I went into this book blind and was pleasantly surprised by the story. The comedy was everything, their chemistry was so good! I love a quirky queer read. I’d definitely recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Heat Factor: Chapter 1: blow job in the wine cellar. Chapter 2: fight to the death in the wine cellar.

Character Chemistry: I need to murder you, but maybe we can fool around first? Then we’ll get back to murdering. I promise.

Plot: Two hitmen for rival crime organizations fight their attraction. And each other.

Overall: My heart hurts.

Here’s how I organize my reading: I don’t. I am a complete chaos gremlin who grabs ARCs like they’re artisanal chocolate bars and then only reads things I get from the library or find in random book boxes. Luckily, Erin manages our calendar, so I can see when I have a book review assigned to me in the near future and then go find the book in the depths of my kindle. This does mean, however, that I often jump into ARCs with no idea what they’ll be about or any memory of requesting it.

In this case, I texted Erin and Ingrid halfway through Chapter 1, because how did I end up with a M/M dueling assassins in Florida romance? That seems like Erin’s wheelhouse. I further texted them that it was too bad for Erin, because this book was delightful and I was not giving it to her now.

Anyways, this book is delightful, until it punches you right in the feels, and then it’s wonderful but in a completely different way.

Rainy is a hitman. Technically, he’s a freelance hitman, but he’s loyal to a specific crime family, so that’s who he mostly does jobs for. One evening, he’s going about his business—you know, killing someone who needs killing—and starts flirting with the bartender. One thing leads to another and he’s getting the best head of his life. Too bad the bartender is really a hitman for a rival crime lord and is there to kill him. A meet cute for the ages!

What follows is a riotous romp around Miami as Adler continues to go after Rainy—and Rainy goes after Adler. Rainy is a flamboyant chaos gremlin who is good at his job; Adler is a tightly controlled ex-military type in a bespoke suit who is even better at his. There’s a very funny scene where Rainy is surveilling Adler, only to have Adler sneak out of the dinner party and get Rainy in the sights of his sniper rifle. (The story is told only from Rainy’s POV, and it takes him an embarrassingly long time to think that maybe Adler might be missing his shots on purpose.)

The tone is very tongue in cheek, as evidenced by the chapter titles, all of which are written in “Florida Man” headline style (example: “Florida Man, Bartender Cause Public Disturbance”). It’s easy to get caught up in it because the writing is very funny, but do be aware that things get pretty violent. Our main characters are hitmen. They are terrible people who work for and with other terrible people (see Chapter 3: “Florida Man: Crime Means Bad Coworkers”). They aren’t shown going after civilians, but I’m not sure they wouldn’t if they were ordered to.

So where do the feels come in? Around the midway point, the reader learns how Rainy and Adler ended up as hitmen and…it’s pretty bleak. However much Rainy fronts (to the reader and his coworkers), he is a miserable person with a miserable life and burgeoning feelings for someone he can never be with. And now, even though the bosses have called off the mutual hits that Rainy and Adler are supposed to be executing on each other, they both know it’s just a reprieve.

Don’t worry, the book ends with a suitably epic fight scene and a bit of hope for these guys to find peace with each other. It’s the perfect blend of snark and pathos.

(Yes, there is a sequel in the works. Maybe it’ll be about Rainy and Adler…or maybe it’ll be about the boss’s son, Marco, and the cop who he is delusionally in love with.)

PS: Nothing Good is dedicated to Ron DeSantis.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

This was delicious debut. I usually dislike books with a lot of spice, but this book was unhinged in the best of ways and I couldn’t imagine the story without it. Both Rainy and Adler are absolutely feral, and are truly enemies to lovers. They take “will-they-won’t-they” to the next level and the tension (the angst?!) is so good! Read this if you’re looking for a good time with some spice and murder thrown in.

I was really entertained throughout the whole book and loved the comedic elements to it. Great work!

I absolutely loved this book! Rainy and Adler are perfect at the love/hate to the point sometimes you didn’t quite know which way it was going. The banter and spice were top notch and it also gave you all the feels. I can’t wait for the next one.

DNF at 43%

This is a case of me just not being able to pick up what the author is putting down. The cartoon cover and the blurb made me think it was going to light hearted cartoon violence. Like old episodes of the A-team where there is action and gun fire but no one ever seriously gets hurt.

What I think that author was going for was something a bit grittier. So there is irreverent banter with real violence and the combination didn't work for me. It wasn't heavy enough for a full dark read, but it wasn't light hearted enough for an action romance.

This may hit really well for someone who is looking for something a bit more serious, but for me I just couldn't get past the mismatch in cover theme and content.

This was a great debut, but overall, the language was a little too simple for the context of the themes in the book. And there was nothing much engaging with the sentence structures or dialogue between characters. It's of a skill level of someone who passed grade 12. Not terrible, but not terribly engaging either.
I found myself slightly bored because I was confused why they wanted to kill and then didn't, and then wanted to kill again.... but then the mc was sad. I'm unsure if I could connect with these characters but it was still enjoyable enough.
The smut in the book was awesome, I won't lie. It was different and I enjoyed it alot.

This book has been on my mind since I finished it, mainly because I can’t wait for the next one!
Right off the bat- I generally stick to first person dual POV when I read romance. I’ve tried third person POV before, and very few are able to catch me and keep me like this one did. Rainy intrigued me right away, and I loved being able to stick with him throughout the book.

Rainy meets Adler on the job- unfortunately, he happens to be Adler’s job. The instalust was fun and unexpected, and everything after had me not wanting to put the book down. The hitman vs. hitman was great, and it adds great complication to the feelings Rainy begins to develop. This book is a perfect mix of angst and humor.
The ending of this book was the perfect way to lead into book two. I appreciate a cliffhanger free ending that still leaves me with that NEED IT NOW feeling about the next book. (Maybe we can get some of Adler’s side of things? 👀)

This is a great book to pick up if you think you’d enjoy an MM book where the main characters are LITERALLY trying to kill each other the whole time (whether they actually want to or not is another story entirely).

It’s an enemies to lovers who remained me a little of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (the movie, not the series), so of course I bloody love it! Rainy and Adler will have my heart forever. They are so perfect together, oh my God!
The plot is good but the best part is the romance. So hot and intense and I like the chemistry!

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the arc!

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this beauty in exchange for an honest review!

You know, the enemies-to-lovers trope is wildly popular, but I’m not sure I’ve ever truly appreciated it until picking up this read by R.J. Piper. Both deeply affecting and wildly exhilarating, Nothing Good tells the story of two hitmen – Rainy and Adler – destined to probably kill each other one day, if they can manage to keep their hands off each other first.

It’s your typical story. Boy meets boy at the bar. Flirting, charming, leaving said bar. But when both boys are deadly assassins, things go south. What begins is a cat-and-cat game, both men desperately trying to deny some sort of animal magnetism long enough to kill each other. Rainy is messy and winging it at every turn. Adler is lethal, and all pent up frustration. What is murder between a pair as perfectly matched as this?

This one far exceeded expectations. Drenched in character introspection and buzzing anticipation, Nothing Good is really about two kicked puppies who both want to be taken care of but can’t stop biting the hand that feeds them. It’s well written, it’s funny, and it’s sexy, but most of all, it’s emotional. These are two characters both resigned to their place in the world, both lonely and disillusioned, in some ways given up on hoping for something better. Like any good game, neither of them ever quite win or lose, but they keep playing. In small moments, they give the audience and themselves something to root for, something less fleeting and breakable, and ultimately human. With a sequel already expected next year, it’s not only worth the read, but worth the risk. The best things are.

This book was amazing! Rainy and Adler had amazing chemistry and tension which made me not want to put the book down. I loved the writing style, the characters, and the humour was incredible.
My favourite thing was how both where hitmen but the polar opposite to each other, Rainy brought the humor whilst Adler was more serious - true opposite's attract trope, done in the best way with the enemies to lovers = perfect combination *chef's kiss*

WOW! All I can say is, "Wow." Nothing Good was great. I started reading the book and knew it would be five stars immediately, but I didn't want to rush through it. The more I read, the more I was convinced it was a five-star read, and it was.

Two assassins, tasked with eliminating each other, are entangled in a unique game of cat and mouse. As their deadly mission unfolds, they unexpectedly fall for one another.
This was a beautifully unique romantic book. I've never read anything like that.

As the story unfolds and you delve deeper, you can feel the inner conflict between Rainy and Adler's orders to kill each other and their burgeoning feelings. Rainy's character development at the end was stunning, and I love that Adler was this very mysterious badass. Then, slowly, we see him in different lights, a more intimate and personal side of him. This novel sent me on a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, sobbed, and yelled. And some moments left me breathless!

R. J. Piper, your talent is truly exceptional, and this book has secured a place among my all-time favorites! I can't wait for Rainy and Adler's story to continue!

What an unexpected gem! I got to be honest, I requested the ARC simply because I saw two other bookstagramers give it 5* and I figured why not see what's the buzz about. And, oh boy, Nothing good turned out to be SO good!

The story follows Rainy, a hitman for one of the most influential families in Miami. And then Rainy meets Adler, another hitman, whose loyalty lies with another gang. And they fuck. Unfortunatelly, they also have to kill each other.

Nothing good was absolutely insane and I mean it in the best way. I laughed in basically every chapter, Rainy is absolutely hilarious. Adler, on the other hand... Strict, precise, put-together. Even though both of them are hitmans (and really good ones!), they are the polar opposites. Except they crave each other like crazy and being in dangerous situations make them even hornier.

The backstories of both men are hard, as a reader, you understand, how and why they got themselves into this type of work. Serious, calm chapters in the book were great to mix with action-filled or hilarious ones. It came as a shock, that it's a debut book!

I had doubts about the cover before reading the book, however, after reading it I feel like it illustrates the book perfectly!

Thank you for the ACR

Oh, wow!
At first I was hesitant to pick up this book. In the end I was mind blown, and couldn’t put it down.
This book a debut novel and R.J. Piper nailed it! I really, really, REALLY, liked the writing style. And the table of contents was a chef’s kiss. The ending left me smiling and giggling and swooning and I can't wait for the sequel!

Wow, I just read incredible book! From the very first sentence, I was completely hooked. The writing, the characters, and their banter were absolutely amazing. I couldn't believe just how good it was!

The story is about two serial assassins who are supposed to kill each other but instead end up having spicy moments together. It might sound like a typical premise, but let me tell you, this book takes everything to a whole new level.

Adler and Rainy have such incredible chemistry that you can't deny. There was a moment that literally took my breath away, and I found myself thinking, "No way, it can't end like this!" The balance of drama and comedy is just top-notch. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book.

A big round of applause for this debut! can't wait for the next book in the spring to dive back into the world with the boys.

Huge thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for the ARC.

I think this was a good debut, but it didn't quite blow me away like I had hoped. I was intrigued by Rainy and Adler, and the dynamic they had as contracted killers who were each others targets. I think it was a fun, quick read and I'm definitely interested in seeing where there relationship goes in book two! I enjoyed the grumpy x sunshine between the two of them and I hope we see more in the next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and RJ Piper for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I adored this book. Rainy and Adler had great chemistry between them and I couldn't put this book down. I was pretty much glued to my Kindle all day reading it. I loved their banter and the cat & mouse game they played with one another. The book had a lot of humor in it and their sarcastic bantering with one another was a true highlight of the book.

I really love Adler he was my favorite from the book, I love his wit and sarcasm as well as his vulnerable and emotional side that he keeps locked away, only showing to Rainy when they get close to one another.

The pacing is fast which keeps you engaged but I felt their relationship and the development of it had a lot of highs and lows which made for a complying read as one moment they were making out and the next they were trying to kill one another. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, I'm a real fan of these two and anything to see more of Adler and Rainy on my Kindle is a win for me. This was added to my favorites shelf on GoodReads because of my love for it.

4.5⭐

I think romanticising killers is tacky, and no one will catch me tuning in to real-crime shows, but over-the-top assassin romances are one of my guilty pleasures. I didn't have very high expectations towards an unknown author, but this book turned out to be a very enjoyable assassin romance, and a surprisingly well-written one to boot. Another debut hit for this year!

This book is humorous, though not all wacky. It's also unapologetically violent, but not overly gratuitous. And it's a bit twisted, with two assassins that actually enjoy their work, but still nothing super edgy or taboo-breaking. Most of all, it's addictive and entertaining.

The leads don't go immediately all fluffy-heart-eyes to each other, they really try to kill each other in several occasions. But they have a good dynamic and this is definitely a romance first kind of story. The novel is slightly open-ended and there will be a sequel (that I'm rather eager to read), but 'Nothing Good' works as a stand-alone story too.

This was such a deeply unserious book. Two hitmen are trying to kill each other... while perhaps falling in love. Or, at the very least, getting off with each other.

As books go, this was rather memorable. It was a bit funny, a bit smutty and very chaotic.

I felt like for a romance, it was well written and tight, with a good sense of voice. Both of the characters seem well fleshed out and have their own complex backstories and motivations. The heat in the book was well-written, although if lust and violence intertwined isn't your thing, maybe give it a pass. I think this could stand up against a more traditional hetero mafia romance or other dark romance as well.

Let it be known that I rarely devour a book in less than five sittings. Nothing Good has officially been one of the only exceptions this year. 

I was approximately ten pages into this novel when I realized this is what I’ve been yearning for. It has that Cordelia Kingsbridge magic that drew me in instantaneously. Piper will enthrall you in a mouthwateringly hot dynamic that includes banter, southern charm, tragic backstories, and great sex. I’m pretty sure I squealed at one point. 

Rainy and Adler had the butterflies in full effect. Rainy was absolutely down bad for Adler. Adler was trying to be cool and collected, but honestly, just as obsessed. They are one of my favorite types of pairings and work well with the story from Rainy’s perspective. 

Behind Rainy and Adler, there was an actual plot. I enjoyed that the action wasn’t overly complicated, and each situation propelled their relationship forward.

I could not be more excited for book two!

Thank you to R.J. Piper and NetGalley for the ARC!