DNF @35%. I just didn’t really connect to the storyline. The premise is good and I enjoyed the brothers best friend trope, but it fell flat to me. I will try other books by this author though. I think it’s the insta love for me. It has to be done right and in this situation I don’t think it worked for me.

This was my first book by Dani McLean and I really enjoyed it! I will be checking out her other books after this one ☺️

Bee has been ghostwriting for several years, and has now - drunkenly - pitched her own book to her publisher. It’s been a dream of hers, except for the one fact that Bee is comfortable in the shadows, not in the spotlight, and the situation is really (really) stressing her out. She goes back to her hometown to work on her book. Sebastian, her brother’s best friend, on the contrary is very comfortable on the front stage, having worked as a stripper for years. Unfortunately that didn’t leave him with enough savings to buy the house that he wants… and Bee steps in. She has some money, needs a place to stay, and wants him to teach her how to be confident.

Bee is too much of a people pleaser and too afraid to show people her true self, to the point where she keeps everything locked in and keep people away « I thought if I was somewhere no one knew me, then no one would see it if I failed » / « If I ever held any mystery for him, it’s about to be dispelled. He’ll soon see that I’m not nearly as interesting as he thinks I am. »
Luckily, Sebastian is more than ready to step in and show her she is worthy. « There is joy in living loud. It’s about knowing who you are and being the first to love yourself unconditionally. » / « Dream big. Throw yourself amongst the stars. Let them shine as brightly as you do. »

I loved the mortgage of convenience idea, such a fun take on the marriage of convenience trope! Both Bee and Sebastian are easily relatable to, with their struggle to have enough deposit for a house despite working for years (we’re all there too) or how to deal with imposter syndrome. This was a really nice book on standing up for yourself, developing meaningful relationships and knowing when to set up boundaries to protect yourself.

The only thing that worked less for me is that help to get over imposter syndrome vs half of a house deposits is NOT a very balanced transaction…. This was a very expensive way for Bee to just get some lessons in confidence 😂

 “The way you look at me, I…” Finding the right words has never been harder. “I don’t need to be a certain version of myself. I can be any version I want to be, because you’ll accept me the way I am. I’m not used to having a person look at me without wanting something.”
“I never said I didn’t want, Bee.” 🥰🥰

while "mortgage of convenience" didn't necessarily grab me from the beginning, it didn't take long before i was completely hooked on bee and sebastian's story. i love a marriage of convenience trope and clearly, this is very similar to that. but beyond that, i found both bee and sebastian to be such realistic and compelling characters and i loved their dynamic. and the sexual tension!!! the payoff was definitely worth it, because the spice was chef's kiss. not just that, but i loved their individual arcs outside of their love story, and the growth and development they showed throughout the book. it's such a realistic portrayals of healthy relationships, where each of them had their own lives separate from each other, but they were still each other's anchors. and what can i say, i firmly believe all mmc should worship the ground their women walk on, and sebastian did that (several times over).

Special thanks to Dani McLean, NetGalley and Set the Mood Publishing for the advanced read copy of “Mortgage of Convenience”. The name of the book gave me pause and my expectations were low and this is why you should never judge a book by its cover. This is the first novel I have read by Dani McLean and now I have found a new author to binge read her other books!

“Mortgage of Convenience” could never not be called a romance novel and has enough spice to burn your tongue, but the stories and evolution apart from that are just as important and meaningful in this book. The author created fully fleshed out characters with important supporting characters and relationships. The questions these supporting relationship trails raise are: can you forgive a parent for childhood trauma, how do you know if or when you have outgrown a friendship, how do we learn to live out loud and proud?

Bee moves back to her childhood home after spending five years away and trying to figure out the next steps of her life. Sebastian, her brother’s best friend, and Bee’s longtime crush, has a plan for his but not the means to make it happen. Together, they succeed in doing both. The relationship becomes the strength they both need to be supported through some tough life lessons while learning to become and be comfortable with who they are now.

This was a fantastic book. It will be for sale 2/27 and I definitely suggest buying it.

✨Double POV
✨Friends to lovers
✨Brothers best friend
✨He falls first
✨Age gap
✨Slow burn
✨Spice
✨LGBTQ+


Bee is trying to figure out how to balance life and writing but that is proving to be challenging when she finds herself back in her hometown hoping to find motivation. What wasn’t planned is the shared mortgage and roommate who happens to be her brothers best friend! However, she needs something in return so it seems this will benefit her and Sebastian, she just needs to keep these feelings under wraps and in check.

Sebastian wild and sexy in his younger years is just ready to plant his feet and build a foundation for a perfect family he dreams of. What he didn’t expect was the help bee provided in helping this dream unfold. They now share a mortgage and space and sparks! Both needing something from each other…

Their story unfolds and intertwines beautifully. It’s a slow leisurely burn and makes you feel all the sweet butterflies.


Favorite line from the book: “I have to bite back a moan when he once again picks me up and sets me on the counter.”

This book was not what I expected in the best possible way. From the cover and description I thought it would be a spicy forbidden romance of brothers best friend with forced proximity but it was so much more. Bee is a ghost writer, who finds herself back in her hometown after a drunken email changes everything. She tells her boss that she wants to write a book instead of writing for others and her boss agrees. Freaking out, as expected she ends up in a car ride with her brother’s best friend. Then on a whim decides let’s go in on a house with Sebastian (brother’s best friend). During their communal living situation Bee asks for help with the book and Sebastian is more than willing to help her. Bee has come to terms with herself being a background character in others stories more willing to be backstage than ever be in the spotlight. But Sebastian works on showing her that she is the main character in her own story!
The amount I related to Bee as a character and as she learned it’s okay to take up space was unreal. This book so beautifully points out that it’s okay to change and grow and that sometimes that means ending relationships that once served you but don’t anymore.
I did not expect to see myself in the characters as much as I did nor did I expect to find this book unbelievable relatable as someone entering their 30’s and going through major changes.
This book is still deliciously spicy too don’t get me wrong but the actual story is worth every second of your time. I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced this book and highly recommend it to everyone who is working through the struggles of growing up and changing!

🌟 4.25/5

🛑 Look at the author's trigger warning!!!

ℙ𝕆𝕍: first person, dual perspectives

𝕊𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕪:
Ever sent a drunk text to your ex and regretted it in the morning? Well, imagine pitching the debut novel you’ve been hiding to your agent, then waking up with a hangover and a deadline. Oh, and you have a debilitating fear of rejection. Welcome to Bee Montgomery’s life.
The shy ghostwriter has always shied away from the limelight but may never get this opportunity again. So after five years away, Bee returns home with little more than a suitcase of secrets and a dream. What she really needs is someone confident to guide her.
Enter Sebastian Wolfe, her brother’s best friend. The older man spent his twenties avoiding commitment and his whole life trying to be the man his father never was, but the sexy ex-stripper secretly dreams of a white picket fence and a home of his own. He isn’t expecting to come up short on the deposit, or for the woman he shouldn’t want to offer the rest in exchange for his help to get over her stage fright. But if Bee can’t see how incredible she is, he’s more than happy to show her.
It’s not long before they’re stripping away more than her inhibitions, but as Bee’s deadline looms, she needs to decide if she’s going to keep playing house or return to her real life.

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
When I came upon this book on NetGalley, I was hooked with the cover and the summary. When I was approved for it, I immediately dropped everything I was doing and started reading it.

Bee and Sebastian's book was so sweet and original. While we never get to see them meet, you do get to see how they were interested in each other before pursuing their arrangement. The spice also hit HARD!🥵

If I could bottle up Sebastian, I would! His dreams of having the family home and wanting a stable life were admirable. I also can't forget to mention his plant obsession! As I sit here and write this review, I glance over at my own little plant oasis and laugh because they all have names, just like his did!🤣

Bee's character is one that I find many people can relate to. She has anxiety about the future and has a major case of imposter syndrome. I loved how that was accurately portrayed! ❤️

Special thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ARC!🫶