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yourbookishbff's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Only Milan can wind stinky cheese into a Revolutionary War love story. In all seriousness, though, I loved her take on a war story, where both characters are rightfully nonplussed by the patriotic lies they're sold by those in power, and where both find war to be an exercise in gruesome futility. This is a grumpy x sunshine story, with a Black American soldier who fought in the war solely to earn freedom for his brother-in-law and a white British soldier who has committed treason from day one and is now defecting from the military. Henry and John each carry their own deep-seated insecurities, and their road-trip love story is slow and gentle and deeply reflective and sweet. I was grateful for the direct confrontation with Henry's privilege and their navigation of power imbalance. A lovely addition to the Worth Saga!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: War, Slavery, Sexual content, and Homophobia
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
luciesc's review
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? It's complicated
4.5
I loved this novella! John and Henry come alive in the pages and the obstacles between and around them have real weight and stakes. But they also connect in a way that’s deep, genuine, and doesn’t ignore those obstacles, which makes their HEA feel more grounded and earned. Also, it’s hilarious! Makes you laugh, makes you think, makes you cheer for the characters - what more could I ask for in a novella?
nerdyholler's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
I picked this up looking for other works by the author after reading The Duke Who Didn't. I grabbed it because it was short and free even though I didn't know anything about the rest of this series. As a stand alone I found it to be an enjoyable read and the shorter length didn't bother me. The characters were likeable and the banter was quick paced, even if some of the jokes did run a little thin towards the end (but I still love the cheese). Minor complains are that definitely feels like it was written around the height of Hamilton so other reader's mileage may vary based on how they feel about that. Also at times some of the issues with race and privilege felt a little on the nose but it was still good to see a story addressing it.
linda_1410's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
I really enjoyed Milan's <i>The Brothers Sinister</i> series and have been meaning to read more by her. This is her only M/M (to date) and it was great. I really hope that she either revisits these two at some point or writes more M/M, because she's great at it.
This has much humor, and cheese, and the MCs were hilarious together. Well, Henry is hilarious. John is the "straight man" of the duo and makes the humor work with his dry comments. John, a former slave, was fighting for the Continental army when he meets Henry, a British soldier, during the siege at Yorktown. Henry's a bit of a blabbermouth, and John doesn't know what to make of him but quickly realizes he enjoys the other's company. Henry has some self-esteem issues he needs to work on, and John is a solid presence in his life. The impact they have on each other as they're traveling across America was believable, and the cheese was practically a third character in its own right.
Their budding relationship was so sweet. John doesn't fall into the "black man teaching a white man about humanity" trap and Henry, while he thinks himself dense and useless, proves to be anything but. He's a bit clueless about certain things, for sure, but he quickly adapts when that's pointed out.
I wish this had been longer, but at the same time it was also just the right length.
This has much humor, and cheese, and the MCs were hilarious together. Well, Henry is hilarious. John is the "straight man" of the duo and makes the humor work with his dry comments. John, a former slave, was fighting for the Continental army when he meets Henry, a British soldier, during the siege at Yorktown. Henry's a bit of a blabbermouth, and John doesn't know what to make of him but quickly realizes he enjoys the other's company. Henry has some self-esteem issues he needs to work on, and John is a solid presence in his life. The impact they have on each other as they're traveling across America was believable, and the cheese was practically a third character in its own right.
Their budding relationship was so sweet. John doesn't fall into the "black man teaching a white man about humanity" trap and Henry, while he thinks himself dense and useless, proves to be anything but. He's a bit clueless about certain things, for sure, but he quickly adapts when that's pointed out.
I wish this had been longer, but at the same time it was also just the right length.
jess_justmaybeperfect's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, and War
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Child abuse
jedbird's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Revolutionary War era gay romance with white and Black MCs. I hadn't been aware that Courtney Milan wrote m/m, so I was delighted to give this a try. Henry is a remarkably voluble British soldier who wishes to desert. American John is wary of white men. Their paths cross, then cross again, and they find themselves journeying together to find John's family. Along the way, there's a whole thing about cheese that does go on for too long, and Henry talks very, very much, but it's endearing. As a romance, it's slight, but it's a good story about friendship.
cactusjuicer's review against another edition
5.0
If I shared the highlights I made in this book, it'd basically be the whole book.
rep: gay & black mc, gay mc
tw: slavery & racism (neither are unchallenged though), mentions of homophobia but nothing explicit on the page, mild violence
rep: gay & black mc, gay mc
tw: slavery & racism (neither are unchallenged though), mentions of homophobia but nothing explicit on the page, mild violence
shadowmaster13's review
emotional
hopeful
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? No
3.5