Hold Me For Now is an 85 page spicy, novella. It is the story of T and K who with the help of Dr. Desire work through their most intimate issue, which happens to be an issue they both have in common. It is meant to be a purely physical endeavor, one encounter to solve their problems. But it turns into more as they have an instant connection which ends in T telling her he loves her, just for now.

This was such an interesting concept for a book. There sure was a lot of spice, but there was also emotion and chemistry. I don't know that I would characterize this as a dark romance book. It just isn't what I would normally think of when I think "dark romance". I thought it was a fun, unique, emotional, and spicy read! Highly recommend!

"For the ones who never learned how to ask for what they wanted. For the people pleasers, the overthinkers, the ones who stay quiet even when they’re screaming inside. I see you. Please know you deserve someone who knows all of you—and stays."

This is a novella so a quick read for me, it’s good but you have to take it at face value. The book doesn’t go into too much depth but you do start to get a good feel for their personalities as the book progresses. It’s emotionally charged and makes you really think about how important emotion is when being intimate with someone. I enjoyed this book but not something I’d usually read, Short, spicy and different to what I’m used to but it definitely piqued my interest from the get go, I read it in one sitting as I had to know if the therapy worked for them both. I keep seeing this book being called a dark, spicy romance. I’d agree that yes there is spice, but I personally wouldn’t consider it dark at all. Different yes but not dark.
Trigger Warnings ⚠️
- Clinical Sex therapy
- References to past toxic / dangerous relationships
- Explicit language
- Open door sex scenes
- Voyeurism (for clinical purposes)
- Cheating (technically, Male MC married but separated)
- Discussions about sexual disfunction
These are the main ones but .. please, please make sure you read them all before starting the book.

3.5 stars / rounded up to 4

This book may be short, but it packs a serious punch.

Hold Me For Now by Lexi Davis delivers all the feels in such a powerful, honest way. Kristi’s story really hit home for me—I saw so much of myself in how she viewed her self-worth and carried the weight of her past.

One line that stuck with me was: “I realized I needed to work on loving myself first, before I could love someone else. That's what I've been doing.” That hit deep. Lexi Davis has a way of writing that feels like she’s speaking directly to your heart.

Every page felt real, raw, and left a mark I wasn’t expecting.

5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this spicy novella. The only negative thing is that it was way to short! I need more!
There are so many people with the same struggles as «K» and «T» , and while there may not be an easy fix like in this story, I do think many will relate.
I do hope we get an follow up!
Thank you NetGalley and Lexi Davis for this ARC!

This book has got great spice! It has an amazing ability to make you care for these characters even before you know their names! I think the read was great and I couldn’t put it down. It was a good spicy read! Definitely will read it again!

This novella was great! Perfect for getting out of a slump or a quick fun read since it’s a short novella. The setting is intriguing and will hook you on page one. It’s spicy, it’s fun, it’s enlightening. I appreciated the trigger warnings and the that the author prioritized mental health.

This is a short spicy novella. There isn’t a lot of plot as it’s short and it centers around the main characters within a single setting. However, it was fast paced and easy to read and ends on a sweet note.

OKAY WOW 🔥

Hold me for now is not like any other book I’ve read. It was a short and spicy novella about two people who struggle with a sexual problem that they can’t fix on their own. They turn to Dr.Desire and he connects them with someone who, with his guidance, can help them “fix” their problems together.

As someone who very easily gets turned off by how spicy scenes are written or can get the ick very quick, I actually didn’t get it with this book! I really felt where both main characters were coming from and felt their frustrations and insecurities. I know it was meant to be a novella but it left me wishing for just a little bit more because I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS and it left me feeling slightly incomplete, which is the only reason this got a four star rating. Otherwise loved it and you should definitely give this a read!!!!!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Lexi Davis for this read!!!! ❤️❤️

This novella was short , sweet, and sexy.Interesting concept around relationships and all its complexities. Raw and real , ways to communicate and connect with your mind and body. It left me wanting more.

NetGalley and Lexi Davis thank you for the ARC review. Looking forward to reading other stories from this author.

Sometimes, the best stories begin in the most unexpected places, and this one? It started somewhere raw and a little awkward in the best way 💓

This was a short, fast-paced read, and I devoured it in one sitting. I just wish it was a little longer because I couldn’t help but want more of Dr. D, T, and K.

And the spice? - it's definitely spicing, just enough to keep me wanting more 🫣

It’s sweet. It’s emotional and surprisingly cozy for someone like me who usually walks the darker path. I’m so glad I picked this one up 💓

Thank you to @authorlexidavis and Netgalley for the opportunity 💕

Rating: ☆☆☆☆/5

#lexidavis
#holdmefornow
#arcreview
#netgalley

Hold Me For Now by Lexi Davis is a sultry, sharply written novella that explores intimacy, vulnerability, and unexpected connection. When two strangers, both struggling with issues in the bedroom, agree to participate in an unconventional therapeutic program, they find themselves paired in a way neither anticipated—but one that quickly ignites undeniable chemistry.

Kristi enters the experience with hopeful expectations, but what unfolds challenges her in more ways than she imagined. As boundaries blur and emotions deepen, the story moves beyond physical attraction to explore the complexities of trust, self-discovery, and healing through connection.

Davis strikes a perfect balance between sensuality and emotional depth, crafting a narrative that is both provocative and surprisingly tender. Hold Me For Now is a captivating novella that proves sometimes, the path to healing comes from the most unexpected—and passionate—places.

Hold Me for Now by Lexi Davis is a provocative and emotionally layered novella that blends sensuality with surprising psychological depth. As the first book I’ve read by this author, I was intrigued by the bold premise and found myself pleasantly surprised by the emotional complexity woven into such a short format. This story may also be part of a series, which makes the connection between the characters and the potential for more development even more compelling.

The plot centers around two strangers selected to participate in an unconventional experiment designed to help them achieve sexual fulfillment. Under the remote guidance of an anonymous doctor, the participants begin what initially seems like a clinical exercise—but it quickly turns into something far more intimate and revealing. As the two dig deep into their emotional wounds and vulnerabilities, they develop a bond that transcends physical connection.

Lexi Davis strikes a unique balance between steamy, erotic scenes and heartfelt emotional breakthroughs. The novella doesn’t just focus on pleasure—it explores how trauma, trust, and openness influence our ability to connect with others. The anonymity of the participants adds an intriguing tension: they know next to nothing about each other, and yet by the end of the experiment, they’ve shared some of their most private and honest selves.

The story raises interesting questions about whether emotional intimacy can exist without a traditional relationship foundation—and what happens when you connect deeply with someone you might never see again.

I’d recommend Hold Me for Now to readers who enjoy romance with a bold, unconventional twist. It’s ideal for those looking for a quick read that still packs emotional punch. I’m definitely curious to read more from Lexi Davis and see where her storytelling goes next.

Hold Me for Now tackles an underexplored topic in romance—sexual dysfunction—with sensitivity and a refreshingly candid approach. I appreciated the novel’s willingness to delve into this subject matter, and the emotional depth it brought to the characters’ struggles and connection. The premise had real potential, and there were moments of genuine tenderness and heat between the leads.

That said, I couldn’t help but feel the story missed an opportunity to fully leverage its medical setting to amplify the erotic tension. Given the built-in vulnerability of the setting, the sensual scenes could have been heightened with more atmospheric detail or procedural tension—think of the sensory richness of a clinical environment repurposed for pleasure. Instead, the setting sometimes faded into the background, making the eroticism feel more conventional than it might have.

Still, this was a solid read with a unique premise, and I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy romances that explore physical and emotional vulnerability. It’s flawed but worthwhile, with enough originality to stand out in the genre.

This is a short, amazing little novella with a unique plot that packs a punch and I have NO NOTES. It was perfection.

There was spice. There were butterflies. There was yearning. There was adorable flirting and chemistry. There was a great spin on the “one bed” trope. There was a bit of “who did this to you” mixed with protectiveness. And the tension was delicious!!!

There really was so much you love about the romance genre all rolled into one short but sweet story. The characters were instantly relatable and likeable. I felt their initial awkwardness and apprehension like it was my own. When the spark ignited I totally felt that. When the heat flamed up I definitely felt that too. I couldn’t put this down and I was captivated until the very last word which both ended at the perfect time in the perfect way but also entirely too soon!

Lexi, you’re a genius and the master of words. Thank you Hayling BookStorm for the ARC copy of this for my thoughts. Give me a million more of these, STAT! 🫶🏼

This book was good but not for me. It's about two strangers who cant finish on their own and their journey to get there together.

this was a solid read. the story included struggles/conflict, full of emotions & SPICE SPICE SPICE. i didn’t give a full 5 stars only because i enjoy slow burn angst romances more where as this was a little too fast paced for my liking. if you are into fast paced smutty romances, this would be a great read for you.

Taking place within a sex therapy setting, two strangers are put together to figure out what's going wrong with their individual sex lives. This book focuses on the emotions that come with sex, especially with strangers. It brings up questions about how insecurities, and how people treat others in sexual relationships effect what makes it enjoyable. The author answers questions like can sex and love be separated, and how does understanding yourself effect your relationships.

Thank you so much for this book !!! It was a great read about two characters who couldn’t climax and what a surprise they were part of an experiment which they were hoping would help them reach their desires … I was clutching every imaginary pearl I had because it was so good I loved the plows twist it was great

I have never read anything like this before, and I absolutely devoured it! 🤌

The emotional connection you feel towards to FMC and MMC is immediate and strong. I don't think I've ever felt so connected to characters in a novella as I did in Hold Me For Now.. I was rooting for them the entire time, and felt lows and highs as they struggled to find what works for them.

I loved how they were both so uncomfortable at first, then matched each other's energy to find what has been missing. This story is very much about learning to get out of your own head, and just FEEL.

I also LOVED the ending. I honestly need more of these two 🫶

Highly recommend this novella!


Special Thank You to Lexi Davis and Netgalley for the arc read ❤️

Thank you to Lexi Davis and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This spicy dark novella exceeded my expectations. I have never read anything quite like it before.

The two main characters suffer from the same problem and seek help online. K and T are paired up with the assistance of “Dr. Desire” to solve it.

The smut was definitely the plot; however, it was unexpectedly emotional and complex for being such a short book.

Please check your trigger warnings before checking out this book.

Check out this novella is you enjoy:
-Forced Proximity
-Voyeurism
-Clinical Setting
-Opposites attract
-Forbidden romance
-Dark romance
-Strangers to lovers