An ideal Summer listen

I love when T.B. Markinson and Miranda Macleod co-write a book because the reader is guaranteed fun, romance and heat in equal parts. Two of a Kind is no exception.

Maisie Sullivan is a marketing assistant who wants to get a promotion to go back to college. Drew Campbell is a rancher and horse trainer who is deep in debt. When they meet during a business trip in Las Vegas, they get involved in a one-night stand but they cannot recall what happened afterwards. Months later, they discovered that what happened in Vegas didn’t stay there after all…

This is an entertaining no strings attached, opposites attract, rom-com low on angst. The theme of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” has been tried in Sapphic fiction before, but mixing it with a ranch backdrop makes the difference between fantasy and real world more contrasting. Both main characters have wishes and aspirations and reality is hard on them, but maybe together they could conquer their dreams.

Talking about the main characters, they couldn’t be more different, physically and personality-wise. Both Maisie and Drew are likeable and their chemistry is so strong that the reader will cheer for them to get together. The cast of secondary characters is very well fleshed out too, especially Maisie’s work colleagues and Drew’s little sister.

There is also a coming-out story in the plot, and I loved how natural it all felt, both for Maise and the people around her. We have enough homophobia in real life as it is and even though I also enjoy a good coming-out conflict, it’s a nice change to read about a more tolerant world, even if it’s just fiction.

Abby Craden narrates the audiobook version and did a very good job at it. Both characters’ voices are distinct and the overall tone of the narration is spot on as usual. This is an ideal summer read/listen, light, fun, hot and romantic at the same time. A great way to spend a few hours. 4.5 stars.

Length: 8 hours, 3 minutes