Worth It

Title: Worth It
Author: Chloe Young
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: October 5, 2020
Genre(s): Page Count: 325
Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Read book blurb here

The blurb for "Worth It" grabbed my attention and I went into this story thinking of the male version of "Pretty Woman" - a light-hearted fairy tale of the hooker, the charming John, the great clothes and the HEA.  However ...  

21-year-old Elliott, working his way towards his dream of making the ancient history faculty list before he's 30,  is not afraid of work. "His dad - and his mom, when she was alive - had told him to work hard, be his own person, and get what he wanted in life."  And the way Elliott plans to achieve his goals is by becoming a part-time sex worker. His first relationship is with Innes, a 40ish rich privileged attorney with the need for inanimate arm candy at the occasional soiree as well as noon-ers at his law office and most things in-between.  

When Elliott finds himself on the hunt for a new sugar daddy, he ends up with Aiden .... Innes' nephew, an absolute sweetheart of a guy - only seven years old - looking for sex, yes, but also companionship. Elliott can't believe he is"so freaking lucky to have landed right in the lap of someone who was not only physically attractive, but also not morally reprehensible." 

Elliott enjoys introducing Aiden to some wonderfully hedonistic sex and finds himself captivated by Aiden's basic kindness and decency. Elliott tells himself he doesn't hate himself for what he does, but the cost of putting on the right mask to get what he needed - being the sexy, accommodating paid boyfriend - is getting to be a heavy price to pay.  

Elliott is not a sympathic character and it is difficult to look past his un-self-awareness as he stubbornly refuses to consider any alternative to his plans. Without giving away too much of the plot, there is a "huge unilateral decision" made by Elliott that is disturbing in so many ways and that he expects Aiden to understand and agree is beyond understanding.  And the way Elliott feels that a financial windfall makes him a "grasping parasite" is just ... messed up. 

So, "Pretty Woman" this ain't. I loved Aiden and would have liked to get his POV at any point in the book, but sorry, Elliott is a jerk. 3 stars for "Worth It" but I will definitely look forward to more by this author. 

I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.