Scan barcode
mclark224's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
fuzzywilson's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual content, Car accident, Confinement, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol and Religious bigotry
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this!
I'm such a fan of May Archer, and my continued success with her books is why.
This is almost like a spin off of the O'Leary series, where we have Mason Bloom,Micah's(from the third O'Leary series book) younger brother. Mason is a doctor and who has recently had a fairly cushy life, with a pretty fiance, and was sure he was straight.
But when his fiance leaves him for another man and throws some harsh words his way, Mason thinks it's time for a change, and instead of overthinking like he usually does, he sees a site online about Whispering Key island, which makes it seem like a fancy resort island, and the man he talks too is pretty fast and loose with the truth...
Enter Fenn Reardon, who feels he's been stuck on the island for five years after something bad happened to him that five years prior. He's the nephew of Big Ralph (as he has a son also named Ralph, who they call Young Ralph (and not Little Ralph for some reason, but oh well), and is pretty cynical and angry at the world.
When Big Ralph makes Fenn go pick up the new doctor, who Ralph claims is just one of the many little things he's doing to improve their seemingly shit hole of an island, Fenn and Mason don't exactly hit it off right away.
Although, by the end of the day, there is definite attraction. Except Mason claimed he was straight (and is now confused) and Fenn has a bad experience with a seemingly straight guy and has sworn straight men off. Except, Fenn can't stay way for long, and after a night of seeming experimentation on Mason's part, they try to deny their connection, but not long before they start something.
Except Mason, who was expecting a five star resort and not The Five Star Resort Motel, dilapidated and all, is apparently only staying as long as it takes him to get another job offer.
Only, in the time that start to happen, the island folk start to endear themselves to Mason, and a certain blue-eyed, prickly man named Fenn is too, unknowingly, just as much as Mason is endearing himself to Fenn.
But Fenn is scared, and pulls away and runs when things get real, and it takes a bit for Mason to be sure of what and who he wants, and so there's some miscommunication along the way, but not in a bad way. It made sense and was cleared up in a way that made sense.
I loved these two together. They had such amazing chemistry, and they were so sweet together, even when they were bantering at each other.
Also, I was not expecting this book to be so funny, but it was absolutely hilarious. Had me laughing out loud several times throughout. And just like with Mason, I became endeared as well with the wacky cast of character on Whispering Key Island, and I already can't wait for the next book in this series (I wonder who it will be...Fenn has three cousins, two of them gay, and the other either thinking he's straight or he's bisexual, the book didn't confirm either way....so I look forward to more adventures on Whispering Key, with more romance to come.)
Two massive thumbs up from me, I HIGHLY recommend! Loved it! <3
I'm such a fan of May Archer, and my continued success with her books is why.
This is almost like a spin off of the O'Leary series, where we have Mason Bloom,Micah's(from the third O'Leary series book) younger brother. Mason is a doctor and who has recently had a fairly cushy life, with a pretty fiance, and was sure he was straight.
But when his fiance leaves him for another man and throws some harsh words his way, Mason thinks it's time for a change, and instead of overthinking like he usually does, he sees a site online about Whispering Key island, which makes it seem like a fancy resort island, and the man he talks too is pretty fast and loose with the truth...
Enter Fenn Reardon, who feels he's been stuck on the island for five years after something bad happened to him that five years prior. He's the nephew of Big Ralph (as he has a son also named Ralph, who they call Young Ralph (and not Little Ralph for some reason, but oh well), and is pretty cynical and angry at the world.
When Big Ralph makes Fenn go pick up the new doctor, who Ralph claims is just one of the many little things he's doing to improve their seemingly shit hole of an island, Fenn and Mason don't exactly hit it off right away.
Although, by the end of the day, there is definite attraction. Except Mason claimed he was straight (and is now confused) and Fenn has a bad experience with a seemingly straight guy and has sworn straight men off. Except, Fenn can't stay way for long, and after a night of seeming experimentation on Mason's part, they try to deny their connection, but not long before they start something.
Except Mason, who was expecting a five star resort and not The Five Star Resort Motel, dilapidated and all, is apparently only staying as long as it takes him to get another job offer.
Only, in the time that start to happen, the island folk start to endear themselves to Mason, and a certain blue-eyed, prickly man named Fenn is too, unknowingly, just as much as Mason is endearing himself to Fenn.
But Fenn is scared, and pulls away and runs when things get real, and it takes a bit for Mason to be sure of what and who he wants, and so there's some miscommunication along the way, but not in a bad way. It made sense and was cleared up in a way that made sense.
I loved these two together. They had such amazing chemistry, and they were so sweet together, even when they were bantering at each other.
Also, I was not expecting this book to be so funny, but it was absolutely hilarious. Had me laughing out loud several times throughout. And just like with Mason, I became endeared as well with the wacky cast of character on Whispering Key Island, and I already can't wait for the next book in this series (I wonder who it will be...Fenn has three cousins, two of them gay, and the other either thinking he's straight or he's bisexual, the book didn't confirm either way....so I look forward to more adventures on Whispering Key, with more romance to come.)
Two massive thumbs up from me, I HIGHLY recommend! Loved it! <3
tltravis's review
5.0
Another addictive series
From the brilliant mind of May Archer. When the past dictates the present it’s hard to move forward. I’m so happy Fenn and Mason found their way.
From the brilliant mind of May Archer. When the past dictates the present it’s hard to move forward. I’m so happy Fenn and Mason found their way.
ilyarozanov123's review
3.0
Oh, this was quite lovely. I enjoyed the writing—it felt really well-written. A grumpy small-town tour guide/mechanic meets big-city doctor story is just what I was in the mood for. Mason and Fenn made a good team. The nickname “Loafers” was fun, too.
My one complaint was the use of “FYI” in actual dialogue. It felt completely out of place for the tone of the story and was also vaguely ridiculous. Do people actually say that? If it had only been Mason saying it, I could have chalked it up to a weird quirk of his, but Fenn used it as well. That threw me.
My one complaint was the use of “FYI” in actual dialogue. It felt completely out of place for the tone of the story and was also vaguely ridiculous. Do people actually say that? If it had only been Mason saying it, I could have chalked it up to a weird quirk of his, but Fenn used it as well. That threw me.
so_many_books's review
4.0
I'm kinda going backwards here.. reading the Whispering Key series after reading Pick Me which is its spin off. But well I got really intrigued after hearing about all these Goodman boys.
So... Off Plan... I am pretty sure this was the craziest, sweetest, funnest book I read in a while!
Take Fenn, for example... he's the sour, settled for his situation kinda guy with a big broken heart. I loved his scardy cat character when it came to feelings and taking something for himself.
And then there's Mason, aka Loafers, the sweet oblivious doctor who might start out on the island with a nose held up high but settles into the small town.. island?... life pretty quickly. His dream is to have his own dream.. so realizing it might not look like what he imagined is a shcoking revelation for him.
And of course there are the other fun characters... the Goodman men trying to find the lost treasure of their ancestors and the inhabitants of the island, each with their own crazy pesonalities and quirks!
This was a really cozy yet fun read with gay/bi awakening, getting over trust issues, a lost treasure, a small, run down island and lots and lots of laughter and sweet moments. It was delightful to read the story! It had happy, sad, heartbreaking, and infuriating moments... just to keep you in your toes!
So... Off Plan... I am pretty sure this was the craziest, sweetest, funnest book I read in a while!
Take Fenn, for example... he's the sour, settled for his situation kinda guy with a big broken heart. I loved his scardy cat character when it came to feelings and taking something for himself.
And then there's Mason, aka Loafers, the sweet oblivious doctor who might start out on the island with a nose held up high but settles into the small town.. island?... life pretty quickly. His dream is to have his own dream.. so realizing it might not look like what he imagined is a shcoking revelation for him.
And of course there are the other fun characters... the Goodman men trying to find the lost treasure of their ancestors and the inhabitants of the island, each with their own crazy pesonalities and quirks!
This was a really cozy yet fun read with gay/bi awakening, getting over trust issues, a lost treasure, a small, run down island and lots and lots of laughter and sweet moments. It was delightful to read the story! It had happy, sad, heartbreaking, and infuriating moments... just to keep you in your toes!
blreese's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-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
4.75
bee_thebibliophile's review
3.0
It took me a while to get into Off Plan. I immediately felt terrible for Dr. Mason Bloom - he’s trying to take control of his life and do something that’s just his, but he didn’t do all of his homework and got taken advantage of. Add in that the other MC, Fenn Reardon, was constantly at odds with him, corrupting his sunshine-y personality with his grumpiness and dislike for his situation, and I couldn’t see how the two of them would end up together.
Once they finally moved past the enemies part and got more to the lovers, I was in. Their relationship was full of funny interactions, sweetness and some steam and I was there for it. I loved how open Mason ended up being after the initial shock of his situation wore off. He was open to trying something new, taking a chance and exploring new possibilities. And Fenn really turned it around, seeing his family and his circumstances in a new light, taking control of his future and letting Mason in even though he’d been burned before.
Whispering Key is full of a crazy cast of characters - I love me some quirky side characters…even kind totally out there ones like Dale and Lorenna - and I can’t wait to see what the Goodmans get into next while falling in love along the way!
Once they finally moved past the enemies part and got more to the lovers, I was in. Their relationship was full of funny interactions, sweetness and some steam and I was there for it. I loved how open Mason ended up being after the initial shock of his situation wore off. He was open to trying something new, taking a chance and exploring new possibilities. And Fenn really turned it around, seeing his family and his circumstances in a new light, taking control of his future and letting Mason in even though he’d been burned before.
Whispering Key is full of a crazy cast of characters - I love me some quirky side characters…even kind totally out there ones like Dale and Lorenna - and I can’t wait to see what the Goodmans get into next while falling in love along the way!
demon_queen13's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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