Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Just a Bit Wrecked

This was even better than I thought it was going to be. I really enjoyed this book. I loved Andrew and Logan together. I loved the dynamic between the two. How Logan was the top and the more dominant one. I fully expected Andrew to wasn't to be the one doing everything. But with how he grew up, it makes sense he'd be the more submissive one.

I also loved how they didn't fully have sex while on the island. That they waited until they were rescued. It made the moment they gave in more special, knowing they were doing it because they wanted to and not because they were all the other had on the island.

I did wish the portion of them on the island had been a majority of the book instead of just the first 40%. I got slightly bored when they were rescued and back home. I wish 70% of the book had been just them on the island.

Although I did enjoy seeing their struggle with adjusting to "normal" life after 7-9 months of it just being them alone. It just felt like the second part of the book where they're back to their regular lives and jobs was too long.

But I do think this is one of my favorites from the series so far. I absolutely recommend.

Content Warnings

haloblues's review against another edition

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4.0

Details: Alternating POVs, third-person, past tense
Favourite character: Andrew
Happy ending?: Yes
Other content warnings: Dub-con/CNC (roleplayed non-con)

Favourite quotes:

Logan’s voice snapped him out of it. “We should probably talk about this.”

Andrew scrunched up his nose. “No, we really don’t. There’s nothing to talk about.” Huh. His voice sounded wrecked.

“If you say so.”

“I do say so. Now shut up. You’re ruining the mood.”

“I wasn’t aware there was a mood.”

“There was. It was called blessed silence.”

Andrew had six moles on his left arm and just two on his right arm. Logan traced them idly with his fingers when he had nothing better to do—and he rarely had something better to do.

Andrew allowed it. He seemed so used to his touch by now that he never reacted negatively when Logan touched him—just leaned into the touch like a flower turning toward the sun. It did terrible fucking things to Logan’s insides.

Logan laid a hand on Andrew’s face, rubbing his cheek with his thumb for a moment. Andrew shivered, trying not to lean into the touch like a cat.

At last, Logan said, looking him in the eyes, “Even if he heard something, he wasn’t here. He didn’t see anything. It was just you and me.”

Andrew swallowed.

“You and me,” he repeated, and somehow, the words turned into something he hadn’t intended them to be, and the air between them grew thick and heavy. Andrew found himself blushing, for no damn reason.

Logan’s lips curled into a smile. It was a beautiful smile.

Andrew felt… He felt… Logan seemed too far all of a sudden; Andrew needed him closer. He buried his hand in Logan’s hair and dragged him down into a hard, needy kiss. God, he wanted to consume him, take his body into his own and keep it there, forever. You and me, the words echoed in his mind as he sucked on Logan’s tongue hungrily.

You and me, you and me, you and me.

“Ha-fucking-ha,” Andrew deadpanned, but the corners of his mouth twitched, and then he was laughing, too.

And Logan stared.

He had never seen Andrew laugh. Not like this: with pure mirth on his face, his eyes bright and soft, and his smile blinding.

He was beautiful.

It was the first time he thought of Andrew as beautiful. Handsome, hot, attractive, lovely—yes, but never beautiful. Beauty came from within; it wasn’t just a physical attribute.

But fuck, he was beautiful, all laughing eyes, wild curls, and cherry red lips.

And Logan loved him.

He loved him.

I can live without you, but I don’t want to. I feel guilty that I need you more than I’ve ever needed my wife. I feel guilty, because I’m scared I wouldn’t be happy even if I had her back.

That night, he dreamed.

He dreamed of Vivian.

They were seated on the island’s beach, her head on his shoulder.

Their fingers were intertwined.

It was peaceful. Quiet.

“I know you loved me,” she said. “You made me the happiest woman in the world.” She turned her head and looked at him with her lovely eyes. She smiled, touching his face. “It’s okay. I want you to be happy, silly.” She brushed her lips against his, the touch affectionate and warm. “Loving someone is always scary. But I know you’re brave. Be brave, sweetheart.”

And then she was gone.

After a while, he reached for his phone and scrolled to his aunt’s number. He hit Call.

“Andrew?” she said, sounding sleepy. “Is something wrong?”

Right. It was still early morning.

“It wasn’t an experiment,” he said hoarsely. “I think I’m bi.”

There was silence on the line.

He could hear his aunt breathe unsteadily. “Andrew… Is this about that man?” she said. “Logan?”

Andrew stared at the ceiling. “It isn’t about anyone. It’s about me. I’m attracted to men. I want to know if you—if you can still—”

“Don’t be stupid,” she said tersely. “You think I dedicated my life to raising you just to— you think that’s enough for me to give up on you?”

“It isn’t?” he croaked out.

“Idiot boy,” she bit off and hung up.

Andrew stared at the phone blankly before a laugh left his throat.

Something in his chest loosened a bit. He knew his aunt would never entirely approve of his sexuality, but maybe it was okay.

Maybe she didn’t need to approve of his life choices to love him.

He had intended to be an adult about it.

He had wanted to message Logan with something neutral, find out where he was, if he was seeing anyone (even thinking about it made him feel sick, but it was a possibility, one he couldn’t dismiss), but in the end, he was too much of a coward. He wasn’t brave at all.

So Andrew did the responsible, adult thing: he stalked Logan.

Content Warnings

nandryshak's review

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emotional medium-paced

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

2.0

Content Warnings

mrsherrera's review

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emotional inspiring 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

4.0

Content Warnings

sammirosewater's review

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted sad fast-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

4.0

Logan top

Content Warnings

_isabel_'s review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

And just like that, I've managed to finish all of the "Straight Guys" books currently in existence. And oh my god, this might end being my favourite out of them all. I think I need to do a re-read, just to be sure though *nods*

I freaking adored this book. It's so good. SO. DAMN. GOOD.
It's got all of my favourite tropes (forced proximity! hurt/comfort!! enemies-to-lovers vibes that made everything even more delicious *swoons*) and the characters were amazing and unexpectedly likable. One of the problems that I've always had with AH's MCs, especially the ones involved in the more toxic and unhinged relationships (yes, Gabriel and Jared, I'm talking about you, you psychos), is that, although I end up absolutely worshiping the book and the couple on the whole, the characters sometimes are unpleasent and sorely in need of a good whack on the head with a shovel. But Andrew and Logan? They're both rude and a bit assholish (and Andrew is very unlikable in the beginning), but I still ended up loving both of them. I felt so sorry for Andrew from the start, even when he was being rude and childish and obtuse: he's the kind of character that grows on you and by mid-book I was quite ready to take up arms to defend him. And I loved Logan too: he's as rude as Andrew, a bit hard and impatient, but he still managed to make me swoon. And how he was with Andrew? A mix of domineering and protective and fiercely devoted? Gah, he was so dreamy. Their chemistry was off the charts and their intimate scenes were deliciously steamy and just a bit kinky; the slow-burn from dislike to attraction to codependency to love was *chef's kiss* PERFECTION; and I even loved the much darker and angstier edge this book has, unlike a lot of the previous books.

I'm going to desperately miss not having any more of these books to binge-read (I NEED BOOK #13 LIKE AIR), but thankfully re-reading is always an option. In fact, I MIGHT have downloaded "Just a Bit Ruthless* again... you know, just to be sure I still love it as much as I remember.

Content Warnings

anil's review

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dark emotional medium-paced

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

3.75

Do look at the specific warnings for this if you have triggers I think these are definitely not everyone's cup of tea but also if that is your cup of tea maybe more of a recommendation than a warning tbh.

Content Warnings

rosaelia's review

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medium-paced

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

5.0

Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book.
I couldn't stand Andrew in the beginning, but then... He just grew on me. Now I love him and Logan so much and I'm happy they're finally true to one another and got their HEA.

Content Warnings

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