Review: For Real

Ever find that book that really restores your faith in a certain romance genre? I definitely found that here 🙌🏻

For Real is such an amazingly heartfelt M/M romance with a significant age gap and BDSM relationship. 

Laurie, well known Sub, is in his mid thirties and emotionally lost. His friends keep encouraging him to come to clubs with them, hoping to find him the perfect Dom. Nobody expected that it would be a slender nineteen year old, Toby, that would bring him to his knees.

There is no doubt in my mind that the rise in popularity of BDSM romance novels are partially due to E.L. James’ best selling series Fifty Shades of Grey. It wasn’t original, of course, there were many novels and stories published before it, but it certainly wasn’t as mainstream as a genre. Many of the books published post Fifty Shades were also very similar to it. In most of the stories that I’ve read thus far, the Dominant is typically Male, older (if not the same age as their partner), they are well seasoned in the BDSM culture and desire someone (typically female) who is innocent to it. Therefore the Dominant have to show their new Submissive the ropes (figuratively and literally). 

For Real takes the Sub/Dom relationship and really changes it up. It’s such a breath of fresh air. It’s wonderful to read a BDSM novel that displays the culture in real and healthy ways. While Fifty Shades may have opened the doors for the genre to the mainstream, it unfortunately also furthered a trend of toxicity masquerading for romance. It is in my opinion that For Real expertly displays HEALTHY BDSM relationships, while also having wonderful representation for LBGTQ romance! 

I have SO MUCH LOVE for this book! It’s smart, sweet, funny and incredibly steamy! 🔥 It was a perfect balance for me! Can’t wait to read more from Alexis Hall! 🖤 Katie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Oh! Extra Note! This is technically a third book in a series but totally can be read as a stand-alone! 🙌🏻