Reviews

For Real by Alexis Hall

kelliemw's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. 
Age gaps are not my thing, reading the synopsis and knowing that this book contained one I chose to request it anyway. I have read other of Hall’s books and genuinely loved them. This is a rerelease of the book with bonus materials and I hadn’t read it before so I thought I’d give it a shot. Overall I found both MMC to be genuinely hard to like. They both came with way too many hang ups and while some of them were resolved, I didn’t find the resolutions to be satisfying. As far as the kink in this, I am not an expert in the BDSM scene but the lack of negotiation, and sometimes what felt like coercion was uncomfortable for me. The lack of even using safe words and joking once about the use of a safe word after an attempted scene was uncouth. 
I wish I could have enjoyed it more considering how much I enjoyed other books by this author but not every book is for everyone. 

analenegrace's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

First, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc of one of my faves! 

This was the first actual Alexis Hall reread because, for a long time, this was the only one of his older books that the library had! I remember really enjoying this one and I enjoyed it once again, Hall is one of my favorite writers for a reason! 

Laurie and Toby's romance could definitely be categorized as erotica because of the number of sex scenes, but each is very important to the plot as our characters grow and change as people. Their age gap dynamic is one of the greatest difficulties in their relationship, and I think Hall handles it well, showcasing the importance of healthy communication once the two finally start communicating. 

I really enjoyed the way BDSM was approached in this book; although it was a book with a lot of sex scenes, as it was not treated as particularly taboo, but rather something that connected our MCs and brought together their community. 

Another great romance by Hall that I can't wait to get my hands on physically when it comes out! 

who_knew's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I could not possibly recommend this book to anyone irl, but I had a great fucking time reading it.

It was a lot of unserious topics treated seriously and a lot of serious topics handled tactfully. The characters have actually really stuck with me in the few weeks since I finished it.

I remember actually being at the 50-page mark, and I was already sad that the ending was "so close". I wanted to spend more time reading this, but also... the story finished exactly where it should have.

I picked this up less for an age-gap BDSM story than because I've been told to read Alexis Hall a dozen times (and now I totally see why). It was subversive and silly and sweet and hot. This was a great book. I'll reread it as soon as it's not quite so fresh in my mind, no doubt. I might have to read everything by Alexis Hall.

gillianw's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this story so much. The relationship between the MC's, Toby and Laurie, is real and raw and heartfelt and you can't help but fall in love with both of them, even when they resist falling in love and truly trusting one another. The relationship never seems unneccesarily angsty, though, which it easily could have been given the subject matter. Because this book is more than a typical love story. It's about two flawed, lonely people throwing aside society's expectations and finding their way towards loving each other and loving themselves. It's just so beautiful.

Sept 2017

I'm listening to this on audiobook (again) and *sigh* it's just as lovely the second time around. I love Alexis Hall's words. He makes BDSM sound like poetry in motion.

emilyexmas's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Toby and Laurie get a refresh in this rerelease of For Real. The Spires universe is notable for its great characterisation and introspective takes on romance. This is quite a kinky book, but the expectations that come with being a kinky book are thrown on their head by the mere fact that the dominant in the relationship is so young and inexperienced and ends up needing a lot of emotional support from the older, more experienced sub. Outside of the scenes Laurie very much feels like the dominant personality in the relationship, holding the power that comes with age and life experience, while Toby struggles to come to terms with loss and understanding himself. It's a beautiful love story.. but you'll never see lemon meringue pie the same way again. 

ARC provided by Netgalley.

ninabubblygum's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

not a fan! i didn't understand the hype i've seen for this book, i didn't love the characters, and i was just waiting for it to be over. almost dropped it multiple times but powered through just to be able to say i finished it.

bookstosoothethesoul's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh my gosh I don't have the words to capture how much I love this book!! I've read For Real six times in the last two years because this book has surprising depths to unpack. This was the book that cemented me as an Alexis Hall stan. I am NOT an age gap lover but he managed to make me fall in love with a book that has one of my least favorite tropes. The power dynamic could so easily have felt unbalanced because of the age gap but instead Alexis Hall makes it clear that they both have the power to affect the other. The delicate way he subverts expectations of what a sub/dom have to look like or what masculinity and power mean is so clever and keeps me coming back to this story. Fictional doms are often written as flimsy cardboard cutouts that readers can project their fantasies on but Alexis Hall gives Toby the space to be a complex character with doubts and fears and desires of his own. I adored how both Toby and Laurie were given the room to engage in kink in the way that made sense for who they were (rather than falling into stereotypes or doing things just because that's a common way others do it). For Real is a fantastically steamy, kinky book but at its core there is so much heart and humor grounding the book in who the characters are so that every time there's a sex scene it's driving the story forward (while also being fabulously hot!) Alexis Hall leans into the rawness and vulnerability of being real with someone else and that makes the book incredibly emotional. This is a niche book for sure, but it's specificity is what made it my perfect book. If you love steamy romances that are grounded in emotion then this could be your perfect book as well! 

 

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC of one of my favorite books of all time 🥰 

tonyaf's review

emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is fantastic! The characters feel very real and I love the growth they brought about in each other. How much I ended up loving them together really surprised me. This is one of my favorites by Alexis Hall and one of the best in the "Spires" series. It's super spicy and made me cry a little too!

kay1985's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

s4r1's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0