Beautiful Bastard Book Review - No Spoilers
I have this terrible habit of shopping for books when I'm stressed—retail therapy, but make it literary. Last month, after a particularly frustrating week at work dealing with an impossibly demanding project manager, I found myself browsing romance recommendations online at 2 AM. Someone mentioned a book about an intern and her nightmare boss who channel their mutual hatred into something far more explosive, and before I knew it, I'd one-clicked my way to owning Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren. I figured I'd relate to the workplace tension; what I didn't expect was how this book would grab me from page one and refuse to let go. Fair warning: this is Christina Lauren's spiciest work, and it absolutely lives up to its reputation as an unapologetically steamy, high-heat enemies-to-lovers office romance that jumps straight into the deep end.
Plot Summary
Chloe Mills is brilliant, ambitious, and on the verge of completing her MBA—if she can just survive working as an intern for Bennett Ryan, the most insufferable, arrogant, devastatingly handsome executive she's ever met. Their professional relationship is a battlefield of cutting remarks, power plays, and mutual loathing. But when escalating tension explodes into a scorching encounter in a conference room, everything changes. What follows is a secret affair conducted in elevators, offices, and anywhere they can steal a moment—all while maintaining their professional hatred in public. As the sexual chemistry intensifies and real feelings emerge, both Chloe and Bennett must decide whether what started as hate can transform into something deeper, or if their relationship will destroy everything they've worked for. This is Book 1 in the Beautiful Bastard series.
Why I Love This Book
This book doesn't waste time with slow build-up—it starts in the middle of the action and never lets up. The chemistry between Chloe and Bennett is absolutely electric, and their banter is sharp, witty, and genuinely entertaining. I loved how Chloe holds her own against Bennett's domineering personality; she's not intimidated by him, which makes their dynamic feel more balanced than typical boss/employee romances. The sexual tension is off the charts, and Christina Lauren delivers some of the most explicit, well-written intimate scenes in contemporary romance. While the plot is admittedly thin (this is really about the relationship and the steam), the writing is engaging and the pacing keeps you hooked. The dual POV lets you see both characters' vulnerabilities beneath their combative exteriors. This is pure escapist fantasy—not meant to be realistic workplace behavior, but rather an indulgent, high-heat romance that's perfect when you want something intensely steamy.
Who Will Like This Book
This book is perfect for readers seeking extremely explicit, high-heat erotic romance with enemies-to-lovers dynamics. If you love workplace romances, boss/employee power dynamics, hate-to-love banter, and frequent, graphic intimate scenes, this will be your jam. Fans of office romance who prioritize steam over plot and enjoy alpha heroes with sharp-tongued heroines who give as good as they get will be completely satisfied. This is ideal for readers who want pure escapist fantasy romance with minimal angst and maximum heat.
Trigger Warnings: Extremely explicit sexual content (frequent and graphic), boss/employee power imbalance, workplace sexual relationship, dubious consent elements in early encounters (aggressive/dominant sexual dynamics), sexual harassment undertones, public/semi-public sex, angry/hate sex. The relationship involves significant power dynamics that may be problematic for some readers, though both characters are consenting adults.
Tagged As
Erotic romance, enemies to lovers, boss/employee romance, workplace romance, office romance, hate to love, alpha male, strong heroine, explicit content, high heat, dual POV, Beautiful series Book 1, Christina Lauren, internship, business romance, power dynamics, banter, series starter
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️Steam Level
Insanely Hot (5 out of 5 chilies): This is Christina Lauren's spiciest book and one of the most explicit contemporary romances you'll find. The sexual content is extremely graphic, frequent, and detailed, with multiple intimate scenes in every chapter. From conference rooms to elevators to desks, the encounters are raw, passionate, and leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. The book starts with explicit content and maintains that intensity throughout. If you're looking for a slow burn or subtle romance, look elsewhere—this is full-throttle steam from page one. Definitely not suitable for readers who prefer closed-door or mild heat levels.
