Total Creative Control

Creative Types #1

by Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm

Sunshine PA, meet Grumpy Boss... When fanfic writer Aaron Page landed a temp job with the creator of hit TV show, Leeches, it was only meant to last a week. Three years later, Aaron's still there...

It could be because he loves the creative challenge. It could be because he's a huge Leeches fanboy. It's definitely not because of Lewis Hunter, his extremely demanding, staggeringly rude...and breathtakingly gorgeous boss.

Is it?

Lewis Hunter grew up the hard way and fought for everything he's got. His priority is the show, and personal relationships come a distant second. Besides, who needs romance when you have a steady stream of hot men hopping in and out of your bed?

His only meaningful relationship is with Aaron, his chief confidante and indispensable assistant. And no matter how appealing he finds Aaron's cute boy-next-door charms, Lewis would never risk their professional partnership just to scratch an itch.

But when Lewis finds himself trapped at a hilariously awful corporate retreat, Aaron is his only friend and ally. As the professional lines between them begin to blur, their simmering attraction starts to sizzle

... And they're both about to get burned.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance

356 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2021

About the author

Joanna Chambers' muse likes red wine, coffee and won't let Joanna clean the house or watch television.

If you came here looking for a copy of The Bequest you can get it here:

https://mybookcave.com/d/81d35cdf/

If you're looking for Seasons Pass, go here:

https://mybookcave.com/d/92fd26a0/

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved pretty much everything about this book:
- the writing - it was fantastic
- Aaron - not surprising since he's such a sweetheart
- Lewis – surprising since he can be really rude
- the connection between the two
- relationship development – deliciously slow burn
- some side characters, especially Toni and Owen

My main complaint would be the ending. I'm not a fan of public declarations of love. It wasn't so bad here, but I don't think it was necessary. And the way the situation with Charlie was resolved was too convenient. Also the epilogue felt too short and ended kind of abruptly. Or maybe it was just me not wanting the story to end.

Re-read 8/2022: It felt different the second time around, but I loved it just as much. The ending didn't bother me at all and I understood Lewis even more than the first time I read it.

[nark · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

✨ grumpy/sunshine romance.
✨ boss/PA.
✨ lots of jealousy and possessiveness.
✨ lots of UST. this was definitely slow-burny.
✨ cute af, but not too overwhelmingly cute y’know?
✨ this had some nice angsty moments here and there.
✨ really great writing!

this was actually so good!! i haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a while. the fact that’s it’s a cute contemporary romance is very surprising, since i usually struggle with liking those lol. but something about this just worked for me in multiple ways. it just had so much charm! this was also so funny at times, i honestly laughed a lot while reading this.

the characters were pretty damn great. Lewis is a creator of a TV show called Leeches, who absolutely hates fanfiction and makes it known multiple times, while his PA Aaron actually secretly writes fanfiction about the two main characters of his show. doesn’t that sound just amazing already?🤣 (the way the topics of fanfiction and fandoms were approached in this was really great btw!)

the chemistry between Lewis and Aaron was absolutely amazing from the very beginning. the way they just got each other was so cute. honestly, this book is truly an amazing example of what i want a grumpy/sunshine romance to be.

Lewis was such a lovable moody grump and you could really feel his hatred for most people, which was very relatable.🤣 however, even if he was a grump, he was also secretly such a sweetheart, who was hiding a lot of pain behind his asshole-ish persona. it really took him a while to even realize that he was worthy of being happy and in love and that he didn’t have to push everyone away the moment they got too close.

“he simply wasn’t relationship material. there were plenty of men who could testify to his many, many flaws in that department: fear of intimacy, obsession with work, inability to trust, self-centredness, unwillingness to commit. the list went on and on.”

Aaron was just such a cutie pie. it really hurt to see him pining for Lewis so hard, while Lewis seemed unbothered (he wasn’t btw, but it seemed that way from Aaron’s side). i loved how kind and understanding he was in general. i also loved that he stood up for himself and didn’t try to just suffer through the pain, just to stay close to Lewis.

the morning after they first had sex and their fight before Aaron left??? fucking soul destroying. i swear i actually teared up.

“truth was, his stupid heart had broken this morning. and, god, every hackneyed word he’d ever written about angst and pining was a fucking lie - there was nothing romantic about this feeling.”

once these two actually talked again, Aaron was just so patient, understanding and sweet with Lewis. i swear this man has no mean bone in his body.

“one day, i hope you realise that you can have everything you want,” he said roughly. “and that you deserve it.”

it did take a LONG time for Lewis to actually realize that he’s in love with Aaron, but the wait was worth it in my opinion. that love confession at the end was just so fucking sweet, even if it was very OTT.🤣

anyway i’m so happy i loved this. it’s been so long since i actually enjoyed a book this much. honestly i can’t wait for more books in this series.

[Elisa Glendenning (on hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

💼 Grumpy Boss (34 yo Lewis) vs Sunny PA (27 yo Aaron)
🇬🇧 British Setting
📝 Quality writing
🐢 Slow burn
❤️‍🔥 UST / Chemistry
🥺 Pining / Angst
💚 Jealousy / Possessiveness
💕 HEA


4.5 Stars

I haven’t read anything by Sally Malcolm before (something I’ll now have to rectify), but the fact that Joanna Chambers was co author and just so happened to have created one of my favourite MM couples ever, made it very easy for me to buy this. It was so worth it!

This literally took me on a trip down memory lane, which made it even more special. Not only could I relate to Aaron on a personal level, it even takes place in my old stomping grounds (past and present) so it felt like home. I lapped it up.

I loved both MC’s equally and was rooting for them from the outset. All of their scenes together were fantastic but one that really stood out to me was their first time/morning after - I couldn’t wait for it to happen but at the same time dreaded it - it was perfect, bittersweet and heartbreaking. I’ll never be able to hear the word “sub-optimal” in the same light again.

There were a couple of reasons it wasn’t quite 5 stars for me. I would have liked to see Aaron interacting with someone from his personal life, other than his ex or colleagues from the office. His BF was literally mythical. I didn’t even know if his parents were still alive. But, it was mainly because Lewis took rather a long time to figure things out and I hated to see Aaron suffering more than necessary. The first time was hard enough.

Nonetheless, it was a job. well. done! I already want to read it again, now that I know how everything turns out. Sign me up for more from this collaboration! One of the best office romances I’ve read!


Re-read Aug 2022
Second time around and it still got me all misty eyed. Just lovely 🥰

[Papie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a classic workplace rom-com. And I didn’t like it.
Boss and PA, working late together. The PA pining over the hot grumpy boss. For three years.

Until…
And then I’m not sure. Why now? They had dozens of evenings working late together. What changed? I had a hard time buying the sudden feelings from Lewis. The jealousy and possessiveness came out of nowhere.

Overall
The first half was slow, but cute and sometimes funny. But I was bored. The second half was a little angstier, with some push and pull. I laughed a couple of times in the beginning. I got teary a couple of times in the second half.

But…
But it all felt kinda fake and cliché. All the way to the public declaration. I loved Aaron. I really disliked Lewis. He was immature and selfish and was taking advantage of Aaron. I couldn’t connect with their romance. I almost wanted Aaron to dump him for Tag the hot actor-barista.

I really had high hopes for this. I love workplace romances. I mean, my husband was a drunk work Christmas party hookup. But I didn’t click with this romance at all.

Everyone else seemed to love it, so if you are into rom-coms, you should probably ignore me and give it a try. I’ll be waiting to see if I’m alone in my grumpy corner.

[Rosabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've read this, have you wondered what would have happened if Lewis wasn't "hot as fuck"? I did, because that guy was an ass and if he was "not conventionally pretty", he would have gotten fired a long time ago for the way he treats his staff. 🤣🤣

Now, that's hypocritical of me because Alessandra Hazard did a trope like this in her latest book, BUT in my defense, Alessandra's characters always know that X is an ass, that's why we get some really toxic shit, because they know the guy is bad but can't help it. 🤣🤣

Anyways, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this, I did after the 55% mark, before that it was boring a repetitive. There was always the thought: he's hot, I want him but I can't and well, boring.

It picked at the 55% mark me thinks and the only thing that I can truly say is that the authors were very constant with Lewis' personality and they also made Aaron a man who respects himself, so kudos to that. 👏🏻👏🏻

Why Lewis had to be a jerk though? His past wasn't enough justification for me, but hey, Owen came from that past and I want his book, so win win? When will it come out btw? 🥰🥰

[drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm are both new-to-me writers, with this being the first book i've read from either of them, and i have to say i'm really glad i read this! their writings styles meshed really well together, i reckon, because i never felt i was reading two separate authors throughout this book. the writing was consistently great and the dialogue was amazing. in fact, this was very nearly a five star read for me just based on how wonderful i found the writing.

ultimately, though, i did have two niggles with this book that prevented it from getting a perfect score from me. the first and biggest issue i had was the book's ending. i really, really enjoyed this book a whole helluva lot for basically 95% of its length, but everything after Lewis showed up at the fanfic convention was... just kind of hokey and kind of cheesy, i thought. and it's not even what happens in the ending, but more how it happens; it's like the authors had five pages left to wrap everything up, and it just wasn't very satisfying to me? it felt like practically every plot point was wrapped up in, like, a single page! also: Lewis turning into a total cornball at the end felt very out of character to me. like, his whole appeal for me was how much of an asshole he was and he felt totally neutered in the epilogue lmao.

the second issue i had was the whole fanfic debate. now, let me say this: i am not a fanfic reader nor am i a fanfic hater. it's just not something that really interests me, to be honest. like, obviously i think people should be able to read and write whatever they want and enjoy their fandoms in whatever way they like, truly! here, though, i felt like i was being preached at a lot, re: the whole fanfic debate. i'm sure this is something that is very important to these authors, and they absolutely have every right to express those views through their art, but it's just not my thing.
and that's okay, right? i think if you're also passionate about fanfiction, this won't be an issue for you. for me, though? it was just... a lot.

now to the positives: as i said, this book was incredibly well-written. what i especially liked so much about most of this book was how grounded and based in reality (well, mostly nn; some of it is very heightened) the story and its characters felt. Lewis and Aaron felt like fully realized people. they're both flawed (Lewis more so, obviously), they're both interesting, and they're both real. i was incredibly invested in their relationship from page one, and i really did love all the development throughout the book. the misunderstandings felt true to the characters and not just a way to add unnecessary drama, and i loved that. their chemistry was amazing and their back-and-forth quips were so fucking good (and funny!). i really, really liked both of these guys both separately and together, and i yearned for them to get together.

i will 100% be reading the rest of this series whenever the next books come out, and will most likely check out more of these ladies' solo work in the future. this was a really good romance story, all things considered. a very strong four stars.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 40 percent or so was slow going for me, but after that it was smooth sailing all the way. I loved the shoutout to fanfic and the way the two MCs interacted.

I'm always a fan of the grumpy/sunshine theme, although Lewis went beyond grumpy and straight into assholdom with the way he treated Aaron toward the end. But Aaron called Lewis's bluff, and I was all over that. I like strong characters, not wimpy pushovers.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the superb writing. This book could serve as a manual on how to write realistic dialogue. I was never once pulled out of the story by an odd word choice or typo. Kudos to the authors!

So there you have it: likeable characters (yes, even Lewis, although I adored Aaron just a bit more); office romance (boss/personal assistant), but sadly no office sex; friends/colleagues to lovers; slow burn; humor; fully fleshed out secondary characters (I truly loathed Charlie!); great ending. WIN!

I'm thrilled that this is the first book in a series.

[Florence . · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 “One day, I hope you realise that you can have everything you want,” […] “And that you deserve it.” stars

When I saw the blurb of this book, I just thought, a grumpy and sunshine story about a fictional tv show and fanfiction? Sign. Me. Up.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love Sally Malcolm and I love Joanna Chambers too, so when I heard about this book, I felt like a kid opening her Christmas gifts. I was so excited to read this book and I wanted to love it so much … but sadly I just didn’t. I think I’m defective this week, that’s the only explanation. These two are some of my favourite authors of all time and yet, this book? Did not really work for me. I’m quite devasted about it too, I really wanted to love this book, in theory, it was my perfect book.

Brief Summary
Lewis is the creative director at a production company, and he is currently working on a show called Leeches. He needed a new assistant so that’s where Aaron came in. Lewis has a strict policy that he never dates colleagues, which are famous last words in this context because shockingly, he breaks it so he can date Aaron.

First, I loved all the talks about fanfiction in this book. As someone who spends way too much time reading fanfiction, I really appreciated it. It was such a realistic take on fandoms and how it is to be in one, it made for a lovely reading experience. I loved all of the talks of Lewis and his dislike of fanfiction about the things he created, it was so fascinating to me. And I loved Aaron and his love of writing fanfics, it was so lovely to read about. I also really liked all the talks about the tv show and how it was for them to be working on it. It really made me feel like I was working on the show with them, and I really loved it.

Second, I loved how Aaron was quick to call out Lewis when he was being mean. He never let Lewis get away with anything that wasn’t right and if Lewis didn’t treat Aaron fairly, then Aaron called him out on it and I absolutely loved it.

Third, I absolutely adored Aaron. He was a sweetheart. I loved how fierce he was and how he wasn’t afraid of saying his opinion and standing up for himself. I loved his calm and his strength. What a man Aaron is, he’s going on my list of favorite main characters of all time, I just loved him so much. I loved how he was so supportive of Lewis and always taking care of him.

Fourth, I love a good grumpy and sunshine pairing in books. Lewis is super grumpy, which is my favorite type of character in books. But, instead of just being grumpy, Lewis was kind of mean sometimes and it made me sad for Aaron. I understand that Lewis has abandonment issues and that’s why he was pushing Aaron away but having abandonment issues doesn’t justify being mean to someone for unjustified reasons. I was fine with Lewis pushing Aaron away because of his abandonment issues, I just didn’t like how he said mean things to Aaron because of them. Also, normally the grump who’s mean to everyone but nice to his love interest thing really works for me, which was exactly what Lewis was, but I just thought that he was a little too mean to every side character in the book, I probably would have been crying every day after work if he was my boss.

Fifth, another thing, Lewis kept his not wanting to get attached thing for most of the book, and then at 90% he had a personality transplant and suddenly was so in love with Aaron, which didn’t really work for me, because he changed in about a day and there wasn’t really anything that happened to trigger that kind of change in him. I understand that people change but it was a little too quick to be believable for me.

Sixth, communication really wasn’t these guys’ strong suit. Which a couple of instances of it is fine with me but there were so many times where they wouldn’t have been in so much pain and hurting over each other if they just sat down and talked. I just didn’t like how they were both suffering when a good talk would have prevented all their suffering.

Seventh, it’s hard for me to explain that while I didn’t like Lewis much, I didn’t really dislike the book that much because of it. I loved the writing, so much, I loved the fanfiction aspects and all the aspects about working on a tv show, I loved Aaron so much, he’s almost like my spirit animal and I absolutely loved him. So, I was thoroughly entertained while reading the book, even if I wasn’t a fan of some of the aspects of the story. Also, I really liked the ambiance of the book, and I liked the idea of the couple, I love a good grumpy and sunshine pairing, so much, I just didn’t really enjoy Lewis as a character, which dimmed my enjoyment of the book a little, but I still had a lot of fun reading it.

I’m excited that there will be more books in this series because I love the setting for it, very much.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

[Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp · Rating 5 out of 5]

|| 4.5 stars ||

This is a romance set in the workplace, which isn’t very unique perse, but it’s just executed so incredibly well here that I couldn’t possibly not love it.

Even though Lewis was Aaron’s boss, he truly saw him as an equal and always treated him with respect. He listened to what Aaron had to say and took his opinions more seriously than anyone else’s. Aaron definitely wasn’t a doormat for Lewis to stomp all over.
I would actually say that Aaron kind of had the upper-hand in their relationship, since Lewis would genuinely break out in hives over the mere thought of Aaron leaving him or of even remotely upsetting him.
And sure, Lewis was grumpy and could be a bit obtuse, but he was always sweet and soft towards Aaron rather than hard and demanding. They often had some light-hearted banter going on, but also had their meaningful moments together: there was surely no animosity between them whatsoever.
All in all, I thought their dynamic was a very nice change from the usual ‘boss/assistant’ romances that are out there.

Aaron and Lewis honestly had a true connection and their understanding for each other went pretty deep. I loved how much Lewis cared about and appreciated Aaron, and I adored how well Aaron could read Lewis. They were lovely together, and their slow-burn romance was a delight to read about.


'Creative Types' series:
1. Total Creative Control - 4.5 stars
2. Home Grown Talent - 3.5 stars

[Richard Derus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real Rating: 4.76* of five

I WAS OFFERED A DRC AND ACCEPTED WITH UNSEEMLY GLEE.

My Review: Hello! Are you new around here? I kind of doubt it, but one never can be certain...so let me offer a greeting and an invitation to poke around, look over the goods, see what interests you. One thing you'll notice fairly quickly is that I like the books that feature people like me, which is to say men who sex up men while loving every minute of it; older men who have the good fortune to find younger men who enjoy their company; and who (lucky fictional bastards!) get second chances at The One(s) Who Got Away.

Authors Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm have each appeared on the pages of the blog on previous occasions, their respective ouevres coming in for no little praise on their own merits. (Still slightly shocked that BBC Scotland hasn't made Enlightenment into a limited series, Author Chambers...get your People onto it! David Tennant ain't gettin' any younger!) I am, in short, inclined to look upon these creatives' creations without undue harshness, permaybehaps even a Vaseline-smeared lens of hazy happiness.

When I am not being assaulted by w-bombs. (Two were allowable; they deepened the...foulness...of a revolting character; four others, NO; net deduction = 24 stars.) (What do you mean, there aren't 24 stars? It's my review and I'll...oh, very well you boring commonsensical internal voice.)

The fun of watching, that is reading, this story was evident from the get-go. The insta-luuuv between the characters being sublimated into a working relationship for ages was nicely explained away by Aaron's dirty little secret: He writes fanfic in Lewis's show's universe! Well, as a reason for him to stay shtumm about his feelings, that one does a lot. He can't give up his literal dream, or his literal dreamboat, now can he. Plus Lewis clearly senses Aaron's abilities as a writer, as a fellow creative story-teller, and no one who's ever had a whole business riding on their shoulders can ever resist a true Lieutenant Colonel showing up when you need 'em. (Not to mention the man's a fount of excellent story ideas, and can keep the fan-service pipeline flowing both ways.)

There's a lot of fun in reading these words, just as words. This is exactly as one would expect from the two authors involved in creating the story.

Charlie was one of those almost-but-not-quite-good-looking men. Everything about him was just a little average. A little medium. On the two or three occasions he'd come into the office to see Lewis, he'd always seemed to Aaron to be trying to make up for that somehow, with his overbearing manner and his ridiculously pretentious outfits.
–and–
...Lewis yelped, "Wave!" and they both stumbled backwards as the surf splashed up over their ankles, soaking the ends of their rolled-up jeans. Lewis lost his balance as he scrambled up the beach, Aaron grabbed him, and suddenly they were both clinging to each other, laughing.
And then, just as suddenly, they weren't laughing.
They were simply standing there in the moonlight, clutching each other's arms, gazing at each other. Lewis looked dishevelled and windblown, undone in a way that transformed him from idol into someone more real, more tangible, his dark hair blowing across his forehead, and his eyes the deep blue of the twilight sky. He swallowed visibly, lips parting, chest rising and falling. Breathing hard. His fingers tightened on Aaron's arms, drawing him closer.

And we'll leave that there...*evil chuckle*

What a pleasure, then, to have this as a week-ending read. I wasn't expecting it to be awful, or painful; I was expecting it to be somehow less than the sum of the authors' different powers, a watering-down of what I've come to expect. I just love being wrong! Their different ways of approaching a story came together beautifully, and made this a better story than I'd even let myself hope that it was going to be. I'm also pleased that the process of working together worked well for them so we're going to get a book two and even a book three! I predict book two will be about Owen. (That was, if y'all were wondering, a stonking great hint.)

The genuinely surprising thing in this read...and let's not front, there's next to nothing surprising in romances...is that it takes its milieu seriously. The world of Fandom is presented without an arched eyebrow or a barely concealed sneer. The existence of AO3 is very much part of what drives the plot. The kind of characters in the fannish con-world are spot on and mostly treated kindly. (I, like Lewis, am unable to endure long moments of speech emitted by up-talkers.) The end of the story is a fan-person's wet dream. It is a pleasure to see the sub- go Culture.

I am well and truly pleased, Authors each and both, and I thank you for making me the offer of a DRC for review.

[Preeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Boss/PA, Grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn, talk around fanfiction and TV series, Kind of rom-com, get ready for a whole lot of British slang)

I love Joanna Chamber's writing style and although I haven't read anything by Sally Malcolm yet, I am aware that she is a well-known writer. So, no doubt I was expecting something unique and I would love to say this book exceeded my expectations. And, indeed I have a lot of thoughts and opinions to share.

First thing first, if not for anything else, this book should be read for the quality of writing. The collaboration between Joanna and Sally has given us a well-crafted story. I laughed a lot at clever dialogues and banter that are heavily fused with British humour. The authors have also made sure that we understand the script of the tv show and fanfiction with the main plot.

Secondly, I am not sure if any of these authors have written fanfiction. But, this book is a loving tribute to both writers and readers of fanfiction. Our MC, Aaron, is a fanfiction writer and his boss, Lewis the creative director/writer of the tv show, hates fanfiction. Because for him they are a poor copy of his works. We get a lot of different opinions and misguided notions about fan fiction and being a fanfiction reader, I enjoyed the talk around fandoms.

Third, We get a boss who is possessive, needy, grumpy, self-centred bastard.😂😂 Nothing new I know, but even though sometimes he acted like a complete wanker and couldn't understand love till the very end. And, I agree, my feelings keep changing about him but there is no doubt he is not mean. The author makes us feel the depth of his emotions and just because he was in love doesn't mean he suddenly transformed from his cranky self.🤭🤭

Lewis growled, repeating silently: don’t punch the fans, do not punch the fans.

Fourth, The character of our sunshine MC, Aaron. Yes, he is a do-gooder, caring and permanently Nice guy. Yes, he is blinded by his emotions but he has a strong personality. He is ready to stand for things he believes in like fanfiction.

Fifth, Finally we get an office romance which shows that people do work in offices.😂😂 Otherwise, my main reason for not liking office romances is a complete lack of work culture.

Why not 5 stars
If we judge it by the quality of writing, no doubt it's a 5+ star. But, Lewis' personality and his inability to accept love made me lose a bit of interest in the middle. However, I would again say I love his character and his grumpiness and yeah his inability to use any kind of technology(This is a typical trait to any boss😂😂) 

And, being subjected to the public declaration of love in every Bollywood movie, I hate reading them in the books too. Although, I feel the 'I am going to chase after you because suddenly I realise I am in love with you' scene was quite aptly written in this book.

[oshiiy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars ⭐️ Oh, I'm struggling with this review. Is it weird that I enjoyed reading this book without actually liking Lewis very much?

Lewis and Aaron’s story was a slow-burn one. they didn't even kiss until the half of the book.

But I was glad it was a slow burn but it was extended to the point where I felt utterly bored with what was called the initial part of the story.

But turning around the second part of the story was very much enjoyable because the conversations, feelings, and characters were starting to make so much sense to me.

Lewis was the definition of grumpy, and I don't know what was his deal, and why he sometimes spoke to Aaron harshly. Is it because he was an asshole or was it one of his charming traits? 🤡
But I liked how he acted so possessive towards Aaron. Yeah, interesting!

I liked Aaron. A lot. He was our optimistic guy and I loved how he was obsessed with his fanfiction and made it his passion. (embarrassingly, I've never read fanfic tho, like Lewis 🥲)

I wanted to murder Charlie and Mils who were totally douchebags.

Oh, there was a public declaration of love!! I think it was overdramatic and unnecessary for the story. I don't like it when an audience witnesses your most vulnerable and naked emotion, and certainly, It's a me thing. Otherwise, the story is well written and well developed, and I loved how the story went on.

Special request: I want a story for Owen. I like him very much!! 🤩

P.S. I think I'm still struggling with this story. I wanted to love it. But Lewis didn't make it easy for me. So, I rounded up my rating to 3 stars.

[ellie]

dnf @ 20%

i–



i really hate mm boss/PA romances where the PA is legit at the boss’ beck and call, night or day, going above and beyond what an average assistant would ever be expected to do... and usually the PA has feelings for the boss so it just feels icky. like they’re being taken advantage of.

then usually, other characters point out the injustice of it all to the PA, and PA is always outraged and does everything in his power to justify being used as a marionette to a boss who doesn’t deserve his time whatsoever— professionally and romantically.

and it happened here with Aaron and i just— i find it incredibly pathetic lmao. particularly when the boss is a manwhore and the PA has to handle all of his sexual conquests he discards of... especially knowing that Aaron ends up with Lewis, but is privy to all of Lewis’ bedroom antics with other men, cleaning up a fully grown man’s messes :/



while Lewis was stiflingly possessive of Aaron... and not in a fun juicy way, but in a way that i think held Aaron back and all of his potential. like a bird being locked in a cage. he wasn’t grumpy, imo, he was just a monumental dick and, again, not in the fun juicy way. more so in the “if-i-met-this-man-in-real-life-id-waterboard-him” kinda way.

idk just didn’t vibe with their dynamics whatsoever.

even the romance felt odd. like we don’t even get to see them really fall for one another since they already have this deep connection (not that i particularly felt it, tbh) before the story even starts... so why now? after three years? what makes right now so special?

i also didn’t give a fuck about the tv show. at all. sounds like a shit show as well lmao.

sorry about it
 

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing in many ways.

⛔ Grumpy characters are a weakness of mine, but Lewis had zero, nada, zilch appeal to me.
⛔ The fanfic aspect felt so preachy to me.
⛔ I could have done without Charlie Alexander's character. What a waste of time and space in the story. He added nothing to it.
⛔ The story spanned over 3 years at a weird pace. It had a good start but stalled at some point with boring parts. The end was corny and meh, besides, everything was wrapped up tide and neat in a rushed way.

Oh, well... I guess I am back. 🤦‍♀️

[Layla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me like....


I mean, this was pretty close to perfection. I adored every word.
Actual footage of me reading....


Now for the Q&A! #BuckleUp


Q: Again? What now?
A: *stares* There's this book.... and it's AMAZEBALLLS.


Q: *looks blandly* Fine.... what's it about?
A: Check this out! It's an OFFICE ROMANCE with a grumpy boss and sunshiny PA.... *skips on toes*
And they're both in LOVE but totally clueless! Isn't that amazing?

Q: Hmm... I will concede that it is amazing. Tell me more...
A: Ok! Wanna know about the characters?


Q: Sure. Lay it on me. Special are they?
A: YES!
We gave Lewis, the grumpy screenwriter, who is an a$$hole to almost everyone but his PA Aaron. He brash, and rude, hates fanfic and thinks he's always right. #IAmYourSuperior


Aaron on the other hand is fun and preppy and polite. He does damage control of Lewis' mistakes, technological or otherwise, writes fanfics and keeps Lewis in line and doesn't take his sh!t. #LikeABoss


Q: Oh, I love this dynamic!! How do they realize their feelings for each other?
A: Welp... Aaron was supposed to be a temp. Needless to say that was bullocks. Years later, he's still Lewis's PA, even helps him with his screenwriting and manages most of his life.
Then a work-weekend away brings them closer than ever, where one realizes he's in love and the other clutches his denial in a death grip. #RightInFrontOfMe
Aaron be like...


Lewis be like...


Q: Ohhh... Angst-o-meter?
A: Medium angst because Lewis refuses to see what is right in front of him! #FacePalm


Q: Naturally. Ok how about Steam-o-meter?
A: Slowish burn with medium steam. Add some jealousy, with a whole lot of UST and #WeAreSet


Q: Awesome! HEA?
A: Yes!! There's a grand gesture, some groveling and a sweet sweet HEA. #TakeMeHome

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

If ever a book deserved more stars - and a TV adaptation - it's this one.

It would make an utterly brilliant Netflix show as it has all the elements you need for success:

1) An opposites attract plot featuring a grumpy one and a sunshine one.

2) The UST of a pining 'will they, won't they' office working relationship that's really so much more.

3) Tensions galore with a secondary plot involving the adaptation of a British TV show onto one for the American market.

4) Fanfic 😉 the adoration lovers of a book or TV series or film can have for the characters. You only need to look at Hugo awarded A03 to see the power of transformative work.

5) Two heroes who truly see each other, flaws and all, even if one of them (yes Lewis, I'm looking at you here #sideeye ) needs it practically stamping on his forehead.

Bonus 6) Fantastic setting, great secondary characters, and a beautiful nod to the duplicitous way certain elements of the creative media industry have for queer baiting or burying the gays.

It's also subversively funny, tender and witty, with an elegance of narrative that just flows beautifully from start to finish.

I cannot praise this book highly enough. I adore the work of both authors when they write separately, but together they're producing something magical.

I cannot wait to see what comes in books two and three (Owen please?!)

#ARC kindly received from the authors in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Evie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I am feeling a little bit “those were words on a page” about this book.

I think part of my disconnect with this story was that the plot didn’t really feel particularly driven by the internal motivations of the characters and more just from needing to hit plot beats and there was just SO MUCH telling. We are told about all this sexual tension that apparently has been building over the past three years, but its all off page before where the reader steps into the story, so we see none of that and then we are suddenly plonked down in front of the conclusion of these years of tension and told about it but I just didn’t really feel that yearning and hunger?

I had no real issues with Lewis and Aarons relationship (although I am baffled that this is the same author who managed to write the chemistry between David and Murdo because this is worlds apart from that level of tension). Honestly Aaron’s moment of revelation about his life was probably the strongest emotional beat for me and I found myself more invested in Aarons journey of discovering his self worth rather than the romance.

I thought that Lewis’ characterisation could have been stronger? Like we are shown he’s a difficult asshole, and we are told briefly about this troubled childhood, but it’s kind of 1+2 must =3? Like there isn’t really much sophistication in the character about how his trauma informs his feelings and behaviours in a more nuanced way? And honestly for such chronic commitment issues it was all just resolved so easily.

Credit where its due though, I have been dodging the edges of a reading slump and this book managed to grab me enough that I finished it in a day lol. Perhaps I wouldn’t be feeling so ‘eh’ about it on any other day and it seems to be a favourite of a lot of people so take this with a grain of salt. I gotta admit though that none of the other characters really grabbed me, and so I probably wouldn’t bother continuing on with the rest of this series.

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread August 2022

Absolutely amazing. Again. Such a wonderful love story.
For me everything is right here. 5 stars all the way!
Really ready for book 2 now!

original review:

What an utter triumph of a collaboration!
Just like Cadiva, the word 'magical' came easily to my lips!

I basically inhaled this book overnight, and I’d barely turned over the last page, when I wanted to start all over again.

Everything here hits the right spots:

***** The scenario:
We all know there’ve been tons of ‘grumpy boss/cute PA’ romances. But this one feels fresh and original and is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve ever read.

*****Two MCs I could root for whole-heartedly.

Aaron is just a lovely, wonderful guy. Bright, kind-hearted, compassionate and so right for Lewis on all levels. He is one of those characters you’d call the ‘perfect book boyfriend'. The way he supports and helps Lewis, despite ‘knowing’ that his affection for the man ‘can go no further, ever’ is heart-meltingly awesome, his pining truly heart-rending.
But he also stands up for himself when enough is enough.

Lewis does play the part of the difficult boss very well, but we can see from the start that he is hiding a lot of vulnerability (like fear of intimacy, inability to trust) under his bossy outer shell.
Mostly Lewis “had come to accept that love, affection, and commitment weren’t his to give. He was too egocentric, too impatient. Too cowardly to give enough of himself.” and he has no scooby doo whatsoever how to recognize love when it's right under his nose.

And darn, I’m such a sucker for troubled guys like that!

***** A classic romance beautifully explored. The looks, the (not) touches, the yearning, the froing and toing, the tenderness, and of course …

***** … some heart aching UST, together with a delicious, heart-tugging slow burn. So many wonderful FEELS!

***** And that side of hearty jealousy did not hurt either!

***** The whole creative ‘vibe’ I have such a soft spot for. In this case it’s all about writing scripts and, alas, the world of fanfiction! (another thing I love and was part of for a long time) My heart was a-flutter! 😂


Maybe the authors could have dug a little bit deeper into Lewis’s issues in the last stretch of the book, and maybe the ending felt a teeny bit rushed. I guess, greedy me simply wanted more time with these two! Can't say that this interfered with my all over enjoyment one little bit.

I can’t wait for book 2 and find out which ‘creative types’ are going to rip my heart out next! And, in case this isn't clear 😂:
This book has a lot of heart , and it certainly touched mine.

[Drache.... (Angelika) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 01/2025
I loved this even more the second time around, already knowing it takes Aaron a while to take a step back and look out for himself.

----------------
Read 07/2022
I had high hopes for this book when I started reading it weeks ago, but set it aside after the first chapters, because Lewis' character was unlikeable to me.

Yesterday I decided to give it a second try and I'm so happy I did! I got more and more invested in Aaron's happiness, and reading on I began to care for Lewis, too. I hated Aaron worshipping Lewis for such a long time, and loved how Aaron took his emotional and professional wellbeing into his own hands, putting a stop to things as they were before.

I couldn't put the book down and read way too long (considering there's work to go to in the morning).
I loved the storyline, how the relationship between Aaron and Lewis developed, how they both got what they deserved and became equals.
I'm already looking forward to eventually rereading this, haha.
5 stars.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that feeling when you pick up a book thinking, Oh, this’ll be a fun little comfort reread, and then suddenly it’s 2 AM, and you’re clutching your Kindle like a lifeline because you need these two idiots to figure out their shit? Yeah. That was me with this book - AGAIN!

The premise is a classic: Aaron, a sunshine-y, hyper-competent and very talented PA, has spent six years managing the life of Lewis, a brilliant but uber grumpy TV writer of his favourite show (I really wanna watch that show btw!!). Aaron is the only one who can handle him. The only one who truly gets him. The only one Lewis actually listens to. And yet - because they are absolute disasters - neither of them realises they’re in love for the longest time.

What follows is a masterclass in romantic tension. Aaron, the king of denial and silent suffering, keeps telling himself he’s fine being just colleagues. Lewis, emotionally constipated yet entirely dependent on Aaron, has no clue what to do with all his feelings. The result? Pages upon pages of delicious, slow-burn angst, pining and witty banter, topped off with moments so painfully tender they made my chest ache.

I love me a deeply flawed character and Lewis is that and then some: extremely irritable, self centred, rude, emotionally quite unavailable, commitment-phobic and with an uncanny ability to piss me the fuck off.
But he is also a hurting, funny, incredibly creative, passionate, magnetic, down to earth guy with a lot of hidden vulnerability and you just can’t help yourself but root for him - hard. His character development was amazing.
The dynamic and tension between him and snarky, intelligent, loyal, strong, caring Aaron was absolutely addicting and made it really hard to put the book down!

So yeah, if you love workplace romance, grumpy-genius chaos, and a level of slow burn mutual pining that borders on painful, this book might be for you.
Just be prepared to yell at Lewis at least five times. And then love him anyway.


PS: Huge shout out to the wonderful representation of fanfiction and the process of democratisation of creativity! I loved the role this topic played and all the valuable discussions around it! So well done and honestly such a beautiful hommage to all the wonderful fic writers out there! 🫶

4,5⭐️

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

Struggling a bit with rating this one. I liked it. The writing really carried it. I enjoyed the dynamic between Lewis and Aaron and some of their banter.

BUT...and it's a big but, the balance was definitely off.

(1) Aaron and Lewis spent too much of the book as friends/co-workers and not enough as a couple IMO.
(2) Lewis was a jerk for too long and a BIG jerk at that.

I also found the first half to drag a bit, especially when they were at Safehaven.

Rounding up because overall I did enjoy it and I plan to check out the rest of the books in the series.

[Leslie]

I wouldn’t say I’m completely in the grumpy corner with my friend Papie. But I’m not completely in the love fest nest with other friends. Grump adjacent? Somewhere in the middle? I loved some things but was not a fan of others. I don’t know. I need to think about it. It’s also actually been a rough week for me. We had to put one of our cats to sleep. Because I’m very much a mood reader, I don’t want to take my mood out on the book as I’m sure at least some of my feelings come from this. Review and rating to come.

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I just need a distraction. An easy read, a lovely romance, and some hilarious and swooning moments. Total Creative Control is a typical British rom-com and ticked all of those boxes.

I had this book on my TBR and when I found out I could read it for free with Kobo.plus, I immediately downloaded it, and I’m so glad I did. The writing of this story is captivating, and I instantly liked the interaction between Lewis and Aaron. The grumpy boss and the sweet but firm assistant (who did far more than just being a PA). I laughed about the workshop and the guys secretly eating fish and chips. I cheered them on when they both admitted to themselves they had feelings for the other. And I sighed with satisfaction when they first kissed.

Highly recommended for those who need a distraction like I did, love a well written rom-com, and want a few hours of pure delight.

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[Alisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 25% because I hate Lewis with the strength of a 1000 fiery suns. He's not "grumpy". He's selfish, rude, disrespectful, inconsiderate and a general all around asshole. Another book making a truly terrible person's behavior seem acceptable.

Life tip.....don't date a person like this. You deserve better.

[any · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Of course it’s home”, he said, leaning in and kissing Lewis again. “It’s where you are, and that will always be home for me”.

I thought I was in a reading slump because NOTHING pleased me. I dnf like three books and then This!! I don’t know if I have a specific reason but I enjoyed this book so much, it was just a cute contemporary romance and a little slow burn. everything I needed.
And I’m 100% Aaron’s team because fanfics are amazing.

This is my first book by Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm and what an incredible first impression, I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. The pinning and the tension were immaculate.
I loved Lewis and I don't think he was the rudest person in the world. probably because I love a good grumpy/sunshine trope and I've seen more grumpy characters but for me, he was ok, in the right measure.

“One day, I hope you realise that you can have everything you want,” he said roughly. “and that you deserve it.”

By far my favorite parts were the jealousy and the breakdowns. There are my pleasure guilts in books, I LIVE for good possessive character or when the character has a breakdown and the love interest helps him. I'm here for this.

I have two issues with this book: the public love declaration and how Lewis went from "I can't have a relationship" to "Ok I can" so fast. BUT we can ignore it because I smiled so much in this book that I could never give it less than 5 stars.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second half saved this - it was very good!

The first half just wasn't funny to me, like everyone else thought it was. I was a bit bored, to be honest. But I kept going, and it paid off.

Loved the second half! Realistic angst for the win!

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read July 2022 and I liked it even more the second time.

4.5 rounded up

This book is a goddamned delight. A workplace romance featuring grumpy Lewis -- showrunner for a vampire show called Leeches (not sure of the showrunner terminology; he's the Shonda-equivalent) -- and sunshine Arthur, Lewis's PA, uncredited editor and screenwriter, factotum, and all-around life-preserver. Arthur is also an avid, prolific, and celebrated fanfic writer about Leeches, something that he keeps secret from Lewis, who despite never having read any fanfic is nonetheless vocally and rabidly against it.

The story is put in motion by Leeches being optioned for a US remake (it is a UK-based show), with the catch that the guy (Charlie) doing the deal on the US side demands certain dramatic changes: namely that the "bromance" between two of the main characters - which has always been subtext but has attracted a dedicated following shipping Skye and Faolan - be dropped in favor of a more traditional love triangle centering the female character of the grouping, Amy, and turning Faolan, the openly gay character, straight. Both Lewis and Arthur are horrified by the prospect, but while Lewis -- who is the key character here, since he owns the show -- is open to some kind of compromise, Arthur -- who has no formal claim over the show or (credited) influence over its direction -- cannot live with the idea of straight-writing Faolan and removing queerness from the story. A big chunk of the action transpires over a weekend retreat at Charlie's country manse, where Lewis and Arthur's relationship -- both professional and personal -- undergoes some significant changes that bring things to a head; and then the fallout from that weekend, again in both professional and personal terms.

There is so much going on here about the creative process, gatekeeping, who "owns" stories, what artistic compromises can (and can't) be accepted, and the way in which queer stories are still often marginalized / relegated to subtext / appropriated / straightwashed. It is also, from Aaron's side, a love letter to fanfic and fandom, one that centers belonging and community; while Lewis has a much more dismissive, patronizing take that, of course, evolves as his understanding of Aaron's role (on keeping the show going and in the fandom) deepens.

Half-star taken away because while Charlie is a villain it's great to hate, things do get a bit too farcical and uncomfortable during the weekend retreat for my personal taste.

One thing that I appreciated in particular is that the authors write conflict really well. There are a couple of scenes where Arthur and Lewis have pretty serious discussions -- one a proper argument, one more like a conversation than an argument but where they are facing each other across a (seemingly) irreconcilable divide -- and they worked incredibly well, because both of them are making real, thoughtful arguments that are completely consistent with their characters up to that point. This maybe sounds like a low bar, but it's not: there are soooo many examples of arguments or conflicts that completely torpedo the story because one or both of the MCs suddenly sound like a totally different person/ people, and that's usually because the conflict itself is constructed and shoehorned into the narrative because DRAMA!! rather than because it makes sense for the story. I really believed in the conflict between Lewis and Arthur, but I also really believed in their love story -- and the path they take in getting there.

And I also liked how the authors cleverly dealt with the most problematic (for me) aspect of workplace romance (or more specifically, boss-employee romance) -- but no spoilers.

All in all, a funny, hot, slightly angsty grumpy-sunshine read with an HEA I really believed in.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was delightful. It has the exact feel and pacing of a mid-nineties romcom and I am so here for it. Grumpy, imperious boss, lovable, ultra-competent PA, supportive female character, a proper villain, a rival love interest, and a happy ending - this book has nailed the genre. The tension in the first half was incredible, and cleverly done, and the angsty bits made me legit emotional. I've always loved Joanna Chambers's historical stuff, but this proves that she can do contemporary just as well. And Sally Malcolm is new to me, but I'm definitely keen to explore her other works. Not sure if the upcoming books in the series will follow our MCs (I hope so) or introduce new couples, but either way I'm into it.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A- at AAR, so 4.5 stars rounded up.

Two of my favourite authors teaming up to write a grumpy/sunshine “angsty rom-com” ? YES, PLEASE – sign me up! Total Creative Control is a captivating read and I blew through it two sittings. Featuring two complex, superbly characterised protagonists, and a small but equally well-written supporting cast, it’s full of humour, witty banter, delicious sexual tension and a multitude of feels – and I loved it.

The ”grumpy” part of the pairing is Lewis Hunter, creator and writer of the hit TV show, Leeches (an urban fantasy-type show with vampires!) which, when the book opens, has been on air for three years. He’s dynamic, hugely talented and very charismatic… but he’s also brusque, demanding, doesn’t seem to have a verbal filter, and is hell to work for. Which is why he goes through assistants like a knife through butter – until the morning his most recent one quits, and he’s assigned a temp named Aaron Page for the rest of the week. Aaron is a big fan of Leeches – which Lewis is both surprised and pleased at – and very quickly shows his aptitude for the job. He’s just finished teacher training and has a job lined up for September; Lewis has never had a PA who actually loved Leeches before, and is already thinking of ways to keep him on for longer. He suggests that if things go well that week, he’d like Aaron to stay until September. Aaron agrees.

The story then skips ahead three years – and finds Aaron still working for Lewis. In the intervening time, he’s made himself pretty much indispensable – not just because he knows Lewis likes brown sauce in his bacon rolls or how many sugars he takes in his tea, but because his knowledge of and love for the show is second only to Lewis’ and he’s provided a lot of valuable feedback and insight into the scripting process during that time. He’s far more than a PA now, and Lewis is a decent enough boss that he’s made sure Aaron is properly compensated for his expanded role. But, as one of Aaron’s colleagues points out, although Aaron well paid for what he does, shouldn’t he be looking to move into a job that would stretch him creatively and make greater use of his talents? But Aaron is happy where he is – and refuses to let himself dwell on the real reason for it. That moving on to a different job would mean leaving Lewis – because that way madness lies. Lewis made it clear on Aaron’s very first day that he doesn’t get involved with colleagues, EVER, and despite the stirrings of attraction they felt for each other when they met, they’ve kept things perfectly professional between them ever since. They’ve both worked hard to maintain that fine line between colleagues and friends, not allowing themselves to be too curious about each other’s personal lives, never attending work functions together, carefully steering their way around anything too intimate – and it’s worked, for the most part, enabling them to carry on with their working relationship as though that’s all that lies between them.

But when Lewis is persuaded to ask Aaron to accompany him on a working weekend at the country home of the television exec who is keen to develop Leeches for the US market  – a complete and utter wanker Lewis can’t stand – those lines between the personal and the professional start to blur.  Under pressure to make changes to the very fabric of Leeches to satisfy the demands of the US production company, then forced into a number of difficult and uncomfortable situations courtesy of his host, Lewis – already on edge – starts to unravel.  A group therapy session unexpectedly unlocks un-dealt-with trauma Lewis has done his best to ignore – but through it all, Aaron is there,  unequivocally on his side and keeping him grounded.  And this time together, just the two of them against the world, or so it seems, forces them both to confront some long-buried truths they’ve managed to keep locked away so far.  And for Aaron, it’s the wake-up call he needs to start putting himself and his career first for a change.

Aaron is adorable – the perfect sunshine to Lewis’ grump – and their chemistry is combustible.  He’s sweet and clever and insightful, and I really enjoyed the way his love of Leeches and his love of fanfiction are woven together, and into the story.  Fanfic is denigrated in some circles (and Lewis hates it!), but although some of it is undoubtedly crap, Aaron embodies the best endeavours; he’s someone who really gets to know the characters he writes about, and gets into their heads to produce stories that are true to character and as good as – sometimes better! – than the storylines on the actual show.  This part of his life does create friction between him and Lewis – who is dismissive and says some pretty hurtful things – until he comes to understand why Aaron – and many others – love it:

It’s about the joy of writing for your own pleasure. And about sharing your work with a community of like-minded people.  It’s about… creativity for creativity’s sake.

The only real criticism I can level at the book as a whole is to say that Lewis’ no-relationships-because-I’m-too-selfish/closed-off-and-everybody-leaves-me-thing is just a bit stereotypical;  but that said, it is at least well done here, with moments that will make your heart break for Lewis even as you’re screaming at him to get out of his own way.

Both authors are adept at writing stories that tug at the heartstrings, and there are some lovely, angsty moments in this one that will do just that as both men grapple with their feelings for each other, Lewis trying desperately to lock them away, Aaron owning them to himself honestly, but knowing he needs to move on.  There’s a real emotional depth to the connection between the pair, a sense of ‘rightness’ when they’re together that just lights up the page, which is incredibly satisfying  – and incredibly frustrating when Lewis is seemingly  bent on self-sabotage.

There’s also a terrific secondary cast – from Toni, Lewis’ supportive (and long-suffering) boss, to the absolutely ghastly TV exec Charlie Alexander, who I would happily have pushed under a bus (although I suspect Lewis would have beaten me to it!).

Total Creative Control is a delightful feel-good romance full of warmth and good humour that will make you smile and hit you in the feels in the best way.  On to the keeper shelf it goes – and to the hint in the notes at the end that there may be more to come in this world, all I can say is I’m Here For It.

[Em Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this. Good writing flow, engaging plot, good characters, lovely romance. But…(I know I know, there’s always a ‘but’ with me) there was something missing for me that kept this good story from being a great one.

Let’s start with the MCs. I adored Aaron truly. A completely endearing character I was rooting for beginning to end. He showed a range of both vulnerability and self-respect throughout the story that I really appreciated. Lewis, while I liked, was a bit harder for me to connect to. He was truly the grumpiest of grumps, and while it started off entertaining it started getting tiresome for me around the 35-40%. I think maybe it took too long for him to turn the corner for my personal taste. The romance between Aaron and Lewis was very sweet, and like others stated the latter half of the book is where I found myself unable to put it down.

While I enjoyed the first half too I think had the pacing been a bit tighter, both for Lewis’s character development and the story overall, I think it would kicked up the rating for me a bit. I can’t totally put my finger on what was missing, I just finished feeling like I needed more of…idk something. Anyway that probably makes no sense and now I’m just rambling, so I’ll shut up 😆 Bottom line, it was a good book and I’d recommend it 🙂