Read my review of a previous book in the Model Love series, Couture Crush by Charlie Novak
Davison’s entry into this shared-world series is another sweet, low-angst story. Pretty much everything about this tale of an aspiring model falling for his best friend’s brother was predictable, and I say that as both a pro and con to the book. Jae appealed to me right away with his passion and dedication in the face of an unsupportive family, which is a common reality for most people attempting a career in a creative field. I was equally hooked by how Xander was the perfect foil for Jae in multiple ways, such as a slightly older person living their dream, which gave their romance a delicious opposites-attract vibe.
Xander is a good bro by welcoming Jae into his home (as inconvenient as it is for his secret second profession) and an even better friend when he plays sexy fairy godfather in his efforts to give Jae the best chance possible during his open calls at modeling agencies. They quickly establish a friendship as adult equals, and the romance that builds on that foundation occurs at light speed. However, the steamy bits occur at a bit more of a slow burn, which does an excellent job of maintaining the tension between the two men.
I was a bit bummed that the minor bit of external conflict did specifically involve their connection with best friend/little brother Dillon. Not because I wanted these sweet guys to have a more difficult time, but because I wanted more of a surprise from the ending when I already knew so much of what to expect from the story. Some of the sappier bits between Xander and Jae also went on for about 20 percent too long, but only to the point that I found it more amusing than annoying.
Overall, this book is exactly what it says on the tin, but the dynamic characters and lovely writing make taking the time to appreciate this book worth it.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Rating: 4 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.