Hot Under His Collar

Saw this on booktok and knew I had to give it a go. It gives me big fleabag vibes (who doesn't love a hot priest??) without completely devastating me emotionally

It was released a few weeks ago, and I finally had the chance to read it. I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. It may be a little taboo for some. But I knew that Patrick and Sasha are meant to be together. Other readers might say that their romance was nonexistent, and they are entitled to their opinions. But Andie J. Christopher has a different writing style. It’s more of explaining than directing in simple terms.

Genre: Contemporary romance, romcom Content Warning: Religious satire, steamy scenes This romcom has got to be one of the funniest, wittiest, and edgiest pieces of literature that I have read. Christopher does a brilliant job with this two POV story following Sasha aka “the good girl”and Patrick aka Father Patrick. Sasha is born into a family who values being ladylike and obtaining a practical marriage above all else, including a love- filled relationship. While Sasha has made it very clear to her family that she will not submit to their rules at an early age, she is still trapped by some of these rules without even realizing it. And despite all her “rebellion” in the eyes of her community she is a good girl. Father Patrick was not always a Father. In fact his biological father would have removed any ties the family had to the church if it were up to him but his wife (Patrick’s mom) was a religious woman who would not allow for such a thing. After the loss of his mother and then girlfriend, Patrick finds solace in seeking a higher mission and becoming a priest. The only problem with this plan is he finds himself hopelessly attracted to Sasha and thinks she may be attracted to him as they work on a fundraiser bake sale together. Will Sasha put aside her pride and tell Patrick how she really feels? Will Patrick actually ask the church to become laicized? You’ll@have to read the book to find out

Pants-feelings rule the day in this forbidden romance, where two very hot people find each other very hot and eventually succumb to the hotness, consequences be damned. Father Patrick Dooley is "not like those other priests" and fights to keep a queer teacher at his pre-K program, swears, works at a bar, and has other friends and family who live lives counter to the Catholic Church's tenants. It felt clear Patrick chose this path because of his dying mother's wish and fear of being rejected ever again from an emotional relationship (he's dumped by his girlfriend for embracing religion after his mother's death), and his attachment to the Church felt very situational to me. Being with Sasha didn't make him closer to his faith (see Priest by Sierra Simone). Patrick likes being "the guy who helps." Sasha's terrible family was also quite a ride. From her accepting her parents' paying for her condo and lifestyle, and funding her company, putting on this act to continue pleasing them, it was uncomfortable to read. I hope for the best for Sasha after she tells them off, but going from this damaging relationship to living with the man who "gave up his collar for you" was a big jump, and I'm not sure I bought the HEA. I'm glad abuses of the Church were mentioned, but wish more work had been done to address these and how being a part of that system, even if Patrick made "the choices of his heart" also made Patrick complicit. As a severely lapsed Catholic, I did find some resonance, but overall this felt more like a shallow revel in the taboo. thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.