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tyty's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
gillianw's review
DNF at 56%
I’m not buying the relationship between these two men, nor am I invested in seeing where this is going.
ETA: I skipped to the end to see what the big secret was and all I have to say is Blake can fuck right off. Hated him and hated the end. Jude deserved better.
I’m not buying the relationship between these two men, nor am I invested in seeing where this is going.
ETA: I skipped to the end to see what the big secret was and all I have to say is Blake can fuck right off. Hated him and hated the end. Jude deserved better.
kynikoskyon's review
2.0
meh.
Hice skimming en el smut. El drama de estos libros por lo visto siempre es muy de teleserie venezolana. El plot twist lo vi venir desde un comienzo, así que por eso no estoy decepcionada con la historia. Lo terminé solo porque quería dejarlo entre mis Reads.
Algo que sí me gustaría comentar es que Jude nunca debió haber perdonado a Blake, ni a su mamá biológica. Vieja de mierda, fue una madre horrible y una pésima persona. La odio.
Hice skimming en el smut. El drama de estos libros por lo visto siempre es muy de teleserie venezolana. El plot twist lo vi venir desde un comienzo, así que por eso no estoy decepcionada con la historia. Lo terminé solo porque quería dejarlo entre mis Reads.
Algo que sí me gustaría comentar es que Jude nunca debió haber perdonado a Blake, ni a su mamá biológica. Vieja de mierda, fue una madre horrible y una pésima persona. La odio.
wusswoo's review
3.5
I was waiting for the twist, and normally I’m pretty good at pre-empting them but not this one. Overall, I liked the story there was good banter between the protagonists and I enjoyed the progression of their relationship. There was just something that held me back from rating this higher and I don’t even know what.
secret_librarian's review
5.0
Rating: 5
Steam: 3
PoV: single, 1st person
MM | banter | slow burn | hurt / comfort
I’m honestly not sure how to write something that will do justice to this fantastic story - Briar Prescott totally blew my mind with this book!
Until You wasn’t really like any other book I’ve read, and it’s a tough story to describe without spoilers. The plot that was easy to get intrigued by, since we know that something major happened in Jude’s life, but we don’t find out what it was until very late into the story. I loved the suspenseful feeling and possibility for imagination that it created, even if it was frustrating at times.
This story was also full of snarky banter, which I absolutely loved! It was so much fun reading the characters’ back and forth, and I liked the push and pull between Jude and Blake. There was some great tension as well and it added some sizzling to the slow burn. These two were definitely made for each other, and it was hard not to adore their rooftop meet-cute.
Until You was an emotional read, and I couldn’t quite shake the feeling of impending dread while reading. I loved all of the angst and secrets though, and it was a fantastic and very memorable story! If you want a snarky and angsty read - I’d highly recommend giving this story a chance.
Steam: 3
PoV: single, 1st person
MM | banter | slow burn | hurt / comfort
I’m honestly not sure how to write something that will do justice to this fantastic story - Briar Prescott totally blew my mind with this book!
Until You wasn’t really like any other book I’ve read, and it’s a tough story to describe without spoilers. The plot that was easy to get intrigued by, since we know that something major happened in Jude’s life, but we don’t find out what it was until very late into the story. I loved the suspenseful feeling and possibility for imagination that it created, even if it was frustrating at times.
This story was also full of snarky banter, which I absolutely loved! It was so much fun reading the characters’ back and forth, and I liked the push and pull between Jude and Blake. There was some great tension as well and it added some sizzling to the slow burn. These two were definitely made for each other, and it was hard not to adore their rooftop meet-cute.
Until You was an emotional read, and I couldn’t quite shake the feeling of impending dread while reading. I loved all of the angst and secrets though, and it was a fantastic and very memorable story! If you want a snarky and angsty read - I’d highly recommend giving this story a chance.
yazaleea's review
5.0
Is this a 5 stars? Maybe it’s because I have only been reading mid romances (i still LOVE hockey romances to death, don’t get me wrong), is it because tonight is a particularly bad night for my mental health (it’s only been getting worse lately)? Or is it because I loved every single moment of this book?
I loved the writing. It was a little dramatic at times and I mean it in the best way, it was lovely. It confirms how much single POV works for me. Especially in a story like this one that has a couple plot twists that would have never worked with a dual POV.
Speaking of the plot twists, one was quite easy to predict (the reveal was still good) but the other caught me a little off guard and I liked it.
As for the characters: Jude, the narrator, was great. He is a deeply lonely man who never gets close to people because of trust issues. He has his close circle of best friends, the only people he seems to give a piece of himself too, but still keeping them at a distance, and then the rest of the world. He doesn't need anymore people in his life.
Blake is beautiful, smart as fuck and he gets Jude. Blake doesn't want to have sex with Jude, who only does one night stands. Things are off to a terrible start. But they slowly become friends. I swear at this point I was crying tears of joy. Despite the obvious instant attraction, I loved to see them get closer, during the first half of the book. Being friends with someone like Blake is new to Jude and he fights it for a while, until he lets himself fall.
I swear it was so satisfying, there was no drawn-out miscommunication trope, and when drama arises, I really like how both Blake and Jude handled it. I loved the resolution. I just really liked this.
Jude's loneliness, the way he lives it and describes, the way he feels like he can't really trust people and would rather push them away than risk them getting close is something I heavily related to, and it made him all the more sympathetic to me. I liked his biting cynicism, his dark sense of humour and his straightforwardness. And he fit so, so perfectly with Blake's easy-going, soft but just as stubborn personality. They are perfect for each other I love them so much. They have this "two broken/scarred people find each other and become whole together" vibe that I am obsessed with.
Also, we get amazing side characters with the lesbian wives Blair & Nora and their baby, as well as Blair and Jude's best friend, Stephen who is the MC of the next book (I can't wait, the moment I post this I'll be starting And Then You).
Anyway, first read in a WHILE that is not a hockey romance and that felt good, slow burn is not dead baby!
I loved the writing. It was a little dramatic at times and I mean it in the best way, it was lovely. It confirms how much single POV works for me. Especially in a story like this one that has a couple plot twists that would have never worked with a dual POV.
Speaking of the plot twists, one was quite easy to predict (the reveal was still good) but the other caught me a little off guard and I liked it.
As for the characters: Jude, the narrator, was great. He is a deeply lonely man who never gets close to people because of trust issues. He has his close circle of best friends, the only people he seems to give a piece of himself too, but still keeping them at a distance, and then the rest of the world. He doesn't need anymore people in his life.
Blake is beautiful, smart as fuck and he gets Jude. Blake doesn't want to have sex with Jude, who only does one night stands. Things are off to a terrible start. But they slowly become friends. I swear at this point I was crying tears of joy. Despite the obvious instant attraction, I loved to see them get closer, during the first half of the book. Being friends with someone like Blake is new to Jude and he fights it for a while, until he lets himself fall.
I swear it was so satisfying, there was no drawn-out miscommunication trope, and when drama arises, I really like how both Blake and Jude handled it. I loved the resolution. I just really liked this.
Jude's loneliness, the way he lives it and describes, the way he feels like he can't really trust people and would rather push them away than risk them getting close is something I heavily related to, and it made him all the more sympathetic to me. I liked his biting cynicism, his dark sense of humour and his straightforwardness. And he fit so, so perfectly with Blake's easy-going, soft but just as stubborn personality. They are perfect for each other I love them so much. They have this "two broken/scarred people find each other and become whole together" vibe that I am obsessed with.
Also, we get amazing side characters with the lesbian wives Blair & Nora and their baby, as well as Blair and Jude's best friend, Stephen who is the MC of the next book (I can't wait, the moment I post this I'll be starting And Then You).
Anyway, first read in a WHILE that is not a hockey romance and that felt good, slow burn is not dead baby!
becksgoesbookish's review
4.0
5⭐️ audio
4 ⭐️ story
The romance was solid, but there was one element of the *drama* that was never addressed or resolved at the end outside of the main relationship that really made me mad so that’s why is a 4 instead of a 5.
4 ⭐️ story
The romance was solid, but there was one element of the *drama* that was never addressed or resolved at the end outside of the main relationship that really made me mad so that’s why is a 4 instead of a 5.
elizabethbaker's review
5.0
This book was exceptional and I already want to read it all over again. There were so many beautifully worded and laugh-out-loud moments. I read a lot of romance- like a LOT- and never really think much of my relationship status in relation to what I read, but this book made me feel so single ...in the best way because what Jude and Blake found in each other was so perfect it makes you yearn for it.
The big secrets were pretty simple to see coming but the reveal moment still made my heart ache. I wish the book had been a little longer; the pacing around 80% felt off to me, and kept it from being absolutely perfect, but that's nitpicking with such a great book.
Easily the best book I've read this year (out of 100+) and it's going to be hard to surpass.
Rating: 8/5
Angst 4/5
Steam 2/5
Reread potential 3000% I will absolutely be reading this again soon
The big secrets were pretty simple to see coming but the reveal moment still made my heart ache. I wish the book had been a little longer; the pacing around 80% felt off to me, and kept it from being absolutely perfect, but that's nitpicking with such a great book.
Easily the best book I've read this year (out of 100+) and it's going to be hard to surpass.
Rating: 8/5
Angst 4/5
Steam 2/5
Reread potential 3000% I will absolutely be reading this again soon
tashmarcelle53's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Outstanding, exhilarating storytelling in a riveting MM romance
Wow. Uh. I’ll say that again. WOW. It took me a chapter or so to get drawn in, but then, to quote a favorite line from a rather famous romance, “I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.” Blake! His patience, his humor, the way he just gets Jude (who is the sole narrator/MC1 until the epilogue)… I was all in before I even noticed. I’m a sucker for a guy who has so much going on beneath the surface that you’re dying to know what it is, but no one’s saying, and you don’t care because you just want to keep reading about this fascinating person. Here there are two of them.
The author is genius with laying out the bread crumbs and possibly laughing/cheering as you pick each one up and keep going. Toward your doom? Toward HEA? Well, it is a romance, so…but the fact that I felt that tension every step of the inevitable way shows the genius in the writing. This is a storyteller who knows what she’s doing.
Some people have chemistry as friends. Some have chemistry as lovers. Here we have both, and the match up is incendiary and confusing and addictive and all the Things. I almost didn’t want them to get together physically bc the tension was so high it seemed there’d be nowhere to go but down. Not so.
Jude has protective walls so high they should be unscalable. Blake shrugs and digs under them before Jude ever thinks to block him that way. Knowing more about the story would spoil things, and this one’s too good to do that to. If you enjoy reads where the characters have arcs and evolve and bring out the best in each other with utter unconditional appreciation, this one’s for you. Witty, kind, poignant, steamy, full of wariness, determination, despair, and joy…a true roller coaster of emotion and intellectual stimulation. (That’s a weird thing to say. But it’s true.)
Secondary characters are well-drawn and authentic and support the main plot beautifully.
HEA, hard-earned with a massively satisfying payoff. Sneak-into-your-life to friends to lovers to I don’t want to exist without you even though I can. No cheating or emotional cheating. Highly, highly recommended.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion. And I bought a print copy of this book because it was that fabulous.
lookatjimmy's review
5.0
I won't lie I didn't go into this book expecting much more than just a fun, quick read and WOW. One of my fave romances of the year. Possibly my fave pairing so far. Jude and Blake's banter was so quick, witty, and razor-sharp and I found myself actually laughing out loud while reading their conversations. My first Briar Prescott but based on this I will definitely be reading more.