In the book "How to Bang a Billionaire" by Alexis Hall, university student Arden St. Ives finds himself entangled with the mysterious and brooding billionaire Caspian in a complex and sometimes destructive relationship. The story delves into themes of pain, love, darkness, and light as Arden chips away at Caspian's defenses little by little, while also navigating the complexities of their dynamic. The writing style is described as warm, funny, sexy, sharp, and adorably geeky, with engaging dialogues, intellectual conversations, and a balance between accessibility and art.

Characters:

The characters are richly developed, with Arden being charmingly playful and self-aware, while Caspian presents a broody complexity. Secondary characters further enrich the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by witty and humorous prose filled with pop culture references, effectively capturing the characters' emotions and voices.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Arden's chance meeting with billionaire Caspian during a phone call, which sparks a complex romantic relationship that challenges traditional power dynamics and explores themes of consent.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary, primarily in London, reflecting the contrast between the university environment and the opulent lifestyle of the billionaire.

Pacing:

The pacing effectively balances character development and plot progression, seamlessly mixing humor with serious themes to engage the reader throughout.

I was supposed to be doing this college fund-raiser thing where undergraduates called up wealthy alumni and connected deeply with them in a way that got them all nostalgic and wallet-opening or bank-t...

Notes:

The book is a modern take on the billionaire romance trope, often compared to Fifty Shades of Grey, but with its own unique style.

The main character, Arden St. Ives, is a vibrant 20-year-old who is charming, endearing, and relatable.

Caspian, the billionaire love interest, is portrayed with vulnerability and complexity, countering typical alpha male stereotypes.

Arden is openly pansexual and exhibits a sex-positive attitude throughout the narrative.

The story focuses on themes of consent, power dynamics, and emotional growth within relationships, contrasting with the darker elements of its predecessors.

The writing is noted for its humor, clever dialogue, and depth, with many readers lauding Alexis Hall's literary style.

The book includes LGBTQ representation and explores bisexuality, particularly in Arden's character.

The audiobook is highly praised for its engaging narration, enhancing the reader's experience of the story.

The series is recognized for its beautiful character development and relationship dynamics, not just between the main couple but also with secondary characters.

The trilogy consists of three books that follow Arden and Caspian's relationship as they navigate personal challenges and emotional barriers.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include references to past abuse, consent issues, and emotional distress, potentially affecting sensitive readers.

Has Romance?

Romance is prominent and central to the story, with significant development between Arden and Caspian.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Rules are made to be broken . . .

If England had yearbooks, I'd probably be "Arden St. Ives: Man Least Likely to Set the World on Fire." So far, I haven't. I've no idea what I'm doing at Oxford, no idea what I'm going to do next and, until a week ago, I had no idea who Caspian Hart was. Turns out, he's brilliant, beautiful . . . oh yeah, and a billionaire.

It's impossible not to be captivated by someone like that. But Caspian Hart makes his own rules. And he has a lot of them. About when I can be with him. What I can do with him. And when he'll be through with me.

I'm good at doing what I'm told in the bedroom. The rest of the time, not so much. And now that Caspian's shown me glimpses of the man behind the billionaire I know it's him I want. Not his wealth, not his status. Him. Except that might be the one thing he doesn't have the power to give me.

Ratings (7)

Incredible (3)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (34):

Read It (6)
Want To Read (15)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (10)

1 comment(s)

czanel840

Incredible

3 months

I found this a bit light and frothy but quite enjoyable. I love Arden's (lack of) fashion sense, and there are some things I'm eager to see resolved, so I'll definitely be reading the next in the series. It doesn't have the depth of, for example, For Real, but I have no regrets.

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How to Bang a Billionaire

Alexis Hall

Book 1 in the series:Arden St. Ives