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

This is a great novella. I love that it focused on one specific scene, instead of trying to cram an entire story into less than 100 pages. It was spicy, the characters were well described, the emotions ran high and there wasn’t a whole bunch of fluff mixed in to drag it out.

Hold Me For Now” by Lexi Davis is a beautifully spicy novella that completely captivated me.
As my first time reading a novella, I was initially worried it might not be enough—but Lexi masterfully delivered a full, heartfelt story in under 70 pages.

I found myself fully rooting for K and T from the very start, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The spice was definitely spicing, but beyond that, it was a tender, emotional, and deeply moving read.

I can’t wait to dive into more of Lexi’s work. Thank you, Lexi, for this gorgeous story. 🤍

I went into Hold Me Now blind—no synopsis, no expectations—and still, I wasn’t ready for what I got. I’ve read plenty of novellas, but none like this. This story is truly one of a kind.

K and T aren’t just two people looking for connection—they’re trying to fix themselves, unaware that what they really need is a little love. The story is intimate, raw, and incredibly vulnerable. Watching the FMC fall in love in just a few short hours felt believable because of how emotionally charged every interaction was.

Usually, when a book leans into spice, I assume the plot might suffer—but that wasn’t the case here. The story was fresh, different, and carried so much weight that the spice (even though it was great) took a well-deserved back seat.

I gave it 4 stars only because I wish it were longer. With 300+ pages, this could’ve been a heavy hitter. Still, I’d recommend this to any reader looking for something short, emotional, and unforgettable.

2 strangers. Same problem. Seek medical intervention. Very UNCONVENTIONAL medical intervention.

Hold Me For Now is a beautifully written novella that makes for a quick yet impactful read. From its introspective, awkward beginnings to its heartfelt and redemptive ending, the story holds the reader’s attention throughout. It thoughtfully explores the idea that we are never truly alone in our struggles, others share similar burdens, even if we don’t always see it. The book also delves into the immediacy and intensity of emotional and physical connections, showing how even a brief encounter with a stranger can leave a lasting impact. A tender and moving story, this novella is a quiet reminder of our shared humanity.

Thank you for allowing me an ARC copy to review.

Spicy yet emotional with such a sweet ending. I loved the writing style. I do think Dr D is shady AF 😂🤣 good enough for me to want to check out other titles by this author.

It was a cute novella, super spicy! A book about coming together quite literally. If you’re looking for spice this is nothing but spice.

This book was so different. It’s a short novella but it was so well written. The story as a whole was heartwarming. Knowing that they were not alone in what they were going through and over coming it together was so beautiful to read.

okay so the concept is definitely new & i thought it was going to go very kidnappish... however!!! no kidnapping involved, just two people who can’t orgasm with others who signed up for a sex clinic of sorts to try to “fix” their problem
even though it’s a novella, i feel like the characters were pretty fleshed out even though 60% had them in a whole mess of positions
i’d love another book of them dating or for them to maybe show up in another of the authors books just so we get a glimpse of them in the real world!!! i needed an additional epilogue
I really enjoy how the author writes so I'll be be working my way through their works!!
overall: 3.5/5
spice: 4/5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💘 Two broken souls. One unexpected connection. A love they never believed they deserved. 💘

Hold Me For Now by Lexi Davis is a spicy, emotional dark romance novella that completely swept me away. Just 85 pages long, but it delivers everything—heart, heat, and healing. I didn’t expect to cry reading something so short and steamy, but Lexi’s words were beautiful, raw, and unexpectedly soft.

💥 Broken strangers
💥 Slow-burn healing
💥 Off-the-charts chemistry.

🙏 Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing for the ARC!