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trashpigeon's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
zarahzoe's review
4.0
Here is was I liked about this book:
- It's got a content warning for anxiety and panic attacks at the beginning, which states that having an anxiety disorder doesn't negate your happy endling. That felt very nice, from the first page on.
- The Sex. Not because it was sexy, even though it was, but because I appreciate descriptions of sex that aren't overly romanticised or read like someone is trying to break the record of finding the most ways of saying "penis" without actually ever saying "penis".
- The Sex Positivity. No slutshaming in this house.
- The Motherfuckers. I am a sucker for supportive, if slightly disfunctional, friend groups. The motherfuckers were the thing I liked most about The Love Study, and it was so nice to get a glimpse at them again, especially Sydney, my genderqueer love.
- The Grandmother. Ah, who doesn't love a nice old lady who's not bigoted or stuck up. And who owns up to her own shit and disfunction.
- Nobody saves anybody from themselves.
- I also like how Spotify has apparently finally cought up to my audiobook needs and recomends new queer content to me the moment its released.
- Frienemies to fuck buddies to lovers? Yes please.
What I disliked abut this book:
- Uhm. Can't really think of anything.
It was a nice, cozy friday night choice of content. Bit predictable, but more thourough that The love Study, I feel, and did what it was supposed to do.
(Also, there is a third installment coming out at the end of the year, about Mason, apparently. I would also like to read about Mia and Ronny a bit more, but alas)
- It's got a content warning for anxiety and panic attacks at the beginning, which states that having an anxiety disorder doesn't negate your happy endling. That felt very nice, from the first page on.
- The Sex. Not because it was sexy, even though it was, but because I appreciate descriptions of sex that aren't overly romanticised or read like someone is trying to break the record of finding the most ways of saying "penis" without actually ever saying "penis".
- The Sex Positivity. No slutshaming in this house.
- The Motherfuckers. I am a sucker for supportive, if slightly disfunctional, friend groups. The motherfuckers were the thing I liked most about The Love Study, and it was so nice to get a glimpse at them again, especially Sydney, my genderqueer love.
- The Grandmother. Ah, who doesn't love a nice old lady who's not bigoted or stuck up. And who owns up to her own shit and disfunction.
- Nobody saves anybody from themselves.
Spoiler
Sure, Jack and Oscar hash it out, but love doesn't magically cure Oscars comittment issues and/or anxiety disorder, and Jack is not any more over his childhood shit. Feels realistic. Relationships have to be worked at. Unconditional happy Endings are not a thing.- I also like how Spotify has apparently finally cought up to my audiobook needs and recomends new queer content to me the moment its released.
- Frienemies to fuck buddies to lovers? Yes please.
What I disliked abut this book:
- Uhm. Can't really think of anything.
It was a nice, cozy friday night choice of content. Bit predictable, but more thourough that The love Study, I feel, and did what it was supposed to do.
(Also, there is a third installment coming out at the end of the year, about Mason, apparently. I would also like to read about Mia and Ronny a bit more, but alas)
bookstosoothethesoul's review against another edition
4.0
Oooh okay I really enjoyed this one!
I kept highlighting lines because they were so funny! I love books that are funny in the prose and Oscar's head was a very funny place to be (which is good cause it's single pov).
I didn't super enjoy the fact that Oscar was a jerk to Jack and them spent forever to give him a lackluster apology (sometimes the grouchiness goes to far into asshole territory).
The sex was hot though and I loved getting to know Jack more.
pn_hinton's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free e-ARC for an honest review
This was a fairly enjoyable story. I enjoyed that both of them were grumpy as opposed to the typical combination of one being grumpy and one being sunshine. These two men were just cranky and what had initially started out as a "Frenemies with Benefits" grew first to a employer/employee relationship and then more. It was a slow burn in that regard since they had sex fairly early on and I did appreciate that sot of relationship in reverse approach.
That said there were some moments where seeing thing from Oscar's point of view became tedious. I understand that he had anxiety and he admitted that honestly throughout his narration and, from my limited knowledge of that, it seemed accurate enough. Still, there were a few moments that left you feeling frustrated, even with knowing that. It would have been nice to see things from Jack's point of view occasionally, even if it was every few chapters or so.
I did appreciate how their friends didn't expect Oscar to be fixed or okay. In fact, they were present and supportive without being overly smothering. And they did respect his wishes when he wanted to be left alone, and periodically checked in on him just to make sure he was okay. It was also nice to see how, even when he was being super grumpy, you could see when Jack was supportive of him and the progress he made with his anxiety.
This was an HFN ending, which honestly seemed more realistic based on how the story started. They were still happy with each other and the way their relationship worked, and their friends were supportive. of it. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a M/M with two grumps that ends realistically. It's not what I would call a warm hug but it is still a sweet book.
.
This was a fairly enjoyable story. I enjoyed that both of them were grumpy as opposed to the typical combination of one being grumpy and one being sunshine. These two men were just cranky and what had initially started out as a "Frenemies with Benefits" grew first to a employer/employee relationship and then more. It was a slow burn in that regard since they had sex fairly early on and I did appreciate that sot of relationship in reverse approach.
That said there were some moments where seeing thing from Oscar's point of view became tedious. I understand that he had anxiety and he admitted that honestly throughout his narration and, from my limited knowledge of that, it seemed accurate enough. Still, there were a few moments that left you feeling frustrated, even with knowing that. It would have been nice to see things from Jack's point of view occasionally, even if it was every few chapters or so.
I did appreciate how their friends didn't expect Oscar to be fixed or okay. In fact, they were present and supportive without being overly smothering. And they did respect his wishes when he wanted to be left alone, and periodically checked in on him just to make sure he was okay. It was also nice to see how, even when he was being super grumpy, you could see when Jack was supportive of him and the progress he made with his anxiety.
This was an HFN ending, which honestly seemed more realistic based on how the story started. They were still happy with each other and the way their relationship worked, and their friends were supportive. of it. I would recommend this book if you're looking for a M/M with two grumps that ends realistically. It's not what I would call a warm hug but it is still a sweet book.
.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
4.0
*I received a free copy of The Hate Project. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*
I had no idea what this book was about when I clicked on it - but it was definitely my kind of book. Oscar, Jack, and all their friends were the kind of family that everyone should have. Oscar with his anxiety, but definitely some tools to deal with things, at least most of the time, is the protagonist. And Jack is the object of his... hate? attraction? love? friendship? it could go either way.
I had no idea what this book was about when I clicked on it - but it was definitely my kind of book. Oscar, Jack, and all their friends were the kind of family that everyone should have. Oscar with his anxiety, but definitely some tools to deal with things, at least most of the time, is the protagonist. And Jack is the object of his... hate? attraction? love? friendship? it could go either way.
agmaynard's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Excellent! Annoyed by one another acquaintances hook up, then Jack hires Oscar to clear out his grandparent’s house. And the rarer than it should be grumpy-grumpy trope. Fuck buddy benefits continue, until deepening feelings ramp up fears. Oscar’s anxiety is hard to read at times but the friend support of his coterie is lovely to see.
alicebv1995's review against another edition
3.0
Listened to this as an audiobook. It’s difficult to judge because I found the main characters insufferable but also I deeply related to Oscar’s struggles with depression and anxiety. I think it may be one of those things where we dislike things in other people that we dislike about ourselves. Some of the sex scenes were kind of cringey to listen to (a few times consent for certain actions seemed dubious at best). In particular, I felt deeply uncomfortable by Jack saying it turned him on that he was making Oscar uncomfortable. Big yikes. But I did enjoy the arc with Oscar and Jack and Evelyn (she was my favorite character). I also liked hearing a story about a fat person who someone else found attractive even if he didn’t see himself as such (though at times it’s described a bit in a fat fetishizing way). As a caveat, of all three audiobooks in this series, the narrator of this book was my least favorite. I may have more positive feelings about this book overall if the narration had been different.