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Bad Decisions #1
Rent: Paid in Full
“You have something I want. Something I’ll happily buy…or rent.”
As if my life doesn’t suck enough already, my insufferable new roommate, Miller MacAvoy, seems determined to make things weird. He watches me all the time, grinning at me like a beautiful idiot, eyes boring holes into me every time I turn my back on him.
It’s the last thing I need. Things haven’t been going well. College isn’t working out at all like I’d hoped. I’m drowning in debt, waiting tables every shift I can get, and falling behind on my studies.
Something’s got to give.
I can’t go on like this much longer.
Miller, being the out-of-touch rich boy he is, keeps offering to throw cash my way. Obviously, I’d rather die than accept charity from him.
Still, he watches and waits. Insisting again and again that I have something he wants to buy. It’s insane. I have nothing of value to sell. Absolutely nothing. My phone screen is cracked and my truck could easily be mistaken for scrap.
Wait.
No!
Surely not.
He can’t possibly be thinking that.
Can he?
As if my life doesn’t suck enough already, my insufferable new roommate, Miller MacAvoy, seems determined to make things weird. He watches me all the time, grinning at me like a beautiful idiot, eyes boring holes into me every time I turn my back on him.
It’s the last thing I need. Things haven’t been going well. College isn’t working out at all like I’d hoped. I’m drowning in debt, waiting tables every shift I can get, and falling behind on my studies.
Something’s got to give.
I can’t go on like this much longer.
Miller, being the out-of-touch rich boy he is, keeps offering to throw cash my way. Obviously, I’d rather die than accept charity from him.
Still, he watches and waits. Insisting again and again that I have something he wants to buy. It’s insane. I have nothing of value to sell. Absolutely nothing. My phone screen is cracked and my truck could easily be mistaken for scrap.
Wait.
No!
Surely not.
He can’t possibly be thinking that.
Can he?
413 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2024
About the author
Jesse H. Reign
12 books598 followersI'm Jesse, and I write contemporary and paranormal MM romance.
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
Whether my characters are born magical, or whether magic is something they make between the sheets, I strive to take the reader into the mind of the narrator. My ultimate goal is to leave the reader feeling like they’ve made a new friend or have spent a few hours flirting with a brand-new book boyfriend.
I love coffee, chocolate and daydreaming, in no particular order. I love conflicted characters, lust at first sight and angst – no seriously, ALL the angst. Give it to me!
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January 20, 2024DNF @ 27%
I can’t, I just can’t. I’m sure this book delivers exactly what it promised but it’s really not alright with me.My heart breaks for Ryan and I can’t stand to see him humiliated. He’s dirt poor, he has anxiety -worsened by the fact that he needs money- and he’s totally antisocial and awkward. I can’t stand watching Miller humiliating him, tantalizing him with money to make him get on his knees and suck him or to have sex with him. And he’s doing it in a cold humiliating way too. On top of that we are given the impression that Ryan thinks himself as straight. That’s sexual abuse in my books, sexual coercion. Taking advantage of a vulnerable person in order to abuse him sexually . And maybe I’d have been ok with other type of coercion, you know? A blackmail or I don’t know, some other form of fictional kinky dub-con but NOT when one needs money to eat, to survive , when he gets panic attacks that he will be buried in depth. How can THAT transform into a romance? How can a love story be born from that humiliation. I know , I know a lot of ppl will eat this cuz you know..fiction, smutty , hot etc , I just can’t, it bothered me for some reason. Also, the fact that apparently Ryan fell in love with Miller’s dick at first taste is sooo eye-rolling. That first BJ is cringe and double problematic because Ryan was also drunk. Sorry to all my Gr friends here who will love this 🫣 I know I’m a party pooper.
I can’t, I just can’t. I’m sure this book delivers exactly what it promised but it’s really not alright with me.My heart breaks for Ryan and I can’t stand to see him humiliated. He’s dirt poor, he has anxiety -worsened by the fact that he needs money- and he’s totally antisocial and awkward. I can’t stand watching Miller humiliating him, tantalizing him with money to make him get on his knees and suck him or to have sex with him. And he’s doing it in a cold humiliating way too. On top of that we are given the impression that Ryan thinks himself as straight. That’s sexual abuse in my books, sexual coercion. Taking advantage of a vulnerable person in order to abuse him sexually . And maybe I’d have been ok with other type of coercion, you know? A blackmail or I don’t know, some other form of fictional kinky dub-con but NOT when one needs money to eat, to survive , when he gets panic attacks that he will be buried in depth. How can THAT transform into a romance? How can a love story be born from that humiliation. I know , I know a lot of ppl will eat this cuz you know..fiction, smutty , hot etc , I just can’t, it bothered me for some reason. Also, the fact that apparently Ryan fell in love with Miller’s dick at first taste is sooo eye-rolling. That first BJ is cringe and double problematic because Ryan was also drunk. Sorry to all my Gr friends here who will love this 🫣 I know I’m a party pooper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
DNF @30%
OMG this was so fucking problematic. Miller is such a cunt (not in the good way) You cannot tell me that what he did to Ryan was not sexual abuse.
OMG this was so fucking problematic. Miller is such a cunt (not in the good way) You cannot tell me that what he did to Ryan was not sexual abuse.
February 12, 2024
MM Romance
1 Star ⭐️
I absolutely hated this book. The first 10% felt like Unrequited, my favorite book by this author and later on there was even a reference to it but this was nothing like that book. The transition from roommates to their arrangement was weird, Miller was a creepy stalker for most of the book and Ryan annoyed the hell out of me. They had this weird arrangement up until like 90% and the back 10% is what I would have liked the entire book to actually be like.
I’m about ready to DNR this author but there’s one more on her backlist I’ve been wanting to read, Unbreak Me. It’s from when she first started writing and I vibed with her books. I can’t stand her new stuff though and hopefully after this one I won’t be tempted to pick anymore up. Lesson learned. 🤡
One more thing!! How could I forget? It was one of the main reasons this felt like a chore to read. Ryan broke the 4th wall more times than I could count and it’s why he bugged the absolute hell out of me. There’s only been a handful of books breaking the 4th wall has ever worked in and this is not one of them. 🤦🏻♀️
1 Star ⭐️
I absolutely hated this book. The first 10% felt like Unrequited, my favorite book by this author and later on there was even a reference to it but this was nothing like that book. The transition from roommates to their arrangement was weird, Miller was a creepy stalker for most of the book and Ryan annoyed the hell out of me. They had this weird arrangement up until like 90% and the back 10% is what I would have liked the entire book to actually be like.
I’m about ready to DNR this author but there’s one more on her backlist I’ve been wanting to read, Unbreak Me. It’s from when she first started writing and I vibed with her books. I can’t stand her new stuff though and hopefully after this one I won’t be tempted to pick anymore up. Lesson learned. 🤡
One more thing!! How could I forget? It was one of the main reasons this felt like a chore to read. Ryan broke the 4th wall more times than I could count and it’s why he bugged the absolute hell out of me. There’s only been a handful of books breaking the 4th wall has ever worked in and this is not one of them. 🤦🏻♀️
January 22, 2024
Couldn't put this one down!
I absolutely loved Miller. The way the relationship progressed between him and Ryan really grabbed my attention and I was insanely invested in them.
Also that ending with Annabel and the peach tree 🥹🥹🥹🥹
I'm excited to see more of them in the next book.
I absolutely loved Miller. The way the relationship progressed between him and Ryan really grabbed my attention and I was insanely invested in them.
Also that ending with Annabel and the peach tree 🥹🥹🥹🥹
I'm excited to see more of them in the next book.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 5, 2024Dnf 47%
Not for me.
I got the ick a while ago, but now it's moved on to straight-up uncomfortable.
Not for me.
I got the ick a while ago, but now it's moved on to straight-up uncomfortable.
January 23, 2024
⭐︎
4.25 Stars Rounded Down
⭐︎
Okay first, there are several things to address:
⚫️ It pretty much says in the summary itself, if the title didn't say it already, that Miller literally pays Ryan for sex. That Miller keeps trying to straight up give Ryan money for nothing, just to help out, but Ryan refuses. It's pretty clear what Miller asks Ryan to do to "earn" it. So...to act shocked that Ryan is in pretty dire straights, financially, and that he ends up accepting Miller's offers to pay him for sex, is...wild to me.
Also, yes, sex work can, a lot of the time, be something someone does out of desperation. That does not mean the person paying for sex from them is always taking advantage of them or makes the person non-consenting.
I get that Miller knows Ryan is in this situation, and one might think he's taking advantage, but he never forces himself on Ryan, no matter how desperate he gets - and he does get desperate and pleading, no doubt about it. And pushy, sure. I will concede that point. But still, even then, Ryan is always consenting.
Also, Miller says a few times throughout that money or no money, Ryan can say no. He reassures him of that a time or two. Miller may be pushy at times and so desperate for Ryan that he's willing to pay him, but he makes it clear he won't cross any boundaries set by Ryan himself, even if that is a clear no.
So to see some reviews claiming otherwise is interesting to me. I mean, I can see how, on the surface, it might seem icky, like Miller is just taking advantage of Ryan's situation for sexual favors. But if you actually read the story, it's so much more than that for Miller. And he would stop if he was told to stop.
Ryan, no matter how dire his money situation is, doesn't have to say yes. He went years before without getting paid for sex, and he could have continued on without it too, even if things would be hard. But Ryan had been living with his financial situation being hard for years already. And if he really wanted to, he could have asked his parents for money, even if it would have hurt them financially too.
So, in conclusion, yeah, some may see their situation as some form of fucked up, but I didn't. And it helped being in Ryan's head and knowing he wanted Miller so desperately too, but it was just hard for him to admit it to himself. He even has a thought about how Miller paying him makes it easier, almost, because then he can continue to pretend not to want him, because if he had sex with Miller without money...there'd be no going back.
⚫️ I will concede the first time Ryan gives Miller a blow job is dubious consent. He went and had a few tequilas, although we don't know exactly how many, and we don't know how long it's been since he drank, when he starts giving Miller the blowjob. And I'd say Miller didn't know, and I think he doesn't at first, but I think afterward he has a thought that he could smell tequila on Ryan's breath. Soooo, dubious consent it is. And that is the one time I do side-eye Miller, if he was able to smell tequila on Ryan's breath.
⚫️ I saw it said that Ryan thinks he's straight and so it's coercion for Miller to try to "pressure" him into sex and I have to laugh. Because not only do we get an explicit thought from Ryan that he's bisexual, but "straight" men have sex with men all the time. And I've read many a scene in these romance novels where the guy is like "I'm not gay" and then proceeds to have sex with a guy and I have never seen something said like that about it. Someone's own perceived sexuality doesn't take away their ability to consent lol.
⚫️ I also was confused, because I saw it said that Ryan doesn't show much back and that he's barely showing any feelings even near the end, and that is not what I got from him at all. So if you see others saying that, I would ignore that. Because while Ryan is much more level headed than Miller, and is in great denial for a long time, his feelings for Miller are practically bursting out of him by the end.
One of my only real grievances with this book was being in agreement with others that there wasn't as much romance as there could have been.
Now, I think there was more than others have said. Is this primarily sex? Hell yes. But you can have a lot of sex and still be romantic. This was more an erotic romance, in my opinion. Heavily focused on sex, but still romantic too.
But I do wish there'd been more of a balance, as the scenes where they just...talked and did non-sexual things wasn't as much as I'd have liked. I did very much enjoy what was there, but I just needed more.
But this being more reliant on the sex overall doesn't take away from the romance that is there. Especially on Miller's end. He falls pretty hard and fast. It's Ryan whose the hold out for some time, and is much more subtle.
But I do wish a lot of sex wasn't looked at as not romantic. Can it be not romantic? Of course. People can have purely sexual relationships. But that's not what this was, not in the least.
Miller doesn't just want Ryan's body, he just wants Ryan. He's obsessed with Ryan, not how he looks. He's greatly attracted to him, but a big portion of that is about who Ryan is, and who Ryan is makes Ryan all the more sexy to Miller.
Ryan might just see how pretty and gorgeous Miller is at first, because he hates him, but pretty soon into their arrangement, we can see him thawing towards Miller and having to actively make himself mad and angry at Miller. It goes from "I hate you" to "I want to hate you but I can't" with Ryan. He's just very scared of letting himself be vulnerable with anyone, especially someone like Miller - we learn why later on in this - and he's very, very stubborn about it all.
I do wish Miller had reacted more upset and called Ryan out at some of things he said to him, but I didn't mind too much in the end. But Miller was very unbothered by a lot of what Ryan said and actually loved how mean to him he was at times. I guess Miller was bored with everyone being 'yes' men to him, and Ryan was anything but that with him.
You really see Ryan soften over the course of this book, but still try to push himself into denial. And he does a good job of that denial until the end, but he doesn't fool me in the least. His "of course I hate Miller" type thoughts are very much a "one doth protest too much, methinks" of him.
I tagged bdsm-lite for this book because there's this one roleplay type scene where Ryan asks Miller to "bully" him and there is spanking involved. But it isn't something they regularly do, so it's not a full bdsm type relationship they have. I did enjoy that scene, though, as it was, in a way, Ryan taking back the control all his previous bully's took from him, in a safe space with Miller. Who, lbr, he was trusting a lot by that point. Especially to trust him with that.
So, overall, I really enjoyed this. Could have had a better sex/romance balance, and I do wish maybe Ryan had been honest with himself a little sooner, but overall this was so enjoyable, and I really enjoyed Miller and Ryan together. Also Miller being absolutely obsessed with Ryan was *chefs kiss* so hot. There was only one person for Miller pretty soon into this.
I do recommend this. And taking in all I said about potential controversies with this book, if you still feel like this is the book for you, I definitely say go for it. And while sex wasn't the only part of this book...it was heavily present and boy was it hot. It was very well done and the chemistry was very very good. Also if any of what I talked about above makes you uncomfortable or what have you, then this isn't the book for you. But if it is, go for it!
Also I can't wait for Miller's dad and his assistant, Wyn. Some age gap, boss/employee dynamic? Yes please!
Can't wait! 😍
Okay first, there are several things to address:
⚫️ It pretty much says in the summary itself, if the title didn't say it already, that Miller literally pays Ryan for sex. That Miller keeps trying to straight up give Ryan money for nothing, just to help out, but Ryan refuses. It's pretty clear what Miller asks Ryan to do to "earn" it. So...to act shocked that Ryan is in pretty dire straights, financially, and that he ends up accepting Miller's offers to pay him for sex, is...wild to me.
Also, yes, sex work can, a lot of the time, be something someone does out of desperation. That does not mean the person paying for sex from them is always taking advantage of them or makes the person non-consenting.
I get that Miller knows Ryan is in this situation, and one might think he's taking advantage, but he never forces himself on Ryan, no matter how desperate he gets - and he does get desperate and pleading, no doubt about it. And pushy, sure. I will concede that point. But still, even then, Ryan is always consenting.
Also, Miller says a few times throughout that money or no money, Ryan can say no. He reassures him of that a time or two. Miller may be pushy at times and so desperate for Ryan that he's willing to pay him, but he makes it clear he won't cross any boundaries set by Ryan himself, even if that is a clear no.
So to see some reviews claiming otherwise is interesting to me. I mean, I can see how, on the surface, it might seem icky, like Miller is just taking advantage of Ryan's situation for sexual favors. But if you actually read the story, it's so much more than that for Miller. And he would stop if he was told to stop.
Ryan, no matter how dire his money situation is, doesn't have to say yes. He went years before without getting paid for sex, and he could have continued on without it too, even if things would be hard. But Ryan had been living with his financial situation being hard for years already. And if he really wanted to, he could have asked his parents for money, even if it would have hurt them financially too.
So, in conclusion, yeah, some may see their situation as some form of fucked up, but I didn't. And it helped being in Ryan's head and knowing he wanted Miller so desperately too, but it was just hard for him to admit it to himself. He even has a thought about how Miller paying him makes it easier, almost, because then he can continue to pretend not to want him, because if he had sex with Miller without money...there'd be no going back.
⚫️ I will concede the first time Ryan gives Miller a blow job is dubious consent. He went and had a few tequilas, although we don't know exactly how many, and we don't know how long it's been since he drank, when he starts giving Miller the blowjob. And I'd say Miller didn't know, and I think he doesn't at first, but I think afterward he has a thought that he could smell tequila on Ryan's breath. Soooo, dubious consent it is. And that is the one time I do side-eye Miller, if he was able to smell tequila on Ryan's breath.
⚫️ I saw it said that Ryan thinks he's straight and so it's coercion for Miller to try to "pressure" him into sex and I have to laugh. Because not only do we get an explicit thought from Ryan that he's bisexual, but "straight" men have sex with men all the time. And I've read many a scene in these romance novels where the guy is like "I'm not gay" and then proceeds to have sex with a guy and I have never seen something said like that about it. Someone's own perceived sexuality doesn't take away their ability to consent lol.
⚫️ I also was confused, because I saw it said that Ryan doesn't show much back and that he's barely showing any feelings even near the end, and that is not what I got from him at all. So if you see others saying that, I would ignore that. Because while Ryan is much more level headed than Miller, and is in great denial for a long time, his feelings for Miller are practically bursting out of him by the end.
One of my only real grievances with this book was being in agreement with others that there wasn't as much romance as there could have been.
Now, I think there was more than others have said. Is this primarily sex? Hell yes. But you can have a lot of sex and still be romantic. This was more an erotic romance, in my opinion. Heavily focused on sex, but still romantic too.
But I do wish there'd been more of a balance, as the scenes where they just...talked and did non-sexual things wasn't as much as I'd have liked. I did very much enjoy what was there, but I just needed more.
But this being more reliant on the sex overall doesn't take away from the romance that is there. Especially on Miller's end. He falls pretty hard and fast. It's Ryan whose the hold out for some time, and is much more subtle.
But I do wish a lot of sex wasn't looked at as not romantic. Can it be not romantic? Of course. People can have purely sexual relationships. But that's not what this was, not in the least.
Miller doesn't just want Ryan's body, he just wants Ryan. He's obsessed with Ryan, not how he looks. He's greatly attracted to him, but a big portion of that is about who Ryan is, and who Ryan is makes Ryan all the more sexy to Miller.
Ryan might just see how pretty and gorgeous Miller is at first, because he hates him, but pretty soon into their arrangement, we can see him thawing towards Miller and having to actively make himself mad and angry at Miller. It goes from "I hate you" to "I want to hate you but I can't" with Ryan. He's just very scared of letting himself be vulnerable with anyone, especially someone like Miller - we learn why later on in this - and he's very, very stubborn about it all.
I do wish Miller had reacted more upset and called Ryan out at some of things he said to him, but I didn't mind too much in the end. But Miller was very unbothered by a lot of what Ryan said and actually loved how mean to him he was at times. I guess Miller was bored with everyone being 'yes' men to him, and Ryan was anything but that with him.
You really see Ryan soften over the course of this book, but still try to push himself into denial. And he does a good job of that denial until the end, but he doesn't fool me in the least. His "of course I hate Miller" type thoughts are very much a "one doth protest too much, methinks" of him.
I tagged bdsm-lite for this book because there's this one roleplay type scene where Ryan asks Miller to "bully" him and there is spanking involved. But it isn't something they regularly do, so it's not a full bdsm type relationship they have. I did enjoy that scene, though, as it was, in a way, Ryan taking back the control all his previous bully's took from him, in a safe space with Miller. Who, lbr, he was trusting a lot by that point. Especially to trust him with that.
So, overall, I really enjoyed this. Could have had a better sex/romance balance, and I do wish maybe Ryan had been honest with himself a little sooner, but overall this was so enjoyable, and I really enjoyed Miller and Ryan together. Also Miller being absolutely obsessed with Ryan was *chefs kiss* so hot. There was only one person for Miller pretty soon into this.
I do recommend this. And taking in all I said about potential controversies with this book, if you still feel like this is the book for you, I definitely say go for it. And while sex wasn't the only part of this book...it was heavily present and boy was it hot. It was very well done and the chemistry was very very good. Also if any of what I talked about above makes you uncomfortable or what have you, then this isn't the book for you. But if it is, go for it!
Also I can't wait for Miller's dad and his assistant, Wyn. Some age gap, boss/employee dynamic? Yes please!
Can't wait! 😍
June 6, 2024
Actual rating ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
Edit: dropped from 4 ⭐s to 3. There are a lot of other (better) MM romances that deserve 4 stars 🩷 -> this felt more like 3.
Unpopular opinion incoming : Ryan, the irritable, shit-tempered college student with outspoken curiosity for dudes, was working on my nerves. Hear me out.
He gets roomed with rich "fuckboy" Miller, who is also (yes, ALSO, because RyRy associates with bi orientation very early on in the story) bi. Miller gets a bit of an insta-boner for this grump (I don't know man, something about his big nose or some other nonsense, beats me), and notices the 'dire straights' Ry is in. He straight up offers him money, which Ryan rejects. Miller, the cheeky sunshine he is, offers to buy the only thing Ryan has to offer, which is seggsual favors.
Ryan, begrudgingly, accepts. So far so good. This is where my sympathy for Ry ends, because after that he behaved like an idiot for the rest of the book. Miller continuously offers him aftercare, general sexual satisfaction, and basically free use for Ryan if he wanted. And we get it clear that he WANTED. But, stubborn prick that he is, he didn't take Miller up on it, until I was all but done with this dynamic.
I like to ask myself - what would I do if I were Ryan. I think if you have made it this far in this review, you know. Miller was like an eager puppy with means and looks. He had a problem, he threw money at it, offered it to enjoy the process, and got what he wanted. I am only judging him for not pulling out sooner and giving Ryan the opportunity to deal with his shit and figure out that he intrinsically was absolutely into this whole arrangement. Instead we get to see Miller fall hard for him, and watch Ryan extort money from him for a long while before he allows himself to come to terms with the inevitability that is Miller.
That's how I read it and don't come at me.
Or do, I don't mind.
🍑 Also, regarding the spice meter here, there were, surprisingly, many instances of fade to black, which I didn't enjoy. Some scenes were 🔥 but, and I don't like to read-and-compare, if the ones we got to see through, were even more detailed and had more 💦 from both sides (🤡), I think Miller and Ry's relationship would have felt more organic for me (looking at you, For The Fans).
That is all, I'm gonna go feel like a mean girl for a while, but that's okay. 💅
My review of Part 2: Work: Strictly Professional - ⚠️DNF⚠️ @20%
Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
Edit: dropped from 4 ⭐s to 3. There are a lot of other (better) MM romances that deserve 4 stars 🩷 -> this felt more like 3.
Unpopular opinion incoming : Ryan, the irritable, shit-tempered college student with outspoken curiosity for dudes, was working on my nerves. Hear me out.
He gets roomed with rich "fuckboy" Miller, who is also (yes, ALSO, because RyRy associates with bi orientation very early on in the story) bi. Miller gets a bit of an insta-boner for this grump (I don't know man, something about his big nose or some other nonsense, beats me), and notices the 'dire straights' Ry is in. He straight up offers him money, which Ryan rejects. Miller, the cheeky sunshine he is, offers to buy the only thing Ryan has to offer, which is seggsual favors.
Ryan, begrudgingly, accepts. So far so good. This is where my sympathy for Ry ends, because after that he behaved like an idiot for the rest of the book. Miller continuously offers him aftercare, general sexual satisfaction, and basically free use for Ryan if he wanted. And we get it clear that he WANTED. But, stubborn prick that he is, he didn't take Miller up on it, until I was all but done with this dynamic.
I like to ask myself - what would I do if I were Ryan. I think if you have made it this far in this review, you know. Miller was like an eager puppy with means and looks. He had a problem, he threw money at it, offered it to enjoy the process, and got what he wanted. I am only judging him for not pulling out sooner and giving Ryan the opportunity to deal with his shit and figure out that he intrinsically was absolutely into this whole arrangement. Instead we get to see Miller fall hard for him, and watch Ryan extort money from him for a long while before he allows himself to come to terms with the inevitability that is Miller.
That's how I read it and don't come at me.
Or do, I don't mind.
🍑 Also, regarding the spice meter here, there were, surprisingly, many instances of fade to black, which I didn't enjoy. Some scenes were 🔥 but, and I don't like to read-and-compare, if the ones we got to see through, were even more detailed and had more 💦 from both sides (🤡), I think Miller and Ry's relationship would have felt more organic for me (looking at you, For The Fans).
That is all, I'm gonna go feel like a mean girl for a while, but that's okay. 💅
My review of Part 2: Work: Strictly Professional - ⚠️DNF⚠️ @20%
January 19, 2024
"I know who Miller is. Temptation. Trouble. A pretty smile designed to lure you in. I know people like him better than I know myself. I made a vow to myself that I’d never trust anyone like him again. And I won’t."
Rent: Paid in Full is the first book in Jesse H. Reign's new Bad Decisions series. This is Ryan and Miller's story.
The boys are college roomates and couldn't be more different. Miller is the rich, sporty golden boy and Ryan is a scholarship boy, having had to scrape by as best he can all his life. Despite their apparent differences and Ryan's pointed refusal to engage in any way, Miller wants Ryan with a vengeance. But Ryan isn't going to fall for his good looks and crazy offers. Because looks can sometimes be deceiving and money can't buy everything - right?!
This one's definitely for you if you enjoy:
❣️college romance
❣️opposites attract
❣️forced proximity
❣️roomates with benefits
❣️all the spice
❣️HEA
4 stars
Rent: Paid in Full is the first book in Jesse H. Reign's new Bad Decisions series. This is Ryan and Miller's story.
The boys are college roomates and couldn't be more different. Miller is the rich, sporty golden boy and Ryan is a scholarship boy, having had to scrape by as best he can all his life. Despite their apparent differences and Ryan's pointed refusal to engage in any way, Miller wants Ryan with a vengeance. But Ryan isn't going to fall for his good looks and crazy offers. Because looks can sometimes be deceiving and money can't buy everything - right?!
This one's definitely for you if you enjoy:
❣️college romance
❣️opposites attract
❣️forced proximity
❣️roomates with benefits
❣️all the spice
❣️HEA
4 stars
February 10, 2024
Tropes: forced proximity, roommates, nerd/jock, hate (one-sided) to love, grumpy/sunshine, rich/poor
Feels: 5/5
Steam*: 5/5
Kinks: roleplay, sex in risky / public places, so much smut
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: sex for money, money struggles, dubcon, past bullying, anxiety
Feb. 10, 2024 - comfort reread already!
5+ stars! I absolutely loved this book, I know I will be reading it a billion times!
Ryan is a poor nerd in college. He suffers from anxiety and he switched roommates many times, he's on a first name basis with the housing department lady. His newest roommate is Miller, who is a well-known campus jock and a bit of a himbo. Miller is openly bisexual and a sunshine of a character. Ryan is a grump who is suspicious and side eyes everything. Ryan has never been with a guy before but he definitely has bisexual leanings.
When Miller meets Ryan, he's fascinated by him and attracted. He tries to befriend / hit on Ryan, but everything just bounces off of Ryan. And then Ryan gets particularly financially desperate and Miller offers him money for sexual favors. Ryan tries to be strong but he caves over and over again. These guys fall all over each other in their desperation for each other and have filthy hookups all over the place.
This book had so many things that I love in it. I was howling with laughter and kicking my feet at so many moments.
- I love how unhinged and one track minded Miller is when it comes to Ryan. Miller is absolutely desperate and has no pride. He will take him on any terms.
- I love that Miller is so enraptured by Ryan's assholery and grumpiness. It turns him on.
- The humor of Ryan being on a first name basis with the housing lady Bev, and having all these interactions with her was top notch. I hope one day Ryan tells Bev about what he and Miller got up to, because Bev would love that story!
- The smut in this book was top notch! There was so much filth so frequently. They were desperate for each other. So many scenes flitter through my mind, but in particular the shower scene when Miller paid to eat Ryan's ass... Miller was so enthusiastic and desperate that he herded Ryan into the shower and cleaned him himself, joining him while still dressed, and dropping to his knees on the floor because he didn't have the patience to wait until they were in the bed.
- Also, this wasn't just smutty, there were feelings, tenderness, affection. Miller glomped on to Ryan and pulled him in so tightly. From very early on he was planning for their future, wanting to marry him, get a dream house for him. He held on to Ryan even in platonic ways and just felt such joy and love and happiness.
- I love a black cat grumpy accidental asshole like Ryan too. He was such a tough cookie but Miller was his weakness. I love that small moment when he was thinking of Miller and bought him the everything bagel seasoning and presented it as a gift. Just a small humble I was thinking of you moment, that meant so much to Miller.
Some notable moments: I had so many moments I loved, it hurt to limit myself to these!
"So yeah, I was bleak, but I cheered right up when I met him. Right up. All the way up. He had bags hanging off both shoulders and a huge box of books in his hands. He kicked the door open and held it ajar with his foot as he struggled to make his way in. I was looking at him, right in his eyes, when he saw me for the first time. His face was a picture. I don’t think anyone’s ever looked at me like that before. Disgust. Pure and unfiltered. Straight-up contempt without any attempt to hide it. I was weirdly into it. I’m weirdly into him too. He’s grumpy as hell and awkward as fuck, but he’s something to look at."
"“Why’d they fire you?” Ryan blinks and looks down his nose at her. “Something about an attitude problem.” Oh God, he’s not just hot. He’s complicated and rude."
Miller is unhinged. I love him! "When he got into bed, I said, “Sleep tight,” and he said, “Piss off.” He sounded pompous and British when he said it. It’s hard to describe the joy it brought me."
"He turns slowly toward me. He’s holding the money I left on the desk in his hand. His face is a picture of self-loathing and lust. He slides the clip off the cash and stuffs the money into his back pocket with a shrug I think is meant to imply nonchalance, but comes off a little stiff. Blood floods my cock. It rushes down so fast I feel lightheaded. He flicks the money clip over to me. It glitters as it flies through the air. I catch it easily, uncurling my palm and looking down at the high-karat letter M in my hand. I let my bag drop on the floor right where I stand and take three or four large strides toward him, unbuttoning and unzipping and ripping my shirt off as I move."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 5/5
Steam*: 5/5
Kinks: roleplay, sex in risky / public places, so much smut
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: sex for money, money struggles, dubcon, past bullying, anxiety
Feb. 10, 2024 - comfort reread already!
5+ stars! I absolutely loved this book, I know I will be reading it a billion times!
Ryan is a poor nerd in college. He suffers from anxiety and he switched roommates many times, he's on a first name basis with the housing department lady. His newest roommate is Miller, who is a well-known campus jock and a bit of a himbo. Miller is openly bisexual and a sunshine of a character. Ryan is a grump who is suspicious and side eyes everything. Ryan has never been with a guy before but he definitely has bisexual leanings.
When Miller meets Ryan, he's fascinated by him and attracted. He tries to befriend / hit on Ryan, but everything just bounces off of Ryan. And then Ryan gets particularly financially desperate and Miller offers him money for sexual favors. Ryan tries to be strong but he caves over and over again. These guys fall all over each other in their desperation for each other and have filthy hookups all over the place.
This book had so many things that I love in it. I was howling with laughter and kicking my feet at so many moments.
- I love how unhinged and one track minded Miller is when it comes to Ryan. Miller is absolutely desperate and has no pride. He will take him on any terms.
- I love that Miller is so enraptured by Ryan's assholery and grumpiness. It turns him on.
- The humor of Ryan being on a first name basis with the housing lady Bev, and having all these interactions with her was top notch. I hope one day Ryan tells Bev about what he and Miller got up to, because Bev would love that story!
- The smut in this book was top notch! There was so much filth so frequently. They were desperate for each other. So many scenes flitter through my mind, but in particular the shower scene when Miller paid to eat Ryan's ass... Miller was so enthusiastic and desperate that he herded Ryan into the shower and cleaned him himself, joining him while still dressed, and dropping to his knees on the floor because he didn't have the patience to wait until they were in the bed.
- Also, this wasn't just smutty, there were feelings, tenderness, affection. Miller glomped on to Ryan and pulled him in so tightly. From very early on he was planning for their future, wanting to marry him, get a dream house for him. He held on to Ryan even in platonic ways and just felt such joy and love and happiness.
- I love a black cat grumpy accidental asshole like Ryan too. He was such a tough cookie but Miller was his weakness. I love that small moment when he was thinking of Miller and bought him the everything bagel seasoning and presented it as a gift. Just a small humble I was thinking of you moment, that meant so much to Miller.
Some notable moments: I had so many moments I loved, it hurt to limit myself to these!
"So yeah, I was bleak, but I cheered right up when I met him. Right up. All the way up. He had bags hanging off both shoulders and a huge box of books in his hands. He kicked the door open and held it ajar with his foot as he struggled to make his way in. I was looking at him, right in his eyes, when he saw me for the first time. His face was a picture. I don’t think anyone’s ever looked at me like that before. Disgust. Pure and unfiltered. Straight-up contempt without any attempt to hide it. I was weirdly into it. I’m weirdly into him too. He’s grumpy as hell and awkward as fuck, but he’s something to look at."
"“Why’d they fire you?” Ryan blinks and looks down his nose at her. “Something about an attitude problem.” Oh God, he’s not just hot. He’s complicated and rude."
Miller is unhinged. I love him! "When he got into bed, I said, “Sleep tight,” and he said, “Piss off.” He sounded pompous and British when he said it. It’s hard to describe the joy it brought me."
"He turns slowly toward me. He’s holding the money I left on the desk in his hand. His face is a picture of self-loathing and lust. He slides the clip off the cash and stuffs the money into his back pocket with a shrug I think is meant to imply nonchalance, but comes off a little stiff. Blood floods my cock. It rushes down so fast I feel lightheaded. He flicks the money clip over to me. It glitters as it flies through the air. I catch it easily, uncurling my palm and looking down at the high-karat letter M in my hand. I let my bag drop on the floor right where I stand and take three or four large strides toward him, unbuttoning and unzipping and ripping my shirt off as I move."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2024
I had no idea I was going to love this book so much.
I've read Sainted and Stepbro Situation so far and didn't really like it, but I gave this one a shot - and I'm not sorry.
This book was really good.
I can't rate it with full 5⭐, because a few things bothered me, but I'm giving it a very solid 4.5⭐. It's a really good book and it's a great start to the series.
🔵 College roommates
🟣 Rich/poor
🟢 Both bisexual
🟡 Pretty guy/average guy
🔵 Grumpy/sunshine
🟠 Paying for sex, transactional
🔴 Trauma, past bullying, social anxiety
🟢 Bully kink
🌶️ Great sex and plenty of it; both vers
What really got me in this book was how descriptive the author was. Descriptive about the looks of the main characters, about sex, about every single thing, you can't not imagine the setting and the characters here, it's all very vivid and wonderfully described.
That's a pretty important part for me, so I was really glad about such details being added.
The story itself had really good pacing. I gulped it down. I think this was one of those rare books where I couldn't wait to see what comes next, it wasn't predictable or boring and not even once did I roll my eyes, so - douze points.
The story is about two accidental roommates, Miller and Ryan, who both come from very different worlds and have very different lives, but end up being absolutely perfect for each other.
Miller is a guy from a very privileged background. Not only is he tall, blonde and insanely attractive, he's in an ivy league school and he doesn't even have to try to pass grades, everything is pretty much handed to him. He's got good friends, tons of money and can get any guy or girl he wants. He's cocky because he can be, he knows he's got it all.
You're welcome.
Miller gets saddled with a new roommate - Ryan.
Ryan is from a blue collar family, he's an average looking guy, he's in college on a scholarship, he's broke all the time, he also has to work and he detests guys like Miller, who have everything and they're also being jerks about it. He was the victim of some intense bullying from guys like Miller in high school and he developed social anxiety, he feels all wrong about himself, he's closed off, doesn't socialize much, he's tense and he's in a perpetual bad mood.
"I was looking at him, right in his eyes, when he saw me for the first time. His face was a picture. I don't think anyone's ever looked at me like that before. Disgust. Pure and unfiltered. Straight-up contempt without any attempt to hide it. I was weirdly into it."
Miller and Ryan have really good dialogues and Ryan intrigues Miller, he makes him feel alive and present, wakes him up from his boring stale life where everyone indulges him and prances around him, but Ryan definitely doesn't.
Ryan has a weak spot though - he needs money.
And Miller wants Ryan.
So Miller starts offering insane amounts of money to Ryan to get intimate with him, he wants to fuck him badly, he can't stop thinking about him, but Ryan would never let him close, so he's taking a more unconventional route.
The sex these guys have is hot, it's hottttt and there's a lot of it. Ryan is a bottom for most of the book but gets to top Miller by the end of it. He loves bottoming and really lets Miller use and abuse him, but make no mistake, Miller is a total sweatheart, he makes Ryan coffee every morning and when they start exchanging sex and money, he tops that coffee with a blowjob, so Ryan really has it good for a while there, he's getting a fantastic blowjob while he's sipping on his coffee in bed. The perks of being Miller's rentboy.
"It's just that I've never felt like this before. I've wanted people in the past, sure. I've wanted them and I've gotten them, but I've never wanted them like this. This is with me all the time, under my skin, simmering, heating me from the inside, burning when he's close. And lately, since the kiss, it burns even when he isn't."
When Miller hires Ryan for The Boyfriend Experience is when you know that Miller definitely has feelings for Ryan. Ryan does open up and start breaking his inner walls bit by bit, but I felt like Ryan's opening up emotionally to Miller fell a bit short here, when the school year was over Ryan was still very much willing to go home without even talking to Miller about anything, there was no missing Miller, no second thoughts about leaving, so for a very long time, almost until 90% you have no idea how this is going to turn out.
Miller does manage to buy himself more time with Ryan and that weekend at the cabin felt like an important milestone for them, but as the time went on I kept waiting for Ryan's feelings to be told, for him to crumble down emotionally, for his longing, for anything really, and it wasn't really there, it was only Miller's want and desire to make this relationship real, to make Ryan stay.
I understand that Ryan had a terrible past with guys like Miller and didn't want to believe until the end that Miller does in fact have real feelings for him and he's not leading him on, but a little more of something from Ryan would've been great, simply because Ryan came around at the very end of the book. He waited until the very end.
"I like how much he wants me, and I like the fact that he doesn't try to hide it. I like how he's looking at me. Like I'm air, and he's suffocating without me."
I think there's one chapter missing before the epilogue . They end it on a positive note at the cabin and we immediately switch to the epilogue and 6 years later, so I definitely feel like there's a chunk of the story missing, because what happened at the end of the book was not enough (for me).
In the epilogue we find them really happy and going strong, about to get married. It would've been great to read more about them and how they navigated their relationship when they went back to campus, with their friends, families, what was it like now that money wasn't involved anymore? Did they live together, how did it go? I really wanted to read about all of it.
I loved them both and I liked their sexual chemistry and their very emotional and passionate relationship.
I liked the writing, I liked the dialogues and the overall setting for the series, I can't wait for the next installment.
I've read Sainted and Stepbro Situation so far and didn't really like it, but I gave this one a shot - and I'm not sorry.
This book was really good.
I can't rate it with full 5⭐, because a few things bothered me, but I'm giving it a very solid 4.5⭐. It's a really good book and it's a great start to the series.
🔵 College roommates
🟣 Rich/poor
🟢 Both bisexual
🟡 Pretty guy/average guy
🔵 Grumpy/sunshine
🟠 Paying for sex, transactional
🔴 Trauma, past bullying, social anxiety
🟢 Bully kink
🌶️ Great sex and plenty of it; both vers
What really got me in this book was how descriptive the author was. Descriptive about the looks of the main characters, about sex, about every single thing, you can't not imagine the setting and the characters here, it's all very vivid and wonderfully described.
That's a pretty important part for me, so I was really glad about such details being added.
The story itself had really good pacing. I gulped it down. I think this was one of those rare books where I couldn't wait to see what comes next, it wasn't predictable or boring and not even once did I roll my eyes, so - douze points.
The story is about two accidental roommates, Miller and Ryan, who both come from very different worlds and have very different lives, but end up being absolutely perfect for each other.
Miller is a guy from a very privileged background. Not only is he tall, blonde and insanely attractive, he's in an ivy league school and he doesn't even have to try to pass grades, everything is pretty much handed to him. He's got good friends, tons of money and can get any guy or girl he wants. He's cocky because he can be, he knows he's got it all.
You're welcome.
Miller gets saddled with a new roommate - Ryan.
Ryan is from a blue collar family, he's an average looking guy, he's in college on a scholarship, he's broke all the time, he also has to work and he detests guys like Miller, who have everything and they're also being jerks about it. He was the victim of some intense bullying from guys like Miller in high school and he developed social anxiety, he feels all wrong about himself, he's closed off, doesn't socialize much, he's tense and he's in a perpetual bad mood.
"I was looking at him, right in his eyes, when he saw me for the first time. His face was a picture. I don't think anyone's ever looked at me like that before. Disgust. Pure and unfiltered. Straight-up contempt without any attempt to hide it. I was weirdly into it."
Miller and Ryan have really good dialogues and Ryan intrigues Miller, he makes him feel alive and present, wakes him up from his boring stale life where everyone indulges him and prances around him, but Ryan definitely doesn't.
Ryan has a weak spot though - he needs money.
And Miller wants Ryan.
So Miller starts offering insane amounts of money to Ryan to get intimate with him, he wants to fuck him badly, he can't stop thinking about him, but Ryan would never let him close, so he's taking a more unconventional route.
The sex these guys have is hot, it's hottttt and there's a lot of it. Ryan is a bottom for most of the book but gets to top Miller by the end of it. He loves bottoming and really lets Miller use and abuse him, but make no mistake, Miller is a total sweatheart, he makes Ryan coffee every morning and when they start exchanging sex and money, he tops that coffee with a blowjob, so Ryan really has it good for a while there, he's getting a fantastic blowjob while he's sipping on his coffee in bed. The perks of being Miller's rentboy.
"It's just that I've never felt like this before. I've wanted people in the past, sure. I've wanted them and I've gotten them, but I've never wanted them like this. This is with me all the time, under my skin, simmering, heating me from the inside, burning when he's close. And lately, since the kiss, it burns even when he isn't."
When Miller hires Ryan for The Boyfriend Experience is when you know that Miller definitely has feelings for Ryan. Ryan does open up and start breaking his inner walls bit by bit, but I felt like Ryan's opening up emotionally to Miller fell a bit short here, when the school year was over Ryan was still very much willing to go home without even talking to Miller about anything, there was no missing Miller, no second thoughts about leaving, so for a very long time, almost until 90% you have no idea how this is going to turn out.
Miller does manage to buy himself more time with Ryan and that weekend at the cabin felt like an important milestone for them, but as the time went on I kept waiting for Ryan's feelings to be told, for him to crumble down emotionally, for his longing, for anything really, and it wasn't really there, it was only Miller's want and desire to make this relationship real, to make Ryan stay.
I understand that Ryan had a terrible past with guys like Miller and didn't want to believe until the end that Miller does in fact have real feelings for him and he's not leading him on, but a little more of something from Ryan would've been great, simply because Ryan came around at the very end of the book. He waited until the very end.
"I like how much he wants me, and I like the fact that he doesn't try to hide it. I like how he's looking at me. Like I'm air, and he's suffocating without me."
I think there's one chapter missing before the epilogue . They end it on a positive note at the cabin and we immediately switch to the epilogue and 6 years later, so I definitely feel like there's a chunk of the story missing, because what happened at the end of the book was not enough (for me).
In the epilogue we find them really happy and going strong, about to get married. It would've been great to read more about them and how they navigated their relationship when they went back to campus, with their friends, families, what was it like now that money wasn't involved anymore? Did they live together, how did it go? I really wanted to read about all of it.
I loved them both and I liked their sexual chemistry and their very emotional and passionate relationship.
I liked the writing, I liked the dialogues and the overall setting for the series, I can't wait for the next installment.
July 5, 2024
3.5 stars - rtc
January 21, 2024
“I regret it. I regret everything.” He breathes in slowly, holds it, and lets it out slowly. “And I regret nothing.”
I wasn't sure if I would be able to appreciate it because I thought I wouldn't be able to feel their relationship and love. How wrong I was... Miller and Ryan, I love them! They are ultimate sunshine and grumpy at their best. Their relationship is so simple but, at the same time, so complex. They treat each other well and are better people together.
Yes, so sexy that it hurts... The reasons behind this arrangement are super sweet and, of course, mega hot, as Jesse knows how to do.
It's low-angst, quickly resolved after what would be a more dramatic ending. What brings some anguish are the doubts about how they could make a relationship that was born in this way work...
But there it is; it’s Jesse and “Five Stars." "I will buy again.”
In the prologue, I almost had a stroke when I thought there would be a child involved, but it turned out to be a cat 😅🐈⬛
I received an ARC from Jesse, and this is my honest opinion.
I wasn't sure if I would be able to appreciate it because I thought I wouldn't be able to feel their relationship and love. How wrong I was... Miller and Ryan, I love them! They are ultimate sunshine and grumpy at their best. Their relationship is so simple but, at the same time, so complex. They treat each other well and are better people together.
Yes, so sexy that it hurts... The reasons behind this arrangement are super sweet and, of course, mega hot, as Jesse knows how to do.
It's low-angst, quickly resolved after what would be a more dramatic ending. What brings some anguish are the doubts about how they could make a relationship that was born in this way work...
But there it is; it’s Jesse and “Five Stars." "I will buy again.”
In the prologue, I almost had a stroke when I thought there would be a child involved, but it turned out to be a cat 😅🐈⬛
I received an ARC from Jesse, and this is my honest opinion.
February 5, 2024
My second read by this author, I didn’t enjoy it as much as Unbreak Me. I didn’t find the relationship between the characters as appealing, there was endless pages of sex scenes that were all overly poetic and the ending was quite sudden with a long time jump to the epilogue.
The ratio of erotica to romance didn’t work for me. I didn’t really feel them falling in love until the very end, and that’s when it stopped. There is also humiliation kink, it did get better as they went on but in the beginning I wasn’t feeling it in a sexy way. I did like seeing their feelings change for each other when outwardly they didn’t show it. However for me, I wanted to see more of that happening on page, with more romance and less sex.
The ratio of erotica to romance didn’t work for me. I didn’t really feel them falling in love until the very end, and that’s when it stopped. There is also humiliation kink, it did get better as they went on but in the beginning I wasn’t feeling it in a sexy way. I did like seeing their feelings change for each other when outwardly they didn’t show it. However for me, I wanted to see more of that happening on page, with more romance and less sex.
December 29, 2023
Another amazing book by Jesse H. Reign. I absolutely loved it! I couldn’t put it down. If you love forced proximity, enemies to lovers, nerd/jock and hurt/comfort tropes then this is the book you need. These two are complete opposites in every way, but they’re so perfect for each other. Miller gives off major possessive/sunshine vibes, while Ryan is the ultimate grump. The spice in this is so so good!! I will definitely be reading this one.
Shelved as 'dnf'
January 22, 2024DNF. There was something off for me in this story and I could not enjoy it. I think it was perhaps the power imbalance that made me really uncomfortable. This author is still hit and miss for me.
January 24, 2024
I don’t even know where to begin. Was it excellent? Maybe not. Did I eat it up like candy? Absolutely. This book is romance junk food and I had so much fun. I actually really liked characters, especially Miller. Idk what I was expecting going in but hey, expect the unexpected! This book is very much all vibes (and spice), no plot. But like the characters ate. The narration was a little cringe especially in the beginning but it was camp! Don’t expect a literary masterpiece, but if you want something fun and unserious that will make you giggle and 🫣🫨, read this lol.
December 29, 2023
I love this book so much! The snark, the inner monologue and all the perfect spice! These characters just took my heart, I love them so much! I’m so very happy they got their HEA in the end❤️❤️ And I want to cry because the book is finished ❤️ There’s is no to low angst, the book still feels angsty and squeezed my heart❤️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
July 11, 2024
I enjoyed this book Well enough it was pretty hot in the beginning, but after a while it kind of just became redundant sex scenes. It certainly was no hardship to listen to. I would have appreciated just a tad more depth to their emotional connection
January 22, 2024
The last Jesse Reign book I read was kind of a letdown, but she is back on form with this one, and let me tell you, I was into it. On the surface, this book is about Ryan - an awkward introverted college student who is struggling to make ends meet at his Ivy League school, and Miller - his rich boy, carefree roommate who offers to pay him for sex. I can see why some reviewers were not into that, but we are saved from this being just a transactional arrangement by the fact that we get a dual-perspective narration here. We should dislike Miller, he is a typical rich asshole who is taking advantage of Ryan, but he is just so relentless and sometimes even sweet, that I found him quite endearing. Ryan is rude, prickly, judgemental, and for some reason, that really does it for Miller. Miller paying Ryan is gross, sure, and the consent is pretty dubious, but it's the in he needs to peel back Ryan's spiky layers. Ryan is a mess, his perspective is chaotic and confused, and he is clearly fighting an enormous attraction to Miller, all the while being sullen and contrary. I fucking loved this dynamic, it's grumpy/sunshine but somehow deeper and fuller. And as with all Jesse Reign books, the sex scenes were absolute fire. There are also a lot of them. I swear, she is probably my favourite erotica author, I just cannot get enough. It definitely starts off as not a romance, but it's an interesting journey to get there eventually. This will get a sequel, as far as I understand, so I am very much looking forward to that.
Read
July 3, 2024DNF @ 30%
yeah no.
thanks
yeah no.
thanks
Read
January 21, 2024DNF: Calling time of death at 65%.
After not totally vibing with JHR’s last couple of books I think maybe they’re just not for me. This book started off ok for me, Ryan and Miller made me laugh out loud quite a few times and some of the spicy scenes were hot.
I don’t mind occasionally reading a spicy book with no plot but they need to have really enticing characters and this just didn’t. I gave up because I was literally reading 1 page and putting it down and life’s too short to read books you don’t care about.
Also Ryan repeatedly breaks the fourth wall in this and I HATE that so much. Fleabag is the only person allowed to do that.
Unbreak me by this author is one of my favourite books of all time but I think she’s just gone in a very different direction with her writing and it’s just not for me. This book is spice without plot or romance.
After not totally vibing with JHR’s last couple of books I think maybe they’re just not for me. This book started off ok for me, Ryan and Miller made me laugh out loud quite a few times and some of the spicy scenes were hot.
I don’t mind occasionally reading a spicy book with no plot but they need to have really enticing characters and this just didn’t. I gave up because I was literally reading 1 page and putting it down and life’s too short to read books you don’t care about.
Also Ryan repeatedly breaks the fourth wall in this and I HATE that so much. Fleabag is the only person allowed to do that.
Unbreak me by this author is one of my favourite books of all time but I think she’s just gone in a very different direction with her writing and it’s just not for me. This book is spice without plot or romance.
Read
February 1, 2024I couldn’t get into it :/
January 26, 2024
This is hard for me to rate. So here is the mish-mash of my thoughts.
- This is a lot of sex. Definitely too much for me. It took me like 3 weeks to read this because I felt like all I read was sex with no plot. Was it hot? Very much so. But I wasn't motivated to pick it up every night and read more than a chapter or two.
- This reads as erotica and not romance. The feelings portion (while I got glimpses) never fully satisfied me. So keep that in mind. It's barely a romance.
- The pacing was off. We were on our 3589459 sex scene at the 85% mark and Ryan STILL was denying even to himself that he felt any way about Miller and it was all for the cash (although we can also tell through his POV that he really does have feelings).
- The sex-for-pay aspect lasted waaaaay too long in my opinion. It could have been used as a catalyst then turned into more about the attraction and pull between them that Ryan may be resisting, etc. But Miller is paying Ryan until the bitter end babes.
- Did this power exchange bother me? A poor student being coerced into sex? Kind of. But like I've read a lot of other power dynamics that are super uncomfortable outside of fiction (student/teacher, psychopath and their obsession, even boss/employee) so that part I could get past.
- While there is a power dynamic, Ryan does give explicit consent. He very pointedly takes the money every time and Miller is respectful of boundaries (whether it be time limit, not touching a certain area, etc.).
- If this was not dual POV this absolutely would never have worked in the slightest for me.
- There were some cute moments like their first "date", them talking every night next to each other to fall asleep, etc.
- Ryan and his mental health should have been explored waaaay more and handled more sensitively. It's kind of just glossed over (again - fine if you're reading this just for the 🍆). But realistically this boy needed therapy badly.
- Ryan's humiliation kink needed to be handled a lot better with MUCH more communication.
At the end of the day, the sex was hot. Don't expect any plot or real character depth 🤷♀️
- This is a lot of sex. Definitely too much for me. It took me like 3 weeks to read this because I felt like all I read was sex with no plot. Was it hot? Very much so. But I wasn't motivated to pick it up every night and read more than a chapter or two.
- This reads as erotica and not romance. The feelings portion (while I got glimpses) never fully satisfied me. So keep that in mind. It's barely a romance.
- The pacing was off. We were on our 3589459 sex scene at the 85% mark and Ryan STILL was denying even to himself that he felt any way about Miller and it was all for the cash (although we can also tell through his POV that he really does have feelings).
- The sex-for-pay aspect lasted waaaaay too long in my opinion. It could have been used as a catalyst then turned into more about the attraction and pull between them that Ryan may be resisting, etc. But Miller is paying Ryan until the bitter end babes.
- Did this power exchange bother me? A poor student being coerced into sex? Kind of. But like I've read a lot of other power dynamics that are super uncomfortable outside of fiction (student/teacher, psychopath and their obsession, even boss/employee) so that part I could get past.
- While there is a power dynamic, Ryan does give explicit consent. He very pointedly takes the money every time and Miller is respectful of boundaries (whether it be time limit, not touching a certain area, etc.).
- If this was not dual POV this absolutely would never have worked in the slightest for me.
- There were some cute moments like their first "date", them talking every night next to each other to fall asleep, etc.
- Ryan and his mental health should have been explored waaaay more and handled more sensitively. It's kind of just glossed over (again - fine if you're reading this just for the 🍆). But realistically this boy needed therapy badly.
- Ryan's humiliation kink needed to be handled a lot better with MUCH more communication.
At the end of the day, the sex was hot. Don't expect any plot or real character depth 🤷♀️
July 7, 2024
Jesse H Reign did a poll in her FB group for which book she should write next and I am SO THRILLED I voted for Rent! WOW!!! I loved every single word of this book and never wanted it to end. Jesse is a magician with words and I'll be reading every book she writes.
May 1, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Miller's obsession with his roomie Ryan is toxic as fuck, and his method of winning him over was a little unorthodox, but I loved every fucked up minute of their dysfunctional relationship.
Miller's obsession with his roomie Ryan is toxic as fuck, and his method of winning him over was a little unorthodox, but I loved every fucked up minute of their dysfunctional relationship.
January 21, 2024
This book was fine. Some parts were actually good, I liked the chemistry between the characters a lot.
However! Some of the writing choices were so weird and off-putting. And one of the MCs kept talking to the reader? It was weird.
This line, in particular, haunted me:
"His hole is perfection. Tiny and tight. A pinched, hairy little knothole clenching strongly to keep me out."
This is not omegaverse, it's not (lol) those kinds of knots. We're talking... Knotted ass hair? A later quote:
“I liked your hole hairy. I liked that dark swirl. Liked having to work my way through it to find what I wanted.”
... Why??? It might be a kink? But it sure ain't mine. And while I have no problem with hairy asses, this distracted me to the point where I kept finding myself thinking about whether the next scene would have one mc brushing out the other mc's ass hair. So. Yeah.
However! Some of the writing choices were so weird and off-putting. And one of the MCs kept talking to the reader? It was weird.
This line, in particular, haunted me:
"His hole is perfection. Tiny and tight. A pinched, hairy little knothole clenching strongly to keep me out."
This is not omegaverse, it's not (lol) those kinds of knots. We're talking... Knotted ass hair? A later quote:
“I liked your hole hairy. I liked that dark swirl. Liked having to work my way through it to find what I wanted.”
... Why??? It might be a kink? But it sure ain't mine. And while I have no problem with hairy asses, this distracted me to the point where I kept finding myself thinking about whether the next scene would have one mc brushing out the other mc's ass hair. So. Yeah.
January 10, 2024
Omg Ryan and Miller’s book was absolutely delightful to read. I loved everything about their story. The snarky back and forth, the resistance and the giving in, the absolutely dreamy surreal
quality of the storytelling, the humour and the scorching hot chemistry between these two made for a fantastic read.
Jesse Reign gives us two amazing characters, revealing their backstory slowly, and seeing them grow through the book was absolutely amazing. Ryan suffers from anxiety, is buckling under financial responsibility, grouchy, with a chip the size of Everest on his shoulders which makes him loathe Miller instantly. He’s also got good reason for that chip as we come to understand. Miller is sweet and perceptive under his popular, privileged, devil may care attitude and he wants Ryan desperately - willing to propose striking a bargain to pay him for sexual favours - and this sets up an unconventional dynamic between the two with loads of push and pull and longing and possessiveness coming out to play along with scorching hot encounters. Ofcourse all these beautiful heightened emotions come into play too and the way it builds towards the end was just sublime, I loved the climax and the epilogue. It also left me curious and wanting more and I’m excited to see where the series goes.
If you’re looking for a steamy, low angst romance with roommates with an unconventional arrangement between them making them go from hate to love and an HEA, I would definitely recommend checking this out
Expect:
* Forced proximity
* College Roommates
* Opposites attract
* Animosity to love
* Hurt comfort
* Grumpy Sunshine
* First times
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Angst: ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The author has provided CWs since there could be content that could be triggering including dubious consent, on page descriptions of anxiety, off page descriptions of bullying.
quality of the storytelling, the humour and the scorching hot chemistry between these two made for a fantastic read.
Jesse Reign gives us two amazing characters, revealing their backstory slowly, and seeing them grow through the book was absolutely amazing. Ryan suffers from anxiety, is buckling under financial responsibility, grouchy, with a chip the size of Everest on his shoulders which makes him loathe Miller instantly. He’s also got good reason for that chip as we come to understand. Miller is sweet and perceptive under his popular, privileged, devil may care attitude and he wants Ryan desperately - willing to propose striking a bargain to pay him for sexual favours - and this sets up an unconventional dynamic between the two with loads of push and pull and longing and possessiveness coming out to play along with scorching hot encounters. Ofcourse all these beautiful heightened emotions come into play too and the way it builds towards the end was just sublime, I loved the climax and the epilogue. It also left me curious and wanting more and I’m excited to see where the series goes.
If you’re looking for a steamy, low angst romance with roommates with an unconventional arrangement between them making them go from hate to love and an HEA, I would definitely recommend checking this out
Expect:
* Forced proximity
* College Roommates
* Opposites attract
* Animosity to love
* Hurt comfort
* Grumpy Sunshine
* First times
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Angst: ❤️🩹❤️🩹
The author has provided CWs since there could be content that could be triggering including dubious consent, on page descriptions of anxiety, off page descriptions of bullying.
January 6, 2024
Well I think I have a new favorite book from this author!
If you like:
- Awesome bi rep!
- Rich boy/poor boy opposites attract
- Grumpy anxious boy and golden retriever I'm all in boy
- Forced proximity (same college dorm room)
- Lots of animosity and hate feels that aren't really hate
-Some fun role playing and light kink
Then you gotta get this new book!
I absolutely loved the dynamics between Ryan and Miller. Ryan is such a mess, really struggling, and just not thinking when Miller suggests money in exchange for....services LOL. Miller, on the other hand, is very much morally grey golden retriever energy haha, and very obsessed with Ryan in a sweet way.
I also think that while there could be all sorts of inherent red flags and problems with being paid for services, the author handles it so well. Like, there is so much checking in still and offering safe words when they're playing, that it never feels like Miller is taking advantage of Ryan in a super shady way.
And I LOVED the epilogue so, so much. I love how it pulled everything together and the two of them end up in the perfect place together.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
If you like:
- Awesome bi rep!
- Rich boy/poor boy opposites attract
- Grumpy anxious boy and golden retriever I'm all in boy
- Forced proximity (same college dorm room)
- Lots of animosity and hate feels that aren't really hate
-Some fun role playing and light kink
Then you gotta get this new book!
I absolutely loved the dynamics between Ryan and Miller. Ryan is such a mess, really struggling, and just not thinking when Miller suggests money in exchange for....services LOL. Miller, on the other hand, is very much morally grey golden retriever energy haha, and very obsessed with Ryan in a sweet way.
I also think that while there could be all sorts of inherent red flags and problems with being paid for services, the author handles it so well. Like, there is so much checking in still and offering safe words when they're playing, that it never feels like Miller is taking advantage of Ryan in a super shady way.
And I LOVED the epilogue so, so much. I love how it pulled everything together and the two of them end up in the perfect place together.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
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January 25, 2024Unfortunately I really struggled with this book. I tried to push myself through it multiple times and I physically couldn’t. To me, this wasn’t a romantic relationship and I ended up feeling frustrated with the characters and their dynamic.
I understand why some would like this book and that’s great - this book just wasn’t for me.
I understand why some would like this book and that’s great - this book just wasn’t for me.
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