Not So Best Wishes

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: a manticore in HR? But *Not So Best Wishes* won me over in the first 20 minutes, thanks to Lexi Evans’ narration, which sells Lora’s exasperation so well you’ll forget she’s reacting to a coworker with a *tail*. The real standout, though, is Lance West as Dain. His voice is all smoky confidence, dripping with the kind of charm that makes you understand why Lora’s resolve crumbles—even when he’s growling about TPS reports. The chemistry between the narrators is palpable, and the production leans into it with crisp, intimate audio that makes every whispered threat or flustered retort land. The story’s pacing is its strongest asset. Evans doesn’t waste time on overly flowery worldbuilding; instead, she drops you into the weirdness and lets the characters’ reactions (and the escalating sexual tension) carry the plot. That said, the middle act drags slightly—there’s a stretch where the office politics subplot feels like it’s spinning its wheels, and I found myself fast-forwarding through a few too many meetings about interspecies sensitivity training. And while the heat level is high, some of the fantasy elements (like how Dain’s biology *exactly* works) are hand-waved in ways that might frustrate sticklers. But these are quibbles. By the time the trio’s dynamic reaches its explosive climax (literally and figuratively), you’ll be too busy grinning—or fanning yourself—to care. This is the kind of audiobook that’s perfect for a long drive or a lazy afternoon when you want something smart, filthy, and utterly unlike anything else in your library.