Today I wanted to share some of my thoughts on the Faking with Benefits book by Lily Gold. This is a book I got to read through Kindle Unlimited, a book that I most likely would not have purchased otherwise if I am being honest, but let’s discuss why that is in the next sections. Before anything else, let’s talk about the basics.

Summary of the plot

Faking with Benefits is a contemporary adult, reverse harem romance novel that explores a young, London-based lingerie designer’s love life or lack thereof.

The main character, Layla, is an up-and-coming lingerie designer who is working hard to get her business off the ground. When she’s not busy with work, she is searching for the ONE, spending time going on dates with whoever swiped right on her online dating profiles. Yes, profile, she has tried them all.

Things are clearly not working out and Layla’s chance of crossing “husband” off her to-do list by the time she turns 30 is diminishing as the days or rather dates go by. Cue, her three friends, and next-door neighbors who are more than happy to help Layla explore the intricacies of dating as well as practice on them.

What could go wrong?

 

Genre

Reverse Harem, Contemporary, Romantic Novel

 

 

The Characters

• Layla: She is the main character and designer of her own lingerie line. She is also looking for love in all the wrong places, apparently.
• Josh: A hot, single, and very eligible podcast host who just happens to be Layla’s next-door neighbor and has been madly in love with her ever since she moved in next door.
• Zach: A former rugby player that works on the podcast with Josh. He is also another one of Layla’s next-door neighbors and the closest thing Laylas has as a best friend.
• Luke: The last of the three next-door neighbors who just happens to be her former secondary school teacher

 

Comments & Review of Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold

Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold was an interesting read. I liked how the book had a lot of humor in it but also some serious messages as well. I think that the author did a good job of addressing some important topics, such as lying and friendship, as well as showing how bullying can impact a person in a way that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.

More so, despite this book being a Reverse Harem book and consequently quite a spicy book, the writing does not feel cheap. Sure, there are quite a few spicy scenes that are described in detail, but they do not take away from the plot but rather add to it. What I am getting at is that despite the fact that the book may seem like porn on paper based on the genre it fits into, it is way more than that.

While I cannot say that I am obsessed with this book by any means, nor is it a book I wish to remember forever, overall, this is an elegant approach to a Reverse Harem type of book, and it did make me quite interested in reading more from Lily Gold even if the book type itself is not necessarily my cup of tea.

Okay, Reverse Harem does not “do it” for me personally; however, at the same time, I am quite happy to see such topics depicted in books. We have been subjected to men being able to date multiple people at the same time and even marry them in some cultures for what feels like forever; however, it has always been taboo to talk about women doing the same. This rise of these books is truly a step forward for society, and it provides a “voice” to women who want to explore their sexuality in ways that many may not consider socially appropriate and do so without having to hide it.

In terms of characters, I appreciate how the author did not make the main character, Layla, a doormat. She is a strong and independent woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. She does have some more work to do for sure, but at the end of the day, she is a relatable character but one with a kink she is not afraid to act upon.

As far as the three male characters are concerned, I feel like each, and every one of them had a lot to offer in general and to Layla in particular. They each provided her with something that she was lacking in her life and helped her to grow as a person, which I thought was excellent. While the men were written very well, my favorite character was easily Josh. He is such a sweetheart, even if he does not want to admit it, and I think he truly cares for Layla. He complemented Layla’s personality beautifully, making for an interesting pair.

Fun fact about Josh. I am unsure whether it was described when the character was first introduced, but I was left with a strong feeling that he was of Asian descent. I imagined him looking a lot like Henry Golding for the entire book for some reason. I do not know what made me think of the Malaysian actor, but that is the image that had formed in my head ever since I first met the character. (I was not entirely wrong… but you will get to discover that by yourself if you read the book).

That does not mean I did not find the rest of the male characters endearing because I totally did. I saw Zach as the perfect best friend material, someone who would stand by Layla and help her let loose as well when needed.

Luke, on the other hand, provided Layla with the stability she needed. He was a great influence on her, and I think she learned a lot from him. One of the things that I admired most about him was his ethics, even though they were frustrating at times. He was a protective man and, at times, even a father figure for Layla. He provided her with something she clearly needed and never truly had in her life.

Overall, I thought this book was quite enjoyable the plot was interesting and kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I will say that I guessed some of the few twists early on; however, it did not make the book any less enjoyable. On the contrary, I think it made me appreciate it more because I could see how well everything fit together.

The author’s writing style is very easy to follow, and the story flows nicely. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read that will make you laugh and maybe even cry a little bit. This book is an excellent addition to the genre, and I cannot wait to see what else the author comes up with in the future.

 

Do I recommend this book?

If you are looking for a fun, easy read with some humor and spice, then this book is definitely for you. If you are not into Reverse Harem books, then I would still recommend giving Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold a try

 

 

Book Ratings

Spiciness Level: 4

• These books are mostly about the naughty stuff that occurs beyond closed doors (and occasionally in public). They’ll make you blush, squirm, and maybe even slightly uncomfortable. But don’t worry, they’re still sort of romantic even if they sometimes get into more kinky stuff.

Overall book rating: 3.5 (somewhere in between the two levels described below)

• Level 3: Books at this level are good. They are well-written and entertaining. You can’t put them down, but they are not masterpieces by any means. They are just books you get to enjoy and have a lovely time with.
• Level 4: Books at this level are great. They have a few flaws, but they are so well-written and engaging that you forgive them. They are the books you recommend to everyone.

 

Where can you get Faking with Benefits from?

The book is available via Kindle Unlimited. If you are not familiar with Kindle Unlimited you read all about it here or sign up here directly.

However, the book is also available for purchase in print and ebook format.

• Amazon US
• Amazon UK 

Have you read Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold? What did you think of the book?

 

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