Instant Gratification

Lauren Blakely
Add to Goodreads
Buy Audio August 27, 2019
Buy Amazon | B&N | Apple | Kobo | Google | paperback | Audible
Release Date August 29, 2019

This standalone follows up Satisfaction Guaranteed. This book brings us Malone's twin sister, Truly and his best friend, Jason. But it also has cameos from other familiar couples and I loved how this new world overlaps with some of the Big Rock world.

Hot Brit alert! Jason Reynolds is a man of many jobs just trying to make a living and help his sister. He does podcasts and articles on being a modern man. But he also has a unique side business of being a groomsman for hire. He is a charismatic, flirty Brit that just oozes sex appeal. But he is adamant that he is not looking for a relationship.

Truly Goodman is Malone's sister and Jason's other best friend. But she is also a woman he has been attracted to for a while, and they have acted on it in the past...not that anyone else knows. She owns her own bar and is just a much a work-a-holic as he is. She is funny, smart, ambitious, and no-nonsense.

These two are supposed to be off-limits, but they are so good together. They have common interests, camaraderie, flirty and fun banter, and a boatload of sexual tension. But they keep walking the line of the friend zone, but start slipping off more on more. It is angsty with all the back and forth and fighting their own feelings. But they both have several reasons why they think they should not be any more than friends. But in the heat of the moment sometimes those reasons get a bit blurry. But they also second guess themselves often.

There is so much push and pull...I want it. I need it. I can't have it. I had it. I can't have it again. I need to stop wanting it. Now I want it again. But I'm not supposed to want it. But I do still want it...and round and round they go...

This is a sweet, funny, sexy, swoony, and angsty best friend's sister and friends-to-lovers romance. It is told almost entirely in this transplanted Brit's point of view with some creative ways to get into Truly's head. I am sure the audiobook is just going to be that much sexier with his British accent narrating the majority of the story...Holy Moly Swoon! 

They both will have to figure out how to let go of their fears and find a balance in their lives, as well as come clean to those around them if they really want a chance at something more. But there is a lot at stake. I really loved these two even when I wanted to shake sense into them or hold an intervention. Some of the people Jason meets along the way also give him new insight into the meaning of true love. And their friends have a lot to say on the matter too. I loved hanging out with old and new friends and seeing the connections. Truly and Jason had such hot chemistry and a great base in friendship. This book made me laugh and smile, but touched my heart too.
Jason Reynolds has career goals that he is quickly meeting. His main project is as The Modern Gentleman, teaching men how to navigate polite society ad achieve their goals. But his side hustle is as best man for hire: speech writer, wedding party member, whatever the groom needs to give his bride the day she’s always dreamed of. He needs a date to a wedding after his usual helper backs out. His best friend’s sister is the perfect person to step in to help, except for that one time they took things too far. But they are adults and can forget that ever happened, right?

I loved Truly and Jason! The sexual tension between them is thick. They had one very hot night together, but both felt like they couldn’t go there for real because of Truly’s brother. Though they ignore that night and don’t speak of it, neither has forgotten it, and the chemistry between them is high.

There was so much back and forth between them. They may have had off the charts chemistry, but it also took a lot for them to even think about trying something. That back and forth made it feel like they were always on the edge of something new, just waiting for the courage to take the leap. Spending so much time together sounded like an easy feat until their attraction came into play.

These characters were introduced in Satisfaction Guaranteed, but their story is complete with only this one book. The characters from SG were back on the outskirts, though Truly’s brother, Malone, played some pretty big roles in the reasoning keeping these two apart.

This was a great mix of fun, sass, and heat. Truly and Jason have great banter even before the sexual tension ramps up. They are friends first ad that relationship is important to both of them. As they explore what could be between them, the heat only grows hotter!