Beautiful Bastard.P1 - Christina Lauren - Audiobook Ivory Shelf |Romance

Book Title: Beautiful Bastard
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Adult Romance / Enemies-to-Lovers

Beautiful Bastard is a fast-paced contemporary romance centered on ambition, power dynamics, and intense attraction in a corporate setting.

Chloe Mills is a driven, intelligent intern working toward her MBA, determined to prove herself in a demanding professional environment. Her biggest obstacle is her boss, Bennett Ryan—a brilliant but abrasive executive recently returned from France to take a senior role in his family’s media empire. Bennett is exacting, blunt, and relentlessly critical, creating constant friction between them.

What begins as open hostility gradually evolves into a charged personal dynamic neither of them expected. Beneath their sharp banter and professional clashes is a mutual respect for each other’s intelligence, work ethic, and ambition. As their attraction escalates, Chloe and Bennett are forced to confront the risks of crossing professional boundaries and the potential cost to their careers.

At its core, the novel explores themes of control versus vulnerability, gender dynamics in the workplace, and the tension between personal desire and professional identity. While known for its bold tone and provocative reputation, the story also emphasizes character growth—particularly Chloe’s insistence on independence, self-worth, and equality within both her career and personal life.