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jamieb_19's Reviews (274)
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
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
I picked this up because I liked the narrators and didn't realize at the time that it was related to Booklover, which I had listened to last year. So that was a nice surprise to get to revisit with Jamie and Briar. This book is about Jamie's best friend, Jeremy, and his brother, Aaron. Both characters you meet in Booklover.
Jeremy and Aaron hooked up one night about 15 months ago, but never told anyone. No,w Aaron is back in Burlington for the summer working as a clerk in the law firm where Jeremy is also employed as the receptionist for the summer. Aaron is determined to focus on his clerkship to prove he has what it takes to become a lawyer, and Jeremy is determined to focus on living it up and avoiding his real-life issues at all costs. The two are complete opposites, but despite that, they can't seem to stay away from each other. Jeremy knows it's a bad idea; he can't offer Aaron any sort of future, and if Jamie found out about them, he could jeopardize all of their relationships with him. But he's never been known for walking away from a bad idea, and this time, not walking away may turn out to be the best thing for both of them.
These guys were sweet together. I wasn't sure what to make of Jeremy at first, with his devil-may-care attitude. He seemed about as deep as a puddle. But then we learn what he's running from, and his behavior makes a lot more sense. Then you have Aaron, who has put immense pressure on himself to be the best lawyer he can be. They're both kind of a mess, but they complemented each other well and helped to balance each other out. I enjoyed seeing them help each other as they navigated the challenges that were thrown at them.
There was a good balance of humor, spice, angst, and emotional scenes. And I enjoyed Stephen Dexter and Tim Paige's narration as Jeremy and Aaron, respectively. It seems a few of the side characters are featured in other books in the series, so I'll have to check those out too!
Jeremy and Aaron hooked up one night about 15 months ago, but never told anyone. No,w Aaron is back in Burlington for the summer working as a clerk in the law firm where Jeremy is also employed as the receptionist for the summer. Aaron is determined to focus on his clerkship to prove he has what it takes to become a lawyer, and Jeremy is determined to focus on living it up and avoiding his real-life issues at all costs. The two are complete opposites, but despite that, they can't seem to stay away from each other. Jeremy knows it's a bad idea; he can't offer Aaron any sort of future, and if Jamie found out about them, he could jeopardize all of their relationships with him. But he's never been known for walking away from a bad idea, and this time, not walking away may turn out to be the best thing for both of them.
These guys were sweet together. I wasn't sure what to make of Jeremy at first, with his devil-may-care attitude. He seemed about as deep as a puddle. But then we learn what he's running from, and his behavior makes a lot more sense. Then you have Aaron, who has put immense pressure on himself to be the best lawyer he can be. They're both kind of a mess, but they complemented each other well and helped to balance each other out. I enjoyed seeing them help each other as they navigated the challenges that were thrown at them.
There was a good balance of humor, spice, angst, and emotional scenes. And I enjoyed Stephen Dexter and Tim Paige's narration as Jeremy and Aaron, respectively. It seems a few of the side characters are featured in other books in the series, so I'll have to check those out too!
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
“I better get going.” God, leaving him was the last thing I felt like doing. “But Monday, yeah? On the bus?”
“On the 353 at 5: 06. I’ll be the one with the matching shoes and scarf.”
“I’ll be the one… well, I’ll just be the one on the bus that’s probably smiling at you.”
Could this book have been any cuter? Jordan and Hennessy were just precious, and I was giddy the whole way through. Jordan was adorably awkward, and I loved his nervous rambling. It’s not surprising that Hennessy was utterly charmed by him from the start. Their meet-cute was adorable. Jordan first had his eye on Hennessy as the cute guy who rode the same bus as him, but it wasn’t until Jordan’s friend convinced him to attend a local asexual/aromantic support group that they properly met. I loved how the "getting to know you" phase of their relationship plays out in five-minute bus rides. It was so unique and added a sense of urgency and sort of forced them to be authentic because there wasn’t time for anything else. Eventually, they started spending time together outside the bus, but those moments they shared every day after work on the bus were really special.
In addition to the sweetest love story, the asexual representation in this book was excellent. I liked that we had Hennessy, who’s known for years that he was ace, and then we have Jordan, who is just starting to accept that the label might apply to him. It was interesting to see the contrast in those two experiences and the way Hennessy was able to help Jordan on his journey. There was a whole lot I could personally relate to, and I found the book to be very validating in terms of my own experiences. I think this book would be great for anyone interested in learning more about the asexual experience and how it might look different for different people.
Another thing I loved about this book was all the secondary characters. Merry, Angus, Michael, Vee, and let’s not forget the Soup Crew! They were all fantastic, and I loved how they all sort of blended into one friend group by the end. All the characters were so well-rounded and created such a sweet found family. This book was just a delight, and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it. I swooned, laughed, and even shed a few tears. I won’t be forgetting Jordan and Hennessy anytime soon!
"When everything was out of place and upside down, you made everything right. Nothing really made sense until you.”
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“I like having your reins in my hand, little Colt. Tell me. If I tug, will you come to heel?”
When I reviewed Sweet Like Whiskey, I remember stressing how low angst it was, like it was the book equivalent of a warm hug. Everything was so sweet and swoony. Well, if you took those vibes and went in the complete opposite direction, you’d have this book! I’m not sure I’ve ever read an enemies/rivals-to-lovers book with quite as much tension as Colton and Noah had between them. As rival farriers in the small town of Darling, Montana, there was no shortage of animosity between these two. There’s only so far you can stretch tension like that before it snaps, and oooh boy, it sure did snap. It was fun seeing these guys, much to their dismay, learn that there is a very fine line between hate and love!
“I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re in my fucking head. Invading my life. You’re everywhere I goddamn look. Everything I see.”
If you like banter, I think you’ll enjoy this one. There was plenty to be had as Colton and Noah continually butted heads. I liked that even as their relationship morphed into something else, they never lost that edge. That sort of push and pull and tension was part of the fabric of who they were as a couple, and I liked seeing it persist even once the hate shifted to love.
It took some time for things to shift between them, though. Even as they started hooking up, they didn’t like each other much. But when things finally did, I loved their dynamic. Colton was very skittish, and Noah was always so calm and confident. I love how he knew just how to wrangle Colton. He knew what Colton needed, even if Colton couldn’t articulate it. The whole thing worked great and made their journey believable.
“I want to hate you.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to hate you at all.”
If you’re looking for the swoon factor, don’t worry, there’s definitely some to be found. Especially in the later chapters. I loved how everything worked out, and the epilogue was just the sweetest thing. It felt great to be back in Darling, Montana. I wish it were a real place, I’d love to go watch a Shoein’ or run around completing the scavenger hunt! For now, I’ll be looking forward to my next trip back when the 3rd book releases!
“Against all goddamn sense and reason, you made me fall brim over boot, Noah King. And now I don’t know which way is up unless it’s with you.”
funny
informative
lighthearted
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 feel lucky that it was you I met at the bar that night.”
“Even after we got shitfaced, lost our memories, and got married?”
“Especially after that,” I said with a grin.
Waking up married is always a fun trope. Waking up in Vegas, without your prosthetic legs, and with no sign of the person you spent the night with (and later found out you married) is an extra fun twist on the trope! I had a good time reading this one. Tucker and Amedeo were adorable together. They were both kind of awkward disasters, but they totally worked. The book was funny, sexy, and just a little bit angsty.
“If we ever get married for real, I want it to be better than that. I want it to be real. I want to remember making you my husband.”
Tucker and Amedeo both had difficult backstories that helped draw them together. Tucker was very rough around the edges, but he was such a good guy, and I loved how smitten he was with Amedeo from the first time he showed up on his doorstep (and probably even earlier than that, if he could actually remember their first night together). Amedeo wasn’t used to the type of kindness Tucker showed, after being in an awful relationship for the last few years. I enjoyed seeing him realize his worth and learn to accept Tucker’s affection.
I also loved that this wasn’t your average hockey romance. This was my first time reading a book about sled hockey, so that was pretty cool. Those guys are hardcore and not surprisingly resulted in quite the cast of characters. I loved the found family that Tucker and his teammates had. They fought like brothers but had each other’s backs no matter what. I enjoyed getting to know everyone and I look forward to reading more about them in future books.
We were the perfect pair. It would never get better than this.
He had officially ruined me for any other person.
emotional
informative
lighthearted
fast-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
I really enjoyed this novella! For being just over 100 pages, all three characters felt fully fleshed out, and their relationship development was portrayed so well. Jackson and Sky were husbands, and Tyler was their coworker and friend whom they invited to be a third in their relationship. It was very interesting to read about the conversations and considerations that need to be made in a polyamorous relationship such as theirs. The three of them communicated quite well.
They also all had great chemistry; there was no shortage of spice in this book! But they were also very caring and so supportive of one another. I loved the way they worked as a triad but also in pairs. Their mutual supportiveness comes into play particularly during Tyler's journey of figuring out he's aromantic and what that means for his relationship with Jackson and Sky. I thought the emotions from all three men were captured so well during this journey, and again, it was very interesting learning more about what it means to be aromantic.
This was an enjoyable and informative read, and I look forward to reading the author's other works!
They also all had great chemistry; there was no shortage of spice in this book! But they were also very caring and so supportive of one another. I loved the way they worked as a triad but also in pairs. Their mutual supportiveness comes into play particularly during Tyler's journey of figuring out he's aromantic and what that means for his relationship with Jackson and Sky. I thought the emotions from all three men were captured so well during this journey, and again, it was very interesting learning more about what it means to be aromantic.
This was an enjoyable and informative read, and I look forward to reading the author's other works!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book when I first read it, it's low angst, full of swoon, and just the sweetest thing. And I loved it even more after listening to the audiobook. Kale Williams was amazing, his performance as Jackson was so swoonworthy! Highly recommend!
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
What a sweet story! I loved Fergus and Davo from the moment Davo found Fergus hiding out in the freezer. They had such easy chemistry from the get go and it was so sweet watching them fall in love.
I loved Davo with his work boots and fancy skirts and I loved the way Fergus appreciated them too! The way he encouraged and supported Davo when it came to that was really great.
I also loved the little mining town and all the quirky residents, including the foul-mouthed cockatoo! Such a great little found family and even though Fergus was an outsider, he was so kind and respectful to everyone and it didn’t take him long to fit right in.
I loved Davo with his work boots and fancy skirts and I loved the way Fergus appreciated them too! The way he encouraged and supported Davo when it came to that was really great.
I also loved the little mining town and all the quirky residents, including the foul-mouthed cockatoo! Such a great little found family and even though Fergus was an outsider, he was so kind and respectful to everyone and it didn’t take him long to fit right in.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was very cute! It’s short, only about 75 pages, but it was still a fun little story. I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Dominic and Ashton. They had great banter! And it was so cute how they finally got together. The epilogue gave us a little look into their future and I even got a little misty eyed! Very sweet!
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book follows Archer Read, a 27-year-old aspiring dancer looking for his big break. Unfortunately for him, all his auditions since moving to NY have been a bust. Landing a role in the cabaret at Shady Queens resort in upstate NY for the summer is his last-ditch effort to make it as a dancer before giving up and returning to his hometown in Ohio. As soon as Archer arrives at Shady Queens, he's thrown right into the chaotic life of the dance troupe and has to try to hold it together while dealing with his own drama, along with everyone else's, to keep the show from completely falling apart.
If you're looking for drama, you've come to the right place! This book featured an eclectic cast of characters and an almost summer camp feel as we are thrown in the middle of this dance troupe. There were tricky group politics, lots of partying, lots of hooking up, breaking up, making up, and lots of other chaos that kept the nightly shows at Shady Queens teetering on the edge of failure vs success. I'm not someone who likes drama in my everyday life, but I sure do like reading about other people's drama, and there was plenty to be had here.
The romance was almost secondary to the main story, I thought. Archer is meant to end up with Mateo, the grumpy former Broadway star whom Archer had a teenage crush on and whom he now has to dance with every night. But Archer spends a large portion of the book wrapped up in a (clearly doomed) romance with his bunkmate instead. There were so many little things, though, that showed us that Mateo liked Archer, but Archer was so wrapped up in everything else that he was blind to it. I felt bad for Mateo and wanted to shake some sense into Archer! They finally get there, but it happens so late in the story. There was so much tension between these two throughout, I just wish they actually acted on it a little sooner than they did.
But all in all, it was a sweet book with lots of dancing and lots of fun drama that kept me pulled in.
If you're looking for drama, you've come to the right place! This book featured an eclectic cast of characters and an almost summer camp feel as we are thrown in the middle of this dance troupe. There were tricky group politics, lots of partying, lots of hooking up, breaking up, making up, and lots of other chaos that kept the nightly shows at Shady Queens teetering on the edge of failure vs success. I'm not someone who likes drama in my everyday life, but I sure do like reading about other people's drama, and there was plenty to be had here.
The romance was almost secondary to the main story, I thought. Archer is meant to end up with Mateo, the grumpy former Broadway star whom Archer had a teenage crush on and whom he now has to dance with every night. But Archer spends a large portion of the book wrapped up in a (clearly doomed) romance with his bunkmate instead. There were so many little things, though, that showed us that Mateo liked Archer, but Archer was so wrapped up in everything else that he was blind to it. I felt bad for Mateo and wanted to shake some sense into Archer! They finally get there, but it happens so late in the story. There was so much tension between these two throughout, I just wish they actually acted on it a little sooner than they did.
But all in all, it was a sweet book with lots of dancing and lots of fun drama that kept me pulled in.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m all for being a bit of a fool, but there’s playing with fire, and then there’s playing with Ben Stirling.
Only one of those things is survivable.
If ever a book was written that included everything I love about reading romance, it was this one. I swooned, I laughed, I giggled and kicked my feet in glee, I cried, and I fell head over heels in love with Ben, Luca, and Jeremiah. This book took a difficult topic - the loss of a loved one - and handled it with realism and such care. Ben’s grief was palpable, and my heart hurt for him and his son Luca as they tried to move on from their loss. But instead of bogging the story down with sadness, it was perfectly balanced by the entry of Jeremiah into their lives. He was a ball of sunshine with a heart of gold, and he was smitten with Ben and Luca from the moment he met them. Without him even really trying, Jeremiah became the balm the Stirlings needed to mend their broken hearts.
"Thank you for asking if I’m okay and for knowing I might not be.”
This book was the best kind of slow burn. I loved seeing the easy way Jeremiah became integrated into Ben and Luca’s daily lives. The three of them were adorable, and it felt so organic. I wouldn’t call Ben grumpy, he was just sad, but even so, he was still so kind toward Jeremiah right from the start. The way they bonded and the way Ben grew to trust him and began opening up to him was simply beautiful. There’s one scene where everything Ben’s kept bottled up finally bubbles over, and the way Jeremiah is there for him during it brought tears to my eyes.
These two were so perfect together. I couldn’t get over how sweet they were. I was giddy for a good portion of this book, they were just the cutest. The pining from Jeremiah was sooooooo good. And the way Ben’s bi-awakening was handled was fantastic. It was gradual and natural and felt totally believable. And most importantly, it was handled in a way that didn’t invalidate Ben’s love for his late wife. I loved everything about it.
I also loved Jeremiah (aka Jelly) and Luca’s relationship. I’m a total sucker for the love interest falling in love with the kid as much as they love the parent and that’s exactly what happened here. Some of my favorite scenes in the book were when Ben, Luca, and Jelly were all together. These three made the sweetest family! I could keep rambling about this book; there was so much I loved about it, but instead, I’ll just urge you to grab a copy and check it out for yourself. It really is something special!
"I’m not going to love you like I have time. I’m going to love you like every day is our last day. Our first day. Our only day.”