Is IRIS from terms and conditions Black?

this book had me dragging my inner eyelids on the concrete. lighting a cigarette next to my dad’s oxygen tank. constantly swinging my scooter on the sides of my ankles. and Shitting out my pain every morning. that’s how fucking-too good to be true- type amazing this book was. 🥵

every page, every scene, every fucking word was a banger. this book was like an addiction. i’ve had a lot of weird things enter my body but nothing gave me the amount of ecstasy that this book did. (i’m watching too much euphoria y’all) 🧎🏻‍♀️

i was on a whole other level yall. i was giggled, cackling, and straight up throwing my neck back at what i was reading on these pages. there were times i was so red in the face, I almost missed took myself for being caucasian /j…kinda 🥴

Iris, our main girl, deserves the world and nothing less. this quickly became one of those books in which i’m head over heals for the girl more than the guy. this plant loving queen was so fucking funny, smart, and over all a well rounded character. not to get all emotional and shit but she’s literally my new favorite comforter character and i saw a lot of myself in her. she’s an inspiration and i only wish i could at least be half as good as she is. 💚

this declan motherfucker can fucking get it. i do love reading about a possessive man. and when i’m telling y’all he is down BAD for her. i mean he is fucking DOWN INTO THE FUCKING GROUND, BURIED 6 FEET DEEP DOWN BAD for her. like are we just gonna forget that shower scene? come on. 😏

also the friendship between iris and cal?!? i’m already in love with this man and his book isn’t even out yet. the way he slammed the door in declan’s face…yeh that’s true friendship right there. i just know lauren is saving the best for last with him. it’s always the funny ones that get the best story in a series 😌

lauren asher brings groveling to a whole other level and with out spoiling it, all i’m saying is i’ve never read the trope as good as it was in this book. asher gave us the groveling but MORE. she did the fucking homework and the extra credit! 😩💞

also any book that takes place in chicago is already a win for me. these men are from chicago and they fucking act like it. and now i wanna go visit all the places mentioned in the book.🤩

needless to say but I’ll be snorting lines of cyanide because I’m bitter that i’m not living this Iris and Declan lifestyle. 🤚🏽

“I’ll give you anything you want—anything at all—so long as you give me a chance to make you as happy as you make me. A dog. A family. A home. I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it or leave it because I’m not open to negotiations.”

coldhearted hero who only has a soft spot for his woman hits every single time!

plus declan grovelling and trying to do everything to get iris to forgive him and go back to him was so damn satisfying🤩

“Tell me you didn’t get her a dog because you thought it would make her happy.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
He rubs his face. “Shit.”

i need to completely forget about this book so i can read it again for the first time! that extended epilogue was unexpected but so beautiful, i'm just so in love with declaniris🤍

07/08/21
wait.. declan and iris are going to serve office romance with marriage of convenience and maybe with a side of pregnancy???? i need this NOW

Rowan Declan:

No one:
Rowan Declan every 2 seconds:

Iris :

Them:

The Plot:

Me:

I think it's safe to say that Lauren Asher's writing just isn't for me. This is what a book written purely for tiktok looks like.

Recipe for a book that is guaranteed to go viral on booktok:
✔️ add 8329322 popular tropes
✔️ secretly obsessed hero from chapter 1 disguised in a 'slow burn' book
✔️ generic smut that should've been fade to black, because i would rather imagine the sex than read about a chemistry-less couple, it's just a waste of time 😵‍💫
✔️ conflict that kicks in at around 80%
✔️ the hero does a grand gesture to win the heroine back
✔️ cheesy/unique declarations of love 😍

My 2 stars are for the conflict (best part), honeymoon, and CAL 😍 but other than that I felt more reading my biology textbook at school than this. I'm sorry y'all but this is a very basic and generic marriage of convenience book. Where is the flavor in the smut? the tension? the slow burn? the gradual build-up of indifference to wanting to die for them?? sorry, but

And what was the point of making Iris black if we saw nothing about her heritage and culture? it's not even confirmed she is from Senegal, the only thing that was mentioned was her grandma having Senegalese twists (hairstyle), and I & Hala came to the most logical assumption 🥸

There was another scene where

Everyone who enjoyed this I really am so happy for you and wish I could join you guys on the love train but this did not give what y'all said it was supposed to give!!! thnx to my partner in crime Hala for reading this with me (even tho I got distracted and left you), there's no one else I would suffer with but you 🦭

💸 Dreamland Billionaires Ratings 💸
The Fine Print - 1.5 stars
Terms and Conditions - 2 stars
Cal's Book - tbr

-

the only time i'll ever read the terms and conditions is if it's written by lauren

"I want to leave this world before you because I can't imagine having to go through a single day without you."

Crying, screaming, throwing up because I don’t have my own Declan.

Terms and Conditions is the second book in the Dreamland Billionaire series which follows Declan and Iris. If you love age gap, marriage of convenience, boss/employee with lots of tension then this book is perfect for you!

This book follows Declan who has to complete his grandfather’s inheritance clause by getting married and having a family. Declan needs to find someone to marry him and Iris, Declan's assistant, steps up and agrees to marry him so he can get his inheritance. The more time Declan and Iris spend together pretending to be in love the more the lines blur and things start to feel real.

Declan and Iris are the definition of soulmates and I enjoyed every page of their epic love story. The tension between them was amazing. Watching Declan the grumpy businessman go soft for Iris was just perfection.

I 100% recommend this book and all of Lauren Ashers books!

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

bcos this felt like The Fine Print in a slightly better font. slightly. and the main reason i finished this was for all of the Cal and Alana crumbs, bye💀

i felt that this (and The Fine Print) were both extremely repetitive. to the point that neither book had me hooked in the slightest. i kept putting this aside to do other things and wasn’t desperately inclined to keep reading. it got to the point i skimmed so much bcos i was incredibly bored and felt like i was reading scenes i had already read in both TFP and in this book.

it had the same repetitiveness resulting in me thinking “i swear i have read this encounter already within the book?” “that’s definitely already been said?” “surely not this AGAIN?” there was just so much back and forth of Declan being a shitty robotic husband and said something rude to Iris, Iris sulks for 0.57483 seconds while rambling in her inner monologue how she’s “gonna show him” and make him suffer... only for him to look at her like 🤨 while saying something mildly sarcastic that she thinks is the funniest shit in history, then she forgives him and they repeat the process all over again :)

literally all he had to do was mention his dead mother and Iris was rolling at his feet like a good lil lap dog.

but i think the repetitiveness of the book stems from the complete lack of plot. what was the end goal? the driving force? it felt too aimless with Declan and Iris just having basic interactions with zero stakes. there was nothing to cause any real conflict or tension. Lauren Asher relied on the romance to do so and it worked initially but quickly lost its momentum.

”Another one?” he grumbles before shoving a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
[...]
I hit the mute button, silencing the TV. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“You’ve watched eight episodes in a row of them doing the same exact thing.”
“And I could watch another eight more without ever getting bored.”

Declan legit could have been talking about this book bcos yes, he and Iris did the same exact thing constantly again and again, just like that damn tv show. but unlike Iris, i couldn’t read any more without getting bored. well, bored is an understatement.

i did, however, i like the romance in the beginning. but i had issues with it. the basic tropes were low-key my fave. the grumpy-sunshine dynamic of them. the fake marriage tropes. the classic tension-filled unbuttoning of the dress bcos the heroine can’t reach the back. shit like that. can’t pretend i didn’t enjoy a lot of these interactions. were they cliche? absolutely. but were they fun?! absolutely.

now my main issue was both characters are infatuated with one another from chapter one. the book really is insta-lust/attraction masquerading as a slowburn. they were way too comfortable for a fake couple from the get go— at their rehearsal dinner, for example, they both have no qualms or fumbling awkwardness to being touchy feely and intimate. there’s no buildup? they already have this easy-going relationship. you’d think there’d be some fumbling, some stiffness, uncertainty and awkwardness with their first public appearance as a “couple” but there wasn’t. so it was just boring.

I take a step out into the light before I’m stopped by Iris pressing her palm against my cheek.

She removes her hand, but I latch onto it and press it against my chest.

My thumb brushes the inside of her wrist.

She wraps both of her arms around my waist, drawing me toward her. Our bodies fit together like two interlocking puzzle pieces.

this is all from their rehearsal dinner and i found it all waaaay too easy. they’re so casually touchy feely and i found it jarring. there’s no build up to this. i can’t help compare it to Rose and Jack from Marriage For One where they were so damn awkward when they made their first public appearance as a couple in a fake marriage. and yes, Jack and Rose were strangers while Iris and Declan have history... but he’s her icy-cold, stoic older boss and they’re not that close. sure they banter back and forth but this? idk, i wasn’t convinced. it was unsatisfying bcos the tension, the awkwardness and the buildup is the best damn part!!

it was just completely uninspiring. both the characters and the romance.

bcos Declan felt like Rowan, and i truly don’t know who i disliked more? and Iris laughed as much as Zahra did and man did it erk the fuck out of me😭 then the fact Iris’s sole personality trait was being Declan’s assistant didn’t really help her case either. she was so flat and generic.

she legit had no life. no friends. no hobbies. no passion. all bcos she worked for Declan and that ate up all of her time... and she didn’t see an issue with that?? and the whole thing with her job interview??? i– no words.

She looks down at her plate. “Turns out people stop inviting you places when all you do is say no.”
“Why did you say no?”
“We lived two very different lifestyles. Most of my friends had nine-to-five jobs and worked only five days a week. At first, I tried to keep up with them, but eventually I was burning myself out. I had to choose between my job and my life, and we know how that went.” She motions toward me.

it’s also hard to root for Declan, and Rowan in the first book, when their whole capitalist vibe is constantly present within the book. it’s not easy to root for two guys who are aware of the shitty wages, working conditions, etc of their employees yet don’t really give a fuck bcos it doesn’t benefit them or the company. like Iris says this so casually:

Welcome to the Kane Company where employee wages are as dismal as company morale.

it’s so bleak and disturbing, honestly. especially as a person who lives in a working class town, raised and surrounded by working class people, it’s hard to look past the Kane’s mindsets. idk why the author includes it tbh? i have read too many CEO-type romances in my life but never any like the ones Lauren Asher writes where im fully aware and uncomfortable with the amount of wealth the H has. i think bcos it’s so emphasised not only how rich they are but how shitty their workers are treated that makes it so nauseating and stark.

like this quote. idk if it was supposed to be charming and swoony? but i just found it gross:

By the time the auctioneer steps away from the podium, I’ve spent over fifty-million dollars solely for the rush I get whenever Iris smiles.

maybe pay your workers above minimum wage before throwing your money around willy nilly.

usually in other CEO romances, we see the douchey rich guy but not much else beyond his sphere of wealth. and he usually gives to charity and holds charitable events etc that makes him a little more human. but seeing how the Kane’s wealth impacts the lives of the people they exploit... not the type of hero i like ngl. Rowan in book one only changed his tune to appease Zahra since she was one of the “poor people” he was “saving”. if he hadn’t met her, he probably would be the same capitalist douchebag we first met. now he’s just slightly less of a capitalist douchebag.

Declan does do some sort of sponsoring thing with kids. so yeah that’s cute and all, but you can do that AND give your workers a decent living wage so they can afford to, you know, live :) idk maybe im just in a silly goofy mood tho. and not Iris basically flinging her panties at him for doing the bare minimum of human decency when she finds out he sponsors kids despite JUST saying how bad the wages and morale of the workers are in his own damn company😍

she spent most of the book doing that tbh. just letting him get away with the bare minimum and never holding him accountable.

then the little scene at the hospital where he demands Iris have a private room bcos “money is no object” and that the nurse needs to understand this is the “real world”🙄 he was annoyed there was so much noise of people moving throughout the hospital... sir, that is how all hospitals function. i was legit there on Wednesday for one of my annual appointments and it was the exact same— they’re loud, they’re active, their bustling. waving your money and arrogance around as though it makes you better than everyone else? stfu please.

he says Fuck this place and the people in here. “We’re leaving.” bcos Iris has to share a room for like 2.68444 seconds while she gets her injured hand checked out. he truly acted like the hospital was a cesspit and that everyone was grossly below him... which i suppose, in his mind, they are. but damn, trying to root for him when he acts like that is almost impossible. questioning the doctor’s capabilities. being rude to nurses. making snuffy comments about how the hospital is ran. Declan, sir, your privilege is stinking up the waiting room so why don’t you just fuck off, yeah??

some people might say im being nit picky and this is just a romance so im thinking too hard about things... when the author includes that sort of thing, it’s hard for me not to notice it. i can’t look past shit like that bcos it distracts me from the romance. if i don’t like the characters as people, then rooting for their romance is impossible for me to do.

and the way Declan treats Iris during the inevitable conflict was just the final nail in the coffin for me. i was just skimming by that point and didn’t even know why he was being so mean... but i didn’t like him enough to care lol.

so in the end i was kinda fed up with this book. the only thing that truly kept me going was my baby Cal. stole the show hands down. any time he was on page, Declan and Iris who??? i can’t wait for his romance... Cal and Alana second chance romance WHEN?!?

“Ya'aburnee. As in you bury me. A rough translation for the way I want to leave this world before you because I can’t imagine having to go through a single day without you in it.”

y'all i was so ready to give this a 3.5 but that last chapter... fucking SAVED it. don't get me wrong, it was WAYYYYY better than book 1. it started out so well too that i devoured it. BUT BUT i'm still a little disappointed because i did think that we'll have daddy declan grow and mature through a family, like the contract said... but we never got a daddy declan :) and that's what pissed me off. yes after sleeping on it, i don't remember shit so minus a point hehe.

tropes:
- age gap
- grumpy/sunshine
- marriage of convenience & fake dating
- best friend's brother
- workplace (boss/assistant)
- hero falls first
- hero doesn't care about sex until her
- slowburn
- forced proximity
- family drama (daddy and mommy issues)
- jealous and possessive hero

the tropes in this book complemented each other, i really think it matched their vibes. i didn't think it would be such a slowburn but it kinda was? i just kept thinking "when y'all gonna fuck already". i also found zahra still very annoying so i was bored when she showed up and was saying bla bla bla ugh. BUT i do think that i liked declan way too much so i'm upping my rating for him because the shit he does.

“Every look.” The unsteady beat of my heart floods my ears. Her breath catches in her throat as I cup her cheek. My thumb strokes her soft skin, rubbing back and forth like I could brand my name with touch alone. “Every touch.”
“Every single kiss…is nothing but a lie.”

THE WAY THIS WAS IN CHAPTER FUCKING TWO. i was instantly hooked and couldn't stop reading because HELLOOOO???

“Fake marriage or not, Iris is destined to be with one man and one man only.
Me.”

“Talk about her like that again and I swear I’ll make your last twelve months as CEO absolutely miserable.”

“If I had it my way, you would wear an ankle monitor so I could always know where you are.”

we love a possessive hero. we LOVEEEEEEEEEEEE this way too much... i was just oh my... he's hot when he's all woof woof on people.

“What are you doing?”
“Helping my wife.”
My throat bobs. “You’re growing a bit too comfortable with that nickname for my liking.”
“I use it to remind you of your place.”
“And what’s that?”
“Mine.”

“We could have one kid or five, so long as you only have them with me. I’ll give you the minivan life, solely if you want it.”

bitches come and go bruh. but you know i stay. where do i fucking find a declan? heheheh please :) i'm begging you please :) PLEASE PLEASEEE.

“I could spend the rest of forever with you and it still wouldn’t be enough time to finish everything I have planned for us.”

“Daisuki.” His deep thrust makes me gasp.
“Szeretlek.” He presses his lips against my forehead. My pulse flutters at the gesture, sending a rush of pleasure all the way to my toes.
“Ich liebe dich.”

“Ask me why I hate when people use Times New Roman instead of Arial.”
“Are you serious right now? What does that have to do with any of this?”
“Because I chose it for you.”

“Want to know why I kept the cactus?”
I nod.
“Because it was the first time someone got me a present that made me laugh.”

“Ask me why you were denied the job transfer.”
“Tell me you didn’t.”
“I couldn’t let you go.”

yes i did tear up for them :) but like in a happy way you know... IDK why i cry at stupid shit like this but when someone dies i'm all :|.... IDK OK.

ok now for the cal talk... I CAN'T WAITTTTTT for his book. i mean he's the only one who doesn't have any mommy or daddy issues. THANK FUCK. he's also just so fun and cool that idek how he's related to these grumpy men. ugh <3 <3 <3 <3

i was struggling with this book from the beginning but kept going for cal’s scenes. it was a disaster for me, to be honest. i genuinely highlighted nothing but some of cal and iris’s dialogues which were the most entertaining for me.

☁️ declan was a carbon copy of rowan plus the mommy issues. it felt to me as if the author didn’t know which route to take with his character. she wanted to make him this hot grumpy asshole with an impenetrable cold exterior when he just came off as plain and boring… declan, babe, have you ever considered therapy?

☁️ i wanted to like iris so much and i seriously tried! but somehow she reminded me of zahra from the fine print who i wasn’t a fan of. to me, terms and conditions is another version of the fine print but with a couple of changes.

declan: *breathes*
iris: HE’S SO FUNNY! *proceeds to trip on air from laughter*

☁️ for the romance, it’s hard to detect any because unfortunately, i didn’t feel the chemistry between declan and iris. when i expect a marriage of convenience, boss/employee romance, i think of angst, jealousy, TENSION, and trying their best to deny they have actual feelings for one another! here, it was insta-lust and you could just tell from chapter two that declan was infatuated with iris. if he’s already head over heels this early on then what’s the point in me reading the rest of the book? i wasn’t able to see the connection between them (except for maybe their past but? what did they bond over? what did they do except go on fake dates and annoy me with mr yakura. couldn’t care less!!)

what i liked about this book: <3 callahan kane <3

”Cal breaks through the crowd and raises his drink in the air. “Family therapy is on Thursday nights. Don’t be late!”

i knew he was going to be my favorite since day one. so far he managed to not make his whole personality based fully on his father. he is actually interesting. i really hope his book is better than the fine print and terms and conditions. alana and cal better give me the second chance romance i need from them!

p.s. read this review for some laughs <3

“I will always love you. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.”

Tropes: Age-Gap (iris 23/24, Declan late 30s), marriage-of-convenience, grumpy-sunshine, work-place-romance, billionaire romance

Terms & Conditions delivered and it was everything I was hoping for and so much more! Terms & Conditions was my favorite read of February. Iris & Declan have left a deep mark on me and it will be hard to move on and wait for the next book. Lauren’s writing gets better and better as she goes, & get ready because she’s taking you on an unforgettable ride. So hold on tight, after Terms & conditions, you won’t be the same. BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH, AND PROBABLY ON MY TOP FIVE OF 2022. At this point I’m convinced that my love for Lauren’s books and her characters keeps growing like the vines of Iris’ plant.

I’ve been waiting for this book before Lauren even confirmed it was Iris and Declan, so I was beyond excited to finally read it. It didn’t disappoint, if anything it left me wanting more of Iris & Declan because I couldn’t get enough. The book starts with Declan looking for a wife to fulfill his grandpa’s clause. The book picks up at a very good pace, from the very beginning you are captured by Declan and Iris, and as the book continues with Iris & Declan getting married we see how their relationship grows and cultivates into something beautiful and meaningful. In the book we get an insight of Iris’ & Declan’s past, and we also get to see their character growth. The book was truly perfect from starts to finish. THE EXTENDED EPILOGUE! That’s all I’m saying.

Let's talk about Iris! So, I’ve been in love with Iris since she first appeared in TFP. I knew there was something so special about Iris and she was perfect in every way. Iris is one of those book characters that will stay with me for a very long time. Iris is very young, but she is so insightful and so strong. We are able to get an insight of Iris' past, and Iris is one of the strongest and most determined people I know. Life has thrown so many challenges at Iris, but she prevails like the queen she is. I love the representation that Iris brings in the book. I don’t want to spoil anything but we need more characters like Iris that make people feel seen and give hope to others. AND IRIS IS A PLANT MOM. She’s truly perfect, I would become a plant just so Iris could take care of me. Also, Cal & Iris were one of my fav things of this book, their friendship is something I didn’t know I needed until this book.

Declan, Declan, Declan. I’ve been intrigued by the eldest Kane brother since day one. Uhh, Declan is the definition of a book boyfriend. Declan is sexy, grumpy, oozes powers, and he loves so intensely. Similar to Iris, we get a glimpse of Declan’s past, and let me just say I’m not a fan of Seth Kane—never was & never will be. Declan’s main goal in life is to become CEO of his family’s company and when he decides to marry Iris he is one step closer. In this wild road trip called marriage, Declan discovers there is more in life that he wants to become CEO & he is not afraid to go after it. I loved Declan from page 1, but I loved his personal growth and how determined he is to go after what he wants.

This book was truly perfect. Also, Lauren spoils us and she gives us appearances of Rowan, Zahra, and CAL! I loved Cal so much and I’m ready to submit my application and get interviewed to become his friend. Zahra & Iris' moments were so perfect. I’m starting a petition for a crossover for the final book of the Dreamland series, please.

--------------------------------------------------------

June 2021

Terms & conditions? umm... this sounds like Declan & Iris to me! pls pls pls & thank you. I ship them so hard already.

Possible tropes: Marriage of convince/Arranged Marriage (Declan needs to marry), Age Gap (Rowan mentioned Iris is younger than Declan), Office Romance ???

Why Iris & Declan are endgame:

1. "Iris grins as she sets up Declan's breakfast in front of him. Despite my brother's best efforts to remain professional, his eyes slide from me to Iris's skirt" (Oh, Declan is definitely interested!)

2. "She & Declan work together seamlessly. Despite her younger age, she's damn good at what she does. He even lets her answer some questions, which is a rarity for him" (Office romance please! Age Gap Please!)

3. Because I know they are perfect together (I just know it)...

Thank you for coming to my Theory Ted Talk

I liked this MUCH more than The Fine Print.

I LOVED IRIS!! the reason I read this was because of Iris and honestly, I'm happy to say that I loved her so much! THE PLANTS!!!! and her family!

“Is now a good moment to tell you about the time Iris set a church on fire?” Mom grins.

they're the best and I wish we got to see more of them, they're so funny!

I never admitted to him why I broke up with my ex a year ago. Declan probably thought we parted ways amicably, but the truth is Richard asked me to marry him. I declined. He cried.

QUEEN IRIS MAKING MEN CRY!!

I liked the plot of T&C much better than the fine print. It might be the marriage of convenience and the slow burn!! they added sooo much tension and with the chemistry between them, so good!

Delcan is... think Rowan but grumpier. that's really all I can say. dumb rich grumpy man 😂

Overall, this novel was actually very good!

The reason why it's a 3.5 and not a 4 is because 97% in, he said something that made me mad (I won't talk about it now) but it’s nothing bad, just a certain word the author chose for the scene…

since I enjoyed it up til then, I gave it a 3.5 and rounded it up!

read if you like:

→ Workplace Romance (billionaire boss/ assistant)
→ Forced Proximity
→ Dual POV
→ Grumpy/ sunshine
→ Explicit open-door romance
→ Steamy romance
→ Disability Rep
→ Best Friend's Brother
→ Marriage of convenience
→ Fake Dating (after marriage)
→ Age Gap

I'm reading the third book because I LOVE Cal, he's probably the only Kane man I'll love. We'll see...

TW: abusive fathers, death of a parent (mentioned), substance abuse (alcohol), anxiety and panic attacks.

Ok, I’m clearly not a fan. FYI: This ‘review’ will most likely be a rant (a long one) with major spoilers.

First of all, this book is basically ‘The Fine Print’ with some small adjustments. I wasn’t that exited about the fine print, so I wasn’t really planning on reading it twice. And honestly, this one is worse. I was going to give it 2 stars because I think I smiled twice or something? I also thought it was kind of cute he made everyone use Ariel because he read that it was an easier font for people with dyslexia. But I changed my mind because honestly this book doesn’t really have a storyline? Like what’s the point? We’re going back and forth a bit and that’s it. It’s also toxicity at it’s finest.

Let’s get this small annoyance out of the way first. Chapter 2 (Declan) and Chapter 3 (Iris); They are already going on and on about how they get warm and fuzzy over a laugh, and how they are trying to keep their feelings to a minimum. ‘I shouldn’t touch her like this, it blurs to many lines’.

Why?

You’ve known each other for 3 years and have never had any romantic feelings or moments together whatsoever and now all of the sudden someone laughs and we’re losing our mind?
How? Why? What changed?
Also, why should I care? I don’t know you, we’re on page 19.

But my biggest issue with these books is the ‘character building’, if you can really call it that. The men are both in their mid thirties, they are so completely emotionally dysfunctional, to a point where it’s hard to believe. I know there are pricks in the world, but Declan and Rowan are the most one-dimensional ‘I’m an asshole and I don’t want to change’ characters I’ve ever seen. Apparently there’s not a single person in the world that likes them and they want to be alone for ever and ever.

Until a woman blinks at them or whatever and they lose all control of their emotions. How does that make sense. Especially with Declan and Iris since they’ve known each other for years and now all of the sudden he’s always been in love with her. No, you weren’t? Why change the story halfway through the book?

I also have an issue with the women in these books, mainly because they laugh at

So, they got into an argument, like their first one. Iris immediately thinks about ending her marriage, jumps on his private jet and leaves without telling him, refuses to come home, refuses to talk to him and quits her job. They argued because he is angry that his abusive father is trying to sabotage an important business deal they've been working on for years. She said he wasn't handling it the right way, he told her to stay out of it and he's still the boss (which honestly, valid. Yes, you’re a team, but also, you’re his secretary and you don’t have the credentials to be the CEO of a billion dollar company) and now he’s ‘using her learning disability against her’ and he isn’t worthy of her because apparently he’s the biggest menace on the planet. Seems like a well balanced, reasonable reaction.

Of course we find out Iris was right all along, despite it actually being his job, so logically he should know how to handle a situation like this and she really has no a clue as this is NOT HER JOB.

I can't.

And then they really saved the best for last..
there’s this comment in the last chapter:

“Anxious Declan is my favorite Declan because it’s the version of him no one else knows about.”

Please tell me you didn’t just say the favorite thing about your husband, the love of your life, is his anxiety, which showed because he was waiting for your approval and he’s scared you’re gonna run again because he thinks that he’s unloveable. Literally his own words. Unlovable. How is this romantic.

I’m not going to talk about both epilogues, because I don’t like them and I don’t want to.

I didn’t think the fine print could be topped, but wow, was I wrong. I was absolutely blindsided by Declan&Iris.

These two, are you kidding me?? their banter, their tension, the lengths they’d go for each other is absolutely unreal, and i love them for it. I love workplace romances, so when I found out this was a workplace romance AND a marriage of convenience, I had my 5 star rating ready.

Words cannot explain how much I love these two. Declan, somehow, I love you even more than Rowan. His character arc was amazing and seeing the difference between Declan at the beginning and him at the end?? wow. Iris? Are you kidding me? Absolutely perfect, I want to be her best friend. I love how she never holds back from speaking the truth, i love how passionate & dedicated she is.

These two were made for each other in every single way.

Iris and Declan would be my favorites because of all the tropes in this book?? THEY FREAKING SERVED. I loved it from the start to finish *chefs kiss*

I love love loveee Iris. She’s so sweet, caring, funny and such a girl boss. The way she loves plants too?! ahh yes yes yes.

Declan, I don’t love him at first ofc but as he progressed in this book it’s so hard to not fall in love with him.

This story is also a rollercoaster of emotions it made me cry, made me laugh, made me smile ear to ear and feel butterflies at the same time. (yes, I did cry on some sweet moments too because I’m jealous :’) )

I can't wait for Cal's book, I loved him here so probably gonna love him more on his book.

〰 I’m gonna be honest. This wasn’t bad, it was just very… meh. I liked Rowan a lot more than Declan but Iris is literally a copy of Zahra. Also, is it me or do these female leads spend the entire book laughing even when nothing’s really funny?😅

〰 This definitely was not my favorite marriage of convenience novel but as I said, it still wasn’t bad. I just think the main characters lacked depth and chemistry. I will say though, I definitely liked the fact that we got to see the brothers interact with each other a lot more in this book, which I loved (it was one of the things I complained about in book one). Also, we didn’t really get to see what happened with the project at the end? I’m sure he was able to win since this is a romance novel where happy endings are mandatory but I was still surprised that the author didn’t even mention this big project in the epilogue.

〰 That said, this was the first time I see an author use the arabic endearment “ya’abunrne” and I have to say, I was HERE for it.

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I really loved Declan and Iris’s story—boss/assistant, marriage of convenience, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity—It is perfection. I loved their dynamic and the push and pull of their relationship. The tension and chemistry between them was *chefs kiss*. I’m honestly obsessed with both Declan and Iris’s characters! Declan’s growth throughout the book is everything, you could see how much he cared about her from the beginning. He’s definitely on my top book boyfriends list. Iris is so strong and doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. Ahh they’re just so perfect together!

As usual, the epilogue and the extended epilogue were amazing. Lauren always writes the best epilogues, they just give you everything you want to see before the story wraps up🥰

Ya'aburnee. As in you bury me. A rough translation for the way I want to leave this world before you because I can’t imagine having to go through a single day without you in it.

3.5 ⭐ for me. It was leaning towards a 4 but after reading Batool's and Tanaz's review (thanks for the awakening!) there are some things I can't oversee. I'm not disappointed with what I read but it could have been a potential 5 ⭐ book.

I meant to start this book yesterday but I started it and finished it in one sitting.

I'm not going to paraphrase and redescribe the plot here because that is what the blurb is for. So please, read it before you start this.

I'm a Black woman. He's a white male.

I want it all. These are my terms and conditions, take it or leave it because I'm not open to negotiations

I was so scared of what people would think about me dating my boss, but we can’t hide it anymore

He gives off a feeling that makes everyone turn in the opposite direction. Well, everyone except me

I expect you to be moved into my home by the end of the weekend

Basically, the idea is clear. It's the perfect example of all 101 tropes to exist from booktok.

What I really liked reading? How affected Declan seemed to be by this arrangement. He was so uncomfortable it was entertaining to read. He had a big man-ego to admit that he was somehow already into Iris before the signing of the contract.

Special is the last word I would use to describe you. It feels far too generic for someone like her

And, he was of the same breed as Rowan: the grumpy sunshine man. Such as being told that he might:

I swear, you’re going to die of a heart attack one day from all this pent-up angst

The swoon worthy man becomes more endearing when he stakes his claim on Iris:

Fake marriage or not, Iris is destined to be with one man and one man only.
Me.

If you try to leave me again, I’ll make you regret it

He is so wrapped around Iris's finger I wish her fingers were mine at this point:

We could have one kid or five, so long as you only have them with me. I’ll give you the minivan life, solely if you want it

If I had it my way, you would wear an ankle monitor so I could always know where you are

Iris has her own insecurities and trauma from her childhood which was explained a fair bit in this book. I'm glad this was addressed as at least it won't leave the readers clueless. I could understand her emotions and thoughts towards this arrangement. Especially when she started doubting it and her accomplishments:

What did you expect? To get married and for him to instantly have a change of heart?

I’m turning twenty-four this year and what do I have to say for myself?

I very much liked it when they started opening up to each other, Declan's sharing of his mother in bits and pieces and him holding onto those pieces of her was cute to read. Iris also responded really well by hearing him with sensitivity, I think that was important. I also liked the way Declan slowly came out of his shell to comfort Iris during those rare moments when she opened up. I thought that they somehow knew how to give their care in a way the other felt it, after the banter and fights. They're just so vulnerable with each other, I thought they were a good match.

And the fact that Declan (like Rowan, must be a in the blood thing) was willing to learn for Iris. From someone who had problems expressing his emotions and thoughts, he became someone who learnt how to phrase them in a way he can express them. 1000 books later, I still can't help melting for this:

Love I can work with. I might not know how, but I’m willing to learn. For her and only her

You make me happy in a way that makes me afraid to blink just in case it all disappears

I could spend the rest of forever with you and it still wouldn’t be enough time to finish everything I have planned for us

A man with attachment issues getting a dog that also has it is too cute for my ovaries. And just because Iris said it for fun. I am going to tell my boyfriend I want a bookshelf filled with books after writing this review, maybe he'll pick it up too.

Without a wife and a child, he has no way of becoming CEO

Also, the smut in this book is so much lesser than in the first one, like what am I supposed to imagine now? The only two parts I remember is this

I’d wear her tiny half-moon marks like a proud battle scar, knowing what I did to earn them

I have a meeting in five minutes and I’m too busy fucking her to prepare for it. In fact, it turns me on to consider them waiting outside, listening to how good I make Iris feel

I also thought that the book didn't reach much depth. There were a lot of mini details put in between the lines without any further explanation, it felt like the puzzle pieces were just missing. Declan's mother had a supporting role in the book (RIP Mama Kane) but I don't know why Declan loves her so much. The background about Iris such as how she and Declan worked, the why, the when everything was left out. It was just empty.

As usual, we have an issue at the end: the miscommunication/problem plot has a paid job. And it didn't even live up to its responsibility of causing pain between Declan and Iris. She punished him for a week and then she took him back, just like that. Then what is the point of making Declan take a commercial plane? She might as well sit on his lap in business class since she was going to let him off anyway.

47 chapters for the main plot to not be seen, for the smut to not be seen, for the depth to not be seen is unnecessary. It could have been way shorter.

I loved the idea of using foreign languages to express thoughts but the translations should be right below the word instead of at the end of the chapter because the meaning behind it is not as impactful as it is when we first read it in the context of the sentences. Do I really have to wait till the end of the chapter to find out that Declan confessed his love for Iris? No.

Though one good thing in this book was Cal and he deserves a star on his own, I can't wait for his book to be out. He picked up the pieces of Iris when she needed him so I need to know how does Cal look like in love. I felt it was nice to see Zahra and Rowan in this book as well, to know that he is still smitten by her.

Overall, I'm not disappointed because it is still very much a read-able book. You can still get through it but it wasn't as good as the first one. This book had a lot of swoon worthy moments (my bf can attest to this) but it still doesn't change the fact that the plot didn't keep up.

And I have to add this in: if anyone celebrated my successes together with me, I'd marry them in a second. It means a lot to me so seeing that really warmed my heart:

Gunnen. To find happiness in someone else's success because that's how much you love them

My review of Dreamland Billionaires #1: The Fine Print: 4 stars.

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About Me:

Plagued with an overactive imagination, Lauren spends her free time reading and writing. Her dream is to travel to all the places she writes about. She enjoys writing about flawed yet relatable characters you can’t help loving. She likes sharing fast-paced stories with angst, steam, and the emotional spectrum.

Her extra-curricular activities include watching YouTube, binging old episodes of Parks and Rec, and searching Yelp for new restaurants before choosing her trusted favorite. She works best after her morning coffee and will never deny a nap.