I liked the premise of this book, and it turned out to be a nice and enjoyable read.

Thank you so much for the copy.

Elliott doesn't want to drown in debt from college, but when he loses his only client, he needs to find a new one before the bills start growing. Aiden, the nephew of his former client, offers Elliott a chance. Both claim they don't want a relationship, but soon, that is what they have. Aiden wants exclusivity, while Elliott doesn't want to accept money from a partner. Soon, they are at an impasse, and Elliott has to decide.

This was an excellent, solid book for a new author; while Elliott and Aiden had some points of contention, it was still captivating. I loved Aiden and felt like he got jerked around by the end of the book. I wasn't as invested with Elliott; he had parts I didn't care for, making it hard to connect with him. By the end of the book, I didn't like him.

While the writing was good and I liked the story well enough in general, Elliot's money hangups got to be a little much for me at times. I could, to some extent, understand it was pride but there were times when it seemed extreme even for that.

I liked the premise of this book, it's always a good trope. Poor student uses sex work to help him go through life. Rich businessman who just wants a companion for events, etc. However, the story itself didn't lend itself to that premise at all in my estimation. I didn't quite understand why Elliott was doing it. I get that he was sending his dad money, but his dad worked, and was an adult. It wasn't really striking a cord with me. And Aiden, while a nice guy who really just wanted to cuddle and watch TV, sex was a bonus, I just found it kind of icky that he didn't have any issues with sleeping with someone his uncle slept with. I also wasn't a big fan of how Elliott was hiding himself, not just the sex work, but as he was out with Aiden, just out, his best friend calls, and he plays it off as if he's not with him. Why? "I'm out with a friend" works well. This book just hit some wrong notes for me. Their relationship was good, and I understand being out of sorts taking it from one end to the other, but the first 40% or so, just threw me out of the story. 3 stars

I was looking forward to reading this "rent-a-boyfriend" story after stumbling into this book in NetGalley, so I was pleased to have been approved a copy to review. Unfortunately, I found myself having a love/hate relationship with one of the MCs which ultimately affected my enjoyment of the story.

For whatever reason, I came into this story believing that Elliot was a smart, young man trying to get out of debt while pursuing his studies. I don't know, maybe something got lost in translation (as English is my second language) because although some of this was true to an extent, I found Elliot to be an immature, selfish young man whose hang-up about money ran so deep that he'd rather lose the man he loves than give up his side hustle. Of course, after seeing him this way, I couldn't see myself invested in him finding his HEA.

As for Aiden, I wish I could've gotten into his head. I felt like I didn't get a chance to know him very well. Thankfully, what little I learned about him was enough to keep me from DFn'ing the book. Aiden was the main reason I finished book because even though this all started as a ruse, his actions and demeanor clearly showed how invested he had become in his and Elliot's relationship. And if Elliot would have been a bit more observant and not so focused on HIS dilemma he would've recognized how much Aiden cared for him. He told us himself how caring and loving Aiden was and how devastated he looked when things didn't work out.

Even though I came to dislike Elliot for his actions towards the second half of the book, I did enjoy the romance the author had brought to the page so far. I enjoyed the flirty banter and candid moments shared between Elliot and Aiden and the chemistry that jumped off the page every time they came together. I think that the story would have benefited from having more of the romance developed on the page rather than being told about it after the fact. I think it would have been more invested in the outcome of Elliot and Aiden's relationship if I would have gotten to experience first-hand how their connection was growing and developing. It would have definitely been awesome to have Aiden's POV while these moments were happening because unlike Elliot, I don't think Aidan would have downplayed them as much. I don't think Aiden was as cynical and doubtful about emotional entanglements as Elliot was sometimes.

All in all, a good romance.

Okay, so I admit, Worth It took me a little while to get into. It probably had to do with Elliot’s unconventional choice of professions to get him though college. The more I got to know him though, the more his logic in that choice made sense… kinda.

Elliot was a driven, compassionate man who knew what he wanted and did whatever it would take to get him there. He was determined to help his dad stay afloat and reach his educational/professional goals and come out ahead, not drowning in debt. He kept his professional life totally separate from his personal one. Which meant hiding what he was doing from the people who cared about him most.

Aiden was, in some ways, the total opposite. He had financial security, even without his position in the family’s law firm. He kept an emotional distance from pretty much everyone, except he was totally devoted to his immediate family. He didn’t want to get too close to anyone, until Elliot.

Elliot could feel himself falling and since Worth It was told from only his POV, he wasn’t sure exactly how Aiden felt about him – but it wasn’t hard to tell. Elliot just missed all the clues.

There wasn’t a huge amount of conflict between the two characters until close to the end. I wasn’t exactly sure why Elliot thought that Aiden would go for his solution and I got kind of aggravated with him for even suggesting it. It was really a no-win scenario for either of them. Up until that point, I adored both Elliot and Aiden. The resolution also came a little too “neatly wrapped”, but it worked and by that point I was all for almost anything to get these two back together. In a nutshell, this was one of those books that illustrates “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey” almost perfectly. ❤

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Elliott agrees to a contract of sorts with rich, handsome lawyer Aiden but finds that unlike his previous benefactor, Aiden doesn’t want just sex and a date for parties, Aiden wants boyfriend. Aiden wants someone to cuddle on the couch with and watch TV, someone to hang with, and some naked time too. I have to be honest and say I expected this story to have way more sex than it did given that it is the story of a college student who is a sex worker. And it does have some really hot scenes, but they are interspersed among a story that is actually a sweet romance.

I really enjoyed spending time with these guys just doing normal everyday things, going on dates, and having fun. I think they were good for each other and I felt like in a way, they were helping each see what they want in life. Because of that, it was also easy to forget that Aiden is paying for Elliott’s company. Now we’ve all watched Pretty Woman, we know this is going to be a problem, so this romance also has some angst, and I did shed a few tears.

Worth It is well worth reading. For me, it was a pleasure to see these two men fall in love and it had an ending that left me happy and smiling. Four stars from me.

Elliott Meyer is a 21 year old sophomore in college. He goes to school in LA and is determined not to borrow a penny to do it. His father, a police officer, has been in dept up to his eyeballs ever since Elliott's mother died, following a prolonged illness. and the house up-keep is too much for his small-town cop salary to afford. So, Elliott has decided he's going to earn his tuition money as a part-time escort. He had a sugar daddy a few months ago, and older, wealthy lawyer who enjoyed parading his blatant boy toy every place he could. And, he paid Elliott handsomely. IN fact, sometimes his money got int he way--because he became manipulative with his funding. Elliott walked away, but he didn't get too far.

While out prowling for a new john, Elliott encounters Aiden Kent, the nephew of his previous "employer". Elliott had met the man before, because Aiden is a lawyer at the same firm as his ex-john, which happens to have numerous Kents as staff and partners. So, Elliott figures he's gotta scram from that scene, lest Aiden mess up his search for a steady john. It's a little unsettling when Aiden, who is only 28, and both wealthy and sexy to boot, makes an offer for Elliott to consider. Aiden would like a companion, and regular lover, but the demands of his job at the firm tend to interfere with real relationships. Plus, he sometimes feel like prospective boyfriends are more into his name and wealth than who he is a s a person--a general homebody after working 60_ hours a week. For a monthly sum Elliott could spend three nights a week keeping Aiden company and having some spine-melting sexytimes, too. Despite the initial awkwardness, Elliott agrees.

This fake boyfriend love story follows a mostly predictable path of increasing familiarity giving rise to feelings on both sides. Elliott has some good prospects in the offing, including a possible scholarship and growing tutoring opportunities. But, he wants to help his dad too much to rely on piecemeal options. Within a couple months of their bargain, Elliott's internal conflict is getting way out of proportion. He loves Aidan, so he can't keep charging him for sex. Not if they are TRUE boyfriends. Aiden wants Elliott to lean on him, and let the money worries drift away, but it's not something that Elliott can consider; he has no illusions about the monetary struggles of indebted college graduates, and with plans for a Master's and doctorate, Elliott isn't willing to gamble on Aiden's charity or his own solvency.

I loved Aiden in this one and I liked Elliott a lot, too. It's clear that he is still immature, at times, and that's fine because most young people really don't get grown until they are in the mid-20s. Elliott's thoughts of returning to prostitution become more and more untenable as he deals with the temporary loss of Aiden from his life. It's a nice wake-up call and allows us to see the vulnerable side of Elliott, who can be a bit prickly and snooty as a character, and meet his dearest friend and his father to straighten out his priorities. The end fell into place exactly as I suspected it would, and I'm glad to say it was entirely happy. There are lots of steamy, sexy moments from nearly the beginning, and they become more tender and passionate as the love story builds.

Emmett is a college student and works as a rent boy to pay for his college tuition and help his father. He’s recently broke up with is love and didn’t know how he was going to pay for his tuition. He was propositioning by Aiden even though they knew he had ties to his previous lover. Aiden is a lawyer, who works all the time and don’t have time for a relationship. They decided to keep it professional with no emotional ties. Their relationship to something more after they started spending time together.

The book is romantic, some angst, very emotional, and their sexy times are hot. The chemistry between two is seen throughout the book. The book will have your attention from start to finish.

Worth It by Chloe B. Young was a nice, light read for me. I enjoyed the development of Aiden and Elliott's relationship from a business arrangement to a romantic one. Elliott's previous arrangement with Innes added an interesting twist to the story, and I kinda want his backstory too.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The blurb for "Worth It" grabbed my attention and I went into this story thinking of the male version of "Pretty Woman" - a light-hearted fairy tale of the hooker, the charming John, the great clothes and the HEA. However ...

21-year-old Elliott, working his way towards his dream of making the ancient history faculty list before he's 30, is not afraid of work. "His dad - and his mom, when she was alive - had told him to work hard, be his own person, and get what he wanted in life." And the way Elliott plans to achieve his goals is by becoming a part-time sex worker. His first relationship is with Innes, a 40ish rich privileged attorney with the need for inanimate arm candy at the occasional soiree as well as noon-ers at his law office and most things in-between.

When Elliott finds himself on the hunt for a new sugar daddy, he ends up with Aiden .... Innes' nephew, an absolute sweetheart of a guy - only seven years old - looking for sex, yes, but also companionship. Elliott can't believe he is"so freaking lucky to have landed right in the lap of someone who was not only physically attractive, but also not morally reprehensible."

Elliott enjoys introducing Aiden to some wonderfully hedonistic sex and finds himself captivated by Aiden's basic kindness and decency. Elliott tells himself he doesn't hate himself for what he does, but the cost of putting on the right mask to get what he needed - being the sexy, accommodating paid boyfriend - is getting to be a heavy price to pay.

Elliott is not a sympathic character and it is difficult to look past his un-self-awareness as he stubbornly refuses to consider any alternative to his plans. Without giving away too much of the plot, there is a "huge unilateral decision" made by Elliott that is disturbing in so many ways and that he expects Aiden to understand and agree is beyond understanding. And the way Elliott feels that a financial windfall makes him a "grasping parasite" is just ... messed up.

So, "Pretty Woman" this ain't. I loved Aiden and would have liked to get his POV at any point in the book, but sorry, Elliott is a jerk. 3 stars for "Worth It" but I will definitely look forward to more by this author.

This was an enjoyable read, even if I struggled a bit to identify and relate with the main character. I'd recommend this to anyone who might be looking for an easy read.
Both Elliott and Aiden are likable characters who build a fast and emotional relationship. Elliott has some reservations about the changes with Aiden. As the story goes on, they both learn how to listen and respect each other.
Aiden was definitely my favourite character. I felt as though he was the more likeable of the two mains. Aiden came across as quite genuine… while Elliott was more difficult for me to warm up to.
After his break up with his previous client, meeting Aiden, the nephew of the client, is awkward and weird, but they start right away an unusual relationship, made of talking, talking and, of course, sex. Slowly, though, the lines between work and pleasure begin to blur and they fall hard in love with one other, their feelings complicating their deal.
I also wished that the main conflict happened earlier because it needed more time to be resolved, it felt a little rushed.

I found the blurb of this book so "right up my alley"(I usually do with the "rent boy" troupe) that I clicked "request" the moment I saw it on Netgalley. And for the most part, I enjoyed the story.

In my humble opinion, I believe this would've benefitted from us having a glimpse into Aiden's mind/POV. As it was, even by the end, I still did not feel like I knew him well enough.

Also, the character that was Elliot. I liked him, but after the whole "thing"where he came up with the silliest solution for the conundrum he and Aiden faced and he was deservedly made to acknowledge certain truths, he flounced off to make a silly decision(which I feel should've at least been addressed). Hell, I didn't know Aiden that well like I've said earlier, but even I saw that wasn't the best suggestion for their situation.

To top is off, Elliot wasn't willing to listen or even come to a compromise. That for me was a sign of immaturity and nothing turns me off a character quite like immaturity. As such, my frustrations with Elliot stayed till the end even after some "damage control" had been done by attempting to tug at my heartstrings. For me, it was too little too late.

To summarise my reading experience, I would say the story started out pretty solid, tapered out in the middle and was mildly frustrating by the end. It just might've been my mood while I was reading this but by the end, I was absolutely done with Elliot and kept reading simply because I wanted more Aiden on my page.

My frustrations notwithstanding, you should definitely give this a shot. It just might go better for you than it did for me.

This was a solid story, down to earth, not overly romantic, still intriguing, and captivating it felt all quite natural. When business and feelings entwined it got more and more emotional.

Elliot has his future planned. It will be hard work but he doesn’t need much. Being a student and still want to support his dad financially it’s hard. He had a client who paid him for sex and showing off. He has to find a few new clients.
Aiden, a lawyer and rich, also Elliot’s previous client's cousin, tells him he wants to hire him. After negotiations, it’s settled.

Playing fake boyfriend with all the benefits isn’t difficult. When there are real feelings getting involved it’s getting difficult because Elliot needs the money and starting something would jeopardize his income.

Love this story! Elliot and Aiden had both kind personalities even a bit businesslike.
All well written, well thought out, no excessive drama, quite down to earth!

I have received an ARC of this book by NetGalley and Riptide Publishing and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review. This book it will be out on October 5.
The synopsis of this book caught my attention because it was different. While reading it I thought: ok how is this going to work? So when I received the book, I was very happy.
I will not lie that I was a little disappointed, for several reasons that could have been more labored. One, Aiden and Elliott's relationship - there was truly little real interaction between the two and a lot of time that could have been used to explain or show the reader how their development was going. Obviously not detailing all their sexual encounters, but rather their non-sexual encounters, with more frequency and content. I felt that there was a lot of that missing in the story, so that could all make sense later in the end. It is a little difficult to understand the final drama when there was not much basis for it.
I did not like Elliott very much. I understood his problems perfectly and, in a way, what he thinks and how he wants to run his own life - what made me dislike him, was the immaturity for some necessary, more concrete things. For me there is a bit of hypocrisy when we do not want to change who we are, but that the other must change to stay with us. And that was what I felt with Elliot, that he wanted to be himself, but Aiden would have to stop being himself for them to work. His rules. His saying. And Aiden wasn’t even demanding or an asshole… he was kind and really caring.
And as I felt this lack of content between the two, I was unable to give it more than the three stars. I can say, however, that the author's writing is easy to read and that her ideas are on the right track. I am sure I'll keep an eye out for more stories by the author. I really enjoyed getting to know these two characters and their universe, and especially the theme that was addressed.

Elliot Meyer is a student and sex worker. When he is drowning in debt and loses his only client, he knows he has to lookout for a new benefactor to help him pay his bills.

Aiden Kent is rich, attractive and also the nephew of Eliot's previous client. When he offers Elliott a friends with benefits deal, he is eager to accept. What could go wrong?

But as boundaries blur, feelings grow and hearts get tangled. They have to decide whether they are on the same page or cut ties forever.

This was a sweet romance, low in angst with likeable characters.
First off the premise of the story appealed to me because it had a 'Pretty woman' vibe going on.
But this one offers so much more.
The characters were relatable and well fleshed out. This is my first time reading this author's work and her writing style appealed to me.
Overall the plot was compelling and kept me engaged right from the very first page.

If you are looking for something sweet, cute and sexy with medium levels of angst and a healthy dose of melodrama Worth it , is the book for you.

I have mixed feelings about this Pretty Woman (the movie) style book . One , because could not connect with the MC . Two, because it have my number one pet peeve - The Big Misunderstanding - completely unnecessary in most cases, unless is pivotal to the plot and its resolved immediately, that is acceptable . Alas, it was not the case here.

Nevertheless , this is the author debut novel and we all know , there is a learning curve when one starts something for the first time. I see a lot of potential and it's more than likely , I will read her next book.

Ratings falls between a 2.75 stars and a 3 stars. Like it but don't love it.

I just reviewed Worth It by Chloe B. Young. #WorthIt #NetGalley

This was an enjoyable book. I liked the premise of the college boy needing extra income by being basically an escort. It was a nice twist to have the nephew of the jackass uncle approach him to form a similar arrangement. Elliot and Aiden were both adorable, especially how neither noticed they were getting feelings. The characters were engaging and the sex was smokin. I will say things resolved fairly easily at the end. I believe this is a first book for the author and I would definitely read them again. I was engrossed in the story and definitely rooting for the couple. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am providing a voluntary review. All thoughts and views are my own.

I'm not sure what I was expecting with this book, yet it still managed to exceed all of my expectations. The writing was smooth as butter and did absolutely nothing to detract from the compelling story, which is a welcome indulgence in my pleasure reads. I sometimes find it hard to turn of my editing brain and just enjoy a story, but this was so well done I had no issue simply losing myself in the world of Aiden and Elliot.

However, I did struggle a bit with Elliott as a character. I wish the narrative hadn't been single POV, especially with him as the sole voice. I had a hard time understanding his motivation and often didn't sympathize with his plights, despite having full access to his thoughts and rationale on the subjects at hand. Aiden, in contrast, was an absolute doll who carried the story on his broad and sexy shoulders. I kept reading mostly for him and the HEA I wanted *him* to find. Even when I thought, time and again, he could do better than Elliott.

I happen to be a fan of the sex worker trope in romance. I just wish Elliott's reasoning for doing it made a bit more sense. I just couldn't get behind the idea of selling his body to avoid having student loans in the future. And coming from someone who double majored during my undergrad *and* worked a full-time job, I couldn't understand why he believed it so impossible to work a real job and make ends meet. Heck, if he'd gotten student loans, he could've worked and still sent some money home to his dad.

Either way, this was an enjoyable read, even if I struggled a bit to identify and relate with the main character. The story kept me turning the page, and Aiden made up for Elliott's shortcomings. I'd recommend this to anyone who might be looking for an easy read as long as they're willing to go into it with an open mind and not dig too deep.

This is the first book of Chloe B. Young’s that I have read, and I believe it is a debut novel. It’s a “Pretty Woman” type of story and definitely has the same vibe as the film.

Elliott has been working part-time as a sex trade worker. He’s putting himself through College and attempting to help his father save their family house. He takes a lot of pride in “making his own way” and doesn’t feel as though there’s anything wrong with what he does. After leaving a long-term arrangement with one man… he ends up beginning another arrangement with that man’s nephew.

I have to admit, I struggled a little bit with the fact that Elliot dated a man and then that’s man’s nephew. I sort of tried to put it out of my head because it made me a little uncomfortable. In contrast to the original arrangement, when Elliott meets Aiden, he is quite taken with him.

Aiden comes from a wealthy family and is a lawyer. Right from the beginning, Aiden is a gentle character. He seems honest, forthright, and what he wants is someone he can pay to act as though they’re in a relationship. He genuinely wants the cuddling, the Netflix and chill, the laughter… and doesn’t want to have to go through all the effort to find someone.

As these two men begin their arrangement, it’s clear that they have physical chemistry. The thing is, very slowly, a relationship begins to sneak up on them. Of course, this is a bit complicated because of their financial agreement. I was pleasantly surprised that the characters didn’t immediately panic and end their agreement. It was a nice change of pace to read about two people discovering they were developing feelings and taking it in stride.

Aiden was definitely my favourite character. I felt as though he was the more likeable of the two mains. Aiden came across as quite genuine… while Elliott was more difficult for me to warm up to. I struggled with understanding why Elliott had to be a sex worker in the first place. Not that I have an issue with a character making their money by sex work, but it seemed as though there were a wide variety of things that Elliott could have chosen as a job.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel and I’m curious to see what this new author does in the future!