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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
4.5⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, baseball, LGBT ~ MM & BI awakening, widower, single dad, friends to lovers, steamage
This was such a heartfelt story of finding love again after loss ~ when and where you least expect it.
I
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, baseball, LGBT ~ MM & BI awakening, widower, single dad, friends to lovers, steamage
This was such a heartfelt story of finding love again after loss ~ when and where you least expect it.
I
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 3.5 stars (7/10)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, giant himbo, baseball pitcher, single dad, widower, G4Y
Review:
When I first read this, I was frustrated at how much Max seemed to drag Jack through hell as he dealt with his own problems, and while it is definitely still there, it seemed worse upon first read than it did upon re-read (that typically happens with me...). I enjoyed the voice of Jack, but I found the voice for Max rather strange. Given his grumpy demeanour and age, I found his voice actor almost felt too jovial and young - it might have suited him for when he was still in uni, but it felt like a strange choice. I did get used to it, but the biggest thing that Alexander Cendese brought to that role was that he definitely sold me on the straight boy vibe - I don't know what it was, but he sounded so painfully straight, even when he got to the experimenting part of the book, and I think that was partly how his dialogue was written, but also Alexander's voice too - in that regard, he was a great match. I did find his sex voices a little strange, but it wasn't unpleasant to listen to. I also didn't realise upon first reading that there was some misogynistic and slightly fat phobic language used - it didn't seem to be used with intent, so I'm not sure whether that should have been addressed better, and I don't personally feel affected by those, but I did notice it there at times, mainly used as metaphors in the MC's heads, which felt like they could have been reworked. All of that aside, I enjoyed this listen more than I thought I would, and I was glad to find a new to me voice actor as well!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: grumpy x sunshine, giant himbo, baseball pitcher, single dad, widower, G4Y
Review:
When I first read this, I was frustrated at how much Max seemed to drag Jack through hell as he dealt with his own problems, and while it is definitely still there, it seemed worse upon first read than it did upon re-read (that typically happens with me...). I enjoyed the voice of Jack, but I found the voice for Max rather strange. Given his grumpy demeanour and age, I found his voice actor almost felt too jovial and young - it might have suited him for when he was still in uni, but it felt like a strange choice. I did get used to it, but the biggest thing that Alexander Cendese brought to that role was that he definitely sold me on the straight boy vibe - I don't know what it was, but he sounded so painfully straight, even when he got to the experimenting part of the book, and I think that was partly how his dialogue was written, but also Alexander's voice too - in that regard, he was a great match. I did find his sex voices a little strange, but it wasn't unpleasant to listen to. I also didn't realise upon first reading that there was some misogynistic and slightly fat phobic language used - it didn't seem to be used with intent, so I'm not sure whether that should have been addressed better, and I don't personally feel affected by those, but I did notice it there at times, mainly used as metaphors in the MC's heads, which felt like they could have been reworked. All of that aside, I enjoyed this listen more than I thought I would, and I was glad to find a new to me voice actor as well!
Cute and steamy!
I really enjoyed this story! This was a single dad/widow, friends to lovers, gay for you story. I really loved Max and Jack. I loved the little family they created even after suffering a great loss. Jack has been Max’s rock and I loved how they went from best friends to something more. This was such a swoon worthy story with some twists and turns. I took one star off because of the excessive internal dialogue especially in the beginning of the story. Many of these internal thoughts were repetitive at times and didn’t add more to the story. After a while the story gained its momentum and I ended up loving it.
I really enjoyed this story! This was a single dad/widow, friends to lovers, gay for you story. I really loved Max and Jack. I loved the little family they created even after suffering a great loss. Jack has been Max’s rock and I loved how they went from best friends to something more. This was such a swoon worthy story with some twists and turns. I took one star off because of the excessive internal dialogue especially in the beginning of the story. Many of these internal thoughts were repetitive at times and didn’t add more to the story. After a while the story gained its momentum and I ended up loving it.
I enjoyed this book more than I initially thought I would. The first 30% to 40% were rough for me. There was so much inner dialogue I wanted to scream!! I felt like the book was stagnant and just wasn't moving forward. But once it got past this, it was great!
I loved Jack and Max together. I understood why Max was the way he was at the beginning. I thought he was a little harsh. But once he pulled his head out of his butt, he was great. In fact, he was the strong support that Jack had needed most of his life. They also had some great banter. Add in some Emma and it was perfection.
I did get tears a couple of times. Jack and Max go through a very tough situation, and it was so heartwarming to see Jack's team support him. Max was such a strong person for him. It really did make me love them together so much more.
Loved the epilogue! I love when we get a good look into the future. I'm sad to see them go.
I loved Jack and Max together. I understood why Max was the way he was at the beginning. I thought he was a little harsh. But once he pulled his head out of his butt, he was great. In fact, he was the strong support that Jack had needed most of his life. They also had some great banter. Add in some Emma and it was perfection.
I did get tears a couple of times. Jack and Max go through a very tough situation, and it was so heartwarming to see Jack's team support him. Max was such a strong person for him. It really did make me love them together so much more.
Loved the epilogue! I love when we get a good look into the future. I'm sad to see them go.
I’m sort of torn on how to rate this tbh lol
Max was really hard to like and does a lot of shitty homophobic things, on top of just being a total dick to Jack repeatedly, who just let him???
He mentions several times that he doesn’t know ‘how to be gay’, and it’s pointed out a couple times that he married a woman and had a child with one, as if being bisexual is not a thing 🤣
Also, he only really makes a point to stop others from being homophobic when it’s pointed in his direction, which kind of sucked
Then the whole thing with Jack telling Max about his dead wife hassling him about his sexuality and sex life, told him about her fantasizing about him blowing Max, and just fucking around with his feelings for Max their entire friendship in general… It was weird. How did no one find that weird???
I struggled a lot with the constant internalized and verbalized homophobia/biphobia, stereotypes like being gay and liking/doing “manly” things (which just blew Max’s mind), and Jack referring to being gay as a poison as well.
It just made me sad.
Max was really hard to like and does a lot of shitty homophobic things, on top of just being a total dick to Jack repeatedly, who just let him???
He mentions several times that he doesn’t know ‘how to be gay’, and it’s pointed out a couple times that he married a woman and had a child with one, as if being bisexual is not a thing 🤣
Also, he only really makes a point to stop others from being homophobic when it’s pointed in his direction, which kind of sucked
Then the whole thing with Jack telling Max about his dead wife hassling him about his sexuality and sex life, told him about her fantasizing about him blowing Max, and just fucking around with his feelings for Max their entire friendship in general… It was weird. How did no one find that weird???
I struggled a lot with the constant internalized and verbalized homophobia/biphobia, stereotypes like being gay and liking/doing “manly” things (which just blew Max’s mind), and Jack referring to being gay as a poison as well.
It just made me sad.
Max is a straight single father, coping with the death of his wife. Jack is the pro baseball player who lives next door who is secretly gay and lusts after max.
I liked the way the story started as Jack realised how deeply he felt for Max and the rollercoaster of feelings for both of them. The slow burn was authentic and romantic and the secret love a bonus.
Great story I would read again, couldn't put it down ! This it second book I've read by this author and I loved both
I liked the way the story started as Jack realised how deeply he felt for Max and the rollercoaster of feelings for both of them. The slow burn was authentic and romantic and the secret love a bonus.
Great story I would read again, couldn't put it down ! This it second book I've read by this author and I loved both
Review will be posted on my blog www.mmromancereviewed.com on March 22nd when the book releases
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this story. I don’t understand some of the reviews I’ve seen.
Jack and max were both so open and vulnerable. And the side characters all had purpose and they moved the story well. I was annoyed at the sex tape thing, i wish we had a different problem to resolve, it also seemed like the resolution was a bit too dreamy and unrealistic. We don’t even get a conversation with Jack’s dad? I don’t know. But all in all, great story and amazing epilogue.
Jack and max were both so open and vulnerable. And the side characters all had purpose and they moved the story well. I was annoyed at the sex tape thing, i wish we had a different problem to resolve, it also seemed like the resolution was a bit too dreamy and unrealistic. We don’t even get a conversation with Jack’s dad? I don’t know. But all in all, great story and amazing epilogue.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This wasn't the book for me. Far too trope-y, with characters who verge on stereotypes. The plot is thin and predictable. The Gay Panic, the sappy ending, and the double epilogue(?) didn't work for me.
If you're looking for a queer sports romance, read anything by Rachel Reid instead. Or Grand Slam Romance.
More details on the ending (i.e., all the spoilers): There's a seven-months-later epilogue where they get married and have a baby, and then there's a 16-years-later epilogue where their daughter gets married, and I'm 100% aware that some people love romance novels that end with weddings--it's very common--but frankly, it's not my thing. It's like tripling down on the tropiness. More people need to get inventive in the romance genre, especially with queer partnerships.</spoilers>
If you're looking for a queer sports romance, read anything by Rachel Reid instead. Or Grand Slam Romance.
More details on the ending (i.e., all the spoilers):