This was such a cute and sweet read! This is described a modern, queer take on the 80's classic movie, Pretty Woman, and I loved everything about it. It's a book that takes us through the journey of falling in love and finding it when we least expect it. There was such funny banter between the characters, along with some spicy scenes and some truly swoonworthy moments. I love that this is a queer romance, with fake dating and dual POV. The author did such a great job with the story, and really made me feel the chemistry between Cole and Teddy. I'm also really impressed by how sex positive this book is. I know the story features a sex worker, so you would expect that, but sometimes authors can shy away from the topic and not handle it so well, but Steven Salvatore did an amazing job. My only complaint about this book is that I wish it was longer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC of this book!

Thanks Netgalley for providing this book for me to read in return for a review. This was a quick afternoon read for me. The premise while not new was one that I haven’t read/seen a lot so it was refreshing. I genuinely enjoyed the plot and characters. I felt as if there was definition and depth lacking in some of the plot line and would have loved for more follow through on the aftermath of some of the events. Otherwise, great read and would definitely pick something else up from this author.

3.75/5
This was so cute! It was a Pretty Woman-esque story between successful seggs app entrepreneur, Cole, and Plant Daddy author, Teddy. Teddy is down on his luck and meets Cole for a one-night stand, which turns into him getting paid to be his fake boyfriend.he story was fun with a few twists and steaminess. I loved all of the characters in this book, especially Frank, the doorman at the hotel. It was a little insta-love between Teddy and Cole, which is not my cup of tea, but overall the story was sweet, sexy, and funny. And it had a grand gesture with an HEA.

Oh gosh y'all, what a sweet, fun book! The Boyfriend Subscription was described as a modern, queer twist on the 80s classic movie Pretty Woman, but it's SO much more than that. It's not only a commentary on the perils of falling in love, but also on the beauty of finding it in unexpected places. Paired with some hilarious banter and an amazing cast of characters, this book is definitely on my list of favorite romcoms!

After a disastrous divorce and bankruptcy lawsuit, Teddy's life is in shambles as he's forced to leave NYC to move back in with his mother. While drowning his sorrows at a bar, he meets handsome and mysterious Cole and ends up going home with him. He eventually finds out that Cole is a famous and wealthy s3x worker who also owns a successful adult entertainment app. Cole finds Teddy to be a breath of fresh air - he doesn't recognize him and seems to be honest and genuine. And Teddy loves Cole's vulnerability and openness with him (though, of course, there can be no kissing). On a whim, Cole offers to pay Teddy to act as his boyfriend for a series of important events. Though things go smoothly at first, the situation goes downhill rapidly as it becomes harder and harder to keep the secret - and Teddy and Cole both realize that they aren't just acting like they are in love, but they are really falling for each other.

This book is dual POV, and I was LIVING for it. Teddy is hilarious and adorable while Cole is more introspective, but I loved them both. Y'all, the banter was *chef's kiss* - I was laughing, crying, and just generally enjoying myself through all the dialogue. The shopping spree sequence was giving me actual Pretty Woman flashbacks, and all of Teddy's rambling about plants was really fun. And wow, talk about s3x positive! I've read several modern books with s3x worker MCs this year, and I'm just so impressed by how it's handled.

I decided to read this one after receiving both a physical and an eARC, and I am SO incredibly grateful to Harlequin Publicity Team, Harlequin Books, and NetGalley for trusting me! If you want to know just how serious I was about finishing this book, I actually put off starting one of my most anticipated reads of the year (Iron Flame) to blaze through the last few chapters. It was THAT good. The Boyfriend Subscription is out on March 26, and you'd better believe I'll be hyping it up more closer to then. Get this one on your TBR's right now!

rating: 4 stars

a gay pretty woman-esque book like this is REAL literature actually sorry

What happens when a simple deal gets…complicated?

After losing his marriage and his beloved retail plant business, Teddy Hughes is ready to drown his sorrows—or would be, if he could afford another beer in his favorite dive bar. He has no choice but to uproot his dreams and leave New York for good. And then a gorgeous stranger walks in with cheekbones that could cut glass and a confidence that leaves Teddy panting.

Like the leather harness he wears under his designer suit, Cole Vivien is a mass of contradictions. He’s a successful entrepreneur whose app, VERSTL, allows consumers and sex workers to form real—if temporary—connections. But now Cole is in the unfamiliar position of needing something from someone else. A fake boyfriend can help Cole project a more traditional image for a potential investor. And Teddy—shy, smart and so much hotter than he knows—is perfect for the part. Maybe too perfect.

Cole just has two conditions: no kissing and no falling in love. In exchange for one week together, Teddy will get enough money to get back on his feet, and no messy feelings will be in the mix.

But some rules are made to be broken…

I'm glad I read this title so I can get it in the hands of people who will enjoy it. However, It wasn't for me.

I LOVED the the first meeting between Teddy and Cole; the chemistry was there right off the bat interspersed with these moment of comedy, like when they swap tops on the steps of the Met and Teddy finds himself wearing a harness as he enters a five star hotel (but deals with it in the best way, namely, not giving a fuck and cheerfully making other people uncomfortable).

Teddy (Teddy... Ted... inspired by Edward, perchance? Though he's the Vivian of the story as far as him being hired as a fake boyfriend for a week) is an energetic and endearing hero. Life's dealt him a few hard knocks and I appreciated his moments of vulnerability as much as I enjoyed how upbeat he was. Cole is super smooth and charming but is also pretty anxious and image-conscious, a product of his upbringing and his position as the CEO of a company trying to go public. Cole kind of functions as both the Edward and Vivian of this story, as both the CEO and sex worker, and he's the one with the infamous no-kissing rule.

I love the concept of Cole not only being a CEO and creator of a queer dating/hook-up/OnlyFans-esque app, but he's also an extremely popular performer on the platform. Cole publicly calls himself an entrepreneur and a sex worker, which I imagine does a lot in terms of destigmatizing the profession and industry (even if he's in a position of relative privilege). That being said, I'm not sure if I buy his family not knowing that he's a sex worker, especially if his company is about to go public and they're pretty prominent in the business world too. But whatever, it's romanceland; I'm in it for the vibes, not the realism.

So, this book clocks in at about 288 pages, and I started to wish that it was longer as I got to the second half of the book which is centered around Cole's sister's wedding. The plot started to feel pretty rushed: there was parental drama, a reporter outing Cole, Teddy's overprotective friends who Cole thinks might be conning him, a shitty employee, etc. There is sexual assault off-page, but we are barely given any time to contend with that before the main characters abruptly have to leave for the wedding. Ultimately, I think the story wraps up neatly, complete with what an effective grovel on Cole's part, but it's the middle bits that could have done with more expansion.

The sex:

The sex was a pretty solid mix of sweet and sexy; there's lots of tender cuddling and heavy-petting and blowjobs. There is one sex scene with some pretty rough sex, which is something Teddy demands but later regrets, because he was asking for the internet version of Cole, the fantasy essentially, instead of the irl version of him.

My one note was that there were some odd breaks/skips in the sex scenes. For example, there's a scene where Teddy is going down on Cole, but we don't actually see Cole orgasming. Instead, there's a skip and it seems like both Cole and Teddy have gotten each other off and now they're lingering in the afterglow. This happened a couple times.

Overall:

I enjoyed The Boyfriend Subscription; it had all the beats of a romcom starting with a stellar meet-cute and some amazing chemistry between Cole and Teddy that carried throughout the book, even when the plot got a little over the place. This is actually a part of a new Harlequin imprint called Afterglow Books, and what I'm seeing is that it consists of diverse, romcom-type romances, and I'm looking forward to reading more books in this imprint!

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

ARC Review (thanks NetGalley!) - Steven Salvatore has become one of my favorites, and seeing him shine in an adult(!!) romance makes my heart sing. This story, and these characters were so complex. I throughly enjoyed every minute of this book!

E-ARC generously provided by Harlequin in exchange for a an honest review. Thank you so much

3.5 stars rounded up. Billed as a gay retelling of the romcom classic “Pretty Woman,” The Boyfriend Subscription brings a refreshing queer sensibility to a very traditional story.

This is one of those books that came to me at just the right time.

It was the perfect book for my mood. And I read it in two sittings.

It was such a cute, emotional, lovely short read. The characters Teddy and Cole were just so loveable. And I have such a weakness for the french. Maybe that skewed my view of Cole a little. But I loved him to bits.

The plot was a little lacking, but honestly this is a romance novel and so the 'plot' was the romance. And that romance was good. There were some really profound lines which I'm a little surprised at. I thought The Boyfriend Subscription would be more of a rom-com. And it was that. But it also got a little deep.

The only complaint I have is the side characters and how the Jason plot was wrapped up. I think those things could be finessed a little more.

The perfect balance.

I would definitely recommend this book!

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My biggest complaint with this book is that it wasn’t longer. Both because I was enjoying it and because I honestly believe the story would benefit from a little extra time. The tension/conflict and the character development and the relationship all needed a little time to breathe to feel truly satisfying at the end. Despite that I really did enjoy it. Cole and Teddy’s dynamic was great, and they both felt very real as characters, which is definitely what carried me through the novel as quickly as I read it. I would’ve loved an epilogue of some sort as well. Did Teddy open a new nursery in Cold Spring? Did *spoilers* get formally ousted? What happened to Nicko?

Also I love seeing a revised take on pretty woman/sex work/all of those aspects. I DNF-ed a book by this author a while back, so I wasn’t sure if this one would be to my taste. I was pleasantly surprised. The other was YA, so I’ll be on the lookout for more of Salvatore’s adult books.

I hate that i waited so long to read this because it was SO GOOD. i was hooked from the description but actually reading the book and watch our characters come to life was such a delight. their chemistry and angst was top tier. i loved the twists and the little bits of drama thrown in truly one of my favorite books this year. i need more people to talk about this book!!!

Really enjoyed this 'underdog' story. Teddy lost everything. Not only did he get divorced, but then he lost his business. With barely a penny to his name (thanks to all the legal fees,) he decided to move back home to live with his mom. Enter the wealthy and handsome Cole. The two had an instant attraction, but were from two entirely different worlds. Teddy was never going to be good enough for Cole, and Cole was never going to allow himself to be close enough for love to be an equation, therefore he thought of the perfect plan that would benefit them both. Teddy would get the money he needs and Cole would have the illusion of being a family man with his 'beau' by his side. Of course, we all know what they say about the best laid plans. There are laughs, and while there may not necessarily be tears, there are some heartbreaking moments. There is some steam as well. The side characters are fantastic and each and everyone of them serve their purpose in the story. It kept your attention. It alternates between POVs. It reads easily and rather quickly.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

4 stars!

This book is a fairly classic queer fake dating romance with its own quirks.

Teddy ran Plant Daddy, his instagram turned brick & mortar store, for the past few years in NYC, until his ex-husband's father decided to sue him for the property in a turn of vengeance. Broken up from his dreams ending, Teddy's time in NYC is coming to an end. He can't afford it so he's ready to move back home to Louisiana to live with his mother. On his last day at the store, he heads out to the bar with his best friend and roommate Kit. Once there, he meets Cole and the romance whirlwind begins.

Cole has made success for himself, deciding he doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps. He moved to LA after college to start his own business, VERSTL, an app designed for sex workers to build a connection with consumers. To do so, he legally changed his name, removing him from his father's legacy and keeping family drama limited as they weren't aware of his work. But after an event in NYC, he accidentally tells his sister he's not alone and is bringing his boyfriend to her wedding that following week. Dejected after all of that, he stumbles into a bar where he meets Teddy.

Their night starts off just exploring some of NYC, then exploring the harness Cole is hiding under his suit, before ending up in the penthouse suite. A night spend just connecting in all forms, until the next morning when Cole has to confront real life. He needs a date for a meeting that night, he needs a date for his sister's wedding, and he needs space from his ex that is pining for him. Teddy seems like the perfect solution - Cole can get the date that he needs and Teddy can earn some cash to help him in his next step of life.

This sets up the perfect fake dating scenario, they both get what they want. But Cole doesn't kiss; it's a line he doesn't cross, not in his work or his relationships, so they have to sell the relationship in other ways as they keep each other at arm's length.

Honestly, I did really enjoy this book and it was a great romance read. There were just certain things that I wish I had more of, that were developed a bit further. I loved the sex positivity and the focus on sex work, which I think really separates this novel from many others, but I wished to see more. I also wasn't a huge fan of the end - I really wanted an epilogue to see what happens next and think that may have rounded it out a bit more.

Overall, it was a great queer romance book and I would definitely recommend!

This is the gay Pretty Woman retelling that we did not know we needed! I didn’t read the blurb, only liked the cover, so I hate to admit that it took me a minute to get the connection. But once I did I was obsessed and went back and reread the beginning to appreciate it in a different light. It took all the things we love from the source material- Kit, shopping, class disparity, the doorman, their names, sex work, date for hire, a grand gesture, and then flipped it all upside down and added more meat to the plot. 😉 I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Plant Daddy and Cole, two lonely souls, get their happy ever after in one another! Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great representation, adorable build-up, and cute references to Pretty Woman, with enough twists to make it fresh and believable characters.

*I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So this is my first Salvatore book, and I quite liked it. Plenty of rom-com tropes abound, but they're still fun (including a few spins on Pretty Woman -- some work better than others, to be sure). As for the sexy times, they feel organic rather than cliched, but still plenty hot/fun. Cuddling and sex as connected intimacy is always hot, and this book does a great job connecting both and extending it to become part of the characters' identities.

To be honest I picked this up because of the cover. To find out it is a queer Pretty Woman with the sex worker as the rich guy?? Yesss! I really enjoyed it.

Teddy- The Plant Daddy, just lost his nursery due to a messy ass divorce and a vindictive ex father in law meets sexy Cole out at a bar. They have a hot one night stand that turns into a fake dating for a week.

I really loved the characters and all the plant talk. It was quite funny and extremely dramatic. Was a great time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for an eARC.

I was hooked from the tag line - we love SWs here and reading such positive (albeit privileged) representation in a romance novel is so refreshing. Not only is the physical and mental toll of being a SW addressed as well - but also the amount of emotional labour that goes into it. SWs are rockstars.

Cole is our SW entrepreneur who runs the app VERSTL (side note though: as a French Canadian, I highly doubt a French family would name their kid “Cole” - French folks would barely be able to pronounce it lol I know my dad couldn’t - that name and his family being French took me out of the story for a hot second). Teddy is our Plant Daddy who has just lost his business. When Cole and Teddy meet, they strike a deal - to pretend to date for 1 week so that Cole can have a fake boyfriend for PR. And the moment we see fake dating - we know exactly what’s going to happen and it is so very good.

Cole and Teddy’s physical relationship starts off very slow - like I’m talking cuddling naked slow, so you know, relatively speaking. But I really enjoyed reading about the growth of intimacy between the two of them before they took sex to the next level. It was very much appreciated.

Overall, the plot is fairly standard - exactly what it says on the tin - but we all know it and we love it when we pick it up. I’m excited to see what this author does next!

*I received an eARC from Harlequin - Romance, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, & NetGalley. All opinions are my own*

I found this book to be a little all over the place. While I enjoyed the two characters, the two "villains" were too much for me. I think the story could have been shorter and without as much details or plot. I though everyone was just a tad too petty for me to be cheering for them. It was delightfully funny and silly which is incredibly hard to do. I never rate the comedy in romance as I never actually find them funny but this one was. 6