Malibu: Elite 8 book 2: Emmy Sanders

Malibu, book two of the Elite 8 series, is a stunning read full of growth and a really good picture of what navigating PTSD, triggers, anxiety, and other physical disabilities like blindness can look like. The romance? Lovely. Who doesn't enjoy a sex worker and a rich man falling in love? It's giving... queer Pretty Woman vibes, and that's a compliment.

But this story is way more than all that. In Dix we see Malibu "hitting bottom." In debt up to his ears, and doing everything he can think of to survive it because he doesn't want "to be a monster." ✨️side note: I absolutely would have been "a monster" to Dorothy✨️

So Mal works at Elite 8, he escorts & he also cams when he isn't working the other two jobs. When his handler? Madam? books him a job with a GOLD client Mal finally sees a way out. Six months, exclusive & live-in with his client, and he receives a pay out of $500,000. It's too good to be true.

Henrik is blind and uber rich, and wants a companion. He doesn't want to be alone. But all the escorts he hires are terrible. Until Mal.

These two click pretty quickly, both are used to hiding who they are. As they fall for each other, they have to figure out how to communicate, and actually be themselves.

Mal is such a sweetheart character. All the little details that make up who he is make Mal an unforgettable character. Love doesn't solve all Mal's problems, and I appreciate that. The emphasis on medication, therapy, and doing the work every day make his mental health struggles feel real; at least, they mirror what healing looked like for me.

While this story did have sex scenes, the emphasis was on these two figuring themselves out while falling in love. Henrik's dramatic chase & groveling was enjoyable, and the scenes at Elite 8 studio were lovely. This story is chock full of found family and helping friends make their way through life.

• age gap 27/40s
• escort/wealthy client
• mental health rep
• disability rep *blindness*
• check content warnings
• found family

“I have never in my life felt more seen than I do with you,” he says clearly. My breath stutters. “So don’t be jealous of them. They don’t see me, not the real me. You do.”

This is my second reread, and maybe my favorite from this series. Absolutely recommend!!!!



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