Laurence Dalziel is worn down and washed up, and for him, the BDSM scene is all played out. Six years on from his last relationship, he’s pushing forty and tired of going through the motions of submission.Then he meets Toby Finch. Nineteen years old. Fearless, fierce, and vulnerable. Everything Laurie can’t remember being.Toby doesn’t know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. But he knows, … do. But he knows, with all the certainty of youth, that he wants Laurie. He wants him on his knees. He wants to make him hurt, he wants to make him beg, he wants to make him fall in love.
The problem is, while Laurie will surrender his body, he won’t surrender his heart. Because Toby is too young, too intense, too easy to hurt. And what they have—no matter how right it feels—can’t last. It can’t mean anything.
It can’t be real.
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For Real won a RITA Award for a reason. It’s wonderful, one of the better BDSM books I’ve ever read. Highly recommend it if you like m/m and BDSM. Hell, I recommend it even if you don’t–it’s that hot.
This was one of the most remarkable M/m books I think I’ve ever read. The premise, a 19 year old Dom and a 40 year old submissive? Ludicrous, right? And yet Alexis Hall makes it work brilliantly. I immediately bought the print copy to put on my shelf and the ebook is in my forever book files. I’d read and loved his Glitterland, and I think that gave me the faith to see what he could do with a premise that sounded so unworkable. As a result, I found a love story that stuck with me for days afterward and will be a future go-to book when I need a book that is over 5 stars in every way.
For Real is one of the most honest romances I’ve ever read — a beautiful exploration of love, sex, emotion, and the questions we all struggle with…who are we alone, and who are we in partnership? One of the few romances that has actually made me cry real tears. (I have a heart of stone cold ice)
I truly adore this book. One of the best portrayals of BDSM ever put into print. Hall’s writing is truly brilliant. Some of their sentences are almost painful to read, they are that good. I will read anything written by this author for that reason alone, but For Real is (so far) my favorite.
This book was absolutely delightful. I was sucked in from page one and couldn’t stop reading. Toby and Laurie make such a wonderful couple that had me rooting for them throughout the entire novel. Definitely something to reread over and over!
This is possibly one of the best M/M dom/sub-focused books I’ve ever read (and I’ve read a fair few of those by now). I loved how realistic and natural the relationship dynamics felt – it didn’t come across as somehow forced or artificial in the least, and on top of that, the age gap was handled extremely gracefully. Not to mention, the sex scenes, while definitely steamy, still managed to be wonderfully impactful on an emotional level. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.
I loved the writing style and will definitely come back for more Alexis Hall, the characters were also fantastic and the voices were incredibly distinctive… but it simply lacks a plot–I know romances technically don’t need them but despite the lovely language, I found myself taking breaks, so ****, which is still great, just not a revolutionary genderbending tale upturning preconceptions right and left.
I adored this book, it took all the emotions and raw feeling and just stripped it bare. My heart was broken and put back together again, as I watched Laurie and Toby try to decipher what they both wanted. I love that this book took normal conceptions and flipped them on their head. It’s beautifully written.
Alexis Hall breathes life into complex characters in this richly realistic story about an older MC who is jaded about life, love, and the BDSM scene and the younger man he falls for who won’t give up on him. The emotions the older man goes through–low self-esteem, depression, and not believing he is good enough for anyone is something everyone can relate to. Toby, the young MC just getting into the BDSM club life, is a breath of fresh air up against the cynicism of Laurie. Following along on their journey, being a part of their struggles to connect fully, and rooting for them until the end was well worth the time it took to listen. Let’s not forget the goose-bumps-inspiring voice for the richly seductive and sophisticated British Laurie, along with the still sexy but young and unsophisticated voice of Toby in the fantastically dual narrated audio. I highly recommend.
Baby Dom meets experienced and jaded sub in the instant m/m classic by fan favorite author Alexis Hall.
Best kinky opposites attract!
This is a wonderful book. Toby is just everything and Laurie does come around. Kidding Laurie is great too. Toby was so endearing and just so likable. Toby is a very young dom who knows what he wants and he wants Laurie. Laurie is older and feels he is washed up, but feels drawn to Toby. Then there is some miscommunications and misunderstandings that cause them heartache, but finally they come to an understanding to love each other fully.
This is one of my favourite books on the page and I recently bought the audio. I seem to be on a roll with books about belonging this week. Although it’s about a BDSM relationship, it’s not about sex. Sure, there’s loads of sex in it, but it’s the feelings and the dynamic between the characters and their need to find somewhere to fit that keeps me coming back. Laurie is forty-ish an ER doctor, jaded, sad. Toby is nineteen, lost, not quite sure what he’s looking for in life but knowing he wants someone to submit to him. They’re both clever overthinkers. They fit together and the story is about how they both come to see that. It’s a dual-narration audio and both the characters are perfect, particularly Toby, who is just…enchanting.
This book isn’t just a scorchingly hot love story – though it’s definitely that – it’s beautifully written prose with lines that had me pausing in my reading to turn them over in my head for a while. A wonderful book to sink into and enjoy.
I don’t know why they don’t have “Great Writing” as one of the things you like about a book. “For Real” is not a great title, but this book deservedly won the RITA for erotic Romance and Alexis Hall is very simply a genius.
This is BDSM romance with a twist, as the awkward kid is the Dom and the older, successful Alpha is the sub. It’s laugh out loud funny, and poignant and both characters face very real challenges in terms of self-generated obstacles.
I’ve read this book at least eight times. ALL the stand-alone books in the Spires series are outstanding. All different, all brilliant. Read Alexis Hall. He’s for real.
I didn’t realize I’d never reviewed any of Alexis’ books on BB. So here’s the first I ever read. Just read it. It’s brilliant. <3
May/December M/M BDSM romance. I found the characters to be so REAL. There was angst, but not this whiney back & forth contrived angst. Laurie (37) and Toby (19) are navigating their own lives as well as this new relationship. It’s hard to describe the awesomeness without spoilers, but I found myself so invested in their HEA.
2019 Update: I read this a few years ago and absolutely loved it. So when I saw that Audible had the audiobook for $1.99 since I owned the ebook ~ I grabbed it. I love the dual narrators. Both do a phenomenal job and I can’t believe that they were able to make me love this book even more.
This book was perfection!!
**Audiobook review**
Laurie and Toby are so different for each other and at the same time totally perfect together!
I love Toby fierceness while confessing his wants… and it’s absolutely beautiful to see Laurie opening up for him… Their sex scenes were perfect and so hot!! loved it
Since I’m a foreign, I struggled at some parts with the British narration and had to use narration x text sync to follow..
One of my picks for must read reluctant heroes in my monthly PopSugar Feature