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zaza_bdp's review
3.0
J'étais super impatiente de lire ce nouveau Jay Hogan, et de voir ce qu'elle allait proposer dans cette collection quand même assez éclectique qu'est Vino & Veritas.
Alors déjà, cette ville de Burlington, il faut quand même dire que c'est Stars Hollow dopé aux confettis arc-en-ciel !
Ensuite, avec ce tome, on est vraiment dans l'instalove, ce qui ne me dérange pas forcément nécessairement MAIS ici ça ne colle pas du tout ce côté tout énamouré et cette envie de changer toute sa vie pour un mec qui débarque de nulle part comme ça, en tout cas pour Emmett. Cet homme est veuf, père d'un garçon de 10 ans, bi mais ça, personne ou presque ne le sait et là, en deux jours, il est prêt à tout risquer pour un gars qui débarque à Burlington ?
Je ne vais pas être de mauvaise foi non plus, même si c'est de l'instalove, il y a quand même un certain délai avant que les choses ne deviennent vraiment sérieuses.
Au final, je ressors de cette lecture déçue, j'avais déjà envie d'arrêter à 33%, je me suis donc farcie les 77% restants un peu à contrecœur. Les personnages secondaires sont sympas (mais Leo n'a pas franchement l'air d'avoir 10 ans, je trouve qu'il fait plus jeune), les passages avec les animaux sont mignons et parfois drôles et j'ai bien aimé retrouver cette petite ville, et recroiser quelques personnages rencontrés dans les autres livres (notamment un Tanner qui s'est sacrément déridé depuis son propre tome).
Cela dit, pour moi, c'est un roman qui rentre pile poil dans ce que j'appelle la catégorie "cheesy as f*ck", et c'était vraiment trop énamouré et compagnie à mon goût, on ne fait pas dans la subtilité et les rebondissements avec Dion sont franchement nazes (non mais quelle caricature de vilain ex ce pauvre type !). Un roman qui sera donc vite oublié !
Alors déjà, cette ville de Burlington, il faut quand même dire que c'est Stars Hollow dopé aux confettis arc-en-ciel !
Ensuite, avec ce tome, on est vraiment dans l'instalove, ce qui ne me dérange pas forcément nécessairement MAIS ici ça ne colle pas du tout ce côté tout énamouré et cette envie de changer toute sa vie pour un mec qui débarque de nulle part comme ça, en tout cas pour Emmett. Cet homme est veuf, père d'un garçon de 10 ans, bi mais ça, personne ou presque ne le sait et là, en deux jours, il est prêt à tout risquer pour un gars qui débarque à Burlington ?
Je ne vais pas être de mauvaise foi non plus, même si c'est de l'instalove, il y a quand même un certain délai avant que les choses ne deviennent vraiment sérieuses.
Au final, je ressors de cette lecture déçue, j'avais déjà envie d'arrêter à 33%, je me suis donc farcie les 77% restants un peu à contrecœur. Les personnages secondaires sont sympas (mais Leo n'a pas franchement l'air d'avoir 10 ans, je trouve qu'il fait plus jeune), les passages avec les animaux sont mignons et parfois drôles et j'ai bien aimé retrouver cette petite ville, et recroiser quelques personnages rencontrés dans les autres livres (notamment un Tanner qui s'est sacrément déridé depuis son propre tome).
Cela dit, pour moi, c'est un roman qui rentre pile poil dans ce que j'appelle la catégorie "cheesy as f*ck", et c'était vraiment trop énamouré et compagnie à mon goût, on ne fait pas dans la subtilité et les rebondissements avec Dion sont franchement nazes (non mais quelle caricature de vilain ex ce pauvre type !). Un roman qui sera donc vite oublié !
20sidedbi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent
hazelrayson's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.0
casadilla12's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eliezrah's review
5.0
Another amazing Vino & Veritas book! This book was truly incredible. I've heard of Jay Hogan, but this is the first of her books I've read. I absolutely loved this story and didn't want to put my kindle down. You can't help but fall in love with not only the MCs but with Leo as well. I definitely want to read more of Jay's books now!
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
hellishlyawkward's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed bag. Overall the writing and story was pretty basic surface level stuff, but the little things I liked in it lifted it a bit.
I liked both MCs, Tai especially. Liked that Tai wore gloss, etc. Liked that Emmett was a vet.
Like stories where someone is given a chance when they are basically at rock bottom with nothing like Tai was, and when they are thrown in and get to do something they have never tried before.
Liked that Tai sorted Emmett’s books - I always love it when things get ironed out and people get to use their previously un-praised skills.
Don’t mind a little ex-boyfriend drama, especially when they’re a slimy creature like this one.
Did find Tai’s insistence on what he saw as independence frustrating. Even with my own difficulties asking for help, I would definitely be sleeping at the vet clinic on a cot if it was on offer, rather than sleeping in my car.
I liked both MCs, Tai especially. Liked that Tai wore gloss, etc. Liked that Emmett was a vet.
Like stories where someone is given a chance when they are basically at rock bottom with nothing like Tai was, and when they are thrown in and get to do something they have never tried before.
Liked that Tai sorted Emmett’s books - I always love it when things get ironed out and people get to use their previously un-praised skills.
Don’t mind a little ex-boyfriend drama, especially when they’re a slimy creature like this one.
Did find Tai’s insistence on what he saw as independence frustrating. Even with my own difficulties asking for help, I would definitely be sleeping at the vet clinic on a cot if it was on offer, rather than sleeping in my car.
atravellingpenguin's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
3.25
booksafety's review against another edition
5.0
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
“[…] Be careful of dismissing something good just because you’re scared or because you’ve got some idea of how things should be, and this doesn’t fit.”
Yet another top notch book by Jay Hogan. This one nearly matched my love of Off Balance. Nearly. Emmett and Kai are very different, and at different places in their lives. It was a lot of fun watching them having cute little crushes on each other and try to pretend that they didn’t. They didn’t fool a single soul, lol. At some points their story was a little sad as well, as they both had issues to get past in order to make it work.
I might’ve found some balls at long last, but they were nowhere near hairy enough to face roughing it on the streets, not in a Vermont fall that seemed designed to freeze those fuckers right off you if you weren’t careful.
Emmett is a single dad, a widower, and closeted. Trying to get past all of that and date a man for the first time is difficult. It wasn’t made any easier by Tai’s manipulative and controlling ex doing a number on his head for years either.
I was also pretty damn sure he’d guessed I wasn’t straight. The drool marks on my chin were likely a dead giveaway.
Overall super sweet and funny characters, great side characters, and an exciting and engaging plot. Highly recommend.
“Have you lost your freaking mind? Keeping our hands off each other has about as much chance of success as me buying a flannel shirt, ever.”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Veterinarian
Single dad
Widower
Awful ex
Closeted MC
Bisexual MC
Sassy MC
Femme MC
Small town
Found family
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Bi erasure
Homophobia
Animal surgery
Explicit sexual content
Manipulative and controlling ex
Sick and injured animals
Mentions of cheating ex (some details)
Death of a partner (off page, past, some details)
Death of a pet (off page, past, some details)
Mentions of car accident (past)
Violent encounter with ex boyfriend
Child running away (found safe)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: Ex shows up and causes drama, but the MC wants nothing to do with him.
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
I glanced away and acted as . . . ungay as I could, which, let’s face it, was a complete waste of time so I glossed my lips instead.
And it had been a good morning in the clinic—no dramas, no anal gland expulsions, no floods, and only two scratches from an elderly cat that didn’t like the thermometer shoved up its are. I really couldn’t blame her. After all, prep was everything.
“[…] Be careful of dismissing something good just because you’re scared or because you’ve got some idea of how things should be, and this doesn’t fit.”
Yet another top notch book by Jay Hogan. This one nearly matched my love of Off Balance. Nearly. Emmett and Kai are very different, and at different places in their lives. It was a lot of fun watching them having cute little crushes on each other and try to pretend that they didn’t. They didn’t fool a single soul, lol. At some points their story was a little sad as well, as they both had issues to get past in order to make it work.
I might’ve found some balls at long last, but they were nowhere near hairy enough to face roughing it on the streets, not in a Vermont fall that seemed designed to freeze those fuckers right off you if you weren’t careful.
Emmett is a single dad, a widower, and closeted. Trying to get past all of that and date a man for the first time is difficult. It wasn’t made any easier by Tai’s manipulative and controlling ex doing a number on his head for years either.
I was also pretty damn sure he’d guessed I wasn’t straight. The drool marks on my chin were likely a dead giveaway.
Overall super sweet and funny characters, great side characters, and an exciting and engaging plot. Highly recommend.
“Have you lost your freaking mind? Keeping our hands off each other has about as much chance of success as me buying a flannel shirt, ever.”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Veterinarian
Single dad
Widower
Awful ex
Closeted MC
Bisexual MC
Sassy MC
Femme MC
Small town
Found family
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Bi erasure
Homophobia
Animal surgery
Explicit sexual content
Manipulative and controlling ex
Sick and injured animals
Mentions of cheating ex (some details)
Death of a partner (off page, past, some details)
Death of a pet (off page, past, some details)
Mentions of car accident (past)
Violent encounter with ex boyfriend
Child running away (found safe)
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: Ex shows up and causes drama, but the MC wants nothing to do with him.
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Genre: Contemporary romance, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
I glanced away and acted as . . . ungay as I could, which, let’s face it, was a complete waste of time so I glossed my lips instead.
And it had been a good morning in the clinic—no dramas, no anal gland expulsions, no floods, and only two scratches from an elderly cat that didn’t like the thermometer shoved up its are. I really couldn’t blame her. After all, prep was everything.
jennp28's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A sweet and spicy story about second chances at love and about learning to believe in and love yourself. Animals, cute kid, little bit of ex-drama. Inevitable love despite trying your hardest not to.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Grief, Toxic relationship, Biphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, and Death