⭐️⭐️ – A one time read with potential but ultimately missed the mark

The Other Brother by Tierney Page had all the right ingredients on paper: a forbidden romance, slow burn tension, a rockstar MMC, and a second chance at love premise. As a longtime fan of Tierney’s content on BookTok and Bookstagram, I was genuinely excited to dive into her debut. Unfortunately, while there were moments of promise, this one just didn’t land for me the way I hoped it would.

I did enjoy the dynamic between April and her best friends, Gemma and Anna; their banter brought much needed levity and heart to the story. Their scenes were some of the most entertaining, and I found myself laughing out loud at their conversations. April and James also had clear tension, and I appreciated that their relationship was given some room to grow instead of being rushed, especially considering how quickly Lucas moved on.

The writing style itself is easy to read, and the premise had strong potential. There were some sweet and even steamy moments scattered throughout, and I can absolutely see how others might connect more with the story than I did.

But here’s where it lost me...

The pacing was the biggest issue. It was too slow, and not in a tension building, slow burn way, but more in a drag your feet through the mud kind of way. Whole months would pass without meaningful development, and then entire chapters would focus on a single evening without adding depth or insight to the characters or plot. It threw off the momentum and left me feeling disconnected.

Worse still, the romance between April and James, who were supposedly the emotional core of the story, never fully clicked. Despite the buildup, their connection felt surface level. I kept waiting for emotional payoffs that never arrived. Strangely enough, I found myself more invested in Lucas, the ex fiancé, and his attempts at reconciliation than the supposed “forbidden” relationship with James.

And about that forbidden love? It didn’t feel forbidden. Both characters were single. There was no real tension, guilt, or turmoil driving their connection. When their relationship is revealed, it’s resolved quickly and painlessly. Where’s the angst? The conflict? The stakes?

On a technical level, the editing could have been tighter. There were noticeable structural and copy issues that should have been caught. April’s character also lacked consistency. Her dialogue and internal monologue sometimes read more formal than natural, which made it hard to pin down her voice.

Then there’s the spice. I’m no stranger to a steamy romance, but the spicy scenes here felt awkward, gratuitous, and forced. I skipped a lot of them, and not because I’m squeamish but because I wasn’t emotionally invested enough in the characters to care. The spice lacked buildup, connection, or heat. I didn’t desire James, and honestly, I couldn’t understand why April did either.

The bottom line is that this felt less like a story written from passion and more like a strategic brand extension. If Tierney wasn’t already a well-known content creator, I’m not sure this book would have gotten the same level of praise it’s received. That said, I do love supporting new authors, and I genuinely hope she continues writing. There’s clear potential in her voice and ideas but this just needed more emotional depth, stronger character development, and a more disciplined editorial eye.

Will I read her next book? Probably, and this is because I believe debut authors grow, and I want to see what Tierney does with more experience under her belt. But for now, The Other Brother is a fast, somewhat forgettable read that just didn’t deliver the emotional or romantic punch I was hoping for.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tierney Page, and Forever for the eARC of this book.