4 Rebel Stars ⭐
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟳𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿.

This dual POV follows Emma (with the boring name) and Preston (Side note: who calls their children Prestin in this day and age? It sounds like such a "rich" boy name - and while Prestin IS a Billionaire, you would think it's from a Rich Boy from 1920 and not 2024)

See, Emma is a little lost. She doesn't know what she wants to do with her life or what she wants to achieve. She is just stuck. But Emma also has VERY RICH FRIENDS who help her on her journey to Self Actualisation by letting her stay the summer in their house in the Hamptons. Emma seized this opportunity (because let's face it, who wouldn't?) and gave herself the objective to use the time to figure out her life, focus on herself and where she sees herself going as well as relax. What she doesn't see herself doing is becoming Prestin's fake girlfriend. But after crashing into Prestin's sister's Wedding Arrival Party that's exactly what happens. As Prestin; intrigued by the blond spitfire who threw a shoe at him as an introduction, is trying to escape his sister's single friends... and what better way to do that than to appear already attached? The catch is Prestin has never brought anyone to meet the family before so his family latch onto his new girlfriend like a bunch of leeches - but like cute cuddly little leeches that are adorable and sweet and not the gross kind. if anyone knows anything else that latches on without being gross let me know so I can edit this

Emma was an interesting character as it almost felt like she didn't have a filter - she embraced her life to the fullest and always appeared to say directly what she was thinking or feeling - which is great because there is no room for miscommunication. She is also quite bold in her sexuality and embraces her attraction and sexual tension with Prestin quickly. She is a risk taker and I loved that she wasn't afraid to take those risks leaving her in the position of wondering what if later.

Prestin is your typical reformed playboy who now takes life too seriously. A pro-football quarterback who is dealing with facing the announcement that the next season will be his last, so he can pursue other aspects of life. He is known for always being stern and hardly smiling. He also has technically never had a girlfriend (he is not a virgin but wasn't really the settling down type - iykwim). Let me just tell you this man is the MVP and TOP TIER BOOK BOYFRIEND MATERIAL (5/5 on the sexy man scale with the only thing wrong with him, being his archaic name). He is a sexy specimen of note who is tall and looks spectacular in a suit. AND HE HAS TATTOOS! He is tough on the outside but inside this man is a sticky gooey mess of sweet, thoughtful and caring; that you just want to lick his abs and his soul.

The family, specifically Gram and Peyton are also perfect. Their antics, meddling and depth of characterisation were so well done. Their utter love and generosity with their wholesome attitude that welcomed Emma into their unit warmed my heart. For Emma who has always had a very small family (she was raised by her aunt), to instantly be accepted, treated and treasured like one of the family was adorable. I also love that this connection went both ways and that Emma's spontaneity was able to create magical and nostalgic memories for Gram and Peyton for her special wedding week.

What stood out is that even though Prestin and Emma are immediately sexually attracted to each other and have wicked banter. The way you could feel his love growing for Emma based on how she interacted with the people he cared for, was so natural it climbed into my heart. It was those subtle glances while she would be dancing with his sister or him being drawn to her smile and laugh and him basking in her continual warmth. It felt like these two and their bond and relationship were soul mates from the start because they both were able to bring out the best version of the other while also growing themselves.

The SPICE - WHOA! 🥵️🥵️🥵️ She's sexy, hot, delicious and toe-curlingly good. Prestin has a delightfully dirty mouth and knows how to use it. 

There is a scene where he walks in on her with her BOB and instead of the second-hand embarrassment - stays and uses it on her

. There are steamy scenes and then there are steamy scenes in literal STEAM... Quite utterly spectacular smut.

NOW - what was my issue? To not go into too much detail on the end, my main concern was given the reasons for what happened; I wanted to see more of how things unfolded. And it very much turned into "I am just going to tell you and not show you" and I really dislike books that tell and don't show. 

This was an interesting dilemma I had with the last quarter. I was thinking about how these two fall for each other VERY FAST even if it was soppingly romantic - given how her whole purpose of the escape to the Hamptons was to "find" herself, she didn't do that. She just found herself under someone else... BUT Emma realises this herself. So breaks things off with Prestin to continue her self-actualisation journey with the plan to reconcile when she is in a better place mentally. We never see how she really achieves this. We see mutual pining for the other and one or two small glimpses into her final growth. But the end is just a culmination of that growth and her achievements given to her - we don't see her WORKING FOR THEM... For someone whose mission it is to grow, you should see the growth - not just say "Oh well I did it now"

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
▶ Fake Dating
▶ Billionaire Romance
▶ Sports/Football Romance (but it's off-season so not too big influence on plot)
▶ Age Gap (MMC 36, FMC 25)
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Grumpy X Sunshine
▶ Nicknames
▶ Steamy Steam Scene (water scene)

▶ Third Act Breakup

𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀:
▷ She throws him with her shoe
▷ He Loves her smile
▷ He brings her drinks and makes food for her
▷ Rope Play (but with a bath gown)
▷ It won't fit
▷ Lift your hips for me love
▷ Good Girl
▷ Chin Lift
▷ Forehead Kisses
I MEAN SERIOUSLY - these are just top tier make you squeal tropes

Overall my first Kat Singleton was an amazing experience and I loved the ride (even if it slowed down in the end). It was well written, entertaining, had character depth in multiple characters and was just sweet gooey sexy romcom bliss. This will not be the last Kat Singleton I read!

Thank you to Kat Singleton and Valentine PR for my gifted ARC copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.