The Deal Breaker

The Billionaires of Silicon Forest #3

by Melissa McClone

There are some lines friends should never cross…right?

Status quo might as well be Dashiell Cabot’s middle name. He has a job he loves, a billion dollars in the bank, and a best friend named Iris who keeps his personal life running smoothly. Why would he ever want to change any of that? But when Iris Jacobs tells him she’s quitting and returning to culinary school, Dash’s beloved status quo is thrown into chaos. Even worse? The thought of her departure is forcing him to realize his feelings for her might extend beyond the friend zone.

Iris wants more out of life than taking care of Dash. She always has. And even though she could never repay him for everything he’s done for her, she can no longer afford to protect his precious status quo at the expense of her own dreams. She has no choice but to leave…unless he can give her a compelling—and possibly romantic—reason to stay.

They’ve always been just friends. That was their deal. But when all is said and done, something will be broken—either their deal…or their hearts.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Billionaire Romance, Billionaires

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2020

About the author

I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, two daughters, son, dog and too many cats! I write "sweeter" contemporary romance novels for Harlequin and Tule Publishing.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 1 out of 5]

- this guy cannot be for real. He’s a frickin horrible friend!!
- “he had no idea what she did with her time off” REALLY?? And this is your best friend??
- “Did Iris think of him as only her employer now? What about them being friends forever?” DUDE YOU CANT REMEMBER DOING SOMETHING WITH HER FOR TWO YEARS
- at this point I’m shipping iris and Henry. Wtf dash??
- AND SHE TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING FOR HUS DATES?? Omg. The way this guy has just been using her rigour any thoughts is so sad. He needs to grovel so much idk if it’s possible
- it doesn’t sit right with me she has to reassure and comfort him when she said she’s quitting to move forward with her life. He’s such a baby
- I don’t like friends to lovers where “ a switch flips” and they “see the other person differently”. Its a cop out and makes the difference between a good and GREAT friends to lover
- id like to know she hasn’t been a virgin all these years while he’s been dating and sleeping around
- I don’t care they call each other friend because they are NOT
- she was literally his employee and doesn’t matter if they were friends first
- girl what…. A week and you’re gonna get into a friend with benefit thing with him but “no labels” and you’ll wait for him to be ok with the idea of being in a relationship?? WHATT
- I can’t believe she said she forgives him after she FORGOT ABOUT HER AGAIN and made plans
- he forgot AGAIN. AND he mentioned his ex girlfriend was visiting him. I hate this guy. ON HER BIRTHDAY FOR PLANS BECAUSE HE ALREADY FORGOT ABOUT HER MOVING. Why hasn’t he changed slightly 80% in this??
- great. He made it worse by saying he actually wouldn’t have even told her about the canceled date because he literally forgot about it.
- I don’t want them to have a HEA.
- his friends also suck
- two months (which weren’t written, just briefly mentioned) and suddenly their relationship is perfect?
- two months and you accepted the proposal??? GIRL.
- Omg. Jan you spent planning the move after HE FORGOT ABOUT YOU ON CHRISTMAS. Feb/March spent being forgotten AGAIN. April/ may you date and NOW YOU ACCEPT HIS PROPOSAL????
- this was horrific. I’m done.

[Ana Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just want my time back 🤦‍♀️

[✩ layla ✩ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, not worth the time to review. But I will say Iris deserved so much better than that waste of space of a hero.

[Mo ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

LOL was the heroine his mother or something??!!!!! 😭
The H, Dash was an idiot.
At first I thought perhaps he may have asbergers syndrome, he must be on the spectrum because of all his quirks, which isn't a bad thing at all. But no, he was just socially inept. Which again isn't a bad thing at all. But he just became irritating and useless throughout the story and it annoyed me immensely.
Which means, he was just a stupid man child, with no common sense, entirely dependent on others. 🥴💀💀

She did EVERYTHING for him, more then a housekeeper should do. 🙄 For someone who was supposed to be this intelligent man who was a billionaire business man, he was dumb as fuck. I loved his friend, Henry more. I wanted Henry to be the H, not this idiotic child, who was a terrible so called friend to the heroine and just sucked. When she finally had enough of him and decided to leave him, he STILL acted Clueless and stupid. It was with the help of his friends (more specifically Henry) that he got her back.
Also his name is DASH. Like really???!!!! 🖕
Like if authors are going to write books about men who act like children, pls leave a warning ⚠️ beforehand. 😂💀

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐⭐ - Meh!
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I was depressed reading the hero's utter lack of care for the heroine's feelings. He only thinks about his needs and how she fulfills all those needs and totally forgets that she is a human being with dreams, desires and aspirations. I don't think even a pet would be treated with such carelessness on his part.
She's like a super housekeeper, personal assistant, cook, and full-time nanny, because he's not capable of doing anything but working and having sex with his girlfriend. And she has to be at his disposal 24 hours a day and she never had a vacation during the 6 years she worked for him.
Not to mention that his girlfriend despises her for not being of the same social and intellectual class as them.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would fight Dash with my bare hands in a Dennys parking lot

There was no romance, there was no pining, or slow-burn. There was only frustration with the MCs and every decision they made which lead to their HEA.
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*SPOILERS*
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The MMC dubbed the Wonderkid is a man that doesn't like change. Which is evident based on the fact that he still act like a teenager and his 'best friend' takes care of him like a surrogate mother. He shows a complete lack of character for 90% of the book, suddenly reforms and becomes a ✨️new man✨️, disregards her wishes and has a blind date with her where she AGREES???? to date him again. The next chapter they get engaged, the chapter after that in Henry's POV they get married.

[✧ poppy ✧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the deal breaker.

I think this book has by far the most selfish male lead ive ever read. He wants a maid/secretary/psychologist/wife/chef/etc while not even doing the bare minimum.

I was hoping for a timeline skip so we could see a proper redemption arc or evidence he wont forget her important dates, or her generally, again but there is none.

I really wanted to enjoy this book because i read some quotes of it beforehand and it sounded intriguing. And when it comes to cool somewhat inspirational quotes it did deliver but in terms of plot and relationship is was lacking.

A pity.

[Hazel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I retreat reading this..

Most of this story was about a man breaking his promises and leaving his friend who was in love with him and he “supposedly” in love with her because it didn’t feel like that too me at all. She was just a convenience to him. Anyway only like a few pages towards the end he magically falls in love with her and decides to change all of a sudden he will no longer neglect her and forget about her. It was fished maybe that’s why it left me unsatisfied it felt more like overnight he was a changed man. I wish the author had actually put in more chapters of him actually being different not just oh yeah over the last few months you have been oh so lovely and actually know I exist let’s get married and have kids. Yeah no I wish I had seen him put the work. But this is just my opinion I regret reading it. Maybe someone else will love it. But this was not for me.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't honestly have any major complaints about this story but it just felt very meh to me. The book started off with Dash and Iris already at a point where there friendship was nonexistent to it took away any emotional aspect for me since we were only told they were once the best of friends and never actually shown that. And then the story moved really fast from Dash trying to be friends again, to him going back to ignoring or forgetting Iris, and then again trying again. So it just didn't show a connection between them in my opinion.

I will say, the friend group seemed interesting so I wouldn't be opposed to reading the previous books at some point.

[Sumeja · Rating 1 out of 5]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I would have been as selfish as the MMC was, and made the decision to not finish this book.

[Insomnolent Reader °ㅠ_ㅠ° · Rating 1 out of 5]

They've been besties since they were 14. They're 28 now, and she's been working for him as a housekeeper for 6 years.

He forgot to give her a Christmas present after he spent the holidays at his gf's parents' place. That made her sad and realised that they're no longer acting bffs but instead just as an employeer/employee.

Saw her kiss his friend on New Year's Eve. Twice. Felt something he can't explain.

She quit shortly after to pursue culinary school but stayed with him for 3 weeks cause her new apartment wasn't ready. He then breaks up his with gf because she didn't want Iris to stay with him and made comments degrading Iris.

Within those 3 weeks, they were "wooing" and "flirting," and he forgot her birthday. They were gonna go for dinner, but he cancelled as he's going to fly to the Super Bowl, and he forgot they had plans. That dinner was a celebration of her finally getting her apartment. Miss girly pops is again sad.

He again cancelled a dinner he initially planned, which was not for her birthday but just a regular dinner that happened to land on her birthday. He got too busy at work and was tired after, so he cancelled.

She was so pissed, she confronted him and let out her feelings she's kept dormant for the past 6 years she's worked for him. How she felt neglected and not a priority for him.

Basically, the writing is not good for this book and makes the characters hateful. She ended up forgiving him after a set-up date was done in March.

By June, they were married. 🙄 And that's how it literally was written. After the set-up date, he surprised her to a dinner at her old family's restaurant, which he bought and proposed there.

One thing I dislike about this book is the timeline. There was a lot of talk and less showing. Books written like this are always such an easy read cause I can skip an entire chapter and still get the point after. That's how badly written it is. This is Tiktok's fault.

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful story.
Awful "hero". Beyond awful. He was also a lousy, shitty friend as well because while she was working for him setting up his parties where he invited all his newer friends and their girlfriends, he made her work those parties. HER - supposedly his oldest and best friend. Him ignoring her wasn't the worst thing he did, when he didn't ignore her he was the worst. She supported him when he was broke and working for his dream, but when he became a billionaire and made her work for him cause he "needed" her instead of supporting her dream of being a chef. He literally told her not to go to school cause who would take care of him then? He was scum as a friend and beyond scum as a wannabe boyfriend. I hated this book and this "hero" with all my heart. Women don't owe you shit, you incompetent narcissistic, entitled iece of work.

[alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

He’s way too fucking immature for me.

[Maria Arroyo · Rating 1 out of 5]

She’s a doormat and takes him back with minimal efforts.

[Tmstprc · Rating 1 out of 5]

My god, this was a well written, but crappy story.

He’s a whiny asshole, she’s supposedly his best friend, but he treats her miserably. He has her compartmentalized into a pathetic little box in his brain. And when she wants out, he can’t understand why she’d want more out of life than being his housekeeper and cook—great friend.

He’s whiny, with mommy and daddy issues and commitment phobic because mommy and daddy weren’t good role models. Blah, blah, blah—suck it up and knock off the drama.

And she’s just as bad, she finally calls him out on his crap and with the slightest effort on his part—effort that required the guidance of his “friends group” because he was just going to give up, she caves.

I’m repeating myself… 1 pathetic star for 2 pathetic characters.

Not even a good rage read.

[auds thoughts {hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

TikTok made me do it, I honestly enjoyed most of the book, once Dash started to get his shit together. But he irritated me at the beginning, and the ending felt very rushed

[Booktok Reviews · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished this. Barely. I don’t recommend.


I could’ve forgiven the clunky writing if the story went anywhere, but tbh… I’m not sure where the chemistry went. It was interesting at the start but just based on their conversation it was really hard to believe they were friends for that long. It was too formal, stuffy and contrived.

On paper, I wish she ended up with Henry, he sounds lovely. He encouraged her to get out, found her an apartment, found her day, offered to help her move, knows her favorite restaurants, pushed Dash to get her flowers. Dash didn’t even think of helping with moving. All he thought of was that he didn’t want anyone to take Iris, like a child with an old toy when another kid decides to play with it. And Dash’s inner monologue… it started off well and then it morphed into him wanting basically wanting a maid that he could bang, instead of a realization he used this person he’d loved. Even the part where they get together was a bit random, one minute they’re having a boring conversation then the next they kiss and then just decide to kiss more with no insight on how either of them were feeling.

And the biggest irony of all of this is the writer herself keeps comparing Dash to Henry but somehow NO commentary or improvement on Dash’s side. He keeps being him and keeps taking Iris for granted and the only improvement is him eating vegetables and going to the gym.

Icks:
“A hand that cooked and baked and cared for him.”

“but Dash thought she would have reappeared by now after helping Tony prepare the food and set up the buffet.” (I thought he wanted her to not work?)

“I tried, but I’m used to serving, not being served. I kept wanting to refill glasses and pick up plates. That’s who I am.”
“It is. And you’re good at it.” WHAT EVEN.

“Straightening, he grinned with pride. “I finally thought of something before you.” He didn’t. Henry did.

“No. We said friends forever.” What is he, five??

“Hello, EC.” He laughed” WHO TALKS LIKE THIS

[J_onia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its stupid, like horrendously stupid. The story -- too fast to follow the plot, like where was the housekeeping in making readers care about these characters, all the sad back story had no impact cause it DID'NT matter, years had passed already. Also it's literally a story about a guy who says he cares but only does when she's about to leave. Why? Because shes the only constant thing in his life. Like this girl spent her whole life for him with literally no friends, house, family NOTHING and yet he still forgets about her moving out, about her birthday all that. Like if someone was to end up with her it should've been Henry cause Henry is actually amazing. He found her dad, was there for her on christmas, knows her favourite places, what she likes, bought a WHOLE BUILDING so she could live in one small apartment at a price that she could afford and be safe. He also encouraged her to follow her dreams like what tf did Dash do? Nothing. Its so stupid.

[Merie Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

the plot was just not there, he was the biggest man baby i've ever read and has a lot of emotional baggage that therapist can help with. the groveling wasn't clear or enough. only giving it 2 stars because she was a good character.

[Van · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a friendship and this is not love,
If you’re here because of Tik Tok, DON’T DO IT!
Even the Reels is bad and not romantic
Women, live your freaking life, it’s just two days!!!

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t mind the plot, but wow this hero is such a marshmellow! Just lame, indecisive, whiny, selfish and boring! The heroine deserved someone awesome, not this dud.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate men

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me see if I got this straight… these two have been “best friends” since they were kids. She lost her job and home because of her dad, so out of the kindness of Dash’s heart, he moves her into his house to be his live-in maid, cook, assistant… pretty much his mommy in all but name. During this time, he stops having any sort of relationship with her. He has his friend group over all the time while expecting her to cook and clean, BUT NEVER ASKS HER TO JOIN THEM!!! FOR YEARS!!! He forgets her on holidays and her birthday. Only when she finally decides to go back to culinary school to put her dreams back on track does he realize he’s been a garbage friend. Seriously, the only thing he mentions he’ll miss about her is all she does to take care of him, because evidently he’s smart enough to create a multibillion dollar corporation, but he literally cannot feed or dress himself like the whole functioning adult he’s supposed to be. Swoon, right? 🙄 Then, when he tries to reestablish a friendship, he still expects her to take care of him and he still can’t remember, and in some instances completely blows off, commitments he’s made to her. He forgets her birthday again, and she finally seems to grow a backbone and bails. He gets real sad and just accepts that he’s not made for relationships, until his friends convince he actually loves her because she’s already been acting like a wife by how she takes care of him. So, to get them back together, the friends do all the heavy lifting for him. Supposedly he makes some changes by not working so much, but he’s never had the problem of finding time for his friends or his ex-girlfriend.

This book was a reverse Cinderella story where the prince turned into the villain. He didn’t have a single redeeming or attractive quality other than he was a billionaire 🙃

These two divorce in two years. Dash is garbage, and I hated him more as the book went on. Iris should have ended up with Henry.

[abby Gl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just finished the book and I’m just super upset. I was already upset at the beginning and the only thing to keep me reading the book was Henry and during the whole book i was waiting for him to appear or talk. Besides that, I didn’t like Dash. He was very selfish and constantly complaining about how she leaving to follow her dream would AFFECT HIM (???), for the whole book he talked about how good she cooked and clean the house and choose his clothes for everyday. He wanted a freaking maid or maybe a mom, idk but was frustrating and so shocking it was almost hilarious and not in a good way. He was a f**cking teenager but with lots of money, that’s it.
The best part was when he was actually trying. And yet, again, the guy owes Henry all the relationship since the very beginning because without him stepping in in first place or Dash having to ask Henry about the favourite restaurant of his -not Henry’s- best friend and stuff, he would’ve been lost. Henry carried the whole relationship really.
AND then he forgot about her multiple times and forgot her birthday, just as he used to. And everything went backwards
He didn’t grovel, he almost gave up, and AGAIN Henry had to step in so this guy could actually do something and “fight” for her. But we can’t see how much he actually regret it and try for her, which was very disappointing and for the readers is as if he hasn’t tried actually, there’s just a skip on time and the HIS friends tricked her to met with HIM and he said he changed and stuff and then another skip in time everything is wonderful cos he’s trying and he proposed and they got married ???? Pardon me???
It’s a fucking bullshit, I’m very sorry but at least the writing was amazing and kept me reading it. Iris deserved so much better, though. And I do really want a book of Henry cos he f**cking deserves it.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dash and Iris’ best friends to lovers story in The Deal Breaker is a heartwarming, sweet romance by Melissa McClone, book three in The Billionaires of Silicon Forest series. Dash and Iris have always been friends, since their school days, fearful if they were more it would ruin their friendship. Iris has always kept Dash’s life running smoothly, but she is tired of being invisible, forgotten, taken for granted. Now it’s time for Iris to put herself first; quit working for Das, live on her own, and return to culinary school. Dash is known as “Status quo” by his friends because he likes things the way they are; running smoothly. Iris’ decision and departure forces him to reexamine his life, discover that he has not been the friend he promised he would be to Iris, and also realize that his feelings for her extend past the friend zone. Dash, being Dash, he manages to screw up his attempt to show Iris how important she is to him, forgetting or missing important dinners or outings with her. Dash is in need of an intervention by his best friends; needing help to win Iris back into his life. The grand gesture Dash provides to prove his love for Iris is worth reading this story alone.

Ms. McClone wrote a wonderfully sweet and moving story that is not to be missed. This story contains fun dialogue, the magic of love, and endearing characters giving Dash and Iris a chance at love, happiness, and a future neither expected, thanks to the help of their friends. I highly recommend The Deal Breaker to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Amanda Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look—I totally get why there are so many lower ratings for this book. I get the frustration with Iris, the hate toward Dash. But I can relate to Iris. I, too, am a people-pleaser who desires to truly be seen and wholly accepted by someone. Look at her life: she was abandoned by her dad after her mom died, later learning it was even worse than she thought, and all she wanted was to be loved and belong somewhere. Dash didn't have a good example as a kid, and when you create a friendship at the dumbass age of 13, you make mistakes that become habit based on the examples you have. Iris and Dash taught each other how they were willing to be treated at that time, and it stuck because it wasn't questioned. Sometimes it takes a big thing to make you reflect, and change takes time. Honestly, I thought the way things played out for them, from friends to strangers to friends to lovers, and even the third act breakup, was realistic because it was true to their characters, their history, and their growth (save for the time jump event at the end—trust issues equals a little more waiting imo). The book set out to do a thing, and it did the thing in a well-written, well-edited way, and that's really all I can ask for after all the tiktok-pushed romances featuring MMC assholes with unredeemable arcs. At least Dash was redeemable.
3.75 rounded up.

[Chance Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book depressed me. I feel like it was written by a teenager. The MC was a billionaire man child gamer. And the FC literally lived her entire life for him. She laid out his clothes, planned his calendars, cooked his meals, cleaned his house, and embarrassingly scheduled his dinners and ordered his girlfriends flowers. You read that right, he was dating people left and right while his "best friend" was in love with him and basically ran his entire life for him. And throughout the entire book it was "we're just friends" but at the end he tells his friends she broke up with him. So were you friends or more than friends? Plus I hate books where one of them is already in a relationship at the start of the book. Cause that means he was stringing along this girl just because he can. Authors please stop doing that.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a fun read

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough about this book! I absolutely loved it! Thank you for a clean and sweet, no curse word romance book! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!