Scan barcode
duchessrin's review
3.0
It was refreshing reading something light hearted, but this story was too safe.
The characters were so distant from me that when I finished, I didn’t even feel a “book hangover”. I didn’t even feel the “book tipsiness”. Max and Stef were cute together but that’s about it. They’re happy together and what you’re in here for was the progress of their relationship: from friendship to love.
Max didn’t make a big deal about the discovery of his sexual preference. Okay, I know that you shouldn’t really, but hey, you discovered that you’re attracted to your own sex when all this time you thought you were straight. Can’t he like have a stronger reaction or something?
When I reached the end, I was like, “Okay. That was it? No heart-thudding climax? No wondering if they’ll actually end up together? That was it?”
I expected more. I liked the cover, I liked the title, but the story was only okay.
It was sooooo obvious that they’d end up together. The journey to realizing that they were in love with each other was so ordinary. So if you’re looking for a happy story without all the drama and heartbreaks, then this is for you.
The characters were so distant from me that when I finished, I didn’t even feel a “book hangover”. I didn’t even feel the “book tipsiness”. Max and Stef were cute together but that’s about it. They’re happy together and what you’re in here for was the progress of their relationship: from friendship to love.
Max didn’t make a big deal about the discovery of his sexual preference. Okay, I know that you shouldn’t really, but hey, you discovered that you’re attracted to your own sex when all this time you thought you were straight. Can’t he like have a stronger reaction or something?
When I reached the end, I was like, “Okay. That was it? No heart-thudding climax? No wondering if they’ll actually end up together? That was it?”
I expected more. I liked the cover, I liked the title, but the story was only okay.
It was sooooo obvious that they’d end up together. The journey to realizing that they were in love with each other was so ordinary. So if you’re looking for a happy story without all the drama and heartbreaks, then this is for you.
thereadingwren's review
2.0
2.5/5
Was this the cute, sweet, fluffy, unproblematic, gay contemporary I wanted? YES!
But this read like fanfiction, and not the good or even great kind... but it also didn't read like the bad kind of fanfiction.
It was simply, okay.
There was so much British (at least I think it was British) slang that I didn't understand at all. These two characters are meant to be men in their mid-twenties but they read like teenage girls (a joke one character even makes in the book). It's not exactly a bad thing, but men rarely notice outfits or eyes or anything with the same amount of detail as women do (and yes, I hate that I'm generalizing here).
I also kind of wish there had been more story and growth from one character about discovering their sexual orientation. I find it hard to believe they shrugged it off and were suddenly 100% on board with thinking about men in a sexual capacity.
Overall, this book was just okay. Nothing amazing or horrible happened. I'll probably forget about the "plot" within a few days.
Was this the cute, sweet, fluffy, unproblematic, gay contemporary I wanted? YES!
But this read like fanfiction, and not the good or even great kind... but it also didn't read like the bad kind of fanfiction.
It was simply, okay.
There was so much British (at least I think it was British) slang that I didn't understand at all. These two characters are meant to be men in their mid-twenties but they read like teenage girls (a joke one character even makes in the book). It's not exactly a bad thing, but men rarely notice outfits or eyes or anything with the same amount of detail as women do (and yes, I hate that I'm generalizing here).
I also kind of wish there had been more story and growth from one character about discovering their sexual orientation. I find it hard to believe they shrugged it off and were suddenly 100% on board with thinking about men in a sexual capacity.
Overall, this book was just okay. Nothing amazing or horrible happened. I'll probably forget about the "plot" within a few days.
hugo19999's review
4.0
Idk I just wished there were more
Like there are some scenes that wasn't really necessary but there are some plot that deserves more exploring but just felt cut short but this still a sweet story.
Like there are some scenes that wasn't really necessary but there are some plot that deserves more exploring but just felt cut short but this still a sweet story.
_lish_'s review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
papercranestitches's review
4.0
I liked this story a whole heck of a lot.
While on the surface I have almost nothing in common with these characters - I'm not male, British, in my twenties, have a great affinity for animals, gaming, roller skating, orpublic humiliation dancing - Max and Stefan wormed their way into my heart almost instantly. By the time Max started to feel his first flutterings of same-sex sexual awareness, I was completely invested in them and their happily ever after. My heart literally clutched when they were apart. That's the sign of a really great story, don't you think? One that causes its readers to have a physical reaction to it?
While there were some tender kisses, and a sweet, soapy hand job (and I was fully expecting it given Stefan's "Slowly. Slowly" mantra), I'm forced to acknowledge my inner horn dog and give the story -1 Strength point for no on the page penetration. (Sorry, Lori, it's totally a "it's not you, it's me" situation because I thought that what you did do with your boys on the page, and how their relationship progressed, was perfection).
My thanks to the sassy Brit for participating in the Love's Landscapes event (not once, but twice!) and for all of the behind-the-scenes work that editors, beta readers, and the MM Group Mods put into making this FREE event a massive success! And also a big thanks to the fabulous Natasha Snow who keeps churning out my most favouritest covers for these tales. THANKS, GUYS!
While on the surface I have almost nothing in common with these characters - I'm not male, British, in my twenties, have a great affinity for animals, gaming, roller skating, or
While there were some tender kisses, and a sweet, soapy hand job (and I was fully expecting it given Stefan's "Slowly. Slowly" mantra), I'm forced to acknowledge my inner horn dog and give the story -1 Strength point for no on the page penetration. (Sorry, Lori, it's totally a "it's not you, it's me" situation because I thought that what you did do with your boys on the page, and how their relationship progressed, was perfection).
My thanks to the sassy Brit for participating in the Love's Landscapes event (not once, but twice!) and for all of the behind-the-scenes work that editors, beta readers, and the MM Group Mods put into making this FREE event a massive success! And also a big thanks to the fabulous Natasha Snow who keeps churning out my most favouritest covers for these tales. THANKS, GUYS!
wolfgiselle's review
3.0
Ah! What a breath of fresh air 'this' was. With some of the stuff I've been reading lately, it was a much-needed break.
This story was cute. That's the best word to describe it: Cute. It was short and relaxing and fluffy. People that need action, sex, or something major to happen in their fiction might not like it. But for those of you that can appreciate a gentle love story between two guys starting out as friends and then becoming something more, this might just be for you.
Now, I'm not saying this story was perfect. But I did enjoy reading it. The plot is very basic. You have a guy named Max and another guy named Stefan. They meet and become friends while playing an online fantasy game; but because of their usernames, they both mistake each other for the opposite gender. When they both meet in real life, both are surprised. But neither let it ruin their friendship.
I love that Stephan is gay but that Max has always considered himself to be straight. I think my favorite part of this story had to be Max's reactions toward Stephan and his confused feelings. He doesn't let labels or stereotypes or any such thing get in the way. He was more worried about 'ruining' their friendship than he was about his new-found desires for someone of the same sex. Max is the one that insists that they try, worried that if they don't they might be missing out on the best relationship they'd ever have. I have to admit, I respected his character for some of that dialogue. That and his mindset.
There wasn't much of a story as much as there was a narrated development of friendship and love. But that didn't matter. I liked the characters, and I wanted them to get together - even if I did sometimes think their relationship was so perfect that it had to be too good to be true. It showed the kind of gentle romance that we all deserve. The kind we can cherish. No bad boys in this story. Only sweetness. No sex because they only get as far as maybe a hand-job.
This is a really short and easy read. Best of all, it's free. Just a download click away on Amazon. If you haven't read it already, I recommend it to those interested in a mildly innocent gay romance.
This story was cute. That's the best word to describe it: Cute. It was short and relaxing and fluffy. People that need action, sex, or something major to happen in their fiction might not like it. But for those of you that can appreciate a gentle love story between two guys starting out as friends and then becoming something more, this might just be for you.
Now, I'm not saying this story was perfect. But I did enjoy reading it. The plot is very basic. You have a guy named Max and another guy named Stefan. They meet and become friends while playing an online fantasy game; but because of their usernames, they both mistake each other for the opposite gender. When they both meet in real life, both are surprised. But neither let it ruin their friendship.
I love that Stephan is gay but that Max has always considered himself to be straight. I think my favorite part of this story had to be Max's reactions toward Stephan and his confused feelings. He doesn't let labels or stereotypes or any such thing get in the way. He was more worried about 'ruining' their friendship than he was about his new-found desires for someone of the same sex. Max is the one that insists that they try, worried that if they don't they might be missing out on the best relationship they'd ever have. I have to admit, I respected his character for some of that dialogue. That and his mindset.
There wasn't much of a story as much as there was a narrated development of friendship and love. But that didn't matter. I liked the characters, and I wanted them to get together - even if I did sometimes think their relationship was so perfect that it had to be too good to be true. It showed the kind of gentle romance that we all deserve. The kind we can cherish. No bad boys in this story. Only sweetness. No sex because they only get as far as maybe a hand-job.
This is a really short and easy read. Best of all, it's free. Just a download click away on Amazon. If you haven't read it already, I recommend it to those interested in a mildly innocent gay romance.
thebookishren's review
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴: MM, Bi-Awakening, Novella
So this cute little story was written from a prompt given in a group. Olley is a new-to-me author and quite clearly English and I LOVED it. Such a sweet little romance between two online friends. Max and Stefan thought the other was Maxine and Stephanie so it was a shock to both that the other was a male. Cute, a little dirty, and so much fun!
I adored how the relationship developed between these gamer boys. From friends to close friends to boyfriends to happily ever after. It may have been a novella but there was so much heart packed into this delightful story.
“𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞.”
A few of the English terms confused me but I googled them and learned some things. I liked the friend group a lot and really appreciated how light and fluffy this story was. It was a perfect afternoon treat with a sweet HEA.
POV: 3rd, Dual
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
🅁🄰🅃🄸🄽🄶: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
spiritedreviewexc's review
5.0
not every day i give a book 5 stars, but it was adorable, sassy and cute. I want to be Max, and Stephon's friends! from their first meeting to their dance in the park, everything wraps up adorably, but you can still see there's more to come, and I love that, it's not to over the top "sex written" just the right amount of wholesome great to fall asleep to, and great as an every day book, i'm hooked and downloaded the next book since it was free and all, did i mention it was free?!
I am in love with this author and can't wait to read more by her!
I am in love with this author and can't wait to read more by her!
jinja's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
This was kind of akward but sweet. A lot of pop culture references