Enemies With Benefits by N.R. Walker: My Review
N.R. Walker has been dropping books like crazy in 2023. Enemies With Benefits is her latest stand alone.
While I think Enemies With Benefits has nothing on some of her previous work like the Thomas Elkin series or the Red Dirt Heart series (both of which you can find on my greatest M/M romance book series of all time list), I think that this is a solid addition to N.R. Walker’s bibliography.
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Enemies With Benefits – Summary
Marshall
I hate Valentine Tye.
I’ve hated him since we were ten years old. I hate everything he is, everything he stands for. Even the mention of his name gets my back up.
And when I see him?
My blood boils. My jaw clenches and my hands curl into fists. That’s how much I hate him.
I want to cause him pain. I want to hold him down and actually hurt him.
And if that’s not bad enough, that’s exactly what he wants me to do to him.
Valentine
I know what people think of me. I know what they assume. They all think I’m some spoiled rich guy who’s had everything handed to him.
They don’t know me at all.
Behind my carefully constructed walls is an emptiness so dark it scares men away. I like pain. I like being used. For some messed up reason, it validates me. I don’t need love or affection or, hell forbid, emotional attachment.
What I need is a man who hates me, a man who despises me.
A man like Marshall Wise.
Because never in a million years would he ever feel anything for me.
Right?
Enemies With Benefits – My Review
Enemies With Benefits has all of the ingredients of a great read. I love Marshall and Valentine together, and I think this is an example of enemies to lovers done really well. Overall, this is a four-star story for me.
We first meet Marshall Wise. He is a construction worker who is known for his playboy ways.
His friends and coworkers know he is gay, but no one mentions having an issue with it to him. If they do, he answers with his fists. Marshall is a punch first and ask questions later type of guy.
The animosity between our two main characters starts all the way back when they are just kids.
When Marshall was young, his dad owned a hardware store that was bought out by Tye Corp. Marshall’s family lost their money and had to move to a small house away from all of their previous privilege.
Marshall holds the Tye family responsible for ruining his family’s life. Especially the son of the head of Tye Corp, Valentine Tye.
Valentine also happens to be the captain of a rival rugby team. The two seem to always find ways to clash and do damage to each other.
Which, unbeknownst to Marshall, Valentine really enjoys. Valentine prefers partners that rough him up and treat him like shit.
The two first become entangled when Valentine realizes the sex would be amazing with Marshall because Marshall wouldn’t be pretending to hate Valentine while Marshall has sex with him. He really would think Valentine is trash. And Valentine craves being hated and berated during sex.
"What - and I mean this with as much sincerity as possible - the actual fuck? You want me to hate-fuck you?" Hate-fuck. That made me smile. "Yes."
"Like friends with benefits - " With his hand on the door handle, he gave me a snarl over his shoulder. "We are not friends." I smiled at him. "And that makes it so much better."
Marshall is more than happy to deliver.
Use him, play him, wreck him. My grand master plan.
This is not everyone’s cup of tea. I totally get that! But I think that N.R. Walker did a great job of writing these scenes in a way that wasn’t off-putting or gross. It was all enthusiastically consensual, and, in my opinion, down-right hot.
The two obviously connect between the sheets far before they ever romantically connect. The part of the story where the lines start to blur and the two are less enemies but not quite friends was my least favorite part.
The sex was still aggressive, but it didn’t feel like there was any heat behind it any longer. Also, the dirty-talk got slightly monotonous, and things felt overly dramatic. The phrase ‘put a load in you’ was used a lot. Like a lot, a lot. Like way more than I ever imagined. Way more than it ever should have been. Too much. I started to cringe.
However, when the two finally got together, the relationship development part of the story really worked for me. This is where N.R. Walker shines. The last 30% of the story was gold.
When Marshall starts being possessive and protective of Valentine, I became super invested in their relationship.
"No one lays a finger on you but me."
I really enjoyed getting to know Valentine and watching him grow as a person throughout the story. I don’t know that Marshall changed a lot, but letting go of his hatred for Valentine was definitely a big improvement in his life.
Overall, this is an easy four stars and, of course, five peppers for this particular variety of steam. I think you should try it out if enemies to lovers is your thing!
Hey, I’m Heather!
I read M/M romance books exclusively, and I help other readers find their next great M/M romance read.
