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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Gael and Jordan were so much perfection. I loved them so much and could’ve used more of them! I would recommend this book. It gives you all the feels! The sadness, the desperation, the selflessness ugh, Jordan was by far my favorite! I gave this 5/5⭐️ and 3/5
I’ve been anticipating this book since reading the original novella it’s based on, “Regrets and Resolutions.” I thought that version was emotionally charged, so I was not prepared for Ache. The love, the pain, the friendship was so real it was tangible. I experienced frustration and heartache along with he heart-pounding romance. This was an emotional rollercoaster that I would be happy to ride again and again.
WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS CHEATING!
Okay now that I got what I know to be a deal breaker for a lot of people out of the way, holy fuck am I glad that is not a deal breaker for me. Because this book was AMAZING. It was the kind of book that I will be revisiting. It is the kind of book that made me want to immediately go and purchases Marley Valentine's entire body of work.
This book is a friends-to-lovers book, which I've learned is a major weakness for me.
We have Gael and Jordan as our main characters. Jordan is openly gay and moved in with Gael's family when he was a teenager, after being kicked out of his own home for being gay. But the two boys were best friends long before that. Gael was the kid that saved Jordan when he was bullied in elementary school and the two boys were insperable ever since. And somewhere along the way, Jordan fell in love with Gael.
Which serves to be a problem, because Gael is engaged to a woman named Elena.
Valentine does an amazing job at not making Elena out to be any kind of villain. She sees that Gael and Jordan have feelings for one another and is the sole person in the book outside of them to know what happened between these two men when they were twenty-one. My heart actually ached for her throughout the back half of the book, especially when we were given a few insights to her through her own point of view chapters.
The front half of this book takes place over a weekend. It takes place at Gael's bachelor party and during it, Gael and Jordan confront the emotions and attraction they've had towards one another. And then disaster strikes, which leads into a back half that had me positively dying to read more.
This book is high heat and has a lot more angst than is standard for this genre, but it is well worth the read. I felt so much for both MCs throughout the story.
READ THIS BOOK. Seriously, read this book. It is beautiful and angsty and left me all up in my feels. Honestly I wish I could unread this book just to read it again for the first time. As it is, I will be revisiting this book and venturing out to Valentine's other works.
** THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF AN ARC PROVIDED BY GRR **
Okay now that I got what I know to be a deal breaker for a lot of people out of the way, holy fuck am I glad that is not a deal breaker for me. Because this book was AMAZING. It was the kind of book that I will be revisiting. It is the kind of book that made me want to immediately go and purchases Marley Valentine's entire body of work.
This book is a friends-to-lovers book, which I've learned is a major weakness for me.
We have Gael and Jordan as our main characters. Jordan is openly gay and moved in with Gael's family when he was a teenager, after being kicked out of his own home for being gay. But the two boys were best friends long before that. Gael was the kid that saved Jordan when he was bullied in elementary school and the two boys were insperable ever since. And somewhere along the way, Jordan fell in love with Gael.
Which serves to be a problem, because Gael is engaged to a woman named Elena.
Valentine does an amazing job at not making Elena out to be any kind of villain. She sees that Gael and Jordan have feelings for one another and is the sole person in the book outside of them to know what happened between these two men when they were twenty-one. My heart actually ached for her throughout the back half of the book, especially when we were given a few insights to her through her own point of view chapters.
The front half of this book takes place over a weekend. It takes place at Gael's bachelor party and during it, Gael and Jordan confront the emotions and attraction they've had towards one another. And then disaster strikes, which leads into a back half that had me positively dying to read more.
This book is high heat and has a lot more angst than is standard for this genre, but it is well worth the read. I felt so much for both MCs throughout the story.
READ THIS BOOK. Seriously, read this book. It is beautiful and angsty and left me all up in my feels. Honestly I wish I could unread this book just to read it again for the first time. As it is, I will be revisiting this book and venturing out to Valentine's other works.
** THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF AN ARC PROVIDED BY GRR **
"Don't confuse my lack of experience for lack of understanding. I know what I want. I know who I am. I know what matters, and I know what doesn't. The only thing that you need to know is, being attracted to other men doesn't change a single thing, because it's only ever been you."
Ache is an emotionally heartbreaking journey that gives you all the feels.
Jordan and Gael have been best friends since kindergarten and have an inseparable bond. Jordan was kicked out of his house after coming out to his parents and Gael's family took him in. Jordan has been in love with Gael forever but he is his straight best friend who is engaged to a woman. Jordan plans a bachelor party in Las Vegas for Gael which proves to be a life-changing trip for everyone.
Jordan and Gael's story is an emotionally beautiful journey. I experienced all the feels and could not put the book down. There is humour, banter, secrets, and a whole lot of love. Jordan and Gael were combustible together and you can feel their connection to each other flowing off the page. My heart broke for Gael, Jordan and Elena for everything they all went through but was so happy when Jordan and Gael finally got their happily ever after.
Marley Valentine has been on my list of authors to read for a very long time and I am glad that I finally picked up one of her books. I will be reading more from her in the near future.
"I have learned to love you from afar, and I'm begging you please, please let me love you up close."
5 Maple Leafs … Ache by Marley Valentine is an m/m best friends to lovers romance told from the first-person point-of-view of the main characters Jordan and Gael with a few chapters from Elena's point-of-view.
*Triggers … Cheating, Miscarriage (mention)*
*advanced copy requested and honestly reviewed on behalf of Canadian Girl Book Blog*
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Ache.. what a fucking perfect name for this book because that is exactly what I felt the entirety of this book.. an ache so deep I don’t even think I fully understand it.
These 2 are the definition of true love, 2 sides of the same coin, soulmates. Any word or terminology that describes when 2 people belong together that is Jordan & Gael.
Friends to lovers isn’t really my thing but Marley Valentine she is my girl. Everything she writes draws me in & hooks me. The first MM I fell in love with was Without you.. And this book? Doesn’t fall short. I can’t even begin to compare the 2 because they take up so much of my heart.
I really don’t understand how she manages to pour so many emotions into these pages that make me think magic exist because I feel EVERY FUCKING THING while reading this book. My heart physically hurt like it would burst with how much love is shared between them. That all consuming, powerful, addicting, life changing type of love that’s what this is. That’s also the type of love that makes single bitches like me envious because why can’t life be as simple as it is in these books? Where TF is my person at?
That’s besides the point, this book will literally seep its way into your skin, your heart, your life and you won’t ever be able to forget the love these 2 have for each other it’s so pure & true.
Man this is the type of book that you love so much and so wholeheartedly that it almost makes you sad you don’t have the kind of love these 2 share. Like wtf man I keep holding out on hope that something like this will happen for me but sometimes the shit feels like a damn pipe dream so thank God for these writers.
These 2 are the definition of true love, 2 sides of the same coin, soulmates. Any word or terminology that describes when 2 people belong together that is Jordan & Gael.
Friends to lovers isn’t really my thing but Marley Valentine she is my girl. Everything she writes draws me in & hooks me. The first MM I fell in love with was Without you.. And this book? Doesn’t fall short. I can’t even begin to compare the 2 because they take up so much of my heart.
I really don’t understand how she manages to pour so many emotions into these pages that make me think magic exist because I feel EVERY FUCKING THING while reading this book. My heart physically hurt like it would burst with how much love is shared between them. That all consuming, powerful, addicting, life changing type of love that’s what this is. That’s also the type of love that makes single bitches like me envious because why can’t life be as simple as it is in these books? Where TF is my person at?
That’s besides the point, this book will literally seep its way into your skin, your heart, your life and you won’t ever be able to forget the love these 2 have for each other it’s so pure & true.
Man this is the type of book that you love so much and so wholeheartedly that it almost makes you sad you don’t have the kind of love these 2 share. Like wtf man I keep holding out on hope that something like this will happen for me but sometimes the shit feels like a damn pipe dream so thank God for these writers.
LOVE. This book had me distressed and played with my emotions so much. Did i cry? Maybe. The HEA was worth it though. I really liked the writing, spice was there but didn’t drown out the plot, and the characters were relatable/enjoyable/consistent. My heart is so full for these two and everything they went through. There was just one thing in the plot that I wasn’t a fan of but overall really really liked this book.
spice: 3/5
Features: M/M Relationship, Docking, Unrequited Love, Mutual Pining, Cheating (Not Between The MC’s), Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
Dual POV
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Jordan and Gael have been connected at the hip since childhood. As an out and proud gay man, Jordan knows that its a lost cause to be in love with your straight, engaged best friend. He is ready to bury his feelings forever until Gael surprises him in Vegas during Gael’s Batchelor party, and maybe his long time feelings aren’t so unrequited as he thought.
This story moves very fast, but these two have such a long history that it doesn’t seem out of place. Gael and Jordan are so deeply intertwined in each others lives it seems natural, but you do feel for Gael’s fiancé and their backstory. A little sad and a lot of precious moments. This one will hit you in the feels, but Gael’s big Mexican family is so supportive and loving and I loved them.
Features: M/M Relationship, Docking, Unrequited Love, Mutual Pining, Cheating (Not Between The MC’s), Childhood Best Friends to Lovers
Dual POV
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Jordan and Gael have been connected at the hip since childhood. As an out and proud gay man, Jordan knows that its a lost cause to be in love with your straight, engaged best friend. He is ready to bury his feelings forever until Gael surprises him in Vegas during Gael’s Batchelor party, and maybe his long time feelings aren’t so unrequited as he thought.
This story moves very fast, but these two have such a long history that it doesn’t seem out of place. Gael and Jordan are so deeply intertwined in each others lives it seems natural, but you do feel for Gael’s fiancé and their backstory. A little sad and a lot of precious moments. This one will hit you in the feels, but Gael’s big Mexican family is so supportive and loving and I loved them.
they were so cute but idk just didn’t enjoy it as much as i thought i would