I adore this book, especially the parts about them being on the spectrum. Since many of us are either diagnosed or not yet, I could definitely identify with the characters in this book. It received a five-star rating.

This was a re-read for me, as I read the E-Book version of it.

I love Mitchell and Wanda, they were so different from eachother, and yet complemented each other. beautifully.
This read had mystery, suspense, loving characters and represented people on the spectrum beautifully!

5 ⭐️ read! Thank you to Net Galley for providing this audiobook ARC to me!

This book didn’t grab my attention at the very beginning, I had to adjust to the male narrator but once I did, I was locked in! His voice had the perfect edge to be Menace.

Now into this book. Wanda & Mitchell (IYKYK) were so cute together. The jokes, the nicknames, the quirks, the love, the balance they provided to each other was so good. They were to “weird” people who found comfort, love & acceptance in each other. I loved the way Mavie didn’t play about Stevie & him just popping up everywhere she was kept me chucking. I loved that this book had a MMC that didn’t play about his woman but also the FMC knew her worth & didn’t have problem with standing in her truth and boundaries.

The book had the right amount of back story, drama, tension between characters, banter & romance. Loved it!

This book is truly everything and more. It’s definitely different compared to all the other books I’ve read. Due to her friend messing up the MFC was able to find love.

Loved loved loved this book. The story was different and being a special education teacher I love to read stories with characters that are different yet unique and special. My only complaint is that he was big diagnosed properly and they kept saying he had one disorder and not the proper one but overall it was a great read.

I wanted so badly to like this book. There was so much potential. I just couldn’t get past how childish all the sex scenes were and how naive the FMC was. I listened to the audio version and I thought the narrators did a good job but this book just wasn’t my cup of tea. And I like dark romance books, this just missed the mark for me.

10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace is bold, thought-provoking, and layered with tension and insight. The title alone grabs your attention, but the content truly delivers. The concept of blending the “10,000 hours” mastery principle with a complex, possibly toxic relationship dynamic is powerful—and the narrative explores that contrast with grit and honesty.

The writing is engaging, with a tone that feels equal parts confessional and cautionary. There’s a lot to unpack in terms of ambition, power dynamics, manipulation, and emotional endurance. The “menace” character is both captivating and frustrating—making the emotional rollercoaster feel very real.

One of the strongest aspects is how it highlights personal growth and awareness—how proximity to power and wealth can either shape or shatter you, depending on how grounded you are. That said, there are moments where I wanted a deeper dive into the narrator’s internal transformation over time—especially in the emotional aftermath.

Overall, it’s a compelling read that forces readers to reflect on their own aspirations and entanglements. It’s not just about the hours spent, but what you become while spending them—and that message lingers long after the last page.

4.25⭐️ oh a time was had! menace knows he plays entirely too much, but the one and ONLY thing that he doesn’t play about is Stevie

this book was pure foolishness, in the best way possible, so funny and entertaining, there wasn’t a single dull moment with these two

This book was hilarious!!! The back and forth between Stevie and Menace kept me cracking up the entire time!!! Listening to this book made it that much better to me!
This definitely kept me fully invested!!! I hope there’s a part two!

Dark romance
Opposites
OTT MMC
Mafia/crime family
Autistism/OCD Rep
Humor
Found family

Audio review
Narrated by Simone Rothschild; Myles Washington

Main characters
Menace - Maverick
Stevie

My first book by this author has me going to her backlist for more!
This story was the perfect blend of multiple tropes. While being the head of his crime family is violent work, Menace is up for the job. He protects and cares for his family. Family is more than blood. He doesn’t show a lot of emotion unless his OCD gets the best of him.
Stevie is a bit naive. She thinks the best of people and it lands her in hot water more often than not.

On paper these two don’t mesh. However, they are both exactly what the other needs. Together they make each other whole. They provide a different experience of love and care missing from their lives.
Menace was all in for Stevie. He was there to slay all her dragons whether past or present. By slay, I mean it literally. His first thought was always to remove her enemies from this life.


The humor was perfect for this one. The name game was top tier. The toothpaste issue is real, I felt that one. LOL. Menace had no filter, so that made for awkward and funny moments. Stevie’s thoughts would take her down a rabbit hole.
The characters were likable. The supporting characters were just as good as the main characters. I am definitely going to continue the series.

Everything about this book appealed to me as a reader/listener. The narrators nailed the characters. The voices were perfect.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with either Stevie (fmc) or Menace (mmc). I listened to this via audiobook narrated by Myles Washington and Simone Rothschild. Both did very well and Simone speaks so clearly I could increase speed to 3x and understand her perfectly. The volume for Myles was a bit lower so I had to slow his parts down to understand them. The audiobook is the ONLY reason I finished this, as I just didn't enjoy the characters.

This book had me hollering with laughter. It was actually a refreshing cleanser between heavier books. I found myself loving Menace and Stevie as a couple. Their quirky and oddball personalities somehow meshed perfectly together. The way the families intertwined in the story made the worlds feel naturally connected. Overall excellent read and I was thoroughly entertained.

A Menace to society

10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace by Jahquel J is a gripping, high-stakes romance filled with unexpected twists and deep emotional connections. From the moment Stevie is betrayed by her best friend and thrown into Menace Caselli’s world, the story takes off with intense energy and never lets up.

Stevie and Menace’s relationship is the heart of the book, and their dynamic is both intriguing and refreshing. While others see Menace as strange or intimidating, Stevie takes the time to understand him, creating a bond that feels genuine and unbreakable. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching them navigate their forced yet passionate relationship is both thrilling and heartfelt.

The supporting characters add depth and drama to the story. Zoya and Don’s bratty tendencies are frustrating yet realistic, showing the struggles of younger siblings who don’t always grasp the sacrifices made for them. Zoya, in particular, stands out as a complex character—flawed but still compelling. The hint of future conflicts, especially with Big Gerald, promises even more drama and character growth in the series.

Overall, this was a well-paced and engaging read, blending romance, suspense, and family dynamics seamlessly. The Caselli family series has great potential, and I’m especially looking forward to Goon and Zoya’s story. It was a great story but I overall couldn’t get into the audiobook. So based on that I give the audiobook 4 stars but overall the book is a five If you love dark romance with powerful characters and deep emotional layers, this is definitely a book to check out!

I really enjoyed the overall storyline of the book. How the FMC and MMC met, how there relationship developed.

The narrators were PERFECT and this book had SO much promise but ultimately fell a little short for me. That being said I still couldn't stop listening and the story kept me intrigued. I could relate to Stevie and her quirkiness. She definitely couldn't pick up on social cues and constantly triggered Menace but they balanced each other out. Menace had some depth and I could understand why he was the way he was. Did he take it too far at times? Absolutely. But he had some redeeming qualities so I could tell how the author tried to round him out. I really liked how attention was brought to neurodivergency however, at times it felt very cliché and stereotypical. The pacing and cohesiveness was a little disjointed at times as well. Overall I believe the author has promise in her storytelling and I will be looking forward to the next book.

This is my second time reading this book after #Netgalley provided an audiobook copy for a review. Here is the formal intro to the Caselli Family which was released in the middle of the Quasim series. We meet Menace who was presented as Core's best friend and Stevie who Sky's cousin and primary babysitter (lol), in the Jahquel universe. Stevie finds herself in the middle of a scam that she is a victim of all because she wanted to make her own way in this world. However, finding herself in this mess leads her to Menace who proposes she marries him in order to not un-alive some people. After this, follows a journey of outrageous accusations, getting to know each other, hilarious nicknames and two very odd ADHD adults getting to live life together.
The audiobook made this funnier and absolutely unhinged. I did feel like the narrator for Stevie sounded older than what I would picture Stevie sounding but that is just me. However, the male narrator had a cadence that was perfect for Menace.

I gave it a 4-stars because it was a little bit unhinged but highly entertaining for me.

#10000HoursWithaRichMenace #NetGalley

Jahquel J.’s 10,000 Hours With a Rich Menace is an intoxicating blend of heat, heart, and hard edges. At its core, this is a story of two opposites colliding—Stevie, with her quiet strength and resilience, and Menace, a formidable figure whose name carries weight for a reason. Their connection is undeniable, and as their worlds intertwine, so do their transformations.

While the novel delivers on steamy, high-stakes romance, it’s the emotional evolution of both characters that sets it apart. Jahquel J. skillfully explores how love can be both a refuge and a catalyst for growth. Stevie may find strength in Menace, but it’s clear that he finds something even more essential in her—a grounding force he never knew he needed.

Dark, passionate, and powerfully character-driven, 10,000 Hours With a Rich Menace proves that sometimes the most unlikely connections are the ones that heal, challenge, and ultimately change us. A must-read for fans of romance with grit, depth, and undeniable chemistry.

10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace in short was fucking hilarious!

My favorite type of romance with just enough dark and urban elements.

Who doesn’t love forced proximity trope and gritty emotional dynamics? The humor and raw interpersonal drama… chefs kiss 💋

If you’ve read and liked…

✨Secure in the Arms of a Thug
✨In His Possession: Bought by a Black Mafia Prince
✨Demon’s Dream
…then add this to your TBR

In short, Jahquel J DOES. NOT. MISS‼️

Stevie’s mother just died and she is grieving and feeling down. To cheer her up, her best friend invited her on a girl trip to the Bahamas. This trip would be filled with luxury hotels, shopping and fine dining, paid for by her best friend’s boyfriend.
Stevie was enjoying this vacation. When her best friend was out for dinner with her boyfriend, she was taking a long and warm bubble bath. But when she opened her eyes there was a man standing over her. Then everything went black.

Stevie woke up in a warehouse in Staten Island. Here she found out that her best friend and her boyfriend stole money from Menace Caselli. Stevie’s best friend offered Stevie as his wife, to save her own ass. Stevie accepted to be his wife, if he wouldn’t hurt her friend. What will come from this arrangement?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was never a dull moment in this book.
I really loved the characters. Stevie and Menace were so funny together and their names for each other were cute and fun. I loved them together.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and the production was great. Both the narrators were really great.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wanda and Mitchell is a laugh out loud good time!!  Maverick doesn’t play about Stevie once he realizes she’s everything he didn’t know he needed.

Jahquel J is on her pen game and it shows. It touches on real life issues mixed with enough fiction drama to keep you listening and/or turning pages. Narration was good. If you’re new to the Delgato/Inferno world, welcome. Menace is just a spin off of two amazing series. Don’t miss out on his siblings books.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC. I am voluntarily leaving a review.