Work for It

Jem Rosco seeks solitude at a secluded English farm to recover from personal trauma and mental health challenges. He meets fellow farmworker Gabe, who comes across as gruff and hostile despite his reputation among the locals for being caring and generous. The two men are assigned to work together on various agricultural tasks, forcing them to interact daily despite their mutual wariness. Their initial antagonism gradually shifts as they begin to recognize parallels in their struggles and personal histories. Physical labor and the pastoral setting create both tension and opportunities for connection between Jem and Gabe. Their relationship develops against the backdrop of harvests, animal care, and the rhythms of rural life. The novel explores themes of healing, trust, and the ways people build defenses to protect themselves from past wounds. Through its rural English setting, the story examines how isolation can both harm and heal.

Readers emphasize the depth of character development, particularly how the leads' trauma and mental health challenges are handled with care. Many note the authentic portrayal of anxiety and depression. Liked: - Realistic progression of romance - British countryside setting - Representation of neurodivergent characters - Balance of heavy themes with moments of humor Disliked: - Slow pacing in first third - Some found communication issues between characters frustrating - A few readers wanted more development of secondary characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (850+ ratings) BookBub: 4.3/5 (300+ ratings) "The mental health rep hit close to home" - Goodreads reviewer "Shows how healing can happen through connection" - Amazon review "Each character's growth feels earned" - BookBub reviewer Several readers noted it's darker than Hibbert's other works but praised the handling of sensitive topics.

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🌟 "Work for It" explores neurodivergent representation through its protagonist Olu, who experiences social anxiety and depression 🌟 Author Talia Hibbert wrote this book as part of her "Just for Him" series, but designed it to be readable as a standalone novel 🌟 The book is set in the rural Peak District of England, specifically in a small village known for its lavender farms 🌟 The enemies-to-lovers romance develops while the characters harvest lavender together, drawing on the author's research into traditional English farming practices 🌟 This was one of the first mainstream M/M romance novels by a Black British author to feature an interracial relationship between two British men