Boyfriend Without Benefits (The Jilted Exes' Club Book 3) by Riley Hart

The last of the Jilted Exes has finally gotten his man, it may have just taken him a bit to figure out that's exactly what he was doing!


From the blurb:

Anthony
I’m the last single member of the Jilted Exes’ Club, and I have no plans to change that.

I’m fulfilled with my work at the club, dance classes, yoga, and the Exes. Plus, I’ve been extremely preoccupied with one Kason Maddox, the LA Rebels’ goalie. Let’s just say that since we’ve become friends, my eyes might drift in his general direction a little too much. But it’s only looking. And looking never harmed anyone…

Eventually, our texting sessions lead to dinners out and ending our nights watching our favorite shows. But when the paparazzi catch sight of us and the photos go viral, I suddenly find out I’ve had a boyfriend and didn’t know—a boyfriend without the benefits. And I’m thinking we should reconsider the benefits in this relationship if we are going to be in one.

Kason
So…I thought we were dating. Turns out, the guy I was dating had no idea that’s what we were doing. Friend-zoned without even knowing it. Cool. The equivalent of taking a puck to the face.

But due to an innocent little photo or two, now everyone thinks we’re together, so we have three choices:

1- Stop hanging out to silence the rumors.
2- Hang out as friends and ignore the gossip blogs.
3- Start dating—and both of us are aware of said dating this time.

I know which one I’m rooting for. And if I have to use a little dirty talk and some praise to shift things in my favor, I’m game.


Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's review:

"𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝙸 𝚐𝚞𝚜𝚑 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜, 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚘. 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛."

This was the sweetest freaking thing!! I loved the whole beginning. We know based on the blurb that Anthony has zero clue that all the fun dinners and events he's been enjoying with Kason are dates. At first I thought, no way. How the heck could he not know!? But as we learn more about Anthony and his past, I understood. Then I felt sorrow because how sad is it that Anthony has no idea what proper and respectful dating should be like?

I also felt bad for Kason. I mean, imagine thinking you've been dating a man you really like and then you find out he had no idea? Thankfully this conversation ends on a good note, but I was a little worried for them both when they discovered that neither of them were on the same page, hell not even the same book with one another! I was thrilled it didn't stay that way for long.

"𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘 𝚋𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚖𝚎. 𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎."

Seeing Anthony finally open up to Kason, and then the Jilted Exes was a highlight in Anthony's character growth. The people in Anthony's past failed him immensely, so I was happy to see that his future was not going to be taking the same path. Both Donovan and Hayes were loyal friends and I think the bond these three formed is one that is going to last a lifetime. It also helps that their little group all seem to be dating/married to friends. Makes group hang outs that much more fun!

"𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝙼𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚗𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚘, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕.
𝙷𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚗.
𝙳𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚗.
𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚗."

Heather's Review:

I love a good story with an oblivious MC, and usually it's a straight guy thing, but Riley Hart brings us the third and final Jilted Ex and he's just missing all the clues!  While Kason doesn't explicitly say 'date', he does all the right things to woo Anthony... and gets friend zoned...

I love how this eventually brought the two men closer and lit up their chemistry, but truly gave us the slow burn and slow build that made Anthony feel safe and appreciated, even if he didn't know he was building towards love.

I'm going to miss this unlikely friend group and I hope they eventually cross paths with more of Riley Hart's characters in the future.


Boyfriend Without Benefits is currently available as an audiobook, e-book and paperback, and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription