I started this one during Sophie's nap time and ended up listening to the last three hours sitting in my car in the garage at 10pm because I literally could not stop. My husband texted asking if I was coming inside and I just... didn't respond. Worth it.
This is book two of Jodi Ellen Malpas's One Night trilogy, and look - if you haven't read the first one, stop right here and go back. This is not a standalone situation. You will be completely lost and miss all the emotional gut-punches that make this series work.
The Slow Burn That Sets Your Car on Fire
So here's the thing about Livy and M (yes, just the letter M, I know, I know). Their relationship is messy. Like, spectacularly messy. The kind of messy where you're yelling "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER" while simultaneously understanding exactly why they can't. M has secrets. Big ones. The kind that make you go from swooning to gasping in about three seconds flat.
Jodi Ellen Malpas does this thing where she makes you fall completely in love with a character who is - let's be honest - kind of problematic? But she writes the emotional intensity so well that you're just... there. You're in it. You're rooting for them even when you probably shouldn't be.
The book is sixteen hours long, which normally would make me nervous (that's like two weeks of nap times, minimum), but it flew by. The pacing is perfect for multitasking moms who need to pause constantly - I never felt lost when I came back to it. The angst level is HIGH though. Like, bring tissues high. I may have teared up at school pickup. More than once.
Edita Brychta Gets It Right
I don't say this lightly, but Edita Brychta might be one of my new favorite narrators. Her British accent is - okay, I'm just gonna say it - I frickin love British accents in romance audiobooks. There's something about the way she delivers the emotional scenes that made my heart actually hurt. That same intensity pulled me into 'Friends' - 'Mastering the Virgin' Part One, though fair warning - that one cranks the spice level even higher. In a good way?
What really impressed me was how distinct she made each character sound. M has this intensity in his voice that she captures perfectly. Livy sounds younger, more vulnerable but also stubborn. The side characters all have their own thing going on. I never once got confused about who was talking, which - when you're listening while simultaneously making PB&Js and refereeing a fight about whose turn it is on the iPad - is huge.
The spicy scenes? She handles them with just the right amount of... I don't know how to describe it. They're steamy but not cringe. Professional but not clinical. It's a balance that's hard to get right and she nails it.
Who Should Hit Play (And Who Should Run)
This is for my romance readers who like their love stories with a side of drama and a whole lot of heat. If you're into emotionally intense, slow-burn relationships with a mysterious hero and a heroine who's fighting for him even when he won't fight for himself - this is your book.
But - and this is important - if you're not into explicit content, skip this one. It's definitely on the spicier end. Also if you need fast-paced plots with lots of action, this might feel slow. It's character-driven. The plot is really about these two people and whether they can make it work despite everything trying to tear them apart.
Fair warning: the ending is a cliffhanger. Like, a REAL cliffhanger. I immediately downloaded book three because I physically could not wait. So maybe have that one ready to go.
Nap Time Well Spent
Look, this isn't groundbreaking literature. It's not going to change your life or make you think deep thoughts about the human condition. But sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need a book that makes you feel things, that gives you something to look forward to during the chaos of the day, that makes sitting in your car in the garage feel like self-care instead of hiding from your children (which, to be clear, it absolutely is).
My book club would love this if I ever had time for book club again. For now, it's going on my "recommend to mom friends" list - right next to dry shampoo and the good wine that comes in a box.
Sophie's waking up. Gotta go. But seriously - if you're a romance reader who needs something to survive the daily grind, this one delivers.
