Meet Your Next Book Boyfriend: Aiden from "Between the Lines" Will Set Your Standards Sky-High!

"Between the Lines" is written by Olivia Hayle, publishes on 25 October 2024. So Spoilers ahead!

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The Blurb:

The mysterious stranger I spent an unforgettable night with is the billionaire who ruined my life… and now I have to live with him.

He's all green eyes, mussed hair and a dirty mouth. He’s good at strip poker, and even better at what comes after.

Two weeks later, I walk into a meeting in LA with the subject of my next memoir... and it’s him.

Aiden Hartman. My hot one-night-stand, and the billionaire owner of Titan Media, the company that ruined my life and made me change my name.

Now I need to spend two months at his side or risk losing my next contract. Living in his Bel-Air mansion, shadowing him daily, and writing his memoir.

Aiden invites me into his world of wealth. He brings me as his date to movie premieres and buys me expensive dresses. But he won’t tell me everything I need for the book.

We argue in his office, and I taunt him in bikinis by his pool. It’s a dangerous game we’re playing, especially when Aiden offers me a deal too good to refuse.

He’ll spill all his secrets… if I tell him mine.

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The book opens with a scene that had me hooked *instantly*. Picture this: Charlotte is in the middle of her ‘self-care’ shower, minding her own business, when suddenly, a man walks into *her* hotel room. At first, I thought it was a mistake (cue the classic mix-up trope), but oh no, it’s so much more than that. There’s a reason for all these quotation marks, trust me. Olivia really knows how to keep you guessing from the get-go.

So, turns out there’s a little hotel room mix-up, and both Charlotte and Aiden have been given the same room (awkward!). But honestly, this awkwardness is what sets the stage for some of the best banter I’ve ever read. Their conversations? I could live in them. Every back-and-forth felt so natural, so real, I didn’t want it to stop. And Aiden? Don’t even get me started on Aiden. He nicknames Charlotte, Chaos, which, trust me, is the most spot-on name for her. But what really got me was how attentive he is. Like, this man noticed she didn’t like the taco she got. He saw the tiniest frown after her first bite and picked up on it. WHERE ARE MEN LIKE THIS IN REAL LIFE? I texted my best friend immediately after that scene, and we both agreed—if we’re swooning over a man noticing taco preferences, the bar for men is officially buried six feet under.

And let’s talk about Aiden’s flirting game. Oh my god. He’s smooth, but not in an over-the-top way—it’s subtle and sweet and absolutely makes your heart flutter. He’s got this way of throwing in little caveats, and it’s adorable. I’m at chapter 16 right now, and he’s already asked her to move in. MOVE IN! I’m over here screaming internally (okay, maybe externally too). If this is some sneaky way to fix the housing situation because his company gave her bad accommodation, I will bawl my eyes out. But he’s just so cute about it, I can’t handle it. And the moment he realized she gave him the right phone number after all? 😭 I AM DEAD. HE TEXTED HER. He genuinely seems so relieved and excited—it’s such a sweet, vulnerable moment that just hit all the right emotional notes.

Now, I’ve just finished chapter 23, and that last line? *That’s* the line. It’s the kind of line that sticks with you. The kind of line that makes you pause and stare into space because it hits that hard. If my future husband doesn’t drop a line like that at least once in his lifetime, we’re gonna have some serious problems. And Aiden? He’s so thoughtful. He notices Charlotte’s every little quirk. Like when she’s in heels and her feet hurt, he’s quick to offer comfort while still understanding that sometimes, fashion comes with pain. A MAN who gets it! Are we sure he’s not fictional? Because at this point, I’ve accepted my fate: I’m going to die alone, and it’s all Aiden’s fault for setting such an impossible standard.

Speaking of impossible standards—let’s talk about the jealousy. It’s not toxic; it’s just right. The way Aiden casually drops, “Caleb might have gotten her smiles down there, but up here, she’s mine,” chef’s kiss. It’s possessive in the most satisfying way possible. And can we talk about the car? This man got her a car in the color of her favorite jewelry. WHO DOES THAT? I am convinced Aiden has been sent from the heavens above because no one in real life is pulling moves like this. My heart can’t handle it.

And then there’s his honesty. This man knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to say it. They were keeping things casual, but when he realized he wanted more, he didn’t play games. Nope, he straight-up communicated his feelings like a grown adult (thank you, Aiden!). I wanted to scream. I did scream. And I’m pretty sure I’m going to keep screaming because Olivia is out here doing the Lord’s work with this story. The third-act breakup? Weirdly, I loved it. It was necessary, and Aiden’s confession afterward? Perfection. I’ve never been so satisfied with how a breakup and reconciliation played out. It gave me everything I needed and more.

Honestly, I am OBSESSED with this book. Aiden and Charlotte have officially cemented themselves as one of my all-time favorite couples. This book is without a doubt in my top 10 now. It’s the perfect balance of heartfelt romance, spicy chemistry, and all the feels. Speaking of spice… oh yes, the spice is definitely spicing! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 for sure. If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you scream, swoon, and fall in love all at once, “Between the Lines” is it!

A solid 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!!!

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Thank you Olivia Hayle and team for letting me read an ARC for "Between the Lines"