“You have us. You’re not alone.”

I’m truly not sure how she does it, but Sara manages to blow me away with every book she writes.

I walked into this one blind, purely sold on it based on the author and the fact that it was set in Scotland. But it turned into so much more.

This book was a phenomenal marriage-of-convenience romance about learning to love, be loved, and be worthy of love while being broken. And I don’t know about you, but that hit me in the feels with every page.

“You’re never more beautiful than when you stick up for yourself.”

This book, along with many of her others, was healing in ways I didn’t anticipate. I loved reading and learning about both Killian and Sylvie—their pasts, their goals, and what they were willing to do to make them happen. The banter and the chemistry between the two of them was pure fire and I wasn’t able to put it down.

I think the thing I loved the most about Killian and Sylvie is how much they both individually grow, how much they care for one another despite not wanting to, and the genuine friendship that forms from the most unlikely of pairings.

“He’s the last person on earth I want to love, but I can’t help it. I do.”

I cannot recommend Sara’s books enough—and if you’re looking for a Scottish treat, I just know you’ll love this one. And it comes out tomorrow!

You’ll love this book if you like:
- Scottish setting
- Marriage of convenience
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- Enemies to lovers

CW: parental neglect, cheating (not between main characters), death, agoraphobia, PTSD, alcoholism, bullying, aggression

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

♡ Scottich Billionaire
♡ Marriage of Convenience
♡ Enemies(ish) to Lovers
♡ Grumpy & Grumpier
♡ Familial Grief/Trauma
♡ "My wife"

One grumpy Scottish billionaire + one spoiled American prodigy (loosely) = a battle of wills and an explosion of passions.

I wasn't sure how I was going to like this book, but I should know by now to never doubt Sara Cate. 🤌 I should also know that she is going to hurt my feelings every time. 🙃

This is the story of how money and privilege can't always buy happiness, and also how great banging one out after a screaming match can be. These two are constantly bumping heads and exchanging verbal blows, but you know what they say about hate being another form of passion?

Also, Killian gives me major Heathcliff vibes with his tortured brooding hero persona.

The audiobook is a DUAL narration, meaning the female narrator reads all of Sylie's POV chapters and the male narrator reads all of Killian's. Both did a great job, though, nothing tops Will's Scottish accent for Killian. 👌

Thank you to Sara Cate and her team, as well as NetGalley for the ALC and ARC!

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐌𝐞
(𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐫, #𝟏)
𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞
4☆

Their marriage of convenience is anything but…

I love me some grumpy x sunshine and even more so when it’s grumpy x grumpy and one of them is a kilt wearing Scottish billionaire. Add in marriage of convenience and you have the makings for one sizzling hot romance read. Sara Care already has me Intrigued to see where this series takes us next.

What I enjoyed;
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Grumpy x Grumpy
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottland Setting
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Forced Proximity
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 All The SC Spice

Thank you to Dreamscape Audio and NetGalley for the free audiobook. Kelli Tager and Will Watt’s narration was so entertaining to listen to. Those accents!

𝑰'𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆.

First of all, the audio was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
Narrated by Kelli Tager and Will Watt.

Tager and Watt give an absolutely INCREDIBLE performance. Their ability to transition between accents was flawless and the deep emotions they packed into their words were FELT. I laughed with them, cried with them and fell in love.

Keep Me took me on an EMOTIONAL ride as Sylvie and Killian enter into a marriage of convenience. In this enemies to lovers romance, they are forced to live as husband and wife for a year. And I loved EVERY SECOND OF IT.

Both S + K are hiding from the past-- Sylvie is running and Killian is hiding away. Even though these grumps hate each other, they grow to care and protect one and other above all else. The secrets and lies literally were eating me alive because you could just FEEL all the love Killian had to cover under all his tough grump exterior.

There was so much healing in this book. And truthfully, no review would ever do this book justice.

If you like--
💍 marriage of convenience
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 grumpy x grumpy
💍 kinky vibes
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 scottish brute
💍 enemies to lovers

...you will absolutely DEVOUR this book. 🥹🤌🏻

I think I saw @saracatebooks say this one was different than any she had written, and based on the 10 I’ve read, I would totally agree. As much as I love the sex clubs we are used to in Sara’s books, the marriage of convenience with Sylvie and her “Brute” was soooo good. We were set up to think of Sylvie as a self centered, entitled brat and it was such a nice surprise to see how much she grew and changed over her year long contract marriage. I learned to love her so much. More so, I love how grumpy and mean he was to her but how easily she can make him a better him. I don’t know if it’s intentional but it gave me such strong beauty and the beast vibes. Once I got it out of my head to stop comparing it to the other series, this book had me hooked. I can’t wait to see how this series progresses through the other books. But this was easily a 4 ⭐️Also- I’m not the biggest fan of accents in an audio (though I know I’m the minority), but I totally get the appeal of the Scottish accent in this one. Nice picks for these characters 😉thank you so much for the advanced copy- Keep Me will be available in all formats this Tuesday 12/3!

#sinfulmanor #ALC #advancedlistenercopy #audio #saracatebooks

“We’re all a mess but the trick is to find someone who thinks your mess is a masterpiece.”

This book was unexpected and a wild ride with a lot of banter, emotions, past traumas, growth, healing and in true Sara Cate fashion spiceeee. One day Sylvie is breaking into a Scottish man’s manor to find a typewriter and the next she is marrying said Scottish man for 10 million dollars. Killian is a grump on the outside and keeps to himself inside his manor but there is so much more to him on the inside. This poor man has went through a lot in the past and has never fully healed. These two deliver on the grumpy x grumpy. They bicker and banter constantly that just leads to desire and feelings. The ending was honestly my favorite just seeing the growth and looking back on how much they grew individually and together to heal and be better people.

💍ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴɪᴇɴᴄᴇ
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ
💍ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿ꜱᴄᴏᴛᴛɪꜱʜ ʙʀᴏᴏᴅʏ ʙɪʟʟɪᴏɴᴀɪʀᴇ

💓𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗠𝗼 𝗚𝗵𝗿á𝗶𝗱𝗵
❝ Killian Barclay is the broody Scottish billionaire, who locked himself away in his grand manor for years, making it notorious as a place of debauchery. His family, desperate to get their hands on his ancestral estate, will stop at nothing, even forcing him into a marriage with a wild American girl, Sylvie Devereaux…

💭Killian and Sylvie definitely started their relationship on the wrong foot, she sneaked into his manor and was savagely thrown out by Killian. But Sylvie was desperate, having been abandoned by her parents, she took the chance to marry him for money. Thus began their volatile relationship as a married couple who hated each other.

I consider this a true enemy to lovers, they truly do hate each other at the beginning, and it does take quite some time for them to soften up. Killian was such a grumpy asshole, he called Sylvie some awful names before he used the sweet one. But when I learned more about his backstory, it truly broke my heart for everything that he’s been through.

When he met Sylvie, he truly met his match, she was as feisty and grumpy as she is, and he was actually drawn to her disobedience. Sylvie also has some baggage from being abandoned by her parents, ex, and best friends, she just wants a fresh start. But as she slowly falls for Killian, she knows what she agreed to his family will come and bite her in the ass.

This book started rough for me, both Sylvie and Killian are hard to like at the beginning. But like always, her writing always brings my emotions on a roller coaster ride. This book is sizzling hot, kinky, and full of emotional depth. Watching these two change and grow for each other was powerful, and I found myself sobbing during the intense third-act conflict that led to their temporary separation.

✨Sara's writing always has this way of making even the kinkiest stories packed with so much heart, and this one’s no different. It’s a fantastic start to a new series, and I’m already dying to see where it goes next.

🎧I’m not gonna lie, I don’t enjoy the narration of this book. The male narrator’s accent just wasn’t it, and it was a bit of a struggle to get through his parts. Thankfully, his POV was less frequent than the female’s, which made it manageable. But if you do enjoy some good (?) Irish accent, you might enjoy this.

‼️There’s OW drama, MMC was intimate with OW thinking she was FMC. They had an affair before the FMC was in the picture. There’s also some kissing scenes with other characters

⚠️𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴/𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗸⚠️
- Parental abandonment
- PTSD, depression, anxiety, panic attack
- Cheating on page (not by MCs)
- Brief separation

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝟱⭐️ | 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝟰🌶️ | 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟯🎧

✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 SARA CATE 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨

4.75/5 stars
2/5 peppers

Marriage of convenience, grumpy x grumpy, age gap, enemies to lovers, forced proximity

Did I just read my new favorite Sara Cate book?? Maybe. It's like all my highland fantasies come to life. I was addicted from the start and couldn't stop! I mean, a big sexy Scotsman and a marriage of convenience? What could be better?

Sylvie and Killian meet by chance when she literally stumbles into his house looking for a typewriter. To say the meeting didn't go well would be an understatement. Their dislike of each other is immediate. However, she finds herself in a bit of a bind, cut off from her parents she needs money fast, enter Killian's sister who offers her 10 million dollars in exchange for one year of marriage to her brother (and something else you'll need to read to find out!). Sylvie, knowing this is her chance to get money she desperately needs agrees. What she didn't plan on was marrying a hot as sin man who makes her feel thing she never intended to feel.

These two are straight banter from the beginning and I loved it. Their chemistry was on point and I loved how we got to see their backstories layer by layer. My heart hurt for Killian and I loved seeing the growth between the two of them.

I was able to receive an ALC of this story and thoroughly enjoyed it. Both narrators did a fantastic job and were easy to understand. I particularly loved Will Watt's Scottish accent. Swoon.

Thank you Sara Cate for an ALC of this story!!

🎧𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Kelli Tager & Will Watt🎙️

💍 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐗 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲
💍 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

✨Thoughts✨
𝐎𝐡 my goodness, talk about an emotional ride! Sara Cate really hit it out of the park with this angsty story that had me completely hooked!

𝐒𝐲𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐞 Devereaux agrees to marry the wealthy and brooding Killian Barclay in Scotland for a hefty sum of money. Despite their constant arguing and icy glares, they discover they have more in common than they thought. Both come off as self-absorbed, bringing out the worst in each other. But there's an undeniable attraction between them that pulls them together like magnets. Deep down, all they really want is to be accepted and understood.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 first half of the story was difficult to digest. Sylvie and Killian were true enemies, treating each other cruelly, but as the story unfolds, they begin to see each other with kinder eyes. Despite their clashing personalities, they eventually let their walls down and their animosity transforms into intense passion. The chemistry between them is all-consuming, and while it may not be as risqué as other Sara Cate books, it's still pretty steamy.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 flawed and intricate characters took me on a rollercoaster of emotions that I wasn't prepared for. The story kept me engaged from beginning to end. The narration by Kelli Tager and Will Watt was great. I especially enjoyed Will Watt’s Scottish accent.

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬 of the enemies-to-lovers trope will surely devour this audiobook.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝟒/𝟓🔥

"The love we share is infinite"

This book was amazing. From the very start I was drawn in. Outspoken American woman breaks into this Scotsman's home (aka a castle) and tensions are HIGH. This turns into a marriage of convenience with a sprinkle of enemies to lovers.

Killian Barclay truly is so perfect. I adore him, his grumpiness, his love for Sylvie, the emotional side of him, the dom side of him 😈

Whereas Sylvie Deveraux, the daughter of famous artists, has been cut off from her parents...and in desperate need of money.

Enter Anna Barclay, Killian's sister. She comes in with a deal for Sylvie to marry Killian for a year and she gets $10M. Like who would turn this down?

The relationship that blossoms between the two of them is goals. I love them so much. Both individually and together.

Excellent Story & Narration🎧Riveting & Emotional!

Sara Cate never ceases to amaze me with her brilliant and creative mind, which truly shines in this novel while putting her own unique spin on the marriage-of-convenience trope. This first book of her new “Sinful Manor” series, a series that takes us overseas to Scotland to meet Killian Barclay, the grumpy Scot who mostly keeps to himself, except on the days he hosts his parties, parties where anything goes. When word about his parties reached his family, they needed to put them to an end and made a drastic move to curb his behavior. Sylvie Devereaux’s parents are successful artists, but they are the worst parents who never gave her the time of day. And apparently she is not great at picking friends or lovers, because just weeks after a trip to Scotland with her boyfriend, she finds him in bed with her best friend. In true Sylvie style, she gets him good, but now her life is turned upside down, and her parents are not willing to help her out. Then she receives a proposal from the family of the Scotsman, Killian, who owned the house she entered without permission and went head to head with. The way things are going in her life at the moment it is an offer she can’t refuse, so for the next year she will live in Scotland, marry a brute of a Scot and get paid a hefty amount for it. Except it is not all that simple, and she is not sure how she will make it through the year. I loved these two together and for each other, they bonked heads like no other and each gave as good as they got. Watching these two go at it was amusing, but watching their hate for each other morph into something else, despite fighting the feeling, was the cherry on top. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out, with plenty of drama, amazing wit, dialogue and banter, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. The writing, plot and world building are incredible, and the complexity of the characters is fantastic, as well as their growth and development. Sara Cate, thank you for another exceptional story and emotional rollercoaster ride. I am looking forward to what goes on in Sinful Manor next.

🎧📚🎧 Will Watt and Kelli Tager did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life, understanding who they were portraying, giving each a voice that was fitting and believable, accents and all. Will Watt nailed it as Killian, playing the grumpy Scot perfectly, changing his demeanor as his character did along the way. Tager was just as fabulous in her role as Sylvie, and like Watt, she showcased her characters’ personalty and demeanor perfectly, from her sass to her vulnerabilities. Both were fantastic performing the roles of the side/secondary characters, too. They set the right tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These two made a great team, with voices and talent that complemented each other and a performance that elevated this already amazing story to another level. Thank you for another fabulous listen.

Whilst I loved the storyline I just cousins vibe with the female n aerators Scottish accent, otherwise her voice is beautiful and when she narrated Sylvies parts especially the most emotional ones it was beautiful. I loved the male narrators narration. He really brought his characters to life. Overall the story was interesting, there’s a lot of trauma the two have faced and they definitely needed the right help. I’m glad the MMC did in the end.

I adore Sara Cate and I was/am really looking forward to this new series from her. Keep Me was a great start to the Sinful Manor series and I can't wait to see what the next occupants of the Barclay home will get up to.

I will keep this review real simple with 3 things I liked and 2 that I didn't:

I liked the setting, of course! I'm always up for going to Scotland for a romp. It's always such a wonderful place for romance.

I loved Killian and Sylvie. They were a great couple. The hate to love felt a tad over the top at first, however, it does make sense as we get to know their own personal trauma and what bothers them.

Finally, I really enjoyed their growing connection and how they found ways to support each other. Their selfish desires turned to trying to better each other's lives and that was beautiful to see.

A few things I didn't care for:

I feel like I missed the tipping point that drove Killian and Sylvie into love... Maybe some of it got cut? Like, I know we are covering a year of their lives in the manor, but I feel like we missed more that I needed to see.

And I do feel like the kink was played a little safe... We were teased with some really sexy things and there were some... I just expect a bit more pizazz from Sara Cate I guess.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable story and I can't wait for more. I read a physical copy AND I was blessed with an ALC which was narrated by Will Watt & Kelli Tager. A wonderful performance by Watt, and Tager had a solid showing, if a off in her Scottish performance.

Woooo that was spicy!!!

I listened to this book in just a few hours. I was hooked! It was fast paced, easy to listen to. The dual narration was great. I loved the Scottish accent!

Read if you love:
🌶 Spice
🌶 Scottish MMC
🌶 Broody and grumpy with a few kinks
🌶 Dom/Sub (not the entire plot)
🌶 Mental health rep
🌶 Family Drama
🌶 She's Mine
🌶 Marriage of convenience/money

I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you love spicer books.

Thank you NetGalley and Sara Cate for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. I really love your stories!

killians sister: “hes not afraid to hurt your feelings because he knows you can take it.” as an excuse to be verbally abusive calling her a cow, cunt and heinous bitch… and they say romance is dead 😍🥰🫶

im sorry be soooo fucking serious lmao. both MCs need INTENSE therapy and to never be in a relationship with anyone ever. FMC is a manipulative nepo baby who gets cut off from her equally shitty parents money and is so out of touch with reality it’s insane and the MMC is an abusive asshole who has had a long standing affair with one of his bestfriends wife’s?

honestly its on me for giving this a shot, there are only two SC books ive ever enjoyed reading. i was hoping that moving away from SPC that i might enjoy her books more, that this might give me hot outlander jamie fraser vibes but im 37% in and simply cannot stand this book any longer lol

This book hooked me from the start with its sharp-witted banter and irresistible characters. Killian, the broody highlander with a scandalous reputation, and Sylvie, the fiercely independent New Yorker, are a delight to watch clash and connect.

Their fiery chemistry and laugh-out-loud moments kept me thoroughly entertained, and the marriage-of-convenience trope is executed with just the right mix of humor and emotional depth.

The audiobook is phenomenal, with the narrator perfectly capturing Killian’s brogue, Sylvie’s sarcasm, and the tension between them. While the story leans into familiar tropes, the execution makes it all feel fresh and engaging. Watching Killian’s guarded heart open and Sylvie’s walls come down is both heartwarming and satisfying.

If you love romance that blends humor, swoon-worthy moments, and unforgettable characters, this one is a must-read.

Um HELLO?? It's been quite a long time since I've read a Sara Cate novel, and boyyyy am I glad I dove into Keep Me. This interesting take on marriage of convenience had me hooked from page one and I was eating up every bit of this book.
I listened to the audiobook of Keep Me, narrated by Kelli Tager and Will Watt, and it was done so well. I loved the back and forth between an American accent and the Scottish accent. H O T to say the least!
If you take anything from this, take away the fact that you absolutely need to read this book! Ebook, physical book, audiobook, who cares?! It's one that deserves to be read.

2.5 ⭐️

There were elements of this that I enjoyed but overall, not really for me. This was pretty long for a contemporary romance and I definitely felt the pacing reflected that. There were also plot elements that ended up falling off (the jealous ex, Sylvie’s terrible parents) and seemingly resolved off page or were rushed and underwhelming. Like what do you mean her emotionally abusive mom just all of a sudden realized she was a shitty parent and issued one measly apology with no real explanation ??

The romance was pretty good, but I didn’t really buy them falling for each other. Once they had established their feelings, I was invested, but it was hard to root for them.

Not sure if I would continue the series; Sara Cate is pretty hit or miss for me, but I totally get her popularity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
Billionaire
Marriage of Convieneance
Enemies to Lovers
Emotional Trauma
Dual POV

This is the first book in a series, and although I'm just speculating, I believe they are all standalones involving the Barclay siblings. "Keep Me" is told from dual perspectives, following 25-year-old Sylvie Devereaux. After her parents cut her off financially and were emotionally absent throughout her life, Sylvie finds herself on the brink of eviction. To make matters worse, she catches her boyfriend and best friend in a compromising situation. This happens after a trip to Scotland, where she and her boyfriend break into the Barclay Manor, leading her to meet Killian, the other main character.

Killian is a 37- or 38-year-old bachelor who has not left his house in ten years. His sister, Ana, persuades Sylvie to sign a contract to marry Killian for one year, using the plan to steal his house as leverage and hopefully encourage him to leave. Killian believes the contract is a means to demonstrate that he isn’t running a sex club from his home anymore, thereby allowing him to remain in the house he loves. Both main characters start off rude, entitled, and at odds with one another.

The book is interesting; it begins by listing trigger warnings, which led me to expect a spicier read. However, it turned out to be less intense than anticipated, with fewer dark themes. The story was decent—it had sweet moments, and both characters experienced growth, though not in ways they anticipated. It had heartbreaking, funny, spicy, and tender moments.

Sylvie must come to terms with her identity and break free from her parents' hold on her—especially the hope that they will ever see her again. Despite growing up privileged, she often felt like a second priority to her parents’ art. On the other hand, Killian is deeply traumatized by his parents' death and struggles with panic attacks and fits of rage during episodes of high anxiety. It’s compelling to see characters in darker places come together since, typically, one main character helps draw the other into the light.

Once Sylvie and Killian start to like each other, the story truly gains momentum. The first half feels awkward and clumsy, but the second half sees the characters becoming more likable. This is crucial, as I would have found the story unappealing if they had remained unlikeable throughout. Both narrators did a great job conveying their characters, and I loved the accents represented.

Overall, the story is decent. It wasn't as dark as it claimed to be, and while there are some spicy scenes, they make up only a small portion of the book. The primary focus is on romance, self-reflection, and healing.

It was hard for me to get into this audiobook. I enjoyed Kelli Tager as a narrator but when it came to dialogue from the Scottish characters, the accent was not enjoyable. I have no personal experience with Scotland outside of TV and film. But it sounded very sharp.
Will Watt narrated the chapters in the male POV and his Scottish accent felt more natural. But his narration of the female character was inconsistent, sometimes American, sometimes Scottish.
It just kept taking me out of the story so I kept switching to read the book on my own, and then the final 25% via audiobook. At that point, I was really into the romance so it was easier. The characters were also (finally) in love and so the narration felt softer.