This was a 2,5 star book honestly.
I did not feel connected to the characters at all… I could not stay focused. The idea was so fun but I guess the execution of it was not my style.

“Mortgage of Convenience” by Dani McClean
pub date 02.26.24 TODAY

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this is such a lovely story! Bee & Sebastian have so much love & tenderness & acceptance for each other, things they both need & deserve in abundance

Bee goes on a beautiful journey of self-discovery as she does the scary things that lead to finally achieving her dreams, while also figuring out the kind of healthy relationships she wants to have in life. I love how she finds what works for her & learns how to be her best advocate. Sebastian helps her so much with this, always giving her encouragement, support, & so much love

and Sebastian is just the tenderest, sweetest man, I wanted to wrap him up in the warmest hug & keep his heart safe always. Bee gives him this so well, she finds all the ways to make him feel like he belongs, gives him the hope he needs for the future he desperately wants. they both work on using the right words for their feelings, but they show it so well throughout the whole story

just a truly beautiful story full of overwhelming love in so many abundant forms. it’s seen through the safety, humor, respect, accountability, deep trust & so much more 🩷

thank you for the arc :)

I absolutely love the concept of this one, but I DNFed after the first three chapters because the writing was a little choppy. I love the idea of the characters and their proposed storyline -- but multiple times while reading, I had to go back and re-read sections because they just weren't flowing.

Not to mention that our main FMC, Bee, is one of the most insecure and 'tiny pixie' energy girls I've ever met. It just didn't sit well with me because there was too much of it initially.

**Thank you to Set the Mood Publishing & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

This book was so good
read the arc of this book
this was spicy
book releases 27th february
would recommend this book
he falls first
ghost writer vs ex stripper

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book. I have to say, I didn’t read the synopsis for this book before choosing it and I wish I did. I was not that much of a fan of this book. It was okay but I felt it was way too over the top for no reason. The book was not for me.

This was a really cute story! I love how Bee and Sebastian started off as acquaintances that had crushes on each other from afar, then they became friends and their love grew from there! I also love how it was a bit of a twist on the normal brother’s best friend trope because her brother shipped them, but was actually far more concerned for his friend than he was his sister.
My only issue with this book is that it could use a bit more editing. There were many scenes that felt too jumpy and felt not very explained.

I had a hard time getting through this one. While I loved the concept of a mortgage of convenience for these characters, they just didn’t feel real to me. Bee did not behave like a grown woman in the slightest and Seb felt like a man written by a woman, and not in a good way. His dialogue took me right out of the story.

Thank you to Net Galley, Set the Mood Publishing, and Dani McLean for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️ - there was a lot I enjoyed about this but some things that really frustrated me too.

The good:
The bi rep
Family dynamics
Mental health discussions
Sebastian

The bad:
Bee was soooooo unconfident it was frustrating
Morgan (though I did enjoy how this storyline resolved)

4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Spice

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Brother's Best Friend
Age Gap
He Falls First
No 3rd Act Breakup
Bi Rep

i absolutely loved this book. the main characters were so fun to read & the story was addicting. i didn't want to stop reading & binged it in two sittings. sebastian is without a doubt one of the best book boyfriends i've read in a long time. brother's best friend + age gap just hits different. & he was just so good with bee - i ate it up. we love a man who falls first & hard. plus he was a bi king & i absolutely adore the way the bi representation in this book was written. *perfection* i thought bee was so relatable. i loved how she blossomed with sebastian. her issues were a little repetitive but overall it added to the story & i felt like it did help the plot move forward. the tension between these two was *just right* & it really made the spicy moments even hotter. overall i really enjoyed this one & would definitely recommend,

This was a sweet and fun romance! I have Dani McLean's other novellas sitting in my TBR pile (very close to the top!), but haven't yet managed to make it to them (I keep picking up too many other arcs) - when I had the opportunity to read this arc of her first full-length novel, knowing how much everyone in the book community loves her, I jumped right on it! I'm so glad I did because I really enjoyed it and will certainly be moving her novellas higher up in my priority.

I liked the brother's best friend trope, becoming unexpected roommates, and how it was a chaotic life jumble that just all made so much sense while being completely messy and just... life, unexpected.

Bee was a little bit of all of us, trying to figure out her next steps, having left home at a young age and now returning to sort out a manuscript for her own novel (normally a ghost writer). She's moved in with her brother, while Sebastian, the brother's best friend, is trying to get a mortgage but the bank sees him as being just slightly too much of a risk, until he shows up at his appointment with Bee - suddenly a potential partner, who pipes up that she's there with hi m and has the missing savings gap, and boom... they have a house and a mortgage together! Now they're roommates, and she has to hide her obsessive cleaning and other strange habits while also hiding her long-time crush on him, and he has to hide his own since she's going to be leaving town again once she finishes her book - nothing can happen between them (plus, the brother would kill him).

It's totally relatable, fun and sweet - I definitely recommend this one to all! A very quick read you won't want to put down!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Set the Mood Publishing, and this is my honest feedback.

Thank you NetGalley and Dani McLean for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book as it was a really easy read for me. I really related with Bees character and how shy she was and how disabling that feeling can be. This book had some of my favorite tropes such as brothers best friend, found family, he falls first. I felt like there were parts that need to be more flushed out such as them buying a house together which all happened very fast but overall was a good read.

I fell in love with Dani McLean's Movie Magic Series last year, so I was so excited to receive an ARC of her newest release, Mortgage of Convenience. I’m happy to report this did not disappoint.

A Little Bit of Plot
Bee Montgomery did a bad thing. Well, not so much ‘bad’, but one that puts her in a position that she’ll have to step into the spotlight for once. She’s moved home intending to submit her first manuscript under her own name - no more ghostwriting. Fate intervenes when her brother’s best friend (and long time crush), Sebastian, needs her help to achieve his dream: home ownership. Unbeknownst to Bee, Sebastian crushed on her for many years too. Sharing a space and co-owning a home will bring these two closer than ever. Will this be their forever-home or just a mortgage of convenience?

The Top Bun (The Pro)
Bee’s Journey

Returning home and having this timeline for manuscript submission looming over her is the perfect jumping off point for Bee to discover self autonomy. McLean opens the novel with Bee partying with her friend Morgan, almost against her will. We soon discover that Bee lives for and has built herself up for others. She has no sense of self. I think most of us have that same journey at 28. You aren’t quite 30, yet you’re not 21 anymore. Suddenly, going out to clubs is not as fun as it used to be. Bee says at one point “I don’t want to drink all the time and talk shit about other people and lose my weekends to hangovers”. When she starts living for herself, she begins to gain self confidence and self worth. We see her procrastinating less as the novel goes on. The more assured she becomes, the less she has to distract herself from problems.

The relationship she has with her brother also grows the more self confident she becomes. For those of us with older siblings with a wide age gap, it’s a difficult transition to being a little sibling to a friend. I think McLean does a wonderful job of presenting this transition in a very believable and entertaining way. I’m also assuming we are going to get Aiden’s book, and I hope soon, because I need it in my life.

Some will say this is a slow burn, and I agree to a point. Sebastian is in 100% from jump street, but Bee needs to discover who she is first before she can love him back as an equal. Lucky for us, we get to see that growth.

The Meat (The Con)

There’s honestly not much I didn’t enjoy about this book. I may have gotten frustrated with Bee for her hesitancy at times, but I think that’s the whole point.

The Bottom Bun (The Pro)
This book is hot, y’all

Holy crap on a cracker, this book is hot. The sex scenes? They are plentiful. One stripping scene in particular..well, both actually, are hot as hell. I think I’ll just quote bits to prove my point:

“”Open your mouth.” With a grunt, he slows and stops, thumbing over the reddened head of his cock, collecting theprecum before raising it to my lips. “Taste me, beautiful” Keeping my gaze locked with his, I suck his thumb into my mouth and moan at the taste of salt and skin.

HOT.

Not convinced? Here’s another:

“Touch yourself,” I rasp. “I want to watch.” His hand is slick, covered in me. It’s easily the most erotic thing I’ve seen. I want to see him get himself off. Want to see both of us coating that gorgeous cock of his.

Not doing it for you (are cold and dead inside?) last one:
“You want this, don’t you?” I take myself in hand again, pulling my underwear down until it’s sitting tight under my balls and stroke myself, keeping an infuriatingly slow pace. I want - no, I need - this to last. “My cock. You need it.”
She moans loudly. “Yes.”
“Bee.”
She licks her lips, not moving. Waiting. “Yes?”
My voice is rough. “Come here.”

And everyone comes. End of story.

In summation, this is a gorgeous novel with really wonderful character study. Seb and Bee are both transitioning to different stages of their lives, and are lucky enough to find in each other the perfect yin to their yang. Also, check out McLean’s back catalog, you won’t be disappointed!

Mortgage of Convenience by Dani McLean is a captivating and heartwarming romantic comedy that explores themes of fear, self-discovery, and the power of love. The story follows Bee Montgomery, a shy ghostwriter grappling with her debilitating fear of rejection, as she navigates the complexities of pursuing her dream of becoming a published author and finding love in the charming Sebastian Wolfe. Bee, a talented but insecure writer, reluctantly returns to her hometown after five years to confront her past and pursue her dream of getting her debut novel published. Along the way, she reunites with Sebastian, her brother's charismatic and enigmatic best friend, who possesses a secret longing for a stable and loving life. As they work together to overcome Bee's stage fright and help her meet a looming deadline, an undeniable chemistry ignites between them. Sebastian, with his unwavering confidence and determination to help Bee succeed, becomes a source of strength and encouragement for her. However, as their connection deepens, Bee must confront her fears and decide whether to pursue a meaningful relationship with Sebastian or return to her old life, leaving both her dreams and her heart behind. McLean's writing is witty, engaging, and emotionally resonant. She deftly portrays the characters' vulnerabilities and triumphs, making them relatable and endearing to the reader. The banter between Bee and Sebastian is sharp, humorous, and charged with sexual tension, creating a delightful slow-burn romance."Mortgage of Convenience" is a delightful and satisfying read that captures the essence of contemporary romance. With its relatable characters, heart-fluttering romance, and exploration of personal growth and self-discovery, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.

DNF @ 40%
i would have loved to get an alternate timeline where we see the MCs interacting in the years before and get to see what kind of relationship they had back then. their feelings for each other felt sudden and like they just surfaced out of the blue. i don't think the reason for them living together was reason enough- it was a little far fetched so the situation just felt forced. the reveal of why the
FMC moved back to her hometown was anticlimactic and the
"convenience" part of their arrangement only felt convenient for him. i didn't feel their connection at all- i think having more of their backstory, seeing more vulnerable moments and having deeper dialogue would have changed that.
I'm sad i wasn't able to get into this story bc i do think the characters, setting and tropes had such great potential.

This book was so cute! I enjoyed every second of it!
I think I highlighted too many of Bees thoughts because I identified with her so much! She was such an adorable character and seeing her facing her fears and finding her voice was amazing!

Sebastian 😮‍💨 this tattooed bisexual protective man. I love him so much ♡ men who goes to therapy and work on themselves are so freaking hot!

I love this author so much and can’t wait for more books from her ♡

This book had potential and the writers style was cute. Disappointed because I really wanted to like this. I enjoyed the premise of the shared mortgage and Bee/Sebs relationship. However, the social/political insulations throughout just took away from the story and led me not being able to finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Set the Mood Publishing, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐⭐.5
first of all, bee was insufferable. the repetitiveness of her insecurities was too much. a lot of us deal with this in our daily lives — i don't need to read about it incessantly as well. bee also felt like her entire personality was based on the characters around her. it was like she had no thoughts or courage of her own.

sebastian was a vibe, though. we stan a bi, golden retriever, plant daddy king.

as far as 🌶️goes? i actually didn't mind it. i would've liked more tension & i didn't really see sebastian being a dom daddy, though. it felt a little too forced.

First off, I went to thank NetGalley, the author and the publisher for giving me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. Don’t let the cover for you as there is a lot of uncomfortable smut in this dual POV that really isn’t necessary.

The FMC has a lot of insecurities and if I had a dollar for every time it was mentioned I would have a lot of dollars. Well, this book is 390 pages of pure torture and angst. It took me ages to read it as I wasn’t interested as I thought I should’ve been. There was so much potential for things to be developed in so many places, especially with all the wolf comparisons, and the whole alpha male type beat, but honestly so surprised that I actually finished this.

Would I read it again? I don’t know. It depends on how well the actual published version is in comparison to the arc. But if you like uncomfortable smut, a dual POV that isn’t necessary, an inner monologues that were unnecessarily horny, then this is for you.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.

This is a sweet romance that follows Bee and Sebastian as they decide to mortgage a house together.

It's really nice to read such a nice MMC who promotes honestly, living as your authentic self and working hard to get over toxic pasts.

The characters are really nice together and there's quite a bit of spice which is well written.

Sadly, I didn't connect entirely with the story so I would give it a 3.5 stars. It almost felt like the story was trying to achieve too much. The book is well written and an easy read.

Me, when I read the title of this book: "Yeah, that's fair". I mean, in this economy? Totally believable plotline.

Jokes aside, this book was great! It was sweet, hilarious and spicyyyy!

I love a good forced proximity romance and this was definitely it!

Sebastian was such a sweetheart! I loved how supportive and caring he was. The chemistry between the two was also off the charts! I was rooting for them and couldn't wait for them to finally get together!

Bree was such a relatable character. I wished we could have seen her progress a bit more towards her goal, I feel like her development mostly happens in the second half of the book.

Honorable mention to the spice in this book, I thought it was top-tier!

Honestly, I can't recommend this book enough, it made me laugh out loud and swoon A LOT. I'm really hoping Aiden eventually gets a book too!