Diving into “Hush Hush” by Lucia Franco was like stepping into a world where the glitz of Manhattan’s elite meets the thrill of forbidden romance. As someone who adores the escapism that books offer, this novel was a delightful indulgence. It’s the story of Aubrey, a college student entangled in a seductive game of luxury and desire with the enigmatic James Riviera, a man she knows she should stay away from but can’t resist.

What I loved most about “Hush Hush” was the way Franco paints the lavish lifestyle with such vivid detail that you can almost feel the silk of designer gowns and the buzz of New York City nightlife. The chemistry between Aubrey and James is electric, their romance a dance on the edge of a razor-sharp line between passion and peril.

Franco’s writing is a cocktail of sharp wit and steamy scenes that kept me turning the pages faster than Aubrey falls for James. It’s a story that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about love, and it’s this blend that resonates with me. For anyone who follows my reviews, you know I have a soft spot for characters who are beautifully flawed and achingly real, and Aubrey is just that.

“Hush Hush” is a book that promises—and delivers—a getaway from the mundane. It’s a guilty pleasure, a secret shared between friends, and a reminder of the thrill of living life a little on the wild side. If you’re looking for a read that’s both fun and full of depth, this is the one to pick up. Trust me, it’s a journey worth taking.

I’m usually a thriller reader so this was different than my normal read but I felt drawn to it. Kept me wanting to read more. Very enjoyable I suggest it!

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the ARC of Hush Hush in exchange for an honest and independent review.

As a struggling college student living from paycheck to paycheck in order to support herself and her Grammy, Aubrey is juggling two dead end jobs just to make ends meet. Even though Aubrey is on a full ride scholarship to a New York university and her obscenely rich roommate, Natalie, is footing the bill for rent, every day is a struggle for her. Any excess money she does have goes to support her only living family member left, her Grammy who raised her. Aubrey is no stranger to the struggle that so often accompanies growing up in the tough suburbs of New York. Yet, she's determined to make a difference and change it all.

Even though her best friend comes from big money, Natalie has decided to make her way in the world. Aubrey's world is blown apart when she learns that Natalie is not the 'shot girl' she thought she was. Rather, Natalie pulls her into her world of underground luxury escorts to New York's highest society members. All you need to do really, is sell your soul. Before she knows it, Aubrey is pulling in thousands for just one meet up and is addicted to the money. Everything is going as expected, that is until Aubrey meets James, a 52 year old silver fox. Aubrey is immediately deeply attracted to everything that encompasses James and quickly finds herself in a tailspin teetering between lust and love. Aubrey knows she must protect her heart at all costs and that this world of big money and seduction won't last forever. Suddenly, Aubrey is presented with the offer of a lifetime that puts her immediately at risk of losing everything and everyone she holds dear. In a steamy love story that will keep you at the edge of your seat to the very end, you certainly won't be able to finish this one without a cold shower or four.

This is hands down the spiciest book I've picked up all year (and my first age gap romance novel) and I'm not sure I'll find anything that tops this one when assessing the spice level. I'll just come out and say it, it was essentially a full blown porno for most of the book. Let's be real here ;) While the storyline was intriguing and had quite the plot twist, my biggest critique was that I absolutely could not stand the main character. I felt as if the scenes were well written and the relationship and tension between Aubrey and James was palpable, I also hated every bad decision Aubrey made throughout the book (and trust me-there were A LOT). At some points it was hard to keep going because I honestly just wanted to slap some sense into Aubrey more than a time or two, but I do see why Lucia wrote her character the way she did.

All in all, if you're on the hunt for a scorching age gap romance novel, look no further. Hush Hush has everything you could have asked for and more on that front. Pro tip: I highly suggest not reading this one in public because you're guaranteed to produce some interesting facial expressions while reading :) Enjoy!

Such an exciting read overall, different than my usual read but I felt drawn to it. Definitely elements of rights / wrongs in this love affair,

What I expected Hush Hush to be is a sexy forbidden age gap emotional romance. It is sexy. It is definitely forbidden because of the best friend's father part. The age gap is there. What I am missing is the emotional part.

Aubrey was introduced to high end escorting service in New York by her roommate and best friend Natalie. As a starving student on scholarship and responsible for taking care of her sick grandmother..it was her last resort. On her third job, she meets James Riviera. A much older ( he is 50 and she is 20), married, successful and rich lawyer. She isn't supposed to feel a connection with James. But she did. Even when it comes out that he is Natalie's father, James pursues her and she cannot stay away.

The book was slow to build up. Initially, it was all about how Aubrey and Natalie are reckless and love all kind of debauchery. Party, drink, drugs, meaningless sex..everything. I feel it was about setting up her character so that when it comes to working as a high end escort, it's not too shocking. Aubrey is a very inconsistent and volatile character. Full of contradiction. And I don't know how to feel. I am not averse to a strong FMC who takes no sh1t and doesn't care about what people think. I love them. But Aubrey's character was trying to hold to a good girl side and that messed up things. I love taboo and I am so here for the best friend's father part. But if she loves James, then why is she stringing her boyfriend along? Even after James demanding and kind of buying her time exclusively..she kept on a relationship with Daniel. It makes no sense to me. I loved when she was unapologetic about her needs and choices. But she hurt a lot of people here. James is another conundrum but at least he is clear and mature about his intentions. He is in an unhappy marriage just for his daughter's sake and his wife knows and approves his other life. When he fell for Aubrey, he fell all in. And Natalie was probably the most hypocritical friend ever for reacting the way she did when Aubrey and her father's affair came out.

It was definitely hot. Lots of scorching hot scenes. But I failed to find a connection with the characters. It was all over the place.

I reviewed a complimentary copy from Netgalley

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hush, Hush is a thrilling ride through the seductive world of New York City escorts and forbidden romance. From the magnetic allure of James Riviera to the tantalizing secrets that threaten to unravel everything, this book is impossible to put down.

With a perfect blend of steamy encounters and heart-pounding suspense, that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It's a story that explores the depths of desire and the courage it takes to break the rules in pursuit of passion.

Intriguing characters, vivid prose, and a plot that keeps you guessing, this is a must-read for fans of taboo romance and high-stakes drama.

"Make love to me?"
"Sweetheart, I've been making love to you all along."*swoons oooooh so much*

WOW OH WOW. Like Oh My God!!!! I could not stop reading this book.

A very good friend of mine messaged me and said "I think this book will be right up your street". She wasnt wrong either.

This is the first book I've read from Lucia and it definitely WON'T be the last.

I LOVE an age gap story and this was just what I was wanting. She's 21 and he's 52 but before you go judging saying "Thats a pretty big age gap"... just give the book a read. Because I guarantee you'll love it!!!

So Aubrey is living with her bestie Natalie and is in college. She's having to work 2 jobs so she can just get by. Her and Natalie have a chat one night and she finds out a secret Nat's been keeping for a while about what her 'Shot girl' job actually is. Thats when we get the amazing story EVER!!!

Mr Riviera.... HOLY.HELL. That hot sexy Silver Fox I just love him. Where can I get me one of those. Like seriously I want to find someone just like him!! He's funny, kind, sweet, sexy, oh so naughty and a beast in the bedroom. What's not to love!!

I can't get over this book and I only finished it last night. Like I want to reread it again because it was that good.

I was giggling/laughing out loud because of Aubrey & Natalie's relationship and hearing those stories, needing to take a cold shower(quite a few times) because HELLOOO HOT SEXY SCENES, swooning oh so much, wanting to bang certain peoples heads together and say 'Stop being an idiot', cried ugly big fat tears and cried happy tears.

Before the epilogue my heart was in my mouth like I didnt want to carry on because I didnt know what the outcome would be... but I knew I had to keep reading because I needed to know. Then I read the epilogue and I'm like there's only a few pages left till the end and boy I was so happy in those last few pages.

This book needs way more than 5 stars. This book owns a piece of my heart and I wont EVER forget it.

This book certainly epitomizes the underbelly of New York City as the upper echelon of society fulfilled its fantasies at a club known as Sanctuary Cove where the women under alias names are at their beck and call. I understand the driving force of the wealth received by said women such as Valentina otherwise known as Aubrey would do so in order to support their Grammy or life beyond college but the sacrifice in terms of personal self worth is huge. It is unfathomable to hide such a large part of your life such as Audrey did with Daniel especially since he believed that they actually had a life together. I can see why Natalie was so upset regarding James but at the end, love always wins. This book is highly sexualized of which I have issue no with but readers need to be aware.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read with a good balance of sexual tension and steamy scenes. James is portrayed as irresistibly sexy and assertive, with the author skillfully navigating his commanding presence. The writing style exudes sass and heartfelt moments, complemented by well-developed characters and engaging secondary roles. While Aubrey's character didn't particularly stand out for me, and the plot followed a familiar billionaire-alpha hero meets struggling college student trope, the overall experience was still gratifying. Despite some predictable elements, the novel offers a hot and kinky narrative that I would recommend for those seeking a steamy read with a touch of originality.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for a copy of Hush Hush!

I would say this was a fun story but I don't know how much fun heartbreak and stress is.

Hush Hush follows Aubrey (aka Valentina) who gets involved in a high end escort service only to fall for one of her clients (James effing Riviera). I will not ruin the little plot twist halfway through but even though I kind of saw it coming, I also still had to pick my jaw off the floor. We follow Aubrey through the highs and the lows of the end of her college career while living a double life as a call girl. The cast of characters was absolutely wonderful, including her best friend who is absolutely bonkers (in the best way possible).

This was my first age-gap romance and I can say I enjoyed it. I'm not sure it's going to shoot straight to the top of the list of favorite tropes, but I enjoyed the connection between Aubrey and James. While the first half was a bit slow, the second half was an absolute rollercoaster. There was laughter, there was heartbreak, there were smiles and tears. All around a great read that had me picking up the novella which was basically an extended epilogue.

Title: Hush Hush by Lucia Franco
Hush Hush Duet/ #1


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

"Hush Hush" by Lucia Franco immerses readers in the glamorous yet forbidden world of Manhattan's elite. Aubrey grapples with maintaining a facade while harbouring a forbidden attraction to James Riviera. As their secrets unravel, they confront challenges that test their loyalties and desires.

In my view, this book surpassed expectations, captivating me from beginning to end. The characters were compelling, and Franco's writing style flowed seamlessly.

The forbidden romance elements, such as the best friend's dad trope, were skilfully integrated into a gripping narrative filled with genuine emotions and intense drama. "Hush Hush" left me thoroughly enthralled and eagerly anticipating more, securing its spot as one of my top reads.


Thank you to The Publisher ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Page & Vine , The Author Lucia Franco & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Well, let’s say that I went into this book blind, and I was very blown away. This gave me pretty woman retelling vibes Aubrey and her job that she had to take in order to help with her grandmother with something I knew about going into the book, but I was kind of surprised how much we find out about her job And all of the scenes that include what she does. I love a really good age gap taboo Reid so for me this was a really fun book. I am not down with all the cheating spoiler alert for me. Cheating and books is not something I enjoy, especially when it includes the main characters. I thought Aubrey‘s grandmother was such a highlight in the story. She is so funny And I really liked her. I didn’t really connect with James. I thought his idea of the character was really good and I liked that he had this whole persona about him, but I did not connect with him. Honestly, this was a fun was really good and I enjoyed it, but it definitely wasn’t a favorite .

This book was very good! The premise caused me some stress, gave me steamy moments and funny scenes, and had me in tears on multiple occasions! To me the Hallmark of a good book is one that even if you don't have a character resonate with you, you still connect with the storyline. And I most definitely did.

Wow! Wow! Wow! This book was nothing that I expected going in. This page turner was one that I couldn’t put down. I was amazed at how many scandalous things that took place in this book. This was a great read for me and I would recommend it.

Wow this is scorching hot!
The chemistry between Aubrey and James was absolute fire from the start and the sex scenes were off the chart!
I feel like some may struggle with Audrey's questionable morals in this book, especially towards her best friend Natalie and boyfriend Daniel, however I think overall it came across that she was a young girl with a lot of past trauma who was searching for someone to love her hard.

Lots of taboo subjects covered in this book;
Cheating
Age gap romance
Drug use
Forbidden romance
Questionable morals

Thanks to Victory and Natgalley for this ARC.

Why did it take me this long to read this book? Because OH. MY. GOD. Age gap? Forbidden? Best friend's dad? Ayy! I'm a sucker for a fictional man that likes to take control and get his pleasure from the woman getting her pleasure, and man. James is it, baby. The chemiestry between Aubrey and James was hot as sin!

🔘Taboo
🔘Age gap

🔸Aubrey is struggling to make ends meet while supporting her grandmother. She reaches a breaking point and decides to join an escort service. However, she soon discovers that there is one golden rule she must abide by: never get emotionally attached to any client. That was an easy task until she met James Riviera.

✨Thoughts✨
Think of it as a modern-day rendition of "Pretty Woman," with some interesting characters and a lot of spice. Be prepared, as this is no ordinary romance. Rather, it serves as an awakening of sorts for the FMC.

🔸While I struggled to connect with the main characters, my goodness, did I enjoy this book! Our protagonist, Aubrey, appeared to have some good intentions; however, she often found herself making bad decisions that she would later regret. Both Aubrey and James displayed selfish tendencies, leaving their actions far from admirable. Their story was a trainwreck waiting to happen, and I couldn't look away. Although the ending felt somewhat rushed, I understand that there's a second book set to continue the narrative, so it seems fitting.

🔸Overall, if you can handle all the spice with "Pretty Woman" vibes, then give this book a try.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this fun ARC. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

My rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice level: 4.5/5🌶️

This was my first Lucia Franco novel and I am a bit disappointed with the plot. Aubrey is a college student who needs money, so she ends up taking a job as a high-paying 'escort'. She meets James and has a hard time not falling for him, but not everything is as easy as falling in love.

~~What I liked~~
-Aubrey's Grammy, who raised her after her parents died.
-The 🔥❤️ scenes were pretty good.
-The writing itself was good.

~~What I didn't like~~
-There was excessive drug and alcohol use. I don't think it was needed and almost glorified Molly as a recreational drug.
-The excessive amount of cheating. I know that Aubrey's job is an escort, but I use the term escort very loosely, because, let's call a spade a spade, she's a h0e. Not only are the men she's with cheating on their wives, James is cheating on his wife and (spoiler). Of course, James has a good excuse for why he hasn't gotten a divorce and has needs that his wife won't meet. 🙄🙄🙄
-The one redeeming character in the whole book, good old Grammy and all her cats, (spoiler).

This book was 85% smut. If you like smut and are ok with cheating, then it wasn't bad. I didn't think I would have a big problem with the cheating, but it was constantly brought up. I also struggled to relate to the characters.

This book was INSANE!!! Loved it, like a
gazillion times!! I sooo loved Aubrey, she was honest, blunt, and loyal...but James, ohhh my gaawwdd, now that's a leading man. Can't forget about Natalie (aka bff) either, she's her own side story.
Jezzz, this book really left me all over the place. Well, what can I say without saying too much...!?!?
You'll want more, you won't get enough, but it's sooo worth it.🤍

I think the book had potential but didn't really delivered for me. Maybe another round of edits would have helped with the many repetitive actions and the two dimensional characters who at times spoke like wikipedia pages and seem to suffer from a personality disorder.
Also I felt that the story was mostly a series of vignettes that didn't held the tension and just yoyoed from comical interactions to intense drama without a solid structure.

I did like Grammy and her cats - however I'm not sure it added to the character build or the story.