AUDIO REVIEW: The Reality of Wanting Him by Lex Amber & Bec Benson (Love Without Labels #1)

THE REALITY OF WANTING HIM

Love Without Labels - Book One

by Bec Benson

Release Date: July 23, 2025

Audio Release Date: February 24, 2026

Review

Such a fun premise. Blake enters a dating show in hopes of finding a wife so his parents don’t cut him off. He walks away with a boyfriend whose world is completely different than his.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s an idiot. Blake is missing a few bricks if he ever believed he would definitely end up falling for a woman on a queer-friendly blind dating show. But this sport-obsessed rich boy is also endearing, and it’s especially cute to watch him fall for a man.

Liam is a quiet farmer who knows he won’t be able to find someone while working on the farm. The one thing he doesn’t want out of a partner is someone sporty. Ooops.

It’s a pretty endearing story, and I totally vibe with Blake’s obsession over the chickens!!

My first with this pairing, but definitely not the last. And while narrator Alexander Cendese is a fan favourite that I love consistently, I also got to experience new-to-me narrator, Mac Rae. These two paired well together and made the television-themed story all the more fun.

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Synopsis

Blake

When my parents threatened to cut me off if I wasn’t married by the time I turned thirty, I thought finding a wife would be easy. But apparently, I’m not the best at dating, and almost two years later, I’m still very single.

My birthday is coming up fast, and unless I want to give up the comfortable lifestyle I’m used to, I need to find someone willing to settle down with quickly. I’m desperate and out of ideas, until my best friend suggests I apply for a new reality dating show.

Now I’m a contestant on the first season of Love Without Labels, a completely blind reality dating show where we talk to each other through distorted voice technology and texts. No photos, ages, genders, or even names will be revealed until we decide to move in together.

I knew all of this when I signed up, and even though I’m straight, I assumed it would be easy to tell if I was talking to a woman.

Apparently, I was wrong.

Liam

It’s my final season working for the family farm before I take over for my dad. I’m ready to find someone to build a real future with, but I know they aren’t in my small hometown.

Love Without Labels feels like the perfect chance to find my person. I’ve never cared much about labels anyway. All I want is someone who’s loyal, honest, and I can share my dreams with.

As we narrow down our matches, there’s only one person I can imagine a future with. Someone who listens, makes me laugh, and feel wanted in a way I haven’t in a long time.

But while I’ve kept my mind open about who I’m falling for, apparently, he’s been convinced I was a woman this entire time.

Will he still want to continue building on the connection we have now that he knows the truth? Or was this relationship doomed before it could really even begin?

About Bec Benson

Bec Benson is based in the Northeast, lives for the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, and genuinely believes emo music can make you happy. She's obsessed with mgk, a good uninterrupted writing session, and queer romance novels.

Straight to You is her debut novel.

Where to find them:

About Lexi Amber

Lexi is an American author who is obsessed with queer happily ever afters. Most of her time is spent with her two kids, but if they’re asleep, then she is either reading, writing, or watching hockey.

Professionally trained as a nurse, Lexi decided to start writing when she became a stay at home mom and the characters in her head haven’t stopped talking since.

Lexi also loves Diet Coke, traveling, and Halloween. Her house is probably obnoxiously decorated for whatever holiday is next because she thinks that little things that make people smile are important.

You can find her attempting to stay up-to-date with all social media under the name Lexi Amber.

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