This was a fast paced, sexy little novella. It’s marketed to be a dark romance novella but I couldn’t call it that. There’s nothing really dark or taboo about it, except maybe the setting.

We have two people unable to orgasm with a partner, looking for a solution to this problem. Enter Dr. Desire and our sexual laboratory where participants are coached through sexual experiences to maximize desired results. What we find is not only were our characters looking for sexual release but they were looking for connection and released from past traumas holding them back.

While we were going through the post coital emotions and separations of the characters, I was wanting more than our female main characters perspective. I would love to read a longer novel that included the male’s perspective and the even Dr Desire and his team behind the 2 way mirror.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Melissa Dymond for this wonderful ARC.

It was such a quick, but enjoyable read! Literally read this in one evening. I really appreciated the concept of the book. This book is definitely for those who tend to people please and deny expressing their own true feelings. I feel like this book also highlighted what elements are most important in love and true connection ❤️

I felt like I really learned and felt something even though it was a short story. Those elements are what I look for in a novella!

If you enjoy an extra spicy 🥵 romance do yourself a favor and read this!

This was such a unique, steamy, and fun read. Perfect when you want to something light, but romantic. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

For a dark medical romance, this was surprisingly heartwarming. Two people in search of something they've never had before and the solution turns out to be each other - but he's married. There's not a lot I can say about this one without giving too much away, but in short, I wanna find his wife(?) and kill her for making this sweet sweet boy feel insecure and inadequate.

Surprisingly sweet and heartfelt. I was initially very nervous after reading the trigger warnings, but I thought why not give it a try. If you’re like me and suffer from people-pleasing and have a terribly difficult time speaking up and saying what you want, you may also find a bit of inspiration from these characters.

Thank you so much to ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, NetGalley, & Author for this e-arc.


A brief but strong and emotional read. Despite merely having met, they are total strangers who have a strong bond that they cannot deny. Although incredibly heartbreaking, these two's vulnerability was also beautiful to watch. Because they are both people-pleasers who are prepared to put others before themselves, these two broken individuals were extremely similar to one another. I can't wait to read more from this new-to-me author.

I really enjoyed this novella. I love Krista & Trevor’s characters & their vulnerability & bravery. I loved the happy ending. Would love to see more about their relationship. Will definitely look for more books by Lexi.

I didn't realize how short this was until I got to the end (half an hour later) so I definitely sped through this because I loved it! I wanted this novella to be longer. It was definitely spicy but I was not ready for how emotional this book was. I'm impressed with how much emotion and passion the author was able to convey through the characters and their journey to heal through such a short amount of pages. I went into this book with no expectations and now I want to read more of Lexi Davis' books.

I need an update on T and Kristi ASAP.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

So I opened this thinking I was in for a cute, short, steamy escape—and ended up with my heart in a chokehold. In the best, most unexpected way.

I still don’t know how the author managed to build such real vulnerability, connection, and depth in so few pages—but they did. And I mean really did. I was hooked fast and suddenly emotionally invested, which, frankly, I didn’t think was even possible with a novella. That’s a serious compliment coming from me.

The people-pleaser dynamic? Oof.. It hit a little too close to home in the most validating, tender way. There was such a soft intensity to to both characters—the kind of care and quiet devotion that makes your chest ache just a little. And the dedication? Chef’s kiss. That blend of emotional and physical intimacy was balanced so beautifully. I'm flabbergasted! I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time.

Now I’m sitting here, post-read, thinking about them like they’re real people and wondering how their story continued. 😩

My only complaint is that it ended. That’s it. Literally. That’s the whole flaw. I would absolutely keep reading more if there were additional chapters or a sequel (*hint*hint* Lexi Davis). This story might be short, but it left a lasting imprint on my little bittersweet heart—and I’m not letting it go anytime soon! This has a happy ending but I still feel so melancholy about it ❤️‍🩹 I genuinely enjoyed this so much!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

What a quick unique read! The plot was extremely interesting and unhinged and I loved all the sweet moments between K & T. They were so encouraging with one another and truly felt like they were soulmates, but came together at a strange, random and difficult time. I felt like the writing was easy to follow and effortless. I also enjoyed the sweet life lessons scattered throughout the book. Unfortunately I felt overall this one wasn’t for me. I had a tough time understanding Dr. Desire’s role as I was expecting much more involvement, but he just read the feedback they gave on what they enjoyed. I also felt it was a bit morally wrong for T to be doing this while still with his wife but just separated but he wanted to fix and be with her. I was confused why him and his wife didn’t just do this service together, so it made it somewhat difficult to root for T despite how sweet of a man he was. I also was a bit confused on the I love you exchanges between them because It was so quick, and then K says it’s really because she loves herself so that is what caused her to get off so that wasn’t super clear to me on the intention. I honestly wish this book was longer as maybe some of those things could have been given more clarity and would have been a bit more convincing.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the author and congratulations on your book, this is such an accomplishment. I wish you the best in all of your endeavors

Yes, it’s spicy (like really spicy), but what truly stuck with me was how beautifully it wove emotional depth into each chapter. Beneath all the heat, this story is a powerful exploration of self-worth, boundaries, and emotional toll of constantly putting others first.

As a self-identified people pleaser, this book felt like a gentle but firm wake-up call. It reminded me that prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish. It’s essential. K and T’s journeys are raw and relatable, and watching them unlearn unhealthy patterns and rediscover their own value felt both validating and healing.

This is a must read with a string message about self-love, and reclaiming your power (and NOTHING is wrong with a little steam 😉)!

This is an excellent romance novella with a somewhat-medical setting. The premise is more observation/someone's directing you than strictly medical - the MCs are strangers who both feel "broken" sexually and are brought together by a mysterious doctor who is supposed to help "fix" them. Their interaction is in a lab-type clinical setting, where they are being observed and directed by the doctor. If you are curious about medical stories, this may be a good introduction since it doesn't get overly clinical.

This is short enough that there isn't much backstory or complex plot, but the spice is scorching hot. The instant attraction between the characters brings it a strong strangers-to-lovers aspect, and it's really fun to read. The characters' interaction is meant to be a one-time thing, but their chemistry leads you to wonder, and their discoveries through the experience are fascinating to uncover.

Definitely a great short read, and well-done by this author, who is great at introducing a medical aspect without overwhelming the reader.

Thanks to the ARC team for an advance copy of this book!

I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down.
This short and spicy dark romance novella was a surprise – I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. After reading the Trigger Warnings I wondered if this book was for me but I was intrigued. The themes of this book were written so beautifully by Lexi and I thought it was believable. Two people who feel broken in the same way, who are desperate to find a cure.

I didn’t expect to find myself so invested in T & K and was sad to say goodbye to them.

Thank you Lexi and netgalley for gifting me this earc. I look forward to reading more from Lexi in the future.

Hold Me for Now was my first read by Lexi Davis. This is was a quick novella with a unique experience.- two strangers partake in a clinical experiment to help them work through their intimacy troubles. Overall, I thought the story was interesting but I definitely wanted more backstory to the characters and more of about their lives after the experiment. For me, it’s more of a quick, smutty read than a dark romance. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

This book had a strong, emotional premise and I could see what the author was aiming for — the topic was bold, raw, and worth exploring. Unfortunately, it lacked the emotional depth needed to make the characters’ vulnerability feel meaningful. I didn’t find myself invested in their journey, and the pacing felt rushed. A longer format with more buildup, background, and a fuller resolution might’ve helped it land more powerfully. While I appreciate the author's commitment to taking risks, this one just didn’t work for me.

Hold me for Now is a spicy dark medical novella by Lexi Davis, the alter ego pen name for Dr. Melissa Dymond.

With forced proximity, strangers to lovers, banter and tension, definitely check the trigger warnings before reading 🥵

This was a very intriguing read. I loved the idea behind how the main characters met and participated in this experimental project.

It was definitely spicy, but it had a lot of sweet moments as well which is what I absolutely love about this author. You always get both 🩵

If you haven’t read her other books, I highly recommend them!
Everything is fantastic!
5/5 ⭐️

Thank you Lexi Davis/ Melissa Dymond for the ARC in exchange for my review!

This was a short but packed novella. I read it all on one sitting! I think the storyline is very intriguing and had me hooked from the very first page! I wish that this wasn’t such a short story- I’d have liked to continue to see the characters develop and grow. This book is spicy from start to finish so keep that in mind. But I believe the story message was great and well executed and very much needed.

Thank you NetGalley for this eCopy to review

I picked up Hold Me For Now expecting a steamy, emotionally intense novella—and while it definitely delivered on the spice, the story itself didn’t quite land for me. It’s a bold concept with some tender moments, but the execution felt rushed and a bit too contrived to fully resonate.

🛏️ Plot Summary
Kristi signs up for an experimental sex therapy program after years of feeling broken and disconnected from her own body. She’s paired with a stranger—T—in a clinical setting overseen by a mysterious figure known only as Dr. Desire. The goal? To help each other overcome intimacy issues through guided physical connection.

What begins as a controlled, therapeutic exercise quickly turns into something more. As Kristi and T open up emotionally and physically, they form a fragile bond that neither expected. But with anonymity, emotional baggage, and the looming end of the program hanging over them, the question becomes: can something real grow from something so artificial?

🔥 What Worked
Unique Premise: The clinical sex therapy setting was definitely different. It’s not often you see a romance explore vulnerability and dysfunction in such a direct way.

Emotional Honesty: There are moments—especially Kristi’s internal monologues—that feel raw and relatable. Her struggle with self-worth and intimacy is handled with care.

Short and Steamy: If you’re looking for a quick, spicy read with a heavy dose of angst, this fits the bill.

😕 What Didn’t Work (for Me)
Underdeveloped Characters: With only 85 pages, there just wasn’t enough time to fully flesh out Kristi or T. Their emotional connection felt rushed, and I didn’t quite buy the depth of their bond.

Heavy-Handed Dialogue: Some of the lines meant to be profound came off as melodramatic. It felt like the book was trying too hard to be both sexy and soulful.

Clinical Setting Felt Contrived: The whole setup—anonymous sex therapy with a one-way mirror and a voice-modulated doctor—was more bizarre than believable. It pulled me out of the story rather than immersing me in it.

Predictable Arc: Despite the unconventional premise, the story hits familiar beats and wraps up a little too neatly for my taste.

🧾 Final Thoughts
Hold Me For Now is a daring novella that tries to blend eroticism with emotional healing. I appreciate what Lexi Davis was aiming for, and I can see why it resonates with some readers. But for me, the story didn’t have enough space to breathe, and the emotional payoff felt unearned.

If you’re in the mood for something short, spicy, and emotionally intense—with a heavy dose of forced proximity and strangers-to-lovers tension—it might be worth a try.

I quite enjoyed this short, spicy read. Davis delivered a unique storyline that caught me off guard - I wasn't expecting to feel such genuine emotion and vulnerability from Trevor and Kristi. Their connection felt raw and authentic, elevating this beyond just a steamy novella into something more meaningful.The spice level was well-balanced with the emotional content. My only complaint is that I wanted more - just as I was fully invested in these characters, it was over.

Hold Me For Now is a short, emotional romance with a unique setup—two strangers, Kristi and T, thrown into a clinical intimacy experiment. It’s definitely a darker, moodier read, and the chemistry between them gets intense fast. I liked how vulnerable the characters were, and the emotional tension felt real, even if it moved kind of quickly.

That said, I wish it were longer. Some parts felt rushed, and I wanted more time to really connect with the characters and their backstories. Still, it was a cool, different kind of romance that pulled me in and made me feel something. Not perfect, but definitely worth checking out if you’re into short, steamy reads with depth.