What a lovely little book this was. I really enjoyed Art Criticism a lot. It was the perfect sweet and easy m/m romance for a quiet afternoon on my blanket out in the garden. I’m not much of an art connaisseuse, so I just had to take everything at face value but then it’s always good to be educated by a book. It even inspired me to look up a little art photography on the net and try to see it through different eyes.
James was an adorable main character. He’s the narrator of the story and has this cute nerd thing going on, with the big glasses and him being socially awkward. Actually, that doesn’t describe it well because he has a ton of social inhibitions. He can’t stand awkward silences in a conversation, he hates when people move into his personal space, he can’t let down his guard around a man he likes because it leaves him vulnerable.

I couldn’t really get why Turkish would be such a different and annoying person around James just because he was nervous and into him. The turn his character took felt a bit artificial, but then I absolutely loved him for how he took James’ hostility which was actually just inexperience and timidity. Turkish, an Iranian photographer, coaxes him until James starts opening up and he’s damn sexy too.

The chemistry those two had going on was striking and I found myself enjoying the erotic scenes a lot. They were just the right mix of romantic and dirty, of sensual and kinky. Not all authors, especially of this genre, manage this balance so nicely.

Art Criticism was a great book which I can highly recommend to all fans of the genre. I’ll definitely read more by this author.