Book: PAH! by E.M. Lindsey, Cora Rose
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4.5/5
ARC REVIEW
PAH! by @emlindseyauthor & @coraroseauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5)
Every book in the Deaf Hearts series has been a hit for me, and PAH! is no exception. I have been (not so) patiently waiting for Dex and Roman’s story, and given the unresolved tension they’ve had in earlier books, I went in expecting explosive chemistry. Good news: it absolutely delivers.
They come in hot from chapter one, before a separation slows the momentum, and the time jump that follows is a really smart choice. It gives Dex time to become more fluent in Roman’s language and culture—removing a major barrier between them—without the growth feeling rushed or too convenient. His determination to learn ASL for Thom, Robbie, and Roman carries real emotional weight and proves again and again that he’s willing to do the work where it counts.
Roman’s redemption arc was one of my favorite parts of the book. He came across as fairly one-note antagonistic in the first installment, so seeing the layers underneath that hurt and defensiveness was incredibly satisfying. “Hurt people hurt people” fits him perfectly. His past with a hearing ex pushed him to build rigid rules about who he could love, and watching that certainty slowly crack as Dex barrels into his heart is both believable and genuinely tender.
And Dex? Absolute golden retriever energy. Endlessly affectionate, emotionally open, and exactly the steady warmth Roman needs. The way he adapts his apartment to be more accessible and consistently centers Roman’s comfort sealed the deal for me. Elite book boyfriend status achieved.
This is my favorite entry in the series so far, and I’m still not ready to let this world go. I will happily take more stories in this universe anytime.
Thank you to @ theauthor.agency for providing an ARC!
For fans of: 😤 Enemies to Lovers | 🤟 Hearing/Deaf Rep | 🌈 Bisexual Awakening | 🤍 Hurt/Comfort | 🔥 Hate Sex | 🕯️ Slow Emotional Burn | 🥺 Affection Starved | 🫶 Found Family
PAH #DeafHearts #EMLindsey #CoraRose #MMRomance #HurtComfort #EnemiesToLovers #QueerRomance #BookstagramRomance #ARCReview