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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Sports and MM? Say less. The fact that they're childhoods friends, turned lovers. I'm here for it all. I like how Blue came to terms with his feelings for Kelly but I didn't like him stringing him along for such a long period of time. I like how he professed his love and feelings and how he's willing to work on things and finally just accept himself and his feelings. I can't wait to see where their story goes.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
lighthearted
medium-paced
It’s always a risk to revisit a previously loved favourite. Sometimes, something shifts—either in how the book lands or how you see the world—and the magic you once felt is no longer there. That was the case with this reread. I remember adoring it the first time, but coming back to it years later, I found it difficult to ignore the glaring flaws: the unlikeable main characters (deeply flawed to the point of being outright unpleasant), the implausible plot, and the questionable treatment of consent.
Ignoring a clear “no” isn't sexy, and overlooking red flags shouldn't be portrayed as charming. While the quality of the writing remains strong—and likely contributed to my original appreciation—the dynamics in this story now feel troubling. I've changed, and so have my views on what makes a relationship feel healthy or believable.
That said, I’ve enjoyed the author’s more recent work and have noticed their growth and maturity as a writer. Unfortunately, this book no longer holds up for me, despite its earlier impact.
Ignoring a clear “no” isn't sexy, and overlooking red flags shouldn't be portrayed as charming. While the quality of the writing remains strong—and likely contributed to my original appreciation—the dynamics in this story now feel troubling. I've changed, and so have my views on what makes a relationship feel healthy or believable.
That said, I’ve enjoyed the author’s more recent work and have noticed their growth and maturity as a writer. Unfortunately, this book no longer holds up for me, despite its earlier impact.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Violence
Blue's voice was a little off for me. Also they on again off again nature throughout the book was tedious. I wish there were less plot points and dug deeper on issues.
Keeping my original review and rating.
--------------------Original Review Feb 2018-----------------------------
I have a weakness for self discovery stories, the best-friends-to-lovers trope, and banter. In my opinion, SE Harmon nails all three, here. I love her style of storytelling and relationship development, too. It wasn't an easy road, for the MC's, but I liked it.
Britton "Blue" Montgomery is a veteran NFL player. He works hard, plays hard, and knows what he wants. Well, career-wise, anyway. He's never really been in the market for a relationship, preferring to play that field, too. Finding sex isn't difficult when you're a rich, built, tight-end in the NFL, after all, but trusting that someone is interested in you and not your status, is tough.
Kelly Cannon is a physics professor. Geeky and academic, but with the twist of piercings and tattoos. He's a bit unconventional in the class room, but he loves his job (most days) and his life (again, most days). He teaches, meets friends at the local pub, goes to Blue's home games and has what he wants. Mostly. He's also in love with his best friend...but doesn't see any way that could end well.
Blue and Kelly have been practically inseparable since they were 12 years old. They each have the other's back. They speak their minds and tend to be pretty open and honest with one another. The one exception was Kelly's feelings toward Blue. I mean, Blue knew Kelly loved him, but didn't know Kelly was in-love with him. For Blue's part, he wasn't honest with himself about his feelings toward Kelly, so he sent all kinds of conflicting signals Kelly's way, being possessive of Kelly, wanting more and then backtracking several times. Blue just had all kinds of trouble finding his feet, sexually speaking, and it really showed.
I thought I'd be bothered by how Blue kept backtracking, but I kind of got it, here. Blue does not shift gears quickly, at all, and though - once he started seeing Kelly in a sexual way - he acts on his curiosity, he has a lot of trouble reconciling his feelings for his best friend with the expectations of his father and the NFL. You could say he has some trouble getting out of his own way, but once he finally made the decision to move forward, I trusted it. He took the time and thought it out and made the decision.
Though I trust Blue and Kelly's HEA, here, I would have loved to have gotten an epilogue, just to seal the deal, further. I see other story opportunities, here though, with other MC's, so maybe we'll get to see them happy and settled in a future book. That is my hope, anyway!
-------------------
ARC of The Blueprint was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
--------------------Original Review Feb 2018-----------------------------
I have a weakness for self discovery stories, the best-friends-to-lovers trope, and banter. In my opinion, SE Harmon nails all three, here. I love her style of storytelling and relationship development, too. It wasn't an easy road, for the MC's, but I liked it.
Britton "Blue" Montgomery is a veteran NFL player. He works hard, plays hard, and knows what he wants. Well, career-wise, anyway. He's never really been in the market for a relationship, preferring to play that field, too. Finding sex isn't difficult when you're a rich, built, tight-end in the NFL, after all, but trusting that someone is interested in you and not your status, is tough.
Kelly Cannon is a physics professor. Geeky and academic, but with the twist of piercings and tattoos. He's a bit unconventional in the class room, but he loves his job (most days) and his life (again, most days). He teaches, meets friends at the local pub, goes to Blue's home games and has what he wants. Mostly. He's also in love with his best friend...but doesn't see any way that could end well.
Blue and Kelly have been practically inseparable since they were 12 years old. They each have the other's back. They speak their minds and tend to be pretty open and honest with one another. The one exception was Kelly's feelings toward Blue. I mean, Blue knew Kelly loved him, but didn't know Kelly was in-love with him. For Blue's part, he wasn't honest with himself about his feelings toward Kelly, so he sent all kinds of conflicting signals Kelly's way, being possessive of Kelly, wanting more and then backtracking several times. Blue just had all kinds of trouble finding his feet, sexually speaking, and it really showed.
I thought I'd be bothered by how Blue kept backtracking, but I kind of got it, here. Blue does not shift gears quickly, at all, and though - once he started seeing Kelly in a sexual way - he acts on his curiosity, he has a lot of trouble reconciling his feelings for his best friend with the expectations of his father and the NFL. You could say he has some trouble getting out of his own way, but once he finally made the decision to move forward, I trusted it. He took the time and thought it out and made the decision.
Though I trust Blue and Kelly's HEA, here, I would have loved to have gotten an epilogue, just to seal the deal, further. I see other story opportunities, here though, with other MC's, so maybe we'll get to see them happy and settled in a future book. That is my hope, anyway!
-------------------
ARC of The Blueprint was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
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
I’ve never read anything by this author, but came across this book in my audible plus catalogue and it sounded right up my alley!
The narrators were amazing and the book was so good!
Lifelong best friends-Kelly remembered it seeming so easy as kids thinking about Blue and their relationship, ”I like you and you like me. You make my life better and I wanna keep you forever”. These feeling grew into love over the years and the struggle of one keeping that a secret from the other until he just couldn’t take it anymore.
So good. Looking forward to the next one! Read or listen to this one!
The narrators were amazing and the book was so good!
Lifelong best friends-Kelly remembered it seeming so easy as kids thinking about Blue and their relationship, ”I like you and you like me. You make my life better and I wanna keep you forever”. These feeling grew into love over the years and the struggle of one keeping that a secret from the other until he just couldn’t take it anymore.
So good. Looking forward to the next one! Read or listen to this one!
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated