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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I would have gave a better rating if they didn’t overuse the word “stepbro” like I don’t need frat boy talk in my gay romance thank you lol
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
challenging
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Classism
Moderate: Death, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness
I'm a sucker for forbidden romances, and Troy and Atlas's story was an especially good one. At the start, I was entertained by their ridiculously competitive bets and need to seek each other out for attention, and that translated into a hot as heck, possessive, steamy relationship later on. Atlas was a quintessential broody, grumpy loner, but when he cared about something he put his whole heart and soul into it. I loved getting to peel back his layers and see what a good guy he was underneath all that grouchiness, and he turned out to be kinda perfect for Troy. Their relationship started as the result of an especially chaotic bet, because how else could two uber-competitive stepbros get to that point, and I devoured every steamy stolen moment they shared. Even when they were just hooking up they were fiercely possessive of each other, and I just could not get enough of it. Troy and Atlas each had complicated feelings surrounding their messy family dynamic, and in a way their shared discomfort brought them closer together. It sucked to see how much they were struggling alone at the start, but when they started opening up to each other? Be still my freaking heart. I thought the pacing of the overall story was perfect--the way Troy and Atlas's strictly physical arrangement started relaxing into something a lot more romantic and meaningful, the way they kept things completely under wraps at first and gradually got more comfortable with the idea of telling others about them, and the buildup and payoff of the inevitable family drama surrounding their love. I was entertained from start to finished, too invested in the characters and story to walk away until I knew for sure that Troy and Atlas would end up staying together. I thought the side characters added a lot of depth to the narrative, and despite this being a romance at its core, the story touched on some difficult topics surrounding addiction and infidelity. All in all I can't say enough good things about how much I enjoyed the entire journey, and I already want to go back and re-read it again!
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
I loved this book! Troy and Atlas were so perfect for each other even tho they were total opposites. I loved the banter between them and you could tell how much they cared for each other. There was some family trauma, so check your trigger warnings, but I couldn’t have been happier with the ending. Don’t even get me started on the spice.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
5 stars
Usually, I'm not very fond of the stepbrothers trope, almost all the stories have the same plot: stepbrothers who hate each other, one of them is very mean and plots revenge, but eventually falls in love with his enemy.
This story is not like that at all: yes, Atlas and Troy can't stand each other, but they're more rivals than enemies, their relationship is based on bets and dares neither of them wants to lose and they've challenged each other with ridiculous tasks since the first days their parents got together. However, they're never mean or cruel to one another.
They actually understand each other like no one else: both their families are very far from perfect, Troy's mum and Atlas' dad are not the best parents and their sons often feel unsupported and unseen and, in Atlas' case, not loved at all. They both suffered huge losses and they know very well what kind of pain the other one feels.
After one spicy bet Atlas, supposedly straight, starts realising he's always been attracted to Troy. And Troy, gay out and proud, feels the same.
Their sexual encouter open the gates to their mutual strong attraction.
At first it all seems confined to sexual exploration, but as the story progresses, emotions and feelings start growing: what I loved more is that they're both very supporting and protective. Their banter changes from teasing to innuendos to romantic declarations (the first time they say their I love yous is very beautiful and emotional).
I really really loved their romantic side and their craving for branding and marking was very hot, but also it seemed like they need to feel they belonged to each other.
All their friends are good people and very supportive, I think the following books will be as awesome as this one.
Absolutely recommended.
I received an ARC from the authors and this is my honest review
Usually, I'm not very fond of the stepbrothers trope, almost all the stories have the same plot: stepbrothers who hate each other, one of them is very mean and plots revenge, but eventually falls in love with his enemy.
This story is not like that at all: yes, Atlas and Troy can't stand each other, but they're more rivals than enemies, their relationship is based on bets and dares neither of them wants to lose and they've challenged each other with ridiculous tasks since the first days their parents got together. However, they're never mean or cruel to one another.
They actually understand each other like no one else: both their families are very far from perfect, Troy's mum and Atlas' dad are not the best parents and their sons often feel unsupported and unseen and, in Atlas' case, not loved at all. They both suffered huge losses and they know very well what kind of pain the other one feels.
After one spicy bet Atlas, supposedly straight, starts realising he's always been attracted to Troy. And Troy, gay out and proud, feels the same.
Their sexual encouter open the gates to their mutual strong attraction.
At first it all seems confined to sexual exploration, but as the story progresses, emotions and feelings start growing: what I loved more is that they're both very supporting and protective. Their banter changes from teasing to innuendos to romantic declarations (the first time they say their I love yous is very beautiful and emotional).
I really really loved their romantic side and their craving for branding and marking was very hot, but also it seemed like they need to feel they belonged to each other.
All their friends are good people and very supportive, I think the following books will be as awesome as this one.
Absolutely recommended.
I received an ARC from the authors and this is my honest review