We all love romance novels. But it can be hard to find the perfect one. One that has all of our favorite tropes but isn’t too cheesy. One that is serious enough that it feels believable but not so sad that it brings us down. One that is a well-written story that keeps us turning pages but doesn’t shy away from intimate moments between characters. Would You Rather by Allison Ashley is that perfect romance novel.
Since living next door to each other as children, Mia and Noah have been the best of friends. They’re the kind of friends who know how to have fun with a playful prank, never missing an opportunity to get back at one another as they work together—Noah as an architect and Mia as an administrative assistant. And they’re the kind of friends who will always be there for each other, no matter what.
When Mia, who had to leave college in order to manage her rare kidney disease, is offered a scholarship to return to school and achieve her dream of being a dietician, there’s only one problem. Mia cannot return to school and also work full-time, but she needs employer-provided health insurance in order to cover the costs of her disease. Noah is there with the solution. Mia and Noah can get married—in name only—allowing Mia to go to school full-time and keep her insurance. Told from both Mia and Noah’s perspectives, Would You Rather is a story about learning to let love into your life.
Here’s why every romance lover should add Would You Rather by Allison Ashley to their TBR list:
Mia’s life is completely on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. But when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs. That's when her best friend Noah suggests they get married.
The Fun Tropes
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: friends-to-lovers is my favorite trope. And in Would You Rather, Allison Ashley provides a fresh perspective on that trope by blending it with so many others. Because how different is it to go from friends to lovers when you’re in a marriage of convenience? What about when you have to pretend you’re dating in order to convince your coworkers that your marriage is real? And how about when you’re forced to live (and sleep) together so that your friends and family don’t get suspicious?
Whether you love a friends-to-lovers story like me, can’t get enough of forced proximity, or hope every romance novel you read has a scene (or two) where there’s only one bed, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Would You Rather.
The Real-Life Issues
I have certainly read books where the characters’ life problems do not feel momentous enough. But that isn’t the case in Would You Rather. Mia’s kidney disease causes financial strain, emotional stress, and of course, physical problems. Having initially relied on her adoptive parents to pay for her care, Mia doesn’t want to burden anyone else in her life, including Noah.
Noah is dealing with his own issues. Ever since his brother passed away on a camping trip the two were on, Noah hasn’t allowed himself to enjoy one of his favorite activities. He has thrown himself into his work, and he’s up for a promotion because of it. But because his father founded the company, he has to deal with coworkers who think he receives special treatment.
Both Mia and Noah will have to learn to love themselves if they have any chance of genuinely loving each other. And because the story is told from both of their perspectives, we get to see their true feelings and experience their hardships individually. The scenes in which Mia and Noah take the time to communicate their true feelings were some of my favorites.
The Sexy Scenes
There was a time when I was the type of reader who cringed whenever I read a sexy scene. But that time is far behind me, and I can now fully appreciate well-written intimacy. And in Would You Rather, Allison Ashley writes sexy scenes that anyone will be comfortable reading. First, there’s the sexual tension. You’ll swoon when Noah merely tells Mia what it would be like if he kissed her for real.
You’ll laugh when Mia and Noah pretend to have sex in order to convince a friend that they’re really together. And you’ll hope they take it further every time Mia thinks about a kiss or Noah places his hand on Mia’s back.
And take it further, they do. The scene in which Mia and Noah finally take their relationship to the next level is full of conversation, desire, and of course, intimacy. All romantics will love this clean but passionate account of Mia and Noah’s first time.
Mia’s life is completely on hold as she awaits a kidney transplant. But when the chance of a lifetime comes to go back to school and pursue her dream, it’s especially painful to pass up. She can’t quit her job or she’ll lose the medical insurance she so desperately needs. That's when her best friend Noah suggests they get married.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the mood for a romance novel that has it all, then look no further: Would You Rather by Allison Ashley is the book for you. It effectively balances fun tropes and sexy scenes to tell a heartwarming story with emotional depth. So grab your copy and get comfortable because you won’t be able to put this one down.
