What do you think?
Rate this book
Inevitable #1
Only for the Weekend
Sam
Nothing in my life is really mine. I take care of my mama, work three jobs, I’m there when anyone needs me. Something about the beautiful, lonely man on my mail route interests me. He’s different in my world, where everything’s the same. I think he hates me, but that doesn’t stop me from hand-delivering every package and trying to find ways to make him smile.
Then Emerson makes me an he’ll pay me to spend the weekends with him, losing ourselves in each other’s bodies, no feelings or pasts involved.
Friday through Sunday become mine, the one thing I do for me. Soon it’s not just the weekends I want, but Emerson. He’s got secrets, though, and won’t let me in.
Emerson
I landed in the small town of Ryland, hoping to disappear. Finding your boyfriend’s body and being accused of his murder will do that to a guy. The deal with Sam is supposed to be strictly physical, but it doesn’t take long for the adorable, sweet man to get under my skin.
I look forward to his corny jokes, get addicted to the feel of his body against mine. He’s got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen, and with each day, each conversation we have, every laugh we share, Sam brings me back to life.
There’s a million reasons I should stay I’m broken, fifteen years older, too sad, too angry, and can’t let my past get out. But Sam makes me want to fight for my happiness if the reward is him. Because having Sam only for the weekend will never be enough.
Only for the Weekend is a grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, age-gap romance with two scarred characters who find comfort in each other. There are themes of alcoholism involving a side character.
Nothing in my life is really mine. I take care of my mama, work three jobs, I’m there when anyone needs me. Something about the beautiful, lonely man on my mail route interests me. He’s different in my world, where everything’s the same. I think he hates me, but that doesn’t stop me from hand-delivering every package and trying to find ways to make him smile.
Then Emerson makes me an he’ll pay me to spend the weekends with him, losing ourselves in each other’s bodies, no feelings or pasts involved.
Friday through Sunday become mine, the one thing I do for me. Soon it’s not just the weekends I want, but Emerson. He’s got secrets, though, and won’t let me in.
Emerson
I landed in the small town of Ryland, hoping to disappear. Finding your boyfriend’s body and being accused of his murder will do that to a guy. The deal with Sam is supposed to be strictly physical, but it doesn’t take long for the adorable, sweet man to get under my skin.
I look forward to his corny jokes, get addicted to the feel of his body against mine. He’s got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen, and with each day, each conversation we have, every laugh we share, Sam brings me back to life.
There’s a million reasons I should stay I’m broken, fifteen years older, too sad, too angry, and can’t let my past get out. But Sam makes me want to fight for my happiness if the reward is him. Because having Sam only for the weekend will never be enough.
Only for the Weekend is a grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, age-gap romance with two scarred characters who find comfort in each other. There are themes of alcoholism involving a side character.
394 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2022
744 people are currently reading
2588 people want to read
About the author
Riley Hart
114 books7,154 followersRiley Hart is the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. She's a hopeless romantic. A lover of sexy stories, passionate men, and writing about all the trouble they can get into together. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her reading.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
Riley lives in California with her awesome family, who she is thankful for everyday.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
August 16, 2023
I could say that I picked this up because this was a buddy read or that Riley Hart is one of those authors whose books I’m always happy to find myself reading (there’s about a million of them coming out each day, so it’s hard to keep up), and that’s all true, but I think the main reason is that the title sounded like a song! Everything from Weekend by Mac Miller, The Weekend by SZA, This Weekend by Phora, to even Weekend Girl by S.O.S. Band, I guess it’s always an eye-catcher for me when I see the word “weekend” in the title. And even though I’m used to this author’s stories being more on the sugary-sweet-side, it was a nice surprise that Only for the Weekend took a bit of a different turn as it was adorned with more melancholic undertones. As for the story, Emerson and Sam start their relationship on the agreement that there will be no strings attached (ha ha, yeah right), and, you guessed it, things start to get way out of hand as they start falling for each other. It's a simple premise, sure, but I still found it to be quite the emotional roller-coaster that was only enhanced by the realistic and earnest dialogue. I will admit that sometimes Emerson got on my nerves. A lot of the times it seemed like he didn’t respect Sam as a person with his own agency. I mean, Emerson is always lamenting the fact that he’s twenty years older or whatever, but he’s the one infantilizing Sam, treating him like this fragile thing and all that jazz. Anyway, this wasn’t a real issue in the grand scheme of things, because Emerson growing past these hang-ups is a major part of his character arc. Besides, these are realistic insecurities and actually made him into a more interesting character, even if sometimes I wished Sam would just tell him to take a hike. I’m just saying, I know he’s hot (and is probably supposed to be the dude on the cover), but like… Salvatore can wait, now it's time to eat soft ice cream.
"Happiness was never guaranteed. I never thought I’d have it because I hadn’t thought I deserved it. Sam hadn’t thought he’d have it either, but now that we did, we were holding on with both hands and never letting go.”
"Happiness was never guaranteed. I never thought I’d have it because I hadn’t thought I deserved it. Sam hadn’t thought he’d have it either, but now that we did, we were holding on with both hands and never letting go.”
August 19, 2022
~4.5~
When Riley Hart is on, which is often, she delivers feels, passion, and interesting characters.
Sam and Emerson are not cookie-cutter MCs. Both feel guilty over things out of their control. Both wear masks.
Sammy has been his mom's keeper for as long as he can remember. His mom means well, but her addiction is more important than her son.
Emerson came to hide in this small North Carolina town, but he brought his shame with him. He dreams of blood on his hands and wakes up screaming.
Sam and Em come up with an arrangement that suits them both: Sam becomes Em's paid weekend toy. Just fucking, no feelings.
Except Sam gets under Em's skin and is the only person who can make Em smile (and roll around in the mud).
Contains:
complex protagonists who grow as people;
hurt/comfort (Sam offers solace and forgivenes, while Em helps Sam be brave and take back his life);
dual POV with distinct voices;
plenty of heat;
well-rounded secondary characters (I especially like Charles, Em's friend, and hope he gets a story);
strong relationship development (lovers to friends to forever);
lovely epilogue (with wiggle room for more books in what I hope will become a series);
absolution.
When Riley Hart is on, which is often, she delivers feels, passion, and interesting characters.
Sam and Emerson are not cookie-cutter MCs. Both feel guilty over things out of their control. Both wear masks.
Sammy has been his mom's keeper for as long as he can remember. His mom means well, but her addiction is more important than her son.
Emerson came to hide in this small North Carolina town, but he brought his shame with him. He dreams of blood on his hands and wakes up screaming.
Sam and Em come up with an arrangement that suits them both: Sam becomes Em's paid weekend toy. Just fucking, no feelings.
Except Sam gets under Em's skin and is the only person who can make Em smile (and roll around in the mud).
Contains:
complex protagonists who grow as people;
hurt/comfort (Sam offers solace and forgivenes, while Em helps Sam be brave and take back his life);
dual POV with distinct voices;
plenty of heat;
well-rounded secondary characters (I especially like Charles, Em's friend, and hope he gets a story);
strong relationship development (lovers to friends to forever);
lovely epilogue (with wiggle room for more books in what I hope will become a series);
absolution.
June 20, 2023
***3.75 rating***
"I sucked the salty skin of his neck into my mouth, hard and long enough to give him a hickey. When the purple started to appear, I kissed it. I didn’t know how I was ever going to let him go."
Only for the Weekend is the latest book by Riley Hart, the author who has written some of my favorite books. Unfortunately, some of the latest books that RH has released in the past year has not been her best work but some have been still enjoyable. As such whenever she releases a new book, I have my hesitations. Will it be good? Will it be repetitive or predictable?
When it came to rating Only for the Weekend, I had mixed feelings regarding what I wanted to rate this book, at times I thought it should be lower and sometimes higher. Basically, all over the place. So I settled on a 3.75 rating and I will explain why.
The story itself like so many of Riley Hart's books is set in the Southeastern region of the U.S., in this book it is Ryland, North Carolina, a small town where everyone knows everyone and their business. Bentley Emerson Fox (40 and mostly known in the story as Emerson), a former businessman has settled in Ryland for the time being to escape his troubled past. Nothing like running away from your problems to a small town where no one knows you right?
Given that Ryland is a small town, everyone is curious about the new handsome resident with his lavish home and farmland. A mysterious gorgeous stranger to town is bound to spark intrigue and rumors.
Sweet country boy, Sammy "Sam" Joe Saunders (25), is no different than everyone else. He too is also interested in Emerson. As a closeted queer man in North Carolina, he finds himself not only attracted to the enigmatic man but he finds himself also wanting to know and befriend him. Between his many jobs as a mailman, food delivery guy, caretaker for his alcoholic mother, and part-time camboy, he has no time for his own needs and ambitions. So, one day when he crosses paths with Emerson whilst delivering his mail, he flirts with the man and their story starts from there.
Sam and Emerson, both crave sex and company, so it was no surprise that they would enter a strange arrangement that reminded me of Pretty Woman. You can guess from that reference how the story and romance blossom.
Since Sam is still deep in the closet, and Emerson has too many demons to enter into a relationship, the pair instead seek each other for comfort and sex, on the weekends, hence the name of the book. I will not say more than that when it comes to the summary of the book, because I don't want to spoil it.
My thoughts were all over the place after I finished this book. Did I enjoy it? Did I dislike it? I did not know where I stood when it came to rating it and it is not that deep but still lol, I struggled to rate it. There were things that I thought could have been done better, things that were problematic and repetitive, but there were also many heartwarming moments that persuaded me to enjoy this book otherwise.
The beginning of the book is fairly boring and stagnant, not much happens until you are 48% into the book. I despised Emerson in the beginning and perhaps I judged him too quickly, which mind you I did. He was introduced as the older hot rich guy with commitment issues and demons that he could not face at home so he ran away to a small town instead, this of course made me roll my eyes. Another man with commitment issues...haven't seen that before. Smh. He was also an asshole to Sam and was very unlikeable, I thought that Sam did deserve better. I didn't feel any connection between them in the beginning. It felt forced. But as the story progressed and as we got to know the MCs my opinion slightly changed. I have no complaints when it comes to Sam, he is exactly as Riley describes him. Sweet, sunshiny, caring (at times too much) and very much lovable, Sam is sweet as a button. He easily wins you over. As a reader, you sympathize with him when it comes to his mother and how he had to put his own life on hold to care for his alcoholic mother. You feel frustrated at times with him because you know he deserves better than this life, mother and small town, his best friend Molly is the voice of reason in this book and she lets us know it. Molly is another character you will like as a reader. But regardless, Sam stays and cares for everyone but himself, your heart breaks for him and his mother's false promises. The story is close to home for the author, so I deeply empathize with the characters and RH.
As the story progresses, you get to know Emerson and why he left New York, and what his demons are. His backstory felt at times dragged and could have been told sooner, but I did like him more after I got to know his story. All is not what it seems with Emerson. Emerson too takes a liking to Sam and their relationship gets more complicated when sex and money are involved. Sam is exactly what Emerson needed and likewise for Emerson as well. They fit well with each other despite their differences and struggles. Sam is not your typical country bumpkin and is in my opinion a very strong character. He is the main reason why I gave this story a 3.75 rating, otherwise, it may have been lower. Their romance did not make sense in the beginning but as you know them more and as they interact, they make sense together and you root for them.
Now for my not-so-favorite aspects of the book. As I mentioned previously, some parts of this book were repetitive and predictable. This book overwhelmingly reminded me of Depth of Field, a book that is also written by RH. In both books, one of the MCs is a caretaker, lives in a small town, cannot leave due to family obligations, meets a man who has lived the kind of life one of the MCs envisions but doesn't dare to dream, and well similar over the top sex scenes. If you have read that book you know why I think they are similar and why I found this book kind of predictable. Similarly, there is always some family drama in RH's books, sometimes that becomes annoying but in this one it was okay, was not a fan of Sam's homophobic aunt, you will know why if you read this book.
I feel like I ranted so much lol, but bear with me. While I commend the author for writing about alcoholism and addiction, not all have happy endings like this one. But I am glad that this one ended well, some sadly don't.
I understand some have hesitations to read RH's books but if you decide to read this one and give it a chance you will find yourself rooting for Emerson and Sam. It has its flaws, so keep that in mind when reading.
Sorry for the long ass rant and happy reading if you decided to read Only for the Weekend!
"I sucked the salty skin of his neck into my mouth, hard and long enough to give him a hickey. When the purple started to appear, I kissed it. I didn’t know how I was ever going to let him go."
Only for the Weekend is the latest book by Riley Hart, the author who has written some of my favorite books. Unfortunately, some of the latest books that RH has released in the past year has not been her best work but some have been still enjoyable. As such whenever she releases a new book, I have my hesitations. Will it be good? Will it be repetitive or predictable?
When it came to rating Only for the Weekend, I had mixed feelings regarding what I wanted to rate this book, at times I thought it should be lower and sometimes higher. Basically, all over the place. So I settled on a 3.75 rating and I will explain why.
The story itself like so many of Riley Hart's books is set in the Southeastern region of the U.S., in this book it is Ryland, North Carolina, a small town where everyone knows everyone and their business. Bentley Emerson Fox (40 and mostly known in the story as Emerson), a former businessman has settled in Ryland for the time being to escape his troubled past. Nothing like running away from your problems to a small town where no one knows you right?
Given that Ryland is a small town, everyone is curious about the new handsome resident with his lavish home and farmland. A mysterious gorgeous stranger to town is bound to spark intrigue and rumors.
Sweet country boy, Sammy "Sam" Joe Saunders (25), is no different than everyone else. He too is also interested in Emerson. As a closeted queer man in North Carolina, he finds himself not only attracted to the enigmatic man but he finds himself also wanting to know and befriend him. Between his many jobs as a mailman, food delivery guy, caretaker for his alcoholic mother, and part-time camboy, he has no time for his own needs and ambitions. So, one day when he crosses paths with Emerson whilst delivering his mail, he flirts with the man and their story starts from there.
Sam and Emerson, both crave sex and company, so it was no surprise that they would enter a strange arrangement that reminded me of Pretty Woman. You can guess from that reference how the story and romance blossom.
Since Sam is still deep in the closet, and Emerson has too many demons to enter into a relationship, the pair instead seek each other for comfort and sex, on the weekends, hence the name of the book. I will not say more than that when it comes to the summary of the book, because I don't want to spoil it.
My thoughts were all over the place after I finished this book. Did I enjoy it? Did I dislike it? I did not know where I stood when it came to rating it and it is not that deep but still lol, I struggled to rate it. There were things that I thought could have been done better, things that were problematic and repetitive, but there were also many heartwarming moments that persuaded me to enjoy this book otherwise.
The beginning of the book is fairly boring and stagnant, not much happens until you are 48% into the book. I despised Emerson in the beginning and perhaps I judged him too quickly, which mind you I did. He was introduced as the older hot rich guy with commitment issues and demons that he could not face at home so he ran away to a small town instead, this of course made me roll my eyes. Another man with commitment issues...haven't seen that before. Smh. He was also an asshole to Sam and was very unlikeable, I thought that Sam did deserve better. I didn't feel any connection between them in the beginning. It felt forced. But as the story progressed and as we got to know the MCs my opinion slightly changed. I have no complaints when it comes to Sam, he is exactly as Riley describes him. Sweet, sunshiny, caring (at times too much) and very much lovable, Sam is sweet as a button. He easily wins you over. As a reader, you sympathize with him when it comes to his mother and how he had to put his own life on hold to care for his alcoholic mother. You feel frustrated at times with him because you know he deserves better than this life, mother and small town, his best friend Molly is the voice of reason in this book and she lets us know it. Molly is another character you will like as a reader. But regardless, Sam stays and cares for everyone but himself, your heart breaks for him and his mother's false promises. The story is close to home for the author, so I deeply empathize with the characters and RH.
As the story progresses, you get to know Emerson and why he left New York, and what his demons are. His backstory felt at times dragged and could have been told sooner, but I did like him more after I got to know his story. All is not what it seems with Emerson. Emerson too takes a liking to Sam and their relationship gets more complicated when sex and money are involved. Sam is exactly what Emerson needed and likewise for Emerson as well. They fit well with each other despite their differences and struggles. Sam is not your typical country bumpkin and is in my opinion a very strong character. He is the main reason why I gave this story a 3.75 rating, otherwise, it may have been lower. Their romance did not make sense in the beginning but as you know them more and as they interact, they make sense together and you root for them.
Now for my not-so-favorite aspects of the book. As I mentioned previously, some parts of this book were repetitive and predictable. This book overwhelmingly reminded me of Depth of Field, a book that is also written by RH. In both books, one of the MCs is a caretaker, lives in a small town, cannot leave due to family obligations, meets a man who has lived the kind of life one of the MCs envisions but doesn't dare to dream, and well similar over the top sex scenes. If you have read that book you know why I think they are similar and why I found this book kind of predictable. Similarly, there is always some family drama in RH's books, sometimes that becomes annoying but in this one it was okay, was not a fan of Sam's homophobic aunt, you will know why if you read this book.
I feel like I ranted so much lol, but bear with me. While I commend the author for writing about alcoholism and addiction, not all have happy endings like this one. But I am glad that this one ended well, some sadly don't.
I understand some have hesitations to read RH's books but if you decide to read this one and give it a chance you will find yourself rooting for Emerson and Sam. It has its flaws, so keep that in mind when reading.
Sorry for the long ass rant and happy reading if you decided to read Only for the Weekend!
December 10, 2022
3.5**** stars
How do you tell people that you genuinely liked a book, its story and its characters, while it also had taken you weeks to finish it bc it couldn’t captivate you strong enough to not get distracted by other books?
Well this is the situation we have here. Maybe it was the quite slow pace of the story…
Riley Hart stated, that living with and feeling responsible for an alcoholic mother is part of her own real life experience and so I paid closer attention and while reading about Sam’s life (when he was not with Emerson on the weekends) my heart was breaking for both of them - Sam and Riley.
I’m glad Sam and his mom made it in the end. It was good seeing both of them leaving their codependency.
Besides the slow pace and a teeny tiny bit of skimming I enjoyed reading Sam’s and Emerson’s book very much and I hope to get another glimpse or two of them in the second book of the series. ♡
*************
Inevitable series:
Book 1 - Only for the Weekend - 3.5 stars
Book 2 - A Million Little Moments - tbr
How do you tell people that you genuinely liked a book, its story and its characters, while it also had taken you weeks to finish it bc it couldn’t captivate you strong enough to not get distracted by other books?
Well this is the situation we have here. Maybe it was the quite slow pace of the story…
Riley Hart stated, that living with and feeling responsible for an alcoholic mother is part of her own real life experience and so I paid closer attention and while reading about Sam’s life (when he was not with Emerson on the weekends) my heart was breaking for both of them - Sam and Riley.
I’m glad Sam and his mom made it in the end. It was good seeing both of them leaving their codependency.
Besides the slow pace and a teeny tiny bit of skimming I enjoyed reading Sam’s and Emerson’s book very much and I hope to get another glimpse or two of them in the second book of the series. ♡
“We’re not socks, but I think we make a great pair.”
He chuckled. “Dork.”
*************
Inevitable series:
Book 1 - Only for the Weekend - 3.5 stars
Book 2 - A Million Little Moments - tbr
August 5, 2022
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. ***
Only for the Weekend is a beautifully written love story between a haunted and broken man, Emerson and his mailman/delivery driver, Sam. Sam charms his way into Emerson's thoughts due to his earnest positivity that is so heartfelt that Emerson cannot control his growing feelings.
Only for the Weekend initially begins as a simple transaction between two lonely people, but due to the nature of Sam's heartfelt positivity and Emerson's need for companionship and safety begins a beautiful love story that left me speechless in many moments and in others completely heartbroken for the characters.
There are many tragic elements to this story that have caused both main characters heartache and turmoil, but due to their unrelenting bond and trust with one another their feelings naturally grow into something so completely sincere that I couldn't help, but root for their HEA.
This is a beautiful love story that takes two different people, in every possible way, and due to their desire to connect to another soul find a true connection, which makes for such a perfect love story.
Only for the Weekend is a beautifully written love story between a haunted and broken man, Emerson and his mailman/delivery driver, Sam. Sam charms his way into Emerson's thoughts due to his earnest positivity that is so heartfelt that Emerson cannot control his growing feelings.
Only for the Weekend initially begins as a simple transaction between two lonely people, but due to the nature of Sam's heartfelt positivity and Emerson's need for companionship and safety begins a beautiful love story that left me speechless in many moments and in others completely heartbroken for the characters.
There are many tragic elements to this story that have caused both main characters heartache and turmoil, but due to their unrelenting bond and trust with one another their feelings naturally grow into something so completely sincere that I couldn't help, but root for their HEA.
This is a beautiful love story that takes two different people, in every possible way, and due to their desire to connect to another soul find a true connection, which makes for such a perfect love story.
Read
May 31, 2023I'm not going to leave a rating, but it was painful for me to get through this audiobook. I gave up about 1/4 of the way through. I guess only VERY particular Riley Hart books work for me.
December 9, 2022
So I started A Million Little Moments and got about 20% in when I realized I should probably read this first.
I like the premise, it sounds really hot if not predictable. But then as I’m reading I realize I’ve began skimming which for me, means it’s not working.
The pacing is slow, the characters are dull and the sex is so mediocre. I wanted to like this but by the 40% mark, I found no redeeming qualities to keep my attention.
It was all just so boring.
I like the premise, it sounds really hot if not predictable. But then as I’m reading I realize I’ve began skimming which for me, means it’s not working.
The pacing is slow, the characters are dull and the sex is so mediocre. I wanted to like this but by the 40% mark, I found no redeeming qualities to keep my attention.
It was all just so boring.
December 30, 2022
I mostly read this because I really want to read book two, but I actually really ended up enjoying it. Love a grumpy/sunshine and the slow progression of Emerson slowly opening up, and the progression of their relationship. I thought Sam's relationship with his mom was well done. The epilogue was really good too.
It took me a bit to warm up to Sam, he just kept rambling on talking so much in the first several chapters it was a bit cringey. But I did end up warming up to him, liked the couple's use of stupid dad jokes too.
Really excited for book 2 now.
It took me a bit to warm up to Sam, he just kept rambling on talking so much in the first several chapters it was a bit cringey. But I did end up warming up to him, liked the couple's use of stupid dad jokes too.
Really excited for book 2 now.
September 30, 2022
Audiobook - 4.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
August 19, 2022
i can't even talk shit bc i know that it was good... but it simply wasn't for me. i was earlier drawn to the sex on the weekend kind of thing but turns out everything waa stellar and top notch except for that.
July 29, 2022
Oh my heart! I savored every single second of this book you all! I didn't want to put it down but I didn't want it to end either! It was just so good!
This book owned me! It still owns a piece of my heart! It was just so so good!
This book owned me! It still owns a piece of my heart! It was just so so good!
August 12, 2022
Heart rending, poignant and engrossing. It was an incredible read!
"Only for the Weekend"is a grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, age-gap romance which features two surprisingly mature characters who communicates with each other at every turn. It's set in a small town. Deals with sensitive topics like murder, loss, grief, trauma, homophobia, alcoholism etc.
I love Riley Hart's books. Her writing is really really good. This book was no different. The prose immediately lured me in and made it impossible to put the book down. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. So, I ended up reading this book in a sitting. The characters were mature. They were easy to love. The romance utterly absorbing. "Only For The Weekend" was an absolute page turner, blissfully romantic and a thought provoking read. The grumpy sunshine trope was perfectly executed. I loved the age gap between the two main characters. The book was also humorous and funny. In all, I had amazing time reading this book. Enjoyed every minute of it. Highly highly recommended.
"Only for the Weekend"is a grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, age-gap romance which features two surprisingly mature characters who communicates with each other at every turn. It's set in a small town. Deals with sensitive topics like murder, loss, grief, trauma, homophobia, alcoholism etc.
I love Riley Hart's books. Her writing is really really good. This book was no different. The prose immediately lured me in and made it impossible to put the book down. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. So, I ended up reading this book in a sitting. The characters were mature. They were easy to love. The romance utterly absorbing. "Only For The Weekend" was an absolute page turner, blissfully romantic and a thought provoking read. The grumpy sunshine trope was perfectly executed. I loved the age gap between the two main characters. The book was also humorous and funny. In all, I had amazing time reading this book. Enjoyed every minute of it. Highly highly recommended.
August 22, 2022
This was ok 2.5 rounded up but this author has done way better. I really liked the alcoholic mother plot and how that was handled. BUT the getting to know each other parts and the "agreement" were awkward. I didn't like the "rent a boy" aspect because it felt really forced to me. I didn't like that we got Em's backstory from his inner thoughts instead of discovering it with Sam. It would have worked better as a single POV in the first part at least. If we had only been in Sam's head and discovering Em's layers slowly it could have been lovely. I'm not convinced by the ending either. But the two MCs helped each other grow into their own and were cute together. They had a strong fondation (something was still missing in the relationship development because of too much sex and not enough deep conversations).
dnf
August 17, 2023DNF @ 27%
August 27, 2022
When will I ever learn my lesson and stop getting excited by every Riley Hart book release? So, this was …meh. We have the sad mopy self-hating guy with the same used up phrases we all know “Oh, I hate myself, I don’t deserve love “ yada yada bla bla and we have the never absent “responsable” guy, “with the world on his shoulders” 🙄 . The guy who is the salt of the Earth, who always thinks of others and never of himself (you know, as in every Riley Hart book) . And we also have the always present”hag” , the BFF, the one who warns him not to fall for the mopy sad guy and who gives the mopy sad guy the stink eye every time she sees him. Nothing new, the same pattern, the same tired and overused picture , the same dialogues “You’re a good man ,Em! I know you for a week and I know we only just fucked and you were accused of murder but I KNOW you , you’re a good man! You deserve love !! “ and “You have to put yourself first Sam, you don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders, you deserve more” I rolled my eyes so many times I feared they’d get stuck in my head. The sex was boring and unimaginative , the guys were boring, the mother was boring, the BFF was boring… In case I was too subtle.. this book was boring af .
Oh, wait, I did like Sam’s dad-jokes!
Oh, wait, I did like Sam’s dad-jokes!
January 14, 2024
It started off as a 2 or maybe 3 star read, but suddenly, it got a lot better.
I’ll readily admit: I’ve been on the verge to dnf a few times in the beginning, because I didn’t really connect to the characters. On one hand, we have Emerson/Bentley, who fled to the small southern town called Ryland after being accused of murdering his boyfriend, back then when he was a rich businessman in New York. And then there’s Sam, the 25yo mailman, who lives in Ryland, who’s a (very closeted) ray of sunshine, looking after his mother who has an alcohol addiction, and pretending to be on a relationship with his bff Molly.
I swear, it sounds a lot darker and drearier than it is. In fact, the thing that kept me going was Sam’s Southern charm - he’s such a relaxed, positive, half-glass-full kind of guy, but at the same time very grounded and realistic: the town he’s living in isn’t the rose coloured, accepting place many books make them sound, but it’s not evil, either. People are… nice. They look after each other, they gossip and meddle, but they care. But he knows that if he were to out himself, they wouldn’t understand. And they wouldn’t understand the toll it’s taking on him to always put others first, because that’s just how “it’s done”. I also liked how the author made him speak with that Southern drawl - even though I didn’t listen to an audiobook, his voice and his cadence were so clear in my head as if he was standing next to me.
When Sam meets Emerson and when he notices that the attraction is mutual, he wants this thing for himself, and he agrees to have an arrangement “only for the weekend”, even getting paid for it, because - another thing I liked about him - he’s pragmatic, and he needs money.
And I loved how Emerson allowed himself to fall in love again, even though he felt guilt for a murder he didn’t commit, and thought he deserved to be alone.
If you think it’s a daddy/boy relationship because Emerson is 15 years older and a lot worldlier - it’s not. It’s hurt/comfort, grumpy/sunshine, with a lot more realism than we’re used to in romance, but still achingly romantic, if that makes sense.
”Also, I think you got it all wrong, Em.” “How’s that?” “I don’t think it’s that you’re not yourself anymore. I think it’s finally that you are.”
So I’m happy I didn’t dnf, because somewhere around 40-50% I began loving it, and read the second half in one go.
All in all - 2.5 stars for the first half, 4.5 for the second, so I’ll go for 3.5 and round it up because of the really good writing.

I’ll readily admit: I’ve been on the verge to dnf a few times in the beginning, because I didn’t really connect to the characters. On one hand, we have Emerson/Bentley, who fled to the small southern town called Ryland after being accused of murdering his boyfriend, back then when he was a rich businessman in New York. And then there’s Sam, the 25yo mailman, who lives in Ryland, who’s a (very closeted) ray of sunshine, looking after his mother who has an alcohol addiction, and pretending to be on a relationship with his bff Molly.
I swear, it sounds a lot darker and drearier than it is. In fact, the thing that kept me going was Sam’s Southern charm - he’s such a relaxed, positive, half-glass-full kind of guy, but at the same time very grounded and realistic: the town he’s living in isn’t the rose coloured, accepting place many books make them sound, but it’s not evil, either. People are… nice. They look after each other, they gossip and meddle, but they care. But he knows that if he were to out himself, they wouldn’t understand. And they wouldn’t understand the toll it’s taking on him to always put others first, because that’s just how “it’s done”. I also liked how the author made him speak with that Southern drawl - even though I didn’t listen to an audiobook, his voice and his cadence were so clear in my head as if he was standing next to me.
When Sam meets Emerson and when he notices that the attraction is mutual, he wants this thing for himself, and he agrees to have an arrangement “only for the weekend”, even getting paid for it, because - another thing I liked about him - he’s pragmatic, and he needs money.
And I loved how Emerson allowed himself to fall in love again, even though he felt guilt for a murder he didn’t commit, and thought he deserved to be alone.
If you think it’s a daddy/boy relationship because Emerson is 15 years older and a lot worldlier - it’s not. It’s hurt/comfort, grumpy/sunshine, with a lot more realism than we’re used to in romance, but still achingly romantic, if that makes sense.
”Also, I think you got it all wrong, Em.” “How’s that?” “I don’t think it’s that you’re not yourself anymore. I think it’s finally that you are.”
So I’m happy I didn’t dnf, because somewhere around 40-50% I began loving it, and read the second half in one go.
All in all - 2.5 stars for the first half, 4.5 for the second, so I’ll go for 3.5 and round it up because of the really good writing.

August 11, 2022
This book was exceedingly difficult for me. As someone who has seen what alcoholism can do to a person it is always ugly and rarely does it end the way you expect it to. Riley Hart was able to take her own life experiences and turn into a story full of hope and love. I must applaud her for that. That is seriously brave.
While Sam and Emerson's story might have turned out better than others it was not without its troubles. Far from it.
Emerson had been through a traumatic experience. That combined with the way he was forced out of his home all those years ago he never once thought he was worthy of love. Not just love but any kind of kindness from another human being. The moment Sam stepped into his life he knew he was life going to change.
Sam has been caring for his alcoholic mother for most of his life. He has never had one thing that was just his. Something he could hold onto that would bring him joy until Emerson.
Their love was hard fought and brutal at times. It was heartbreaking watching Emerson come to terms with the traumas of his past. It was brutal watching Sam learn that he did indeed deserve his own happiness. Just because we know we deserve better doesn't mean it is easy to let ourselves take it.
I know this review is kind of all over the place, but these are just my ramblings of a story that both saddened me and surprised me. I do think going into this story with as little details as possible will give you the full impact of what Riley was trying to convey.
While Sam and Emerson's story might have turned out better than others it was not without its troubles. Far from it.
Emerson had been through a traumatic experience. That combined with the way he was forced out of his home all those years ago he never once thought he was worthy of love. Not just love but any kind of kindness from another human being. The moment Sam stepped into his life he knew he was life going to change.
Sam has been caring for his alcoholic mother for most of his life. He has never had one thing that was just his. Something he could hold onto that would bring him joy until Emerson.
Their love was hard fought and brutal at times. It was heartbreaking watching Emerson come to terms with the traumas of his past. It was brutal watching Sam learn that he did indeed deserve his own happiness. Just because we know we deserve better doesn't mean it is easy to let ourselves take it.
I know this review is kind of all over the place, but these are just my ramblings of a story that both saddened me and surprised me. I do think going into this story with as little details as possible will give you the full impact of what Riley was trying to convey.
January 16, 2023
I really felt for Emerson in this book. So hurt, so caught up in having to protect himself from the rest of the world, that it never occurs to let himself just let go and be. Man, all the feels from that washing over me.
July 12, 2023
3.5
Overall a cute love story with a pretty woman twist though a bit slow paced.
Tortured hero x sunshine boy
I listened to the audio which was mostly fine but sometimes emphasizes the cringe sex talk.
Overall a cute love story with a pretty woman twist though a bit slow paced.
Tortured hero x sunshine boy
I listened to the audio which was mostly fine but sometimes emphasizes the cringe sex talk.
August 14, 2022
3.5 stars
July 5, 2023
Bit angsty, bit sweet, bit sexy
I enjoyed this one from Riley, it has a lot if things I associate with her - some angst, some sweetness and a bit of lightly kinky sexy times.
There's sensitivity in the way both difficult subjects are dealt with here and I felt things never got overly dramatic or too far out of the norm.
I liked the setting and I loved both best friends, Sam's childhood friend Molly and also Charles, who had stuck by Emerson throughout everything.
I enjoyed this one from Riley, it has a lot if things I associate with her - some angst, some sweetness and a bit of lightly kinky sexy times.
There's sensitivity in the way both difficult subjects are dealt with here and I felt things never got overly dramatic or too far out of the norm.
I liked the setting and I loved both best friends, Sam's childhood friend Molly and also Charles, who had stuck by Emerson throughout everything.
August 10, 2022
Loved:
◇ Complex fleshed out MCs who actually talk and get to know each other instead of non-stop bantering
◇ Hurt/comfort
◇ Grumpy/Sunshine
◇ Sam: his honesty, caring nature, bravery to put himself out there, ability to smile and enjoy life despite the burdens he bears, his big heart and sense of humor
◇ Em: his hurt and guilt, the strength it took to build a new routine and keep going till Sam entered his life. The way he opens up to Sam and falls for him despite all odds.
◇ Relationships development - from weekend sex arrangement to getting to know each other and falling in love
◇ Being there for each other in time of need
◇ Real life struggles and no manufacturered drama
◇ Charles and Molly - true friends that everyone needs in their life
◇ Epilogue
◇ Complex fleshed out MCs who actually talk and get to know each other instead of non-stop bantering
◇ Hurt/comfort
◇ Grumpy/Sunshine
◇ Sam: his honesty, caring nature, bravery to put himself out there, ability to smile and enjoy life despite the burdens he bears, his big heart and sense of humor
◇ Em: his hurt and guilt, the strength it took to build a new routine and keep going till Sam entered his life. The way he opens up to Sam and falls for him despite all odds.
◇ Relationships development - from weekend sex arrangement to getting to know each other and falling in love
◇ Being there for each other in time of need
◇ Real life struggles and no manufacturered drama
◇ Charles and Molly - true friends that everyone needs in their life
◇ Epilogue
August 22, 2022
Angsty Riley is really hit or miss for me. And while there is angst in this, it’s not as bad as I anticipated.
This was just a really good and satisfying read. We had the grumpy/sunshine, drama, steam, humor, hurt/comfort… it just hit all the spots without being over the top.
Riley has always been good at building a relationship from beginning to end. It always feels organic to me. And it’s always relationship and MC focused. Even with their messy backgrounds, it’s still just about them and who they are to each other and it’s one of the things about Riley’s writing I appreciate most. I would happily read more about Sam and Emerson, honestly. There is a lot going on in the book but it was all tied up with a really sweet and gratifying HEA.
This was just a really good and satisfying read. We had the grumpy/sunshine, drama, steam, humor, hurt/comfort… it just hit all the spots without being over the top.
Riley has always been good at building a relationship from beginning to end. It always feels organic to me. And it’s always relationship and MC focused. Even with their messy backgrounds, it’s still just about them and who they are to each other and it’s one of the things about Riley’s writing I appreciate most. I would happily read more about Sam and Emerson, honestly. There is a lot going on in the book but it was all tied up with a really sweet and gratifying HEA.
August 11, 2022
Adorable grumpy/sunshine MCs and the hurt/comfort was lower angst than I thought it would be.
There was almost too much sunshine and not enough grumpy here. There wasn’t a lot of tension and after the first scene none of the spiciness really worked. The language choices were either too sweet or too blunt. I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have those scenes interrupted by a stream of consciousness in one of the MC’s unnaturally colloquial tone.
That said, I liked the plot and felt like everything was wrapped up well. I could tell the alcoholic parent plot point was personal to the author and it was a take on it I hadn’t read previously. It felt so real and every time the mother was talked about or on the page I empathized with everyone involved.
There was almost too much sunshine and not enough grumpy here. There wasn’t a lot of tension and after the first scene none of the spiciness really worked. The language choices were either too sweet or too blunt. I would have enjoyed it more if I didn’t have those scenes interrupted by a stream of consciousness in one of the MC’s unnaturally colloquial tone.
That said, I liked the plot and felt like everything was wrapped up well. I could tell the alcoholic parent plot point was personal to the author and it was a take on it I hadn’t read previously. It felt so real and every time the mother was talked about or on the page I empathized with everyone involved.
August 13, 2022
2.5 stars
It’s a definite me not the book. I can feel a slump mood coming and this book didn’t help… I got bored and my mind wandered almost through the whole thing…
It felt like the same conversations were happening every chapter that I just couldn’t.. hahah it was both of them thinking they didn’t deserve more, and they thought they were selfish, and that everything bad that happened in their life was their fault… yes sometimes I can enjoy those books but this one just didn’t work for me.
I don’t know how this can be the same author who wrote “The Endgame”, “The End Zone” or “Boyfriend Goals” haha idk those are my favorites from her and they really grabbed you from page one and you felt everything the characters were going through. this book I was annoyed af with both characters haha
As you can tell I was in a mood.. and not a nice one for these two. While yes there were cute parts I just didn’t connect with either character, and I was bored…
don’t base wanting to read this on my review since I don’t know if I read it at another time I’d enjoy it more, but I think this book caught me at the wrong time 😂😂😂
It’s a definite me not the book. I can feel a slump mood coming and this book didn’t help… I got bored and my mind wandered almost through the whole thing…
It felt like the same conversations were happening every chapter that I just couldn’t.. hahah it was both of them thinking they didn’t deserve more, and they thought they were selfish, and that everything bad that happened in their life was their fault… yes sometimes I can enjoy those books but this one just didn’t work for me.
I don’t know how this can be the same author who wrote “The Endgame”, “The End Zone” or “Boyfriend Goals” haha idk those are my favorites from her and they really grabbed you from page one and you felt everything the characters were going through. this book I was annoyed af with both characters haha
As you can tell I was in a mood.. and not a nice one for these two. While yes there were cute parts I just didn’t connect with either character, and I was bored…
don’t base wanting to read this on my review since I don’t know if I read it at another time I’d enjoy it more, but I think this book caught me at the wrong time 😂😂😂
December 27, 2022
I think this might be my favourite Riley Hart book. Em and Sam reminded me so much of Gray and Jonah from “Make Me Fall” by Riley Nash, they both have older grumps and younger sunshine’s. The narrator for this was so good and really put his whole heart into the emotional scene. There was no serious relationship angst either which I really enjoyed. I’m so looking forward for the next book in the series and I’ll be checking every day for the audiobook release.
September 14, 2022
Riley Hart never fails to deliver! I loved this book And the audio was great! I think John is my new favorite narrator. Checking out other books narrated by him and glad to see I have some of them too. Riley Hart is a given, I know a lot of her books are on my Tbr.😍
July 13, 2024
Rating: 5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: age gap, hurt / comfort, grumpy / sunshine
I absolutely loved this story! Stories like this, hurt/comfort and characters with troubled pasts, is where Riley Hart really shines. There was so much heart in Sam and Emerson’s story - truly a beautiful and amazing read.
I totally lost myself in their story and didn’t want to put the book down until I was done. Sam had my heart from the beginning of the story and he was just so much fun to read about! With his background he had to grow up fast and his character felt older than his age at times, but despite his struggles he still managed to keep his sunshiny personality and he was such a great match for Emerson. He mercilessly called Emerson out, kept trying to make him laugh with his bad jokes and they just had such an easy and strong connection with each other from the start which I completely adored!
Emerson was more grumpy and still suffering from past traumas and ghosts, my heart really hurt for him and everything he’d been through, and it was so good seeing Sam managing to bring some light back to his life. Even if their relationship started out as purely physical and only for the weekends, it wasn’t long before they both got emotionally involved. Their relationship was so pure, they were truly great for each other and their interactions made me smile a lot.
The story was so well written, engaging and the characters felt genuine and real. I can’t recommend this enough, and I hope you will fall in love with these guys and their story as much as I did! I can already tell that this is a book that I will go back and reread a lot.
-
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: age gap, hurt / comfort, grumpy / sunshine
I absolutely loved this story! Stories like this, hurt/comfort and characters with troubled pasts, is where Riley Hart really shines. There was so much heart in Sam and Emerson’s story - truly a beautiful and amazing read.
I totally lost myself in their story and didn’t want to put the book down until I was done. Sam had my heart from the beginning of the story and he was just so much fun to read about! With his background he had to grow up fast and his character felt older than his age at times, but despite his struggles he still managed to keep his sunshiny personality and he was such a great match for Emerson. He mercilessly called Emerson out, kept trying to make him laugh with his bad jokes and they just had such an easy and strong connection with each other from the start which I completely adored!
Emerson was more grumpy and still suffering from past traumas and ghosts, my heart really hurt for him and everything he’d been through, and it was so good seeing Sam managing to bring some light back to his life. Even if their relationship started out as purely physical and only for the weekends, it wasn’t long before they both got emotionally involved. Their relationship was so pure, they were truly great for each other and their interactions made me smile a lot.
The story was so well written, engaging and the characters felt genuine and real. I can’t recommend this enough, and I hope you will fall in love with these guys and their story as much as I did! I can already tell that this is a book that I will go back and reread a lot.
-
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 8, 2025
Sammy Joe Saunders is one of the best and funniest characters I’ve ever read and I’m glad he and Emerson got their HEA
October 31, 2022
3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The characters, the friends, and the corny jokes that got Emerson out of his funk.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. While I'm happy that they were able to do what they did, I really would've liked to experience some of it on page. I'm calling a this a HFN, because I definitely wanted much, much more!
The Bad: The sexual chemistry. I felt like the scenes became redundant tbh. They were even glossed over for their first weekend! I definitely didn't feel the connection and it felt like it was often mechanical rather than hot...if that makes sense. Idk myself -- the scenes just felt off 🤷🏻♀️
Overall:This had its enjoyable parts but it also felt lacking at times. I'm going to go with a middle of the road rating because while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emerson and Sam's story. Emerson is the new mysterious man in town hiding from his past and Sam is his mail carrier that is always trying to spark conversation and a smile. When Sam is trying to make some money on the side to help his alcoholic mother into a good rehab, he ends up recording himself sexually. Emerson comes across one of his videos and propositions Sam to be his "weekends only" release for money. Since Sam has been crushing on the newcomer, he jumps at the opportunity. Lines get crossed, feelings develop, secrets are revealed...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Emerson and Sam's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Emerson. He was damaged for sure, but I appreciated how he allowed himself to be vulnerable for Sam.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 4 stars. Sam. I liked him. I felt bad for his circumstances, but I appreciated how he always tried to help others.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Meh. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story (see above).
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place but with what I would call a HFN ending even though I know others would be fine calling it a HEA
Safety: This one should be Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The characters, the friends, and the corny jokes that got Emerson out of his funk.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. While I'm happy that they were able to do what they did, I really would've liked to experience some of it on page. I'm calling a this a HFN, because I definitely wanted much, much more!
The Bad: The sexual chemistry. I felt like the scenes became redundant tbh. They were even glossed over for their first weekend! I definitely didn't feel the connection and it felt like it was often mechanical rather than hot...if that makes sense. Idk myself -- the scenes just felt off 🤷🏻♀️
Overall:This had its enjoyable parts but it also felt lacking at times. I'm going to go with a middle of the road rating because while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Emerson and Sam's story. Emerson is the new mysterious man in town hiding from his past and Sam is his mail carrier that is always trying to spark conversation and a smile. When Sam is trying to make some money on the side to help his alcoholic mother into a good rehab, he ends up recording himself sexually. Emerson comes across one of his videos and propositions Sam to be his "weekends only" release for money. Since Sam has been crushing on the newcomer, he jumps at the opportunity. Lines get crossed, feelings develop, secrets are revealed...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Emerson and Sam's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H1 (Hero #1) rating: 3.5 stars. Emerson. He was damaged for sure, but I appreciated how he allowed himself to be vulnerable for Sam.
H2 (Hero #2) rating: 4 stars. Sam. I liked him. I felt bad for his circumstances, but I appreciated how he always tried to help others.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Meh. They have some tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story (see above).
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a good place but with what I would call a HFN ending even though I know others would be fine calling it a HEA
Safety: This one should be Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews