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writtenechoes's review
4.0
This was lovely. I love age gaps like this one. Too many age gaps make the older MC aloof to the younger MC’s age when really that’s not realistic. Zeb was supremely bothered by his infatuation with Jesse not because Jesse was younger but because he felt unworthy in a way. Which made sense to me. I could’ve done without the evil ex trope but meh it worked for me here. Lily sure does love having an MC see a kiss at the wrong moment though. It annoyed me in confetti hearts but not here. Mostly I just really liked these two together and I adored Jesse. I’m reading this series all out of order but I’m kind of glad … it is interesting seeing Max and Felix from different angles since I already know their story.
I kiss him then, feeling his weight and smell all around me. He feels safe. He feels right. He feels like my home. He’s perfect.
I kiss him then, feeling his weight and smell all around me. He feels safe. He feels right. He feels like my home. He’s perfect.
alexisisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Cute!! Age gap is one of my favorite tropes and I liked how in this book it was talked about a little bit more from the older MC's POV. Zeb struggled a bit initially with liking Jesse because of their age gap but I liked how it was actually discussed between both characters. Jesse called him out for keeping him in a "box" and pointed out that whenever Zeb was surprised by Jesse it was because it didn't fit the way Zeb wanted to see him.
I enjoyed the bantering and sort of the dry tone that Zeb always had. I thought Zeb and Jesse complemented each other really well. I wasn't crazy about the whole Patrick plot but it did what it was supposed to do and brought Jesse and Zeb together and I enjoyed myself anyway.
Also I read this series out of order. I read book 3 first so it was absolutely delightful to see the animosity between Max and Felix knowing how they're going to end up.
I enjoyed the bantering and sort of the dry tone that Zeb always had. I thought Zeb and Jesse complemented each other really well. I wasn't crazy about the whole Patrick plot but it did what it was supposed to do and brought Jesse and Zeb together and I enjoyed myself anyway.
Also I read this series out of order. I read book 3 first so it was absolutely delightful to see the animosity between Max and Felix knowing how they're going to end up.
teresab78's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet
Sweet grumpy and sunshine, boss and employee, and fake boyfriends romance. It was an easy read with charming MCs. I loved their dates.
Sweet grumpy and sunshine, boss and employee, and fake boyfriends romance. It was an easy read with charming MCs. I loved their dates.
rhysowen11's review against another edition
3.0
Lily’s books are always a good read. They are relaxing and lovable. But her structure of the books are very similar to her others but again her writing is amazing and the characters are lovable
explorebooks's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A fun read but nothing mind blowing. A sweet contemporary romance that plays with the fake boyfriend trope.
I didn’t like that the age gap was a cause for so much hesitation between these two though.
I didn’t like that the age gap was a cause for so much hesitation between these two though.
waterwitch70's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookish_notes's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was great until about the 70% mark? Like, it was funny but had some heartbreaking inner turmoil, which I LOVE from books. But what winded up happening was that it got really sweet and mushy with feelings that were enough to give you a toothache and I wanted to DNF this on the spot. I winded up skimming through that bit and it went to a bit angsty around the 80% mark, before getting all sweet again. I am one for angst, and the sweet nothings that went on for ages and ages just made me cringe. So, I’d say this book was just all over the place.
Zeb had agreed to be the best man for his ex, Patrick, and now needs a date to all the wedding festivities. Which is how his employee, Jesse, comes into the picture. Jesse has been working as part of Zeb’s company for three years and the company’s purpose is to hire employees out to do things for their clients - like helping out gardening, being a fake date, etc.
Zeb and Jesse have been attracted to each other for years but this is the first time they’ve really gotten to make their attraction know. They have a twenty year age difference and that difference does amplify some of the angst that comes up between the two.
This book, as is most of Lily Morton’s books, is very British. Is this how people feel when reading American books? Most of the cultural references go over my head in this book but kindle does have a Wikipedia functionality that helps out a bit. I guess it doesn’t help that most of the British references are dated back to things during the 70s and 80s instead of being a little more modern, so it does make me wonder if someone in his twenties like Jesse would really get all of Zeb’s references.
Trigger warnings for the cheating bi character trope, and characters implying that all gay men are sexual predators.
Zeb had agreed to be the best man for his ex, Patrick, and now needs a date to all the wedding festivities. Which is how his employee, Jesse, comes into the picture. Jesse has been working as part of Zeb’s company for three years and the company’s purpose is to hire employees out to do things for their clients - like helping out gardening, being a fake date, etc.
Zeb and Jesse have been attracted to each other for years but this is the first time they’ve really gotten to make their attraction know. They have a twenty year age difference and that difference does amplify some of the angst that comes up between the two.
This book, as is most of Lily Morton’s books, is very British. Is this how people feel when reading American books? Most of the cultural references go over my head in this book but kindle does have a Wikipedia functionality that helps out a bit. I guess it doesn’t help that most of the British references are dated back to things during the 70s and 80s instead of being a little more modern, so it does make me wonder if someone in his twenties like Jesse would really get all of Zeb’s references.
Trigger warnings for the cheating bi character trope, and characters implying that all gay men are sexual predators.
robazizo's review against another edition
4.0
Another lovely one from Lily. The job interview had me laughing out loud in the first chapter and the romance that followed was organic and adorable. The conflict at the end felt a bit predictable and cliché, but thankfully it was resolved quickly and the wonderful cameo of Jesse's father made up for it. I love how all of these books are interconnected and I'm curious about the upcoming books. Something tells me it's going to be Max and Felix. There's just something between them that we don't know about yet. And perhaps Charlie and Misha will get their own story?