Short, Steamy, and Surprisingly Deep, A Must-Read Novella
Hold Me For Now by Lexi Davis completely surprised me, in the best way. I’m not usually a fan of novellas; they often feel rushed or incomplete, like they’re missing the emotional depth of a full-length novel. But this one? It delivers everything in just a few powerful pages.
The story centers around two strangers, let’s call them T and K, who both struggle with the same intimate problem: they can’t finish during sex. Desperate for answers, they each join a clinical trial designed to help participants overcome this exact issue. Their paths cross in the program, and what starts as awkward (and honestly, kind of hilarious) slowly evolves into something deeply emotional and unexpectedly beautiful.
Lexi Davis does something incredible here: she builds rich, believable characters and a compelling emotional arc in a very short time. Nothing feels rushed or underdeveloped. The chemistry is real, the pacing is tight, and the vulnerability is raw in a way that makes you feel for these characters, fast.
Whether you're already a fan of novellas or skeptical like I was, Hold Me For Now is absolutely worth your time. It’s steamy, emotional, and full of heart. Go ahead and add it to your TBR, it’s available now and it won’t disappoint.

I honestly avoid short story's as it finish before it start,but this one topic catch my attention and I don't regret reading it.I like the K and T connect and try to resolve they issues,was rotting for them.My only issue was T being married/separated/getting divorce,could not make up his mind about that,and that put me little bit off.The story is short,topic interesting and great for fast short read in the evening,would recommend this book. Thank you Netgalley and author Lexi Davis for complimentary copy.

This novella really made me remember how important it is to find love and human connection. Once you read this book, that statement will make sense.

I absolutely fell in love with T and K ❤️ The connection they have when it came to fixing the "issue" they faced. The quest they took may have been an unconventional way, but the emotional journey they took was so beautiful to see.

Lexi's writing really makes you feel the emotional turmoil these characters face. I keep rooting for them in every scene. The spice scenes were done so tastefully and genuine. This is a hot little read that will leave you satisfied 😍.

Thank you Netgalley and Lexi Davis for a copy of this book. I enjoyed every page

A nice quick read! I have honestly not read a book like this before and it was interesting. I was hooked from the description alone. I wasn’t sure how it was going to end but it was definitely a sweet way to end it. The FMC was super relatable to me which I think made me enjoy this novella even more.

I absolutely loved this novella! It was a bit different from what I usually read, so I was hesitant at first—but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. The author did a fantastic job from beginning to end. The story drew me in right away, and I honestly didn’t want it to end.

Hold Me For Now is a novella that I binged in just one sitting. I genuinely appreciate how the author tackled a struggle that can happen to anyone. Being sexual isn’t something to be ashamed of and this book shares just that. The spice level was HOT and I won’t lie, I did shed a few tears myself. I loved the hidden message of what the key elements are to a healthy relationship and sex life: love, communication, and trust. I gave this a 5 star rating and I look forward to reading more from this author!

“Let me love you, just for now.”

Wow! For a novella, this really packed a punch! Yes, this was full of spice, but the emotional depth was what kept me reading. The characters had so much chemistry it was incredible. The epilogue was perfect!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lexi Davis for the ARC, provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.

Absolutely adored this novella! It's a quick read, but it is so good and not just in the way it was written. It tackled a real problem people have and effective ways to overcome it. It's spicy and adorable. I would love to see another Novella about T and K.

Love the spice and didn't want it to end
10 out of 10 love it ...please write more
I'm happy we got the extended end
T and k are good I need more of their story

Really good short novella full of spice. Surprisingly had a lot of emotion as well which I enjoyed.

4/5 stars

*thank you to netgalley for the arc

Short, sweet and super spicy,

Wow. This is my first Lexi Davis read, an 85 page novella that absolutely sucked me in. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before.

The chemistry between K and T was definitely 🥵 but also the pure emotions shown by both characters 💕. The epilogue made me smile so much, I only wish it was longer to have more of their story.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I was a bit hesitant going in, but I ended up liking it! I wanted just a little more from the spice, since that was the whole plot of the story, but overall I liked it. A quick, fun, surprisingly emotional read.

This novella hooked me immediately—a wonderful mix of angst, chemistry, and unexpected emotional depth. Hold Me For Now flips the one-night stand trope on its head with an interesting concept: two strangers paired in a clinical “experiment” to confront their inner demons. What starts as a structured attempt at healing quickly becomes intimate, complicated, and intense.

Kristi and T are both beautifully broken, and the way their connection unfolds is fast but believable (I grew to love them very quickly too!). Their bond—emotional and physical—is written with vulnerability and fire. Yes, the spice level is high (and well-written!), but what kept me turning the pages was the healing, the longing, and the way the characters find something like home in each other.

I’ll admit, I was hesitant about the experiment/observer premise, but it’s handled with care and professionalism—it never veers into creepy territory. And the ending? The HEA was organic and satisfying. I only wish this had been a full-length novel so I could spend more time with these characters and learn some more about Dr. Desire’s experiment.

ARC Disclosure:
I received an advance reader copy of Hold Me For Now from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and the author Lexi Davis via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

A dark romance up for grabs I'm 100% all for it!A sit for a short 2 hour and a billion and one smut, yes that's exactly what this wild ride was. Besides the spice, the story was emotional, bringing 2 broken people together to help fix each other and honestly who doesn't love a little emotions as well. Like always I wish it was longer!

Short, Spicy, and Intriguing! 🔥📖👀

This is a quick novella that touches on a topic we don’t often see explored.
It’s exactly what it promises to be: short, steamy, and very spicy 😏🌶️

It definitely left me super curious about the characters — there’s so much potential here! I’d absolutely love to see their full story explored in more depth one day. 💭💘

A bold little read that packs a punch! 💥🖤

This was very short, less than 100 pages. It was definitely an interesting story. A good quick read.

*WOW.*
Spicy. Emotional. Absolutely unputdownable.

This story had me hooked from the first page. I devoured it in one sitting! It’s a fast-paced, steamy read that somehow still delivers a big emotional punch. Lexi Davis does an incredible job of making you care quickly.

It follows two beautifully messy, wounded people who share a common issue that is one of their biggest insecurities, and how they find unexpected comfort and connection in each other. Despite the short length, I felt every bit of their journey and rooted for them the whole way. Watching them open up and help heal each other's deepest insecurities was so moving!

T and K completely stole my heart. I need a full-length novel on them now!

Side note: loved the little tidbit of you ready fantasy and there being big fae worries just because the MMC had slightly pointed ears! This made me giggle!

*Huge thanks to NetGalley and Lexi Davis for the ARC, provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op!*

Spicy, male female, 1st person single point of view, contemporary romance. Very spicy and surprisingly emotional. This story had chemistry, awkwardness, hurt, and healing in a mere 85 pages. This was a pleasant surprise for me and I'll definitely be reading the author's other work.

Hold Me for Now is a spicy dark romance novella packed with intense tropes like strangers to lovers, forced proximity, and the ever-popular “one bed” scenario—all set within a clinical, experimental environment.
The story follows Kristi, a woman who feels broken because her body doesn’t work the way she believes it should. In a desperate attempt to heal, she enrolls in an experimental program designed to help people like her. There, she’s paired with a man named T—who is also struggling with his own feelings of brokenness. Under the guidance of the enigmatic “Doctor Desire,” the two are placed in a confined space and encouraged to work through their issues together, physically and emotionally.
While the setup is intriguing and definitely steamy, I found the emotional progression between the characters to be a bit rushed. Their connection developed so quickly that it didn’t feel entirely believable—especially the level of emotional attachment and tears over a goodbye that was part of the original plan.
That said, this was a quick, easy read with fast pacing and no wasted time. If you're in the mood for a high-heat, low-commitment romance that jumps straight into the action, this novella delivers exactly that.

Lexi Davis really brought the spice with this one!
Two strangers, same problem and EXTREMELY unconventional medical intervention.
Lexi’s ability to make this novella (under 70 pages) short and spicy was everything.
I liked how we got to really focus on one scene and get all the details including some great character depth I was not expecting. I felt so sympathetic towards our main characters that when the ✨bang✨ happened for them I was kicking my feet.
Such a good read! Thank you Lexi