I loved this book, which surprised me honestly because this had way more steamy sex scenes than I usually care for in books like this. I like my smut but I usually don’t like the way it’s handled because the characters and story just become vehicles for erotica and I start to get bored.

“A Matcha Made in Hell” had lots of sex, which I actually liked for once, as well as fun, layered characters who grow and change, and an interesting college life story.

Rhett counsels his roommate, Emi, over yet another bad breakup, soothing her with a listening ear and tea made just right. Emi says he’s so good at it that he should go into business, like the American version of Japanese hostess clubs. Rhett seriously considers the proposal, since he needs the money, and opens the Boyfriend Cafe in his friend Albert’s off-campus basement.

The operation grows, Rhett and new hires offering to listen while making the perfect cup of tea to suit their customers’ moods.

Spencer intended college to be a fresh start, to become a changed man from his South Jersey high school days when he was a bully, in particular tormenting one kid, Rhett. He checks out the cafe with his girlfriend, humoring her.

But it’s hard to atone for your mistakes when your biggest mistake triggers all the old feelings of rage and unexpected desire.

The two become entangled in a toxic hate-sex dance charged with Spencer’s growing awareness of his own sexuality and motivations and Rhett’s desire for closure from his high school horrors. Lust turns into something deeper as they take good looks at themselves and who they want to be to each other.

I loved Spencer and Rhett as a couple. This really showed Spencer’s struggles with his sexuality and his fear over being gay and how that was repressed by a toxic father over the years. I expected Rhett to push Spencer more about it than he did, but I liked how he made his boundaries clear and it soon became evident it was more than lust between them. It was so cute watching Spencer struggle with his feelings and the way his frat buddies knew what he was going through before he was ready to talk. I loved how Rhett turned the tables on his bully with some mild dom action and Spencer would do anything for him.

The challenges of growing up closeted even to yourself in a conservative Catholic family were very well handled here. Finally a sensitively crafted gay awakening arc.

I also loved the side characters. Spencer’s frat buddies weren’t stereotypical and had layers. I could tell Rhett’s queer friends at the Boyfriend Cafe were getting their own books. The premise of the Boyfriend Cafe was weird but it just worked in this. I could see it taking off just like cat cafes, but I was surprised they got away with it as it gained more popularity.

All in all, a lovely, spicy story of coming of age, found family and figuring yourself out in college with the people you never expected to love.

Thank you to Booksprout for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.