I'm reluctantly giving four stars, and I do it only because the book is well written with an interesting plot that others might enjoy. But, despite the description, I found the book painful to read.

The only accurate description of the genre is that it is LGBTQIAP+. There is no mystery to be solved, no thriller, and no romance (worth reading).

First, in a romance, you need to root for the two love interests. That was impossible in this book. The two "romantic" leads had absolutely no redeeming qualities. One is an opportunist who's using a fake girlfriend for his own goals. The other is someone who has no compunction about blackmailing a co-worker (who later kills himself) and his supervisor. He also stood by and watched his boyfriend's fake girlfriend-turned-fiancé choke to death. Both main characters are so despicable that I was hoping for them to get their comeuppance by the end of the book, despite romances supposing to have a HEA or HFN outcome.

Second, there was no mystery or thriller. There were parts of the story that had no resolution, though. I still don't know why Alec had a big scar on the back of his head (unless I overlooked a sentence near the end while I prayed for the book to be over). I still don't know why Alec wanted Ted to meet him at an address at the end.

The author created interesting characters but failed to write them in ways for me to like any of them.

I thought this had such a good concept and almost reminded me of the show Succession a bit (the corrupt and chaotic world of business and how those relationships are all tainted and transactional and undermining etc.).

There were some things about the writing (weird grammatical errors/choices) that made this a strange reading experience, but this is an uncorrected proof edition, so you get a lot of wiggle room from me in that department.

And weirdly, I feel like this was trying a bit too hard to make the romance happen. It felt like it was taking me a lot to be convinced that these two should be together. And the constant power struggle felt really weird to me. These two main characters are just too dramatic and sensitive in really bizarre ways that make me think that neither of them are anywhere near ready to be in a relationship at times.

Overall, I thought this was okay. I can definitely see the potential, but I also definitely think this needs an editor to go over it with a fine-toothed comb.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Thank you to Pine Hollow Projects for the ARC of Valuing Only Us in exchange for an honest review!

Lovers Ted Sullivan and Alec Young are in a game of their own making as both of them fight for a place at Kauffman Schwartz, a prestigious investment bank. Keeping their relationship a secret, they separately embark on making names for themselves, intending to one day open their own company, vowing to “value only us” along the way and remain loyal to each other above all else. Well intended, but naïve, this notion is challenged time and time again as they bet their integrity and future to try and end up on top.

Unfortunately, this one was difficult for me to get through. It was partially my own fault, as I was expecting more of a romance with a side of intrigue, and less of a full blown thriller / excavation of the darkness of greed and moral ambiguity. I didn’t read the room well enough. The corporate world was almost too specific and experienced to translate easily, and I found myself wanting less of what I got, and more of what I wanted. In some regards, I wouldn’t say this was wrong of the book, but just not a perfect match with the reader. I’m giving it four stars because in the end I think it is good, it’s just not for me. I would definitely never make it in corporate America.

Amazing cover art, though!

Good concept but needs a lot of work in editing, and communicating more on the whats and the whys.
What made them choose this path? Why do they love each other and what ties them to each other beyond their need to dominate?
The timeline needs work, and if they were a couple before taking on this path, how is it not known by others?
Despite their character flaws, I still rooted for them and wanted them to enjoy the throne together. I count that as a win, at least.

Never thought corporate intrique would be interesting but here we are. I thoroughly enjoed this story. The setting, the romance and themes were all executed perfectly.

There is something to be said about this book. First, I am going to say it hit home for me. It hit hard—how the writer finds the words to express love, loss, and wanting something more. I looked in the mirror and took these characters with me for several days post-read. This is a very well written book, I think the reader will find a sense of truth and belonging. Just the opening chapter alone took me by the neck and the rest was history. I finished this book in 5 days (due to work and school work). But I think it would be amazing to listen to it on audio.

Valuing Only Us by Cory Desmond Wolfe explores ambition and love in the high-stakes finance world through the story of Ted Sullivan and Alec Young. As they rise in their careers, their secret romance drives them to create a revolutionary company, but corporate pressures and personal manipulations threaten their bond.

Wolfe’s characters are well-developed, with Ted’s journey from a farm boy to a wealth advisor and Alec’s struggle against family expectations adding depth. While the narrative captures the tension of their intertwined lives, some readers might find the execution uneven. Overall, the novel offers a thought-provoking look at ambition and love in a ruthless environment

The cover had a mystery to it and worked with the story being told inside. I was invested in what was going on and thought the concept was wonderfully done. It had a great romance element to what I wanted. Cory Desmond Wolfe has a strong writing style and glad I read this.

I'm so sorry for the low rating, I wanted to enjoy this book and give a better evaluation. But as an other reviewer said, if the idea is great, the execution is lacking, on the prose side with tenses' issues and overall lack of involvment with the characters due to a lot of tell and sometimes disconnected thought (at least for me). I didn't felt like the two characters were connected or cared for each other (they should, but I couldn't get convinced) nor did I really get what motivated them, apart for they desire for a company. Which, yes, could be enough motivation, but it didn't felt like it.
Once again, sorry for not being more enthusiastic, the core idea is great, but needs a bit of work to make it better.

<b>✰ 1.5 stars ✰</b>

<b><i>“Bloody hands and broken backs. Strategy and trust. Complete trust that what the other does is for the best. That we would value only us. Being as one.”</b></i>

To the Author,

I think you have a very compelling idea. The business world where lies and manipulation - distortion of the truth with no chance of a gray area for ethics is one that is a captivating one that can be both ruthless and invigorating to reach a daunting challenge. 💸 😟 Especially when starting up a business venture with no prospects of one's own, save for gathering the intel and lucrative hype to gain a positive response. So, the story is there - <b>it is</b>. But it was buried underneath a writing style that was difficult for me to adjust to, let alone appreciate. For audiences to really resonate with it, please do have another round of proofreading before the initial release. A typo in the first paragraph sets up the possibility of a very poor reading experience, because you are constantly on edge of when it might happen again. 😢

And it did. 😔

<b>“</b><i>One side being the face value, what those words mean in its normal context. Valuing us and only us.</i><b>”</b>

It resulted in the execution of inconsistency of past and present tense errors that were - jarring. Jarring that it created an imbalance to the story with writing so wooden and mechanical at times that it fails to have an impact on me. It is grating and hard to connect with a disconnected composure to the characters' own believable dynamics. especially with dialogue that lacked - life. It reads more like a script, rather than a narrative - almost telling me everything, rather than showing me it - making me feel it. 🤦🏻‍♀️ The relationships fall flat when there is no reason - no presence to it. The financial jargon was very tedious and monotonous. I'm not sure I understood half of the actual legalities, but the sting of betrayal and emotional manipulation was palpable and undeniable.

I did not approve of certain euphemisms; they felt unwarranted and highly inappropriate. I don't know how they met approval, unless it was to mirror the character's train of thought, but I was cringing. 😒 Cringing and questioning why would you try to use this particular description? Some might say it is your creative uniqueness, and yes, this one was different - <i>'carrying a scribbled notepad of times stamps and negative adjectives'</i> - but in reference to Chaz - I was not happy with that. 🙍🏻‍♀️ Certain trains of events also felt so random that they came and went; it was not enough that lives were at stake, but it became almost farcical and over the top in how the reactions went about.

<b>“</b><i>Nothing will stop us from creating our company. From building an entity that is half me and half Alec. A merger of equals.</i><b>”</b>

I struggled to see <b>why</b> Alec Young and Ted Sullivan - <i>' two atoms of equal purpose and disposition'</i> were <b>so</b> committed to their endgame. What led to the mantra <I>Valuing Only Us</i> - despite the clever underlying message of this? Where did this unseen connection of that magnetic bond to build their company stem from? I understood their intentions, it was just difficult to empathize with their joint efforts, when they very seldomly interacted together. It was not enough to have their dynamic shine on the basis of mutual reasons of money, when there was no strong or cohesive build-up to their backgrounds. 🤨 <i>'My lost soul predicted my outcome and waited for the unfolding.'</i> Rather than have it leak at intervals throughout, it would have been more engaging if it could have shed light on it properly. So that the basis of how their personalities complement each other in whatever way would make sense for their private equity business to kick off. Rather than the disjointed inferences to their past, which left me befuddled ---

Till the air cleared. 😟

<b>“</b><i>The events that happened were necessary for our survival. They will remain locked in the vault, to protect both of us.</i><b>”</b>

The ending was your saving grace. 👏🏻 As things escalated in the most unfortunate and unforeseen of circumstances that it had my undivided attention. Not that I particularly enjoyed the sudden shift, but the way it happened - so shocking and just done - that it was impactful. There was one particular sentence so sharp and cutting - viscerally so - that I have to commend you for that. <i>'Sometimes doing the right thing has consequences for those who don't.'</i> There was cleverness and sharp insight that had me kinda sit back and think okay, that's how it was all planned. 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

The intensity in which Ted behaved, Alec's world crumbled, the shift in power play of regrets with misguided intentions of expectations and assumptions. 😟 It was challenging, and almost felt preordained - <i>'messy and complicated, soiled with secrets.'</i> So much of their past is integral to their future actions and choices, that I wish it had not been so disjointed so that I could have felt Ted's pain or Alec's internal struggles. I just did not feel that the writing was hitting me - I can't find the words, save there was a disconnected feeling to it. 🫤

<b>Perhaps</b> with the right audience, it will be a compelling dark thriller that showcases the extremities of the depths of darkness people fall into for money and power and control and greed. And with a little more fine tuning in the proofreading department, it could have a more polished and refined look to it, so that it is more appreciated than with this first round. But, I cannot say that I am that intended audience. I respect the concept, I just don't think the writing style is for me. 🙅🏻‍♀️

Also, please take note. The story alternates between both their perspectives. Ted is told in the first person, while Alec is in the third. I respect that this is another creative choice to differentiate in their own views on what was transpiring, but <b>there is</b> one glaring inconsistency with the shift, which is labeled as Alec's but it includes Ted's perspective, as well. I believe it was when Alec visited his uncle requesting a share in their company. Intended or not - that also - threw me off... 😮‍💨

<i>*Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

this was, unfortunately, not very good. i read the synopsis on netgalley and thought it sounded like a really interesting premise for a storyline, kind of like hbo’s industry meets a little life meets the secret history. the problem, at least to me, was the writing style. there were so many adjectives and unhelpful (and fairly unimaginative) descriptors plopped into sentence after sentence after sentence to the point where whole passages were bogged down in words that dod nothing. maybe this works for some people but it didn’t work for me.

i looked into the author just a bit and this work seems to be a labor of love that uses his own background in corporate america. i applaud the book as an accomplishment but won’t be leaving an amazon/goodreads review given this wasn’t for me.