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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
I liked the plot premise and that it was a gentle, low angst character driven story.
I felt it was well written, flowing nicely, no extraneous details to wade through. This is book 3 and whilst I haven't read the others, this story stood well on its own.
Would have liked time in Jack's pov - he did seem a contradictory character in that he was the big, buff, tattooed biker-come- bar tender, but really he was quite sweet, liked his simple life, had a sense of humour and was ready for a relationship - his actions contradicting his words early on.
I wasn't so keen on Curtis. I found him to be an odd character with his lawyer career but then very giggly, swooning over the big man. There was a bit too much chin tipping and throwing of arms for me to believe in him fully.
So I would think a 2.5* but I escaped in their story, found it gently amusing at times so went for the 3*
I felt it was well written, flowing nicely, no extraneous details to wade through. This is book 3 and whilst I haven't read the others, this story stood well on its own.
Would have liked time in Jack's pov - he did seem a contradictory character in that he was the big, buff, tattooed biker-come- bar tender, but really he was quite sweet, liked his simple life, had a sense of humour and was ready for a relationship - his actions contradicting his words early on.
I wasn't so keen on Curtis. I found him to be an odd character with his lawyer career but then very giggly, swooning over the big man. There was a bit too much chin tipping and throwing of arms for me to believe in him fully.
So I would think a 2.5* but I escaped in their story, found it gently amusing at times so went for the 3*
fast-paced
I really enjoyed this third book in the series. Jack and Curt are great characters and their relationship journey and efforts to get over past hurts is an emotional but satisfying read.
This MCs are so fully drawn I feel like I know them as real people. I adore Jack. All the contradictions in him and his emotional baggage make for such a compelling character. His bare bones trauma during the crisis scene is heart wrenching and gut punching. Likewise, Curt has his own deep trauma but he attempts to ignore it and bottle it away. His misery during the crisis scene is palpable. The resolution scene is sweet and you can almost physically feel the sighs of relief as it is resolved. Such great writing!
I would love a follow up short story or something to see how Curt and Cary move on from this point. That was the only thing that felt unfinished to me.
Looking forward to book four.
This MCs are so fully drawn I feel like I know them as real people. I adore Jack. All the contradictions in him and his emotional baggage make for such a compelling character. His bare bones trauma during the crisis scene is heart wrenching and gut punching. Likewise, Curt has his own deep trauma but he attempts to ignore it and bottle it away. His misery during the crisis scene is palpable. The resolution scene is sweet and you can almost physically feel the sighs of relief as it is resolved. Such great writing!
I would love a follow up short story or something to see how Curt and Cary move on from this point. That was the only thing that felt unfinished to me.
Looking forward to book four.
4.5 Stars
If you love the Better Than series, you will love this addition to it. Better Than Friends picks up right where the last book finished, Peter and J’s wedding, and spans a year in time. Curt, Matt’s roommate, notices Jack, Peter’s ex, and is immediately attracted to him. During the reception they talk, and Jack decides this day, April 21st, is the first day of the future and he is going to let the past be in the past. They begin a friendship after the wedding and share a kiss…or a couple.
We see a side of Curt in this book that was different from the Curt we saw in Better than Good. We get a glimpse into his past and the story about why he came to DC This gives you a better understanding about his self-deprecating attitude. This smart, sweet, good looking friend, who loves all sports, including baseball, does not think he is good enough for someone as vibrant as Jack. He misses, or purposely misinterprets, all the signs that he and Jack are developing something more than a friendship. Jack brings light, fun, spontaneity, a little kink and motorcycles into this traditional lawyer boy’s life, but it takes death to realize he is worth it.
Jack is the total antithesis of Curt. For starters, he is beautiful, 14 years older, has tattoos, drives a motorcycle, owns a shop and a leather bar. He also left home early in life and is only close with his sister and has so many trust issues that he claims are in the past.
Together Curt and Jack form a friendship that becomes more intimate. Jack is the pursuer of this friendship throughout the book, and you cannot help but fall in love with him. Both of them are open and honest with each other throughout the book, except when it comes to the final jump.
Lane Hayes does a beautiful job of writing about friendship and discovery. All of her characters from Matt and Aaron to Peter and J, and finally, Curt and Jack, leave you believing in love and forever. This book is more of a slow burn, with little angst. This author’s books are like comfort food for me; they are well written, with a good flow that leaves you finishing them in one sitting. I really enjoyed Better Than Friends and am looking forward to hearing it on audio!
If you love the Better Than series, you will love this addition to it. Better Than Friends picks up right where the last book finished, Peter and J’s wedding, and spans a year in time. Curt, Matt’s roommate, notices Jack, Peter’s ex, and is immediately attracted to him. During the reception they talk, and Jack decides this day, April 21st, is the first day of the future and he is going to let the past be in the past. They begin a friendship after the wedding and share a kiss…or a couple.
We see a side of Curt in this book that was different from the Curt we saw in Better than Good. We get a glimpse into his past and the story about why he came to DC This gives you a better understanding about his self-deprecating attitude. This smart, sweet, good looking friend, who loves all sports, including baseball, does not think he is good enough for someone as vibrant as Jack. He misses, or purposely misinterprets, all the signs that he and Jack are developing something more than a friendship. Jack brings light, fun, spontaneity, a little kink and motorcycles into this traditional lawyer boy’s life, but it takes death to realize he is worth it.
Jack is the total antithesis of Curt. For starters, he is beautiful, 14 years older, has tattoos, drives a motorcycle, owns a shop and a leather bar. He also left home early in life and is only close with his sister and has so many trust issues that he claims are in the past.
Together Curt and Jack form a friendship that becomes more intimate. Jack is the pursuer of this friendship throughout the book, and you cannot help but fall in love with him. Both of them are open and honest with each other throughout the book, except when it comes to the final jump.
Lane Hayes does a beautiful job of writing about friendship and discovery. All of her characters from Matt and Aaron to Peter and J, and finally, Curt and Jack, leave you believing in love and forever. This book is more of a slow burn, with little angst. This author’s books are like comfort food for me; they are well written, with a good flow that leaves you finishing them in one sitting. I really enjoyed Better Than Friends and am looking forward to hearing it on audio!
2nd re-listen. Dropping it from 3 stars and I'm questioning why I do this to myself....
This was not good... What this story gave me was irritation. Irritation with Kurt stringing along Paul, with Paul for trying to make something go when it so didn't went, with Jack and his "just friends" thing and the many, Many, MANY times I had to listen what a God amongst men Jack was and I won't even add to that the times about Peter and Jay....
As far as chemistry goes? I couldn't find it with a map and detailed instructions...
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This had the chance to be sooooo good, to be the best in the series. And it was but it missed what the other books had and that was GOOD angst even though it had a way better resolve and HEA than the others (including the 4th).
Maybe it was me being end of the week tired or just that the angst was poorly based and not strong in stirring heartache as in the other books and I really missed that for Jack and Curt. The book would have been so awesome if the author didn't try to squeeze in 20pgs the angst, resolve and HEA of the book.
Other than that as I said Jack and Curt's story was the best one.
This was not good... What this story gave me was irritation. Irritation with Kurt stringing along Paul, with Paul for trying to make something go when it so didn't went, with Jack and his "just friends" thing and the many, Many, MANY times I had to listen what a God amongst men Jack was and I won't even add to that the times about Peter and Jay....
As far as chemistry goes? I couldn't find it with a map and detailed instructions...
----------------
This had the chance to be sooooo good, to be the best in the series. And it was but it missed what the other books had and that was GOOD angst even though it had a way better resolve and HEA than the others (including the 4th).
Maybe it was me being end of the week tired or just that the angst was poorly based and not strong in stirring heartache as in the other books and I really missed that for Jack and Curt. The book would have been so awesome if the author didn't try to squeeze in 20pgs the angst, resolve and HEA of the book.
Other than that as I said Jack and Curt's story was the best one.
A Flock of Seagulls and Duran Duran - Lane Hayes is an author after my 80s teenager's heart!
This is my favourite in the series, I loved Curt and Jack, they just worked perfectly together. I know some people didn't like that Curt had dates with another man but I understood that, for him, it wasn't a romantic thing.
I loved Jack so hard, he was perfect on the surface but hurting underneath from never been enough for the life time commitment.
Together they complimented each other, Jack got Curt and understood his fears while Curt let Jack just be himself. Low angst and hot smexy timeshare this a really enjoyable read.
This is my favourite in the series, I loved Curt and Jack, they just worked perfectly together. I know some people didn't like that Curt had dates with another man but I understood that, for him, it wasn't a romantic thing.
I loved Jack so hard, he was perfect on the surface but hurting underneath from never been enough for the life time commitment.
Together they complimented each other, Jack got Curt and understood his fears while Curt let Jack just be himself. Low angst and hot smexy timeshare this a really enjoyable read.
"His tattoos were a perfect juxtaposition to the otherwise uninterrupted fluidity of his manly physique."
I should of liked this book. Why you ask? Well we have ourselves a Harley riding, tattooed leather clad hot man. That's the kind of man I likes and Jack was likable in ways but for some unknown reason he likes Curtis the douche. That made me wonder about his ability to think clearly.
We first met Curtis in 'Better Than Good'. He was Matt's roommate and friend. He came across as sweet and a good friend when Matt needed him. In this we meet a selfish, opinionated, rude, arrogant little shit who is a completely unlikable character with absolutely no redeemable qualities whatsoever. I couldn't begin to care about his problems because he didn't seem to care about anybody else's.
I can't for the life of me see what Jack saw in him. That's not high maintenance Jack. That's a superiority complex.
Add to all that the same issues I had with the last book and the use of the word 'member' which surprisingly was only 4 times but it felt like a lot more as every time it was mentioned I was in danger of throwing my iPad across the room, I'm amazed I finished it.
Oh and Paul, how could I almost forget the secondary love interest? Well it is because Paul is one of the most uninteresting and unnecessary characters ever. Paul was British and liked Jazz. That's about all I learned about Paul. He worked somewhere and traveled a lot but I couldn't bring myself to retain the information.
I should of liked this book. Why you ask? Well we have ourselves a Harley riding, tattooed leather clad hot man. That's the kind of man I likes and Jack was likable in ways but for some unknown reason he likes Curtis the douche. That made me wonder about his ability to think clearly.
We first met Curtis in 'Better Than Good'. He was Matt's roommate and friend. He came across as sweet and a good friend when Matt needed him. In this we meet a selfish, opinionated, rude, arrogant little shit who is a completely unlikable character with absolutely no redeemable qualities whatsoever. I couldn't begin to care about his problems because he didn't seem to care about anybody else's.
I can't for the life of me see what Jack saw in him. That's not high maintenance Jack. That's a superiority complex.
Add to all that the same issues I had with the last book and the use of the word 'member' which surprisingly was only 4 times but it felt like a lot more as every time it was mentioned I was in danger of throwing my iPad across the room, I'm amazed I finished it.
Oh and Paul, how could I almost forget the secondary love interest? Well it is because Paul is one of the most uninteresting and unnecessary characters ever. Paul was British and liked Jazz. That's about all I learned about Paul. He worked somewhere and traveled a lot but I couldn't bring myself to retain the information.
Very sweet. Curt was Matt's and Jason's roommate in Better than Good but this book can definitely be read as a standalone. I liked the dynamic between Curt and Jack - started out as friends then moved into something stronger. The addition of Paul was a little distracting. Perhaps if he had been given more of a role in Curt's life, I would not have felt as if Paul was superfluous. The last scene with Paul seemed like a loose end. However, I really liked the book. The focus on the age difference was interesting - at times a little much but given that Curt is in his twenties, I understood the need to emphasize it - but note to the author - 42 is NOT old. I particularly liked Jack - this conundrum - sexy, successful, toned and unbelievably attractive guy who has some issues stemming from his past. Curt, or Curtster as his friends sometimes called him - definitely a pain in the ass but so geekily sweet. Lovely little romance - not a lot of angst, lovely sexy times, and Jack - sighhhhhh. I love Lane Hayes' writing - deft, humorous, sexy and light.