Hold Me
Cyclone
Physicist Jay and his online friend "Em" share almost everything except their real names. In person, Jay can't stand Maria, his friend's sister, and has no idea she and Em are the same woman. Maria, a Latina trans woman, is written with care rather than as a coming-out story. Content notes: transphobia, past trauma.
About This Book
Hold Me is a contemporary romance novel by Courtney Milan, first published in 2016 by Courtney Milan. It is part of the Cyclone series and runs 349 pages. Readers can expect secret identity, enemies to lovers, slow burn; steamy heat.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Secret Identity
- Heat
- Steamy
- Published
- 2016
- Length
- 349 pages
Where to read or listen
Get Hold Me by Courtney Milan
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A physicist and his online confidante unknowingly clash in real life as he battles his dislike for her real-world persona.
- Fans of secret identity romances
- Readers looking for trans representation
- Introspective
- Features Secret Identity
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Balanced
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Jay communicates with an online friend named 'Em,' sharing deep confidences while remaining oblivious to the fact that his real-life nemesis, Maria, is the woman on the other side of the screen. As Jay and Maria's real-world interactions continue to be fraught with tension, the lines between his digital bond and his physical reality become increasingly complex.
Central Conflict
The protagonist's internal conflict and inability to reconcile his intense dislike for Maria with his growing emotional connection to his anonymous online friend, 'Em'.
Setting
Contemporary, digital and in-person.
Strengths
- Unique premise
- Sensitive handling of trans identity
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Courtney Milan
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Courtney Milan
- Published
- 2016
- Length
- 349 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781539664369
- ISBN-10
- 1539664368
Hold Me: quick answers
- Who wrote Hold Me?
- Hold Me was written by Courtney Milan.
- When was Hold Me published?
- Hold Me was first published in 2016 by Courtney Milan.
- What genre is Hold Me?
- Hold Me is a contemporary romance novel, with secret identity, enemies to lovers, slow burn.
- How many pages is Hold Me?
- Hold Me is 349 pages long.
- Is Hold Me part of a series?
- Yes — it is part of the Cyclone series.
- How spicy is Hold Me?
- EIKNA rates Hold Me as steamy heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Hold Me by Courtney Milan
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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