A reckless and irresistible soccer star. A forbidden affair that could ruin her career. The locker room has never been this steamy.Starting over was her only option.Forty-years old and still reeling from a public and painful divorce, Thalia Blackwood is looking for a fresh start, somewhere far away from her upside down life. When she’s offered a new job as the sports therapist for a football … sports therapist for a football (soccer) team, she jumps at the chance. This is just what she needs to leave the heartbreak and shame of Manchester behind, trading it in for the warmth and hopeful vibrancy of Madrid.
He was her only desire.
Alejo Albarado is rising up the ranks in his career. As the charming forward for the Real Madrid team, Alejo’s life revolves around women, parties, and being a tabloid darling, that is until the new sports therapist joins the team.
Their passion could not be ignored.
What starts out as a strictly professional relationship between Thalia and the young Spanish player, slowly evolves into something more. Much more.
Their relationship was forbidden.
But their combustible chemistry and simmering sexual tension can only go so far–should Thalia give into Alejo’s advances, she’s at risk of not only losing her job, but succumbing to a much younger man will drag her through the spotlight again.
Alejo might be worth that risk.
Unless he breaks her heart in the process.
The Younger Man is a full-length standalone romance. Characters from Love, in English make a cameo in this book, however The Younger Man is intended to be read as a STANDALONE. This book is approximately 500 pages long.
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THIS IS PERFECTION. My heart is full to the brim with emotions after reading The Younger Man by Karina Hale. I am speechless with the beauty of her writing. The breathtaking feels are running high in my system and this story owns my heart and soul completely.
Alejo and Thalia’s relationship is every single thing to be called as epic. They have so many obstructions and forbidden things going on between them. She is seventeen year older. They work together for one the most famous professional football team in the world. He is the star player and she is their physical therapy specialist. But they connect at an entirely different earth shattering, soul deep and life changing way. It would not be easy. This story can very well be an lesson in heartbreak and hurt and pain that slice you thoroughly. This is an extravagant story set in exotic locations and beautiful cities. The ambience is spot on and play an important part in building up the story. Also this is one of the best sports romance I have ever read. Football plays a key role and that adrenaline filled feelings were brought to life brilliantly. As a football or soccer fan, it was a magnetic attraction.
But the star of the story is the chemistry between Thalia and Alejo. Both are incredible and complicated characters. And their love helped them to grow as individuals. At the beginning,Thalia comes across a vulnerable and insecure woman grieving her ugly divorce and moving to Madrid for a new start. She really did not have anyone in her corner. She was in a dark place of self doubt and anger and guilt. Alejo helped her to get back the strong and confident self. He is the most amazing guy ever. He may be younger but he has a mature and compassionate side like old souls. I love every version of Alejo. The passionate, lively, impulsive and full of life Alejo. The broken and hurt Alejo. The happy , sweet and charming Alejo. They had to prove to everyone and to themselves over and over again that they have true love worthy of risking every thing. I cried and swooned and felt my heart getting broken so many times. Every single feeling was felt in me.
I absolutely adore Karina Halle’s writing. And she once again gifted me the most precious and intense love story ever in The Younger Man. You will regret if you do not read it. It is a journey of self discovery and finding the most beautiful love.
Received ARC for Honest review
5 passionate, swoony, epically romantic stars!
Oh, my heart! I’ve been through it all with this book, and I’m absolutely in love with this chemistry-filled, epic love story. An older woman/younger man romance with an angst-inducing forbidden twist, this book held me captivated for 500+ pages of sexual tension, chemistry, passion, angst, drama and soul-deep love, and I loved it so much.
Against all odds, physical therapist Thalia rose through the typically male-dominated world of sports therapy to score a job with legendary English soccer team, Manchester United. But her dreams fell apart when her marriage to the team’s coach fell apart after he cheated on her. Suffering after a humiliatingly public divorce, she’s heading off to Madrid to become the lead physical therapist to one of Europe’s best soccer teams, Real Madrid, 40 years old and looking for a fresh start.
Alejo Albarado is a 23 year old forward for Real Madrid. He’s come from a poor and tragic upbringing to become one of the greats, and he is revelling in his success and his life in the spotlight.
All it takes is one glance between Thalia and Alejo and they are smitten. They keep things professional, with perhaps a little innocent flirting, but the more time they spend together, the mad chemistry between them becomes undeniable and the sexual tension builds brilliantly until they inevitably give in to it.
“He pulls back just enough to stare into my eyes with this dark, raw desire. “I’m going to worship you.”
Though mind-blowing, Thalia knows that nothing can come of a relationship with Alejo, but their first encounter has only made them desperate for more, and they soon find themselves in the middle of a passionate, but illicit, affair. It’s hot, passionate, and so, so easy to fall together, and I loved watching it all unfold.
“This is my favorite view,” he says to me. “You, beneath me, smiling. Don’t ever change.”
“Don’t ever stop fucking me like this,” I tell him, briefly sticking out my tongue.
His lips curl in a lopsided smile and he leans in, kissing me.
This, this, this.
I want this forever.
OMG, this love story is so, so beautiful! It’s passionate and emotional, with a soul-deep intensity that just swept me away. I swooned and fanned myself, sometimes at the same time, and I fell in mad love with Alejo and the love he has for Thalia.
“My heart,” he murmurs, “it beats for you, Thalia. Now and always. I love you. Te amo. And this love burns like the sun.”
But Thalia has insecurities and worries about their 17-year age difference, and of course Real Madrid staff aren’t allowed to become involved with players in any way, so every moment that she’s with Alejo she is putting her job on the line.
He sighs, closing his eyes. “I hate this,” he says softly. He lets his head fall to the side and looks at me. His eyes seem to dig straight into my heart. “
Why do we have to hide? I don’t want to hide.”
The secrecy adds a delicious intensity to everything, but of course it leads to drama. They have ups and downs as their romance plays out, and I ached for all that they go through. I felt it all, hurting and crying right along with them as they figure it all out.
“You’re worth it!” I yell. “You’re worth everything to me, more than the game, more than anything else I hold dear in the world. Fuck, Thalia, you are my world and everything in it. You are my sun, my heart.”
It’s such a hard situation, and a wild rollercoaster as their heads battle with their hearts, and as much as it’s a love story, it’s also a journey for Alejo, and more so Thalia, to discover who they are and what they want. And though it hurt, it’s well written and I could understand all that they were feeling, and it’s worth it for the ending that heals all the hurt and is so, so satisfying.
“My path in life leads right into your arms.”
Along for the ride is Thalia’s boss and Real Madrid coach, Mateo Casalles. Karina fans will know Mateo and Vera from Love, in English, which is still one of my all-time favourite reads, so I was in heaven seeing them again. They feature quite heavily as friends to both Thalia and Alejo, especially given the similarities in their situations, and they are just fantastic and I thought the tie-in was so cleverly done. You don’t need to have read Love, In English to follow this book, it’s just a bonus for fans, and hopefully a taste that will encourage you to go back and read Mateo and Vera’s story if you haven’t already.
I love so much about this book – the characters, the writing, the love story, the excitement of the soccer games, the Spanish setting and the chemistry, love and emotion that flows through it all. Karina has done a really wonderful job with this story, I’m still swooning!
“My heart is your heart. Your heart is my home.”
5 stars.
Another Karina Halle book with lots of feels!
You can’t deny what’s in your heart and sometimes you just have to trust the path you’re on. It might lead to great things.
“Maybe rules were broken, but they were rules worth braking.” Alejo – The Younger Man
I adore Thalia and Alejo, but to finally meet Mateo again was awesome. He was my first ever Halle crush – from the first book I’ve ever read by Karina Halle (Love, In English – if you haven’t read it yet, do so and you’ll fall in love with Vera and Mateo even more) So in some ways this book was a trip down memory lane for me.
Thalia and Alejo’s story tuches me deeply. I love the raw emotions. Life ain’t easy,
you may suffer and loose some things,
but it can also lead you to the best things out there.
A forbidden love story and many might say a taboo love story. Love shouldn’t be limited to age and what gender you are.
This love story feels like real life turning good for once.
It’s not everyday that a forty-year-old female character uproots her downtrodden life to work in Spain as a physical therapist for young football players. And both the drama and the exhilarating passion happen just because of that.
I really liked Thalia. She’s lived her life as best she could, with dreams and upheavals and lots of heartbreak she’s trying to recover from by changing her life for the better, taking risks. She might act scared when her sudden liason with a young, hot, lovely footballer shatters her plans and puts all of it in jeopardy , but she’s always a fighter, always relatable.
What can I say about Alejo? The buyoancy of youth, the beauty of his smile. He seduces her with sweet banter and heart-warming support, yet is hot-headed and faces risk with no regard to the future. The contrast is strong, exciting. I liked the references to Spanish culture such as in Christmas and the natural conversations.
This couple is inevitable, though they tread carefully at first due to its forbidden nature. Too much at risk. The excitement of giving in, though, sets the pages/screen on fire when they do fall into skin-to-skin tempation. Hot times ahead!! The swimming pool scene, my friends, is epic…
And regarding the drama. Oh, well, something is weighing heavily on Thalia’s shoulders that really is so moving when she confesses to Alejo. My heart went out to her at that moment. And he always knows how to comfort her. So sweet. Of course, this secretive relationship soon explodes in their hands and everyone’s reactions threatens their unexpected happiness. What will Thalia do? Is this love forever or just a fling? I was fretting!
This woman’s journey to find herself is arduous and true. The day Thalia and Alejo face each other again is narrated with a passionate voice and set in the perfect place to elicit all kinds of powerful emotions. Frenzy, longing, total love, absolution and crushing loss. I loved that turning point!
I really enjoyed the reconciliation full of so much life and devotion. It may be a sports romance, yet it has a lot of soul. And let’s not forget the Spanish hottie
4.5-steamy stars!
The Younger Man by Karina Halle is a younger man/older woman forbidden sports romance and I devoured it. So many feels in this emotional, sexy and steamy read.
Thalia Blackwood is starting over. At forty this was the last thing she expected, but a fresh start is just what she needs after her horrible divorce. At twenty-three, Alejo Albarado is living his best life. As a rising soccer star, things could not be better. Then Thalia and Alejo meet when she joins the team as their new sports therapist and all bets are off.
All Thalia wants is to put her past behind her. She wants a quiet life out of the spotlight. When Alejo is injured, Thalia helps him recuperate. He was strong, determined, sexy and very charming. When they meet their connection is undeniable, but with so much to lose, was it worth the risks? I absolutely loved this story and the characters so much. It was a story about second chances and starting fresh.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
You don’t know how long I’ve waited to read this book ever since I’ve read the title and its blurb. I was all kinds of excited because one of my fave read author has released a younger man/ older woman story. After I’ve read it, it’s safe to say that it has exceeded my expectations.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with the chemistry that Alejo and Thalia are putting off. I don’t find enough (in my opinion) books written with this trope and that in itself is such a treat. I love the build up of romance between these two. It is sweet, emotional, sexy, steamy with the right amount of angst to get you going all through the night just to finish it. I love how the main characters balances each other out. A perfect combination if I ever see one. Loved it and can’t recommend this enough. A definite must read!
5 Stars
The Younger Man is the latest stand-alone novel by Karina Halle. I have two words for you-HOLY WOW!!! As soon as I started reading, I couldn’t stop. It was so freakin’ amazing!! I have become super picky lately with choosing what I read and review. I’ve lucked out with some amazing stories, but this one takes the top spot. It truly was that good.
Alejo and Thalia were EVERYTHING! Their connection was out of this world. The attraction between the two of them made my heart pound. Their journey embedded it’s way into my heart and soul.
The Younger Man was full of angst and heart and so much love. This is honestly Ms. Halle at her best. Highly recommend reading it!
4.5 Stars
A messy divorce forced Thalia Blackwood to completely overhaul her life. Moving to Madrid was supposed to be the fresh start she desperately needed. However, falling for Alejo Albarado’s impossible to resist charm was the last thing she ever expected and it became a complication neither of them was willing to face.
I love the older woman/younger man dynamic because it’s not very common for an age gap trope. And this one has quite a significant gap, so I was drawn to this book by that alone. I’m happy to say, this one hit the right spot.
Alejo was intense and incredibly sexy. I loved how he tackled everything in life passionately. He was young and cheeky, but he knew how to take responsibility.
Considering her past and present situation, Thalia was understandably more cautious. She was in the worse position between them with much more to lose. I liked how she was levelheaded without being uptight. Together, their chemistry was palpable and the sex scenes would make readers sweaty and breathless like they just completed a full-time match.
One of the author’s strengths is immersing the readers into the ambiance and in this book, Madrid and several other cities came alive within the story. I also loved the energy at the matches.
The Younger Man is a story of taking chances and new beginnings. It would appeal to readers looking for an age gap sports romance with a forbidden element.
Note 1:
I’m not into sports romance but soccer is one of the few sports that I have knowledge about, so it was nice knowing all the real-life teams and players mentioned in the story.
Note 2:
I love Luciano and his Portuguese proverbs lol!
I am big football fan. I watch MLS. On weekend mornings you can find me watching Premier league games. If there is a tournament on, I will watch. Men’s World Cup. Women’s World Cup. UEFA Champions League. I. LOVE. IT. So when Karina originally announced this book, I got extremely excited. It sounded like the perfect book for me. And you know what? It was.
Thalia taking the job at Real Madrid was all about starting over. She needed to get away from her life in Manchester and taking a job in a whole other country seemed like the perfect way to do that. Of course, meeting Alejo was something she never expected to happen, but it sure did make for a phenomenal story.
It didn’t take Alejo or Thalia long to realize that what they had was special. From the first moment they met, they felt a connection that they were unable to ignore. They connected on a deeper level that took them both by surprise. I mean, what could a 40 year old woman and a 24 year old have in common? A lot, actually.
Alejo might be the perfect book boyfriend. Yes, he was much younger than Thalia, but he seemed much older and wiser than his 24 years. He was charming, funny and romance just oozed out of his pores. Thalia put up a good fight, but she couldn’t resist him Alejo. And I don’t blame her one bit.
OMG y’all. I don’t think I can put into words how I feel about this story. I loved everything about it. This book is definitely one of the best I’ve read this year. The location, the football scenes, the characters, the forbidden aspect of Thalia and Alejo’s relationship, the friendships (well, most of them) and the idea that the team was not just a team, but a family, made for a wonderful story. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me feel like my heart was going to burst with happiness. I felt all the emotions and I didn’t want it to end. This will definitely be one of the books that I will be reading over and over again for years to come.
The first books that I read from Karina a few years ago were Love in Spanish and Love in English, so I was more than excited to find that I was revisiting Spain and the world of Mateo and Vera again in The Younger Man, only this time with a new couple Thalia and Alejo. On top of that we get an insight into the game of football (soccer) and the level of competitiveness amongst the European teams and how hard the players have to work on their fitness to stay on top.
After her divorce from the manager of Man U, Thalia finds herself hired by rivals Real Madrid to be the head sports physio for their team. As she is feeling lost and disillusioned with her life, this is a great opportunity to make a new start. Little did she know that she would fall for the star player on the team who was 17 years younger than her. Alejo has seen a lot in his life and is mature beyond his years. He has worked hard to achieve his ambition of playing on the Real Madrid team and providing a home for his mother and brother.
It was attraction at first sight for Thalia and Alejo which became more when Thalia became his personal therapist to work on healing his injured knee. At first Thalia does not take the young player seriously when he comes on to her, he’s young, popular with women and literally a player both on and off the pitch. However the more they share their personal secrets it is obvious to both of them that they are falling for each other. Their age difference is a not an issue but going against the strict no-fraternising rules of the club is a serious matter which can result in Thalia being fired from the job that she needs so much.
I totally fell in love with this beautiful passionate story, the age difference was never an issue for me and it shouldn’t ever be. The heart wants what it wants and as long as you are happy what does it matter what others think. I think that we would all like to have someone like Alejo fall in love with us, hes sexy, intelligent, funny very caring. He helps Thalia to enjoy life again with simple gestures like teaching her his sangria recipe, but they have to live with a dark threat hanging over them which threatens to tear them apart at any moment.
Karina definitely scored the winning goal with this one! It has all the feels the passionate highs and
the very painful lows. Though I love everything from Karina this is my most favourite book in a while. If you haven’t read Love in Spanish and Love in English go back and read them afterwards and continue to soak up that Spanish sun. Just wondering if we might get some stories about other members of the team, I think that Luciano might have a good back story.
OMFG!!!
The Younger Man Moving, captivating, pulls at your emotions in ways that leave, your heart pounding. My heart is like a kaleidoscope of raw, beautiful emotions for this couple.
I can easily say that Karina Halle wrote the best book of her life and this is the best book of 2019 I have read!!
Jesus, the storyline was completely magnificent!!!
Karina Halle brings us back to Madrid, Spain set with hot soccer (football) players and a another forbidden love story that is both steamy and beautiful.
The forbidden love aspect is definitely something that intrigued me, because beyond the age gap between Thalia and Alejo, she is a sports therapist and he is her client.
I really wanted to like Thalia, but she really came off as weak and scared, afraid to confront any problems in her life. She seemed to lack a backbone while Alejo showed more strength and maturity than someone who is 16 years older than him.
As you can tell, I absolutely fell hard for Alejo while reading this story. He is a sweet charmer with a big heart and a serious soul. I love how devoted he is to his family and how much he tries to shoulder the pain his family has endured. Even though Thalia annoyed me at times, I did love Alejo and Thalia together and how sweetly devoted and passionate he was with her.
So being back in Madrid means that we are reintroduced to Mateo and Vera, my two favorite characters from the Love, In English series. I loved every scene Mateo and Vera were in and I didn’t realize how much I missed them. I can definitely see a potential for new stories based on Alejo’s Real Madrid team members. If so, I hope team captain Luciano’s story is next.
4.5 stars
Oh My Alejo!
He stole my heart just like he did to Thalia.
Author Karina Halle’s best book to date.
It is full of love, finding oneself, seeing the world with a new view and never wanting to go back to what you saw in the past.
I loved the characters, the development, the forbidden and just everything this book delivered.
This book gave me such feels.
I got goosebumps, tingles and my heart soared with soo much love.
True love can be found whether you are the older woman & the younger man as long as you fight for it and are ready to accept any challenge or obstacle that comes your way.
This book does it all!
A Top 2019 Must Read book!
5 popped!
I am completely and utterly speechless. Feels upon feels upon feels. My heart feels so full. Karina has floored me and I was beyond consumed with the story that she so eloquently and beautifully penned.
From the second I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Every other thought I had was about this book, this story and these characters. I tried to pace myself from finishing reading in one-sitting, but the more I read the more I was sucked in and I couldn’t stop. I lived for this story and for Alejo and Thalia.
There is a specific level where I place the characters I read in books. They have to make me feel some type of way in order to be placed at the very top. And as far as Heroes goes, Alejo Albarado is one at the top of that pedestal. Santa maría, madre de dios this man was everything. I loved everything about him, but what I loved the most was his passion. Passion for life, passion for fútbol and his intense passion for love. Dios mio, the way that he loves is so magnetic and ferocious. There’s a Mexican saying—chuparse los dedos, which translates to “suck ones fingers” basically meaning “finger licking good” and in my eyes that’s definitely one way to describe Alejo.
Thalia, Thalia, Thalia—oh how I adored her! She’s ambitious, hardworking and a go-getter. There were many qualities that I admired in Thalia and I liked how she wasn’t impulsive and really and truly thought things through. I was rooting so hard for her and her happiness because she well deserved it and much more.
Thalia and Alejo’s chemistry was scorching. They burned volcanic hot. And honest to goodness they were meant to be together. Their heart called to the other and it was inevitable that they’d both fall. Age is just a number. And yes, Thalia is much older than Alejo, but love doesn’t know of age or any difference. And both were true in Thalia and Alejo’s story. There were challenges and it wasn’t easy, but in the end love always wins.
The Younger Man is one of the best age gap romances I’ve read in a long time. It was emotional, but at the same time had me laughing. It was sensual, sexy and beautiful. I loved the Spanish that was interwoven in the story. And the setting of this story in Europe was just magical. I was so invested in Thalia and Alejo’s story—I felt them deep in my bones. They took me on an emotional ride but it was well worth it. And though I never wanted Thalia and Alejo’s story to end, I’m content in knowing that I’ll never forget them or their incredible love story.
A 2019 favorite
Definitely recommend
This forbidden age-gap romance is just captivating and explosive. I love this pairing, big star and physics therapist. I’m going to be thinking of this book for a long time.
Thalia and Alejo are different places in there lives but come together as Thalia moves for her job leaving everything she knows. Alejo is a young, sexy football player who never left. Thalia and Alejo are messy, stubborn, forbidden yet they felt butterflies when they first met and they never stopped.
It’s a BEST BOOK of 2019 for sure.
Overall Grade:
There is nothing like reading a romance about a forbidden relationship. For me, I both hate turning the page while feeling a deep need to turn it. I know as the page turns more is revealed, and the hero and heroine are always one step away from discovery and the potential destruction of their relationship. When an author writes this type of romance well, you feel it deep in your stomach. It makes your heart race. It makes you feel alive as you progress through their story. Even more, what makes a forbidden relationship romance important is its resolution. For most of these types of romances, the characters realize their happy ending, and the tension you felt as you read the “misses” of their relationship is released into the happiness for the characters. Karina Halle’s The Younger Man (TYM) epitomizes this situation.
Honestly, as I was reading TYM, it felt as though I was moving slowly through the pages. Halle does a brilliant job of slowly building the story between Thalia and Alejo. Yet, at the same time, she compels you forward. These characters are special for two very reasons. Here’s the deal:
For me, Alejo is the true star of this book. Honestly, THE STAR. From the first chapter where we meet him, I fell. Vi Keeland wrote a book earlier in the year, All Grown Up. Like TYM, it’s an older woman/younger man taboo romance. What I found interesting about that book, as well as in The Younger Man, is the hero, who is obviously younger than the female, is more emotionally mature than the heroine who has many more years on him. It’s been astounding to read this type of hero. As Keeland did, Halle easily accomplishes this with Alejo’s background. It makes sense that he’s mature for a twenty-three/twenty-four-year-old. What I love about him is his ability to feed Thalia’s soul. He’s a lion in bed. When these two couple, it’s hot AF, like steam up your glasses hot. Yet, what Alejo does that I love in swoony heroes is he sees
Thalia, and he feeds her emotional need. It’s this part of his character that I fell in love with the most. Yes, he’s an attractive, talented professional soccer player, but it’s his emotional depth and his ability to use that depth to help Thalia heal and find her strength again that is the highlight of this book.
Thalia. Halle crafts her character to remind her readers to live in their truth, I think. Thalia has endured loss in a variety of ways, and it has left her unmoored. It would be reductive to say that Alejo “completes” her or makes her less broken. Because that isn’t the reality that Halle is creating here. Instead, as she finds internal strength again through her career and with the inspiration of Alejo, Thalia heals. She holds the power over this; Alejo simply supports and recognizes her in a way that challenges her to see herself more distinctly. I think it’s Halle’s way of showing us that a true love inspires; it doesn’t fully define you.
As a reader, how do you know you should be reading Karina Halle’s The Younger Man? Well, this reader, for one, isn’t a soccer fan. I’m intrigued by it, but I don’t tune in to watch it. However, I was entranced with Halle’s storytelling of this world. I found myself looking up teams and players for reference. Secondly, I am interested in the older woman/younger man trope as I don’t see it written often enough. Given the breadth of age for romance readers, I find that we should read this trope more often. For me, finding yourself represented in romance seems essential. No, I’m not youthfully beautiful in my late 40s, but I recognize the struggle to determine my happiness and my future characterized in Thalia. That’s my intersection with her representation. I imagine there are plenty of women like me who would love to find some part of them in the characters or the story. And this sub-trope, I think, would go further to make that connection. Halle has written this well. Thalia and Alejo are 100% believable, and you can’t help but root for them as they struggle to find their happiness together.
Yes, there were several times when, like one would do when watching a horror movie, I wanted to peek through my fingers at the page. I invested myself easily into Alejo and Thalia’s story because Halle insisted it be so with her storytelling. Knowing that pain would be a part of their romance, still, I forged ahead, and it has a huge payoff in the end. Halle has crafted a story in The Younger Man that forces us to recognize the truth that “love is love is love” whether it’s between an older woman and a younger man or whether it’s a love for ourselves.
FIVE SPANISH STARS for Thalia and Alejo !!!
This is the second book that I’ve read by Karina Halle and I really loved it so much!
The first book “SMUT” that I read two years ago it was so funny and an amazing read.
I didn’t know what I supposed to expect from “The Younger Man” because from the blurb I was sure that this one wouldn’t be the same as “SMUT”.
Karina didn’t disappoint.
I love age-gap books but this one was totally something different from the books with the same trope that I’ve read before.
The reason why I was a little scared that I maybe will not like this book was the big (for me ) age difference between the main characters.
But, I was surprised.
It wasn’t weird as I thought it would be.
“The Younger Man” is a heartbreaking romance story with the age-gap trope that will melt your heart and you will not want for it to end.
I fell for Thalia and Alejo’s story.
It’s emotional, sweet, hot and sensual.
If you’re looking for an age-gap romance book, then you MUST TO READ this book next!!!
I can’t wait to read more of Karina’s books!
I absolutely LOVED this book! What a way to almost end the year. I mean I don’t think I could have asked for more when it came to this sensual, hot and forbidden story.
Thalia and Alejo were magnificent together and I loved how their relationship evolved throughout the story and even though it was against policy and completely wrong in so many levels, I still thought it was an AMAZING love story between a much younger man and a much older woman.
I guess I loved this story so much because it just tells me that age is just a number. There is nothing wrong with falling in love with a much older man or woman. When love comes calling, it comes calling. You can’t dictate what your heart wants and everyone around you needs to just accept it. If the relationship makes you happy then everyone should be happy for you.
Alejo was definitely one HOT stud and so, so tender and so caring for Thalia that it made my heart yearn for them both. I rooted for them from beginning to end and their love story is definitely one that will stay with me for a long time!
5 ‘El sol de mi corazón’ Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
And that is how a gripping age-gap romance is written! Karina Halle surely knows how to end this year with a bang because The Younger Man was simply an unputdownable read from start to finish. Trust me when I say you’ll want to meet Alejo and read his and Thalia’s journey to fall in love for each other. It’s oh-so-worth-it!
So, The Younger Man is Karina’s newest standalone release and it focuses on the story of Alejo Albarado and Thalia Blackwood. Thalia is recently divorced and she needs a change. She does that getting a new job in Madrid as a sports physical therapist. There she meets our hero, Alejo. Alejo has a difficult past but now he is the star of Real Madrid (Spanish football/soccer team) and he can take care of his family. The spark between this couple is instant and that is the start of this emotional love story.
She’s off-limits.
The forbidden fruit.
And I’m terrible at pretending I don’t want a taste.
Karina just gave us an outstanding, unique, sexy and emotional age-gap romance. She did THAT! And you want to know what the best thing about it is? Alejo himself, of course. He overcomes his past, he is a kick ass player, he loves his family and his friends dearly. And he fights for Thalia and their feelings from start to finish, without doubts. That was so beautiful to read! He is such a swoony hero and he melted my heart completely. *sigh*
She’s like the sun.
El sol de mi corazón.
The sun of my heart, but a sun that’s always rising, always beautiful, a sunrise that makes you stop and stare and wonder.
And, obviously, if you know of Karina’s works, you know this also got burning hot and ran high on the feels too. I loved how the author developed the whole relationship, its taboo theme, how she introduced the Spanish football world (even though I am a huuuuge Barça fan! lol), the explosive chemistry between Alejo and Thalia, the ups and downs between them and that roller coaster of emotions. I just loved everything!
“The bigger the love, the greater the risk. But love, real, true, can’t-live-without-you love? That’s worth everything in the universe.”
Therefore, I am rating The Younger Man with 5 STARS because I adored the journey and development of this age-gap story. Alejo and Thalia are so wonderful together and it’s so clear they belong with each other after everything. I loved every moment of reading this book. Trust me, if you are a fan of Karina Halle’s writing and this romance trope, you don’t want to miss The Younger Man.
Hit me with a prologue like only Karina can write and I’m a goner. From that point on, Alejo was on my radar. How was his past going to play into his future?
I’m going to keep this review short since my love for these two characters and other characters in the story is too vast. This book is a beast and it’s a slow and passionate build up of a relationship that seems very real to me. Their connection, their friendship, their passion and their love of their careers fueled my heart. Thalia and Alejo are two very different people at different points in their lives. Not only are they many years apart in age, but their relationship is forbidden by their careers. How do two people that have so much love for their careers and for one another make anything work? Something’s got to give.
“The bigger the love, the greater the risk. Our love is shaping up to be the biggest risk of all.”
And if this beautiful age gap romance isn’t enough, we get a sports romance that is exciting and full of big time soccer games. In Spain! With Real Madrid!! Some play by play that gets your heart pounding. It’s almost like we are in the crowd. You get to feel the excitement of the players and the people in the stand. Your heart will beat for the action.
My heart is still in my throat and my heart is still a little fractured after going on this journey with Thalia and Alejo. It wasn’t one full of drama, but a journey you could feel and understand. It was filled with action, camaraderie, family and most of all…passion. I’m still reeling in it.
“The truth that hurts the most is the truth that needs to be told.”
Thank you, Karina for bringing us back to Spain and getting a little bit more of Vera and Mateo and introducing us to a whole slew of fun teammates. I could see a particular Portuguese soccer (fùtbol) player getting a book of his own at some point. Pretty please with a GOAL on top?
With that said, if you’re in the mood for a longer book with some amazing character development and some very hot sexy scenes with an older woman and younger man (believe me, it works and it’s off the charts), then you’ve hit the jackpot. Karina Halle brings us into a world and shows us the city and the lives of the people who inhabit it flawlessly. She’ll make you a soccer lover and want to go to Spain for your own Younger Man. Seriously. She’s THAT good! 😉