Scan barcode
A review by lezreadalot
How to Blow It with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall
4.0
I liked this a lot more than I liked the first book, and miraculously, a lot of that has to do with the reason I didn't 100% love the first book: Caspian.
Apparently running off to Scotland to get your sort of boyfriend back from his parents' house does wonders for your attitude?? Haha but honestly, the shifts weren't exactly subtle, but they were believable and natural enough to make him outright endearing to me. It makes sense: after coming that close to losing Arden, he's a little easier to fluster, to embarrass, to tip slightly off kilter. All the blushing and stammering was FRIGHTENINGLY sweet. Like, wow! He's a person! That I kind of like now! Seeing Arden get closer to him and coax trust out of him and get him to be vulnerable was just lovely.
I sincerely hope that's what the third book is going to be about.
Other miscellaneous things I liked: keeping the kink to the bedroom, Arden being involved and having people and things in his life other than Caspian, but ALSO the fact that this book showed them getting closer in sweet normie ways (dork Caspian is my bread and butter), Ellery in general, GEORGE (I can't be the only lesbian who got all perky-eared and perky-elsewhered when she was mentioned), Arden's thoughts and musing on personal achievements and accomplishments, and the ways we self-sabotage before we even take the first step. HE'S SO FRIGHTENINGLY ME. ALSO, how could I forget. The office scene? With the writing on stomach?
Apparently running off to Scotland to get your sort of boyfriend back from his parents' house does wonders for your attitude?? Haha but honestly, the shifts weren't exactly subtle, but they were believable and natural enough to make him outright endearing to me. It makes sense: after coming that close to losing Arden, he's a little easier to fluster, to embarrass, to tip slightly off kilter. All the blushing and stammering was FRIGHTENINGLY sweet. Like, wow! He's a person! That I kind of like now! Seeing Arden get closer to him and coax trust out of him and get him to be vulnerable was just lovely.
Spoiler
And hey, now I have a new mission in life: to fucking kill Lancaster. Also hug Caspian. Fuck, those last couple of chapters hurt, especially with Caspian being so adamant that he's a monster that deserves to be hated. Honey no. :( And since I listened to this on audiobook and can't fact-check super easily: did Ellery invite Lancaster to the party? Why??? If she knows all about it??? Does the mother know??? What in the WORLD. Yeah, I know, rich predators have even more room and freedom to be predators, but it made me so SAD. When Ellery said that Caspian was probably back with Lancaster I almost screamed. SOMEONE SAVE HIM. ARDEN GET YOUR FUCKING STEED AND RIDE INTO THE CASTLE AND GET YOUR MAN.I sincerely hope that's what the third book is going to be about.
Other miscellaneous things I liked: keeping the kink to the bedroom, Arden being involved and having people and things in his life other than Caspian, but ALSO the fact that this book showed them getting closer in sweet normie ways (dork Caspian is my bread and butter), Ellery in general, GEORGE (I can't be the only lesbian who got all perky-eared and perky-elsewhered when she was mentioned), Arden's thoughts and musing on personal achievements and accomplishments, and the ways we self-sabotage before we even take the first step. HE'S SO FRIGHTENINGLY ME. ALSO, how could I forget. The office scene? With the writing on stomach?