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Heartbreak And Handjxbs!: A Why Choose, Ex-boyfriend's Dad Romance

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Love has never been my strong suit.
Work, on the other hand, that’s where I shine.
Meticulous and obsessing over every detail, until everything is perfect and flawless.
So when my life unexpectedly goes straight to hell in a handbasket, the last place I imagined I'd find myself is tangled with the one man I should never touch.

My ex’s dad.

A solo vacation was supposed to be my escape. Just me, the sun, and the open water.
A place to clear my head and leave the chaos I created far behind me.
But just when I thought I could get away, Cupid decided he had other plans.
Apparently, my ex’s dad had the same idea, only he doesn’t arrive alone.

They were supposed to be hidden.
His naughty little secret.
Forbidden. Irresistible.
And I’m all too aware that I’m the sweet treat they’re craving this Valentine’s.

Now, they hold all the cards, and I’m playing by their rules.
Every look, every brush of skin, every whispered dare pulls me in deeper.
And I’m guilty as sin for wanting more.


235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2026

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Octavia Knightly

9 books45 followers

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5 stars
22 (64%)
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9 (26%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Kat.
384 reviews75 followers
March 19, 2026
This book was freaking incredible devoured it in one sitting 10/5 stars 🌶
Profile Image for Ryn Emilee.
Author 1 book27 followers
March 26, 2026
If chaotic, spicy, laugh-out-loud romance is your vibe… this book absolutely delivers.

Jovi is that girl — sweet, a little unhinged in the best way, and completely DONE with her ex’s nonsense. Instead of wallowing, she takes the most unhinged (and iconic) route possible… and honestly? We support her decisions. Because somehow, what starts as revenge turns into a wild, swoony, slightly scandalous adventure featuring none other than Daddy West… and yes — his boyfriends. Plural. Let that sink in.

This book leans fully into its chaos energy, and it works. The Valentine’s cruise setting is the perfect backdrop for all the drama, tension, and laugh-out-loud moments. It’s giving indulgence, escapism, and “just one more chapter” at 2am.

Octavia’s writing is addictive — she pulls you straight in, makes you care, then hits you with humour, heart, and spice that absolutely lives up to the hype. The chemistry? Off the charts. The banter? Elite. The characters? The kind you wish you could pack up and take home with you (or join them on that cruise, let’s be honest).

It’s bold, messy, hilarious, and somehow still manages to feel like pure romance at its core.

A chaotic good time with unforgettable characters, top-tier spice, and the kind of “what did I just read (and why did I love it so much)” energy

Also… where exactly does one accidentally drop 10K on a cruise and come back with three boyfriends? Asking for… research purposes.
Profile Image for Bek ✨.
163 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2026
What an absolute rollercoaster of a read!

This book is a wild ride packed to the brim with action, plot twists, and enough chaos to keep your heart racing through all 235 pages. Buckle up, because I was gasping in shock by the end of chapter 1, what a way to start a book and close to launching myself off a metaphorical cliff by the end (with happiness and excitement). And let’s not even talk about the epilogue—cue the waterworks!

And did I mention it’s sizzling hot? We're talking about a read that leaves you weak in the knees and ready to dissolve into a puddle of emotions.

This book dives headfirst into pure chaotic energy, and boy, does it deliver! Set against the backdrop of a Valentine’s cruise, it serves up the perfect recipe for drama, tension, and laugh out loud moments. It’s like a guilty pleasure buffet of indulgence, escapism, and that irresistible “just one more chapter” vibe that gets you turning pages well past your bedtime.

Octavia’s writing? It’s addictive! She draws you in, makes you care about every character, and then whacks you with a delightful blend of humor, heart, and spicy goodness that totally lives up to the hype. The chemistry between the characters? Off the charts! The banter? Absolutely elite. And the characters? They're the kind you want to take home with you—or sneak onto that cruise, let’s be real!

And seriously, I need to find 10K to drop on a cruise, like yesterday. And why aren’t any of my ex’s dads as perfect as West?
Profile Image for MissWho.
296 reviews13 followers
March 14, 2026
💔🍆🖤

Why choose with MM you say? Put me in coach, I'm ready!

What a flipping book!

There was so much action packed into 235 pages and a lil twist I didn't see coming.

I was mortified in Chapter 1 (what a way to open the show 👏🤣), laughing my a$$ off at Chapter 8 and threatening to throw myself off a cliff by Chapter 13. I might have cried at the epilogue too...🙈

It's also hot as f*ck, like one-handed read, weak at the knees, melt into a puddle hot. 🥵🔥🌶

Beau is my favourite character out of the group, I mean all of them are great characters and really well written but he's just my type. The adorable one that gets nervous and mumbles but literally resembles a Greek god and is sunshine in human form...you know what I mean!

I would happily keep reading about these characters for years to come but alas all good things come to an end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶.5

"West, Beau, and Haze. We're the story that never gets written. All because I liked a boy once and decided I owed it to myself to at least try with him. With someone. Well, that boy and I never worked out, and I feel like I'm being punished for it. They live in my f*cking town. Close enough to touch. Too far to ever hold. And it won't be because we didn't want it."
Profile Image for Ashley.
187 reviews1 follower
March 20, 2026
Heartbreak and HandJxbs! is a spicy, chaotic, fun read. Jovi has always been the good girl who follows the rules, focuses on school and work, and does what is expected. When her boyfriend, Theo breaks up with her and sites her prioritizing work over their relationship she decides to surprise him and show him she can be spontaneous. She decides to pay her ex a visit and do something naughty. She sneaks into his house in the middle of the night, he indicates it is okay, and so she starts touching him. Uhmm... Then Theo walks in and says, "Dad!" West and Jovi know what happened was an accident but they can't get each other out of their heads. Jovi decides to drink a little and books a cruise. She is ready to throw caution to the wind and live a little. It just so happens, West and his guys also book the same cruise. No matter how hard they fight it, (especially West) fate keeps forcing them together. West is in a relationship with Haze and Beau. Jovi, Haze, and Beau went to school together. Unbeknownst to them, Jovi had the biggest crush on the guys and she has always been their dream girl. Is now their chance to be together or will the complications with West prevent their happiness? I absolutely devoured this book. The chemistry and spicy scenes were perfection. If you want spice, unpredictability, and an amazing read you should definitely give this book a try!
Profile Image for Cassie.
113 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2026
Jovi’s life is already spiraling after a breakup that leaves her feeling like she’s somehow “failed.” In an impulsive moment she ends up in a very awkward situation involving her ex’s dad… and that’s only the beginning of the story. Trying to move on, she books a cruise for a fresh start—only to discover it’s a couples cruise and fate seems determined to keep putting her right back in the orbit of the one person she absolutely shouldn’t be attracted to.

What follows is a mix of tension, humor, and some seriously spicy moments when chance throws them together during a cruise competition that leads to an unforgettable prize.

I really appreciated the inclusivity in this book and the way the relationships were handled without judgment. The characters have great chemistry, and while the premise is a little outrageous, it somehow works and keeps the story entertaining the whole way through.

If you enjoy steamy romances with unconventional relationship dynamics and a bit of chaotic energy, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Profile Image for Michelle Ottey.
225 reviews7 followers
April 16, 2026
I wasn’t really sure about this one in the beginning. The fmc seemed to be a little bit irritating with her attempts to “win him back” after her boyfriend breaks up with her and I pretty much guessed what was going to happen while it was happening. I really enjoyed the concept of the cruise ship idea and was a bit disappointed that it didn’t stick. I feel like it could have almost been skipped over and just do the private island thing. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the fmc and mmcs but sometimes it felt a bit disjointed. The chemistry between all the mmcs was fantastic and I think they did find their footing with adding another into their dynamic really well as it went on. In terms of spice, it was about a 3.5/5, it was pretty frequent once they got into it and the scenes were written really well. Overall, it was a nice reverse harem with sword crossing read with a bit of spice and a little bit of longing and tension. It’s a 3.5/5 read for me and I would recommend it if it was up your alley.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn.
104 reviews19 followers
April 21, 2026
I’m obsessed.
Straight from page one, we are thrown into the chaotically addictive world of Jovi Jett Stone.
Recently dumped from her lacklustre boyfriend, she goes to prove that she’s just as spontaneous, sexy and bold her ex said she wasn’t.
Well a mistaken identity and a not so meet cute later, we find West & Jovi fighting tension that is crackling!

This book has everything you could ask for!
Off the charts banter, twists, messy drama, unhinged characters that go absolutely feral for each other, sizzling spice, multidimensional characters… Oh! and writing so addictive you’re transported to the movies watching your favourite comfy spicy rom-com.

Daddy West, Beau & Haze are everything Jovi has been searching for. The missing piece to her puzzle. The way they feed off each other’s energy, magnetically drawn together, you root for them the whole book.

The ending was so perfectly heartfelt, and that epilogue?! I can’t.

This was the first book I’ve read of Octavia and I’m hooked!

Happy Reading
😊🚢☀️
Profile Image for Brittany Hull.
106 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2026
If there was ever a book written for the chaos queens, this is it! All aboard the hot mess express!🚂 This book had me cackling from the very beginning. A literal rollercoaster of emotional whiplash, littered with absolutely delicious spice and filth🔥 The characters are vivid and full of depth, the embarrassment and cringe-worthy moments are palpable! I adore the banter between characters, it feels so authentic! It’s easy to get so wrapped up in this book that you forget they’re not actually real 🥺 Just when you think things are about to settle, or something was resolved, BAM, she hits you with a plot twist and you’re sucked right back in, thinking “no freaking WAY OMG!” This one reads quickly, it pulls you right along and before you know it you’re up way past bedtime snorting and swooning right along with the characters. Special mention to the chapter titles because they are GOLD!👏🏼👏🏼
Profile Image for Liz Ranne.
1,238 reviews30 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026
I loved this! It's Jovi & the guys' story & it was a great one! She tries being more spontaneous & sneaks into her ex's house, the issue? Well, let's just say she wasn't spending time with her ex & of course he walks in & everything blows up. She decides it's time for a vacation & is on a cruise when she gets pulled into a game on board, & her ex's dad is her partner. But he also has secrets & when they win, they're awarded a get-away & things get very steamy. But there are things that happen & some things need to come to the light still. A lot happens here this is still a short & quick read. I loved the dynamic they all had & the spice was fantastic! Recommend this book & author!
Profile Image for Tay ..
37 reviews
April 18, 2026
I absolutely loved this story, you meet Jovi in Jingle Bell Cxck! A Christmas Novella by Octavia Knightly.

Jovi’s world has just come crashing down around her by a mistake she didn’t mean to make, on a drunken night hanging out with her BFF & her brothers she books a cruise something she would never do not now anyway. Little did she know that the mistake she made would also be on the same cruise & that mistake definitely into alone 😏.

This book was absolutely incredible & I now can’t wait for book 3!
Profile Image for Kacie Mummawh0reads.x.
794 reviews30 followers
April 6, 2026
This is book is a quick read, standalone with a total of 235 pages.

If you enjoy your why choose romances with a side of existing MMM relationships, look no further!
This book will have you in stitches in chapter one you guys! I was chuckling about that scene for ages afterwards lol
While this book isn’t the authors usual dark romance, it certainly was more kinky rom com. In a good way!

#exboyfriendsdad #whychoose #mmmfm #romcom #agegap
Profile Image for Christina.
430 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 13, 2026
This was an amazing, sweet and really really spicy book. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book, especially when West finally gave in...that was my favorite part. I just love their relationship and how they all are with each other. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Mala.
221 reviews7 followers
March 13, 2026
Not her normal dark romance, but definitely on her spice level. If you’re looking for a quick and spicy novella this one is perfect. Age gap, ex’s dad. The boyfriends have boyfriends need I say more 😏
Profile Image for Naiomi Cox.
450 reviews34 followers
Read
March 14, 2026
MMMF, Cruise, Ex's Dad, Hurricane, Spicy, Found Family.

I love this new series. It's funny while also filled with tension and angst. What is not to love when you mistake your Ex's dad for your Ex.
Profile Image for Fran.
187 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2026
Wow what a read. The tension between Jovi and her men is next level. Poor West he knows what he wants but he is fighting between his head and his heart.
An unexpected fate that brings them all together is funny in places and quiet moving in others.
4.5⭐️ 5🌶️
72 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2026
Ooof, check the reality at the door for this one. I ended up DNFing but gave it a couple of stars because I appreciate the MMCs relationship and there were a couple of good spicy scenes that were hot.
Profile Image for Tay.
93 reviews8 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 12, 2026
Spicy as a ghost pepper ! It’s really good she did it again 10/10 for our lady Octavia !!!
Profile Image for Frankie Bell.
602 reviews17 followers
March 22, 2026
I have a very unhealthy obsession with this book!!! Octavia!!!! Once again you know how to hook someone and not let go!!!!
721 reviews17 followers
April 8, 2026
This was hilarious and so good. Hooked beginning to end. Love the spicy scenes. Love the Valentines cruise setting. Another amazing book by Octavia Knightly!!
Profile Image for Harley.
630 reviews22 followers
April 18, 2026
….

I was not expecting any of this but I loved every minute of it because it was just sooooo ummm yes you need. And the last page.. loved that
Profile Image for Arden Willow.
27 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2026
What a roller coaster. Exceptional MMMF Romance with a deserted island and hurricane trope.
287 reviews10 followers
April 12, 2026
The way i devoured this book- the tropes are top tier. This was chaotic and takes you on a wild ride full of laugh out loud moments to fanning yourself down, so much packed into 235 pages.

Honestly such an iconic start to a book. Jovi is everything , i knew i would love her and the chaos she ensues after a breakup Jovi decides to book a cruise and just her luck the one person she is trying to avoid is on this cruise with her. We have one hell of a story packed with all my favourite things tension,banter,humour and some seriously delicious spicy scenes.

But what i loved the most was the relationships and the depth of them. But can i have a West please?
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews