Second Best by Noelle Adams

So yesterday, I made the mistake of posting a thread asking for true fuck buddy book recs—no Friends with Benefits nonsense, just straight-up commitment-free banging. Before the thread got shut down for not being specific enough (??), a literal angel descended and blessed me with the recommendation for {Second Best by Noelle Adams} —an author I had never even heard of.

Naturally, I sprinted to KU, downloaded it immediately, then proceeded to buy the audiobook because I am nothing if not dedicated to the cause. And let me tell you… I listened straight through. No pauses. No breaks. Just me, this book, and my rapidly evaporating self-control.

The Premise:

Ashley is a lawyer, and Sean is one of their firm's clients. One thing leads to another, and they find themselves in a strict, no-strings-attached sex contract, meeting every other Wednesday at a hotel, with zero contact in between. Obviously, we know how this ends, but the journey these two go through is packed with sexual tension, angst, and unexpectedly sweet romance.

Things to note:

  • Single POV, meaning we only get the FMC’s perspective—which, honestly? A gift. Adds to the whole tension/mystery/why-is-he-like-this experience.
  • Angela Dawe narrates the audiobook, and she absolutely eats. All the voices? Flawless. I didn’t even miss having a male narrator, which is rare.

What I loved:

First of all, the sex? Realistic AF. Like, to a degree I was not prepared for. The chemistry? Unhinged. The tension? You could sharpen a knife on it. And then there’s this moment where the MMC basically admits he can’t go another round, and I was like, Thank you, sir, for your service, but also, relatable.

Listen, they’re not out here having sex while dangling from a helicopter, but something about it was just… different. More creative, more emotional—like it actually mattered beyond just being hot. And trust me, it was hot.

Okay, one tiny thing—there are a lot of mentions of Second Best (the phrase), and at times it did feel a little okay, we get it, but did I care? Absolutely not. The book was well-written, the characters felt like real adults making real adult decisions, and the romance? So good. The chemistry? Explosive.

Final verdict: I will now be inhaling everything Noelle Adams has ever written.