Men In Books Aren't Better by Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter was an absolute treat! While the title suggests otherwise, I found Jared to be completely swoon-worthy. His charm, depth, and complexity made him impossible not to root for. He oozes charisma, and the chemistry between him and Molly was sizzling. Every scene with him left me wanting more, and his mix of strength and tenderness was downright sexy. The authors nailed the tension and passion, making the romance feel both hot and heartfelt. If you love a sexy, captivating male lead who keeps you hooked from start to finish, this book is a must-read!

Men in books aren't better follows Molly, a struggling author, who hires a non-sexual male escort as inspiration for her next novel after her engagement falls apart.

The premise of this book immediately intrigued me and whilst it does a lot well there are a few nitpicks and things I didn't really enjoy.

The banter between Molly and Jared was hilarious and sweet at times. However, beyond an innate physical attraction I did not buy any romantic chemistry between the two characters. I think they would have made brilliant friends but not as a couple.

The pacing of this book is quite quick but I don't think that's a negative, it keeps the reader interested and the story is constantly evolving. That being said the miscommunication between the two characters seemed a little contrived and unnecessary. The third act conflict was kinda silly and unbelievable, I think it would have been easier to come up with a more plausible conflict between them.

As a personal nitpick, the FMC Molly is British and on a number of occasions she says or does something that Jared remarks as "so British". As a Brit let me say.... none of these are British. If the authors really wanted to drive that point home there are a number of other examples they could have chosen.

Overall a quick and reasonably enjoyable read. If you're in the mood for a quick romcom give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookbuzz.net for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

✨ Living in Las Vegas, I was thrilled to dive into a story set in my city—and this one delivered such a fun escape. Molly and Jared completely stole my heart!

🔥 The chemistry? So well done. The banter? Playful and engaging. Jared’s charm and Molly’s determination made their dynamic unforgettable. The vibrant Vegas setting brought their story to life, from sweet dates to moments of hilarious tension.

I loved how the dual POV showed their struggles with feelings and communication—it felt genuine and relatable, making the ending all the more satisfying. This debut is a sweet and spicy mix of light-hearted romance with just the right amount of depth.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC! If you’re a fan of romances with humor, heart, and a touch of heat, this one’s for you. 🌟

This is a perfect fit for readers who crave a lighthearted, emotional, and romantic tale of self-discovery, love, and taking chances, with a dash of humor and a fast-paced plot that will keep them turning the pages until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book! This is book on the the Plus One Book series and I can only hope the next installments are just as fun to read!

"Men in Books Aren't Better" by Lisa-Marie Potter & Amanda Nelson
Such a fun twist for a rom-com!

The story and plot felt so original and fun. Molly and Jared's banter was witty and sharp right from the start. The set up felt different than most rom-coms I've read, and talk about slow-burn! Early on I was rooting for these two to get together and the buildup was amazing.  The whole book reminded me of the hand-flex scene from Pride and Prejudice. Small moments of connection and lots of "almost" moments. The whole book reminded me of an early 2000s movie. 

Synopsis -
Molly Covington, best known for her thrillers, decides to write a rom-com, even amidst personal heartbreak. But she soon realizes she may not be as prepared to write about love and romance as she thought. Enter Jared. Looking to learn more about romance and meet-cutes, Moly hires Jared from a companion service (NOT an escort...something reiterated over and over in the book) to learn more about perfect dates, romantic dinners, and how to connect with another person. As Jared and Molly begin to spend time together, all in the name of research, sparks begin to fly. But the question is...are these feelings real or an illusion?

Pressured by her looming deadline and an unfinished romance manuscript, author Molly Covington applies her immersive research skills and goes all in. She hires a male companion for inspiration during three days of research in Las Vegas.

Enter sexy, confident Jared Washington—an extreme sports enthusiast and relationship skeptic who moonlights as a Plus One male companion. Molly’s contract puts him within arm’s reach of buying his own business and making his dreams come true.

The chemistry between her and Jared is surprisingly easy. Before their Vegas rendezvous comes to an end, one of them will need to lay all their cards on the table to discover if they’ll be lucky in love.

Thank you to the authors Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter, the publishers @thewildrosepress and @netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book.

Both Molly's and Jared's characters in this book are realistic and likeable. The story gives a whole new take on fake dating and Molly makes you question to what extremes writers will really go to researching their next book!

The writing is enthralling and keeps you reading from start to finish, I just couldn't put it down and read it in 1 sitting with lots of tea. It's funny with great banter between the 2 main characters, light hearted and has sexual tension in spades.

I do disagree with the title though, if Jared is anything to go by, men in books are better.

#MenInBooksArentBetter #amandanelson #lisamariepotter #plusone #thewildrosepress #ebook #NetGalley #arc #bookreview

“Men In Books Aren't Better” is a delightful rom-com that weaves humor, heart, and a touch of chaos into the story of two unlikely protagonists. The narrative follows Molly Covington, a thriller author who is struggling to meet her deadlines for her debut romance novel due to her writers’ block caused majorly because of her ex-fiancé. To get out of her writers’ block and get inspired, Molly takes extreme measures and hires a companion, Jared Washington for three days. They plan to spend their designated three days in Las Vegas. Things take a turn when feelings get involved in their strictly business relationship.

This book had me kicking my feet in the air and giggling half the time. From the moment Molly and Jared connect on a video call their chemistry is electric. The witty and flirtatious dialogues and endearing characters make it impossible not to root for them as they navigate their feelings towards each other. The book is packed with multiple romantic moments, particularly during Jared’s attempts to "help" Molly with her research for the book.

The writing style is fresh and engaging, perfectly capturing the essence of modern romance. The pacing is spot-on, keeping readers hooked without feeling rushed. The blend of romantic tension and moments of banter creates a delightful reading experience that will have you flipping pages late into the night.

Ultimately, “Men In Books Aren't Better” is a heartwarming reminder that love can be found in the most unexpected places. If you’re looking for a light-hearted escape filled with laughter and a sweet romance, this book is a must-read!

Disfrute la lectura.

Molly es una famosa escritora de misterio; sin embargo, hace más de un año decidió incursionar en el género romántico, en el que el protagonista estaría inspirado en su prometido. Pero cuando termina su relación, se ve incapaz de seguir escribiendo romance y ahora está contra reloj para entregar el manuscrito a su editor. Entonces, se le ocurre contratar a Jared, un acompañante que la llevará a citas y lo entrevistará para inspirarse.

Jared lleva una década trabajando como acompañante, pero su sueño es abrir una empresa de viajes en bicicleta por las montañas, y está a punto de reunir el dinero necesario. Sin embargo, cuando conoce a Molly por primera vez, se siente tentado a romper todas sus reglas.

Lo disfruté, especialmente la dinámica entre Molly y Jared. Tenía dudas sobre cómo se manejaría el tema de Jared como acompañante si comenzaba una relación con ella, pero se trató de manera adecuada.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute debut! I loved the chemistry between Molly and Jared and I loved reading about everything they did in Vegas. Couple end goals for sure! Absolutely adored it! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!

A great rom com story that I would recommend for those looking for laugh out loud moments, and great chemistry between the two characters. Will be looking for more from these authors.

This book was amazing! I love books about books! The story was so entertaining and funny and I loved the main characters!

"Men in Books Aren't Better" by Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter is a charming and witty romantic comedy that explores the complexities of love and self-discovery.

The story follows Molly Covington, a determined author who finds herself in a creative jam, facing a rapidly approaching deadline for her latest romance manuscript. In a bid to spark her inspiration, Molly decides to take her research to the next level by hiring a male companion for an immersive three-day getaway in the vibrant city of Las Vegas.

Enter Jared Washington, a strikingly handsome and self-assured extreme sports aficionado. Despite his sceptical view on relationships, he embraces his role as a Plus One male companion with charm and enthusiasm. As he and Molly embark on their Las Vegas adventure, they quickly find themselves entangled in a whirlwind of laughter, unexpected moments, and undeniable chemistry. Molly’s contract not only positions Jared close to her journey of creative exploration but also brings him nearer to realizing his own dream of owning a successful business.

As they navigate the dazzling lights and playful escapades of the city, the connection between Molly and Jared deepens, revealing layers of vulnerability and ambition. With every shared experience, they must confront their own fears and uncertainties, leading them toward a pivotal moment when one of them must lay their feelings bare.

Overall, "Men in Books Aren't Better" delivers a refreshing blend of humour and heart, making me smile and laugh out loud at various points. The dialogue sparkles and the characters feel genuine and relatable. I highly recommend this delightful debut novel to all contemporary romance enthusiasts; it’s a story that beautifully captures the journey of finding love in unexpected places.

A romance author hires a male companion for research in Las Vegas, sparking unexpected chemistry and a high-stakes gamble on love.

This is a light-hearted, low-stakes romance with likable characters and a high heat level. The story immerses the reader in the Las Vegas setting.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Molly writes thrillers and is trying to expand into romance. The only problem is that she's lost her writing mojo since breaking up with her fiancé Enrique a year ago. So to get some inspiration she hires Jared as a (non-sex) companion and goes off for a romantic weekend in Vegas. Jared has issues of his own. He wants to own the adventure experiences company he works for as a guide and has been a companion for the Plus One agency in the hopes that he can get there quicker. This was a fun, clean (nothing beyond kissing) romcom but it fell short for me. The banter and tension between these two was great, but the assumptions and miscommunication was off the charts. I thought the "break up" was frustrating and I still can't decide if I liked the ending. There is a set-up for another Plus One book involving a minor character at the end (because otherwise there's an unnecessary chapter at the end). Overall, a cute 'fake dating' romance.

It’s funny how I always believe “men in books are just better.” when the title of this book says the opposite! 😂

This book is fun and light to read and I enjoyed and swooned every chapter. I love Jared and Molly!!! I also love the sexual tension going on between them!🔥 This will definitely be included in my top 5 fave rom-com books! Congratulations to Lisa-Marie Potter and Amanda Nelson for this amazing creation! I can't wait to read more! 💙

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

Rounding up to 4 stars! Molly is a thriller writer who is shifting into the romance genre. The only thing is that she is freshly broken hearted after she found out she was cheated on by her fiance. With no way to feel and write happy love, she decided to find a man to romance her. With a tight novel timeline, she finds Jared from a companion website. (one that does not allow any messing around).

I loved this story and thought that the first half was a perfect execution! I was actually screaming and kicking my feet waiting for them to touch!!

I was instantly drawn in by the the story and the banter that Molly and Jared shared. The beginning of the book was so interesting and the plot was original. I loved how much we got to learn about why Molly didn't have a romantic muscle in her body and why Jared felt so used.

Overall, this story was so refreshing and a nice treat in between dark mafia romances. Look forward to reading more from these authors.

Thank you to Wild Rose Press for providing me this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Tropes:

They are both obsessed but they don't say it aloud.
Closed Door Romance
Emotionally Intelligent MCs
Escort/Companion X Thriller/Romance Author

Men In Books Aren’t Better by Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter is an unforgettable, sizzling romance between Molly Covington and Jared Washington. The chemistry between these two characters is undeniable, creating an electric tension that leaps off the page. Molly, a determined author with an unfinished manuscript and a looming deadline, hires Jared, a confident and sexy male companion, for three days in Las Vegas. Their connection is instant, but the real magic comes from the emotional depth and internal struggles both characters face. Jared, a relationship skeptic with dreams of starting his own business, brings complexity to their dynamic, while Molly, still reeling from a painful breakup a year prior, is trying to heal while finding inspiration for her book.

The moments of miscommunication between Molly and Jared are not only understandable but completely believable given their circumstances. Both characters are trying to navigate their own feelings—unsure whether the emotions they’re experiencing are genuine or just part of their "contract." Their internal battles and the external tension between them keep the reader glued to the story, aching for them to find clarity and come together.

The dual POV adds another layer of depth, allowing readers to truly feel the frustration and desire from both sides as they try to decipher their feelings. Despite the uncertainty and tension, the romance blossoms beautifully, culminating in an adorable and satisfying ending that will leave readers smiling.

If you’re in the mood for an emotionally charged romance with a mix of heart and humor, Men In Books Aren’t Better is a must-read. Molly and Jared’s journey from business arrangement to undeniable love is full of intense moments and a few twists along the way, making it a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable story!

Such a fun debut romance novel by Amanda Nelson and Lisa-Marie Potter with a refreshing view on the fake dating trope!

The book is about Molly, an author facing a tight deadline and an incomplete romance manuscript, who decides to hire a male companion for immersive research in Las Vegas. She meets Jared, a charming and self-assured extreme sports lover who works as a Plus One. Their connection is so effortless, but as their three-day getaway progresses, one of them will need to be honest about their feelings to see if they have a chance at love.

Both characters are very likable and relatable and their banter is amazing. You could feel the banter and chemistry between Molly and Jared coming through the pages. Also, because the book is a dual POV you can experience the development of both of the characters and their feelings for each other throughout the story.

One minor point I didn't like about the book was the fact that the authors choose to make up other names for popular existing social media platforms, it was a bit cringe to be honest.

Overall, the story had me giggling all the time and I recommend this debut novel to my fellow contemporary romance readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BookBuzz for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.