I loved this adult romance featuring architects and sparks. The Build Up is a fantastic debut from Richardson all about confronting our feelings and fears. With great chemistry, this one is a must read! Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Rumpled and ragged was not how architect Ari James envisioned kicking off her first day at a new firm. And few things can top the horror of her new—and extremely hot—colleague walking in on her at the worst moment ever. Learning that she’ll be working with him on the project that’s supposed to get her career back on top makes it harder than ever to focus on her big comeback.
With a partnership at his firm on the line, nothing is going to stand in the way of Porter Harrison absolutely killing it on his new project: not his obnoxious rival, not his unpredictable brother and definitely not his new coworker whose gorgeous curves he accidentally saw and now can’t get out of his head.
Though neither of them is looking for love, once their creative juices get flowing, Ari and Porter’s connection is obvious. But when their shared goal has always been winning at work, building a solid foundation for a relationship might end up costing them everything…
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: fatphobia, harassment, colorism, sexism
The Build Up is a dual POV romance book which sweeps you away. My instant favorite has to be Ari who is being an excellent architect in such a male dominated field. The scenes of the sexism and fatphobia against her made my blood boil from the beginning. And Porter was a delight, the ways he has to digest what he wants to do. We love some truly career focused and ambitious main characters!
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The chemistry between Ari and Porter is sizzling. Ari’s narration feels charismatic and vulnerable at the same time. From the beginning of The Build Up you’re asking yourself if they can balance this relationship and the pressures of their job relationship. It always feels like a risk to bring romance into the workplace, so you can never figure out if they’ll make it. But within The Build Up is a story about realizing our priorities and strengths. What matters to us at the end of the day.
Find The Build Up on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.