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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
→2 stars
again, i honestly forgot everything about this book but i apparently read all 348 pages so go me.
again, i honestly forgot everything about this book but i apparently read all 348 pages so go me.
It was okay, but when they kept calling each other naughty boy…🥴
Don’t care to read the next book with Colin and Ash.
Don’t care to read the next book with Colin and Ash.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.75 stars rounded
Pluses and minuses with this book. The writing/convo seemed fairly stilted in the beginning, but became more natural as the book went on. I like that things were not tied up in a pretty bow at the end, with both Glen and Brandon. I liked how being together for Atlas and Troy was low angst, the issues being on the outside, not a lot of internal conflict and self flagellation.
It is hard for me to think that self proclaimed jocks and nerds ALL use the word bro so much.
Pluses and minuses with this book. The writing/convo seemed fairly stilted in the beginning, but became more natural as the book went on. I like that things were not tied up in a pretty bow at the end, with both Glen and Brandon. I liked how being together for Atlas and Troy was low angst, the issues being on the outside, not a lot of internal conflict and self flagellation.
It is hard for me to think that self proclaimed jocks and nerds ALL use the word bro so much.
The writing felt undeveloped? Not quite the right word, but it didn’t feel like a professional author wrote this book.
So repetitive, such under developed characters. So much telling and not showing. Not enough angst, then too much. Weird pacing. The third act conflict wasn’t nearly dramatic enough. The plot sort of meandered around and never really got anywhere.
Also like how is this a series? How many gay stepbrothers go to this college?
I did like atlas (stupid name) and Troy (also stupid name) but the amount of claiming and branding and intensity and whatever the fuck their relationship was based off of didn’t mesh well.
and also like did we all forget they are frat boy juniors in college. I don’t know what kind of frat boy college students yall know but these two ain’t it.
Just really super underwhelming.
I feel like ike Riley Hart is pushing too many books out too quickly lately and the quality is definitely suffering.
So repetitive, such under developed characters. So much telling and not showing. Not enough angst, then too much. Weird pacing. The third act conflict wasn’t nearly dramatic enough. The plot sort of meandered around and never really got anywhere.
Also like how is this a series? How many gay stepbrothers go to this college?
I did like atlas (stupid name) and Troy (also stupid name) but the amount of claiming and branding and intensity and whatever the fuck their relationship was based off of didn’t mesh well.
and also like did we all forget they are frat boy juniors in college. I don’t know what kind of frat boy college students yall know but these two ain’t it.
Just really super underwhelming.
I feel like ike Riley Hart is pushing too many books out too quickly lately and the quality is definitely suffering.
meh, it was not as good as my “for the fans” favorites, but it was fine. not really an enemies to lovers because it took approximately 0.2 seconds of convincing but sureeeeeee
Schade...
Die Geschichte hatte richtig Potenzial. Sie hat eine wirklich gute Grundlage für eine nachvollziehbare und tiefgründige zwischenmenschliche Beziehung geboten und Atlas war ein wahnsinnig gut ausgearbeiteter Charakter. Über Troy weiß ich im Endeffekt gar nichts, außer dass er familiäre Probleme hat (wo nicht erzählt wird, wie ihn das abseits von Trauer aktuell betrifft) und dass er seinen Profisport-Traum verletzungsbedingt aufgeben musste (das scheint ihm völlig egal zu sein). Die Suchterkrankung seines Bruders wird ergreifend und realistisch erzählt, den Umgang damit finde ich grandios. Auch politische Statements bzgl. Armut, Sucht und Selbstverwirklichung finden ihren Weg in die Geschichte - auch ein toller Grundbaustein. Aber leider, leider sind mir insgesamt definitiv zu viele Sexszenen verbastelt, die die Geschichte nicht voranbringen und eher ausbremsen und in die Länge ziehen. Ein bisschen was hat mich auch eher angeekelt (alles in Richtung "marking someone" hat was animalisches und für mich gar nichts anziehendes)... Das hat mir die sonst so gute Geschichte wirklich kaputt gemacht - lieber hätte ich noch etwas tiefere Einblicke in Gespräche zwischen den Protagonisten oder mit Troys Mutter gehabt - oder das ganze Buch etwas gekürzt.
Die Geschichte hatte richtig Potenzial. Sie hat eine wirklich gute Grundlage für eine nachvollziehbare und tiefgründige zwischenmenschliche Beziehung geboten und Atlas war ein wahnsinnig gut ausgearbeiteter Charakter. Über Troy weiß ich im Endeffekt gar nichts, außer dass er familiäre Probleme hat (wo nicht erzählt wird, wie ihn das abseits von Trauer aktuell betrifft) und dass er seinen Profisport-Traum verletzungsbedingt aufgeben musste (das scheint ihm völlig egal zu sein). Die Suchterkrankung seines Bruders wird ergreifend und realistisch erzählt, den Umgang damit finde ich grandios. Auch politische Statements bzgl. Armut, Sucht und Selbstverwirklichung finden ihren Weg in die Geschichte - auch ein toller Grundbaustein. Aber leider, leider sind mir insgesamt definitiv zu viele Sexszenen verbastelt, die die Geschichte nicht voranbringen und eher ausbremsen und in die Länge ziehen. Ein bisschen was hat mich auch eher angeekelt (alles in Richtung "marking someone" hat was animalisches und für mich gar nichts anziehendes)... Das hat mir die sonst so gute Geschichte wirklich kaputt gemacht - lieber hätte ich noch etwas tiefere Einblicke in Gespräche zwischen den Protagonisten oder mit Troys Mutter gehabt - oder das ganze Buch etwas gekürzt.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How lucky are we, as readers, to have Riley and Devon co-writing another series for us? They definitely started this one off with a bang.
Atlas - stepbrother of Troy, (hidden) heart of gold, straight, father cheated on his mother with Troy's mother, and loves making bets with Troy.
Troy - stepbrother of Atlas, heart of gold, gay, mother was Atlas's father's mistress, and loves making bets with Atlas.
Their newest bet has Atlas promising to do some... oral favours for Troy if Troy wins the bet. If Atlas wins, Troy has to auction himself for a good cause (one that Atlas volunteers for, but doesn't want anyone to know about).
What happens when Atlas loses the bet, but still gets his prize... and Troy? Is their relationship something serious, or is it just another gone-too-far bet they'll relegate to the past once they get over the fun, naughty aspects of it?
[b:The Step Bet|202990155|The Step Bet (Peach State Stepbros, #1)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1705058600l/202990155._SY75_.jpg|208550159]
[a:Riley Hart|7013384|Riley Hart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1364660147p2/7013384.jpg]
[a:Devon McCormack|7327303|Devon McCormack|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1420651172p2/7327303.jpg]
Atlas - stepbrother of Troy, (hidden) heart of gold, straight, father cheated on his mother with Troy's mother, and loves making bets with Troy.
Troy - stepbrother of Atlas, heart of gold, gay, mother was Atlas's father's mistress, and loves making bets with Atlas.
Their newest bet has Atlas promising to do some... oral favours for Troy if Troy wins the bet. If Atlas wins, Troy has to auction himself for a good cause (one that Atlas volunteers for, but doesn't want anyone to know about).
What happens when Atlas loses the bet, but still gets his prize... and Troy? Is their relationship something serious, or is it just another gone-too-far bet they'll relegate to the past once they get over the fun, naughty aspects of it?
[b:The Step Bet|202990155|The Step Bet (Peach State Stepbros, #1)|Riley Hart|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1705058600l/202990155._SY75_.jpg|208550159]
[a:Riley Hart|7013384|Riley Hart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1364660147p2/7013384.jpg]
[a:Devon McCormack|7327303|Devon McCormack|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1420651172p2/7327303.jpg]
This is my first book by these two authors and I really enjoyed it.
I'm new to the MM romance world, but I've learned that I love the step-brother trope. This book was no exception. Atlas and Troy were the perfect match. Their opposites attract vibe paired with their amazing banter made this incredibly fun to read.
Making bets with each other was their thing, and "the step bet" turned out to be the game changer. The best part of this book was each of them trying to navigate their feelings towards each other. I'll be thinking about Atlas and Troy for quite a while.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
P.S. This line got me, too. "I've had rage boners just from watching the Vols lose a game.." Although I'm not a guy, the Vols losing definitely gets to me, too.
I'm new to the MM romance world, but I've learned that I love the step-brother trope. This book was no exception. Atlas and Troy were the perfect match. Their opposites attract vibe paired with their amazing banter made this incredibly fun to read.
Making bets with each other was their thing, and "the step bet" turned out to be the game changer. The best part of this book was each of them trying to navigate their feelings towards each other. I'll be thinking about Atlas and Troy for quite a while.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
P.S. This line got me, too. "I've had rage boners just from watching the Vols lose a game.." Although I'm not a guy, the Vols losing definitely gets to me, too.