Smash & Grab by Maz Maddox, specifically the audiobook version, is my latest ⭐️ 5 Star Reads of 2023 ⭐️
This was SUCH fun audio read!! I was expecting some humor based on the title and synopsis but neither does it justice. This book had me literally laughing out loud. The references, the jokes, the Dino puns … Simon’s enthusiasm for paleontology (and dinos in general), especially before he knew what Dalton was AND then after?? Pure gold.
As a fellow earth science nerd this book made me SO happy. Simon gushing about the fossil/egg cleaning process had me having flashbacks of late nights in the petrology lab during undergrad and I reveled in the way he constantly geeked out. I need more nerdy/geeky main characters in my life in the worst way. The pure joy was contagious. 🥰
🌶 Spice (K!nk & Variety of scenes): 1/5 (other than the “thought he was straight, baby’s first time” this is pretty vanilla lol) 💦 Steam (Detail & amount of scenes): 4/5 (only 2 full scenes but very well written) 💕 Romance (relationship dynamics): 5/5+ (perfectly paced bi-awakening-style friends to lovers budding romance, A+ banter & flirting) 🌱 Character Growth/Arc: 5/5 📖 Plot: 5/5+ 🏳️🌈♿️ Inclusivity: 2/5 (MM, unlabeled queer characters) ⭐️ 5/5 Stars, would recommend
Full Goodreads review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5373434669
I can’t recommend listening to this one enough. I’m sure the book is amazing itself but the narration really made this one for me. A friend promised “Chris Pratt unhinged himbo energy” for one of the characters and she was NOT wrong. It was perfect! Kirt Graves did an excellent job picking a voice that really fit the level of chaos depicted.
Shout out to @beatrix_hollow ’s Weirdo Book Club on discord for popping this one back up on my radar, it had been buried in my TBR 💙