Total Creative Control

Creative Types, Book 1

By: Joanna Chambers, Sally Malcolm

Narrated by: Simon Goldhill

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

When fanfic writer Aaron Page landed a temp job with the creator of hit TV show, Leeches, it was only meant to last a week. Three years later, Aaron’s still there....

It could be because he loves the creative challenge. It could be because he’s a huge Leeches fanboy. It’s definitely not because of Lewis Hunter, his extremely demanding, staggeringly rude...and breathtakingly gorgeous boss.

Is it?

Lewis Hunter grew up the hard way and fought for everything he’s got. His priority is the show, and personal relationships come a distant second. Besides, who needs romance when you have a steady stream of hot men hopping in and out of your bed?

His only meaningful relationship is with Aaron, his chief confidante and indispensable assistant. And no matter how appealing he finds Aaron’s cute boy-next-door charms, Lewis would never risk their professional partnership just to scratch an itch.

But when Lewis finds himself trapped at a hilariously awful corporate retreat, Aaron is his only friend and ally. As the professional lines between them begin to blur, their simmering attraction starts to sizzle

And they’re both about to get burned.

©2021 Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm (P)2024 Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm

So enjoyable!

Simon Goldhill does an outstanding job of narrating Total Creative Control.
Total Creative Control is a great co-authored book from Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm.
This is a slow burn romance three years in the making. Being coworkers has kept them from acting on their attraction.
Lewis is a grumpy guy that isn't very nice to people. It was hard to really get a handle on him.
Aaron sees something more to him though.
I liked the snark and humor between them.
They certainly earn their HEA.

Quality beach read

Narration on point, writing well executed and edited. Sweet, funny, light but with real emotion not overdone. A corporate bad guy with the good guys who win. A lot of books calling themselves rom coms these days but that’s a high standard to me. I have When Harry Met Sally memorized. I deem this with my zero authority a legitimate rom com. Read it.

(They did do the thing where everyone has specific colored hair but the POC is just “asian”. TBH low key racial dumbassery is also classic rom com material and it only happens once so I’ll allow it.)

Wonderfully Entertaining! Great Story & Listen🎧

This book drew me in right from the start, grabbing my attention and captivating it the entire time. I was not familiar with these authors and I enjoyed their writing style, I enjoyed the characters and storylines they created, which are interesting and original. This wonderful opposites attract, workplace, slow burn romance features Lewis Hunter, the grumpy boss and Aaron Page, his personal assistant with a sunny disposition. Lewis is the creator of Leeches, a popular television show, he is not the easiest of guys to work for and his personal assistants never last, that was until Aaron. Aaron loves Leeches, so much so that he writes fanfic about it, when he applied for the job as the assistant to the creator, it was supposed to be temporary, but he was still there three years later and the longest lasting P.A. to Lewis Hunter, but he became so much more than a P.A. his love and knowledge of the show and his creative ideas made him even more of an asset. Lewis does not do commitments or long-term relationships and from the moment he met Aaron he made it known it was only a work relationship and nothing more could come of it. This was to protect himself, because he liked what he saw as much as it was to protect Aaron. These two worked well together, and they both harbored deeper feelings for each other. Though nothing would ever happen between them, it was strictly a work relationship, an arrangement that worked out well for the past three years. Then a work event came up, and they got to spend time together outside of work and then one thing led to another and before you know it, they gave in to their hidden desires. Lewis’ issues get the best of him and when he finds out what Aaron does in his spare time, he loses it. I loved how everything played out in this wonderfully plotted story, it has the perfect balance of drama, angst, witty dialogue, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn romance. Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcolm, thank you for this wonderfully entertaining story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, this is my first time listening to Simon Goldhill, and he did a great job bringing the characters to life, humanizing them, giving each their own distinct voice and personality, making it easy to follow along and tell who is who. He had a complete understanding of the characters he portrayed, captured all the characters’ emotions, and projected them into his performance. Goldhill is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for the terrific listen.

So well crafted!

Smart, steamy AND pulls your heart strings...? Yup, this one is completely worth the credit.

Cute Story, Good Narration

I liked this cute rom-com story, workplace romance with grumpy boss and sunshine assistant. Narrator did a great job, I loved his voice. This was light and entertaining listening experience, I enjoyed it a lot.

Simon Goldhill did an excellent job

‘Total Creative Control’ was an enjoyable audiobook. It felt fun and light hearted to begin with, the prologue had me giggling away, but once we get to the most terrible, awkward work retreat the story took a much different turn in tone. It gets much more serious and as the relationship between Aaron and Lewis changes it gets much deeper as well. The ending felt a little rushed for me considering Lewis was emotionally right beforehand but I feel I did understand where he was coming from. I could, however, have done without the public declaration of love. It wasn’t necessary but I am glad Lewis finally got off his high horse about fanfic. Aaron was a total sweetheart who might have stagnated his own work development but he wasn’t a pushover and I was so glad he got the chance to shine on his own. I was desperately hoping Charlie was going to get his comeuppance but this felt like it tied up a little too perfectly. Simon Goldhill was a new narrator to me and I absolutely loved his work here. I would absolutely listen to him again. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Great Romcom

Nice romcom set in England. Great narrator who didn’t get in the way of the story.

Witty and Tender

A classic and praise-worthy rom-com with a fantastic grumpy / sunshine duo. It was a terrific combination of all the best bits of romance. An adorable and funny PA working for a demanding boss, some forced proximity, an eccentric enemy who gets his comeuppance, and a really lovely connection.

They have a delicious amount of tension and a whole lot of pinning. It has so many layers, their pasts and that trauma, narratives around fanfic and TV show adaptations for the American market. Not to mention the discussion around LGBTQ representation in TV.

Aaron and Lewis have in many ways been in a relationship for a while now, they just didn’t know it. Building trust, sharing their lives and understanding each other on such a deep level. They accept each other's flaws and quirks. But they also make each other better.

But getting there is fraught with complications, missteps, and will they / won’t they! But in the end….swoon!!

Narrator Simon Goldhill does a fantastic job of bringing this witty and tender story to life. He understood the assignment!

Cute and Endearing!

Total Creative Control by Joanna Chambers and Sally Malcom was an amazing story. The authors did a great job writing and the narrator Simon Goldhill did a great job bringing this story to life! I loved the premise of the workplace romance even though Lewis and Aaron's communication was irritating at times! This is the first book I have read/ listened to by these authors and narrator; I was pleasantly surprised and delighted. The main characters, Aaron and Lewis, were great with each other. Both had a good level of trust and friendship that they eventually figured out how to evolve into something more special. It was definitely a journey for the two characters to get together like I said in the beginning, there was a good deal of miscommunication and unrequited feelings. I related the most to Aaron, even though I felt Lewis' pain. Aaron is quiet smart and unassuming, but he feels deeply even if he pretends not to. Aaron wears his heart on his sleeve in a way, he's honest and forthright and passionate about the things and people he cares about. He may not fully express his feelings when he needs to at times, but I understood his fear and anxiety in regards to it. I loved this audiobook!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Better Than I Thought

I love, love this story. Much more than I thought I would. The performance was spot on and well-done. The characters are enduring, and it was both humorous and sweet. The only thing I would have liked a little more attention to is Lewis’ grief and relationship-avoidance issue. Since it was set-up during Charles weekend retreat that Lewis was given a card for a Psychologist, it would have been nice to have a couple sentences or reference that he followed-up or will follow-up with some therapy. It just makes it look like love “solved” the problem. Otherwise, wonderful story and one I would recommend.