Book 927: Rearranged (Do-Over #1) – E.M. Denning

Having seen the mess that some people make of themselves when they go to Las Vegas when this book popped up on my radar I jumped at the chance to grab a copy of it.*

And for the most part, I wasn’t disappointed. You have Rowan, the perfect son who has done everything his parents have ever asked him to do including marrying his friend who he has no attraction to, and Sid, the literal red-headed-step child (of his dad’s political rival), who is a contrarian when it comes to doing ANYTHING his parents want him to do.

They meet by happenstance in Vegas while Rowan is having a low-key bachelor party with his twin younger brothers and end up married after a night of drinking and debauchery. And rather than annulling the marriage, which is the big focus of Rowan’s parents throughout the novel, they decide to lean into the marriage and see where they go.

I can’t believe you married me because I was nice to you. You’re like a bad stereotype, one of those book characters who falls for the first man who treats them halfway decently because the bar is literally on the floor. (Chapter 11)

Sid and Rowan were well-written characters. I enjoyed how much Rowan changed from the start of the novel where he was just itching because of the restraints his parents put on him, to the end of the novel where he was standing up for himself and Sid because they belonged together and knew they wanted to start their life off together on a good foot.

A good portion of the sex scenes, including the first, took place off-page, but the most memorable one was when they broke the couch. I mean if you’re going to go for it, really go for it right? They are verse characters and Denning not only had them talk the talk (I was VERY wary at how early Sid talked about flipping positions) AND walk the walk all over their house.

If I had one problem with the novel, it was the lack of resolution around the big crises. We found out that Rowan’s parents were trying to transfer a huge chunk of his family’s business to his now ex-fiancé via a sketchy pre-nuptial that they didn’t tell either kid about. There was one minor blow-up and then a mention later in the last chapter/epilogue that Rowan was trying to help them, but there were NO details which was incredibly annoying given how much time was spent with Rowan’s parents being total dicks to him and Sid. I also felt that there could’ve been more detail about Sid and his step-dad and siblings instead of just the constant “oh they hate me but treat my mom well”. Seriously, Denning was maybe one more mention of that away from me highlighting the dozen or so times it was mentioned.

Recommendation: This was a fun quick read I read in two sittings. The protagonists were great and there were enough minor characters that weren’t 2D to provide a deeper story. I had some issues with the background of both characters, but mostly because Denning leaned on them so much that we should’ve been given more information or better resolutions around them. The issues aren’t enough to keep me away from seeing who the next story is about (my money is on Harrison, the ex-fiancé, and Jack, his step-brother), but I’m rarely right.

*I received a copy of Rearranged via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Opening Line: “If Rowan were attracted to his soon to be husband, it would’ve made their imminent union slightly more appealing.”

Closing Line: “Derek laughed and slung his arm over Sid’s shoulder. ‘Okay, you two. Save it for Elvis.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)