⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Lying to your grumpy boss is never a good idea, as Sam finds out in this laugh-out-loud romcom.

Sam Becker loves – or, okay, likes – his job. Sure, managing a bed and bath retailer isn’t exactly glamorous, but it’s good work and he gets on well with the band of misfits who keep the store running. He could see himself being content here for the long haul. Too bad, then, that the owner is an infuriating git.

Jonathan Forest should never have hired Sam. It was a sentimental decision, and Jonathan didn’t get where he is by following his heart. Determined to set things right, Jonathan orders Sam down to London for a difficult talk, only for a panicking Sam to trip, bump his head, and maybe accidentally imply he doesn’t remember anything?

Faking amnesia seemed like a good idea when Sam was afraid he was getting sacked, but now he has to deal with the reality of Jonathan’s guilt, as well as the unsettling fact that his surly boss might have a softer side to him. There’s an unexpected freedom in getting a second shot at a first impression, but as Sam and Jonathan grow closer, can Sam really bring himself to tell the truth, or will their future be built entirely on one impulsive lie?

MY THOUGTHS

Jonathan was difficult to like and it only got marginally better later on. He lived an extremely regimented life filled with anxiety and letting even a little bit of that go can be very difficult. Sam’s “amnesia” seemed to have turned off his filter. He had no problem telling Jonathan what he thought. Sam forced Jonathan to reevaluate himself and he did make some changes. Enough to let Sam in, anyway. There wasn’t much chemistry, but the two of them did fit well together.

The story is told only from Sam’s point of view. It would’ve been nice to get some insight into Jonathan’s thoughts as well. But it was hilarious dwelling in Sam’s head. The overall tone from him was sarcastic and honest. Which was ironic since he was lying to Jonathan. We got to see Jonathan struggle with the reality of his brusque interactions with other people, but Sam was just a happy-go-lucky kind of guy until closer to the end when we get a very quick glimpse into his own difficult past.

This was a fun read and I can recommend it if you like an MM romance with interesting, multi-faceted characters. See what other readers are saying on Goodreads.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: October 17, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Tropes: Grumpy Boss, Keeping a Secret, Workplace Shenanigans