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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Rating removed
https://thesaltminers.tumblr.com/post/171680546960/the-santino-hassell-debacle
https://thesaltminers.tumblr.com/post/171680546960/the-santino-hassell-debacle
“I kinda like you, Zane. A lot.”
"I like you too, Beau. A lot.”
I loved this so much, it was so messy and interesting. I loved the fact that this one was about youtubers and that's what really sold it for me. I still think fast connection is my favorite from the series though. I think that beau made a stupid decision near the end but I understood his motives and I think the writers did a great job having these characters talk out their issues and apologize sincerely when they fuck things up. It was quite refreshing and I love everything about it tbh. It hit all the boxes for me in terms of a good,fun, hate to love, mm romance. My messy crazy babes
What I liked
1. The kinky side of their relationship seemed very natural and I like that it didn't feel like it dominated their whole relationship or stunted it's development
2. YouTuber/streamer books are my kryptonite.
3. Lots of great pop culture references
4. Cis white gays recognizing their privilege
5. Heart felt apologies all throughout the story made their relationship feel so healthy
6. Great communication aside from some drama near the end
7. Sex scenes were super intense so their infatuation with each other seemed realistic
8. It was so messy in a good way, sorta like watching a reality tv show
9.I really loved these two main characters, in the third book hard wired I never really felt a connection with Jesse and Ian, I enjoyed their story but I didn't connect the way I did with Zane and Beau
10. THAT LOVE CONFESSION
"I like you too, Beau. A lot.”
I loved this so much, it was so messy and interesting. I loved the fact that this one was about youtubers and that's what really sold it for me. I still think fast connection is my favorite from the series though. I think that beau made a stupid decision near the end but I understood his motives and I think the writers did a great job having these characters talk out their issues and apologize sincerely when they fuck things up. It was quite refreshing and I love everything about it tbh. It hit all the boxes for me in terms of a good,fun, hate to love, mm romance. My messy crazy babes
What I liked
1. The kinky side of their relationship seemed very natural and I like that it didn't feel like it dominated their whole relationship or stunted it's development
2. YouTuber/streamer books are my kryptonite.
3. Lots of great pop culture references
4. Cis white gays recognizing their privilege
5. Heart felt apologies all throughout the story made their relationship feel so healthy
6. Great communication aside from some drama near the end
7. Sex scenes were super intense so their infatuation with each other seemed realistic
8. It was so messy in a good way, sorta like watching a reality tv show
9.I really loved these two main characters, in the third book hard wired I never really felt a connection with Jesse and Ian, I enjoyed their story but I didn't connect the way I did with Zane and Beau
10. THAT LOVE CONFESSION
I truly love this series. I love how flawed and real the characters are, and I love that they all struggle to find their way, in their relationships, and in life. Zane and Beau were magic together.
Beau Starr is Jesse Garvey's cousin (from book 3), and a YouTube celebrity, with his own channel and hundreds of thousands of subscribers. He keeps his messages positive, and always tries to keep a smile on his face while doing it, even if he's not really feeling it at the time. He knows what it's like to be a young gay guy coming out to his family, and he tries to be an encouragement to his viewers, especially the younger ones. He's always positive and upbeat and telling them to believe in themselves. Meanwhile, he's starting to feel like what he's got going isn't enough, and that he should try to branch out more. Also, another YouTube star, TrashyZane, is calling him fake, among other things, and he knows he brought it on himself by snubbing the guy in another vlogger's video.
Zane has gained YouTube fame by being completely himself, even when that self is often, messy, slutty, drunk, and hostile. Hence his moniker, TrashyZane. He has no problem letting his subscribers in on his life, and he doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. But, for some reason, Beau Starr gets under his skin and he couldn't let it lie when Beau dissed him in a video, so he had to clap back. Little did he know what he'd be starting. He's not close to anyone in his family but his grandmother. He feels like they all just pretend to "tolerate" him because they're supposed to, not because they actually love him and accept him as he is. So he pretty much avoids them and everything about his pre-YouTuber life.
Beau and Zane clashed from minute one. This was a true hate-to-love story, and I could not get enough of it. Both of them made mistakes, and they both were super hesitant to get involved beyond the sex, for their own reasons. Their chemistry was off the charts, and they weren't interested in much beyond that at first. As they started to realize how good they were together, I was falling more in love with them too. It was beautifully done. I love this online world/real world setting that the authors have created, and I love all the characters that live there. Everything moved at a good pace, and I just wanted more and more.
These books are very emotional, for the characters, and for me as the reader. I've loved them all, and this one is definitely high up on the list of faves (though I think book 2 is still my fave. I'm looking at you Dom and Luke!) I think what all these books have in common, but most especially book 2, and this book, is an epic grovel. I LOVE an epic grovel. There is just nothing like it from where I'm sitting, and I am SO HERE FOR IT. These authors are spectacular together, and this series just does not disappoint. They've said it will probably be a while before they write another book in this series. I can't wait.
ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
Beau Starr is Jesse Garvey's cousin (from book 3), and a YouTube celebrity, with his own channel and hundreds of thousands of subscribers. He keeps his messages positive, and always tries to keep a smile on his face while doing it, even if he's not really feeling it at the time. He knows what it's like to be a young gay guy coming out to his family, and he tries to be an encouragement to his viewers, especially the younger ones. He's always positive and upbeat and telling them to believe in themselves. Meanwhile, he's starting to feel like what he's got going isn't enough, and that he should try to branch out more. Also, another YouTube star, TrashyZane, is calling him fake, among other things, and he knows he brought it on himself by snubbing the guy in another vlogger's video.
Zane has gained YouTube fame by being completely himself, even when that self is often, messy, slutty, drunk, and hostile. Hence his moniker, TrashyZane. He has no problem letting his subscribers in on his life, and he doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. But, for some reason, Beau Starr gets under his skin and he couldn't let it lie when Beau dissed him in a video, so he had to clap back. Little did he know what he'd be starting. He's not close to anyone in his family but his grandmother. He feels like they all just pretend to "tolerate" him because they're supposed to, not because they actually love him and accept him as he is. So he pretty much avoids them and everything about his pre-YouTuber life.
Beau and Zane clashed from minute one. This was a true hate-to-love story, and I could not get enough of it. Both of them made mistakes, and they both were super hesitant to get involved beyond the sex, for their own reasons. Their chemistry was off the charts, and they weren't interested in much beyond that at first. As they started to realize how good they were together, I was falling more in love with them too. It was beautifully done. I love this online world/real world setting that the authors have created, and I love all the characters that live there. Everything moved at a good pace, and I just wanted more and more.
These books are very emotional, for the characters, and for me as the reader. I've loved them all, and this one is definitely high up on the list of faves (though I think book 2 is still my fave. I'm looking at you Dom and Luke!) I think what all these books have in common, but most especially book 2, and this book, is an epic grovel. I LOVE an epic grovel. There is just nothing like it from where I'm sitting, and I am SO HERE FOR IT. These authors are spectacular together, and this series just does not disappoint. They've said it will probably be a while before they write another book in this series. I can't wait.
ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Megan from Alpha Book Club
I liked it more than [b:Hard Wired|33642764|Hard Wired (Cyberlove, #3)|Megan Erickson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484155053s/33642764.jpg|54495435] and less than [b:Strong Signal|28561501|Strong Signal (Cyberlove, #1)|Megan Erickson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1452874221s/28561501.jpg|48722063] or [b:Fast Connection|30415154|Fast Connection (Cyberlove, #2)|Megan Erickson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465924265s/30415154.jpg|49325465]. So, I guess I'm pretty middle of the road on this, as much as I adore Hassell and Erickson's writing. As always I found that writing lovely, if somewhat repetitive at times, and the sex was scorching. Plus, I liked that what they did together was characterized as 'mild kink.' I feel like a lot of authors write mild kink and then pretend (or honestly think) it's super hard core. I liked that they acknowledged that they weren't vanilla, but didn't pretend to be harder than they were.
The complaints I have are generally personal ones. In the first couple books I really felt like the characters were dealing with deep intra-/interpersonal issues. Here we have two people who just don't like each-other, but still want to have sex, plus a little bit of external drama. (See where the emphasis is?) Additionally, the first couple books were mostly about regular, relatable guys. Here (and in Hard Wired) we're dealing with, and in the head of pseudo-celebrities. (I've seen the same trend in Hassell's Five Boroughs series. They started out focused on blue collar men and now seem focused on the rich and internet famous. I miss soldiers and dock workers and school teaches. That's a large part of what I loved about his books. More sensational characters doesn't necessarily mean a better book. I'm just saying.)
So, I didn't connect with these characters or their situations anywhere near as deeply as I have past ones and thus, didn't like the book as much. Now, not liking something as much as something else is a long way from not liking it. I liked the book just fine and recommend reading it, but I didn't love it. I will continue to follow the series and the authors though. Hassell especially is one of my favorite romance authors.
The complaints I have are generally personal ones. In the first couple books I really felt like the characters were dealing with deep intra-/interpersonal issues. Here we have two people who just don't like each-other, but still want to have sex, plus a little bit of external drama. (See where the emphasis is?) Additionally, the first couple books were mostly about regular, relatable guys. Here (and in Hard Wired) we're dealing with, and in the head of pseudo-celebrities. (I've seen the same trend in Hassell's Five Boroughs series. They started out focused on blue collar men and now seem focused on the rich and internet famous. I miss soldiers and dock workers and school teaches. That's a large part of what I loved about his books. More sensational characters doesn't necessarily mean a better book. I'm just saying.)
So, I didn't connect with these characters or their situations anywhere near as deeply as I have past ones and thus, didn't like the book as much. Now, not liking something as much as something else is a long way from not liking it. I liked the book just fine and recommend reading it, but I didn't love it. I will continue to follow the series and the authors though. Hassell especially is one of my favorite romance authors.
I really really really liked this book! I won't say love 'cos nothing can compare to the smexyness and hotness of an older guy-younger dude couple =D (hey Fast Connection was my fantasy totally written on page!, mama wants some for herself!!! Maybe I should start stalking army bases or something).
I liked it way more than the 3rd book maybe because of Zane's total fuck you attitude (wish I had 1/10th of it), maybe it was the massively epic scene in VidCon that anyway that ever made a scene wishes it was that epic, maybe it was the also totally epic groveling scene to end all groveling scenes or maybe it was the SEAAAAZLING HOOOOT sex scenes.
Whatever it was it made the book awesome! And can't wait for the rest! I still wish for Lyrix's book and hope like hell he turns out to be a total bottom like Dominic....
Now on towards to read the first book of the series that I saved for last.
I liked it way more than the 3rd book maybe because of Zane's total fuck you attitude (wish I had 1/10th of it), maybe it was the massively epic scene in VidCon that anyway that ever made a scene wishes it was that epic, maybe it was the also totally epic groveling scene to end all groveling scenes or maybe it was the SEAAAAZLING HOOOOT sex scenes.
Whatever it was it made the book awesome! And can't wait for the rest! I still wish for Lyrix's book and hope like hell he turns out to be a total bottom like Dominic....
Now on towards to read the first book of the series that I saved for last.