Mama's Boy

Last Man Standing #1

by Avery Flynn

MUST HATE DOGS
Do you hate dogs? Only want to talk about yourself? Is having a sense of humor something you’ve never been accused of? Think eating for pleasure is a complete waste of time? Agree that tipping is for suckers? Then you’re the date for me.

Dixon Beckett is the kind of guy who loves his mama, treats women right, and never ever wants to fall in love again. That’s why he’ll do anything to win a bet to be the last single man standing by Christmas.

He’s got a plan, too. Create the most no-good, horrible, very bad dating profile in existence. Only someone actually responds to his ad...

The rules say he has to go on six dates with the first (or in his case, only) person who answers—even if that person is Fiona Hartigan: Hater of dogs, non-lover of any delicious food, and zero sense of humor.

But something feels off about this pariah. In fact, Dixon is almost positive Fiona is just pretending to be awful. Pretending to be the most horrible date in existence. And she’s most definitely pretending to not be as interested in him as he is in her.

The more Dixon Beckett starts to unravel the mystery of why Fiona answered his ad in the first place, the more he starts considering the most vile, awful, terrible idea ever…falling in love.

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Adult, Fiction

356 pages, ebook

First published September 27, 2021

Reviews

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

audible plus made me do it..

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am in such dilemma giving this book a rating. I want to like it more than 3 stars. Mama's Boy is a good story. Miss Flynn brings a relatable topic when we are in love. Ego.

As much as we love someone, can we really love them unconditionally?? In romance world, we all expected HEA for our beloved characters. In real life, ego sometimes got in the way.

What making me putting 3 stars is the wording / the style of the story. There were chapters I can not keep up with the plot/ conversation. So I have difficulty feeling the chemistry between the characters.

3 stars

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Look!! Only 99 CENTS!!!
April 30, 2021
Men Are Classified Right Or Wrong...
Just Like Women Are...
There's The Player, The Nerd...
The Badass, Or The Classic...

And There Is The Dreaded, Mama's Boy...
Yes, I Know What You Are Thinking...
Because My Cousins Tell Me...
Every Friggin' Chance They Get...

It's Always Being Told...
I Am A Wimp, Doesn't Know My Own Mind...
And For Added Measure, Can't Kiss...

Well, I'll Show Them...
This CEO Of A Multibillion-Dollar Company...
Doesn't Back Down From A Bet...
I Will Find Whomever And Agree To Whatever...
Just To Have Her Fake Fall For Me...

So Let The Games Begin...
With Kissing And Learning...
All About Ms. Fiona Hartigan...
Even The Things She Isn't Telling Me...

Because This Faking Is Turning Real...
And Now I Have To Convince Her
To Fall For This...

Mama's Boy (Last Man Standing #1)-June 21, 2021

Mama's Boy (Last Man Standing, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Neanderthal (Last Man Standing, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mansplainer (Last Man Standing, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Misha Ahuja · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is the perfect book to tell the difference between love and like. love is when your whole world fills them up. it’s consuming in the best way possible. and this book is so so so good

[Jeeves Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more from this series, and that is always good news! Was this perfect? No, but I liked it quite a bit. Flynn's light, easy writing style makes this fly by, and the low angst storyline was a lot of fun. I loved that the premise felt unique and different; I'd have trouble describing the reasoning behind the bet in a three-paragraph review, but it worked for me. This sets up the overall series very well, and while this book easily reads as a standalone, the following two probably won't. Dixon's story had the difficult task of both spinning off a beloved series AND starting up a new one, which did detract from the love story at times. He's also not really a mama's boy - his fatal flaw is more that he refuses to lose at anything. I could definitely tell that Flynn changed course while writing, because several things (including all three book titles) feel out of place or underdeveloped, but I had no trouble bingeing this in one sitting - and I enjoyed the vast majority of it.

The story follows Dixon, a man who was burned by love two years ago and has since closed off his heart. When a complicated family situation requires him to date the first person who matches his dating profile (it's a long story and I'm not going to go into it, lol), Dixon makes the worst profile ever. He's not interested in love, and doesn't want to be matched with someone he'll find appealing. Unfortunately, Fiona recognizes his photo and accepts the match - though she's not interested in love either. Dixon has cancelled three business meetings with her (they've never met), and she's only too happy to pretend to be the type of woman he's seeking. The two go on a series of dates, and it's not long before Dixon sees through Fiona's act - and realizes that she might just be a great match after all.

Again, the premise is kinda complicated and that does take away from the romance at times, but I imagine that won't be an issue in the other two cousins' books. I really enjoyed the playfulness, and having Fiona put on an act made this interesting. They're not quite enemies, but neither one is taking the "dating" process very seriously either. The first half read better for me; there's humor and a light feel to the initial dates, and that's where I felt the most chemistry. Once this transitioned into a friends with benefits scenario, it lost me to a certain extent. Things stayed very surface level/focused on the sex, so a few threads were completely dropped or didn't work very well. So, this wasn't a homerun for me, but I really did like it. There's a lot of potential in the next two love stories, and I'm betting they'll read a lot easier. I'm definitely looking forward to checking them out. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this light and steamy romance.

[Veronica Ticker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were a couple of things that annoyed me or that were objectively mistakes or flaws, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Let’s start with the negative. The author’s writing style includes lots of compounds that she created, and I wasn’t a fan. The constant repetitions of the characters’ goals and motivations was also quite annoying, to be honest. And I’m pretty sure the characters moved from one paragraph to the next without moving, if you know what I mean. It didn’t exactly keep me outside the story, but I sighed a lot while reading.

But, on the other hand, the main characters were so compelling, and absolutely the bestest together, that I kept reading just to follow them, and witness their happily ever after. I didn’t feel that Dixon was THAT MUCH of a mama’s boy, but he was definitely a good guy. He was attentive and gentle with Fiona, even though it was supposed to be a no-strings-attached arrangement, and that melted my heart. Fiona was a too kind girl who tried to appear tough–it was adorable.

Suspension of disbelief is necessary to really appreciate this story. How the bet between Dixon and his cousins starts is quite stupid; some of the scenes, though hilarious, were unplausible; even the grand gesture makes no sense. But, once you admit that it isn’t real life, the story is funny and lighthearted, and you can’t help but have a good time. With a whole lot of mushy feelings!

Quickie

- Series: Last man standing #1 (can be read as a standalone)
- Hashtags: #romcom #fake relationship #no strings attached #family
- Triggers: past cheating and past death
- Main couple: Fiona Hartigan & Dixon Beckett
- Hotness: 4/5
- Romance: 5/5
- + lots of gentle touches and attentions, so sweet
- – a couple of times, there were incoherences–someone stands up, but is sitting next paragraph, for instance

[Michele McMullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fell in love with that mama's boy Dixon Beckett. He really loves his mom, runs a successful cosmetic company, wants nothing to do with another romance, and will do whatever it takes to be the last single man standing in a crazy bet with his cousins. When Dixon's grandmother passes away she leaves behind one single unmarked Christmas gift. The cousins always knew that grandma was the best gift giver and they make a crazy deal to see who is the best man to receive this prized gift. Create a dating profile and then go on six dates of your cousins choosing but do not fall in love.
Fiona is a woman on a mission. Her grandmother has been making lotions for years and she has tried unsuccessfully to meet with the head of a local big time cosmetic company. Yes you guessed it that man is Dixon. When she sees him on a dating site she comes up with the worst bio imaginable but to her surprise they are matched up. This couple is quite the funny match up and the more time they spend together being not real the more they begin to see the real person behind the mask! This couple was laugh out loud funny, had wonderful witty banter, where cute and yes had that spark that I love so much! I cannot wait to see where the next installment takes us with these crazy men and the women that bring them down!
~~Michele McMullen ~~

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

A sweet romcom with a unique premise: Dixon and his cousins have a bet that Dixon needs to go on six dates and not fall in love. To this end he makes a horrible dating profile with only one person responding. Enter Fiona, a grade school teacher with a secret agenda. She has no interest in falling in love with Dixon either but after six dates hearts are on the line. Fun and flirty, this was a light-hearted romance with steam that was easy to listen to on audio. Recommended for fans of Meghan Quinn.

[Frances Fowlkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an uncomfortable read for me. The whole story felt 'off'. I never felt like I could get into the story, like I could connect with the MCs. I was confused by the title, as Dixon's mother wasn't in 90% of the book, and I didn't find it funny, even though it was marketed as a 'hot' romantic comedy. I found it more awkward than funny, and incohesive. I had to reread some scenes, due to abrupt shifts in settings and additions of characters--there were soooo many.

Not my cup of tea. I won't be reading any more of the series.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery Flynn gets me every time! I swear, it's like this woman has a direct link to my soul and can write the books that absolutely mesh with me on a cellular level. It must be some undiscovered superpower because she effortlessly captures me each and time I pick up one of her books. I am on this bandwagon for the long haul, my friends.

I am delighted each and every time I pick up one of Flynn's books because I know ahead of time that I am going to sit down to an exceptional story. She has a way of pulling the reader into the story that is almost magical. She keeps the reader in anticipation throughout the entire book. The pages seriously fly by in the blink of an eye. The plotting of her stories is excellent. There is always just the right amount of conflict, emotion, and humor in her writing. Her writing style is very polished and such a pleasure to read. The world-building is just the right amount to make the reader feel in tune with the surroundings of the characters.

I love the Hartigan family and I was so thrilled that this was Fiona Hartigan's story! This is one of those fictional families that bleeds into your soul. They are so much fun and you can't help but love them all. It was awesome to see all of the Hartigans again in this book. I love how much depth the side characters add to the story. Fiona and Dixon were both fabulous characters. They had distinct voices and were so easy to connect with. They each had their own personal or internal struggles related to situations in their pasts and I think that the author did an amazing job with their character development. It was nice to see how they both evolved in the story.

This book had one of my all-time favorite romantic tropes - fake romance. Or at least, a version of it. Fiona and Dixon meet on a dating website but neither are going into it with true intentions. They basically make an agreement when they first meet to carry on with six fake dates so that they can both end up getting what they want. As you can imagine, things don't go to plan for either of them. I really enjoyed their romantic journey. The two of them were fake dating but they were still able to see the real person underneath all the lies. They both fight the way they feel about each other for various reasons. In the end, they each have to come to terms with personal struggles within themselves and make hard decisions. There are also plenty of steamy scenes to soothe my smutty little heart.

Overall, this was an entertaining story that delivered on every level. If you are a fan of stories that grab hold of you and won't let you go, laugh-out-loud antics, characters that seize your heart, and impeccable writing skills then you'll want to add Fiona and Dixon to your TBR. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!


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[Danielle Overly Bookishly Backlogged]

I’m not going to rate this since I only made it through chapter two before DNFing. I found the characters annoying and the dialogue amateurish and the premise stupid. Definitely not the author for me but maybe her style will work for others. Going into 2025 with a hair-trigger for DNFing. There’s way too much crap out there.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who will be the last man standing? Well, we know it’s not going to be Dixon. How do you not succumb to anyone with the last name of Hartigan? Yes, Avery Flynn is bringing us back to the land of the Hartigan’s and Harbor City in this hilarious and wonderful story.

I had the pleasure of laughing and swooning throughout this whole story. Dixon was just a blast to watch fall in love. He fought it, denied it and then had no choice but to accept it. Yes, he started with an ulterior motive ended with the happiness that he never thought he would have.

As for Fiona. She’s a Hartigan with a complex and a vow to never be taken advantage of again. So, when the one man who has shunned her puts up a dating profile, she can’t help but respond. She too has an ulterior motive but, without even getting to the end of the six dates, Dixon comes through. Until he doesn’t. So, Dixon finds out that winning isn’t everything. Fiona finds out that she’s perfect just the way she is. And, while doing all this, there’s a bit of shenanigans along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the Hartigan’s and getting to meet Dixon, Griff and Nash. The story had a lot of spunk, a hot hero and an amazing heroine. Once they finally gave into their attraction, the story took a little turn and you had a chance to relax and enjoy their feelings as they were unfolding. Funny how six “dates” turned into so much more. It will be interesting to see just how and when Griff and Nash fall and what’s in that last present.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Mama's Boy Stars

Mama's Boy is the first book in the Last Man Standing series by Avery Flynn. I saw this book and thought "Yes, this looks interesting!" and I wasn't wrong. 

Fiona Hartigan is a third grade teacher who can't seem to find a decent man. She seems to be drawn to worst of the worst and when she sees Dixon Beckett on a dating app she has to swipe right to get her Nana a meeting with the CEO of Beckett Cosmetics!

Dixon Becket is the CEO of Beckett Cosmetics and he always has to Win. To Win at life at work and espically with his cousins, Nash and Griff. So when his beloved graandmother dies and leaves one last wrapped Christmas gift, the cousins set up a bet and the last man standing single, will win come Christmas day. Dixon is going to be that man because he always wins. Then he meets Fiona...

This was such a fun, enjoyable and romantic read. Both Fiona and Dixon have their demons from the past that hold them back from love. This book in the first in the series so it goes into a lot at the start and was a little slow to begin but once it got going, well I couldn't put it down. the secondary chacters from Dixons Cousins to Fiona's family were so entertaining and I can't wait to read Nash and Griff's books! I can't wait for more in this series and highly recommend reading this book. 

https://realtastypages.com

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona and Dixons story was cute and had some funny moments and even though at times it seemed there was no way they would get it together, especially Dixon, it only added to the story.

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maravilloso modo de inaugurar las lecturas del año *modo ironía on*.
Lo he leído porque tenía ganas de leer algo de esta autora y tengo el tercero de Netgalley pero espero que los demás tengan más chicha que este, que es mñe total, ni para reseña en el blog me da.
Con el trasfondo de una apuesta sin pies ni cabeza (y con una mentira sostenida 😒😒😒), dos personajes que son unos buenazos insisten en hacerse pasar por malotes (bueno, eso de malotes… 😒) y se enamoran por el camino. No he conectado ni con ellos ni con lo que me cuentan y ni los momentos hot me lo han parecido ni los divertidos me han sacado la sonrisa. Mñe

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeahhhhhhhh I just could not get into the plot and story

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this one got its pub date pushed back a bit and I have been so ready to read it! I wasn’t disappointed at all. It had the hilariousness that I have come to expect from this author as well as several extremely steamy scenes!

One thing I loved about this story is the characters. Not just the main couple, Dixon and Fiona, but all of their relatives and friends as well. Dixon’s cousins were definitely fun, I can’t wait for their stories! And Fiona’s family was hilarious! Although all the names that started with the letter F were a bit confusing at times, each of them definitely had their own personalities and that helped to begin telling them apart.

The relationship was a good one, as much as the two fought getting close or developing any feelings based on their own pasts, I feel like it really did develop pretty naturally at a reasonably realistic rate. And wow, that tent scene was so hot!! Now I don’t always seek out billionaire stories, but I liked the way Dixon’s family was rich. The way their grandmother had her own car/area at the train station. The different rooms in her house, the library room, with shelves two stories high? A dream!

The whole big issue that caused the little break-up at the end was one of those misunderstandings that I do complain about, but that I also always admit I know it is just a part of romance even if I don’t think it is realistic to blow things that out of proportion. I get it, it’s for drama-sake. And the way Dixon behaved with the drinking during that broken up period, well it seemed a tiny bit out of place, although it did give some funny moments when he was dealing with his cousins. I probably wouldn’t have considered him as much of a Mama’s boy as you’d think with the title being that, but there were a few hints in the story that made it work.

Overall a fun romance, and like I said, can’t wait to read the rest of the cousin’s stories and see who gets closest to winning the bet!

Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.

[RateTheRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who's ready for some Tent Sex Energy? Me! Me!

MAMA'S BOY is a fun and steamy Rom Com with a highly ridiculous premise (suspended reality: activate!).

Fiona is a hilarious and wildly likable female lead. I loved seeing her personality peek through, even as she tried to hide it from Dixon. The food scenes in this book are so funny!

Dixon is a great mix of hard and soft (that's what she said!) as he runs a huge family business while also having a soft heart. We HEAR a lot about this soft side and Dixon being a "Mama's Boy", but don't actually see a lot of that in this book. He doesn't even hardly interact with his mom in this book, but his relationship with his cousins is hilarious.

I really liked MAMA'S BOY! It is a really funny story with so many snort-laugh moments and did I mention the Tent Sex? I did, but it can never hurt to cover that topic again.

RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
STEAM LEVEL: Rated R
TRIGGERS: none
FEELS-O-METER: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

BUY IT HERE: https://amzn.to/3ERsogA (aff.)

👇🏻HANG OUT WITH ME HERE!👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery Flynn has become one of my new favorite contemporary authors and I've already read 10 of her books this year! Mama's Boy didn't quite align with her newer releases, but felt more reminiscent of her older billionaire love stories. I suppose the plot was unique where three cousins compete for their grandmother's final present. The catch was you had to go on 6 dates set up by the cousins and you couldn't fall in love. It's a strange premise in reality, but works well for fictional romance trilogies.

Dixon and Fiona were...something. Our hero was overly competitive and the heroine changed everything about her personality to be more like her sister, Fallon. I read Tomboy and Fallon is such a rockstar. I can't totally blame her for idealizing her, come on she's a skateboarding nurse! The trilogy is titled after insults of the trio: Mama's Boy, Neanderthal, and Mansplainer. Dixon's affinity towards his mother was actually very sweet and I found his competitive nature to be the more annoying trait. Honestly, I could have done with a lil more Mama's Boy content, thank you.



These two were wallowing in deceit and they weren't my favorite couple. I liked that they got it on in a tent on a private island. That was a nice change of pace from the usual billionaire penthouses, plush limousines, and luxurious yachts in these type of stories. A Flynn couple actually knocked boots on the captain's chair of the hero’s yacht in Enemies on Tap that I read last month. Such relatable content, right?

Now that we got Mama's Boy out of the way, we could focus on the gruff scientist Griff in Neanderthal. I was lucky enough to score an arc from Net Galley and it was miles above MB except for a few cheesy interludes. Who knows what Mansplainer will bring other than a poorly photoshopped book cover. Dixon lost the bet and we'll get to see who's the Last Man Standing later in the trilogy!

[Carmen De Kwant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but I just didn't care. I just couldn't get in to the plot. Beside that I think it was a good plot and also great characters that's why I rate it 3 stars but I just wasn't interested for some reason.

Hopefully the next books in the series are more interested for me.

[Diane McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a romance that makes you laugh out loud this is the book for you!

Dixon Beckett and his cousins want to win the last gift from their grandmother so they decide to have a last man standing dating contest where they have to have six dates with the first person that responds to their profile and Dixon's is horrible. Only problem is his cousins get to plan the dates for him and he wants to win the gift.


Fiona Hartigan is tired of dating assholes so she decided to be the new Fiona and date without falling in love but she notices Dixon Beckett on the app and she's been trying to get a meeting with him about her grandmother's skin care line but he's canceled all three times. Maybe she could use the dates to get a chance to pitch the skin care line?

Just what could go wrong with this plan?

I have loved every book that Avery Flynn writes about the Hartigan family because there are benefits to having a huge family that cares!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but I just didn't care. And the third act conflict was so annoying.

I'm not set on the rating yet, I feel like it might have been closer to a 2.5 but that rating feels mean.

Edit: okay yeah, definitely a 2.5/5

[Nela]

Oh, my, audible, have not known you can make me blush! Or, citing a review bellow, audible membership made me do it. 😁

[paxyshia · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was like very underwhelming even with my low expectations. i just wasnt paying attention often and i didnt find the characters very lovable.

2 stars for boringness.

[❤️Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick fun and steamy read! Fiona and Dixon were 🔥🔥 together

[Lilas Van Trimpont · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik kan ni zeggen waarom, ma ik vind dit ni leuk

[baobao · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 60%
I loved the premise. But the pacing was so slow for me. At 60% they had just started taking things to the next level. 60%! I don't know what they were doing prior, I don't even remember. And just when I thought they'd pick up the pace, the story mellows down. I couldn't finish it. I tried reading other books and getting back to this so I could start fresh, but I just couldn't get into it. I know I am in the minority because this is rated high. I guess this just wasn't for me.

[Boeken van Klaartje · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heerlijk voorspelbaar

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly premise - cute romance
3 stars

I’m a huge fan of Avery Flynn and her writing but although it pains me to do it - I have to give this book 3 stars. It’s the first time I’ve not been raving about one of Ms. Flynn’s stories. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve not given one of her solo-written books 5 stars. Sigh.

This is the first in a new series (Last Man Standing) of 3 books featuring 3 cousins of which our hero, Dixon, is one. Each book features a different couple and completely stand alone complete with HEA. This also features Ms. Flynn’s beloved Hartigan family and we do get plenty of cameos from said clan for those who have a special affection for them. For those that don’t know them - that’s fine, too - they just become a fun and quirky addition to the tale.

I’ll start with the premise for the whole series - a bet between the cousins. The prize (which I acknowledge is worthy of being won) is given to the last man standing (hence the series’ title) or the only person not married by Christmas time. But first, each man must date the first person who responds to their ad on a dating app, and then go on 6 dates organised by the other 2 men. For a premise it’s cute and quirky, sure, but it also MAKES NO BLOODY SENSE! My brain almost exploded every time it was mentioned because it was ridiculous. It would be so easy to not lose this bet (because it’s not possible to win it) and while I get that that’s the point - it still made my ass twitch.

And then there’s the fact that Fiona is pretending to be someone she’s not. Again for absolutely no reason. Dixon is up front with her when they meet and while I get that she didn’t want to admit her own reason for ‘swiping right’ on his dating ad, there was no reason for her to continue with her personality subterfuge. The fact that Dixon didn’t believe it for a minute is neither here nor there.

Once the bet was no longer at the forefront of the story, the tale definitely picked up. It was cute and funny and definitely a light read. I would have preferred if Dixon wasn’t so hell-bent on winning everything, and if Fiona wasn’t so down on herself, her looks and her (real) personality, but I did enjoy them together and believed that they were good for each other. And tent shenanigans never hurts any story, in my opinion.

It would seem I’m FIRMLY in the minority regarding my opinions with this book. Which is good because that means it’s more likely I was having a bad week than Ms. Flynn! My advice - ignore me and give this book a go. I truly hope you love it where I could not. Just 3 stars from me.

*I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion*