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A review by mila_readsmm
After Felix by Lily Morton
4.0
***4.0 rating***
“I will never ever let you feel anything but first place in my life again because that’s what you are. You’re fierce and sharp and funny, but underneath, there’s this wonderful softness and a deep loyalty. I know now how much of a privilege it is to have that directed at me, and I promise you I will always protect it. Because I know what it feels like to have been without you, and it was fucking horrible. I missed you every single fucking day.”
I did not read this series in order. I first read Charlie Sunshine because of the trope and after rereading it again recently I was curious about the other characters in the book like Zeb, Jesse, Felix, and Max. The first book of the series was centered around Zeb and Jesse, while it was a sweet read, it did not do much for me. I found the couple boring and well let's just say Patrick (Zeb's ex) was more exciting than the couple. However, while the Best Man was a 3-star read at best, the other two books in the series were thoroughly enjoyable. Whereas Misha and Charlie's story was about best friends falling in love with one another, Max and Felix's story was about a second-chance romance. Their initial attraction toward each other is purely physical and based on sex. You meet both characters in the first book (Zeb and Jesse's story). I had always been curious about Max and Felix because Felix is Misha's cousin and Max is Zeb's step-brother. Felix's reaction to seeing Max after a long time in the first two books leaves the reader wondering what happened between the two. They are clearly former lovers. Felix was not happy to see Max in the first two books and from his reaction toward him, it was obvious that Max had been the one who fucked up the relationship.
In this third book which is their story, we finally find out what happened between the two. The first half of the book takes place two years before the present timeline, Felix and Max meet at a bookstore and like LM mentioned in the blurb, it was lust at first sight. Felix is a sweetheart who is sassy and full of life, sarcasm is his middle name. He has been second-place his whole life and therefore has a tough exterior. He does not trust or let people in easily. Men come and go in his life, well that is until Max came along. You could say he was a game-changer for Felix. But are the feelings mutual? not at first. Their chemistry, in the beginning, was purely sexual but as they get to know each other, it becomes obvious to the reader that this is more than sex with a no-strings-attached situation. Isn't it always?
Max who is slightly older than Felix comes with a set of baggage. We first got to know him in Henry and Ivo's story and the eventful foursome Ivo and Max shared at some point. LM makes it clear to the reader that Max has strong feelings for Ivo and given that he is a journalist who covers conflicts and wars, he has some mental health issues and trauma. All of this makes it evident to the reader that Max is not looking for a relationship or to be tied down to anywhere or anyone. A bit cliched but it works in this story.
In the first half of the book (Before Felix), there is a lot of angst, and at times as a reader, you detest Max and how he treats Felix. You almost hate him. He treated Felix like a convenient hole, even his own step-brother, Zeb wanted to punch him at times. But don't fret dear reader Max does redeem himself and grovel, a lot. LM did a superb job at exploring the second chance romance trope here, even though in the beginning Max is your typical fuckboy you still end up rooting for him to win back Felix.
There is also lots of snark and sarcasm, Felix's sense of humor made this a fun read, despite it being at times angsty.
Overall, a fun series and a great read. Felix and Max are both romantic men who eventually found their way back to one another. A fab read for anyone who enjoys reading about second-chance romance.
“I will never ever let you feel anything but first place in my life again because that’s what you are. You’re fierce and sharp and funny, but underneath, there’s this wonderful softness and a deep loyalty. I know now how much of a privilege it is to have that directed at me, and I promise you I will always protect it. Because I know what it feels like to have been without you, and it was fucking horrible. I missed you every single fucking day.”
I did not read this series in order. I first read Charlie Sunshine because of the trope and after rereading it again recently I was curious about the other characters in the book like Zeb, Jesse, Felix, and Max. The first book of the series was centered around Zeb and Jesse, while it was a sweet read, it did not do much for me. I found the couple boring and well let's just say Patrick (Zeb's ex) was more exciting than the couple. However, while the Best Man was a 3-star read at best, the other two books in the series were thoroughly enjoyable. Whereas Misha and Charlie's story was about best friends falling in love with one another, Max and Felix's story was about a second-chance romance. Their initial attraction toward each other is purely physical and based on sex. You meet both characters in the first book (Zeb and Jesse's story). I had always been curious about Max and Felix because Felix is Misha's cousin and Max is Zeb's step-brother. Felix's reaction to seeing Max after a long time in the first two books leaves the reader wondering what happened between the two. They are clearly former lovers. Felix was not happy to see Max in the first two books and from his reaction toward him, it was obvious that Max had been the one who fucked up the relationship.
In this third book which is their story, we finally find out what happened between the two. The first half of the book takes place two years before the present timeline, Felix and Max meet at a bookstore and like LM mentioned in the blurb, it was lust at first sight. Felix is a sweetheart who is sassy and full of life, sarcasm is his middle name. He has been second-place his whole life and therefore has a tough exterior. He does not trust or let people in easily. Men come and go in his life, well that is until Max came along. You could say he was a game-changer for Felix. But are the feelings mutual? not at first. Their chemistry, in the beginning, was purely sexual but as they get to know each other, it becomes obvious to the reader that this is more than sex with a no-strings-attached situation. Isn't it always?
Max who is slightly older than Felix comes with a set of baggage. We first got to know him in Henry and Ivo's story and the eventful foursome Ivo and Max shared at some point. LM makes it clear to the reader that Max has strong feelings for Ivo and given that he is a journalist who covers conflicts and wars, he has some mental health issues and trauma. All of this makes it evident to the reader that Max is not looking for a relationship or to be tied down to anywhere or anyone. A bit cliched but it works in this story.
In the first half of the book (Before Felix), there is a lot of angst, and at times as a reader, you detest Max and how he treats Felix. You almost hate him. He treated Felix like a convenient hole, even his own step-brother, Zeb wanted to punch him at times. But don't fret dear reader Max does redeem himself and grovel, a lot. LM did a superb job at exploring the second chance romance trope here, even though in the beginning Max is your typical fuckboy you still end up rooting for him to win back Felix.
There is also lots of snark and sarcasm, Felix's sense of humor made this a fun read, despite it being at times angsty.
Overall, a fun series and a great read. Felix and Max are both romantic men who eventually found their way back to one another. A fab read for anyone who enjoys reading about second-chance romance.