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thepictureofromance's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Annabeth Albert does it again, this was an absolutely fantastic read!!
It had a really great mix of sexy and serious. I really, really enjoyed it!!
(Also, Tyler Stevens did a GREAT job with the audio. I was hooked from his first breath!!)
It had a really great mix of sexy and serious. I really, really enjoyed it!!
(Also, Tyler Stevens did a GREAT job with the audio. I was hooked from his first breath!!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Medical trauma, Bullying, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Violence
zaza_bdp's review
3.0
Une romance M/M sympa, mais sans plus, avec un couple de jeunes hommes en pleine entrée dans la vie active. D'un côté nous avons Pike, jeune prof en tout début de carrière qui a choisi le professorat par défaut, n'ayant aucun problème à affirmer son homosexualité. De l'autre, nous avons Zack, issu d'une famille très 'rouge' (comprenez républicaine pure et dure, intégriste et intolérante). Zack est un SEAL, membre du corps d'élite de la Marine, actuellement il termine sa formation et évidemment, il n'a jamais révélé, ni à lui-même, ni aux autres, son homosexualité.
Pike et Zack vont, par la force des choses, devenir colocs, et bientôt Zack va se laisser tenter par cet homme qui le fait chavirer.
Au menu de ce livre ? Découverte curieuse et (très) enthousiaste du sexe, sentiments complexes, homophobie bête et gratuite, le tout sur fond d'univers militaire.
J'ai passé un moment sympa de lecture, mais sans plus, finalement. Les personnages sont trop clichés à mon goût, avec des gentils très gentils, des méchants très méchants, bref, vous voyez le genre. Puis je trouve toujours aussi exagéré quand, dans ces romances, tous les personnages/collègues qui gravitent autour du couple sont forcément tous gays. Pas trop mal donc, mais rien qui sorte du lot.
Pike et Zack vont, par la force des choses, devenir colocs, et bientôt Zack va se laisser tenter par cet homme qui le fait chavirer.
Au menu de ce livre ? Découverte curieuse et (très) enthousiaste du sexe, sentiments complexes, homophobie bête et gratuite, le tout sur fond d'univers militaire.
J'ai passé un moment sympa de lecture, mais sans plus, finalement. Les personnages sont trop clichés à mon goût, avec des gentils très gentils, des méchants très méchants, bref, vous voyez le genre. Puis je trouve toujours aussi exagéré quand, dans ces romances, tous les personnages/collègues qui gravitent autour du couple sont forcément tous gays. Pas trop mal donc, mais rien qui sorte du lot.
rellimreads's review
4.0
5/2023 - I listened to these a couple of years ago but am writing the review on my relisten.
First - the covers for this entire series are amazing. ❤️
First - the covers for this entire series are amazing. ❤️
secret_librarian's review
4.0
I didn't know it was a spin-off from another series, but I think it worked fine reading it as a standalone.
I absolutely adored Zack as a character and I really liked the pairing of the tough SEAL with a nerd - Zack and Pike made such a great couple. As it was classed as a military romance I figured that it would be focused on that but most of the book takes place off base (yea, should have seen that coming I suppose). It deals a lot with Zack's struggles to find his way with his new SEAL team while keeping his sexual orientation a secret. He's been keeping it from everyone and it's first when Pike moves in with him that Zack reveals for the first time that he's gay.
I really enjoyed seeing Zack's development and how the relationship between him and Pike was portrayed, and Zack coming to terms with his identity and feelings.
The storyline is pretty predictable but it doesn't really take away from the story, it's a sweet, sort-of-friends to lovers, low angst love story that also deals with heavier subjects such as homophobia in the military and "leftovers" from DADT. "Off Base" is definitely a promising start for the Out of Uniform series!
bitchie's review
4.0
This was just all around sweet, with a tiny bit of "in the closet" angst, but nothing too heavy. Looking forward to reading the next book, kinda hoping it's that hot widower who came to see Zach in the hospital.
a_reader_obsessed's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Because this is Annabeth Albert, this story already garnered itself as an automatic read.
Poor Zack is a lot repressed and starved for affection and he can barely make heads or tails of Pike’s shameless flirting. He’s inexorably drawn to the outgoing guy but is too scared to follow through with his desires and curiosity.
Pike on the other hand, loves him a man in military uniform. It’s all fun and games until he finds himself roomies with Zack, and despite loving to push Zack’s buttons, he also sees the softer, sensitive, vulnerable side to the guy that makes him that much more harder to resist.
I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t read this in my typical 2 days that serious momentum was lost, but I just wasn’t that caught up in the story as I typically know I can be and would’ve liked. It was frustrating how much self denial Zack was in, though at the same time, completely understandable for a multitude of reasons, the least of which were bullying and an ultra religious family. Though wholly unfair to Pike, who overall was kindly patient and sadly devastated every time Zack pulled away, both characters were still very very likable. It didn’t hurt at all that these two were quite the sexy pair between the sheets.
One more point of contention I hate to bring up but feel I must, is the lack of editing this book had. Friends know that I hardly ever complain about this sort of thing, but I wanted to put it out there, that for a whopping $8.99, a book that expensive should basically be flawless and it irked big time that it wasn’t.
Again, Albert is and remains an automatic buy and read for me, but this time around there were a few internal and external niggles.
Because this is Annabeth Albert, this story already garnered itself as an automatic read.
Poor Zack is a lot repressed and starved for affection and he can barely make heads or tails of Pike’s shameless flirting. He’s inexorably drawn to the outgoing guy but is too scared to follow through with his desires and curiosity.
Pike on the other hand, loves him a man in military uniform. It’s all fun and games until he finds himself roomies with Zack, and despite loving to push Zack’s buttons, he also sees the softer, sensitive, vulnerable side to the guy that makes him that much more harder to resist.
I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t read this in my typical 2 days that serious momentum was lost, but I just wasn’t that caught up in the story as I typically know I can be and would’ve liked. It was frustrating how much self denial Zack was in, though at the same time, completely understandable for a multitude of reasons, the least of which were bullying and an ultra religious family. Though wholly unfair to Pike, who overall was kindly patient and sadly devastated every time Zack pulled away, both characters were still very very likable. It didn’t hurt at all that these two were quite the sexy pair between the sheets.
One more point of contention I hate to bring up but feel I must, is the lack of editing this book had. Friends know that I hardly ever complain about this sort of thing, but I wanted to put it out there, that for a whopping $8.99, a book that expensive should basically be flawless and it irked big time that it wasn’t.
Again, Albert is and remains an automatic buy and read for me, but this time around there were a few internal and external niggles.
evethingiread's review
2.0
Meh
Zack was so annoying
And Pike was annoying in stereotypical gay.
This has all the tropes I don’t enjoy
Zack was so annoying
And Pike was annoying in stereotypical gay.
This has all the tropes I don’t enjoy
sallysocker's review against another edition
3.0
“Okay, he’d had sex—gay sex—and hadn’t spontaneously combusted.”
Almost immediately when I started this I noticed that I didn’t like the pairing. Zack and Pike didn’t really work for me and I don’t know what it was that made me feel like that. But as I continued reading I began enjoying the story more and more. It’s not perfect but it’s enjoyable. The plot was a bit boring but overall an okay read.
Almost immediately when I started this I noticed that I didn’t like the pairing. Zack and Pike didn’t really work for me and I don’t know what it was that made me feel like that. But as I continued reading I began enjoying the story more and more. It’s not perfect but it’s enjoyable. The plot was a bit boring but overall an okay read.
kirbyj_'s review
4.0
this is one of my favourite mm series and it kicks off strong with zach and pike.
i love the build up to their relationship, their chemistry and their friendship. i also loved the secondary characters from the #gaymers series where the mcs were introduced and the secondary characters introduced in this book that have their own books later in the series. a great introduction to a new setting and series.
i love the build up to their relationship, their chemistry and their friendship. i also loved the secondary characters from the #gaymers series where the mcs were introduced and the secondary characters introduced in this book that have their own books later in the series. a great introduction to a new setting and series.