Holy spice, Batman! This was my first Katee Robert book, and it definitely won’t be my last. The spice is well-written, engaging, and keeps things interesting from start to finish. My only gripe was the ending. It wraps up a key plot point but felt a bit disingenuous compared to the rest of the book's tone.

That aside, I absolutely loved the characters and their rich backstories. They brought so much life and energy to the story, making it a fun and immersive read. The plot drops you right into the action, which I enjoyed, though I did momentarily wonder if it was a sequel. (It’s not!) It’s a second-chance romance, one of my favorite tropes, and the chemistry was palpable.

Lucy’s experiences reflected the aftermath many women face with overly critical partners in the bedroom, portrayed with accuracy and sensitivity. Meanwhile, Gideon shines as a supportive partner in the bedroom but struggles a bit with emotional vulnerability outside of it, adding depth to his character.

The storyline holds your attention, and the narrator does an excellent job bringing the characters to life. Definitely recommend!

3.25 ⭐️

This was pretty good, but not my favorite. It felt a little like I was missing something at the beginning because ~3 minutes in, Lucy was asking Gideon to be her sex practice partner with virtually no background into who they were. I did like Gideon’s long-time pining for Lucy, but even with that he still doubted his feelings for her. And Lucy doubted her feelings even more than Gideon, although her past relationship trauma most explained that.

The spice was good - there were quite a few scenes packed in for being a relatively short book.

Audiobook narration by Alexa Elmy was good for Lucy, but not very good for Gideon. Her male voices sounded overly nasally.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this audiobook. It was a fun forbidden romance that was fun to read. I will read anything by Katee Robert, it never disappoints.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Good story, new spin on marriage of convenience. The narrator was great.

Quick Summary: A FWB, second shot at more

My Review: Make Me Want by Katee Robert was originally released in 2018. An audiobook edition from Harlequin Audio is being released in January 2025.

About the Book: "She’s taking control. And it’s driving him wild!"

In My Own Words: Two friends with a passing attraction of old enter into a friends with benefits situationship. Although the deal is to keep things platonic while working together on a special project of sorts, pretty soon strong feelings become to difficult to hide.

About the Characters:

"Lucy Baudin’s ex did a number on her self-esteem, but it’s time for her to regain control...she needs inspiration to reawaken her inner seductress. Asking her friend Gideon Novak for help seems wrong…yet so deliciously right!"

"Headhunter Gideon Novak is shocked when Lucy hires him…to hunt her future husband!...the more time they spend together, the more Gideon wants to be there for Lucy—not just for hire but full-time, forever."

About the Narration: This novel was narrated by Alexa Elmy. The tonal expressions between the male and female characters were notably different. I jived well with the lower register, yet I had difficulty with the higher register vocals. I had to experiment with the speed to find a just right level.

Unfortunately, I must note that I could hear the sound of swallows in numerous places; I didn't care for that. Overall, however, I liked the audiobook experience, once I found what worked for my listening ear.

My Final Say: Lucy and Gideon's story was a mix between simple and complex. The journey to their HEA was filled with exploration, self-discovery, pain, vulnerability, and insecurities.

It was interesting seeing such accomplished people relying so heavily on the opinions and guidance of their friends/family. It was unexpected.

Other: Readers who enjoy fast-paced, second chance, friends with benefits stories should enjoy this book.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +/-

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Harlequin Audio), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful for the opportunity.

I liked this story. It felt like a typical romance nothing spectacular but not dull either. I like to call these my palate cleansers. It's perfect to get me back into reading after a funk.

Make Me Want is a steamy romance from Katee Robert. As you all know her books are full of spice that will leave you wanting more. Lucy is a sucessful lawyer who has low self-esteem cause by her cheating ex. Now Lucy wants to make a marriage of conveinance and has asked her friend Gideon to help with finding her men to date. He agrees to help but when Lucy asks him to help her in the bedroom he can't seem to walk away from her. Will Lucy finally see that Gideon is the only one for her? I would like to thank both NetGalley and Harelequin Audio for letting me listen to the advanced copy of this audio book.