lgbtq+ WRITING

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Nicoló Savini was once among the greatest ballet dancers in the world, the only true rival to Felix Taylor-Brooke. After a mysterious two-year hiatus, Nico returns, accepting a position at the London Ballet Company where Felix reigns as lead principal. What follows is a rivals-to-lovers romance set in the world of professional ballet.

Nico is a fantastic character. I loved him, wanted good things for him, and found myself invested in his happiness throughout. Drake writes him with real care, and he anchors the emotional weight of the novel.

Felix took longer to win me over, and I think that’s deliberate. Drake avoids the trap of making one romantic lead likeable and the other just an obstacle. There’s genuine nuance to their competitive dynamic. Felix has wit and charm and an extrovert energy that makes him interesting in his own right, and his presence actually makes Nico a richer character too. Their relationship has arguing and affection, sharp jokes and real warmth. They’re rivals, yes, but they respect each other deeply, and that subtlety carries the book throughout.

I knew almost nothing about ballet before this book, and Drake is a good guide. She brings you into the world without overwhelming you, and the novel is strongest when it stays there: the rehearsals, the performances, the physical and emotional demands of the art form. If I have one small reservation, it’s that the latter stages shift focus toward an external event, and I found myself wishing we’d stayed in the studio a bit longer. A minor gripe for a book I otherwise loved.

The audiobook deserves its own mention. Nathan Wolfe narrates Felix, and I’ve worked with Nathan before; he narrated my own book Special Delivery and elevated my amateurish story into something warm and engaging. With better material here, he’s predictably excellent. Harley Chase was new to me, and his Nico is superb: tender, longing, and just the right amount of heat. Together they make this an outstanding listen.

Limerence is romantic, funny, and emotionally satisfying. Highly recommended.