Reviews

Boy Next Door by A.E. Wasp

dpit's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

There were some contradictions throughout the book and between this and Boy Toy

tinybull's review

emotional 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

3.75

Liam and Joey’s full story

valerieullmerauthor's review against another edition

5.0

I have enjoyed all of the Hot Off the Ice books, especially because the characters in these books are so rich with backstory, with their own hangups and mindsets. I hadn't read Boy Toy before this book, but I still enjoyed getting to know Liam and Joey throughout this book. They are both great characters and while I wished that Liam didn't take so much responsibility for things that weren't his fault, I think his chemistry with Joey was perfect. The story has a whole slew of secondary characters (especially both Liam and Joey's families), along with some couples from the other books which I loved getting another glimpse into their relationship. It's a fast-paced read with a lot of emotions and a wonderful HEA! A great read!!

robazizo's review

3.0

3.5 stars. The most intense book of the series. Both Liam and Joey are complex people with their own issues. Their chemistry was scorching, but I did feel a bit of inequality between them sometimes. In the end I could definitely see how they would be good for each other though, balancing each other out. I loved the inclusion of the mad O'Reilly-Luciano clan (big love for Nonno Lollo) and the team. It was wonderful to see how the team and Alex took Joey under their wing. Overall this was a very enjoyable series. Shame about the editing problems throughout though. Wasp's stories are engaging and sexy and it's a shame their quality is diminished by something that could easily be fixed.

chambersaurusrx's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia and Medical content

jennp28's review against another edition

2.5

I don’t really know how I feel about this one so it’s getting a rating smack in the middle. There’s an odd dynamic between the two of them that’s not *quite* hot and feels slightly icky sometimes. And the family interference, ugh. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Outing

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Medical content

karentje's review against another edition

5.0

Wow… this boy next door was certainly worth falling for. Team Joey all the way!

My heart ached for Joey in the beginning (and throughout the entire book really), because it takes Liam some time to admit to his feelings and he doesn’t handle the “in-between” very well.

Liam seems very self-assured and down-to-earth, not the type of guy to risk it all for love. He needs a bit of a wake-up call to realize how he feels for Joey. They have known each other practically their whole lives, but Liam still falls for Joey’s act and doesn’t seem to realize that Joey and his public persona “the Looch” are not the same at all. Joey hides behind the Looch. His low self-esteem was at times painful to read, poor guy.

The chemistry between Joey and Liam is crazy hot, but what really did it for me was their intense, emotional connection.

I loved the chat groups and the constant playful bickering between the Luciano and O’Reilly siblings. That made for some very entertaining reading. Family and friends are very important in this story, creating a heartwarming network of support for our MC’s. This is something A.E. Wasp does extraordinarily well.

This was a wonderful romance, and though part of a series, it can be read as a standalone too.

claire_melanie's review

2.0

This was my least fav of the series - did not enjoy the characters or their dynamic and the (light) BDSM stuff was not done well. Please do your research before including stuff like this in your books - consent and communication are so important.

haletostilinski1's review against another edition

4.0

I had been waiting to read Joey and Liam's story ever since the short story that came out at Christmas, because what little we got of these two together was hot, there was chemistry, and I wanted to see where their story went.

For the most part, this didn't disappoint. Joey and Liam still had sizzling hot chemistry, and I loved their interactions and seeing them fall in love. They had a ways to go before their happy ending, but overall it was a fun journey getting there.

A few things bothered me though - like how Michelle's cheating was mostly waved away. She admitted how wrong she was and how she could have left, which was good, but when she and Liam finally had one on one talk, it felt like it turned into a "everything Liam did wrong" show, and not much on her faults, which was cheating - even if she loves Nico - instead of talking to Liam about anything. But sure, Liam was a shitty boyfriend so...it's mostly his fault? Nah.

I mean I'm glad his faults weren't waved away either, and that he apologized for how he treated her. But it felt like what Michelle did didn't matter as much, and all was a-okay. What she did was not okay. (Not that she deservers her family being horrible to her either.) I just wish just as much weight had been given to what Michelle did as Liam. It felt like Liam not only outright forgave her, but put the majority of the blame on himself. Being inattentive and not as caring as you should - not good, yeah, but not deserving of being cheated on. There's a thing called breaking up with someone.

Also, something happens later in the book -

Spoiler

After Joey and Liam have sex - and spanking happens - Liam writes something on Joey's ass, which Patrick, Liam's youngest brother, takes a picture of and then sends to the wrong people, and it gets out to a few of the team, and almost the world, if hadn't been quickly contained

- and I hate how Patrick barely faced any consequences. He seemed to feel guilty for two seconds, apologized a few times (not a million, Patrick, you asshole) and then got on Liam's case for being embarrassed/not wanting his and Joey's relationship to go public, and for letting Joey seem to kind, maybe, break up with him? (even though he didn't).

And Liam once again goes "he's right, I'm wrong" when NO. Patrick not only violated their privacy, but he didn't

Spoiler

delete the photo

when Liam told him to and sent it to others (when we all know that that shit gets out SO fucking easily) and almost/kinda did out Joey to not only the team, but the world. That is gross and disgusting and Patrick should not have gotten away with it.

I don't care if it was an accident, he shouldn't have taken the picture in the first place, or sent it. He should have known better. That is on him, even if the sharing of the photo isn't, it happened because of him. It pissed me off, and while he was reprimanded, he wasn't reprimanded NEARLY as much as he should have been. I really dislike Patrick after this. Fuck him.

Also, the ending was a tad abrupt and rushed. I know the book was getting long, but there was threads of the story I would have liked to have seen played out in more detail.

So yeah, a few things bothered me, but overall this was a good story and overall I'm happy that I got to read Joey and Liam's story and read about them falling in love and getting their HEA.

tltravis's review

5.0

This is my favorite in the series

Joey and Liam have won my heart. Joey naivety and innocence, his need to make everyone happy had me from the start. Liam didn’t stand a chance once Joey was there full time.