⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
This book was like watching a high-speed car chase with no brakes, no seatbelts, and somehow I was emotionally invested in the passengers.

Stevie thought she was getting an all-expenses-paid vacation from her best friend—her BEST friend—only to wake up basically handed over like an Amazon package to Staten Island’s most emotionally unavailable billionaire menace. I was not emotionally prepared for the betrayal. That so-called bestie didn’t just stab Stevie in the back—she set the whole girl on fire and tossed her to the wolves in Gucci loafers.

Menace, the accidental husband, was exactly what his name suggests: rich, intense, and allergic to healthy communication. The chemistry was definitely there, but every time he called her “wifey,” I experienced flashbacks to toxic TikToks and the sudden urge to stage an intervention.

There were moments I really enjoyed—mostly the drama, chaos, and “WHAT IS HAPPENING” energy that kept me turning pages like I was watching a soap opera on 2x speed. But in the end, I just couldn’t fully connect. Between the betrayal, the whirlwind marriage, and my deep discomfort with possessive nicknames, I think this’ll be a one-and-done for me.

Still, if you like your romance spicy, slightly toxic, and dipped in betrayal? This book is basically a buffet.

Maverick and Stevie were messy and crazy but that just made them perfect for each other. This was a great story with several intriguing micro tropes that made for a full, well developed story.
The narrators were great and brought depth and feeling to the story. Their voice acting was top notch and the pacing was perfect.

While I always try to stretch my reading palate, I had to give up on this one. I liked the premise, but there was quite a bit of grammatical issues with the text, there were too many characters for me to keep straight (more a me issue probably), and I really struggled to connect to the story.

I was given the audiobook version and both narrators were great. My only issue was with the speed of narration. The female narrator spoke slower than the male, so I constantly had to adjust the speed as the narration flipped back and forth.

While I didn't necessarily enjoy this book, I'm sure it might be a win for others who can better relate to the characters.

I read the book but listening to the story was a different experience for me. I know it's crazy but when it came to the audiobook, I absolutely loved the story more. The narrators did a fantastic job with this story and the characters and I'm hoping that when it comes to Don and Kora's story the same narrators are used. I realized that when listening to the story I noticed things I didn't notice when I read the story. I had no idea what rule Don broke but after really listening to this story, I now know. The audiobook also doesn't have the editing mistakes that the book has which also made a difference in the story for me. Now when it comes to Menace and Stevie, I also found myself loving them more with their slow and crazy selves. They were a trip and had me laughing out loud so many times at their antics. I truly enjoyed them and was able to feel their connection and love more than when I did when I read the story. enjoyed everything about this audiobook, and I know it's one I will be listening to over and over. I would definitely recommend this audiobook to romance readers looking for a story that's steamy, with a little drama, great friends and family and a lot of laughs. I'm definitely looking forward to listening to Don and Kora's story.

This book was amazing. Menace alone was hilarious but adding the family and additional situations made him funny at every turn. The way he thought the way he loved was beautiful. I was skeptical about the choice of the narrators but Myles knocked it out of the park. I would highly recommend this book.

Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
10,000 Hours with a Rich Menace by Jahquel J is book 1 in the Caselli Family and could be read as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend it. I would recommend reading Capone 1 all the way through Capri's book. So you can get the full Jahquel J. effect, but if you want to dip deeper, please follow her Facebook page to get the full effect.

First, I loved this book. I devoured this book; I couldn't stop listening and even rewound a few times! This book had me giggling and also gave me some good ideas.

Menance was definitely that man! He didn't play about his family, but his wifey Stevie, you were going to get the smoke behind that one. Stevie is weird, but honestly, in the world we live in, who isn't weird? I love that she lived in her own world, but honey, she was stressed. She would put herself in danger and wouldn't even know it. Bless her. But Stevie and Menace together were everything.

The audiobook is dual narration. Simone Rothschild and Myles Washington did a good job bringing this story to life. They were both easy to listen to and understand. I listened at 1.8x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Quick Summary: A dark mafia, neurodivergent romance

My Review: 10,000 Hours With a Rich Menace by Jahquel J. is a 2025 Urban Fiction Romance. It was released on 5/6/25. It is book 1 of Caselli Family series.

About the Book: "
Imagine your best friend invites you on an all-expenses-paid trip.

While she’s out on a date...

...the silence is shattered.

A man is standing there. Watching you. Before you can scream, darkness takes over.

You’ve been handed over to Menace Caselli.

Not as a prisoner—as his wife."

In My Own Words: An innocent young woman gets caught up in her friend's misdeeds. She is kidnapped by an anti-hero with a quick wit, a big attitude, and a dark side that's next level.

About the Characters:

Menace/Maverick - Monkish, brutal force, not to be played with,quirky, loyal protector, rigid and stubborn, sweet, particular, dark side, foul mouth, all about the sexy times

Wanda/Wifey - introvert living among extroverts, lonely, hesitant, ADHD, hungry for relationships, brokenness in history, dysfunctional relationship with surviving parent, tender-hearted, kind, "opened nose"

About the Conflict: There was a whole lot to this story. Like a ton of issues. The biggest conflicts dealt with the behaviors and tendencies of the lead characters. Additionally, the groomer's angle was a point of contention. (I'll stop there, although I could definitely go on.)

About the Audiobook: This book was narrated by Simone Rothschild and Myles Washington. This duo did an amazing job! They brought these characters to life in such a way that made them believable in all the weirdness of the crazy.

My Final Say: This was an interesting production. The raw humor and hot & heavy talk... I can't even!

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Funny
Original
Steamy
Twisted
Witty
Challenging
Dark

Other: Readers who enjoy mafia-esque stories, dark romances, and stories where the funky connection between an "ordered chaos" couple is featured may like this book.

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

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Dreamscape Media), and to NetGalley. I appreciate the opportunity.