Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Kai is a struggling artist with no money and turns to an escorting website (though he specifies no sex) to try to make ends meet. Through that website he meets a pianist named Joza who has a lot of emotional baggage, being a musical prodigy who seems to hate his own profession. Obv the no sex thing doesn't stick--they end up having sex like halfway through and forming a romantic connection. Whatever. Joza doesn't need to be dating anyone if I'm being honest lol. There's a whole conflict like 73% or something in and it's a huge deal, Kai is heartbroken. Though they knew each other a whopping 3 weeks at the time. But he forgives Joza and essentially has to walk on eggshells bc the prodigy has instability issues.
I was drawn in by the cover, but the story really didn't have any substance. Nothing really happened.

Unfortunately, I’ve been having an issue with NetGalley and kindle, so I think this is one of the books that I’ve been having an issue with where either I downloaded it a couple months back and I just went to start reading it and unfortunately the document the book wasn’t on my kindle, so unfortunately, as I really can’t read download it, I don’t have the book to review so I can’t leave a review for the book

Thank you to Netgalley for a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kai is an artist struggling to make ends meet with freelance graffiti work and a service job in a ramen shop to pay his way through university. In a desperate attempt to stay afloat, he makes an account on an escort site, explicitly stating, "No sex." When a mysterious client hires him, paying him above and beyond what he dreamed, Kai juggles keeping it a secret, his studies, and his employers sometimes rude approach, as the two draw ever closer.

Making Money In Shibuya has a really good idea, but unfortunately, it really felt as though the idea had not fully formed. I always look at self-published titles with a less critical eye, as not having editors and external checking can make a huge impact. There were plot points in this book that just didn’t seem to go anywhere, avenues that weren't explored, character development really was minimal, and even character backstory could be explained in two lines. There were also a number of grammatical and punctuation errors and instances of incorrect word use, sometimes with homophones, which made me think of when an Alexa or Siri tries to understand my broad Northern lilt. My final criticism is that this did not feel like it was set in Shibuya... If not for a random mention of 104 and Hachikō it could easily be set in the USA, the language and slang used by characters, and even a use of the phrase "threw the driver a hundred", when a hundred Yen is less than one GBP, just made it feel like the author loves the idea of Japan/Shibuya, but hasn't been.

I hate to really rag on this book. I did enjoy it, I promise! Kai was a sympathetic and lovable main character, and I loved his friendships with Mondo and Yuki especially. The bones of the story were interesting, a punk protagonist and graffiti artist was an interesting concept, and the spice was truly wasabi, I just think with a little editing and external influence this could have been really good. A good quick read to pass a few hours.

While I did like the story, and the characters it was just an ok read for me , and I could set and read it in one setting which I did

“Making Money in Shibuya” by Amanda Parsons


Kai, a student striving to make ends meet while pursuing his passion for art. Faced with limited options for financial stability, he takes a leap of faith and delves into the world of escorting, enticed by the promise of a "no-sex" arrangement. His client, Joza, a wealthy and enigmatic individual, proves to be a complex figure who constantly flirts and tempts Kai. As Joza's secretive life unfolds, Kai finds himself perpetually on edge. Can he resist becoming too emotionally attached to a struggling artist he deeply relates to? Does he even want to resist? Or will he take the plunge, regardless of the consequences?

This book was good that I couldn’t put it down. The trauma experienced by both Kai and Joza, both individually and as they interact with each other, added depth and authenticity to the story. One of my favorite aspects is the balanced power dynamic between the characters, thanks to the intriguing switch dynamic, which prevents one from overshadowing the other, despite their differing financial backgrounds. I was consumed by the end and all those events that I was crying at the realistic fear. I would love to read more of Amanda Parsons works. 5 out of 5 stars.

This one is totally a “me” thing so I’ll keep this review short.

I wasn’t a fan of the voice or way of talking. I guess it was kind of an accent thing that goes along with spray painting things? It was kinda California-ish and Slang? It kind of drove me nuts.

The story itself was pretty good. I just couldn’t get past the slang and that ruined everything else for me. But 3 stars because the writing is good.

I don't think this book was for me. For some reason I thought it was a graphic novel so when it turned out to be an actual novel I was a bit thrown off. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was looking for at the time. I may have to come back to it again later and see if I'm more into to it then.

Nice book.
I found a few things odd but as the story goes on it makes sense.
Nice twist at the ending but I should have guessed it.
Overall good book.
3.75 out of 5

I couldn't get into this one. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it, but I found the dialogue off-putting and the characters didn't feel at all real. I liked the idea of a romance set in Japan, but I didn't get much of a sense for the culture or location from this, which was disappointing. Overall it's a quick read, but I found myself skimming to get through it, and gave up at about half way.

I want to thank Netgalley for giving me an ARC for Making Money in Shibuya.

TW: suicide attempt

Kai is struggling tagger artist university student who takes a risk by signing up to be an escort. He is hired by Joza, a rich pianist who needs a muse. The story follows these two into an ever growing relationship.

I wanted to like this story more. There are many loose ends that were never explored in the novel. I would have liked more explanation on Kai's past with his parents. There wasn't much about why they kicked him out or the frisson between them. And I can only wonder that Tanka, friend of Joza, is the tagger that Kai looks up to but we don't get that. There was also not much character development between Kai and Joza. I don't see why Kai falls for Joza or vice versa. They don't have any romantic tension between them.

Now the location doesn't feel like Japan. I have never been there so I can't say how true this is but to me this didn't feel like a foreign country. It felt like any American city not an Asian one. I have studied Japanese culture in university and I watch a lot of anime but the characters didn't feel like they were Japanese. I believe this should have been placed in an American city.

I did like the conversations that Kai has with his friends. That seems natural. I would have liked to have Joza to have more interactions with them but all we get is small meetings where they accept him quickly. I believe that if we had some of this story from Joza's POV we could have gotten more out of the story, to see more of the pianist's motivations.

This was a quick read so if you are wanting a small distraction this is for you.

A captivating M/M romance that immerses readers in the vibrant landscape of Shibuya, Japan. The story follows Kai, a young man facing financial struggles and desperate to escape his abusive past. Parsons skillfully crafts the tension and allure of Kai's decision to enter the world of escort work, creating a backdrop of risk and uncertainty that sets the stage for the story's twists and turns.

The chemistry between Kai and Joza, a complicated and secretive client, crackles with intensity. As their connection deepens, the narrative delves into themes of trust, vulnerability, and personal growth. Parsons expertly navigates the complexities of their relationship, drawing readers into a dance of passion and intrigue.

Hold onto your heart, because Making Money in Shibuya by Amanda Parsons will sweep you off your feet! From the moment I started reading, I was hooked by the electrifying chemistry between Kai and Joza. The bright lights of Shibuya serve as the backdrop for a love story that's as risky as it is passionate.

Kai's determination to escape his past and make a better life for himself is so relatable, and I found myself cheering him on every step of the way. And then there's Joza – the enigmatic and alluring client who turns Kai's world upside down. Their interactions are filled with tension, vulnerability, and unexpected surprises that kept me glued to the pages.

TW: suicide attempt, gun

I received an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I get an ARC, I would appreciate it if it was really an ARC and not an un-beta-read first draft of rather bad fanfic. There are so many typos, spelling mistakes, and mixed-up words that make whole sentences unintelligible. I really hope the thing will go through thorough editorial work before publication.

The story is mediocre at best, the characters and setting would be interesting if they were fleshed out more - there is a potential but it would take several more drafts to get there.

And, ffs, put trigger warnings at the beginning if you are dealing with suicide attempts in such detail.

Kai is a struggling artist who decides to sign up for an escort service for money.
Joza, mysterious and flirty pianist, needs companionship and a muse.
As we follow along their ever-growing relationship, not everything is as it seems.

The characters were intriguing, although I found it difficult to keep up with the long dialogues. The dynamic between Kai and Joza was the most interesting part, but I felt they lacked a bit of development and actual interaction.
The novel is in Kai’s POV, and maybe it could’ve benefitted in having also Joza’s thoughts, so to have more insight and backstory of the characters.