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Top reviews from the United States

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Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars A tender love story about two outsiders finding solace
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2019
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Olumide Olusegun-Keynes (Olu only to his closest people) is a depressive cynic who tends to run from his troubles. At the outset of this book, his major trouble is having recently been forcibly outed and blackmailed by an ex-lover. To get away from his friends and family and their concern, he flees to a small town farm, intending to help with the local elderflower harvest as a sort of “vacation.” Griffin Everett is the manager of said small town farm where the harvest is taking place. Griff is a loner and isolated from his town by default, not by choice, as the community considers him odd and stupid and gleefully remembers his family’s past scandals.

This read started slow for me - for a chapter or two I wasn’t sure if I was going to get into it - but it just blossoms beautifully once the two men are in close proximity and by the end I pretty much had tears streaming from my eyes. I’ve seen the plot described as enemies-to-lovers, but I’d characterize it more as a slow burn with initial fighting of lust. Both Griff and Olu have good people in their corner, but nonetheless feel completely alone in the world in a way that felt very real and familiar to me. Olu uses a slick, social exterior to protect himself, while Griff walls himself off behind his bulk and his silence, but ultimately their cores vibe very well together - making the romance believable and touching.

I especially loved that in this “small town romance” the small town was, uh, not ideal. There were a few nice people there, but there was also gossip and grudges and mean ostracizing and it was not a great place for either Olu or Griff in the end. Often in romance novels small towns are a place of healing, family, and welcome for MCs—painted as superior in every way to the soulless city. That is not necessarily a true experience for many queer people and I loved that this book lived in that experience.

Overall, a wonderful, tender read about two prickly, difficult men finding each other. I loved it and highly recommend!

Content notes for characters dealing with depression and anxiety (with some minor on-page panic attacks) and references to suicide.
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eabreese
5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars for a new to me author
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2019
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4.5 Stars

This is a book I picked up at the recommendation of favorite author (Kennedy Ryan) and after finishing it in one day, I will definitely be seeking out Ms Hibbert's back list.

Work for It is the 4th book in a series, but reads very well on it's own. Olu and Griffin are two characters whom at first glance seem to be so different that they would never work as a couple. Watching them spend time together was like watching a flower bloom. Ms Hibbert did an excellent job of creating situations that allowed them to get to know each other and discover that under the very different exteriors were to people incredibly well matched.

One of my favorite things about Work for It was how Olu and Griff were catalysts for change in each other. Both characters seemed to have been in a state of inertia prior to meeting. Seeing them interact and the introspection that created was refreshing. I enjoyed the sense that even if there had not been romantic interest, these were 2 people who would have been good for each other.

Ms Hibbert addresses a couple of difficult issues in Work for It; particularly depression and bullying. These are handled gently and we see support offered where it's needed, but it's something to be aware of for readers.

After reading Work For It, I am looking forward to reading the books that come before it in the series and getting to know the couples appearing here in secondary roles.
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T. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved it.
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2019
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I was gonna take my time reading this! Haha. *clears throat* Five days later, here I am grinning at the five stars and these two lovable idiots. The trope is enemies to lovers, but it's so much more beautiful for its complexity. There's also a slight and flipped beauty and the beast dynamic and some flipping of assumptions of intelligence, beauty, and bravery. I rarely re-read anymore, but this one's in that rare potential.
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Ren
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful prose and a swoon-worthy love story. Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
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Guys, this book was absolutely beautiful. It took my breath away. This is the first book I've read by this author and I am impressed.

It started a little slow, but once I fell, I fell hard. The author's language was lovely; I felt like I was cuddled up in a blanket or in a warm bath while I was reading. That's how the prose felt. The book was the kind that you want to savor.

This is a very character driven story. Sure, there's stuff going on in the town the book is set in, but the vast majority of the story is about Griff and Olu and how they love and save each other. As a reader, you will feel the intimacy between these two, almost to the point where you feel like you shouldn't be reading it because the intimacy is that intense. The last book I felt that way about is Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat.

There were multiple graphic sex scenes, all very well done. In some books, I'll skip those parts because they seem like something the author felt like they should write, rather than advancing the story and the relationship (and thus, they are often boring). Not so here. Each scene progressed the relationship and provided emotional satisfaction to the reader.

I highly, highly recommend this book. Give it 2-3 chapters, because it does start a little slowly.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mashara
5.0 out of 5 stars Instant favourite
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2019
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I promised to write a review when I could come up with something more eloquent than ""OMG (EFFING) HOT. OLU. SO MANY FEELS. GRIFF. HOT DAMN."

So here it goes:
I worried at the beginning, watching Olu spiral into a truly self destructive depression that Griff was going to be magical fix-it-all dick.
I've seen these before and I find them extremely dangerous. It tells people with mental health issues, that all they need in dick and it tells SOs that if they were truly loved by the person with mental health issues, they should be able to "fix" them. And there is no fix. Because those people are not broken. They have a disease, and if it was a ear infection, you wouldn't be saying that they just need to hear harder, you'd be telling them to get ear drops.

This, as I was saying, is not that book. Olu and Griff are awesome for each-other. At a glance, complete opposites in the way they handle themselves, where they come from, what they look like, but not in the core of their beliefs and morals, of what they consider right and wrong. And when that base is solid, the rest is decoration.
One that, granted, has shaped the way the face the world, as it has most definitely shaped the way the world treats them, but still, superficial differences.

Hibbert also effortlessly develops Griff world, where most of the action happens, in a way that at no point at all seems forced or stretching the truth. Class, privilege, prejudice and isolation are all present in the English countryside and used expertly to show again, the differences, but far more than that, the similarities between Olu and Griff.

Now onto the other very important part. The sex IS HOT. LIKE HOT DAMN. LIKE WOW. Like it's going to keep me warm through the winter hot.
And it's funny, and slow and enjoyable, and filled with excellent side characters.

An entirely delightful book that I can do nothing else but recommend.
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Lucy
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect romance.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2019
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This book is easily one of my favourite reads of the year. This was quite honestly just the perfect romance and I couldn't get enough of it. Talia Hibbert is definitely one of the best romance authors there is and this is my favourite of the books i've read by her so far.

I've tried writing a review for this one a couple of times but honestly, this book felt very personal to me and because of that I really struggle with writing anything about it as I tend to get a little emotional so instead i'm just gonna make a list of some of the aspects that made this such a winner for me.

- The best depiction of mental illness I have ever read - Olu’s depression is so well explained and explored, and most importantly is not cured by love.

- Griff is one of the purest characters ever and his development in realising that he deserves more than the way people treat him was so wonderful.

- Griff is not the typical MC of a romance in that he is not conventionally attractive, in fact Olu thinks he’s ugly at the beginning. Olu’s realisation over time that actually he thinks Griff is beautiful was wonderful to read but even better was Griff’s slow realisation of his own beauty.

- Talia Hibbert really had me swooning over two grown men touching hands?! I’ve read a lot of romance which include a lot of seriously steamy scenes but she seriously wrote a scene where just their hands touch and my heart nearly exploded, like damn!!

- Talia’s humour totally shines through in a couple of lines during this book and I loved that.

- The writing. Ugh this was so beautifully written, I always love Talia’s writing but here it’s just on another level.
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RelentlessEliza
4.0 out of 5 stars 4 “angsty” Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2019
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It was clear from the outset that the story would be an emotional one, and I was surprised at how quickly I had formed bonds with Olu & Griff. For the most part they are plagued with self doubt that manifested itself differently in both of them.

Olu has hurt deeply by a breach of trust and as a result he finds himself crippled by the notion of intimacy. His visceral reaction to Griff catches him unawares and his immediate reaction is to harshly reject him. For years Griff has been dismissed and overlooked and to be seen by someone like Olu, albeit briefly, opens him up to the idea of love and being loved.

WORK FOR IT was much more than what was eluded to in the blurb, and as much as I am a sucker for a grumpy hero, I was humbled by the challenges faced by both protagonists. Testament to the author’s story telling it was realistic, poignant and heartbreaking at times. I was completely overwhelmed by my adoration Olu & Griff and my need to champion their happiness. A story of hope and self discovery, it’s not one I will forget anytime soon.
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giki
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 15, 2019
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**NEW FAVOURITE AUTHOR ALERT** This is the first book that I have read by Talia Hibbert, but I am sure that I will be reading more.
This is a beautiful story. A true romance, stumbling and faltering, between two difficult, prickly and damaged people. The writing is just gorgeous, the dialogue was witty and sharp, the characters were believable and it was a joy to see these two tightly wound up souls unravel. A book like this is all about the connection - with the characters - and with the story, and I definitely felt that with this book. If a fiction book can teach you something about yourself that is a great thing.
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Lane
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2020
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Once I started this book I just could not put it down; a delightful read with believable characters and great storytelling.
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