The Exception

De: Vi Keeland

Narrado por: Sebastian York, Andi Arndt

A new, sexy standalone from #1 New York Times Bestseller, Vi Keeland.

He lives by a set of rules. She might be his one exception.

I just wanted a distraction, something to take the edge off before facing a wedding I was dreading. So on the flight back to New York, I signed up for a dating app. Harmless enough, right?

Wrong.

Turns out, it wasn’t just any app—it catered to people with very specific tastes. By the time I realized it, I was already on my date.

Tall, confident, and sinfully handsome, Jagger Langston seemed like the full package. The chemistry between us was instant—electric enough to burn the whole city down. Though things took a turn when we figured out I’d misunderstood who should join the app. We laughed it off, said goodbye, and went our separate ways.

Or so I thought.

Until I walked into my new internship Monday morning, ready to put the weekend behind me, and there he was—my boss.

Now I’m caught between the rules he lives by—and the temptation to make him break every single one of them.

©2025 C. Scott Publishing Corp. (P)2025 C. Scott Publishing Corp.

Smart, Sexy, & Completely Addictive!

🎧 Audiobook Review
🎙️ Duet narration by Sebastian York & Andi Arndt

Performance: 5⭐ | Overall: 5⭐

This audiobook was an absolute standout. Sebastian York and Andi Arndt bring The Exception to life with effortless chemistry, making the duet narration feel immersive from start to finish. I’ve listened to this audiobook twice now, and it was just as enjoyable the second time around.

Sebastian York is perfectly cast as Jagger. He’s controlled, confident, and slowly undone in all the best ways. His delivery captures both Jagger’s authority and the subtle cracks beneath the surface. And yes, the dirty talk is exceptional. York brings that edge, heat, and confidence to life in a way that makes Jagger impossible to ignore.

Andi Arndt shines as Sutton, giving her warmth, humor, and emotional honesty that makes her journey incredibly engaging to listen to. Her performance grounds the story and balances Jagger’s intensity beautifully. Together, their voices elevate the banter, the tension, and the quieter emotional moments, adding depth to every scene.

This is one of those audiobooks where the performances don’t just tell the story. They enhance it. If you enjoy romance audiobooks with strong character voices, natural chemistry, and real emotional payoff, this one is absolutely worth the listen.

📚 Book Review

Story: 4.75⭐ (rounded up) | Spice: 3.0🌶️

If Vi Keeland writes it, I’m absolutely going to read it, and The Exception is yet another reminder of why she’s firmly on my auto-buy list. From the opening chapters, this story pulled me in with sharp banter, electric tension, and that unmistakable balance of heat and heart that is 100% Vi Keeland’s trademark.

Sutton and Jagger’s first meeting is awkward, unexpected, and instantly compelling. It’s the kind of meet-cute that sets the tone for everything that follows. What really worked for me was watching their connection deepen beyond attraction. Seeing the character progression was beautiful and undeniably fulfilling. Sutton grows into her confidence in a way that feels earned, while Jagger’s rigid sense of control slowly unravels as real emotion enters the picture. Their dynamic is layered, messy at times, and deeply human.

Vi does a phenomenal job of weaving character development directly into the plot. The story stays grounded in character-driven moments, revealing past wounds, testing boundaries, and letting vulnerability push the romance forward. It’s sexy, yes, but it’s also thoughtful and emotionally grounded. Lines like “Some storms are meant to be danced in, not dodged” perfectly capture the heart of this romance.

Smart, addictive, and wildly entertaining, The Exception is Vi Keeland at her best. It’s a story that made me smile, swoon, and completely forget the outside world while I was reading it.

Story: 4.75⭐
Spice: 3🌶️
Audio Performance: 5⭐
Overall: 5⭐

Genre:
🖤 Contemporary Romance

Tropes/Themes:
🖤 Billionaire Boss x Intern
🖤 Trauma Bonding
🖤 Slow-Burn, High Heat
🖤 Dominant Billionaire Hero
🖤 Possessive & Protective MMC
🖤 “Eyes on Me”
🖤 Dirty Talk 🥵

Absolutely brilliant

I received this as an arc/alc from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This was an absolutely brilliant office romance. It was a very well written book and I loved that it had the flashbacks of Jagger’s life. The story was well pace and deliciously steamy. Sutton and Jagger had fantastic chemistry and I loved how they brought out the best in each other. I just loved this story and I know that it is one that I will be rereading again and again.

Audiobook review: This was a phenomenal book to listen to and especially because the two narrators are my all time favorite narrators. I love how well they match each other in pace and volume so every part of the story is a smooth listening experience. Absolute perfection.

Casual Possibility to Taboo Workplace Romance ❤️

Jagger Langston (MMC) Single Billionaire Owner of Apex, along with several other businesses.

Sutton Holland (MFC) Single 24 year old just graduated from Seattle and is in New York City for an internship with Apex for the summer.

Chance meeting when she arrives in the city has her joining a high end dating app for a hookup and she meets up with Jagger. With a major misunderstanding of what type of dating app she joined her and Jagger part ways without booking up.

Fate has other plans for these two though and keeps putting them in each other’s path again and again so, it’s no surprise that the chemistry is off the charts between them and things take a natural progression ❤️

I absolutely loved this story 🩷🩷

Great book

I laughed I cried I did it all. I have always love Vi Keeland stories. She has everything in her books.

Exquisite Narration!

I bought the listen because these are my two all time favorite narrators- & they did not disappoint! SY & AA were Jagger & Sutton to my ears. I admit I could listen to SY’s voice 24/7, & AA’s voice is so expressive & the perfect balance to SY.

The storyline, while quite heavy at times, remained interesting & suspenseful throughout. When two souls meet & combust, despite prior injuries, burdens, guilt, & responsibilities, the outcome is divine.

As much as I loved the listen, I was not a fan of normalizing Miles & his lifestyle, though I get the role he played in the story.