You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
normally i’m an enemies to lovers girl but this friends to lovers gOT ME GOOOOOOOD
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Aspen and Keene were great.. To start. Sure there were. A few moments that really stretched that suspension of disbelief but it wasn’t bad. I loved their interactions and questioning. Even some minor characters felt natural and a great addition.
The spice was good.
Everything was working until the “conflict”. It pushed me over the edge of believability. The author made Aspen unredeemable in my eyes. The last quarter of this books made me a bit sick.
Aspen turned from a dude you could tell was dealing with loss and struggling with trust to a total and complete selfish prick. There was a point where I could have seen okay. Aspens freaking out. Then the author delves into a m/m trope of I need to run away to find myself. That trope works in some situations. This wasn’t one. It came off as beyond selfish. Unforgivably selfish. This trope is so overplayed and honestly is just not good when literally the slightest of communication would make it less problematic. In this case Aspen not only runs away without taking a MOMENT to apologize, AFTER having a heart to heart with his mother and the reader believing she’s gotten through to him but then breaks an intimate tradition on his “journey” of self discovery.
And this journey makes no sense. This guy struggles with opening up to people so he’s going to run away and commune with nature? I nearly spit at the stupidity of it. I almost would have believed the reconciliation if it had been years later. It would have made a larger impact in the whole idea of them being inevitable too.
Dude didn’t change. You don’t get a sense of anything different about Aspen. Oh he’s okay with being “out”. But codependency is still there. The unwillingness to be vulnerable with anyone but Keene is a mental health issue in my mind. One never resolved. Aspen’s selfish actions and Keene forgiving him so easily honestly made me lose respect for Keene. Aspen crushed him. He told him if Aspen does this Keene is moving on. Keene then gives in with no real apparent change in Aspen. Far beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. This isn’t a love story at the end. It’s a frightening take on how codependency can lead you down heartbreaking roads that could be avoided.
The spice was good.
Everything was working until the “conflict”. It pushed me over the edge of believability. The author made Aspen unredeemable in my eyes. The last quarter of this books made me a bit sick.
Aspen turned from a dude you could tell was dealing with loss and struggling with trust to a total and complete selfish prick. There was a point where I could have seen okay. Aspens freaking out. Then the author delves into a m/m trope of I need to run away to find myself. That trope works in some situations. This wasn’t one. It came off as beyond selfish. Unforgivably selfish. This trope is so overplayed and honestly is just not good when literally the slightest of communication would make it less problematic. In this case Aspen not only runs away without taking a MOMENT to apologize, AFTER having a heart to heart with his mother and the reader believing she’s gotten through to him but then breaks an intimate tradition on his “journey” of self discovery.
And this journey makes no sense. This guy struggles with opening up to people so he’s going to run away and commune with nature? I nearly spit at the stupidity of it. I almost would have believed the reconciliation if it had been years later. It would have made a larger impact in the whole idea of them being inevitable too.
Dude didn’t change. You don’t get a sense of anything different about Aspen. Oh he’s okay with being “out”. But codependency is still there. The unwillingness to be vulnerable with anyone but Keene is a mental health issue in my mind. One never resolved. Aspen’s selfish actions and Keene forgiving him so easily honestly made me lose respect for Keene. Aspen crushed him. He told him if Aspen does this Keene is moving on. Keene then gives in with no real apparent change in Aspen. Far beyond my ability to suspend disbelief. This isn’t a love story at the end. It’s a frightening take on how codependency can lead you down heartbreaking roads that could be avoided.
This book came to me at the right time when I really wanted a good M/M romance. This was one was perfect. I loved Keene and Aspen's friendship but also how they explored their feelings. There is something about two "straight" men that are exploring their sexuality that make it even hotter. The way they explored with each other and what they wanted. But they also still had a deep rooted friendship. I only wish they got to have a relationship behind closed doors.
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
Could not put it down but also could not tell the characters apart at various points.
4.5⭐
who doesn't love a good friends to lovers with some dares going on? i really liked how they both explored their sexuality. the thing that stopped me from rating this 5 stars was the miscommunication between these two. all in all though, i really loved this story beween keene and aspen
who doesn't love a good friends to lovers with some dares going on? i really liked how they both explored their sexuality. the thing that stopped me from rating this 5 stars was the miscommunication between these two. all in all though, i really loved this story beween keene and aspen
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
I always struggle with college romances because 20yrs old boys aren't that thoughtful and dedicated and mature, until the third act comes around and then they are all bumbling idiots you want to slap some sense into. But putting that aside... this wasn't bad.
Aspen's reason for entering this friends-with-benefit relationship is absurd, but it gets them together so whatever.
Keene is such a sweatheart, it's surprising his optimism in relationships hasn't been crushed by people before, he is such a sap (but in a good way).
Side note, there is a hot tub scene. Where, they arrive at a rental proprety, notice the hot tub, and jump in the hot tub. Now to me - and I am no hot tub expert but...- shouldn't they be jumping into an <italic>*empty*</italic> hottub, and then fill it/turn it on? In what world warm filled bubbling hot tubs are left unsupervised until a frisky couple arrives from their drive? So when they said they got into the hot tub, all I could think about was them turning it on and watching it fill slowly as their erections die down and going to grab a snack and hitting the loo before getting down to business.
I get hung up on unconsequential details and I believe authors should too.
Finally, neither of those boys have a job, and they spend their summers on road trips. It's implied their mothers/families aren't rich. How do they finance their lifestyle and budget for impronptu sushi lunches?
Aspen's reason for entering this friends-with-benefit relationship is absurd, but it gets them together so whatever.
Keene is such a sweatheart, it's surprising his optimism in relationships hasn't been crushed by people before, he is such a sap (but in a good way).
Side note, there is a hot tub scene. Where, they arrive at a rental proprety, notice the hot tub, and jump in the hot tub. Now to me - and I am no hot tub expert but...- shouldn't they be jumping into an <italic>*empty*</italic> hottub, and then fill it/turn it on? In what world warm filled bubbling hot tubs are left unsupervised until a frisky couple arrives from their drive? So when they said they got into the hot tub, all I could think about was them turning it on and watching it fill slowly as their erections die down and going to grab a snack and hitting the loo before getting down to business.
I get hung up on unconsequential details and I believe authors should too.
Finally, neither of those boys have a job, and they spend their summers on road trips. It's implied their mothers/families aren't rich. How do they finance their lifestyle and budget for impronptu sushi lunches?
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the characters though I wanted to shake them. Was very slow at some parts, found myself skim reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Hate crime, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
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