The Desire Variable

Binary Hearts, Book 1

By: Ana D'Arcy

Narrated by: Marcella Black, Duncan Prescott

From the moment Andy starts working for Lex, their lives spiral into a chaos of heated arguments and forbidden desires. Soon, they must decide if their budding relationship is worth risking their careers.

When Andrea "Andy" Walker lands her dream job at a tech company, her new colleagues welcome her with open arms. It would be nothing short of perfect if it weren't for her new boss. Obnoxious, curt, and aloof, he seems determined to make her life difficult. He's everything she shouldn't want, and yet Andy soon finds herself helplessly drawn to his striking looks and razor-sharp mind.

Alexander "Lex" Coleman likes having every aspect of his life meticulously planned and organized. That goes flying out the window the moment he meets Andrea, the feisty new programmer who challenges him at every turn. Not only is she far from the compliant employee he expected, she also triggers a plethora of confusing emotions with her sharp tongue, strong mind, and tempting curves.

In between heated arguments, something far more intense grows between them—something they can't quite control. Before they know it, their working relationship gets all tangled up in his high-thread-count sheets. Now, they both face their own dilemma.

Should Andy risk her career, new life, and budding friendships for a sizzling affair with her boss? And should Lex jeopardize the solitary life he always envisioned for himself?

The Desire Variable is part of a continuous trilogy, Binary Hearts, which follows the same characters, and it ends on a cliffhanger. For mature listeners.

©2024 Ana D'Arcy (P)2025 Podium Audio

Obsessed all over again, even in audio

I already adored The Desire Variable when I first read it, and experiencing it again in audio reminded me exactly why this trilogy owns my heart. The emotional pull of this story is unreal — I laughed, I cried, and I felt every ounce of tension, longing, and heartbreak right alongside these beautifully developed characters. Andy and Lex (and Oli, Mason, etc.) have such unique personalities, and the author’s attention to detail makes their motivations and relationships feel incredibly real. Even knowing what was coming, I was still fully swept up in their journey.

As for the narration: while the voice performances weren’t my favorite aspect, the audiobook is still absolutely worth experiencing. I personally found that listening at about 1.2x speed made the voices sound more natural and matched the pacing of the story better. I also would have preferred if the female narrator had voiced the entire book, especially since the male narrator’s interpretation didn’t quite capture Andrea’s voice the way I imagine it. But none of this took away from how fantastic the story itself remains.

If you loved reading The Desire Variable, the audiobook is a great way to revisit this world and fall for these characters all over again. And if you’re new to the series, get ready — this romance delivers plot, heart, spice, and a whole lot of emotion. I’m still obsessed.