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purely_romantic's review
emotional
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? No
5.0
EM Lindsey has a brand new series and I can already tell I am going to love this single dad series if Lane and Bowen’s precious love story is any indication.
Meet Lane, overwhelmed and exhausted single dad to the world’s most precocious and troublemaking three year old, and Bowen, former stunt worker and trained nanny recovering from an accident and a terrible ex at his older brother’s house who happens to be the neighbour of a certain hot (at least Bowen thinks so) silver fox single dad. These two meet and connect out of need, but I so loved how they went from being friends to crushing on each other so hard, to a brief FWB situation and then fell so deeply for each other. Theirs was a cautious start, both characters wary from past relationships that left them bruised and hurting and watching them tip-toe into their eventual HEA was a true delight.
I couldn’t help but feel for Lane who was just so starved for affection and words and touch that was kind, something that Bowen had no shortage of to give. To watch these characters heal each other with care and kindness, and by just showing up for each other with no strings attached filled all the fuzzy parts of me and it is, yet again, one of my favourite parts of an EM Lindsey novel. Of course, the angst was also there in spades and my heart squeezed at the vulnerability they displayed and in all the big, anxious feelings that these two characters bravely faced in order to commit themselves to the other.
I can’t wait for some of the other characters’ stories and this series promises to deliver on the heart, the big feels and all the found family goodness! 5 big stars!
CWs: Past emotional abuse; past narcissistic relationships; divorce (not between MCs); past injury resulting in limb loss.
CNs: This is an MM contemporary romance featuring a single dad and a character with a leg amputation. This is a mid-to-high heat novel and features several on-page sex scenes. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC and this is my voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
mini_elsa's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
heatherinbooks's review
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
3.5
cindaren's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
secret_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Main tropes: single dad, sexual discovery, slow burn
Oh how I adored this story! Knowing You was an overall light-hearted read, written with a lot of warmth and humour - and a touch of angst.
Bowen and Lane’s meet-cute was one of the funniest and cutest thing ever, facilitated by a toddler with a penchant for stealing things - this time the prosthetic leg belonging to the neighbour’s hot brother, Bowen. Lane and Bowen pretty much instantly connected, and Bowen offered his services as a nanny, which Lane soon realised was something he sorely needed.
From their first meeting, Bowen was so supportive and I loved seeing how Lane reacted to Bowen taking care of him and all of the small touches and hugs. The romance between them was more of a slow burn, and while I loved the initial tension between them, it was also great to see them getting to know each other as friends first. Lane needed to work through his divorce and find his feet again, but with their chemistry and tension, it wasn’t too long before they couldn’t deny the attraction and feelings they had for each other.
There were some heavier topics here as well - some past emotional abuse and dealing with a narcissistic ex-spouse, but it wasn’t quite as angsty as some of E.M. Lindsey’s other books. Things between Bowen and Lane, despite a little pining and miscommunication, was kept pretty light and they were so sweet together. I loved how well Bowen could read Lane and give him exactly what he needed, and Lane really soaked it all up - they were definitely the kind of couple that made my heart all happy and warm.
Knowing You was a fantastic start to E.M. Lindsey’s new series, and as always with their stories, it was an emotional read with great characters and diversity. I loved the side characters that were introduced here as well, and I’m really excited to see them getting their own books!
-
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Main tropes: single dad, sexual discovery, slow burn
Oh how I adored this story! Knowing You was an overall light-hearted read, written with a lot of warmth and humour - and a touch of angst.
Bowen and Lane’s meet-cute was one of the funniest and cutest thing ever, facilitated by a toddler with a penchant for stealing things - this time the prosthetic leg belonging to the neighbour’s hot brother, Bowen. Lane and Bowen pretty much instantly connected, and Bowen offered his services as a nanny, which Lane soon realised was something he sorely needed.
From their first meeting, Bowen was so supportive and I loved seeing how Lane reacted to Bowen taking care of him and all of the small touches and hugs. The romance between them was more of a slow burn, and while I loved the initial tension between them, it was also great to see them getting to know each other as friends first. Lane needed to work through his divorce and find his feet again, but with their chemistry and tension, it wasn’t too long before they couldn’t deny the attraction and feelings they had for each other.
There were some heavier topics here as well - some past emotional abuse and dealing with a narcissistic ex-spouse, but it wasn’t quite as angsty as some of E.M. Lindsey’s other books. Things between Bowen and Lane, despite a little pining and miscommunication, was kept pretty light and they were so sweet together. I loved how well Bowen could read Lane and give him exactly what he needed, and Lane really soaked it all up - they were definitely the kind of couple that made my heart all happy and warm.
Knowing You was a fantastic start to E.M. Lindsey’s new series, and as always with their stories, it was an emotional read with great characters and diversity. I loved the side characters that were introduced here as well, and I’m really excited to see them getting their own books!
-
Thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
ayjayy's review
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
lost_windsock's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so good! I loved all of the characters in it, main and side! Except Lane's ex, but we were supposed to hate her with a passion and I certainly did. I really loved Bowen and Lane together, and although this was a slow burn, I really enjoyed the beginning of their friendship, too. Seeing them together as friends made their romance so much sweeter, and holy hell, the steamy scenes that much steamier. I think this book really gave a nice setup for the rest of the series, too, giving a lot of depth to Frey, whose book is next up. Again I will say, as always, E.M. Lindsey can do no wrong and I will always read their new releases! They never let me down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Abandonment, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Infidelity, Ableism, and Panic attacks/disorders
hallehamilton'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jmross10's review
3.5
It was good and I liked the story but it didn’t really do anything for me in the grand scheme. I like Lindsey’s writing and what the author brings to the table. I prefer other works over this though.