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mollyreadsandcrafts's Reviews (978)
I liked this enough, but it just fell kind of flat for me as the book went on. It was written well and had good characters, it just was a little slow.
Aspen and Keene have been best friends since childhood. One dare in high school makes Keene start to question his sexuality. A few years later he admits this to Aspen, and Aspen volunteers to help Keene physically explore his sexuality. Because what can go wrong when you start hooking up with your best friend?
I did like Aspen and Keene's relationship when they weren't worried about all the extra stuff. They had a solid friendship and the physical and more romantic side evolved really naturally between them. It was obvious they were always meant for something more than friendship, and I loved all their sweet tender moments together.
What I didn't love was that the story was just kind of bland. Most of it was Aspen and Keene hooking up and developing feelings but not talking about it. It got a little repetitive and dragged out a lot longer than I felt it needed to. Then conflict was wrapped up quickly. It took months in the book, but we don't get any details on Aspen's "soul searching" or Keene getting over his anger. It just happens, and it made me feel kind of detached from it all. I loved that Keene put him in his place and didn't take him back immediately, but I wish we got more of what happened when they were apart.
I like CE Ricci's writing and style, I think this was just a miss for me. I'm intrigued by her plans for a book about Avery, I love a good redemption arc. Looking forward to what she puts out next!
Read if you like:
• best friends to lovers
• baseball
• bi-awakening
Aspen and Keene have been best friends since childhood. One dare in high school makes Keene start to question his sexuality. A few years later he admits this to Aspen, and Aspen volunteers to help Keene physically explore his sexuality. Because what can go wrong when you start hooking up with your best friend?
I did like Aspen and Keene's relationship when they weren't worried about all the extra stuff. They had a solid friendship and the physical and more romantic side evolved really naturally between them. It was obvious they were always meant for something more than friendship, and I loved all their sweet tender moments together.
What I didn't love was that the story was just kind of bland. Most of it was Aspen and Keene hooking up and developing feelings but not talking about it. It got a little repetitive and dragged out a lot longer than I felt it needed to. Then conflict was wrapped up quickly. It took months in the book, but we don't get any details on Aspen's "soul searching" or Keene getting over his anger. It just happens, and it made me feel kind of detached from it all. I loved that Keene put him in his place and didn't take him back immediately, but I wish we got more of what happened when they were apart.
I like CE Ricci's writing and style, I think this was just a miss for me. I'm intrigued by her plans for a book about Avery, I love a good redemption arc. Looking forward to what she puts out next!
Read if you like:
• best friends to lovers
• baseball
• bi-awakening
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this after the author's note that it wouldn't be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. Holden was amazing while Phoenix grew on me after a while. Lots of angst and drama and all the good stuff.
Phoenix and Kason are BFFs/basically brothers, and Phoenix is super protective of Kason. So when Holden, a huge playboy, becomes interested in Kason, Phoenix isn't a fan. I didn't love how Phoenix handled this. I thought it was way too much and he needed to let Kason live his life. Kason and Phoenix are codependent, with Phoenix giving Kason whatever he asks for and Kason relying too much on Phoenix. But I thought trying to cockblock him at every opportunity while Kason was trying to explore his sexuality after just coming out of the closet wasn't necessary or supportive. However, their friendship has its own arc throughout the story, and I did like where it ended.
Phoenix trying to interfere with Kason and Holden's budding romance puts him and Holden in this back and forth that slowly turns into something more. Aside from everything with Kason, I loved Phoenix and Holden together. Holden is a top book boyfriend in my opinion, funny and loving. He knew what he wanted and went for it despite knowing it was going to be a messier option. Phoenix grew on me. I didn't love that he wouldn't just communicate with Kason, not only to alleviate his own guilt but so he could just be with Holden with no secrets. When they were together though, they had such an amazing connection. Not only just great chemistry but similar interests and values which lead to really fun banter and swoony moments.
As far as the "love triangle" aspect, to me Holden and Kason weren't together. They were interested one another superficially, and I think Phoenix didn't make great choices, but it was lying about it after the fact that was the biggest issue. That being said, I'm really excited to get into Kason's story when it comes out. I think he deserves a chance to be more independent after leaning on Phoenix for so long. Can't wait to see what comes next for everyone in the series!
Read if you like
• sports romance
• secret relationship
• hate to love
Phoenix and Kason are BFFs/basically brothers, and Phoenix is super protective of Kason. So when Holden, a huge playboy, becomes interested in Kason, Phoenix isn't a fan. I didn't love how Phoenix handled this. I thought it was way too much and he needed to let Kason live his life. Kason and Phoenix are codependent, with Phoenix giving Kason whatever he asks for and Kason relying too much on Phoenix. But I thought trying to cockblock him at every opportunity while Kason was trying to explore his sexuality after just coming out of the closet wasn't necessary or supportive. However, their friendship has its own arc throughout the story, and I did like where it ended.
Phoenix trying to interfere with Kason and Holden's budding romance puts him and Holden in this back and forth that slowly turns into something more. Aside from everything with Kason, I loved Phoenix and Holden together. Holden is a top book boyfriend in my opinion, funny and loving. He knew what he wanted and went for it despite knowing it was going to be a messier option. Phoenix grew on me. I didn't love that he wouldn't just communicate with Kason, not only to alleviate his own guilt but so he could just be with Holden with no secrets. When they were together though, they had such an amazing connection. Not only just great chemistry but similar interests and values which lead to really fun banter and swoony moments.
As far as the "love triangle" aspect, to me Holden and Kason weren't together. They were interested one another superficially, and I think Phoenix didn't make great choices, but it was lying about it after the fact that was the biggest issue. That being said, I'm really excited to get into Kason's story when it comes out. I think he deserves a chance to be more independent after leaning on Phoenix for so long. Can't wait to see what comes next for everyone in the series!
Read if you like
• sports romance
• secret relationship
• hate to love
I'm not going to lie, I wasn't really feeling this when I first started. But from around 40% on I was pretty invested and I liked how it all turned out for these two!
Quinton and Oakley have been hockey rivals for basically their entire careers, even though they play on the same college team. They have clashing personalities and tension. Through a series of events, they start a good luck superstitious fuck buddy relationship, and as always feelings soon get involved when they realize they aren't so different.
Once they finally gave into their feelings more (ahem, Oakley), I really loved their dynamic. They both found kindred spirits in one another despite the fact that they had such different personalities. Their emotional connection was built in the small moments they had with each other - socks, ice skating (not hockey), and Ferris wheel. It was more of a slow emotional burn, but when they let go of the animosity they fell into their relationship pretty quickly.
I didn't love everything that happened in the beginning and it did take me a second to get into it. But I loved them as a couple and the second half was really good. Lots of spicy scenes, but I thought they were written pretty well and incorporated a lot of their vulnerabilities.
I'm excited to see how the rest of the stories play out for this group of guys. We get just enough of the side characters to be a little intrigued, and I'm definitely going straight to Holden's story after this!
Read if you like:
• rivals to lovers
• hockey
• opposites attract
Quinton and Oakley have been hockey rivals for basically their entire careers, even though they play on the same college team. They have clashing personalities and tension. Through a series of events, they start a good luck superstitious fuck buddy relationship, and as always feelings soon get involved when they realize they aren't so different.
Once they finally gave into their feelings more (ahem, Oakley), I really loved their dynamic. They both found kindred spirits in one another despite the fact that they had such different personalities. Their emotional connection was built in the small moments they had with each other - socks, ice skating (not hockey), and Ferris wheel. It was more of a slow emotional burn, but when they let go of the animosity they fell into their relationship pretty quickly.
I didn't love everything that happened in the beginning and it did take me a second to get into it. But I loved them as a couple and the second half was really good. Lots of spicy scenes, but I thought they were written pretty well and incorporated a lot of their vulnerabilities.
I'm excited to see how the rest of the stories play out for this group of guys. We get just enough of the side characters to be a little intrigued, and I'm definitely going straight to Holden's story after this!
Read if you like:
• rivals to lovers
• hockey
• opposites attract
This has been on my TBR for months and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. I've been really into these soul-searching, more emotional type of reads lately and this was perfect.
Ben and Alexei are both taking on the Pacific Crest Trail, like 2500 miles of hiking. They both have different reasons for wanting to do this trail. Alexei just came out to his parents and it didn't go well, so he's trying to cope with the loss of them in his life as well as find who he truly is behind everything he's hidden for years. Ben is about to start his career after messing around for most of his 20s, and wants to do the trail as one last big adventure. Alexei was really going through it and had a lot to sort out, so Ben was more cautious with him at the beginning. I loved seeing Alexei become strong and stand up for himself, even with Ben, setting boundaries and saying what he wanted.
I love when the couples meet and you know instantly they have this great connection. It's not even them just being physically attracted to each other, but they just sense a goodness in the other person that they want to be apart of. This was how their relationship was. It was a slow burn, but they genuinely were interested in the other person and their life, and they truly cared.
Of course nothing is perfect and their relationship had some struggles. What I appreciated, even though I did cry a few times, was Alexei and Ben working on themselves and trying to accomplish the personal goals they set when they started the trail. Alexei goes through a really intense emotional journey, and I'm so proud of him! Ben put in his work too, of course, and it really showed with how they handled their relationship at the end of the trail. They are a couple who were always meant to be, and I loved their HEA.
First time reading this author, I liked the style and the characters, and I'm curious about more of her works!
Read if you like:
• friends to lovers
• opposites attract
• outdoors/hiking
Ben and Alexei are both taking on the Pacific Crest Trail, like 2500 miles of hiking. They both have different reasons for wanting to do this trail. Alexei just came out to his parents and it didn't go well, so he's trying to cope with the loss of them in his life as well as find who he truly is behind everything he's hidden for years. Ben is about to start his career after messing around for most of his 20s, and wants to do the trail as one last big adventure. Alexei was really going through it and had a lot to sort out, so Ben was more cautious with him at the beginning. I loved seeing Alexei become strong and stand up for himself, even with Ben, setting boundaries and saying what he wanted.
I love when the couples meet and you know instantly they have this great connection. It's not even them just being physically attracted to each other, but they just sense a goodness in the other person that they want to be apart of. This was how their relationship was. It was a slow burn, but they genuinely were interested in the other person and their life, and they truly cared.
Of course nothing is perfect and their relationship had some struggles. What I appreciated, even though I did cry a few times, was Alexei and Ben working on themselves and trying to accomplish the personal goals they set when they started the trail. Alexei goes through a really intense emotional journey, and I'm so proud of him! Ben put in his work too, of course, and it really showed with how they handled their relationship at the end of the trail. They are a couple who were always meant to be, and I loved their HEA.
First time reading this author, I liked the style and the characters, and I'm curious about more of her works!
Read if you like:
• friends to lovers
• opposites attract
• outdoors/hiking
check tw/cw: ptsd from war, anxiety, panic attacks, suicide
I thought this was a really good debut novel. I liked the story and the characters. Henry and Colton were really sweet, and I appreciated the anxiety representation. This book shows the struggle of accepting when you need more help than you can give yourself, and the importance of a great support system.
Henry moved from the city after vet school to take care of his grandma, his caregiver after his parents kicked him out. Colton returns after serving overseas and being honorably discharged because of his PTSD and anxiety. Henry is really supportive of Colton. Colton has trouble coming to terms with the fact he needs outside help, and Henry is there to push him, but also give him space to figure himself out. I love the push and pull of their relationship, Henry helps Colton realize that he can be happy and Colton gives Henry type of love he's always wanted. They have a great relationship dynamic and connection.
While I really liked Colton and Henry's relationship once it was established, I think the start of it went a little too quick for me. Colton has one dream and then he's all ready to date Henry, and Henry had a pretty insta-love attraction to Colton. Every time Colton walked into a room Henry got a hard on. Also Colton's personality switch from sweet and shy to the dirty talking was a bit of a whiplash. I loved the spicy scenes and thought they were done well, I just couldn't put the two Colton's together.
I liked this little small town and all it's characters, and I loved their support for Henry and Colton. I enjoyed the story and the writing style, and can't wait to read more by the author.
Read if you like:
• hurt/comfort
• age gap
• PTSD/anxiety rep
I thought this was a really good debut novel. I liked the story and the characters. Henry and Colton were really sweet, and I appreciated the anxiety representation. This book shows the struggle of accepting when you need more help than you can give yourself, and the importance of a great support system.
Henry moved from the city after vet school to take care of his grandma, his caregiver after his parents kicked him out. Colton returns after serving overseas and being honorably discharged because of his PTSD and anxiety. Henry is really supportive of Colton. Colton has trouble coming to terms with the fact he needs outside help, and Henry is there to push him, but also give him space to figure himself out. I love the push and pull of their relationship, Henry helps Colton realize that he can be happy and Colton gives Henry type of love he's always wanted. They have a great relationship dynamic and connection.
While I really liked Colton and Henry's relationship once it was established, I think the start of it went a little too quick for me. Colton has one dream and then he's all ready to date Henry, and Henry had a pretty insta-love attraction to Colton. Every time Colton walked into a room Henry got a hard on. Also Colton's personality switch from sweet and shy to the dirty talking was a bit of a whiplash. I loved the spicy scenes and thought they were done well, I just couldn't put the two Colton's together.
I liked this little small town and all it's characters, and I loved their support for Henry and Colton. I enjoyed the story and the writing style, and can't wait to read more by the author.
Read if you like:
• hurt/comfort
• age gap
• PTSD/anxiety rep
