Scan barcode
reclusivereader's review against another edition
4.5
This was the first book I picked up in almost two weeks and much like my last foray into a Hall reread.. I made this an intentional choice. I needed a (almost sure to be) guaranteed good time. And much like the last revisit to an old favourite, I was also curious to see if Hall would make any changes for the transition of FOR REAL from indie to trad.
While I can't say I noticed anything that stood out, it was a great time. Also, based on the fact that this was annotated with commentary.. I don't think we had updates. And also, more author commentary please. That was a lot of fun.
My biggest worry about revisiting this favourite wasn't that I would dislike the story because I was pretty sure the connection surrounding an older and experience sub and the unexpected and far too young dom, both more than the labels attached to them, would still land. But I knew this was very sex-forward, with many a'kinky scene (the layers of this, I am hilarious), and I'm just.. less into the graphic stuff these days. But I shouldn't have worried because the exceptions to this rule tend to be when I'm a) into the characters and b) when those moments don't actually feel like needlessly edgy filler where everyone becomes professional sex workers and instead are relevant to the development or actually align with the characters' true nature. So, check, check, checkity check.
But there's more than just kinky sexcapades. There's talk of loss and grief (of loved ones, of a relationship, of an anticipated life), uncertainty surrounding one's future when things haven't exactly gone the way of your (and others') expectations, and the fear surrounding opening yourself up to something new. It's tender and sweet and brave and raw and just a little silly. I had such a good time revisiting this world and these characters and would definitely recommend if this feels like something that checks any of your boxes.
4.5 stars
While I can't say I noticed anything that stood out, it was a great time. Also, based on the fact that this was annotated with commentary.. I don't think we had updates. And also, more author commentary please. That was a lot of fun.
My biggest worry about revisiting this favourite wasn't that I would dislike the story because I was pretty sure the connection surrounding an older and experience sub and the unexpected and far too young dom, both more than the labels attached to them, would still land. But I knew this was very sex-forward, with many a'kinky scene (the layers of this, I am hilarious), and I'm just.. less into the graphic stuff these days. But I shouldn't have worried because the exceptions to this rule tend to be when I'm a) into the characters and b) when those moments don't actually feel like needlessly edgy filler where everyone becomes professional sex workers and instead are relevant to the development or actually align with the characters' true nature. So, check, check, checkity check.
But there's more than just kinky sexcapades. There's talk of loss and grief (of loved ones, of a relationship, of an anticipated life), uncertainty surrounding one's future when things haven't exactly gone the way of your (and others') expectations, and the fear surrounding opening yourself up to something new. It's tender and sweet and brave and raw and just a little silly. I had such a good time revisiting this world and these characters and would definitely recommend if this feels like something that checks any of your boxes.
4.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
readingchristine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Alexis Hall does it again! This book is packed with all the laughs and feelings and I enjoyed it immensely.
I love that you can always count on characters from Alexis Hall's books to be so multidimensional and utterly human. This book delivers a truly human experience of navigating relationships and differences in relationships. I loved watching Toby and Laurie open up and let themselves being vulnerable with one another. We watch them navigate an age difference as well as what they actually want from each other.
This book was all about finding the right person for you. It was spicy and romantic and I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend you add this book to your reading list if you've love books where messy characters come together and find themselves and happiness.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
whatsmichireading's review
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
4.0
There was so much about this book that I loved. I think Hall has a way of writing open door sex scenes that really connect the characters - they fully help build and move the story along emotionally. One of the things that really struck me in reading this was how present Toby and Laurie are in their sex together, not just with each other but the space they are inhabiting while having sex - there's so much talk of surfaces and tactile feelings that I think are so succesful on reading. I think the emotional journey that both Toby and Laurie go on is very compelling, and while Toby is young there's a lot of maturity in the journey that he goes on. Laurie is almost the less mature one as he tries to decide for toby what his life should be without really talking to toby about it. they keep crashing against one another's notions of who the other person is and what they want and i found it very believable and compelling.
My biggest complaint I think is that it felt just a little too long, and while i don't know what you would trim i think it would have benefitted from a slightly swifter pacing. I also think i'd recommend the physical copy over a digital as I didn't know what the stars were reference too and then at the end when i learned it was too hard to really appreciate the annotations.
My biggest complaint I think is that it felt just a little too long, and while i don't know what you would trim i think it would have benefitted from a slightly swifter pacing. I also think i'd recommend the physical copy over a digital as I didn't know what the stars were reference too and then at the end when i learned it was too hard to really appreciate the annotations.
cassie_happened's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-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
4.75
ARC provided by publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
What an absolute ride! By far Alexis Hall's steamiest book and possibly my favorite in the Spiers Universe so far. I absolutely loved what Hall did here. Both characters communicated their needs and were so in-tune with one another that it made the steamy scenes that much better. I also loved how the age gap was highlighted by two very distinct voices. We are treated to a dual POV in this book which worked really well and each character had such a distinct voice that I think perfectly encapsulated where they were in their lives. Laurie sounded 30-something while Toby sounded 19. Both characters are also grappling with crippling anxiety around being 'left behind'. The discussions they have concerning this anxiety and their exploration into kink were very well done. All together a really enjoyable (SPICY) read!
What an absolute ride! By far Alexis Hall's steamiest book and possibly my favorite in the Spiers Universe so far. I absolutely loved what Hall did here. Both characters communicated their needs and were so in-tune with one another that it made the steamy scenes that much better. I also loved how the age gap was highlighted by two very distinct voices. We are treated to a dual POV in this book which worked really well and each character had such a distinct voice that I think perfectly encapsulated where they were in their lives. Laurie sounded 30-something while Toby sounded 19. Both characters are also grappling with crippling anxiety around being 'left behind'. The discussions they have concerning this anxiety and their exploration into kink were very well done. All together a really enjoyable (SPICY) read!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
atvreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jevanses's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
atomecko's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely love how Alexis writes his characters, so flawed but so relatable at the same time, and these one were not the exception, they tried so hard, they made mistakes and somehow they found middle ground even with the huge age gap and different backgrounds.
cag168's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've been really enjoying The Spire series. I love how they are all stand-alone stories exploring different relationships and why the two main characters work together even if on paper maybe they shouldn't. Out of the Spire novels I would say I think For Real might be my favorite yet that I've read. I think what makes For Real my favorite is how much I found myself relating to Toby. Maybe more than I would care to admit. Toby and Laurie are so adorable together. Watching both characters discover more about themself and become more comfortable in their own skin was a fun journey to be on. If you want a fast-paced pace spicy romance novel with fully developed characters that even though at times you want to yell at them for their choices mostly you just root for them to figure things out. I would pick this book up.
meadowslovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
For Real by Alexis Hall
Book 3, Spires series
I didn’t mean to read this book. In fact I’m up to my eyeballs in ARC’s right now.
Then @shaylovesbooks.xo sent me @letters.from.skye post and I saw younger top (which I love) and quicker than you can yell “SQUIRREL” I was on amazon reading the sample chapters, bought it and read it in a day.
Toby, a baby-dom, and Laurie meet one night at a kink club and have an encounter that neither of them can forget. In fact, both feel ruined by the experience. They both have demons to overcome to their HEA but, oh, is it written so masterfully. Just gorgeous. There is so much feeling, and surprisingly not a ton of angst.
Being able to see into both Toby and Laurie’s heads is fantastic. Toby is young and inexperienced but not immature. He is so good at reading Laurie and dominating him. Reading how Laurie surrenders to Toby, to their relationship and love was just lovely.
Laurie is damaged and reluctant to get involved, being a little gun shy from a previous breakup. The 18 year age gap freaks him out, understandably. His surrender to Toby is stunning.
The schmexy scenes are hot but the emotion behind them is what really got me. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND. One of my top reads of the year.
Book 3, Spires series
I didn’t mean to read this book. In fact I’m up to my eyeballs in ARC’s right now.
Then @shaylovesbooks.xo sent me @letters.from.skye post and I saw younger top (which I love) and quicker than you can yell “SQUIRREL” I was on amazon reading the sample chapters, bought it and read it in a day.
Toby, a baby-dom, and Laurie meet one night at a kink club and have an encounter that neither of them can forget. In fact, both feel ruined by the experience. They both have demons to overcome to their HEA but, oh, is it written so masterfully. Just gorgeous. There is so much feeling, and surprisingly not a ton of angst.
Being able to see into both Toby and Laurie’s heads is fantastic. Toby is young and inexperienced but not immature. He is so good at reading Laurie and dominating him. Reading how Laurie surrenders to Toby, to their relationship and love was just lovely.
Laurie is damaged and reluctant to get involved, being a little gun shy from a previous breakup. The 18 year age gap freaks him out, understandably. His surrender to Toby is stunning.
The schmexy scenes are hot but the emotion behind them is what really got me. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND. One of my top reads of the year.