What do you think?
The Heir Clause
740 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2026
About the author
Gigi Kiru
4 books14 followersGigi Kiru is a dark contemporary romance author who loves to write about morally grey heroes and the women they would burn their world down for.
Her characters are emotionally complex, and each story is written to pull at your heartstrings. When she isn't writing she can be found playing video games and reading everything she can get her hands on.
Her characters are emotionally complex, and each story is written to pull at your heartstrings. When she isn't writing she can be found playing video games and reading everything she can get her hands on.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 26, 2026
Billionaire MMC who’s more than slightly surveillance obsessed and protective, and a fierce, rebellious and underestimated FMC. The stakes are high in this book with Orion and Léonie involved in an arranged marriage between business rivals. He’s absolutely obsessed with surveillance and protecting her. This is a man who hard core grovels and yearns for his wife. Overall, I did enjoy the book, the main characters and supporting characters including her brother Blaise, her friends Celesté and Isolde and his friends were developed well and I loved the moments between the friends and banter. The only downside of the book (if this could be a downside), it was quite long, and at times felt like it could’ve been shortened. However, I also thought it was beneficial to see the slow changes and progression in their relationship and growth over time. We would’ve missed that otherwise.
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Net Galley for this ARC.
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Net Galley for this ARC.
August 5, 2026
This book is definitely a slow burn which I love!! I love how obsessed Orion is with léa it’s so sweet. There were so many emotions in this book, I definitely cried one or twice in a good way. The spice is so good Ilike that’s it’s love and not just pure lust, I’d definitely recommend this book if your looking for an actual slow burn with a lot of back and forth and good spice🖤
July 15, 2026
I really wanted to love this one because an arranged marriage between two stubborn people who absolutely do NOT want to be married is basically my weakness. While I did enjoy Orion and Léonie, this one just needed a little something...
I really liked Léonie. She was kind and sweet but definitely not a pushover. Orion took me a little longer to warm up to, but once he fell, this man was OBSESSED. I loved watching him learn that controlling everything isn’t the same as loving someone, and his grovel was probably my favorite part of the book.
My biggest issue was the length. There were quite a few scenes that felt repetitive, especially with both POVs covering the same moments. I think the story could have been trimmed down quite a bit without losing anything important.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
That said, I still enjoyed the characters, the romance, the drama, and the emotional moments.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I really liked Léonie. She was kind and sweet but definitely not a pushover. Orion took me a little longer to warm up to, but once he fell, this man was OBSESSED. I loved watching him learn that controlling everything isn’t the same as loving someone, and his grovel was probably my favorite part of the book.
My biggest issue was the length. There were quite a few scenes that felt repetitive, especially with both POVs covering the same moments. I think the story could have been trimmed down quite a bit without losing anything important.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
That said, I still enjoyed the characters, the romance, the drama, and the emotional moments.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
July 28, 2026
I picked up The Heir Clause not really knowing what to make of it. I think there was a part of me that just wanted to support a debut author I'd been seeing on my timeline, posting and sharing updates about their work. I do that sometimes because you never know where you'll find gold. I'm happy to say this book surprised me.
It pulled me in very quickly, and I couldn't put it down. I found myself reaching for one more page, one more chapter, one more conversation. It felt good to be that engaged with a book again. I'd been in a bit of a reading slump for a few months, and this was such a refreshing way to find my way back. I even caught myself slowing down instead of racing ahead because I wanted to sit with the dialogue and the little nuances the story was offering.
One of my favourite things about this book, surprisingly, wasn't even the romance. It was the community.
Neither Orion nor Leonie existed in isolation. They each had people who grounded them, challenged them, and gave them somewhere to retreat when life became overwhelming. I loved that emotional labour wasn't placed on one best friend who existed solely to be the voice of reason. Instead, there were families, friends, colleagues, staff, and chosen people who all carried different parts of these characters' lives. Given the burdens both of them carried, that felt far more honest to me.
The slow burn was another standout, because the tension came from believable emotional reasons. We weren't waiting because the author was withholding the inevitable or playing God with the characters. We were watching two people argue with themselves, argue with each other, wrestle with their values, confront old wounds, and slowly reshape the lives they thought they wanted. Growth takes time, and the story trusted the characters enough to let that process unfold naturally. By the time certain realisations came, it made sense.
That trust also carried into the character motivations. Even when Orion or Leonie made choices that frustrated me, I understood why they were making them because the groundwork had already been laid. Their actions remained true to the people I'd come to know. I also appreciated that moments of miscommunication weren't allowed to linger simply for the sake of prolonging the story. Clearing up a misunderstanding wasn't presented as an instant solution either. The book understood that when harm has been done, understanding each other is only the beginning; rebuilding trust still takes work.
The prose itself was lyrical, cinematic and very intimate, and it knew exactly when to allow humour into the room. I mean, life isn't lived in one emotional register; I like an author that shows this. Even in moments of tension, there was room for warmth, wit, or tenderness. Long after I'd finished reading, I realised I was mentally collecting lines I'd loved, especially in context. Lines like "Fantasy was easier in the dark". Emotionally, this book covered a lot of ground. It made me smile, laugh, ache, and occasionally frustrated me, and I like books that trust me with more than one emotion.
To that point, the dialogue also deserves a mention. Conversations between cousins, friends, family members, and eventually partners all felt natural. During emotionally heavy scenes, I loved how the atmosphere shifted whenever the characters returned to their people, the tension softened and they allowed themselves to breathe lighter air.
If I had any criticisms, they're relatively small. One is that I personally think the ending could have trusted the reader a little more. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but I also like being allowed to imagine it. By the time the story reached its final chapters, I already believed in Orion and Leonie's relationship, so some of the repeated reassurances of what already felt settled slightly slowed the ending for me. I would have loved a little more room to imagine their future instead of having every thread tied into a neat bow.
Another small thing that occasionally took me out of the reading experience was the introduction of a second endearment late in the novel. Orion's original nickname for Leonie had become so emotionally loaded—and learning where it came from was one of my favourite moments in the book—that every time the newer one appeared, I found myself pausing to reorient myself. It wasn't that the new name was bad; the first one had established itself with me.
There are also a few typos here and there, but they never distracted me enough to take away from the experience.
Overall, The Heir Clause was a beautiful time spent.
I'd happily recommend this to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories, emotionally intelligent romances, believable dialogue, and slow burns that are built on growth. It was a wonderful debut, and I'll definitely be looking out for whatever Gigi Kiru writes next. What a debut.
It pulled me in very quickly, and I couldn't put it down. I found myself reaching for one more page, one more chapter, one more conversation. It felt good to be that engaged with a book again. I'd been in a bit of a reading slump for a few months, and this was such a refreshing way to find my way back. I even caught myself slowing down instead of racing ahead because I wanted to sit with the dialogue and the little nuances the story was offering.
One of my favourite things about this book, surprisingly, wasn't even the romance. It was the community.
Neither Orion nor Leonie existed in isolation. They each had people who grounded them, challenged them, and gave them somewhere to retreat when life became overwhelming. I loved that emotional labour wasn't placed on one best friend who existed solely to be the voice of reason. Instead, there were families, friends, colleagues, staff, and chosen people who all carried different parts of these characters' lives. Given the burdens both of them carried, that felt far more honest to me.
The slow burn was another standout, because the tension came from believable emotional reasons. We weren't waiting because the author was withholding the inevitable or playing God with the characters. We were watching two people argue with themselves, argue with each other, wrestle with their values, confront old wounds, and slowly reshape the lives they thought they wanted. Growth takes time, and the story trusted the characters enough to let that process unfold naturally. By the time certain realisations came, it made sense.
That trust also carried into the character motivations. Even when Orion or Leonie made choices that frustrated me, I understood why they were making them because the groundwork had already been laid. Their actions remained true to the people I'd come to know. I also appreciated that moments of miscommunication weren't allowed to linger simply for the sake of prolonging the story. Clearing up a misunderstanding wasn't presented as an instant solution either. The book understood that when harm has been done, understanding each other is only the beginning; rebuilding trust still takes work.
The prose itself was lyrical, cinematic and very intimate, and it knew exactly when to allow humour into the room. I mean, life isn't lived in one emotional register; I like an author that shows this. Even in moments of tension, there was room for warmth, wit, or tenderness. Long after I'd finished reading, I realised I was mentally collecting lines I'd loved, especially in context. Lines like "Fantasy was easier in the dark". Emotionally, this book covered a lot of ground. It made me smile, laugh, ache, and occasionally frustrated me, and I like books that trust me with more than one emotion.
To that point, the dialogue also deserves a mention. Conversations between cousins, friends, family members, and eventually partners all felt natural. During emotionally heavy scenes, I loved how the atmosphere shifted whenever the characters returned to their people, the tension softened and they allowed themselves to breathe lighter air.
If I had any criticisms, they're relatively small. One is that I personally think the ending could have trusted the reader a little more. I'm a sucker for a happy ending, but I also like being allowed to imagine it. By the time the story reached its final chapters, I already believed in Orion and Leonie's relationship, so some of the repeated reassurances of what already felt settled slightly slowed the ending for me. I would have loved a little more room to imagine their future instead of having every thread tied into a neat bow.
Another small thing that occasionally took me out of the reading experience was the introduction of a second endearment late in the novel. Orion's original nickname for Leonie had become so emotionally loaded—and learning where it came from was one of my favourite moments in the book—that every time the newer one appeared, I found myself pausing to reorient myself. It wasn't that the new name was bad; the first one had established itself with me.
There are also a few typos here and there, but they never distracted me enough to take away from the experience.
Overall, The Heir Clause was a beautiful time spent.
I'd happily recommend this to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories, emotionally intelligent romances, believable dialogue, and slow burns that are built on growth. It was a wonderful debut, and I'll definitely be looking out for whatever Gigi Kiru writes next. What a debut.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had me in an absolute chokehold.
If there's one thing I will never get tired of, it's an arranged marriage where both characters would rather do literally anything than marry each other... until they slowly become the only person the other can't live without. And this book gave me every ounce of that delicious emotional torture.
Orion and Léonie are the definition of two stubborn, broken people who have spent their entire lives hiding behind walls. Their story begins with resentment, secrets, pride, and so much emotional tension that you can practically feel it dripping off the pages. Watching those walls crack little by little was beautiful, heartbreaking, and completely addictive.
Then came the moment everything changed.
The hatred turned into longing. The longing became devotion. And suddenly these two people who couldn't stand each other were completely, hopelessly consumed by love.
I ate. It. Up.
Now let's talk about Orion...
ROMANCE AUTHORS, PLEASE GIVE US MORE MEN LIKE THIS.
I'm talking about men who absolutely lose their minds when they realize they've hurt the woman they love. Men who would crawl on their hands and knees just for another chance. Men whose entire world stops spinning because she isn't beside them.
The grovel in this book was EVERYTHING.
Not because he said "I'm sorry" once and suddenly everything was fine, but because he understood that earning forgiveness isn't one grand gesture. It's choosing her every single day while knowing she may never forgive him.
"My first thought wasn't why is she angry. It was I'd crawl if she asked me to."
ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?!
And then this line completely destroyed me...
"Turns out groveling isn't a single act of penance. It's living with the fear that she'd never forgive me, and loving her enough to keep trying anyway."
THAT is how you write a grovel.
Léonie was everything I wanted in a heroine. She's gentle without being weak, compassionate without allowing herself to be walked over, and she makes Orion earn every single step toward her forgiveness. She knows her worth, and I loved that she never settled for less. The scene where she reads to his father absolutely melted my heart. It was such a quiet, beautiful reminder of the kindness that makes her so unforgettable.
Their love story is one of those romances that slowly sneaks up on you until you suddenly realize you're emotionally attached and incapable of putting the book down. By the end, they weren't just in love—they were each other's home.
I also adored so many of the side characters, and now I'm desperately hoping they all get books because I'm not ready to leave this world.
The only reason this wasn't a perfect read for me was the pacing. It's definitely a long book, and parts of the beginning and middle felt repetitive, especially with both POVs covering some of the same scenes. I also noticed quite a few spelling and editing errors that occasionally pulled me out of the story.
But honestly?
None of that stopped me from becoming completely invested.
This book gave me obsessive love, unbearable tension, emotional healing, a hero who GROVELS LIKE HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, and a heroine who refuses to accept anything less than the love she deserves.
And that's exactly the kind of romance I'll devour every single time.
If you're obsessed with arranged marriages, "I'd burn the world down for her" heroes, top-tier groveling, emotional slow burns, and love stories that hurt before they heal, move this one to the top of your TBR immediately.
If there's one thing I will never get tired of, it's an arranged marriage where both characters would rather do literally anything than marry each other... until they slowly become the only person the other can't live without. And this book gave me every ounce of that delicious emotional torture.
Orion and Léonie are the definition of two stubborn, broken people who have spent their entire lives hiding behind walls. Their story begins with resentment, secrets, pride, and so much emotional tension that you can practically feel it dripping off the pages. Watching those walls crack little by little was beautiful, heartbreaking, and completely addictive.
Then came the moment everything changed.
The hatred turned into longing. The longing became devotion. And suddenly these two people who couldn't stand each other were completely, hopelessly consumed by love.
I ate. It. Up.
Now let's talk about Orion...
ROMANCE AUTHORS, PLEASE GIVE US MORE MEN LIKE THIS.
I'm talking about men who absolutely lose their minds when they realize they've hurt the woman they love. Men who would crawl on their hands and knees just for another chance. Men whose entire world stops spinning because she isn't beside them.
The grovel in this book was EVERYTHING.
Not because he said "I'm sorry" once and suddenly everything was fine, but because he understood that earning forgiveness isn't one grand gesture. It's choosing her every single day while knowing she may never forgive him.
"My first thought wasn't why is she angry. It was I'd crawl if she asked me to."
ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME?!
And then this line completely destroyed me...
"Turns out groveling isn't a single act of penance. It's living with the fear that she'd never forgive me, and loving her enough to keep trying anyway."
THAT is how you write a grovel.
Léonie was everything I wanted in a heroine. She's gentle without being weak, compassionate without allowing herself to be walked over, and she makes Orion earn every single step toward her forgiveness. She knows her worth, and I loved that she never settled for less. The scene where she reads to his father absolutely melted my heart. It was such a quiet, beautiful reminder of the kindness that makes her so unforgettable.
Their love story is one of those romances that slowly sneaks up on you until you suddenly realize you're emotionally attached and incapable of putting the book down. By the end, they weren't just in love—they were each other's home.
I also adored so many of the side characters, and now I'm desperately hoping they all get books because I'm not ready to leave this world.
The only reason this wasn't a perfect read for me was the pacing. It's definitely a long book, and parts of the beginning and middle felt repetitive, especially with both POVs covering some of the same scenes. I also noticed quite a few spelling and editing errors that occasionally pulled me out of the story.
But honestly?
None of that stopped me from becoming completely invested.
This book gave me obsessive love, unbearable tension, emotional healing, a hero who GROVELS LIKE HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, and a heroine who refuses to accept anything less than the love she deserves.
And that's exactly the kind of romance I'll devour every single time.
If you're obsessed with arranged marriages, "I'd burn the world down for her" heroes, top-tier groveling, emotional slow burns, and love stories that hurt before they heal, move this one to the top of your TBR immediately.
July 2, 2026
𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒓: 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝑮𝒊𝒈𝒊 𝑲𝒊𝒓𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏.
The Heir Clause was a wonderfully addictive arranged marriage romance that completely drew me into the lives of two people who were as frustrating as they were impossible not to love. Set in France, this story follows ruthless businessman Orion Kade and company heiress Léonie Fernandez as their families force them into an arranged marriage designed to unite two powerful business empires. What starts as nothing more than a strategic arrangement, slowly transforms into something so much deeper, even if this stubborn couple insist on fighting it every step of the way.
Léonie, our feisty FMC, was such a fabulousheroine. After spending her entire life being the perfect daughter, sister and heiress, (whilst rebelling subtly against her mother) all she truly wants is the freedom to make her own choices. She is quietly rebellious, incredibly strong and refuses to let anyone dictate who she should be. I found myself egging her on with each little rebellious moment.
Our MMC, Orion could not be more different. He needs control over everything around him, especially once their engagement is announced. Using his security company to install cameras in her home and tapping into CCTV wherever she goes starts as another way to maintain control over a situation he never wanted. Yet without even realising it, watching Léonie from a distance allows him to see the woman behind the title and her quiet determination slowly works its way into his heart long before he is ready to admit how much she means to him.
I loved how gradual their relationship felt. There was no instant love here. Instead there was reluctant respect, growing appreciation and a spark that slowly built into something impossible to ignore. Of course nothing comes easily for these two. Orion’s secrets, the clauses hidden within their agreement and his need to keep everything under his control constantly threaten to destroy the fragile trust they are trying to build. Watching them take two steps forward only to stumble ten steps back because of pride, resentment, secrecy and lies was equal parts heartbreaking and infuriating. I just wanted to lock them in a room until they finally talked to each other.
Then came Orion’s moment of reckoning and I absolutely loved it. Once he truly understands the pain he has caused Léonie, he knows sorry alone will never be enough. The grovelling was exactly what I had been hoping for. His grand gestures, his determination to make things right and the risks he was willing to take, even putting his empire and his father’s legacy on the line, showed just how deeply he had fallen. It was emotional, satisfying and exactly the kind of redemption I wanted to see.
𝐌𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰: While I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found both the characters and their journey immensely satisfying to invest in, I did feel the dual points of view became a little repetitive at times. Some chapters covered very similar emotional beats and could have been condensed slightly which would have tightened the pacing. This is definitely a longer read but the emotional journey, the well earned happily ever after and watching two incredibly stubborn people finally choose each other made it worth the investment. Even with a few repetitive moments, this was a romance that kept me turning the pages and left me finishing with a smile.
The Heir Clause was a wonderfully addictive arranged marriage romance that completely drew me into the lives of two people who were as frustrating as they were impossible not to love. Set in France, this story follows ruthless businessman Orion Kade and company heiress Léonie Fernandez as their families force them into an arranged marriage designed to unite two powerful business empires. What starts as nothing more than a strategic arrangement, slowly transforms into something so much deeper, even if this stubborn couple insist on fighting it every step of the way.
Léonie, our feisty FMC, was such a fabulousheroine. After spending her entire life being the perfect daughter, sister and heiress, (whilst rebelling subtly against her mother) all she truly wants is the freedom to make her own choices. She is quietly rebellious, incredibly strong and refuses to let anyone dictate who she should be. I found myself egging her on with each little rebellious moment.
Our MMC, Orion could not be more different. He needs control over everything around him, especially once their engagement is announced. Using his security company to install cameras in her home and tapping into CCTV wherever she goes starts as another way to maintain control over a situation he never wanted. Yet without even realising it, watching Léonie from a distance allows him to see the woman behind the title and her quiet determination slowly works its way into his heart long before he is ready to admit how much she means to him.
I loved how gradual their relationship felt. There was no instant love here. Instead there was reluctant respect, growing appreciation and a spark that slowly built into something impossible to ignore. Of course nothing comes easily for these two. Orion’s secrets, the clauses hidden within their agreement and his need to keep everything under his control constantly threaten to destroy the fragile trust they are trying to build. Watching them take two steps forward only to stumble ten steps back because of pride, resentment, secrecy and lies was equal parts heartbreaking and infuriating. I just wanted to lock them in a room until they finally talked to each other.
Then came Orion’s moment of reckoning and I absolutely loved it. Once he truly understands the pain he has caused Léonie, he knows sorry alone will never be enough. The grovelling was exactly what I had been hoping for. His grand gestures, his determination to make things right and the risks he was willing to take, even putting his empire and his father’s legacy on the line, showed just how deeply he had fallen. It was emotional, satisfying and exactly the kind of redemption I wanted to see.
𝐌𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐰: While I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found both the characters and their journey immensely satisfying to invest in, I did feel the dual points of view became a little repetitive at times. Some chapters covered very similar emotional beats and could have been condensed slightly which would have tightened the pacing. This is definitely a longer read but the emotional journey, the well earned happily ever after and watching two incredibly stubborn people finally choose each other made it worth the investment. Even with a few repetitive moments, this was a romance that kept me turning the pages and left me finishing with a smile.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I cannot spoil this but fuck, i am in love~ this book is six stars. Update : i’m gonna try to make sure this review is spoiler free.
The heir clause as of now is a standalone contemporary romance, with morally gray characters, arranged marriage trope, and the best debut book by Gigi Kiru.
No spoilers for now.
For trigger warnings, check here.
Story : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing style : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
MMC : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FMC : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
side characters : celeste and isolde are so funny bickering over aurora, the MMC and FMC’s first child. They’re so sweet. Loved them. And orion’s three friends? I liked them, but not much not because they were not written well, but because the FMC’s friends and the story took my attention.
Story setting : -
Summary : -
Pacing : slow to medium.
Tropes : ☑️ arranged marriage.
☑️ contemporary romance.
☑️filthy mouthed MMC.
☑️strong FMC.
☑️ touch her and answer Orion.
☑️domestic moments that make toes curl.
☑️fluff that leaves one wanting more.
☑️Angst that hurts the heart.
Type of romance : contemporary.
Tags for the book : -
What i loved : from the beginning of this book, I was invested, and i wanted to know where this arrangement goes, and what happens next, i’n a very curious person, so i kept wanting to know more, and before i knew it, I was in chapter 24. And the story kept building the mystery and a high, i didn’t know i wanted, and then boom the angst. Wow, this book was written so well, the angst elements, the fluff, the smut, everything was balanced, nothing was more or less in a boring or too much way. It was perfect. I enjoyed reading every single word of this story. I love arranged marriage tropes so much, but this book? It was a magnet, pulled me right in. I love Orion so much, he’s a reserved golden retriever 🥰 man just needs his léonie and he’s good. His character is so reserved, stoic and calculated, he says he does not care and proceeds to do more than a distant fiance would do for their partner. All men do is lie, after all.
Favourite parts/ highlights : -
Is a part of a series : not known yet.
Series name : -
Series order number : -
Plot or character driven : plot driven.
Loveable characters : yesss. 10000000%
Strong character development : yesss.
Flaws of characters a main focus : yes.
Interconnected/ or standalone : -
Recs from the same author : this is a debut book by Gigi Kiru, and i am so grateful that I received an arc for this book, thankyou ma’am, i just know you ate perfection when you wrote this book, don’t lie.
Similar books : -
Last details : -
(Will update all the blanks after the book is published).
Thankyou miss ma’am for providing me with the arc, this is my honest review. And giving me the best book after such a long time. This book is gonna stay in my head rent free, Orion is my roman empire now. I love dark romance, but this book stole my heart, and don’t wanna change a thing.
The heir clause as of now is a standalone contemporary romance, with morally gray characters, arranged marriage trope, and the best debut book by Gigi Kiru.
No spoilers for now.
For trigger warnings, check here.
Story : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing style : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
MMC : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
FMC : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
side characters : celeste and isolde are so funny bickering over aurora, the MMC and FMC’s first child. They’re so sweet. Loved them. And orion’s three friends? I liked them, but not much not because they were not written well, but because the FMC’s friends and the story took my attention.
Story setting : -
Summary : -
Pacing : slow to medium.
Tropes : ☑️ arranged marriage.
☑️ contemporary romance.
☑️filthy mouthed MMC.
☑️strong FMC.
☑️ touch her and answer Orion.
☑️domestic moments that make toes curl.
☑️fluff that leaves one wanting more.
☑️Angst that hurts the heart.
Type of romance : contemporary.
Tags for the book : -
What i loved : from the beginning of this book, I was invested, and i wanted to know where this arrangement goes, and what happens next, i’n a very curious person, so i kept wanting to know more, and before i knew it, I was in chapter 24. And the story kept building the mystery and a high, i didn’t know i wanted, and then boom the angst. Wow, this book was written so well, the angst elements, the fluff, the smut, everything was balanced, nothing was more or less in a boring or too much way. It was perfect. I enjoyed reading every single word of this story. I love arranged marriage tropes so much, but this book? It was a magnet, pulled me right in. I love Orion so much, he’s a reserved golden retriever 🥰 man just needs his léonie and he’s good. His character is so reserved, stoic and calculated, he says he does not care and proceeds to do more than a distant fiance would do for their partner. All men do is lie, after all.
Favourite parts/ highlights : -
Is a part of a series : not known yet.
Series name : -
Series order number : -
Plot or character driven : plot driven.
Loveable characters : yesss. 10000000%
Strong character development : yesss.
Flaws of characters a main focus : yes.
Interconnected/ or standalone : -
Recs from the same author : this is a debut book by Gigi Kiru, and i am so grateful that I received an arc for this book, thankyou ma’am, i just know you ate perfection when you wrote this book, don’t lie.
Similar books : -
Last details : -
(Will update all the blanks after the book is published).
Thankyou miss ma’am for providing me with the arc, this is my honest review. And giving me the best book after such a long time. This book is gonna stay in my head rent free, Orion is my roman empire now. I love dark romance, but this book stole my heart, and don’t wanna change a thing.
July 6, 2026
This is a new author to me and I was eager to read the book based on the blurb. I love the arranged marriage trope in books. I love when two people are forced to marry and are drawn to one another and fall in love. The beginning of this book is very slow. The setting is in France and there are a great deal of French terms it’s disconcerting at first but I got accustomed to it. Now in the beginning Leonie and Orion haven’t even met. The fathers have arranged this marriage, but Orion’s father is deathly ill and can’t continue the negotiations for the union. Now loads of things happen before these two finally meet. The most important thing is that Orion has been spying/stalking Leonie having her watched by his cousin and his organization. He has learned just about everything about her. So that when they finally do meet/marry he is quite infatuated with her although he won’t admit it. Orion was a very controlling man and very possessive. Leonie was interesting she was feisty, slightly defiant (she does some odd things to demonstrate this), and very determined. This book was very long and sometimes the story moved very slowly and it felt like I was reading the same thing twice. I think many things could have been eliminated from the story to make it better and a more enjoyable read.
July 21, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
First and foremost, thank you to the author Gigi Kiru and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I honestly didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, but Orion and Léoine’s story was addicting. I will say however, that I think the book was quite long and there was definitely some parts that could’ve been condensed into something a bit shorter, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. There was also quite a few spelling or grammatical errors that I tried to ignore because overall it wasn’t abundant and didn’t really take away from the story.
I think all men should learn to grovel like Orion. The lengths he went to in order to reassure her that he meant what he said? Absolutely loved it. I also enjoyed that Léoine wasn’t particularly dramatic or spiteful, and I enjoyed their banter. I also really enjoyed the side characters, her friends and his friends, as well as Blaise. I couldn’t really care less about Laurent or Debo honestly.
I also genuinely did not expect to cry over this book but his father gutted me and something about a man crying has always gotten me to tears. Overall this was a really good read and I’d definitely be interested in some other stories of these characters!
First and foremost, thank you to the author Gigi Kiru and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I honestly didn’t expect to like it as much as I did, but Orion and Léoine’s story was addicting. I will say however, that I think the book was quite long and there was definitely some parts that could’ve been condensed into something a bit shorter, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. There was also quite a few spelling or grammatical errors that I tried to ignore because overall it wasn’t abundant and didn’t really take away from the story.
I think all men should learn to grovel like Orion. The lengths he went to in order to reassure her that he meant what he said? Absolutely loved it. I also enjoyed that Léoine wasn’t particularly dramatic or spiteful, and I enjoyed their banter. I also really enjoyed the side characters, her friends and his friends, as well as Blaise. I couldn’t really care less about Laurent or Debo honestly.
I also genuinely did not expect to cry over this book but his father gutted me and something about a man crying has always gotten me to tears. Overall this was a really good read and I’d definitely be interested in some other stories of these characters!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC read!
I really enjoyed this book, I love an arranged marriage where one or both are fighting it but can't help but give in. It was a long read, and parts were kind of repetitive where we saw both POVs for the same scene, but overall it did not drag or feel too slow.
I really enjoyed both characters and a lot of the side characters. I love a man who is completely OBSESSED and it was true of this MMC. He was also obsessed with control and I liked seeing him grow and learn when it comes to that during his grovel. The FMC had such a kind heart but also would not allow herself to be walked over. The way she read to his dad 🥹
I want books about the side characters!
"My first thought wasn’t why is she angry. It was I’d crawl if she asked me to."
"Turns out groveling isn’t a single act of penance. It’s living with the fear that she’d never forgive me, and loving her enough to keep trying anyway."
Tropes:
💍 Arranged marriage
🔥 Slowburn
🥵 He falls first and harder
📸 Surveillance
I really enjoyed this book, I love an arranged marriage where one or both are fighting it but can't help but give in. It was a long read, and parts were kind of repetitive where we saw both POVs for the same scene, but overall it did not drag or feel too slow.
I really enjoyed both characters and a lot of the side characters. I love a man who is completely OBSESSED and it was true of this MMC. He was also obsessed with control and I liked seeing him grow and learn when it comes to that during his grovel. The FMC had such a kind heart but also would not allow herself to be walked over. The way she read to his dad 🥹
I want books about the side characters!
"My first thought wasn’t why is she angry. It was I’d crawl if she asked me to."
"Turns out groveling isn’t a single act of penance. It’s living with the fear that she’d never forgive me, and loving her enough to keep trying anyway."
Tropes:
💍 Arranged marriage
🔥 Slowburn
🥵 He falls first and harder
📸 Surveillance
July 29, 2026
First, I would like to thank NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading other reviews, this one is sure to be unpopular. I requested this book based on the cover and genre so I had no idea what I was in for. That’s on me.
Three stars for the dual timeline of characters whose story I was invested in. Although an arranged marriage is this day and age is hard to relate to, I needed to know what happened with our MMC and FMC.
Only three stars for distracting spelling and grammar mistakes and the repetitiveness of just…everything. I don’t know how many ways a sex scene can be depicted but the author explored all options. This book could’ve been cut 300 pages. Easily.
Again, this just wasn’t the book for me; too explicit.
If you enjoy a dark, sexually explicit romance with a happy ending, this one’s for you!
After reading other reviews, this one is sure to be unpopular. I requested this book based on the cover and genre so I had no idea what I was in for. That’s on me.
Three stars for the dual timeline of characters whose story I was invested in. Although an arranged marriage is this day and age is hard to relate to, I needed to know what happened with our MMC and FMC.
Only three stars for distracting spelling and grammar mistakes and the repetitiveness of just…everything. I don’t know how many ways a sex scene can be depicted but the author explored all options. This book could’ve been cut 300 pages. Easily.
Again, this just wasn’t the book for me; too explicit.
If you enjoy a dark, sexually explicit romance with a happy ending, this one’s for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2026
So it's clear I'm in the minority here, taking a peek at the other reviews here and on other sites. I really wanted to like this. I love this genre and tropes. And this could have been great. The FMC and the MMC are both excellent. Loved the FMC. She's headstrong, independent, and feisty. Both characters are complex, well developed, with excellent development over the book. The plotline is also there; an arranged marriage with an heir clause. You've got internal and external politics. You've got all the right pieces for an outstanding slow-burn romance novel. But it is just too slow, boring, and repetitive. Everything was drawn out into 740 pages. It's about 300 pages too long. This would have been a 5 star read with some edits
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW!!
these two main characters are very, very special. both too stubborn for their own good but when they finally break through those walls they’ve spent their whole lives building, it’s a beautiful love story. a story that starts with secrets and loathing, turns into so much love they don’t know what’s become of themselves.
and you know what? men should grovel more. bring back men who cannot breathe without the love of their lives and do quite literally anything to fix something they’ve made a mess of. it’s so hot.
i did find parts were dragging in the beginning and middle of the book, things felt repetitive. i love a dual POV, i think this book centered more on Orion and his growth rather than both him and Léonie equally. and while i usually try to ignore them, there were a bit too many spelling and general editing errors that distracted me from the actual story.
overall i did really enjoy this book, i found it pretty unique and i definitely got invested in these characters.
Thank you Gigi for allowing me the opportunity to read your book!
these two main characters are very, very special. both too stubborn for their own good but when they finally break through those walls they’ve spent their whole lives building, it’s a beautiful love story. a story that starts with secrets and loathing, turns into so much love they don’t know what’s become of themselves.
and you know what? men should grovel more. bring back men who cannot breathe without the love of their lives and do quite literally anything to fix something they’ve made a mess of. it’s so hot.
i did find parts were dragging in the beginning and middle of the book, things felt repetitive. i love a dual POV, i think this book centered more on Orion and his growth rather than both him and Léonie equally. and while i usually try to ignore them, there were a bit too many spelling and general editing errors that distracted me from the actual story.
overall i did really enjoy this book, i found it pretty unique and i definitely got invested in these characters.
Thank you Gigi for allowing me the opportunity to read your book!
July 11, 2026
'I can’t escape this marriage, but I can make him regret it. I'll make sure he earns every second of compliance he believes belongs to him.
This marriage might be inevitable. My free will on the other hand will never, ever be up for negotiation.'
The characters were very complex and compelling and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This marriage might be inevitable. My free will on the other hand will never, ever be up for negotiation.'
The characters were very complex and compelling and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and expertly drawn. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy the read!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Every character felt well developed and interesting in their own way. Even though it's an enemies-to-lovers romance, I still found myself wondering how they would get from enemies to something more. I loved how different they were: one choosing to see the beauty in the world, while the other focused on its darkness.
The story contains a lot of descriptions and internal dialogue, which made the pacing feel a little slow at times. But watching their relationship grow and seeing how they helped each other heal from their past made it worth it. Overall, it was a really enjoyable read.
The story contains a lot of descriptions and internal dialogue, which made the pacing feel a little slow at times. But watching their relationship grow and seeing how they helped each other heal from their past made it worth it. Overall, it was a really enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2026
I really enjoyed the plot of this book I think it was well executed however I do think some of the chapters were really long for no reason a few of the chapters felt quite repetitive. The ending regarding the heir did improve it for me. I did enjoy the plot its not like anything ive read before. An arranged marriage trope due to business wondering if they will fall in love was a great idea and I did throughly enjoy this storyline. I do think a few of the chapters were unnecessary however I do think its a very well written book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2026
Review of ARC from the author
I liked this book and was drawn into the story of Leonie & Orion. The author did a good job with weaving the storyline where it drew the reader in and with each page couldn’t wait to find out more and more. I’m a sucker for happy ever after love stories and this one did not disappoint. This is a great read that one wants to keep reading and not put the book down . Great job and kudos to the author.
I liked this book and was drawn into the story of Leonie & Orion. The author did a good job with weaving the storyline where it drew the reader in and with each page couldn’t wait to find out more and more. I’m a sucker for happy ever after love stories and this one did not disappoint. This is a great read that one wants to keep reading and not put the book down . Great job and kudos to the author.
July 10, 2026
This is the first time I’ve read this author, and omg I will be going back for every single book. This was amazing. Orion and Leoni were everything in this. Arranged marriage, two people that want nothing to do with one another. But when those walls that they spent their lives building, come down, move the hell over because you’re going to bed a lot of room for the explosive heat that these two make. This was fire. So glad I grabbed this one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
No spoilers will be posted. I received an ARC copy from the author and it was my first time reading as an ARC reader. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. I loved Orion and Leonie. The small twists and slow burn were well written and I want to say Gigi Kiru was fantastic and I plan to find her published books and read them. I highly recommend picking up The Heir Clause and reading it.
July 4, 2026
This is the first book in the Waverly Heir Trilogy. I was pulled in right away to this gripping plot! It’s a very entertaining arranged marriage mafia romance. Orion and Leonie’s story is a slow burn between two characters with great chemistry. Some drama, action, twists, spice and groveling! A page turner! I am voluntarily leaving this review.
July 15, 2026
This is the perfect book for fans of this genre! It has everything you could want—a man who seems to have it all but only wants her, undeniable chemistry, and plenty of spice. 🌶️ This standalone story wraps up beautifully and delivers the romance, passion, and happily satisfying ending readers are looking for.
July 7, 2026
The Heir Clause is a arranged marriage, have you at the edge of your seat, where is the popcorn romance. With supporting characters that you want to see more of. I enjoyed the Heir Clause and will be reading more from Gigi Kiru.
July 23, 2026
🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dual POV
HEA
Thank you Gigi Kiru and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dual POV
HEA
Thank you Gigi Kiru and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
July 5, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Author
What a great slowburn book.
I like how good all the characters are in this book. The MMC and FMC are so stubborn, it is really bad for both them. I loved the kindness of Leonie towards Orion his father. How she reads to him. So loving and kind. But I also love Orion and how he wants to make Leonie feels good but she thinks he wants to control her.
I also think it is so good that Orion doesn’t want to take her but waits until she wants him. He is not selfish at all towards her. He must be reckless and hard in his business but not towards her.
The story might start with secrets and all but the love in this book is overwhelming and they don’t know themselves how to handle that.
Some parts were a bit repetitive of it bit long but I nevertheless couldn’t put the book away.
If you want to know more than I recommend to buy the book and read it.
What a great slowburn book.
I like how good all the characters are in this book. The MMC and FMC are so stubborn, it is really bad for both them. I loved the kindness of Leonie towards Orion his father. How she reads to him. So loving and kind. But I also love Orion and how he wants to make Leonie feels good but she thinks he wants to control her.
I also think it is so good that Orion doesn’t want to take her but waits until she wants him. He is not selfish at all towards her. He must be reckless and hard in his business but not towards her.
The story might start with secrets and all but the love in this book is overwhelming and they don’t know themselves how to handle that.
Some parts were a bit repetitive of it bit long but I nevertheless couldn’t put the book away.
If you want to know more than I recommend to buy the book and read it.
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