Xeni

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review <br /><br />4.5 stars <br /><br />This is a book about grief, self discovery and finding love in unexpected places at unexpected times. Xeni is about the titular character, Xeni, whose favorite Aunt Sable has suddenly passed away. While in the process of the memorial and settling her Aunt’s estate she is informed that her Aunt left her an absurd amount of money. Her Aunt, ever the generous woman also left a lil something for her friend Mason McInroy, the twist? To access their inheritance Mason and Xeni must get married and stay married for at least 30 days. <br /><br />The marriage of convenience trope will always be fun and absurd so I of course had a blast reading this. Rebekah Weatherspoon has a great way of blending serious emotion and introspection with swoony romance and laugh out loud dialogue. The beginning of this was pretty slow because we spend so much time in Xeni’s head as she navigates her grief and confusion, resolving mostly to shove her emotions down and try not to confront everything she’s dealing with, but as she begins to spend more time with Mason the story picks up exponentially. <br /><br />The intimacy that develops between them was really wonderful to read, they were so soft with each other and every time they called each other “wife” “hubby” “love” “dear” I blushed and swooned. Speaking of blushing these sex scenesssss they were absolutely fantastic. So hot and imaginative. XENI PEGS HIM. Never have I read a romance where the woman gets to top her man and I’m so happy this was my first tbh. I loved reading about two bisexual characters in a relationship together and the comfort that understanding brought them. There some discussion of biphobia as well which was incredibly well handled. I adored that Mason was a rather unconventional hero, he is plus sized and bisexual in a genre that is typically so focused on muscled, hetero, alpha males it was wonderful to see this body type diversity and softness in a romance hero. Seeing a black bisexual woman being loved so sweetly and openly will always make me smile!<br /><br />So much to love about this sweet and funny romance. The only reason I’m struggling with a five star rating is because some of the drama with Xeni and her family was a bit frustrating, necessary I suppose but frustrating. And we all know the popular romance convention where the two lovers break up and then finally get back together just in time for the domestic epilogue but I hated their break up. <br /><br />Spoilery: <br /><br />They coulda just never broke up and the book would be the same. So what was the reason??? <br />They were like “oh well after the 30 day marriage I guess we should just break up” why? If you still like each other why do it? Who’s forcing you?? It just seemed stupid but whatever. <br /><br />Very fun, very sexy and I would totally enthusiastically recommend it, i just nitpick y’all know me.

This was PHENOMENAL. Seriously, one of my favorite smutty books ever and definitely one that I can see myself re-reading as the mood strikes. Xeni was amazing, Mason was amazing, their CHEMISTRY was amazing. This was just great. No choice but to stan a fat, bisexual love interest with a penchant for pegging lmao

<b>2.5 stars</b><br /><br />My problem with insta love stories is that I just couldn’t help but be like okay you both are clearly in love and happy together from the very beginning of the book, <i>so what am I doing here?</i><br /><br />The beginning of this was really cute and I was loving it. But a few chapters in and I started to lose interest. There was nothing wrong about this book that would make me hate it and the characters were actually sweet. I was just so bored and so uninterested that I started to skip many pages till the end.<br /><br />My main issue with this book is that things started between them so freakin quickly. Like a few chapters in and they were already in the bedroom and I’m like nooo come back here you need to have a conversation then flirt then start to have feelings then <i>deny having them</i> and then maybe maybe you could start being something more than a fake couple. I just need things to happen slowly for me to enjoy them. Unfortunately things didn’t happen like that. There relationship was so fast and so rushed. It kinda felt unrealistic and I didn’t buy the “chemistry” between them. This wasn’t a bad book at all, it just wasn’t for me.

This was more or less perfect? These two were so well-suited, it’s ridiculous. The intimacy that developed between them during this bizarre set up had my heart crying. It was so soft. ?<br />And don’t get me started on the sex. Blushed too much.

<b>4 stars</b><br><br><a href="https://app.photobucket.com/u/Christyb23/a/f189be23-9080-4c6a-a25f-26fbed1e07c6/p/73aebfa7-82aa-4eca-98fa-4ff1db9e1cb3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1594199822i/29779256._SY540_.png" alt="IMG_7478" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br><i>Xeni</i> is the first book I've read by Rebekah Weatherspoon, but let me tell you- it won't be the last! I enjoyed this one so much and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. <br><br>Xeni's aunt has recently passed away and left her most of her estate. Xeni travels cross country to upstate NY to sort everything and finds out her aunt has secrets... not only that, but as a stipulation to inheriting an large estate, she has to marry one of her aunt's neighbors and friends, Mason McInroy. Mason seems nice, and is attractive, but Xeni is still shocked by this. <br><br>Mason and Xeni decide to just do it. They'll marry for 30 days and inherit what her aunt left them. What Xeni never ever expects is to develop such a connection with Mason. Not only is there an attraction between the two (holy hot chemistry) but they truly connect. Neither of them are expecting this. <br><br>I love a marriage of convince novel and this one was steamy, funny, and emotional. An all around good time. It took me a while to get into the narration, but once I did I enjoyed the audio-book. I'm can't wait to get to 'Rafe' and check out some of Weatherspoon's other works. <br>

A wildly enjoyable contemporary romance with a delightful 'marriage of convenience for the inheritance' plot and absolutely yummy characters. MOC plots often involve people hating or resenting or mistrusting each other, whereas here we have two people trapped in this absurd situation who take a sensible, generous approach, build an alliance, talk to each other, behave supportively, and generally are *exactly* the people you'd want to be forced to marry by the terms of your aunt's will. <br /><br />Mason is both bi and fat, which is absurdly rare for a male hero in m/f romance, Xeni has a great line in humour, the dialogue crackles, and it's all immense heart-lifting fun with enough serious subjects to give it emotional weight. Lovely.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrb0zKisWdY" rel="nofollow noopener">taste test: reading Mina Reads faves</a><br />

Ohhh...I forgot to add that the love interest can COOK!!!<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606379499i/30430395._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>Nah...NOT like this cereal killer dude xD(Got the pun??!!)<br>Mason(Love interest ) cooks legitimate PERFECT meals!!<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606379499i/30430396._SY540_.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>Can we appreciate R.J's response to this tweet ???<br>Just in case you all needed another reason to read this book!!<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606379499i/30430397.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>He can serve me boiled water and I will find that tasty lmao<br><br>Will start the review BUT I want to take a moment and appreciate the body positivity in this book<br>Not only does the Main character have curves BUT the love interest DOES NOT have six-packs!!*excited squealing*<br>If u read romance you know that most of the love interests are well built and have "washboard and chopping board" abs *snickers*<br>We don't need those abs in EVERY book!!!<br>Take this meme for example!!!<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606224838i/30422152._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>I AGREE WITH MR.ANDY!!!! You KNOW he is a keeper if he makes you snort while laughing?<br>And Mason(the love interest) is HILARIOUS!!! And I was sooo freaking happy when Xeni mentioned his tummy as soft rather than *clears throat* <i>rock hard with eight distinct packs ...who is the modern version of Adonis</i><br>This dude was a normal guy with a normal body and I am grateful for this body diversity<br>He is <b>HUGE</b><br>Really tall and bulky BUT he felt more realistic than many other love interests in Romances<br><br>Now back to the actual review <br>Why is this book not more popular in romance community??!!!<br>Mrin to the romance community rn<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606224838i/30422153._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>I just want <b>EVERYONE</b> to read this book!! Its that good!!<br>BUT unfortunately... I am terrible at writing reviews for Romance books<br>This is why I want everyone to read this book<br>If you read romance then you *might* know what I mean<br>It's freaking difficult to write a review for Romance book!! (Bare with my whining lmao)<br>Salute to all of you who write those amazing reviews<br>I mean Romance books are not about plot BUT they are about two people meeting and falling in love<br>How do I explain this*bangs head*<br>Like ....trust me... romance books are the best if you <i>*feel*</i> the love between the MCs<br>What I am gonna do is..I am gonna state the things I LOVED abt this book and HOPE that someone reads and writes an actual detailed review about this book*sighs*<br>༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ<br><br>✨[]~(￣▽￣)~* The POC rep in this book *chefs kiss*<br>We have our Black Main character and MANY other POC characters!!!<br><br>✨[]~(￣▽￣)~* The LGBTQ+ rep<br>Both of the Main characters Xeni(h) and Mason(H) are bisexual !!<br><br>✨[]~(￣▽￣)~*The Steamy scenes <br>Sometimes the sexy scenes are soooooo cringey that u end up laughing<br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1584837726ra/29144009.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>Luckily that was NOT the case in this book<br><br>✨[]~(￣▽￣)~*Mason is my book boyfriend!! *huffs*<br>He is a gentle giant !!! Like a floofy teddy bear!!! he is soo freaking shy and sweet!!!<br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1606227798ra/30422360.gif" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>He says stuff like this!!<br><br><b>“Maybe I don’t want to be climbed. Maybe I want to be romanced. Maybe I want to be courted properly. Maybe I want to feel like a prince. Maybe I don’t want to be a Daryl. Ever thought of that?”</b><br><br>He wants to be courted ladies!!! He is sooo adorable that <b>I</b> will court him!! Will show him how a Queen treats her prince!!!*flips hair*<br>This scene is my fav in the entire book!!<br>For a change, we have the man wanting to be spoiled and taken care of!! Don't get me wrong I STILL like Alphas BUT this was sooo cute!!!<br><br>✨[]~(￣▽￣)~* Our Main character Xeni and her confident yet sweet and vulnerable nature<br>Xeni is going to the list of "fav female protagonist" !!<br>She is funny, sassy, sweet, caring, loyal, AND AMBITIOUS !!!<br>And soooo confident!! She still has her insecurities BUT she deals with them like a champ!!<br>And then there's her swag!<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606227798i/30422361._SX540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br>We even have body positivity for our MC!!<br>She is curvy (Cheers for this body rep as well) AND she LOVES her body!!<br>Ohhh...and did I mention she is a witch??!! (Not in a paranormal sense )<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606227798i/30422363._SY540_.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>✨[]~(￣▽￣)~* <b>REALISTIC ENDING!!!!</b><br>Thank goodness none of them sacrificed anything for love!!<br>This book had the MOST realistic ending!! Won't spoil it for you BUT you should give it a chance!<br><br><br>NOW GO AND READ THIS!!! I AM WAITING FOR YOU GUYS TO READ THIS BOOK!!! <br>Yess!! I will wait <i>dramatically</i> till you guys don't read this!!<br><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1606227798i/30422362.jpg" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy">

Every once in a while, I pick up a romance and find an author's voice that I know I could read anything they wrote. That's Rebekah Weatherspoon for me. There's something grounded, confident, and mature about her storytelling; I can't really think of how else to say it except that I felt as a reader that I was in good hands.<br /><br />The best parts of this story for me were:<br /><br />- Characterization: we've got a cinnamon roll, bear-sized Scotsman with a flair for whipping up seafood alfredo, sending pitch-perfect gifs, and having crystal clear communication about sexuality and intimacy. Yes. Please. Then we have Xeni, who both knows and loves herself, who is a deeply capable, self-reliant person that also can touch into her feelings and have a good cry; give me a strong soft heroine any day.<br /><br />- Chemistry: these two *clicked*. So, so well. They had physical attraction, dispositional compatibility, and they're so good and kind toward each other. Yes, there's banter and teasing, there's jokes and glib digs, but they're so respectful of each other's hearts. Couldn't get enough of it.<br /><br />- Representation: both leads are bisexual and discuss that openly and positively. Xeni is a beautiful, curvy Black woman and Mason is a big teddy bear with an almost-too-large for life, soft-tummy body. There are very organically threaded in moments that highlight white (particularly cis male) privilege, the unease Black people feel around police, the tendency for white people to touch Black people's hair, realities of Black life that are important for readers to recognize not only in nonfiction that opens our eyes to racism but in fiction that is portraying real people and real bodies. This book felt authentic, honest, and real. So much yes!<br /><br />- Sexy times: always developed the narrative, balanced dirty talk/hot physicality and emotional tenderness. It was so well-balanced.<br /><br />Basically, I can't recommend this book enough! Hot, original, heartfelt, and swoony, this was just the romance I needed.

<b> <i>2.25 stars</i> </b><br /><br /><b>dnf @83%</b><br />My being upset for not enjoying this like everyone else is an understatement ? <br /><br />This ‘review’ won’t be long since there’s nothing problematic w the book and its content to discuss about. it’s just that it fell flat for me, that’s all. <br />This beginning was cute but then the MCs hit it right off so quickly that it seemed so unnatural and unrealistic, especially after both of them were grieving over their loved one’s passing. <br /><br />i can see <i>why</i> people adore this book but personally, it wasn’t hitting the right spots for me. i also couldn’t connect w the characters and couldn’t feel any of the ‘sexual attraction/tension’ that they kept talking about. i mean, i can only read them but i didn’t feel them <i>‘coming off the pages’</i>, nomsayin??<br /><br />Plus, i feel like they could’ve just stayed as best friends instead of being a couple bc them being together really felt unnecessary :/ so automatically, any flirty remarks that came from either of them felt really awkward to me. i’d just cringe ? <br /><br />*would’ve pushed myself to finish the last 17% but i just don’t care anymore so ciao