Handle with Care
By: Hayden Stone
Publication Date: October 14, 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235469428-handle-with-care
Synopsis:
Two rival interns. One art museum. And a missing art museum exhibit.
Dylan Alexander doesn’t need a boyfriend. Having one will only slow him down.
Freshly graduated from university, Dylan’s arrived in London, England from Vancouver, Canada for a summer internship at the London Art & Design Museum. He’s also looking for strings-free fun and a fresh dating scene. This is Dylan’s dream chance to start his career and land a permanent job in London—or else he must return to Vancouver where museum jobs are rare, and the dating pool is old news. Everything’s going great in his new life—except for one thing. Dylan must put up with rival museum intern William Martin-Greene.
Will is everything Dylan can’t stand: flashy, arrogant, and entitled. Forget that he’s too handsome for his own good and knows it. It’s bad luck that they both started on the same internship program. At least they work safely apart in different departments—until one day, they’re forced to work together when Will unexpectedly joins Dylan’s Curatorial team. So much for the avoidance strategy that had worked so far. Will’s arrival on his team is also not helping his unmistakable attraction. When Dylan and Will end up stranded together while collecting exhibits, with only one bed to share, they can’t deny their chemistry.
With only one permanent job on offer at the end of the summer, the competition is on to be the best intern. They both share the blame when an important design exhibit goes missing and risks the unexpected summer romance between them. Then, everything is on the line—including hearts, careers, and a chance at love.
A rivals-to-lovers, opposites attract, only one bed, and boy-next-door romance!
Purchase:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/43fCBkz
By the time I reach the double glass doors of the museum offices entry, thankfully far away from the main museum entry, I’m fuming. I should have turned around and gone home to change, but it’d be worse to be late to my dream internship. My vision for the morning had me arriving all relaxed and breezy and well dressed.
And dry.
Maybe it’s not as bad as I think.
I open the glass door and walk in, standing tall like I’m in one of my old dance classes. They say make an entrance—and pre-splash, I looked entirely fabulous—but showing up half-drowned isn’t the look I’m going for.
The receptionist stares at me as the clock behind her ticks ominously to 9:00 a.m.
It’s got to be bad.
I self-consciously run a hand through my hair, now plastered against my forehead. Very aware I’m dripping, I stay on the rug in the small entry, trying to look inconspicuous. And dry.
“May I help you?” she asks at last with a slightly disapproving tone, after she’s had a long, awkward look at me. She’s probably not much older than I am, her dark hair up in a neat twist. She wears a flowery black-and-white dress with a yellow cardigan. And she’s remarkably dry.
“Er, maybe? I’m… Dylan Alexander, the new intern starting today. Some jerk just splashed me with his car. Is there a washroom where I can try to dry off?”
“Oh, you poor thing! We’ve been expecting you. Though how awful. Such bad luck.” Her eyes widen. “Yes, the WC is down the hall to your right. I’ll let Lily know you’ve arrived after you have a few minutes to freshen up.”
But before I have a chance to go attempt to dry off, the glass door opens. Someone behind me clears his throat.
“Excuse me,” says a man mildly in a posh voice.
I’m blocking the door. Quickly, I move off the rug and instead drip onto the tile in front of the floor-to-ceiling window looking out to the street. An impeccably dressed young man breezes by me with easy confidence like I’m invisible, with the flipped-up collar of his pale designer trench coat and expensive leather shoes polished to a shine. He’s traffic-stopping gorgeous, with his dark brown hair curated into a stylish mess.
Rain hasn’t even dared fall on him.
“I’m terribly sorry I’m late. I’m William Martin-Greene, the new intern starting this morning.” And then, William Martin-Greene smiles a devastating smile, with a quick flash of perfect teeth. Dimples have the audacity to appear. I’m trying not to stare, but frankly, he’s hot. So I’m staring without shame since I’m conveniently invisible to him, and I’m totally into sightseeing like a tourist on holiday. And nobody’s paying attention to me anyway.
About Hayden Stone
More animal than mineral, Hayden Stone is a writer of fun queer fiction, especially with kissing. He currently lives in Victoria, Canada, and has previously lived in Vancouver, Canada and London, UK. He likes strong coffee and is owned by two cats. You can find out his latest news on Twitter or Instagram, or at his website: haydenstonebooks.com
Blitz-Wide Giveaway (INT) Ends October 22nd
Prizes: $25 Amazon gift card + 2x ebook copies of Handle with Care
Link to Enter Giveaway: https://gleam.io/CQlNg/handle-with-care-blitz
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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