Topped (Lick It! Book 3) by Charlie Novak

It's time for the last member of the Lick It! staff to find his match. With a beautiful neurospivy representation. Milo and Rupert find that falling in love is the sweetest thing.


From the blurb:

Top It With Cream & Say Please

Having spent the summer antagonising Rupert, the gorgeous sweet shop owner next door, I’m ready to make amends. Unfortunately, he thinks I’m a prick.

Rupert might be uptight and annoying, but he’s also the most interesting man I’ve ever met, and I’m utterly intrigued by him. When one casual hangout blossoms into friendship, I can’t help feeling I’ve misjudged the man I’ve spent months annoying.

But Rupert guards his heart carefully. He’s convinced nobody wants to be around someone so prickly and sensitive, and refuses to let anyone in.

I’m not one to back down from a challenge, and I know there’s more to the bright, beautiful man next door than he’s ever let anyone see. It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to show Rupert he’s not the unlovable irritation he believes himself to be.

In fact, we might just be perfect for each other.


Molly Otto's review:

Milo and Rupert did not get off on the right foot when they opened Lick It! What started with a petty feud turned to wanting to get to know the other more. With the colder months now approaching Heather's Bay and both this friends in happily committed relationships Milo finds himself wanting to know more about Rupert. Rupert has issues letting people into his life with a serious case of rejection sensitivity he doesn't always trust his brain or self to say or do the right thing. But Milo has a way of being perfectly honest in allowing Rupert to know exactly what is on his mind to cause him not to have to overthink his actions. Their courtship was admittedly rocky if both having fears of being fully themselves but as they allow the other in they find they were truly meant to be together. A perfect closing to the Lick It! Trilogy from Charlie and as with all of us I hope to return to Heathers Bay sooner rather than later.


SNik's review:

Third and finale in series (Lick It!), and can be read as a standalone, but best if read in order. Former adversaries become friends to lovers. Dual POV. 

Milo may have had a petty war with the neighboring sweet shop owner, but there’s something about Rupert that Milo has to acknowledge riles him up. Rupert isn’t sure about Milo’s sudden friendly overtures, but they get along so well and fall into a casual relationship that may be something more if either of them stopped to think about it. 

Milo’s chaotic energy makes him such a fun character to read, and his fixation on Rupert is understandable. The mutual attraction is inevitable, both men are likable and have their own neurodifferences and find they appreciate each other on various levels. There are plenty of steamy scenes and supportive side characters and I really enjoyed how well Milo and Rupert get along. The honest communication was my type of romantic and how they saw each other positively no matter what was swoony for me. I’m sad to see this series end but really enjoyed this final story. 

Katriana Prey's review:

Milo and Rupert's story was very unexpected! I knew that they were going to have an interesting road ahead of them seeing as how they spent their summer being rivals. I wasn't expecting for their story to be relatively low-angst though, and that was a nice surprise! These two men couldn't be more different personality wise, but they also have a lot of similarities as well. Like both of them having different forms of ADHD, them both loving snakes, and enjoying ice cream, among other things as well. I enjoyed reading this book and seeing all of these characters again.

This was the first time I've read about Rejection Sensitivity in a book, and I have to say a huge thank you to the author for having that representation included. As someone who lives with it, all of those things that Rupert talked about and the thoughts that were spiraling in his head, they were so relatable and realistic too. That's exactly what its like living with that.

The relationship between the two men was great, they sort of fell into a relationship without discussing it, but it felt natural for them somehow. I will say that I think there was a little too much focus on steamy scenes, I would've loved more chapters of these two out on dates, or having more movie nights, or something along those lines, but I did still enjoy reading this story regardless of that.

The ending was brilliant, and was probably my favorite part of the whole book! What a beautiful way to end a story and to make the series and this lovely cast of characters come full circle.

Heather's review:

You know how we always get told that the irritating person is just trying to get our attention because they don't know how to say they like us?  That's kind of the case with Topped... we learn that Regection Sensitivity is a true neurospicy issue and we get to see how two neurodivergent people can make a relationship work if they both want the same thing... it moves from petty rivalry to friendship to more at a lovely pace and it was fun watching these two men connect on multiple levels.

I'm sad that we're done with the Lick It! books, but I hope we'll be back in Heather Bay soon, getting to check on the guys and the rest of the Heather Bay men.

Topped is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription