I once had a client who drove me absolutely bananas—nitpicking every comma, questioning every edit, and generally being impossible to please. But the work was good, the challenge kept me sharp, and I'll admit there was a certain satisfaction in winning him over line by line. By the end of the project, we had a grudging respect for each other that felt oddly rewarding. Sometimes the most frustrating professional relationships teach us the most. Beautiful Bastard takes that tension to a whole new level, swapping red-pen edits for explosive chemistry in a workplace romance that's as infuriating as it is irresistible.
Plot Summary
Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren follows Chloe Mills, a whip-smart MBA student working as an intern for Bennett Ryan, a demanding executive at his family's massive media company. Bennett is exacting, blunt, and completely infuriating—but also utterly irresistible. When Bennett returns to Chicago from France, he's shocked to discover that the assistant who's been helping him remotely is the gorgeous, strong-willed woman who now works under him every day. Despite his rule against workplace hookups, Bennett can't resist Chloe's provocative presence. Their antagonistic relationship explodes into passionate encounters all over the office—conference rooms, elevators, stairwells. As their appetites for each other grow, Chloe and Bennett must decide what they're willing to risk for a relationship that could destroy both their careers and their hearts.
Why I Love This Book
I love the fierce, combative banter between Chloe and Bennett—their verbal sparring is sharp, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny. Chloe is ambitious, strong-willed, and refuses to be intimidated by Bennett's arrogance, which makes her incredibly refreshing. The chemistry between them is explosive and the tension builds perfectly before they finally give in. The workplace setting adds an element of forbidden danger that makes every encounter feel urgent and thrilling. While the book leans heavily on steam, the emotional connection develops alongside the physical one, and watching these two stubborn people fall for each other despite themselves is genuinely satisfying. It's a fun, sexy escape that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers, alpha heroes, steamy encounters, or romances where the couple can't keep their hands off each other, this book is for you. It's perfect for readers who love high heat, witty banter, and strong heroines who stand up for themselves. Fans of Twilight fanfiction origins might appreciate the connection, though the story stands entirely on its own. This book is heavy on steam and light on plot—if you're looking for an escape that's more about chemistry than complexity, you'll enjoy this.
⚠️ Trigger warning: employer-intern power dynamic, explicit sexual content, workplace sexual relationship, strong language, domineering behavior.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, workplace romance, enemies to lovers, boss-employee, office romance, alpha hero, strong heroine, high heat, explicit, banter, Chicago setting, media company, HEA, Beautiful Bastard series, standalone
Steam Level
This book is VERY steamy with frequent, explicit, open-door love scenes throughout. The heat is intense, passionate, and often happens in risky workplace locations. If you're looking for maximum spice with your romance, this delivers in spades. Originally Twilight fanfiction, it's been updated and expanded for publication.
