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E.M. Lindsey
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Malicious Compliance (Loose Lips Sink Ships Book 1) Kindle Edition

by E.M. Lindsey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 412 ratings
There's nothing like an epic fall from grace.

Relationship: over.
Career: trashed.
Home: lost.

And somehow, it gets worse when I move into a run-down apartment with a neighbor who's made it his mission to make my life a living hell. Reeling from my tragic breakup, all I want to do is collect the shattered pieces of my life and put them back together in a shape I recognize, but it's hard to do that when the jerk next door is keeping me up all hours of the night.

Whatever he does with his loud woodworking tools, obnoxious nineties punk music, and his constant complaints about my working hours, sleep is now a fantasy. Where I once composed music, I now spend my nights entertaining myself with visions of revenge.

But as the war between us continues, things start to shift, and I come to realize our lives might not be that different after all. Where I once loathed the sound of him singing Sex Pistols and using his table saw, now I've come to crave it. And I'm starting to think that maybe a faceless stranger I've never met might be the key to finding the man I'd lost the day I met my ex.

I'm not sure if the universe has any kindness in mind, but maybe during the holidays, I'll find my way to hope.

Malicious Compliance is the first in a slow-burn, holiday romantic MM duet featuring enemy neighbors to lovers, the merits of the DIY punk scene, a series of bad dates, and an eventual steamy happily ever after. It is book 1 of the Loose Lips Sink Ships duet, ending in a small cliffhanger. Books must be read in order.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Loose Lips Sink Ships
  2. Print length
    134 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    December 14, 2022
  6. File size
    5.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09LXMK9VF
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 14, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 134 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Loose Lips Sink Ships
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 412 ratings

About the author

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E.M. Lindsey

E.M. Lindsey

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E.M. Lindsey is a Romance author, an ancient historian, and avid lover of nerdy things.  EM lives on the East Coast of the United States. 

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
412 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's emotional content positive, with one review highlighting how it helps overcome heartbreak and diminished confidence. Moreover, the book receives praise for its pacing, and customers describe it as beautiful.

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Emotional contentBeautyPacing
11 customers mention "Emotional content"11 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, which is low in angst and packed with feeling, with one customer noting how it helps overcome heartbreak and diminished confidence.

"...his sister, finding his voice again in music, overcoming heartbreak and diminished confidence...." Read more

"An intense story that will make you laugh out loud, then want to cry for the pain Jules has gone through...." Read more

"...This story has a lot of feeling, even with low angst, which made me dive in and not want to put it down. I can’t wait to start book 2." Read more

"...book 2 at 1:00 AM in the morning because I simply was enthralled with the story. These two men have been on my mind ever since...." Read more

3 customers mention "Beauty"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one mentioning that Forrest is sweet.

"...It’s really beautiful...." Read more

"...Jules is just finding his feet and Forrest is just so sweet!" Read more

"...Do yourself a favor and just read them all. Real, flawed, beautiful, fleshed out people existing and finding some happiness in the gray area that is..." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book.

"...The pacing is so well-done that I never experienced whiplash; instead, I was glued to my Kindle the entire time...." Read more

"...It’s also not insta-love which is good but still moves fast enough. Loved the suspense of these two books...." Read more

"kind of gritty, fast paced, loved it!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Deni
    5.0 out of 5 stars A flurry of emotions
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    “Malicious Compliance” is the first installment in E.M. Lindsey’s slow burn holiday duet. It follows Jules and the aftermath of a 6 year toxic relationship that ends in a breakup. Jules has been away in London and returns to the United States to pick up the pieces of his life. He is an accomplished cellist, but all of that is in jeopardy as a result of his ex’s connections and influence in the classical music world. In New York, Jules navigates trying to find work, living in a less than ideal apartment, dealing with the disastrous dates that his sister sets him up on, and the countdown to Christmas.

    Jules’s apartment is an adjustment. There’s no heat. The walls are paper thin. There’s an aroma of mold. His uncle owns the building and does him a favor by letting him stay there rent free. There is a shared wall in his bedroom with the building next door. That mysterious neighbor and Jules don’t get off on the right foot. The neighbor keeps Jules up at night by loudly playing music to combat having to listen to Jules’s cello playing in the day.

    The pair start out shouting through the wall, then eventually form an unlikely friendship. They continue to communicate through the wall, checking in with one another, and providing comfort. I have to say, I loved the unadulterated connection of talking to someone through a wall in this story. As the connection between Forrest, the next door neighbor, and Jules grows, so does their desire for one another. The pair eventually end up trading phone numbers and their bond further intensifies.

    Hope and love bloom in this book. There’s a flurry of emotions. Jules tackles rekindling his relationship with his sister, finding his voice again in music, overcoming heartbreak and diminished confidence. I love how both men give the other support they didn’t know they needed. The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. The pair don’t meet face to face by the end of this tale. (That’s saved for the second installment). Forrest has held back on that next step due to an undisclosed reason. His brother Ash serves as the go-between for any in-person contact between the MCs. This story does end on a sweet note, however.

    Note: This book is told entirely from Jules’s perspective. The second book focuses on Forrest’s point of view. The duet must be read in order.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Shand619
    4.0 out of 5 stars Slow start but worth continuing to read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It took me a while to get into this one, I don’t know that they needed to start as enemies to really get the ball rolling on the love story but when the love story begins, it’s a good one! Immediately started book two as this one ends on a cliffhanger!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jenn Dawson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
    Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An intense story that will make you laugh out loud, then want to cry for the pain Jules has gone through. The growth of the connection between Jules and Forrest is one of the best I've seen in a while. Can't wait to read the other half and conclusion.
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  • Sweet Reads and Treats - Mere
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun spin on classic tropes
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I love a story that takes one small idea and some classic tropes, and gives us something new to love. Enemies to lovers and angst are some of my favorites in a romance, but EM Lindsey made her characters neighbors who can hear each other through a paper thin wall. They never meet in Book 1 of this duet, and I love how this slow burn romance still managed to get me all in my feels. Yes it’s low angst, but you will really feel for these guys as they both begin to come out of their shells. Jules is immediately likable with his youthful vulnerability, but Forrest remains a mystery for much of the story. However with little hints here and there, I fell for him too.

    When his world comes crashing down and he’s left with literally nothing when he leaves his ex, Jules has to pick up the pieces and start over. Moving back to NYC to start over has left Jules at his lowest. Moving into a basement apartment with no heat and little food makes his situation even starker. Trying to find solace in his cello, he is interrupted by his neighbor banging on the wall. From this first inauspicious meeting starts a friendship that slowly brings Jules back to life.

    I can not put into words how excited I am to be able to read both books in the duet back to back. I am super excited about the moment they meet, and I haven’t even read it yet. EM Lindsey is quickly adding herself to my list of favorite authors and will certainly have me plowing through her backlist shortly. This story has a lot of feeling, even with low angst, which made me dive in and not want to put it down. I can’t wait to start book 2.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Shewars
    5.0 out of 5 stars Jules and Forrest
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book was just phenomenal. I stayed up way too late to finish it, and even started book 2 at 1:00 AM in the morning because I simply was enthralled with the story. These two men have been on my mind ever since. I love everything that this author writes, but this was this was E.M. Lindsey at their best.

    I adored Julius (aka Jules) from page 1. His pain, melancholy, and self-loathing was just so palpable, and I just wanted to wrap him up in a warm hug. When he was blacklisted in London by his ex (who groomed him, used him, and discarded him), he came to New York and stayed in his uncle's slummy rental. There was no heat, black mold, and apparently paper-thin walls. He was beaten down by everything that had happened. He just wanted a fresh start and no one seemed willing to take a chance on him. I am interested in his uncle and sister. His uncle was so cold and unfeeling (I mean- he couldn't even come to Jules's graduation??), but still filled his pantry/fridge. And why on earth was his sister so hellbent on setting him up with losers? She needs to turn in her matchmaking card because her choices were terrible.

    On the opposite end of the spectrum, I hated Forrest when we first "met" him and his cruelty towards Jules. It almost felt like kicking someone when they were down. I thought it was brilliant that this story was told entirely from Jules's perspective and Book 2 from Forrest's. If we were able to see into Forrest's mind/thoughts in this book, I don't think it would have had the same impact. By the end, I loved him as much as Jules. And that confession at the end? **Swoon**

    I highly recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mary Vitrano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
    Reviewed in Italy on December 14, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book is the very example of talent. EM has a wonderful way with words. Without even see the second MC of this story, we're thrown in a whirlwind of emotions.
    There isn't much I can say other than what's already been said in the blurb without spoiling too much. I'm just so grateful the second part of this enemies to lovers, slow burn story is already in my e-reader.
    I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
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  • E.Muddle
    4.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreakingly beautiful
    Reviewed in Australia on December 15, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I quite like the format of this story. It is beautifully crafted; told as a duet of two books, each one sharing one single POV. I found it to be a highly engaging way for their story to unfold. I fell in love with Jules first in this first book, and then got to repeat that feeling all over again in book two. His story is so heartbreakingly sad, yet incredibly touching at the same time. Although the tears were definitely present in this side of the story, the sweetness that comes once these two start actually talking is just everything. Forrest is the sweetest soul! And look at that, my wish of getting Forrest’s perspective has been granted immediately in Instant Regret. Off to review book two now.
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  • Emma Hoggard
    5.0 out of 5 stars definitely a series to read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 14, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    - neighbours
    - strangers to lovers
    - classical musician (cello)
    - MC1 POV
    - mystery surrounding MC2
    - brotherly love

    This was honestly such an interesting concept for a Duology.

    This book was MC1’s POV with book 2 being MC2, so we only have half of the story and no idea what is going on with MC2.

    The writing, as always, was brilliant and the characterisation - spectacular.

    Jules is adorable and precious, but you can just tell that even though they are both strong, Forrest will need Jules’ inner strength that he is only finding now.
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  • Ashish
    5.0 out of 5 stars Can you fall in love without seeing someone?
    Reviewed in India on December 18, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Only with a voice and their words during your most vulnerable moments.

    The two novels have to be read in sequence and are not stand-alone books. Each is narrated from one character's POV. The first (Malicious compliance) introduces us to the main character, a struggling musician. The story builds the connection with the characters. Exposes their insecurities and turmoils. Builds their trust in each other and, on the cusp of their HEA/HFN, leaves you hanging. 

    It's lucky the second book is released silmultaneously.
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  • Maureen Crothall
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story.
    Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Right from the first few lines at the start of chapter one I was thinking, 'Oh boy, this is gonna be sooooo good!!' Jules has hit rock bottom, he has to go back home broken in spirit and in his wallet, he's at the mercy of his sister and uncle for help, which comes slightly begrudgingly. This is a painful but also lovely story as we watch things very slowly turn for Jules. It doesn't fully end here, there more in the next story 'Instant Regret', that title makes me worry but I'm off to read it now.
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