REVIEW: Accidentally Joining His Cult by Lexi Amber (Chicago Awakenings #1)

ACCIDENTALLY JOINING HIS CULT

Chicago Awakenings - Book One

by Lexi Amber

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Audio Release Date: September 16, 2025

Review

Slightly ridiculous premise, but in a fun way.

CEO Beckett becomes low-key obsessed with Cody, the insanely positive, happy guy who leads new-agey self-help seminars.

Suddenly Beckett finds himself dating Cody, something he doesn’t do, and joining the cult Cody doesn’t realize he’s in.

It’s fun and a bit silly, but a good read. Or listen if you like audiobooks. Alexander Cendese and Mac Rae make a good team as narrators.

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Synopsis

Beckett

When the hottest guy I’ve ever seen teaches one of those weird New Age, self-help seminars at my company, I don’t exactly pay attention to the content of the presentation. I just know I want to see him again.

He’s flirty and charming, and I find myself asking him on a date. I’m usually all about casual hookups, but Cody is different. He doesn’t care about my family’s money or that I’m the owner of an NHL team. He wants to get to know me for me.

His sunshine personality is addicting, and I’m worried that one hookup won’t be enough.

Just when I start thinking this could be something real, I realize I might have misread his always happy and interested, golden retriever energy. Because when I finally lean in to kiss him, he looks confused instead of excited.

Just my luck to want something serious for the first time, only to find out he’s straight.

Cody

I work for the best company in the world! I get to travel around the country, helping motivate people to find success and happiness—it’s my dream job.

I’m always meeting new people and making new friends, so when the cool, confident guy at one of my seminars asks me to hang out after class, it feels completely normal.

But spending time with Beckett is different. When the night ends sooner than I’d like, I find myself wishing it hadn’t, and that’s... unusual for me.

Thankfully, we exchange numbers, and I can’t stop thinking about him—what he’s doing or what I could say to make him smile. I’ve never been this eager to see someone again, and it makes me nervous in a way I can’t explain.

Then he leans in to kiss me, and everything suddenly makes sense. There’s a reason I can’t get him out of my head. Maybe I’m not as straight as I thought I was.

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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