characters
💜 Quality banter
💜 Good Demi rep
💜 Runaway ducks
I loved Clarence’s first two books, so was so honoured to receive an ARC of this one - and honestly even more delighted when it lived up to my sky high expectations.
Petey and William are a perfect opposites attract duo in a lot of ways. When they meet, William is a down-on-his-luck Baron, struggling to keep his family’s crumbling manor afloat. Petey is the producer of the regency-themed reality dating show filming at the manor (see: William really needed the money!). Petey is a savvy Londoner, William is a nerdy country boy. Petey is sexually adventurous, and William is a demisexual virgin looking for his true love. But they have great chemistry and their slow burn romance was a delight to read (and I loved the meet cute - could not stop laughing that whole scene).
The secondary characters are also all amazing. The reality show contestants were a lot of fun, but my personal favourite was William’s free spirited mother. You can certainly understand how the manor got into financial trouble with two hippy parents like that! She’s hilarious but also has a total heart of gold.
From start to finish I really enjoyed this book! Read if you like:
💜 Opposites attract
💜 Forced proximity & fake dating
💜 Hilarious secondary characters
💜 Quality banter
💜 Good Demi rep
💜 Runaway ducks
I loved Clarence’s first two books, so was so honoured to receive an ARC of this one - and honestly even more delighted when it lived up to my sky high expectations.
March 7, 2026
Loved the other books in the series thus far so I absolutely snatched this up the moment it became available, and it did NOT disappoint!
Clarence's books always make me laugh, have me on the edge of my seat and kick me in the feels, sometimes all on the same page.
He has an amazing ear for dialogue - hilarious, witty dialogue with rat-a-tat rhythm.
With a Clarence book, in addition to the aforementioned dialogue, you always get a rich cast of supporting characters, and a lot of sweetness mixed with bawdy sex talk. This book is no different.
Petey Boy and William have so much chemistry, and - as with Clarence's other books - there's also a brilliant undercurrent, a glance at the ways media can distort the way people see a person. Petey and William really seeing each other, truly, without outside influence is one of the sweetest parts of the book.
And then: "More meat than a butcher's window." (For a second I thought Torsten was in this book....) Ahem! Enjoyed seeing a few familiar characters pop up (Ludo and Sunny and Jonty, among others).
More, more, more. Loved this book, love the author's work.
(PS: American readers....the glossary at the beginning helps but there's a tiny smidge I either didn't understand or had to look up....don't let that scare you off.)
Clarence's books always make me laugh, have me on the edge of my seat and kick me in the feels, sometimes all on the same page.
He has an amazing ear for dialogue - hilarious, witty dialogue with rat-a-tat rhythm.
With a Clarence book, in addition to the aforementioned dialogue, you always get a rich cast of supporting characters, and a lot of sweetness mixed with bawdy sex talk. This book is no different.
Petey Boy and William have so much chemistry, and - as with Clarence's other books - there's also a brilliant undercurrent, a glance at the ways media can distort the way people see a person. Petey and William really seeing each other, truly, without outside influence is one of the sweetest parts of the book.
And then: "More meat than a butcher's window." (For a second I thought Torsten was in this book....) Ahem! Enjoyed seeing a few familiar characters pop up (Ludo and Sunny and Jonty, among others).
More, more, more. Loved this book, love the author's work.
(PS: American readers....the glossary at the beginning helps but there's a tiny smidge I either didn't understand or had to look up....don't let that scare you off.)
April 2, 2026
Is anything better than reading about two adorable knuckleheads falling in love while you laugh along the way?
I think not.
Petey (27) has a job opportunity with a new romance reality show that could get him taken more seriously, and will do anything to make it go smoothly.
William (25) agreed to let the show use his (secretly crumbing) family manor at their set, and is just trying to keep his big, beautiful self out of the way.
The shenanigans will crack you up but the vulnerability and heart will crack you open. Such fun!
Read the content warnings.
Read if you like:
• Contemporary rom com
• Fake engagement
• Former pro rugby player turned extremely private baron x Openly queer TV producer
• An unbeatable definition of love
• Reality TV
• Genuinely laugh-inducing dialogue and inner monologue / Turns of phrase and descriptions that’ll have you cackling
• Dual POV
• Safe and positive queer rep
• Fade to black spice
WINGING IT WITH YOU by Chip Pons
Jen DeLuca’s WELL MET series
I think not.
Petey (27) has a job opportunity with a new romance reality show that could get him taken more seriously, and will do anything to make it go smoothly.
William (25) agreed to let the show use his (secretly crumbing) family manor at their set, and is just trying to keep his big, beautiful self out of the way.
The shenanigans will crack you up but the vulnerability and heart will crack you open. Such fun!
Read the content warnings.
Read if you like:
• Contemporary rom com
• Fake engagement
• Former pro rugby player turned extremely private baron x Openly queer TV producer
• An unbeatable definition of love
• Reality TV
• Genuinely laugh-inducing dialogue and inner monologue / Turns of phrase and descriptions that’ll have you cackling
• Dual POV
• Safe and positive queer rep
• Fade to black spice
WINGING IT WITH YOU by Chip Pons
Jen DeLuca’s WELL MET series
April 19, 2026
4.0 stars. While I enjoyed this book, and wanted to keep reading (unfortunately not listening as it was not available in audio), I had a few issues. One, it is VERY English. As in, lots of England culture, slang, peerage, holidays, etc. I usually do okay with all of that, but this one seemed more amped up. Also, it is about a reality show (which I generally abhor), and lots of issues with the media (both print and social) spilling secrets, and obtaining secrets in less than honorable ways. This is also one of two books this week about issues with the media causing major issues for individuals, and I'm not a big fan (of the media causing problems for clicks and ratings), so it sat very wrong with me. The story was cute and sweet, and I loved William - who tried so hard! Petey Boy (dislike that name!) was a little bit of a selfish jerk sometime, although he had his own insecurities fueling him on. I never did read the first one, and I don't know that I will continue with this series.
Read
April 5, 2026Peter Topham is a breakfast TV producer chasing his big break, much to his families dismay, and The Love Manor seems like his chance—until the show derails. Enter William Winters, a reluctant aristocrat trying to save his crumbling estate, who ends up far more interesting than the contestants.
When the cast loses interest in each other and focuses on William instead, Petey and William fake an engagement to keep things afloat… but it doesn’t stay fake for long.
This book is witty, chaotic, and full of charm, mixing reality TV drama with Regency vibes. The slow-burn romance, sharp banter, and forced proximity work perfectly.
William is awkward, sweet, and layered, with thoughtful demisexual rep, while Petey balances humor with real vulnerability. Funny, romantic, and heartfelt—it’s an easy one to fall for.
Definitely one to pick up—whether that’s from your local queer bookstore or directly through the author’s page!
When the cast loses interest in each other and focuses on William instead, Petey and William fake an engagement to keep things afloat… but it doesn’t stay fake for long.
This book is witty, chaotic, and full of charm, mixing reality TV drama with Regency vibes. The slow-burn romance, sharp banter, and forced proximity work perfectly.
William is awkward, sweet, and layered, with thoughtful demisexual rep, while Petey balances humor with real vulnerability. Funny, romantic, and heartfelt—it’s an easy one to fall for.
Definitely one to pick up—whether that’s from your local queer bookstore or directly through the author’s page!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
I loved the author’s other books and I wanted to love this one but instead I merely really liked it. The comedic moments were great but William is a hard character to deal with at times. His stubbornness forces the plot to grind its gears a fair amount. Also, couldn’t he have traded some of the art to pay the taxes through the Cultural Gift Scheme?
Ultimately, after his previous bookies reality shows so well, I was really hoping author would spend more time on the reality show aspect of this book. It was a fun plot device and I wish it could have taken up a larger segment of the book. After that things becomes repetitive.
Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this and will happily read his next one. Part of the problem is that he set the bar for himself so high with his first two books and this didn’t quite measure up.
Ultimately, after his previous bookies reality shows so well, I was really hoping author would spend more time on the reality show aspect of this book. It was a fun plot device and I wish it could have taken up a larger segment of the book. After that things becomes repetitive.
Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this and will happily read his next one. Part of the problem is that he set the bar for himself so high with his first two books and this didn’t quite measure up.
March 8, 2026
“Let it be known that I, William Stanley Leaf Richard George Winters-de Valois-Winters, the seventeenth Baron Buckford, love this man. I will marry this man. I intend to spend my life with this man. Make no mistake, if any man tries to come between us or threatens the incredible happiness ahead of us, I will hunt them to the ends of the earth and I will exact a terrible price from them.”
Really solid stuff, right here. Wish we got a bit more reality-tv moments with William, Petey, and the whole crew, though. Also, more Jonty please. What a fantastic and chaotic side-character.
March 28, 2026
I loved the first 2 books in this series but really struggled with this one. The pacing was all over the place, the characters felt underdeveloped, and it badly needed an edit - missing/extra words and punctuation every few sentences, misspelling and random capitalization, etc. I’ll definitely look out for more of this author’s work, but this one was a big miss for me.
April 23, 2026
absolutely lovely!
Finally was able to finish D.P. Clarence’s latest. My favorite thing about D.P.’s work is the witty humor that all his books have! I loved Peter Boy and William’s story, it’s funny, sweet, charming, and lovely! This series has been one of my favorites and it’s always great to read about the Brent Boys, especially when it centers new characters! Highly recommend this one!
Finally was able to finish D.P. Clarence’s latest. My favorite thing about D.P.’s work is the witty humor that all his books have! I loved Peter Boy and William’s story, it’s funny, sweet, charming, and lovely! This series has been one of my favorites and it’s always great to read about the Brent Boys, especially when it centers new characters! Highly recommend this one!
April 25, 2026
No notes. What a lovely read. Funny, charming, romantic, relevant, and real. These two have my heart and soul in a chokehold and despite loving this read I wish I could have lasted just a little bit longer. I'd probably say that if it was 800 pages though. And this is coming from someone who normally doesn't love the fake engagement trope but this book 100% changed my mind. Fantastic work from this author!
Review of advance copy received from Autor
This has become my fav book of Dan's so far! And the book I enjoyed most of the last months. Loved both of them, the story, the jokes, their relationship and how they end talking about everything, seeking a place where both are comfortable. Just a must read!
April 5, 2026
Mostly good
The writing is excellent, but the bit with the guy running around in just silk boxers got old REAL fast and it continued throughout the book. Also, these guys are supposed to be adults, I think 27-29, something like that. They are really immature.
The writing is excellent, but the bit with the guy running around in just silk boxers got old REAL fast and it continued throughout the book. Also, these guys are supposed to be adults, I think 27-29, something like that. They are really immature.
March 10, 2026
4 stars
This was funny and cute. A little chaotic and over the top for sure.
This was funny and cute. A little chaotic and over the top for sure.
March 11, 2026
Witty, engaging, funny- this was a very good read, with just enough angst and backstory to satisfy me.
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