What do you think?
Rate this book
Oahu Naval Officers #2.5
Small Packages
I'm a 5'7" Engineering Scientist with bad vision and...other issues, so being picked up at a bar by the fascinating, straightforward brunette was not on my radar.
Once I've had a taste of Bex, there's no going back.
Except the closer we get, the more terrified I am that she'll run the other direction as soon as she knows about that small part of myself I've never shared with anyone.
What if doesn't want me anymore?
How can I go back to a life without her?
Our happily ever after? That will take a Hawaiian Christmas miracle.
The author would like you to know:
*if you don't like swearing
*if sexy banter isn't your thing
*if you prefer angst and dark romance
*if you want sex to fade to black, behind closed doors
*if you don't think consent is sexy
*if you don't like quirky holiday stories
*if you're not into emotional growth and adult relationships
This might not be the book for you.
CW/TW: autistic main character
anxiety rep
Once I've had a taste of Bex, there's no going back.
Except the closer we get, the more terrified I am that she'll run the other direction as soon as she knows about that small part of myself I've never shared with anyone.
What if doesn't want me anymore?
How can I go back to a life without her?
Our happily ever after? That will take a Hawaiian Christmas miracle.
The author would like you to know:
*if you don't like swearing
*if sexy banter isn't your thing
*if you prefer angst and dark romance
*if you want sex to fade to black, behind closed doors
*if you don't think consent is sexy
*if you don't like quirky holiday stories
*if you're not into emotional growth and adult relationships
This might not be the book for you.
CW/TW: autistic main character
anxiety rep
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2021
10 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Drea Braddock
9 books29 followersDrea lives on the beautiful island of O'ahu, Hawai'i. She drinks a lot of coffee, reads a lot of books, and has a lot of tattoos. As a neurodivergent author, her dream characters and scenarios involve complex people, emotional wounds, normalizing nurturing those things that make us unique, and the magic of finding the person who sees all of you and still wants more.
If you want stories with those things AND humor, friendship, high heat, low angst, and no third-act black moment,
look no further!
If you want stories with those things AND humor, friendship, high heat, low angst, and no third-act black moment,
look no further!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 6, 2024
I've been on a micropeen binge lately and this book was sweet with just the right amount of angst. Loved it.
July 24, 2022
3.5 stars. This is a novella that takes place on Oahu. We have Bex as the main female character. She is on the autism spectrum and works on the military base as an intelligence officer. She meets Matthew at a bar. Matthew is Filipino with a… small package. His small package led to him avoiding intimacy. He is a virgin but has experience with going down on women. I loved the open honesty and the straightforwardness of Bex. That girl says whatever she is thinking and it’s refreshing. Matthew is so tender and generous with her. Very lovely couple. I appreciated the neurodivergent representation and the emphasis on embracing who you are.
January 4, 2022
This book is everything you want in an intelligent holiday novella and I've been secretly begging someone to write this hero for a while now. If you are a reader who craves capable wordcraft, interesting and complex characters, and real-world relationships in your romance, I whole-brainedly recommend this book.
January 25, 2022
For Spicy Readers
I downloaded Like a Good Neighbor and Small Packages at the same time, so cross posting this review.
I like the characters the author creates. You do, you just like them. You want them to be happy and it keeps you coming back because you want to know what happens to them! Initial character introductions were great. There is no massive data dump on their personality; the running theme with this author is to dump you directly into a situation that tells you the important defining characteristics and reactions (which I love).
And not always necessary to point out, but since this is self published, the grammar and punctuation is all very clean! I’m generally more lenient on that for indie works, so it’s a notable thing for me to call out.
If you like spice, this is for you. There is a careful attention to detail in these scenes. I wouldn’t call them kink scenes, but the language is very graphic, and they are well played out.
I personally like books with a slower burn, and softer language, and for me the author tended to rush through non-intimate scenes. However, those features are things that don’t work for me but I think could absolutely scratch an itch for someone who leans more toward “romantic erotica” reads.
I downloaded Like a Good Neighbor and Small Packages at the same time, so cross posting this review.
I like the characters the author creates. You do, you just like them. You want them to be happy and it keeps you coming back because you want to know what happens to them! Initial character introductions were great. There is no massive data dump on their personality; the running theme with this author is to dump you directly into a situation that tells you the important defining characteristics and reactions (which I love).
And not always necessary to point out, but since this is self published, the grammar and punctuation is all very clean! I’m generally more lenient on that for indie works, so it’s a notable thing for me to call out.
If you like spice, this is for you. There is a careful attention to detail in these scenes. I wouldn’t call them kink scenes, but the language is very graphic, and they are well played out.
I personally like books with a slower burn, and softer language, and for me the author tended to rush through non-intimate scenes. However, those features are things that don’t work for me but I think could absolutely scratch an itch for someone who leans more toward “romantic erotica” reads.
February 1, 2026
Solid autism representation with the FMC, but the MC was driving me insane! I get being self conscious about your body, especially certain areas, but I don’t think Bex gave him any reason to believe that she would react negatively, especially given how easily he accepted her needs. Matthew was so understanding and sweet about Bex’s needs, which I adored. I thought their relationship was built on a strong foundation and appreciated their little ways of showing love (like when Matthew brought Bex food at work that fit her routine or when he set up their bed picnic so she would eat but also be comfortable).
I would have preferred to go without the misunderstanding and third act break up. I so hate miscommunication. I will say, however, that Bex’s autism and struggle with social queues made it more understandable than if she were neurotypical. I just kept internally screaming at Matthew to just tell her already!
I would have preferred to go without the misunderstanding and third act break up. I so hate miscommunication. I will say, however, that Bex’s autism and struggle with social queues made it more understandable than if she were neurotypical. I just kept internally screaming at Matthew to just tell her already!
January 8, 2022
Great book for the open minded.
Intellectually stimulating soft porn at its best!!! With an emotionally charged love story. One the best self-published authors I've read in years. Highly recommend!!!
Intellectually stimulating soft porn at its best!!! With an emotionally charged love story. One the best self-published authors I've read in years. Highly recommend!!!
August 23, 2022
This was an adorably cute novella with an intriguing premise. Bex, our heroine, is on the autism spectrum, and Matthew, our hero, has some serious insecurities about his ... package. The author really made me feel for both of the characters.
February 17, 2022
Fantastic and unique novella with narrators who live complex inner and outer lives. The sex is hot, the dynamic is complicated in the best ways. I love how straightforward yet shyly sweet some of the scenes are and seeing it all unfolds in dual POV with so much vulnerability was amazing. Pacing caught me out a couple times because I wanted things to happen in MY time, but this is Bex and Matthew’s story and they took the time they needed. A lesson in its own right.
Sexy, sweet, vulnerable, complex and straightforward book. Delicious duality in so many ways.
Sexy, sweet, vulnerable, complex and straightforward book. Delicious duality in so many ways.
December 19, 2021
I'm returning to the romance scene as this is my second read in as many weeks in this genre. I'm reminded immediately that not all romances are the same (they're really not!) and what a wonderful, broad, diverse genre this is. This book had me hooked from the start, wondering if I could peg the issue that haunted the main character enough to risk his relationship rather than reveal his secret to his new love.
The beauty in this book is that the main characters are both a little different, and this makes them instantly relatable to anyone reading the story. Instead of the gorgeous, buxom blonde and the studly supermodel who happen to get together, these characters seem like they could be friends of ours, or even us! What a relief to find that they aren't textbook characters at all, but rather living, breathing, flawed "real" humans that we can relate to and cheer for from start to finish.
Finally, I want to give a shout out to the author for making a neurodiverse character so real that we could see inside her mind and understand her reaction to each situation she encountered in the book. Though each human on this earth is different, and no two neurodiverse people are identical, I firmly believe it's characters like Bex that shed much needed light on the beauty of our differences and make neurodiverse people in our own lives more accessible after peeking inside her mind in this book.
One last thing (for real this time). I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the sex in this novel is wonderfully written. I should have read a disclaimer before I started reading the book in a CVS waiting room while waiting on a prescription. I definitely didn't want to stop reading when my prescription was ready, and I did not care one iota what the look on my face said to other people watching me read. What a fun read - in every way!
The beauty in this book is that the main characters are both a little different, and this makes them instantly relatable to anyone reading the story. Instead of the gorgeous, buxom blonde and the studly supermodel who happen to get together, these characters seem like they could be friends of ours, or even us! What a relief to find that they aren't textbook characters at all, but rather living, breathing, flawed "real" humans that we can relate to and cheer for from start to finish.
Finally, I want to give a shout out to the author for making a neurodiverse character so real that we could see inside her mind and understand her reaction to each situation she encountered in the book. Though each human on this earth is different, and no two neurodiverse people are identical, I firmly believe it's characters like Bex that shed much needed light on the beauty of our differences and make neurodiverse people in our own lives more accessible after peeking inside her mind in this book.
One last thing (for real this time). I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the sex in this novel is wonderfully written. I should have read a disclaimer before I started reading the book in a CVS waiting room while waiting on a prescription. I definitely didn't want to stop reading when my prescription was ready, and I did not care one iota what the look on my face said to other people watching me read. What a fun read - in every way!
December 18, 2021
I have to be honest, I didn't have many expectations going into this. The title caught my attention on Instagram, and I was like, "This surely isn't about what I think it's about."
It is.
And the execution blew me (lol) away.
The dedication page softened my heart, the first paragraph flirted with me, and the rest of the book made me fall in love.
Bex's subtle snark and badassery combined with Matthew's soft sensitivity made for such delightful chemistry and banter. The way Bex's autism and Matthew's insecurities were handled was just...amazing.The communication (well aside from one small thing) both in and out of the bedroom is something all romance writers should take notes of.
Sexy, smart, and sweet, if you enjoyed books like the Kiss Quotient, or really anything by Helen Hoang, this book is for you.
It is.
And the execution blew me (lol) away.
The dedication page softened my heart, the first paragraph flirted with me, and the rest of the book made me fall in love.
Bex's subtle snark and badassery combined with Matthew's soft sensitivity made for such delightful chemistry and banter. The way Bex's autism and Matthew's insecurities were handled was just...amazing.The communication (well aside from one small thing) both in and out of the bedroom is something all romance writers should take notes of.
Sexy, smart, and sweet, if you enjoyed books like the Kiss Quotient, or really anything by Helen Hoang, this book is for you.
March 25, 2022
Pretty sure all of the emotions are in there. Actual true facts: I laughed, I gasped, I ached, I was aroused. Pretty great romance story then, right?? Drea’s characters are FANTASTIC, and believable.
March 27, 2023
This was a short, quick read but it did feel longer than it is. Definitely steamy, but also quite cute. It was less holiday-y than I expected though. Not that that’s bad, it was still a good story, just a bit unexpected based on the cover and ‘holiday novella’ description.
I feel like sometimes a 3 star rating seems low, and I don’t want it to seem like I disliked this. It was just a middle of the road book to me. The characters we fine, I appreciated that the story was unique, but I felt like a lot of the interactions and the way the characters spoke to each other just didn’t always seem very natural. At first I thought that maybe that’s how the author was writing Bex’s autism, but it wasn’t just conversations involving her. So maybe that authors writing just isn’t my personal taste.
I didn’t love the quick progression of the relationship. Things moved quickly between them, including them getting into a relationship before he knew her actual name. It also was very obvious what the complication was going to be, and I personally didn’t love it. I do understand why people like this, and am glad I gave it a try, but it’s probably not one that I’d rush to recommend and I wouldn’t reread it.
I feel like sometimes a 3 star rating seems low, and I don’t want it to seem like I disliked this. It was just a middle of the road book to me. The characters we fine, I appreciated that the story was unique, but I felt like a lot of the interactions and the way the characters spoke to each other just didn’t always seem very natural. At first I thought that maybe that’s how the author was writing Bex’s autism, but it wasn’t just conversations involving her. So maybe that authors writing just isn’t my personal taste.
I didn’t love the quick progression of the relationship. Things moved quickly between them, including them getting into a relationship before he knew her actual name. It also was very obvious what the complication was going to be, and I personally didn’t love it. I do understand why people like this, and am glad I gave it a try, but it’s probably not one that I’d rush to recommend and I wouldn’t reread it.
November 16, 2025
A nice, short read. Very sweet and spicy holiday romance! And I loved the mmc and his family so much but it's not because I'm a Filipino just like our mmc as well, I found that this book and the author did a great job in doing a Filipino representation.
But it's also for that reason why I gave this less a star cause' while the author got the description of Filo parties and our obsession with pancit canton, lumpia and adobo right, the use of the word 'syota' in the middle of some romantic scenes here just really took me out causeee' nooo you cannot use that during sexy timesss😭 it's justtt...really awkward sounding most especially if you're gonna use it inside the bedroom.
But anyways, I really did like how silly and sweet this story is, some might think micropeen is not a real thing...well it is and I loved how the author didn't make the mmc's situation as something really laughable nor also something that he shouldn't care about. And I also loved how blunt the fmc is, she's very honest to her core as a result of being neurodivergent but I just really liked how she handled her relationship with the mmc. She's very mature and knows what she wants, she also knows her limitations and I just really loved that. Great story to pass the time!
But it's also for that reason why I gave this less a star cause' while the author got the description of Filo parties and our obsession with pancit canton, lumpia and adobo right, the use of the word 'syota' in the middle of some romantic scenes here just really took me out causeee' nooo you cannot use that during sexy timesss😭 it's justtt...really awkward sounding most especially if you're gonna use it inside the bedroom.
But anyways, I really did like how silly and sweet this story is, some might think micropeen is not a real thing...well it is and I loved how the author didn't make the mmc's situation as something really laughable nor also something that he shouldn't care about. And I also loved how blunt the fmc is, she's very honest to her core as a result of being neurodivergent but I just really liked how she handled her relationship with the mmc. She's very mature and knows what she wants, she also knows her limitations and I just really loved that. Great story to pass the time!
January 1, 2023
https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com...
I really liked this read, but I do think it tried to cram in way too much into the 108 pages. This takes place over the course of a few months and because of this, we get a lot of summarizing of events that I would have loved to see on page. I did love the chemistry and connection between the characters and how we got to see them hanging out and having fun outside of the bedroom. I also liked how we saw Bex's autism treated in a few different ways throughout this shorter read (acceptance and adoration by Matthew and her friends, not so nicely by other characters) so it didn't feel like a one-dimensional character trait. We get a good amount of side characters as well which I always like since it gave us a little different perspective. I loved that Matthew wasn't 'fixed' by love but rather Bex accepts that part of him and they have a supportive and open discussion. There was a lot of great communication in this read and while the main conflict is due to Matthew not being able to communicate in the moment, I think they still come together in the end really well.
I really liked this read, but I do think it tried to cram in way too much into the 108 pages. This takes place over the course of a few months and because of this, we get a lot of summarizing of events that I would have loved to see on page. I did love the chemistry and connection between the characters and how we got to see them hanging out and having fun outside of the bedroom. I also liked how we saw Bex's autism treated in a few different ways throughout this shorter read (acceptance and adoration by Matthew and her friends, not so nicely by other characters) so it didn't feel like a one-dimensional character trait. We get a good amount of side characters as well which I always like since it gave us a little different perspective. I loved that Matthew wasn't 'fixed' by love but rather Bex accepts that part of him and they have a supportive and open discussion. There was a lot of great communication in this read and while the main conflict is due to Matthew not being able to communicate in the moment, I think they still come together in the end really well.
May 29, 2025
love match
Matthew and Bex are soulmates I was happy for them regardless of their insecurities. They found each other and found love and trust; beautiful. The lovemaking was sweet but not passionate enough for me. Matthew was depicted as a sensitive and caring lover. After all was said and done, l still craved for him to take charge more using his body, mind and Bex’s love gifts to satisfy them both with an over the edge orgasms. Overall, I loved this story
Matthew and Bex are soulmates I was happy for them regardless of their insecurities. They found each other and found love and trust; beautiful. The lovemaking was sweet but not passionate enough for me. Matthew was depicted as a sensitive and caring lover. After all was said and done, l still craved for him to take charge more using his body, mind and Bex’s love gifts to satisfy them both with an over the edge orgasms. Overall, I loved this story
March 17, 2023
Great read
The author managed to create a diverse yet authentic group of characters without that forced feeling. I enjoyed Bex the autistic female lead and though I felt Matthew's "problem" was some what obvious it's the first time I've seen that particular situation represented and I thought it was done thoughtfully. My only complaint is I'd have liked an epologue
The author managed to create a diverse yet authentic group of characters without that forced feeling. I enjoyed Bex the autistic female lead and though I felt Matthew's "problem" was some what obvious it's the first time I've seen that particular situation represented and I thought it was done thoughtfully. My only complaint is I'd have liked an epologue
April 6, 2023
Thank you for this wonderful, realistic romance novella!
So many romance novelists are such rampant size queens usually. What a refreshing change! Please keep it up (pun intended).
So many romance novelists are such rampant size queens usually. What a refreshing change! Please keep it up (pun intended).
March 31, 2023
This was so sweet. I loved the support between the two MC’s. I felt their loss of communication in my gut. When she texts back that she has plans he’s like, oh ok 😭.
April 17, 2023
Loved this! Heartwarming. Spicy. Sweet. Unique plot.
April 19, 2023
My heart wasn’t ready for how sweet this was. Matthew was so swoony and such a sweetheart.
May 26, 2023
This book y'all!!
After all the dark stuff I've read lately this eas a nice cheerful read.. we'll written! And I just completely loved it!
After all the dark stuff I've read lately this eas a nice cheerful read.. we'll written! And I just completely loved it!
June 16, 2024
This was sweet and different
August 24, 2024
Cute easy read.
July 30, 2024
This was great. Very genuine and sweet, well-done rep (an autistic FMC and an MMC with a slightly-over-the-cutoff micropenis). The story was sufficient but didn't have much in the way of extraneous details, subplots, etc.
April 2, 2023
este libro me hizo empatizar con algo que NUNCA pense q iba a ser posible. fue cute y me rei bastante porq me lo habian spoileado
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews