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Checked Out: A Contemporary MM Romance
Welcome to the Lillian Hotel, where the service is hands-on.
In the dimly lit rooms of the Lillian, Daniel has much more than debt breathing down his neck. The job that was supposed to save him from years of bad financial decisions has left him tired and jaded. He’s become a shell of who he once was with nowhere to go and no one to turn to for help.
After years of being shut down at his job, Jensen has forgotten the reason he became an architect in the first place. He has shelved his passions, let dust settle on his hobbies, and can’t remember the last time he went on a date. To make matters worse, his boss is forcing him to fly halfway across the country to attend a conference full of small talk and large crowds—two of the many things that give him indigestion.
Enticed by the Lillian’s historic art nouveau design and completely unaware of the underground business operating within its walls, Jensen books a room at the hotel and swiftly gets introduced to the unexpected amenities.
Daniel is just looking to pay his bills, and Jensen’s simply trying to survive the weekend without embarrassing himself. A relationship is the last thing on their minds, and yet … as they spend more time together, the sparks inside them reignite, and dreams they once had don’t seem so impossible anymore.
Love supposedly conquers all, but can it offer freedom too?
In the dimly lit rooms of the Lillian, Daniel has much more than debt breathing down his neck. The job that was supposed to save him from years of bad financial decisions has left him tired and jaded. He’s become a shell of who he once was with nowhere to go and no one to turn to for help.
After years of being shut down at his job, Jensen has forgotten the reason he became an architect in the first place. He has shelved his passions, let dust settle on his hobbies, and can’t remember the last time he went on a date. To make matters worse, his boss is forcing him to fly halfway across the country to attend a conference full of small talk and large crowds—two of the many things that give him indigestion.
Enticed by the Lillian’s historic art nouveau design and completely unaware of the underground business operating within its walls, Jensen books a room at the hotel and swiftly gets introduced to the unexpected amenities.
Daniel is just looking to pay his bills, and Jensen’s simply trying to survive the weekend without embarrassing himself. A relationship is the last thing on their minds, and yet … as they spend more time together, the sparks inside them reignite, and dreams they once had don’t seem so impossible anymore.
Love supposedly conquers all, but can it offer freedom too?
282 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
August 30, 2026
4.5⭐️This story is honestly so lovely. It follows a nerdy architect and an escort who have a delightfully awkward meet-cute, eventually growing into a deeply supportive romance while navigating life's chaos and growing together.
I loved the scenes where Daniel genuinely enjoys listening to Jensen ramble on about his passion for architecture. That kind of intellectual appreciation and resonance has always been the anchor I look for in these massive-class-gap romances—it's what makes me believe their relationship is building on a real foundation.
I really dig the author's snappy writing style, especially the subtle, tender way they handle those lightbulb moments of realization in love. Plus, that nerdy dry humor carries all the way through, perfectly counterbalanced by some genuinely mature reflections on real life.
I felt the pacing in the second half could have picked up just a bit. 4.5 ⭐️, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever the author writes next.
I loved the scenes where Daniel genuinely enjoys listening to Jensen ramble on about his passion for architecture. That kind of intellectual appreciation and resonance has always been the anchor I look for in these massive-class-gap romances—it's what makes me believe their relationship is building on a real foundation.
I really dig the author's snappy writing style, especially the subtle, tender way they handle those lightbulb moments of realization in love. Plus, that nerdy dry humor carries all the way through, perfectly counterbalanced by some genuinely mature reflections on real life.
I felt the pacing in the second half could have picked up just a bit. 4.5 ⭐️, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever the author writes next.
July 31, 2026
This one was so cute, an incredible debut from @kellentucker.books (and LOOK at that GORGEOUS cover)!! Checked Out is about Jensen, an oblivious architect who books a room in a beautiful old hotel, not realizing it's actually a brothel, and strikes up a friendship with Daniel, one of the sex workers there. It's sweet and heartfelt and full of cute banter, honestly kind of giving Alexis Hall vibes. Jensen is so in his head and socially awkward, but despite being pretty jaded Daniel finds it hopelessly endearing and I loved that. Most of the story is pretty low angst, though Daniel's seemingly impossible financial situation did stress me out a bit. Checked Out releases on August 1, be sure to get it on your TBR!!
June 22, 2026
4.5/5. But if you think I’m not pissed about it, you’d be wrong. Why am I pissed, you ask? Why be mad when it was actually a really great book that set up a world that I’m dying to learn more about with absolutely stellar characters? Because that man is autistic, not anxious. Don’t play with me. That man has Asperger’s, and you are not fooling anyone. Just say that shit with your whole chest. Us ‘tism babies are fucking fantastic and if you just didn’t realise you wrote him that way, then I could understand, but you had to know. There ain’t a world where this isn’t AS. This is not just anxiety/social anxiety, this is autism. I felt Jensen’s character in my soul, which got real fucking weird when Daniel was very much Nigel-coded and the parents’ names almost mirrored my in-laws’. It was a lot of coincidences all stacked up and at one point I wanted to rage quit out of frustration and spite. But, for real, I loved it. It was sweet, funny, heartfelt, interesting, and even when I wanted to hold their hands whilst yelling at them to get their shit together and stop being dummies, I had an excellent time. That’s all.
—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All ratings, reviews, and unwanted opinions are my own.—
—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR). All ratings, reviews, and unwanted opinions are my own.—
August 3, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
I loved the concept of this story. On the outside, it’s an odd couple pairing of a shy, nerdy, autistic office worker and a flirty, colorful, outgoing sex worker. Except then you get into the meat of the story and it explores the different ways workers are exploited. In Daniel’s case, he’s trapped by debt and inexperience, so he’s afraid of switching jobs in case no one will hire him, but at the same time, he’s tired of selling his body night after night to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Jensen doesn’t realize he’s being exploited until he stands up for himself and finds out his boss has been lying to him.
Some of the pacing could be a little jumpy, especially as Jensen and Daniel part from each other and the story skips over the days where not much happens, but ultimately it flows well enough that you can easily get back into the momentum of things, and boy howdy does the momentum keep you moving. I could hardly put this down.
This is a very gripping and romantic story that reminds the readers it’s never too late to open your eyes and see what’s right in front of you, the bad AND the better than expected.
Read Nishan's review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
I loved the concept of this story. On the outside, it’s an odd couple pairing of a shy, nerdy, autistic office worker and a flirty, colorful, outgoing sex worker. Except then you get into the meat of the story and it explores the different ways workers are exploited. In Daniel’s case, he’s trapped by debt and inexperience, so he’s afraid of switching jobs in case no one will hire him, but at the same time, he’s tired of selling his body night after night to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Jensen doesn’t realize he’s being exploited until he stands up for himself and finds out his boss has been lying to him.
Some of the pacing could be a little jumpy, especially as Jensen and Daniel part from each other and the story skips over the days where not much happens, but ultimately it flows well enough that you can easily get back into the momentum of things, and boy howdy does the momentum keep you moving. I could hardly put this down.
This is a very gripping and romantic story that reminds the readers it’s never too late to open your eyes and see what’s right in front of you, the bad AND the better than expected.
Read Nishan's review in its entirety here.
September 1, 2026
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because it’s a debut author.
Thanks to @AngstLover-Jing for reviewing this one and getting me intrigued enough to pick it up.
This is really just a sweet, extremely low-angst book about a neurodivergent MC and a down-on-his-luck sex worker. It’s not particularly plot-heavy, but I enjoyed spending time with them, which is sometimes enough.
For those of you who require casting as badly as I do, I was really struggling with Jensen. The author doesn’t give much physical description for either of the MCs but Daniel is a handsome blonde guy so Central Casting can easily pull up one of them. Jensen was harder. I kept getting this ephemeral image that would float into my head and disappear before I could pin it down. Then there’s a scene where he pushes his glasses up while reviewing his notes and simultaneously talking to Daniel, and suddenly: Tim Laughlin from Fellow Travelers.
That’s right. Jonathan Bailey has finally made it through one of my MM romance hyperfantasia casting tournaments.
And this time Skippy gets a happy ending. {wags cigar} Literally and figuratively.
The main reason this landed at 3.5 for me is that it gets a little too schmaltzy toward the end. I really enjoyed Jensen’s unfiltered honesty earlier in the book because it felt specific to him—blunt, literal, sometimes unexpectedly funny. But toward the end, some of his declarations tipped over into Grand Romantic Pronouncement territory, and I liked him better before he started sounding like he’d swallowed a Hallmark card.
Speaking of Hallmark, I have one small quibble: did I miss something, or is Sevier a fictional city? Because Google is giving me a county in Tennessee, and do not tell me this man left San Francisco for a small town in Tennessee.
I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the Hallmark Hall of Fame romance theme where a big-city MC uproots himself, moves to a charming small town, and discovers that what he really needed all along was fewer restaurants and a Main Street Christmas festival. Yes, I live in NYC, but I also grew up in the suburbs of a smaller city, and I would rather lick the subway floor on a rainy day than return to that lifestyle.
But I digress.
My actual point is that I would have liked to know what state Sevier was in so I had some sense of how dramatic the move really was. Maybe I missed it, but it felt strange to specifically locate one MC in San Francisco while leaving the other one floating somewhere in Generic Small Town, USA.
I also thought Jensen’s relationship with his mother was both sweet and a little troubling, which is a very hard line to toe. The author managed to make their closeness feel genuine and loving while still allowing some of the ways she relates to him to feel suffocating. I appreciated that she was able to pull that off.
Overall, a very sweet debut with characters I liked, almost no angst, and enough promise that I’ll absolutely keep an eye on what this author does next.
Thanks to @AngstLover-Jing for reviewing this one and getting me intrigued enough to pick it up.
This is really just a sweet, extremely low-angst book about a neurodivergent MC and a down-on-his-luck sex worker. It’s not particularly plot-heavy, but I enjoyed spending time with them, which is sometimes enough.
For those of you who require casting as badly as I do, I was really struggling with Jensen. The author doesn’t give much physical description for either of the MCs but Daniel is a handsome blonde guy so Central Casting can easily pull up one of them. Jensen was harder. I kept getting this ephemeral image that would float into my head and disappear before I could pin it down. Then there’s a scene where he pushes his glasses up while reviewing his notes and simultaneously talking to Daniel, and suddenly: Tim Laughlin from Fellow Travelers.
That’s right. Jonathan Bailey has finally made it through one of my MM romance hyperfantasia casting tournaments.
And this time Skippy gets a happy ending. {wags cigar} Literally and figuratively.
The main reason this landed at 3.5 for me is that it gets a little too schmaltzy toward the end. I really enjoyed Jensen’s unfiltered honesty earlier in the book because it felt specific to him—blunt, literal, sometimes unexpectedly funny. But toward the end, some of his declarations tipped over into Grand Romantic Pronouncement territory, and I liked him better before he started sounding like he’d swallowed a Hallmark card.
Speaking of Hallmark, I have one small quibble: did I miss something, or is Sevier a fictional city? Because Google is giving me a county in Tennessee, and do not tell me this man left San Francisco for a small town in Tennessee.
I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about the Hallmark Hall of Fame romance theme where a big-city MC uproots himself, moves to a charming small town, and discovers that what he really needed all along was fewer restaurants and a Main Street Christmas festival. Yes, I live in NYC, but I also grew up in the suburbs of a smaller city, and I would rather lick the subway floor on a rainy day than return to that lifestyle.
But I digress.
My actual point is that I would have liked to know what state Sevier was in so I had some sense of how dramatic the move really was. Maybe I missed it, but it felt strange to specifically locate one MC in San Francisco while leaving the other one floating somewhere in Generic Small Town, USA.
I also thought Jensen’s relationship with his mother was both sweet and a little troubling, which is a very hard line to toe. The author managed to make their closeness feel genuine and loving while still allowing some of the ways she relates to him to feel suffocating. I appreciated that she was able to pull that off.
Overall, a very sweet debut with characters I liked, almost no angst, and enough promise that I’ll absolutely keep an eye on what this author does next.
August 11, 2026
After an interesting beginning, this lost pace rapidly. The MCs are not unpleasant, but both are stuck in unhelpful behaviour patterns, described many more times than needed, which eroded my sympathies pretty quickly.
A 70k novel that should have been a short story.
Credits:
Editing by Lyss Em Editing
Cover Art by Julia Kartcheva—absolutely gorgeous, worth at least 1 or 2 stars on its own
A 70k novel that should have been a short story.
Credits:
Editing by Lyss Em Editing
Cover Art by Julia Kartcheva—absolutely gorgeous, worth at least 1 or 2 stars on its own
July 24, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book! Here is my honest review:
This book was absolutely adorable. The premise had me cackling, and the execution was flawless.
I loved how the serious topics were handled in this book, including financial difficulties, anxiety, nerdiness, and also autism (even if it was never confirmed on the page, Jensen was autistic as HECK! Hello, he literally booked a hotel room at a brothel because he wanted to see the architecture because architecture is his special interest!)
I had so much fun reading Daniel and Jensen’s love story. The way they were both trying to uproot their lives so they could live closer together was adorable.
Daniel was so relatable I was fighting back tears.
If you want a delightful queer romance with a lot of humour, this one is for you!
This book was absolutely adorable. The premise had me cackling, and the execution was flawless.
I loved how the serious topics were handled in this book, including financial difficulties, anxiety, nerdiness, and also autism (even if it was never confirmed on the page, Jensen was autistic as HECK! Hello, he literally booked a hotel room at a brothel because he wanted to see the architecture because architecture is his special interest!)
I had so much fun reading Daniel and Jensen’s love story. The way they were both trying to uproot their lives so they could live closer together was adorable.
Daniel was so relatable I was fighting back tears.
If you want a delightful queer romance with a lot of humour, this one is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Daniel, a tired and world-weary sex worker, meets Jensen, a deeply anxious architect, through a hilarious misunderstanding. Their fondness for one another is immediate, intense, and incredibly endearing. They meet one another as they find themselves stuck in jobs that have become their entire lives, without fulfilling any of the goals they once had. Their growing attachment wakes up desires in each of them, for one another and for the joy and hope gone missing from both their lives.
Their growing relationship is so sweet. For a story about two people who are this desperately fed up with their lives, it's an unexpectedly cozy romance. Daniel and Jensen are imperfect people, and years of their own decisions have backed them into some unpleasant corners, but for every emotional hurt, there is a heaping dose of comfort. They each take solace in one another, and in the other people in their lives, an intriguing cast of characters in their own right. Jensen's parents could have been reduced to simple tropes, but they turned out to have a more interesting life story than I was expecting. Daniel's roommates and coworkers are entertaining, and his boss Lucinda is the perfect combination of caretaking and ball busting.
All of the big little moments in life, when each of them hits a breaking point or realizes something for the first time, are handled so well. I love the little things they notice and love in one another, just as much as I enjoyed the beautiful gestures of devotion. Lovely, from start to finish.
Favorite Quotes:
Author's content warnings:
Their growing relationship is so sweet. For a story about two people who are this desperately fed up with their lives, it's an unexpectedly cozy romance. Daniel and Jensen are imperfect people, and years of their own decisions have backed them into some unpleasant corners, but for every emotional hurt, there is a heaping dose of comfort. They each take solace in one another, and in the other people in their lives, an intriguing cast of characters in their own right. Jensen's parents could have been reduced to simple tropes, but they turned out to have a more interesting life story than I was expecting. Daniel's roommates and coworkers are entertaining, and his boss Lucinda is the perfect combination of caretaking and ball busting.
All of the big little moments in life, when each of them hits a breaking point or realizes something for the first time, are handled so well. I love the little things they notice and love in one another, just as much as I enjoyed the beautiful gestures of devotion. Lovely, from start to finish.
Favorite Quotes:
Author's content warnings:
August 5, 2026
Finding someone who will be there when you fall apart
This book made me laugh a lot and also made me cry real tears. I how Kellen Tucker has written these two quirky people and then made them so accepting of each other. I liked that she never really gives a diagnosis to Jensen even though he is definitely on the spectrum and I adore how accepting and supportive his parents are. I think all of us have felt like Daniel at times, when everything seems to be going wrong and we feel lonely and friendless. The whole book was heartbreaking and endearing and I can’t decide if I want to get books about Daniel’s roommates or the characters at the Lillian hotel!
In all honesty it is hard to imagine that this is Kellen Tucker’s debut novel because it was written so beautifully. Hopefully she has a long career at this.
This book made me laugh a lot and also made me cry real tears. I how Kellen Tucker has written these two quirky people and then made them so accepting of each other. I liked that she never really gives a diagnosis to Jensen even though he is definitely on the spectrum and I adore how accepting and supportive his parents are. I think all of us have felt like Daniel at times, when everything seems to be going wrong and we feel lonely and friendless. The whole book was heartbreaking and endearing and I can’t decide if I want to get books about Daniel’s roommates or the characters at the Lillian hotel!
In all honesty it is hard to imagine that this is Kellen Tucker’s debut novel because it was written so beautifully. Hopefully she has a long career at this.
August 3, 2026
Incredible debut. Jensen has my entire heart, the way he supported Daniel through it all was beautiful.
August 7, 2026
I enjoyed every second of this book! It was incredible sweet with great one-liners and adorable main characters. Looking forward to this authors next book!
Review of advance copy
Arc Review: Checked Out by Kellen Tucker
MC:Jensen&Daniel 4⭐
⬇ Tropes & More ⬇
🔑 Awkward x Confident
🔑 Hotel with salacious secrets
🔑 Slutty little glasses
🔑 It'll never work
🔑 All the yearning
🔑 Oblivious banter
🔑 Insta connection/attraction/love
Once again, I saw a pretty cover and all common sense left my body. Thankfully this time it paid off. 🤩
I mean, just look at it! The Art Nouveau vibes are immaculate. I've always loved that style, so when Jensen says the hotel looks like it was built by elves, it made perfect sense to me. I could totally see it. The cover actually captures them perfectly too. Jensen looks like he accidentally wandered into another world, while Daniel looks like he belongs there. Which is basically the story in a nutshell considering Jensen only booked the hotel because he was obsessed with the architecture and had absolutely no idea he'd just checked into a brothel. 😂
I absolutely loved Daniel and Jensen. Complete opposites, night and day, but somehow perfect together. Daniel works at the Lillian, and beneath all the confidence, flirting, and charm there was a loneliness to him that genuinely made me sad. He has spent so long simply surviving that seeing someone truly see him hit me right in the feelings. 💔 And Jensen... sweet, awkward, anxious Jensen. The quiet nervous guy dirty talking? I thought I was going to die. 🥵
Their connection happens fast, but I completely believed it. They were genuinely fascinated by each other. I loved their conversations, how interested they were in each other's lives, and how comfortable they became together so quickly. Add the amazing chemistry and fantastic sex, and I was fully invested.
What really sold me on them wasn't just the romance, though. It was how they helped each other rediscover parts of themselves that had been buried for years. Daniel deserved so much more than merely surviving, and Jensen deserved to remember what made him passionate about life in the first place.
I was so happy when Daniel finally asked for help and realized he wasn't alone. For years he'd convinced himself he had to carry everything on his own, but all along he was surrounded by people who cared about him—his roommates, Lucinda, and obviously Jensen. Watching him slowly accept that there were people willing to help, support, and love him was incredibly rewarding. He finally allowed himself to be important to someone else, to lean on others when he needed to, and honestly, that might have been my favorite part of his entire journey. ❤️
I did struggle a little with how much of their relationship happened off page. There are endless texts, video calls, conversations, and bonding moments that we're told about later rather than actually getting to experience. For a relationship that moves this quickly, I needed a little more of those moments on page. I loved them together so much that having some of that development happen off page occasionally left me feeling slightly disconnected from how deep their relationship had become. 🥺
I also felt like Jensen's parents were almost too accepting. Maybe it's me being cynical, but everything felt a little too easy there.
My biggest conflict with this book, though, was Jensen's attitude toward Daniel's sex work.
On one hand, I absolutely loved that Daniel leaving sex work became his decision. Jensen never demanded it. Daniel slowly reaches a point where casual sex and sex work no longer feel the same after meeting Jensen, and that realization becomes a catalyst for some huge life changes. The fact that after they meet he can barely bring himself to see clients anymore, even fleeing from one encounter, made his eventual decision feel incredibly meaningful. Him ending up working at the bar felt heaven sent. ❤️
But...
The romance reader in me was throwing a tantrum. 😭
Jensen says that if Daniel wanted to continue doing sex work, he would accept it. I understand why. Deep down he's terrified of losing Daniel and doesn't want to control him. It's respectful. It's healthy. It's probably the right thing to say.
And yet I hated it. 😂
Not because I wanted Jensen to judge Daniel, but because Daniel clearly hated the work himself. He wasn't continuing because he loved it; he was continuing because he felt trapped by debt and because asking for help simply wasn't something he knew how to do.
So while my brain understood Jensen's reasoning, my heart desperately wanted him to fight harder. I wanted at least one moment where he thought, "No. I don't want this for you. We'll figure it out together."
I understand why the book didn't go there.
But emotionally? I still wanted it. 😭
The relationship eventually becomes long distance, which isn't always my favorite thing, but it worked surprisingly well here and the ending left me completely satisfied. ☺️
And honestly, this quote completely melted me:
Also, the trope list promised slutty little glasses and I'm happy to report it absolutely delivered. 😏
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
⚠️Author Content Warnings
This book contains depictions of sex work and anxiety. There are mentions of parental neglect and childhood bullying.
❣️Book Safety & Content
No, Daniel isn't with any other clients after meeting Jensen. At one point, he goes to a room with a regular client, and they get as far as kissing, but he leaves because he can't go through with it.
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 3rd person (Dual)
Format: Standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Mild
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining:Mutual
MC:Jensen&Daniel 4⭐
“It was Jensen, right?”
He nodded.
“Well, Jensen, I hope you didn’t use your company’s credit card to book your reservation, because the Lillian is a brothel and I’m an employee here.”
⬇ Tropes & More ⬇
🔑 Awkward x Confident
🔑 Hotel with salacious secrets
🔑 Slutty little glasses
🔑 It'll never work
🔑 All the yearning
🔑 Oblivious banter
🔑 Insta connection/attraction/love
Once again, I saw a pretty cover and all common sense left my body. Thankfully this time it paid off. 🤩
I mean, just look at it! The Art Nouveau vibes are immaculate. I've always loved that style, so when Jensen says the hotel looks like it was built by elves, it made perfect sense to me. I could totally see it. The cover actually captures them perfectly too. Jensen looks like he accidentally wandered into another world, while Daniel looks like he belongs there. Which is basically the story in a nutshell considering Jensen only booked the hotel because he was obsessed with the architecture and had absolutely no idea he'd just checked into a brothel. 😂
I absolutely loved Daniel and Jensen. Complete opposites, night and day, but somehow perfect together. Daniel works at the Lillian, and beneath all the confidence, flirting, and charm there was a loneliness to him that genuinely made me sad. He has spent so long simply surviving that seeing someone truly see him hit me right in the feelings. 💔 And Jensen... sweet, awkward, anxious Jensen. The quiet nervous guy dirty talking? I thought I was going to die. 🥵
“You wear a long-sleeve shirt to bed?” Daniel asked, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice.
“I like to be covered up. I think having your collarbone showing looks slutty.”
“Heaven forbid anyone suspects you of being a floozy in your own bed.”
Their connection happens fast, but I completely believed it. They were genuinely fascinated by each other. I loved their conversations, how interested they were in each other's lives, and how comfortable they became together so quickly. Add the amazing chemistry and fantastic sex, and I was fully invested.
What really sold me on them wasn't just the romance, though. It was how they helped each other rediscover parts of themselves that had been buried for years. Daniel deserved so much more than merely surviving, and Jensen deserved to remember what made him passionate about life in the first place.
I was so happy when Daniel finally asked for help and realized he wasn't alone. For years he'd convinced himself he had to carry everything on his own, but all along he was surrounded by people who cared about him—his roommates, Lucinda, and obviously Jensen. Watching him slowly accept that there were people willing to help, support, and love him was incredibly rewarding. He finally allowed himself to be important to someone else, to lean on others when he needed to, and honestly, that might have been my favorite part of his entire journey. ❤️
“You’re allowed to have flaws and need help from others. You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love.”
Daniel licked his dry lower lip. “Is that what this is? Love?”
“It could be, though the internet said it’s too early for grand declarations. But I’m certainly hoping it’s moving that way, since I’ve been telling my parents you’re my boyfriend for the last few weeks.”
I did struggle a little with how much of their relationship happened off page. There are endless texts, video calls, conversations, and bonding moments that we're told about later rather than actually getting to experience. For a relationship that moves this quickly, I needed a little more of those moments on page. I loved them together so much that having some of that development happen off page occasionally left me feeling slightly disconnected from how deep their relationship had become. 🥺
I also felt like Jensen's parents were almost too accepting. Maybe it's me being cynical, but everything felt a little too easy there.
My biggest conflict with this book, though, was Jensen's attitude toward Daniel's sex work.
On one hand, I absolutely loved that Daniel leaving sex work became his decision. Jensen never demanded it. Daniel slowly reaches a point where casual sex and sex work no longer feel the same after meeting Jensen, and that realization becomes a catalyst for some huge life changes. The fact that after they meet he can barely bring himself to see clients anymore, even fleeing from one encounter, made his eventual decision feel incredibly meaningful. Him ending up working at the bar felt heaven sent. ❤️
But...
The romance reader in me was throwing a tantrum. 😭
Jensen says that if Daniel wanted to continue doing sex work, he would accept it. I understand why. Deep down he's terrified of losing Daniel and doesn't want to control him. It's respectful. It's healthy. It's probably the right thing to say.
And yet I hated it. 😂
Not because I wanted Jensen to judge Daniel, but because Daniel clearly hated the work himself. He wasn't continuing because he loved it; he was continuing because he felt trapped by debt and because asking for help simply wasn't something he knew how to do.
So while my brain understood Jensen's reasoning, my heart desperately wanted him to fight harder. I wanted at least one moment where he thought, "No. I don't want this for you. We'll figure it out together."
I understand why the book didn't go there.
But emotionally? I still wanted it. 😭
The relationship eventually becomes long distance, which isn't always my favorite thing, but it worked surprisingly well here and the ending left me completely satisfied. ☺️
And honestly, this quote completely melted me:
"I'm finding there's an infinitesimally small number of things I wouldn't do for you."
The smile Daniel gave him could have powered every home in California for years."
Also, the trope list promised slutty little glasses and I'm happy to report it absolutely delivered. 😏
“I wonder if this was copied directly from one of his drawings or if it’s just remarkably similar.”
“I know.” Daniel shoved his hands in his pockets. “I read your book.”
Jensen looked up, a hopeful smile forming. “You read my book?”
Daniel shrugged. “Yeah, I thought it was really interesting.”
“You and thirty others,” Jensen said good-naturedly and tucked his phone away.
“I loved it,” Daniel said, taking even, confident steps toward him. “And I love you.”
“Oh.” Jensen blinked and looked down at Daniel, his glasses sliding down his nose a fraction. “Are you sure?”
Daniel couldn’t help but laugh as he slid his hands up Jensen’s sweater and wrapped his arms around his neck. “Yes, handsome, I’m sure.”
A smile overtaking his face, Jensen clasped Daniel’s hips. “I love you too. So much.”
“Are you sure?” Daniel teased, tugging at a strand of Jensen’s hair as his heart skipped a beat and butterflies took flight in his stomach.
“I have never loved anyone or anything as much as I love you.” Jensen wrapped his long fingers around Daniel’s wrist and moved his hand up to kiss his palm. “The earth could spin on for another billion years and no one would be able to match the love I feel for you. You restore me and make me want to be a better person. You’ve changed my life, and I can’t stand the thought of ever going back.”
I received a copy of this book from GRR, and this is my honest review.
⚠️Author Content Warnings
This book contains depictions of sex work and anxiety. There are mentions of parental neglect and childhood bullying.
❣️Book Safety & Content
No, Daniel isn't with any other clients after meeting Jensen. At one point, he goes to a room with a regular client, and they get as far as kissing, but he leaves because he can't go through with it.
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles
POV: 3rd person (Dual)
Format: Standalone
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Mild
Communication: Some miscommunication
Pining:Mutual
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Kellen Tucker for selecting me as an early ARC reader. It genuinely feels like a privilege to have been trusted with this story before publication.
A heartfelt, emotionally intelligent escort meet-cute where an architect accidentally falls in love with a man he describes as "stained glass at sunrise inside this darkened bar in the middle of the polluted city." (★★★★★)
This has been such a good year for discovering incredible queer debuts, and Checked Out has become one of my absolute favorites. I fully intended to pace myself. Instead, I accidentally inhaled the book in what felt like a single sitting. It also happened to be exactly the comforting read my heart needed after finishing another wonderful novel with a far more tragic ending.
The story follows Jensen, an architect with a particular love for Art Nouveau and historic buildings. His research leads him to the Lillian, a charming historic hotel with virtually no online presence (requiring the mortifying ordeal of actually making a reservation over the phone!). There, he meets Daniel, an "employee" of the hotel, and from the moment Jensen likens him to "stained glass at sunrise inside this darkened bar in the middle of the polluted city," the two are thrust into each other's orbit. Reader, I fear I never stood a chance after that. The review was a five stars from there.
At its heart, this is an emotionally intelligent romance. Yes, it's funny. Yes, it's incredibly wholesome. But above all, it is compassionate.
I appreciated the way Kellen Tucker approached sex work, particularly as it intersects with queer experiences. Rather than making sweeping moral statements, the novel presents a nuanced portrait of shame, survival, burnout, and the impossible choices people sometimes face when economic realities collide with their dreams. Years ago, I attended a documentary panel featuring a queer sex worker who described his work as something that helped him through a difficult period in his life rather than something inherently shameful. I found myself thinking back to that conversation throughout this novel. Checked Out felt far less interested in judging people for the work they do and far more interested in examining the economic realities that can force people to put dreams on hold simply to survive.
The humor was also chef's kiss while still carrying genuine insight. One of my favorite exchanges has a character self-deprecatingly remark that all he does is suck dick, only for someone else to respond that corporate work isn't all that different. I was nodding vigorously. It had the same energy as, "Nobody dies a virgin because life screws us all." It's exactly the kind of sharp, self-aware humor that keeps even the heavier moments from ever feeling emotionally overwhelming.
Jensen is one of the most earnest romantic leads I've read in a long time. He's thoughtful, quietly poetic, unintentionally hilarious, and so unapologetically sincere that I couldn't help but fall in love with him alongside Daniel. Whether or not he was intentionally written as neurodivergent, I also really appreciated seeing a protagonist whose brain simply seemed to work a little differently without that becoming the defining feature of his character.
Daniel, meanwhile, completely stole my heart. Watching someone who has spent so long believing love has to be earned slowly learn that people can simply choose to care for him was incredibly moving. The romance never asks him to become someone else before he's worthy of being loved. It starts from the premise that he already is.
I also adored the supporting cast. Honestly, everyone in this book deserves the biggest hug imaginable.
If you're looking for gritty realism where every loose end remains untied, this probably isn't that book. This is comfort fiction in the very best sense of the phrase. The ending leans into hope, kindness, and people choosing each other. It gave me strong Schitt's Creek vibes, where compassion is never treated as unrealistic or naïve. Sometimes you simply want to spend time with good people finding happiness together, and this delivered exactly that.
May we all find someone who looks at us the way Jensen looks at Daniel.
10/10. I cannot recommend this enough.
Checked Out releases on Kindle Unlimited on August 1st, and if you enjoy queer romance, emotionally mature relationships, found family, wonderfully earnest characters, and love stories built on quiet acts of devotion rather than grand speeches, I hope you'll give it a chance.
A heartfelt, emotionally intelligent escort meet-cute where an architect accidentally falls in love with a man he describes as "stained glass at sunrise inside this darkened bar in the middle of the polluted city." (★★★★★)
This has been such a good year for discovering incredible queer debuts, and Checked Out has become one of my absolute favorites. I fully intended to pace myself. Instead, I accidentally inhaled the book in what felt like a single sitting. It also happened to be exactly the comforting read my heart needed after finishing another wonderful novel with a far more tragic ending.
The story follows Jensen, an architect with a particular love for Art Nouveau and historic buildings. His research leads him to the Lillian, a charming historic hotel with virtually no online presence (requiring the mortifying ordeal of actually making a reservation over the phone!). There, he meets Daniel, an "employee" of the hotel, and from the moment Jensen likens him to "stained glass at sunrise inside this darkened bar in the middle of the polluted city," the two are thrust into each other's orbit. Reader, I fear I never stood a chance after that. The review was a five stars from there.
At its heart, this is an emotionally intelligent romance. Yes, it's funny. Yes, it's incredibly wholesome. But above all, it is compassionate.
I appreciated the way Kellen Tucker approached sex work, particularly as it intersects with queer experiences. Rather than making sweeping moral statements, the novel presents a nuanced portrait of shame, survival, burnout, and the impossible choices people sometimes face when economic realities collide with their dreams. Years ago, I attended a documentary panel featuring a queer sex worker who described his work as something that helped him through a difficult period in his life rather than something inherently shameful. I found myself thinking back to that conversation throughout this novel. Checked Out felt far less interested in judging people for the work they do and far more interested in examining the economic realities that can force people to put dreams on hold simply to survive.
The humor was also chef's kiss while still carrying genuine insight. One of my favorite exchanges has a character self-deprecatingly remark that all he does is suck dick, only for someone else to respond that corporate work isn't all that different. I was nodding vigorously. It had the same energy as, "Nobody dies a virgin because life screws us all." It's exactly the kind of sharp, self-aware humor that keeps even the heavier moments from ever feeling emotionally overwhelming.
Jensen is one of the most earnest romantic leads I've read in a long time. He's thoughtful, quietly poetic, unintentionally hilarious, and so unapologetically sincere that I couldn't help but fall in love with him alongside Daniel. Whether or not he was intentionally written as neurodivergent, I also really appreciated seeing a protagonist whose brain simply seemed to work a little differently without that becoming the defining feature of his character.
Daniel, meanwhile, completely stole my heart. Watching someone who has spent so long believing love has to be earned slowly learn that people can simply choose to care for him was incredibly moving. The romance never asks him to become someone else before he's worthy of being loved. It starts from the premise that he already is.
I also adored the supporting cast. Honestly, everyone in this book deserves the biggest hug imaginable.
If you're looking for gritty realism where every loose end remains untied, this probably isn't that book. This is comfort fiction in the very best sense of the phrase. The ending leans into hope, kindness, and people choosing each other. It gave me strong Schitt's Creek vibes, where compassion is never treated as unrealistic or naïve. Sometimes you simply want to spend time with good people finding happiness together, and this delivered exactly that.
May we all find someone who looks at us the way Jensen looks at Daniel.
10/10. I cannot recommend this enough.
Checked Out releases on Kindle Unlimited on August 1st, and if you enjoy queer romance, emotionally mature relationships, found family, wonderfully earnest characters, and love stories built on quiet acts of devotion rather than grand speeches, I hope you'll give it a chance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm giving this 4.5 stars - the intro was an absolute solid 5 star standout, it made me laugh so hard, and then crept back closer to a 4 as we meandered through the trials and tribulations of long-distance relationships, dating as a sex worker, and financial hardship.
I love Jensen - riddled with social anxiety and very obviously autistic, even if it isn't named up. When he told the joke about Einstein vs Eisenstein? Gold. The way he says it like it is, including telling Daniel 'Artists spend their lives failing to create anything as beautiful as you' like basically hours after they'd met. And the filth that came out of that boy's mouth that night in the hotel? You're gonna do what with your shared spit now? And then use what for lube? Very descriptive Jensen, good boy. (FR though the spice is mild I just wasn't expecting this from Jensen and I was here for it). Oh, and the fact that his closeness with his Mum was represented as valid, and not aome Mummy's boy BS that gets touted around these days.
And Daniel? Poster child for half-assed parents who dole out extra helpings of trauma. Clinging to independence by the skin of his teeth, but when he finally admits he needs Jensen it's a glorious moment. I don't vibe with his character as much, but we can't relate to everyone.
It would've been nice to see them spend more time together, as the long-distance thing went for quite some time.
As I said, I really did enjoy the first few chapters of this in particular - the premise - you've accidentally booked into a brothel whilst staying in town for your work conference - is a great set-up. Both boys wanting to spend time with each other and being confused about what it means was cute. And then the humorous little quips that popped up, one example just for fun:
'He really needed to stop thinking about Daniel before he popped wood while talking about wood. Everyone already thought he was strange; he didn’t need them thinking he had a weird perversion about building materials.'
Really pleased I signed up for this ARC 👌
I love Jensen - riddled with social anxiety and very obviously autistic, even if it isn't named up. When he told the joke about Einstein vs Eisenstein? Gold. The way he says it like it is, including telling Daniel 'Artists spend their lives failing to create anything as beautiful as you' like basically hours after they'd met. And the filth that came out of that boy's mouth that night in the hotel? You're gonna do what with your shared spit now? And then use what for lube? Very descriptive Jensen, good boy. (FR though the spice is mild I just wasn't expecting this from Jensen and I was here for it). Oh, and the fact that his closeness with his Mum was represented as valid, and not aome Mummy's boy BS that gets touted around these days.
And Daniel? Poster child for half-assed parents who dole out extra helpings of trauma. Clinging to independence by the skin of his teeth, but when he finally admits he needs Jensen it's a glorious moment. I don't vibe with his character as much, but we can't relate to everyone.
It would've been nice to see them spend more time together, as the long-distance thing went for quite some time.
As I said, I really did enjoy the first few chapters of this in particular - the premise - you've accidentally booked into a brothel whilst staying in town for your work conference - is a great set-up. Both boys wanting to spend time with each other and being confused about what it means was cute. And then the humorous little quips that popped up, one example just for fun:
'He really needed to stop thinking about Daniel before he popped wood while talking about wood. Everyone already thought he was strange; he didn’t need them thinking he had a weird perversion about building materials.'
Really pleased I signed up for this ARC 👌
Review of advance copy
ARC Review
*Mild spoilers ahead*
The first thing that drew me to this book was the gorgeous cover.
I was also intrigued by the premise: an anxious introvert and a lively, charming sex worker. I went in hoping for a fresh take on the opposites-attract trope, and for the most part, the story delivered.
I really connected with both main characters. Jensen’s anxiety (which read pretty strongly as neurodivergence to me) felt so relatable, same with Daniel’s struggle to stay afloat while refusing to ask for help, it also hit close.
Even though the romance felt a little rushed at times, I still bought it. The chemistry was there, and even if the emotional jump happened quickly, it didn’t feel totally out of nowhere.
That said, there were a couple of things that bothered me.
First: what was going on with some of the similes and metaphors? Lines like
“a mouth drier than a Mormon’s liquor cabinet” ,
“The small man was cleaner than a saint’s search history” ,
“That ended faster than a priest’s cum shot”
And those are only some of them… they really took me out of the story. Who talks like that? Who thinks like that? It was weird.
Also, I understood Daniel’s pride and why he didn’t want to ask for help, but some of the solutions that showed up later felt a little too convenient. After watching him struggle so hard for so long, the resolution came across as slightly too easy. Besides, he spent years doing something he hated to make more money to get out of debt but it never got better? How bad was he with money?
Still, considering this is the author’s debut novel, I’m willing to give those rough edges some grace. There’s a lot of heart in this story, and I’m definitely interested in seeing how Kellen Tucker’s writing develops from here.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, low on angst, full of lovable characters, and fun enough to leave me excited for whatever the author writes next.
*Mild spoilers ahead*
The first thing that drew me to this book was the gorgeous cover.
I was also intrigued by the premise: an anxious introvert and a lively, charming sex worker. I went in hoping for a fresh take on the opposites-attract trope, and for the most part, the story delivered.
I really connected with both main characters. Jensen’s anxiety (which read pretty strongly as neurodivergence to me) felt so relatable, same with Daniel’s struggle to stay afloat while refusing to ask for help, it also hit close.
Even though the romance felt a little rushed at times, I still bought it. The chemistry was there, and even if the emotional jump happened quickly, it didn’t feel totally out of nowhere.
That said, there were a couple of things that bothered me.
First: what was going on with some of the similes and metaphors? Lines like
“a mouth drier than a Mormon’s liquor cabinet” ,
“The small man was cleaner than a saint’s search history” ,
“That ended faster than a priest’s cum shot”
And those are only some of them… they really took me out of the story. Who talks like that? Who thinks like that? It was weird.
Also, I understood Daniel’s pride and why he didn’t want to ask for help, but some of the solutions that showed up later felt a little too convenient. After watching him struggle so hard for so long, the resolution came across as slightly too easy. Besides, he spent years doing something he hated to make more money to get out of debt but it never got better? How bad was he with money?
Still, considering this is the author’s debut novel, I’m willing to give those rough edges some grace. There’s a lot of heart in this story, and I’m definitely interested in seeing how Kellen Tucker’s writing develops from here.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, low on angst, full of lovable characters, and fun enough to leave me excited for whatever the author writes next.
July 30, 2026
What do you mean he booked a hotel for a work conference because he’s obsessed with the art nouveau architecture not realizing it moonlights as a brothel?? And the employee that chatted him up in the bar is actually on the menu?? Sweet babygirl Jensen….
Jensen is socially anxious, nerdy architect who hates his job that he’s actually exceptional at (thank you autism). When his boss forces him to go to a conference and give the keynote speech in exchange for a promise to work on historical restorations rather than the soulless modern office planning he usually does, Jensen reluctantly agrees but books the gorgeous Lillian hotel to make it more bearable. Even after realizing it’s a brothel, he stays through the weekend, taking Daniel to dinner to make up for accidentally trying to book his services the night before. Daniel who is getting tired of sex work after so many years but still in mounds of debt from student loans and credit cards, lacking other options to turn his life around. Jensen and Daniel are both seemingly locked in their professions and unhappy with their social lives, bonding together over finding someone who gets them and doesn’t have expectations of them. They fall hard and fast despite all odds. Jensen tells it like it is and Daniel listens without judgment.
They’re soft and sweet and a little crazy for each other, but love means taking risks and having the courage to make a change.
I adored this book. It’s a debut novel from Tucker and does a wonderful job setting up a world I’d love to see more from. Jensen is definitely autistic and I wish that would’ve been more explicit - and that he gets it from his dad. But I loved Daniel’s found family, even if he didn’t realize he had it until he got out of his own way. While it was at times a little fantastical in how quickly they fell for each other and how their lives would work, I really enjoyed it. As always, I appreciate no third act breakup, just two people facing outside obstacles together.
Jensen is socially anxious, nerdy architect who hates his job that he’s actually exceptional at (thank you autism). When his boss forces him to go to a conference and give the keynote speech in exchange for a promise to work on historical restorations rather than the soulless modern office planning he usually does, Jensen reluctantly agrees but books the gorgeous Lillian hotel to make it more bearable. Even after realizing it’s a brothel, he stays through the weekend, taking Daniel to dinner to make up for accidentally trying to book his services the night before. Daniel who is getting tired of sex work after so many years but still in mounds of debt from student loans and credit cards, lacking other options to turn his life around. Jensen and Daniel are both seemingly locked in their professions and unhappy with their social lives, bonding together over finding someone who gets them and doesn’t have expectations of them. They fall hard and fast despite all odds. Jensen tells it like it is and Daniel listens without judgment.
They’re soft and sweet and a little crazy for each other, but love means taking risks and having the courage to make a change.
I adored this book. It’s a debut novel from Tucker and does a wonderful job setting up a world I’d love to see more from. Jensen is definitely autistic and I wish that would’ve been more explicit - and that he gets it from his dad. But I loved Daniel’s found family, even if he didn’t realize he had it until he got out of his own way. While it was at times a little fantastical in how quickly they fell for each other and how their lives would work, I really enjoyed it. As always, I appreciate no third act breakup, just two people facing outside obstacles together.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have been so hyped for this novel. Thank you so much to the author for this digital copy!! I am absolutely buying a physical book. The cover is a masterpiece too, I adore it.
We follow Daniel and Jensen as they fall for one another after meeting at a hotel.. Whose worst kept secret to all except Jensen is that the hotel is actually a brothel.
I absolutely loved this book and am devastated to have finished it so fast. This isn’t a huge story at about 250 pages but I am always one for quality over quantity and the quality is excellent especially for a debut author!
I love how Jensen is immediately accepted by Daniel despite all his (definitely autistic) eccentricities. I love how the pair push out of their comfort zones to grow together and find themselves. Even if it scares you it is never too late to pursue your dreams and that the help of your support system could push you beyond what you may have ever expected.
Jensen is painted as an anxious architect who struggles with socialising beyond his parents and his one acquaintance/subordinate at work. I fully appreciate that he says he has social anxiety but bro really needs to get himself to a psychiatrist for an autism diagnosis. The sensory issues, the rigid thinking, the special interest in art nouveau that is the entire reason for the plot… He is practically the DSM VI definition for autism and anxiety.
‘My heart, it feels like it’s trying to crawl back to him every time I hang up the phone. It hurts being so far away.’
Jensen is so incredibly sweet and this quote really really resonated with me as someone who doesn’t live with my partner. I would’ve appreciated more time with the couple navigating the physical distance between them but I love queer yearning more than most others.
We follow Daniel and Jensen as they fall for one another after meeting at a hotel.. Whose worst kept secret to all except Jensen is that the hotel is actually a brothel.
I absolutely loved this book and am devastated to have finished it so fast. This isn’t a huge story at about 250 pages but I am always one for quality over quantity and the quality is excellent especially for a debut author!
I love how Jensen is immediately accepted by Daniel despite all his (definitely autistic) eccentricities. I love how the pair push out of their comfort zones to grow together and find themselves. Even if it scares you it is never too late to pursue your dreams and that the help of your support system could push you beyond what you may have ever expected.
Jensen is painted as an anxious architect who struggles with socialising beyond his parents and his one acquaintance/subordinate at work. I fully appreciate that he says he has social anxiety but bro really needs to get himself to a psychiatrist for an autism diagnosis. The sensory issues, the rigid thinking, the special interest in art nouveau that is the entire reason for the plot… He is practically the DSM VI definition for autism and anxiety.
‘My heart, it feels like it’s trying to crawl back to him every time I hang up the phone. It hurts being so far away.’
Jensen is so incredibly sweet and this quote really really resonated with me as someone who doesn’t live with my partner. I would’ve appreciated more time with the couple navigating the physical distance between them but I love queer yearning more than most others.
August 5, 2026
Does this author have a vendetta against fish? I wasn’t sure, so I messaged her. Jokes aside, Checked Out was really sweet.
Jensen is a not-lonely neurodivergent man in his 30s, an architect in town for a conference when he books a hotel for its art deco styling. He just doesn’t realize it’s also a brothel.
There’s a meet cute of mistaken motivation when Daniel approaches him at the hotel bar and wrangles an invite back to Jensen’s room. The author has a hysterical comic on her Instagram that depicts this scene when Daniel discusses his rates and Jensen is completely oblivious the entire way through.
What neither Daniel nor Jensen expect is their connection over the conference weekend, or that they’ll keep in touch after Jensen returns home a thousand miles away.
Jensen is in his 30s but he’s been playing the “content” game. Or the controlled unhappiness. Like at least things aren’t actively terrible - that’s so personally relatable. Then he gets a taste of something great - a life that has passion and excitement and freedom and love, even if it’s out of his usual comfort zone. And he goes balls to the wall. Things he could put up with in a low simmer of anxiety are suddenly exploding as he stands up for himself, causes a scene. KABOOM
Daniel’s been surviving on “I can handle it” energy his entire adult life, outrunning extensive overwhelming debt and a feeling of inability to depend on anyone or anything.
I love the takeaway that you’re not alone even if you think you are. Someone cares. People are willing to help. There’s goodness around you if you can reach out. Sometimes closing yourself off makes you blind to opportunity. It’s okay to have hope and open yourself to accepting love.
Jensen is a not-lonely neurodivergent man in his 30s, an architect in town for a conference when he books a hotel for its art deco styling. He just doesn’t realize it’s also a brothel.
There’s a meet cute of mistaken motivation when Daniel approaches him at the hotel bar and wrangles an invite back to Jensen’s room. The author has a hysterical comic on her Instagram that depicts this scene when Daniel discusses his rates and Jensen is completely oblivious the entire way through.
What neither Daniel nor Jensen expect is their connection over the conference weekend, or that they’ll keep in touch after Jensen returns home a thousand miles away.
Jensen is in his 30s but he’s been playing the “content” game. Or the controlled unhappiness. Like at least things aren’t actively terrible - that’s so personally relatable. Then he gets a taste of something great - a life that has passion and excitement and freedom and love, even if it’s out of his usual comfort zone. And he goes balls to the wall. Things he could put up with in a low simmer of anxiety are suddenly exploding as he stands up for himself, causes a scene. KABOOM
Daniel’s been surviving on “I can handle it” energy his entire adult life, outrunning extensive overwhelming debt and a feeling of inability to depend on anyone or anything.
I love the takeaway that you’re not alone even if you think you are. Someone cares. People are willing to help. There’s goodness around you if you can reach out. Sometimes closing yourself off makes you blind to opportunity. It’s okay to have hope and open yourself to accepting love.
August 21, 2026
I chose this book almost entirely because of the cover, thinking I was getting a historical romance, but it is definitely not that! That said, the premise ended up being incredibly refreshing and unlike anything I’ve read before.
One MMC is an eccentric architect with a passion for Art Nouveau design who seems to fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. He meets the other MMC, a sex worker, in an architecturally significant hotel/brothel inspired by the Art Nouveau movement of the early 1900s. I mean… what a cool and unique premise!
The romance itself is really sweet, and I especially loved that the angst doesn’t come from within the relationship. Instead, the characters are navigating a new relationship while dealing with stressful circumstances happening around them. I love this kind of relationship dynamic—decent communication, emotionally mature characters, and supportive friends and family rather than unnecessary relationship drama. It’s also a very queer-positive story with relatively little homophobia, which made it a refreshing read.
Where it fell a little short for me was the amount of internal dialogue. At times, it overshadowed the actual conversations and banter between the characters, and I found myself wishing we got to see more of their personalities through their interactions with each other. I also struggled to get a complete read on Daniel as a character, and I wish there had been a little more physical description of both MMCs so I could better visualize them.
Overall, praise for the unique premise, interesting characters, and really cool prose. I just wish there had been more banter and dialogue to bring the romance and characters to life a little more.
One MMC is an eccentric architect with a passion for Art Nouveau design who seems to fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. He meets the other MMC, a sex worker, in an architecturally significant hotel/brothel inspired by the Art Nouveau movement of the early 1900s. I mean… what a cool and unique premise!
The romance itself is really sweet, and I especially loved that the angst doesn’t come from within the relationship. Instead, the characters are navigating a new relationship while dealing with stressful circumstances happening around them. I love this kind of relationship dynamic—decent communication, emotionally mature characters, and supportive friends and family rather than unnecessary relationship drama. It’s also a very queer-positive story with relatively little homophobia, which made it a refreshing read.
Where it fell a little short for me was the amount of internal dialogue. At times, it overshadowed the actual conversations and banter between the characters, and I found myself wishing we got to see more of their personalities through their interactions with each other. I also struggled to get a complete read on Daniel as a character, and I wish there had been a little more physical description of both MMCs so I could better visualize them.
Overall, praise for the unique premise, interesting characters, and really cool prose. I just wish there had been more banter and dialogue to bring the romance and characters to life a little more.
August 5, 2026
This was cute. I liked many aspects of it, but I especially appreciated what an autistic little bean Jensen is. You always know who's narrating, because Daniel is depressed but coherent. Jensen's POV is always him being pissy about germs or being horrified by shellfish or something. Very relatable.
My biggest gripe with this is how much of the story relied on infodumps or having things be overexplained. The ol' show-don't-tell issue strikes again. There was a lot of this, and it made the pacing a bit rocky for me.
There's also this thing that comes up when Daniel is struggling with burnout at his job as a sex worker. Burnout = valid. Conflicted feelings = valid. This is mirror's in Jensen's more pedantic job, and Daniel's friends call him out on some of the self-deprecating things he says. There are a number of places, however, where Daniel says something about being a two-bit hooker, or being a washed-up prostitute, and others say things like, "No, you're better than that!" which to me kept implying that there is a group of people who do deserve the bad things that Daniel says? Didn't love that. I was also rolling my eyes pretty hard at the idea that the way to get out of debt and poverty is to just ask the wealthier people in your social sphere to spot you. I won't delve too far into that, but I will say that it felt like a cop-out and was out of touch on some ways.
For me, this book wasn't fully successful on all fronts, but I would read future work by the author. As you can see, I found this generally enjoyable, but I had some notes.
I received an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews, which has not impacted my rating.
My biggest gripe with this is how much of the story relied on infodumps or having things be overexplained. The ol' show-don't-tell issue strikes again. There was a lot of this, and it made the pacing a bit rocky for me.
There's also this thing that comes up when Daniel is struggling with burnout at his job as a sex worker. Burnout = valid. Conflicted feelings = valid. This is mirror's in Jensen's more pedantic job, and Daniel's friends call him out on some of the self-deprecating things he says. There are a number of places, however, where Daniel says something about being a two-bit hooker, or being a washed-up prostitute, and others say things like, "No, you're better than that!" which to me kept implying that there is a group of people who do deserve the bad things that Daniel says? Didn't love that. I was also rolling my eyes pretty hard at the idea that the way to get out of debt and poverty is to just ask the wealthier people in your social sphere to spot you. I won't delve too far into that, but I will say that it felt like a cop-out and was out of touch on some ways.
For me, this book wasn't fully successful on all fronts, but I would read future work by the author. As you can see, I found this generally enjoyable, but I had some notes.
I received an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews, which has not impacted my rating.
August 11, 2026
I found this to be an absolutely delightful read, the characters drew me in and kept me engaged the entire time. I loved Jensen’s character with all his quirks and foibles, his anxiety, and his undoubted love for Daniel. Daniel projected this confident role while he was slowly drowning underneath, determined to do everything in his own and not ask for help, until he hit what felt like rock bottom and he knew he needed Jensen —and Jensen was there. As unlikely as it would seem, the two were meant to find each other and share the life they wanted. I felt very satisfied at the conclusion, a smile on my face.
I was especially intrigued with the idea of the Lillian operating in full sight of the police, but not hassled in any way. Everything was low key, and not particularly obvious, at least to Jensen’s eyes. He just had eyes for the architecture and was oblivious to the rest. The initial encounter between Daniel and Jensen was entertaining, especially with
Jensen so clueless. I found myself smiling a lot during it.
Daniel’s roommates were an interesting trio, ones which should be the MC of some further interesting stories. I was especially intrigued by Arlo, I didn’t feel I had a good read on him. I do hope this new author will entertain us with stories of Casey, Brody and Arlo, and maybe catch us up on future glimpses of Daniel and Jensen.
For a light, low-angst read with minimal spice and an entertaining story line, I would recommend this one. Easy to identify-with characters and a quirky situation made for a fun read.
I was especially intrigued with the idea of the Lillian operating in full sight of the police, but not hassled in any way. Everything was low key, and not particularly obvious, at least to Jensen’s eyes. He just had eyes for the architecture and was oblivious to the rest. The initial encounter between Daniel and Jensen was entertaining, especially with
Jensen so clueless. I found myself smiling a lot during it.
Daniel’s roommates were an interesting trio, ones which should be the MC of some further interesting stories. I was especially intrigued by Arlo, I didn’t feel I had a good read on him. I do hope this new author will entertain us with stories of Casey, Brody and Arlo, and maybe catch us up on future glimpses of Daniel and Jensen.
For a light, low-angst read with minimal spice and an entertaining story line, I would recommend this one. Easy to identify-with characters and a quirky situation made for a fun read.
August 17, 2026
Advanced copy received from Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
This was an unexpectedly charming book with characters I was rooting for right from chapter one and excellent chemistry. I loved the whole cast, but of course Jensen and Daniel steal the show and its so easy to get lost in their story.
For me, the early chapters were an incredibly effective intro to this setting and our protagonists. I was immediately invested and loved that we jumped right into the comedy or errors that is the beginning of Daniel and Jensen's relationship. Following their journey and every hurdle in their relationship was honestly a treat and I commend the writer for the level of investment and care put into developing these characters.
One tiny thing, is that I sometimes found the dialogue was just a smidge too on the nose to be funny. Not a big deal, I still very much enjoyed this story but I think the comedy writing in the dialogue could be punched up for sure.
The only other criticism I would make is I found the pacing started to drag by the time I hit the halfway point. I'm not sure if the novel would have benefited from being a little shorter or maybe a couple of edits around the mid section. But that was the only bit I struggled to get through, the rest was an absolute delight to read.
I would recommend this book to fans of complex relationships and incredible characters. Many thanks to GRR and the publisher for the advanced copy!
This was an unexpectedly charming book with characters I was rooting for right from chapter one and excellent chemistry. I loved the whole cast, but of course Jensen and Daniel steal the show and its so easy to get lost in their story.
For me, the early chapters were an incredibly effective intro to this setting and our protagonists. I was immediately invested and loved that we jumped right into the comedy or errors that is the beginning of Daniel and Jensen's relationship. Following their journey and every hurdle in their relationship was honestly a treat and I commend the writer for the level of investment and care put into developing these characters.
One tiny thing, is that I sometimes found the dialogue was just a smidge too on the nose to be funny. Not a big deal, I still very much enjoyed this story but I think the comedy writing in the dialogue could be punched up for sure.
The only other criticism I would make is I found the pacing started to drag by the time I hit the halfway point. I'm not sure if the novel would have benefited from being a little shorter or maybe a couple of edits around the mid section. But that was the only bit I struggled to get through, the rest was an absolute delight to read.
I would recommend this book to fans of complex relationships and incredible characters. Many thanks to GRR and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy
I debated whether to give this book a 4 or 5. Really, it's a 4.5 for me.
I really enjoyed reading it, and I would DEFINITELY recommend giving it a read! The story and characters are sooooooo worth it!
In many ways, this book is fantastical: extremely anxious adult meets wearied sex worker in gorgeous architectural setting, and they overcome all the odds to get their HEA (at least in the epilogue). But, at the same time, it contains some very real-life money and social issues, and things definitely DON'T go smoothly for the MCs even at the ending. No billionaire is swooping in to pay for everything. Not til the epilogue are things tied up with a neat little bow.
I LOVED the realism! Yet, I wonder if that was what took away some from the magic. Maybe I wanted more escapism and problems less similar to my own. Or maybe it was something else entirely that kept it from ultimate greatness. The plot, MCs, and side characters were all good...really good. But something kept it from greatness, and I can't quite put my finger on it.
I am curious to see what Kellen Tucker writes next and whether I will have the same enigmatic response to it. I DEFINITELY want to read what crazy scenario she comes up with next!
I really enjoyed reading it, and I would DEFINITELY recommend giving it a read! The story and characters are sooooooo worth it!
In many ways, this book is fantastical: extremely anxious adult meets wearied sex worker in gorgeous architectural setting, and they overcome all the odds to get their HEA (at least in the epilogue). But, at the same time, it contains some very real-life money and social issues, and things definitely DON'T go smoothly for the MCs even at the ending. No billionaire is swooping in to pay for everything. Not til the epilogue are things tied up with a neat little bow.
I LOVED the realism! Yet, I wonder if that was what took away some from the magic. Maybe I wanted more escapism and problems less similar to my own. Or maybe it was something else entirely that kept it from ultimate greatness. The plot, MCs, and side characters were all good...really good. But something kept it from greatness, and I can't quite put my finger on it.
I am curious to see what Kellen Tucker writes next and whether I will have the same enigmatic response to it. I DEFINITELY want to read what crazy scenario she comes up with next!
August 4, 2026
I thought this was such a unique take on contemporary romance because it has such a timeless quality to it. It could easily be now or 10 years in the past or future. The love that is depicted in it is just as timeless. Jensen is the very socially awkward and accidentally books a stay at a brothel simply because he liked the architecture. Daniel initially assumes he's an easy mark until the misunderstanding is somewhat hilariously revealed. That awkward meet cute leads to several more meetings and them eventually realizing that there's something there. Despite the 1000 miles between them.
So even though the majority of the book is long distance, you really feel the love they have for each other. Very quickly Jensen is willing to drop everything for love because that's the kind of love story his parents had and he wants the happily ever after.
On the flip side, it was so sweet to see Daniel realize that he had friends all along and that he wasn't in this alone. To see him realize that he deserved how happy Jensen made him.
I think this was an excellent debut novel and very well done. I look forward to more from this author because they really made you fall in love with two people who normally would have no business being together.
So even though the majority of the book is long distance, you really feel the love they have for each other. Very quickly Jensen is willing to drop everything for love because that's the kind of love story his parents had and he wants the happily ever after.
On the flip side, it was so sweet to see Daniel realize that he had friends all along and that he wasn't in this alone. To see him realize that he deserved how happy Jensen made him.
I think this was an excellent debut novel and very well done. I look forward to more from this author because they really made you fall in love with two people who normally would have no business being together.
August 10, 2026
I have never fallen in love with a character quicker!
Seriously, by the end of chapter one I was all in on Jenson. He was the most adorably awkward and endearing man that you just want to wrap up and protect at all costs.
This story had me from the get go. It was such a wonderful rom-commy story that had me rooting for both of them immediately.
Jenson finding out he’d booked a room in a brothel was so funny. I adored his parents and love that it didn’t even phase them that Daniel was a sex worker. I loved Daniel’s roommates too.
And that moment when Jenson told Daniel what he wanted to do with him had me flustered like a Victorian gentleman seeing an ankle for the first time! I’m no stranger to spice and it’s no more spicy than other similar scenes in other books but for it to come out the mouth of an awkward, anxiety ridden man who pops antacids to prevent ulcers took me OUT!
And the sexy elf proposal ending?! Amazing!
The humour was mixed perfectly with the sweetest moments. The pacing was great and I flew through it not wanting to put it down. (Seriously it’s just 5:18am as I write this and I’ve read all night!) This was by far one of the loveliest books I’ve read all year. Absolutely worth all 5 stars I’m giving it!
Seriously, by the end of chapter one I was all in on Jenson. He was the most adorably awkward and endearing man that you just want to wrap up and protect at all costs.
This story had me from the get go. It was such a wonderful rom-commy story that had me rooting for both of them immediately.
Jenson finding out he’d booked a room in a brothel was so funny. I adored his parents and love that it didn’t even phase them that Daniel was a sex worker. I loved Daniel’s roommates too.
And that moment when Jenson told Daniel what he wanted to do with him had me flustered like a Victorian gentleman seeing an ankle for the first time! I’m no stranger to spice and it’s no more spicy than other similar scenes in other books but for it to come out the mouth of an awkward, anxiety ridden man who pops antacids to prevent ulcers took me OUT!
And the sexy elf proposal ending?! Amazing!
The humour was mixed perfectly with the sweetest moments. The pacing was great and I flew through it not wanting to put it down. (Seriously it’s just 5:18am as I write this and I’ve read all night!) This was by far one of the loveliest books I’ve read all year. Absolutely worth all 5 stars I’m giving it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
I wanted to love this story. I did love the neurodiversity rep (though I am, as far as I know, neurotypical, so take my opinion with a grain of salt). And I'm a big fan of sex worker stories. But from the start, this didn't read plausibly to me. The characters just didn't sound like real people. It simply didn't make sense to me.
So, as I seem to be saying over and over, I felt as if this needed a strong developmental edit—in this case, to make the characters more believable.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.
So, as I seem to be saying over and over, I felt as if this needed a strong developmental edit—in this case, to make the characters more believable.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If the foutainhead was a queer love story that was a lot sweeter and Way less self serving.
The tale of Jensen, a neurodivergent architect, who dreams of designing natural art nouvea buildings instead of the concrete and steel hes forced to create, accidentally, booking a stay at a brothel. There he meets Daniel, a s-worker trying to trick himself into thinking hes okay, surrounded by what could-have-beens and self doubt.
These two men, who couldnt be more different,find love and comfort in eachother. Through this new relationship both men find the strength and courage to fight for an existence they didnt think possible. For a love the only hoped for but never dreamed was their future.
Reader Beware of Jensen's slutty little glasses and surprisingly filthy mouth.
Just like the cover, this a beautiful story.
If you like historic buildings and wonderful conversation would recommend.
Ps. Okay so maybe it reminded me of the fountainhead because its the only other architecture heavy book I know, but I stand by my choice.
4.5stars.
The tale of Jensen, a neurodivergent architect, who dreams of designing natural art nouvea buildings instead of the concrete and steel hes forced to create, accidentally, booking a stay at a brothel. There he meets Daniel, a s-worker trying to trick himself into thinking hes okay, surrounded by what could-have-beens and self doubt.
These two men, who couldnt be more different,find love and comfort in eachother. Through this new relationship both men find the strength and courage to fight for an existence they didnt think possible. For a love the only hoped for but never dreamed was their future.
Reader Beware of Jensen's slutty little glasses and surprisingly filthy mouth.
Just like the cover, this a beautiful story.
If you like historic buildings and wonderful conversation would recommend.
Ps. Okay so maybe it reminded me of the fountainhead because its the only other architecture heavy book I know, but I stand by my choice.
4.5stars.
August 4, 2026
Daniel and Jensen are definitely what you would call opposites who attract each other. Daniel is a sex worker trying to stay afloat when his financial situation isn't the best and the job he's been doing to make more money seems to be getting old. But when he meets Jensen, an architect visiting the Lillian hotel because he was sent there from out of town for work, the chemistry is there and he thinks Jensen would be a good mark. Except Jensen doesn't know about the under ground buisness this particular hotel is known for and what ensues is an awkward yet funny encounter when he figures it out. The premise of this book and the cover really pulled me in but Jensen and Daniel are what kept me reading. I loved this different twist on a contemporary romance and the way Jensen and Daniel fit even though they led totally different lives. Yet they were able to relate to feelings they had about their jobs and the way they were both a bit lost until they find each other and show each other that there's more to life. I'll definitely check out future books by this new to me author.
August 4, 2026
Review:
I enjoyed the plot and the characters, but there was something a bit off. The writing just felt imperfect, I guess. It felt like a debut novel, you know. Where it’s good but could be better. However, I still absolutely loved it! Jensen was my favorite; his personality is fantastic, and Daniel went along for the ride. I shed some tears but also laughed a bit. I really enjoyed this book.
Ratings:
⭐️4.25
🌶️3
💧4
😂3
Aesthetic:
🫦🥵🛏️🥃💵🏨🏗️🧱🤓📖👔🎤💼👨🏻❤️👨🏼👨🏻❤️💋👨🏼
Location:
📍? & California
Tropes:
🧡mm
🧡opposites attract
🧡sex worker mc
🧡architecture/designer mc
🧡nerd & geek & dork mc
🧡one night stand to lovers
🧡long distance
🧡mc in debt
🧡independent mc
🧡insecure mc
🧡neurodivergent rep
🧡lil grumpy x sunshine
🧡hurt/comfort
🧡found family
🧡hea
Characters:
Daniel
- Sex worker
- In debt
- Doesn’t ask for help
- Insecure
- Likes Jensen
Jensen
- Architecture/Designer
- Work conference speaker
- Accidentally books a brothel
- Nerd/geek/dork
- Neurodivergent
- Likes Daniel
Favorite Character:
Jensen
Always check content warnings before reading!
I received this book as an ARC.
I enjoyed the plot and the characters, but there was something a bit off. The writing just felt imperfect, I guess. It felt like a debut novel, you know. Where it’s good but could be better. However, I still absolutely loved it! Jensen was my favorite; his personality is fantastic, and Daniel went along for the ride. I shed some tears but also laughed a bit. I really enjoyed this book.
Ratings:
⭐️4.25
🌶️3
💧4
😂3
Aesthetic:
🫦🥵🛏️🥃💵🏨🏗️🧱🤓📖👔🎤💼👨🏻❤️👨🏼👨🏻❤️💋👨🏼
Location:
📍? & California
Tropes:
🧡mm
🧡opposites attract
🧡sex worker mc
🧡architecture/designer mc
🧡nerd & geek & dork mc
🧡one night stand to lovers
🧡long distance
🧡mc in debt
🧡independent mc
🧡insecure mc
🧡neurodivergent rep
🧡lil grumpy x sunshine
🧡hurt/comfort
🧡found family
🧡hea
Characters:
Daniel
- Sex worker
- In debt
- Doesn’t ask for help
- Insecure
- Likes Jensen
Jensen
- Architecture/Designer
- Work conference speaker
- Accidentally books a brothel
- Nerd/geek/dork
- Neurodivergent
- Likes Daniel
Favorite Character:
Jensen
Always check content warnings before reading!
I received this book as an ARC.
August 9, 2026
*ARC Review*
While in another city to attend a convention for his job, Jensen takes the opportunity to book a stay at the historic Lillian hotel rather than the more modern one sponsored by the convention.
As he admires all of the decorative architecture of the historic hotel, the gorgeous hotel worker Daniel offers him a night of fun.
What happens when Jensen realizes he's offering sexual fun for the night, and what happens when Jensen continues to see him?
This was a very cozy book at times and at other times, a realistic depiction of the neurodivergent experince and experince of hitting rock bottom.
I loved the care that was put into Jensen's character and just the adoration both Jensen and Daniel had for one another throughout the book.
One thing I was a but irked about was just how slow the book felt at times. It felt like nothing was happening and that I had to drag myself through thr book at about 40%. It eventually got more plot heavy, but it did take me a bit longer to read than other books I've read.
While in another city to attend a convention for his job, Jensen takes the opportunity to book a stay at the historic Lillian hotel rather than the more modern one sponsored by the convention.
As he admires all of the decorative architecture of the historic hotel, the gorgeous hotel worker Daniel offers him a night of fun.
What happens when Jensen realizes he's offering sexual fun for the night, and what happens when Jensen continues to see him?
This was a very cozy book at times and at other times, a realistic depiction of the neurodivergent experince and experince of hitting rock bottom.
I loved the care that was put into Jensen's character and just the adoration both Jensen and Daniel had for one another throughout the book.
One thing I was a but irked about was just how slow the book felt at times. It felt like nothing was happening and that I had to drag myself through thr book at about 40%. It eventually got more plot heavy, but it did take me a bit longer to read than other books I've read.
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