Review: Fun, light yaoi-esque read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2013
A fun, light read with an interesting sci-fi spin. Your mileage will vary with this book depending on how much you like these points:Yaoi and yaoi tropes: One Shot is very reminiscent of reading a lighter, comedic Japanese yaoi manga in print, with its big strong Seme and smaller Uke characters, the ridiculous situations that can stem with sudden growth spurts, and when the Uke is protesting during the beginning of the sexy times but is won over by the overpowering will of the Seme as well as the Uke's own lust for the big strong man. (This was treated as more funny/sexy than dub-con. Nick pushes away at Riley, but Riley's big muscles only revel at the (small) force of Nick's push, and seem to grow bigger. Nick finds it strange and then...fascinating. Do not take this book seriously.)I actually thought it was funny because the book basically yaoi-fies its characters as it progresses. Like, it's starts as a contemporary light romance set in a business setting between boss Nick and younger subordinate Riley. Nick's smart, very hard-working, and endearing with how much he doesn't realize his own appeal. He's also taller than Riley. Then the sci-fi element comes in with the universal flu shot where half of its recipients will also grow taller, a few even much taller. To Nick's chagrin, a small percentage grow smaller and he falls into that pot, and finds himself suddenly 5'8 in an over six feet world. He not only becomes shorter, but he goes full Uke with becoming more delicate looking and his eyes even appear larger. (Do not take this book seriously.)Size Difference: If you like Big vs. Small, then this should hit all your buttons, because Riley's new height towers over Nick's new smaller stature. This means for some awkward sexy times that they try to work through. What's nice about Riley is that, outside of muscle-growing first sexy time (where he bursts out of his clothes like the Incredible Hulk--do not take this book seriously), he's not there to rule over the now seemingly more-delicate Nick but respects him and sees him as the excellent boss Nick is. That was a nice balance between all the looming and shredded shirts. (Riley is very over-protective though, so if you also dig that, this book will probably work for you.)Not a smut-fest: There are sexy times, but the story is mostly a light romance, and the sexy times don't enter until over 40%, and then there are a few scenes dotted through the rest of the story.Nick is nicely clueless in a non-forced way. He's very focused on his work, loves and is calmed by numbers and getting things to be more efficient and effective. He's very self-conscious about his new height difference and thinks everyone is judging him about it, so it's a nice surprise/theme that his nature and personality win over people without him really knowing or trying. There might be some Gary Stu in there, but if there is, it wasn't annoying.This is a light, fun story, and if you're okay with something more yaoi-fied, size differences, bursting clothes, and a sweet, light comfort-read romance, this might suit you well. It's also a little less than 40,000 words, so a pretty fast read. Could be good if you're looking for something lighter to decompress with.