Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher: A Disappointing Sequel

Hello, dear reader!

I just finished Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher, the second novel in the Dreamland Billionaires series, and unfortunately, it was a bit of a disappointment for me. I ended up giving it three stars, but truthfully, it felt more like a 2.75.

What Didn’t Work

From the start, the story just didn’t pull me in. Sure, the premise revolves around an arranged marriage between a billionaire and his assistant, which had potential, but it quickly fell flat.

• The Trope Execution: The whole “grumpy billionaire marrying for his inheritance” trope felt uninspired. Declan, our billionaire protagonist, is moody, entitled, and thinks he owns the world. The entire premise of him needing to marry and have a child simply to secure his inheritance didn’t sit well with me especially when compared to his brother Rowan’s thoughtful condition in The Fine Print. It felt lazy in comparison and lacked substance.

• Third-Act Breakup (Again): My ultimate frustration with so many romance books the third-act breakup. Why does this keep happening? They’re in an arranged marriage! They should be figuring out how to make it work, not dramatically falling apart. It felt unnecessary, unrealistic, and completely threw me off. A breakup here didn’t add emotional depth; it just felt like forced drama for the sake of it.

Reading Experience

The pacing was another challenge for me. It took me ages to get through the first 100 pages, and even though it eventually picked up, it was hard to stay motivated. A 400-page book should have flown by, but this one dragged on for me, and I found myself losing interest more than once.

Disappointment Compared to The Fine Print

I really enjoyed The Fine Print, which I gave a solid four stars. It had charm and heart, and Rowan’s journey to earn his inheritance was meaningful and creative. In contrast, Declan’s story felt lackluster, and that disparity only made Terms and Conditions harder to love.

On top of that, the setup for the next book about the third brother feels equally unbalanced. His requirement for earning his inheritance, reaching out to his ex, is laughably simple compared to Rowan’s thoughtful journey or even Declan’s marriage. It just doesn’t feel cohesive across the series.

Final Thoughts

In short, Terms and Conditions failed to meet my expectations. From the uninspiring premise to the annoying third-act breakup, it left me frustrated and disappointed. It lacked the magic that made The Fine Print such an enjoyable read.

If you’ve read this series, let me know what you think—am I being too harsh, or did you feel similarly? Here’s hoping the next book brings back some of that original spark!

Wishing you a lovely evening!