As a longtime fan of the Cocky Kingsmen, I went into The Goat in the Bedroom excited. While it delivered some of the familiar comfort and lighthearted tone the series is known for, this installment ultimately fell short for me.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was solid overall. The performances kept the story engaging and easy to follow, and the pacing worked well, which helped even when the story itself was not fully clicking for me.

Gryff and Artemis have been friends for years, and the friends to lovers setup had a lot of promise. However, the heavy reliance on the miscommunication trope made their journey more frustrating than satisfying at times. This is a trope I tend to struggle with, and it played a larger role here than I would have liked.

One thing Amy Award continues to do well is portray plus size women as confident, desirable, and deeply attractive. Artemis is written with care and appreciation for her body, and that representation remains a consistent strength of the series and of the author’s work overall.

Where the book really lost me was in the handling of bisexual representation. Gryff and Artemis being bisexual felt more like a shared trait used to push the plot forward rather than a meaningful part of who they are. It was explored very lightly and ended up functioning more as a device for manipulation and blackmail by the reality TV producer than as genuine representation. Given how common bi erasure still is, this felt like a missed opportunity.

I was also disappointed by how Artemis’s career arc was resolved. She gives up the chance to return to her homeland, spend time with her father, and compete in the Olympics for the country she dreamed of representing, all for her relationship with Gryff. Even framed as true love, that choice did not sit well with me. With two professional athletes, significant financial security, and access to private travel, it felt unrealistic that there was no way for her to pursue that dream, even for a few years, while still maintaining their relationship.

Overall, this book offers lighthearted fluff, familiar series vibes, and decent chemistry. It just did not deliver the emotional depth or character growth I was hoping for as a fan of the series.

I rated this book 3 out of 5 stars, with the spice landing around a 2.5 out of 5.