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A review by jan35104974
Except You by Cora Rose
4.0
Song: Sleeping At Last - Light
Tropes:
Bi awakening
Strangers to friends to lovers
Co dependency
Villain redemption
Witty banter
Sunshine x Sunshine Protector
Slightly obsessive MC
Review:
I was honestly kind of reluctant to start this book because of the way Maggie's brothers treated him in his book, but I gotta hand it to Cora Rose. This redemption arc was written extremely well. We have Max, who's trying to change thirty years of one-track thinking to be able to spend more time with Maggie and Sem, plus their kids.
I absolutely loved how Max knows what he did to Maggie was wrong and that he's man enough to admit he was being an absolute jerk to his brother. I'm honestly kind of proud of him for taking steps toward building a new bridge with Maggie and Sem. Beau was another wonderfully written character; he was there just being his own unapologetic self, helping Max work his way through these new things in life.
Memorable quotes:
- I’m here to change my mindset, to step out of my comfort zone. To grow. I’m gonna fucking grow, goddamnit.
-Just trying to find a way back to my brother.
- A man should never smell this good. It should be illegal.
- Beau is intoxicating. His scent, the way he moves, the shape of his throat, the way that he speaks. I can see another man becoming completely infatuated with him.
- I should pull away from him, should stand far, far away, but I only seem to lean into him. It’s his fault for smelling so damn good
- I have no right to look down on another’s lifestyle when mine has been so filled with hate. Hate is worse than who someone chooses to love.
- But when he links his arm back through mine, I feel like I’ve found my compass, my true north in this sea of gayness.
- I’ve spent almost three hours with this guy, and it felt like fifteen minutes.
- I did it. I fucking did something I thought I’d never do. And I’m doing this for someone who is important to me.
- I might not be perfect, might have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I’m trying.
- He was…he was always quiet and off in his own little world. I never really understood him, and it’s only now that I realize it’s because he was hiding who he was.
- Some people are like that. Just kindred spirits, platonic soulmates. That’s you and me, Max. You’re stuck with me now, especially since we have Doggo to consider.
- It has nothing to do with Beau and not hearing from him. I’m not going through withdrawals.
- You’ve grown a lot, Max. In this short time. I can’t wait to see how you are in a year, two years, five.
- To be honest, I don’t really mind the idea of it because it’s Beau. For some reason, things are just different with him.
- He even knows my name. He never forgot it. I could have easily become a Michael or Morton, but he remembered my name. He’s always remembered me
- One day, we’ll be free, you and me. We can just travel around the world, being nomadic and eating really interesting food.
- I’ve only known him a few weeks, and yet, I feel like he was made for me. Like we knew each other in a different life.
- Maybe our souls have been wandering for far too long and we’ve finally reconnected
- This is your life. Live it how you want to. I know I am.
- And when I lie in bed that night, Doggo curled up at my feet, I realize that I miss him. And I sleep terribly.
- It makes him happy. I make him happy.
- Oh, go die....You’d miss me
- In so many ways, Beau feels like mine.
- He smells like me, and I think I like it more than I should. I like everything about Beau more than I should.
- He feels good against me, like a puzzle piece. Like we were made for each other.
- I glance at my Bow-tie once more. It’s fitting. His eyes are the color of the ocean, his hair like the sunshine.
- And I mean it. I want to do that multiple times a day. With him. With my Bow-tie.
- I can’t get enough of Bow-tie and his hands on me. To say I’m obsessed would probably be an understatement.
- I eat, think, and drink Beau. I live for these moments
- I just love when he’s near. Love that he spends the night at my place. He has clothes in my closet and in my dresser, and his shampoo is in my shower. He’s everywhere, and I’m not even mad about it
- I try to glower at him, but we end up smiling like loons
- I move toward Beau. I need him. Need to make sure he’s okay.
- I would burn the world down for you, Beau. They should shake your fucking hand. Treat you with goddamn respect.
- From that brief contact, I can tell that he tastes like lavender, like fresh air, like home.
- Just a candle, burning at both ends. That’s me. I’m so far gone for this guy that I don’t even know how to behave
- It’s an obsession, his kisses, his taste. Everything Bow-tie is mine and mine alone.
- Let him die in my arms. I’ll follow him into the afterlife.
- I just want him to kiss me. Kiss it better, Beau. Make me a better man.
- Happy. That’s what I am. I may not know what’s going on between us, but I’ve never been happier
- I promise you, Max, that when your mouth is on me, anywhere on me, it’s the best damn thing I’ve ever felt.
- He kisses me like I’m the only man on Earth. Like he needs me.
- What have I done to be so lucky? What did I do in my past life that gave me him? I don’t know, but fuck, I’m fortunate.
- I’d follow him anywhere. Anywhere.
- I don’t want time apart. I want to wake up next to you and fall asleep in your arms. This is new to me, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. With you, everything feels right.
- Just the taste of him has me relaxing even more. He smells like home.
- And I mean it. I’m all in. He doesn’t understand the level of obsession I have with him.
- The one thing I’m sure of is him.
- I can’t imagine ever growing tired of kissing him
- I don’t care if people see me kissing a guy. It doesn’t matter anyways. It’s Bow-tie. He’s mine.
- If he ever grew tired of me and left, I’d be broken. He can’t ever leave me. We’re a unit now. Two halves of a whole. I couldn’t function without half a heart. I just know it.
- He fits perfectly against me. Always has. Always will
- The things I’ve learned about him, the things I still want to know… I want to spend a lifetime asking him questions and hearing his answers.
- I don’t want to go another day without him in it. If this is love, I want it. I just want him.
- Boyfriends. Husbands. I don’t fucking care. I want it all. I want all the labels with you.
- This is my family. And I’ve finally found home
- Seems people can change. Seems I just needed a healthy dose of reality and a beautiful man to help me open my mind.
- You may not have a ring for me, but Bow-tie, you bet your fucking ass I have one for you.
Tropes:
Bi awakening
Strangers to friends to lovers
Co dependency
Villain redemption
Witty banter
Sunshine x Sunshine Protector
Slightly obsessive MC
Review:
I was honestly kind of reluctant to start this book because of the way Maggie's brothers treated him in his book, but I gotta hand it to Cora Rose. This redemption arc was written extremely well. We have Max, who's trying to change thirty years of one-track thinking to be able to spend more time with Maggie and Sem, plus their kids.
I absolutely loved how Max knows what he did to Maggie was wrong and that he's man enough to admit he was being an absolute jerk to his brother. I'm honestly kind of proud of him for taking steps toward building a new bridge with Maggie and Sem. Beau was another wonderfully written character; he was there just being his own unapologetic self, helping Max work his way through these new things in life.
Memorable quotes:
- I’m here to change my mindset, to step out of my comfort zone. To grow. I’m gonna fucking grow, goddamnit.
-Just trying to find a way back to my brother.
- A man should never smell this good. It should be illegal.
- Beau is intoxicating. His scent, the way he moves, the shape of his throat, the way that he speaks. I can see another man becoming completely infatuated with him.
- I should pull away from him, should stand far, far away, but I only seem to lean into him. It’s his fault for smelling so damn good
- I have no right to look down on another’s lifestyle when mine has been so filled with hate. Hate is worse than who someone chooses to love.
- But when he links his arm back through mine, I feel like I’ve found my compass, my true north in this sea of gayness.
- I’ve spent almost three hours with this guy, and it felt like fifteen minutes.
- I did it. I fucking did something I thought I’d never do. And I’m doing this for someone who is important to me.
- I might not be perfect, might have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I’m trying.
- He was…he was always quiet and off in his own little world. I never really understood him, and it’s only now that I realize it’s because he was hiding who he was.
- Some people are like that. Just kindred spirits, platonic soulmates. That’s you and me, Max. You’re stuck with me now, especially since we have Doggo to consider.
- It has nothing to do with Beau and not hearing from him. I’m not going through withdrawals.
- You’ve grown a lot, Max. In this short time. I can’t wait to see how you are in a year, two years, five.
- To be honest, I don’t really mind the idea of it because it’s Beau. For some reason, things are just different with him.
- He even knows my name. He never forgot it. I could have easily become a Michael or Morton, but he remembered my name. He’s always remembered me
- One day, we’ll be free, you and me. We can just travel around the world, being nomadic and eating really interesting food.
- I’ve only known him a few weeks, and yet, I feel like he was made for me. Like we knew each other in a different life.
- Maybe our souls have been wandering for far too long and we’ve finally reconnected
- This is your life. Live it how you want to. I know I am.
- And when I lie in bed that night, Doggo curled up at my feet, I realize that I miss him. And I sleep terribly.
- It makes him happy. I make him happy.
- Oh, go die....You’d miss me
- In so many ways, Beau feels like mine.
- He smells like me, and I think I like it more than I should. I like everything about Beau more than I should.
- He feels good against me, like a puzzle piece. Like we were made for each other.
- I glance at my Bow-tie once more. It’s fitting. His eyes are the color of the ocean, his hair like the sunshine.
- And I mean it. I want to do that multiple times a day. With him. With my Bow-tie.
- I can’t get enough of Bow-tie and his hands on me. To say I’m obsessed would probably be an understatement.
- I eat, think, and drink Beau. I live for these moments
- I just love when he’s near. Love that he spends the night at my place. He has clothes in my closet and in my dresser, and his shampoo is in my shower. He’s everywhere, and I’m not even mad about it
- I try to glower at him, but we end up smiling like loons
- I move toward Beau. I need him. Need to make sure he’s okay.
- I would burn the world down for you, Beau. They should shake your fucking hand. Treat you with goddamn respect.
- From that brief contact, I can tell that he tastes like lavender, like fresh air, like home.
- Just a candle, burning at both ends. That’s me. I’m so far gone for this guy that I don’t even know how to behave
- It’s an obsession, his kisses, his taste. Everything Bow-tie is mine and mine alone.
- Let him die in my arms. I’ll follow him into the afterlife.
- I just want him to kiss me. Kiss it better, Beau. Make me a better man.
- Happy. That’s what I am. I may not know what’s going on between us, but I’ve never been happier
- I promise you, Max, that when your mouth is on me, anywhere on me, it’s the best damn thing I’ve ever felt.
- He kisses me like I’m the only man on Earth. Like he needs me.
- What have I done to be so lucky? What did I do in my past life that gave me him? I don’t know, but fuck, I’m fortunate.
- I’d follow him anywhere. Anywhere.
- I don’t want time apart. I want to wake up next to you and fall asleep in your arms. This is new to me, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. With you, everything feels right.
- Just the taste of him has me relaxing even more. He smells like home.
- And I mean it. I’m all in. He doesn’t understand the level of obsession I have with him.
- The one thing I’m sure of is him.
- I can’t imagine ever growing tired of kissing him
- I don’t care if people see me kissing a guy. It doesn’t matter anyways. It’s Bow-tie. He’s mine.
- If he ever grew tired of me and left, I’d be broken. He can’t ever leave me. We’re a unit now. Two halves of a whole. I couldn’t function without half a heart. I just know it.
- He fits perfectly against me. Always has. Always will
- The things I’ve learned about him, the things I still want to know… I want to spend a lifetime asking him questions and hearing his answers.
- I don’t want to go another day without him in it. If this is love, I want it. I just want him.
- Boyfriends. Husbands. I don’t fucking care. I want it all. I want all the labels with you.
- This is my family. And I’ve finally found home
- Seems people can change. Seems I just needed a healthy dose of reality and a beautiful man to help me open my mind.
- You may not have a ring for me, but Bow-tie, you bet your fucking ass I have one for you.