Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Abstract Love
AUTHOR: Sara Dobie Bauer
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 277 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2020
BLURB:
I hate Sam Shelby. So why do I want to kiss him?
Sam never expected to move back to Cleveland.
Donovan never expected to be attracted to a man.
Well, shit happens.
After high school, Sam Shelby moved to New York. Eight years later, he returns to Cleveland and lands a job at the best ad firm in town. It would be the perfect gig, if his boss weren’t such an ass.
After his wife leaves, Donovan Cooper questions everything. The arrival of a young, arrogant, gifted graphic designer at Donovan’s firm is the last straw.
Tempers flare over office gossip, and following a nasty argument and scathing kiss, Donovan flails away from heterosexuality while Sam struggles to keep his “no relationship” rule intact.
Despite ugly socks, fiery fights, and their best intentions to not fall in love, these bullheaded coworkers can’t deny their chemistry. Donovan seeks happiness while Sam seeks success, but is there room for more?
REVIEW:
Donovan pressed his face to Sam’s throat and breathed, “Mine.” Voice cracking, Sam replied, “Yours.”
From the blurb, I expected Abstract Love to be a light, enjoyable office romance. It was so much more and I loved it. You’ll find well-developed, sympathetic main characters, a heaping serving of humor, classic snark, and lots of playfulness. But what really surprised me was the depth in the storyline and the resulting emotions. And the tropes! So many (but not too many) fun tropes served up here: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, age gap, boss/employee, bisexual awakening, and happy/grumpy MCs.
The story centers on an ad agency in Cleveland where Donovan is the Director of Creative Development. He’s a former creative stuck in a suit who has lost his enthusiasm for work and for life. He’s grouchier than Oscar. He wants, no, needs to find the creativity in his soul again. Sam, new to Cleveland, is a vibrant, hot shot graphic designer who at the age of twenty-six was one of the best in the business in New York City and has a sterling reputation. He’s stunningly beautiful and dresses in outrageous clothing so loud it screams. His wardrobe has so much personality I’m counting it as a side character.
Everyone in the agency is afraid of the irascible Donovan … except for the new hire. They have a contentious relationship – both work and personal – from the get go, and whatever Donovan dishes out, Sam serves back better. Sam casually stands up to him without fear; he is therefore idolized by the rest of the staff who are used to kowtowing to Donovan. Sam’s flippant and humorous insubordination comes so naturally (Donovan calls him the Sultan of Snark).
Donovan was also easy to piss off, as though “Spoiling for a Fight” was actually his job title …
They eventually hang out a few times and lust a bit for each other. That’s a surprise for Donovan who is almost divorced. From a woman. At the age of thirty-seven he’s discovering his newly awakened bi side, and he wants to explore it with Sam. Only Sam. I’m Sam-sexual, he says. (Check out the light Dom/sub action.) Sam doesn’t do relationships and warns Donovan not to get attached. No sleepovers, no exclusivity, no jealousy, no complications, no exceptions. Sure, that’s fine with Donovan. Until it isn’t. Donovan feels alive for the first time in … forever when he’s around Sam.
It’s so easy as a reader to fall in love with these two men. We see another side to Grumpypants that makes him endearing, and Sam is interminably fabulous. But they both have difficult issues to deal with and that’s where the unexpected depth comes in. Sam must deal with the real – and very painful – reason he moved to Cleveland. Donovan’s having some sort of earlier-than-mid-life crisis where he must deal with his new sexual identity, his failed marriage, face his dissatisfaction with work and extricate himself from a well of unhappiness and ennui.
There are a handful of key secondary characters, including Sam’s best friend, Zen, whose personality is anything but. There’s Monica, Donovan’s PA, who keeps him in line, and Joe, Sam’s little brother who needs him like a plant needs water. Sam and Donovan’s colleagues deserve to be mentioned as a whole for their amusing reactions to the Sam-Donovan dynamic at work.
I love when an author describes what characters are wearing; it’s just a detail I enjoy. I’m not such a clothes horse myself but it’s fun – and can be hot – and gives away a lot about personality, wealth, and style, i.e., Sam in skinny jeans and red-soled Louboutin combat boots *sigh* and Donovan with his blond faux hawk and Armani suit. But it’s even better to read about the clothes coming off!
I’m so pleased to have discovered a new-to-me author whose writing checks my boxes so well. I never know what to expect with a previously unread author, but this was a wonderful surprise. The fast-paced Abstract Love is a delightful romantic comedy with some angsty times and some profound moments near the end. I highly recommend it. This won’t be my last read by Sara Dobie Bauer.
RATING: 
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