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stacktheforest's Reviews (255)
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
This was a really great opening novel for Emmy Sander’s new series, The Darling Brothers’. Funny and heartfelt, this book was honestly perfection. This was Fool Hearts 2.0. As always I really enjoyed the depth of character that Emmy gave to each person, It was a mid-burn and had plenty of flirty banter which made it so enjoyable to read.
- Shameless Flirty MMC
- Protective caring MMC
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Chronic pain rep
If you’re looking for 2 mature MMCs who are confident in themselves and their sexuality then this is the book for you. While there was no grapple with sexual awakenings that didn’t mean this book was without a decent amount of angst and self-doubt. Add in a bit of hurt/comfort to this sweet and spicy small-town romance and you’ve got the perfect book.
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
lighthearted
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
Another instalment in Saxon James’ Accidentally in Love series where we follow best friends Penn and Madden through a confusing bi-awakening, friends to lovers and a big miscommunication. I wanted to love this more. I absolutely love Penn and Madden as characters but I couldn’t help that their chemistry felt a little bit forced in this book. This book felt a little like a filler book rather than a super-invested book lot. Despite that, I still really enjoyed the adventures of my beloved Bertha boys. They are such comfort couples for me. There were plenty of cameos of the couples from the other books and a lot of Xander and his dilemmas. I can’t wait for the next book.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
funny
lighthearted
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
This is such a comfort series for me so I knew I was really going to enjoy it. Eden and Saxon have hit it out of the park again with this new release and I’m already dying for the next one. We finally got our ref/player book! Hockey fans rejoice.
- Hockey Player/Ref
- Brother’s Best Friend
- Pining
- Queer Collective moments galore!
This book had so many entertaining elements from best friend’s little brother to neighbours and just a little bit of angst, I was sold on this from chapter 1. I love a man who pines, this poor MMC has been in love with his best friend’s little brother since they were kids. Little does he know that the feelings are well and truly returned.
I enjoyed that this had a character driven plot and there was no easy out from the angst. I liked that I couldn’t guess what decisions the MMCs were going to make and the authors didn’t cop out on giving each character their own life passions outside of the romance.
Unsurprisingly, my favourite part of this book was the sheer amount of Queer Collective events and references we got. Ezra is funny as fuck and Asher is prickly as always. Oskar is flirting up a storm and making a new edition to the group is always lots of fun. The boys are so protective of their men and I love to see it.
Thankyou to Foreword PR for providing me and ARC in exchange for my honest review.
lighthearted
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 am really sad that this is the last book in the DMC series because it has been an absolute delight to explore the queer relationships of Kilborough.
I just want someone who warms up my clothes in the dryer in the morning so that I’m not cold. That was my take away thought from this book. The small acts of service throughout this book were incredibly sweet.
- small town
- second chance/love after divorce
- domestic af
Mack and Davey are divorced, but still in love. This book takes place when they are finally ready to work on their relationship and win each other back. This was a great book. The domesticity was SO ADORABLE. I would definitely recommend reading this book in order. I found the plot quite slow because the book was VERY character driven but I found it really easy to maintain interest because I just love the small-town world that Saxon created.
Thanks to Foreword PR for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I just want someone who warms up my clothes in the dryer in the morning so that I’m not cold. That was my take away thought from this book. The small acts of service throughout this book were incredibly sweet.
- small town
- second chance/love after divorce
- domestic af
Mack and Davey are divorced, but still in love. This book takes place when they are finally ready to work on their relationship and win each other back. This was a great book. The domesticity was SO ADORABLE. I would definitely recommend reading this book in order. I found the plot quite slow because the book was VERY character driven but I found it really easy to maintain interest because I just love the small-town world that Saxon created.
Thanks to Foreword PR for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
funny
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
4.5 ⭐️
What more could an exhibitionist want than a voyeur as a neighbour? This book was enjoyable from the first page to the last. Plenty of spice but also plenty of plot and great character development.
- Exhibitionism/Voyeurism
- Asian Femboy Top MMC
- Spicy workers doing live streams
- Lots of sweet and tender moments
I thought Emil’s relationship with his little brother and sister was absolutely adorable. The way these kids will grow up knowing that they will be accepted regardless if their sexuality or gender was so heartwarming.
I loved the cameos from the guys, especially Alex as always. Side note: why do I like Alex better in every single book but his own?
Thankyou Emmy for providing me an ARC copy.
What more could an exhibitionist want than a voyeur as a neighbour? This book was enjoyable from the first page to the last. Plenty of spice but also plenty of plot and great character development.
- Exhibitionism/Voyeurism
- Asian Femboy Top MMC
- Spicy workers doing live streams
- Lots of sweet and tender moments
I thought Emil’s relationship with his little brother and sister was absolutely adorable. The way these kids will grow up knowing that they will be accepted regardless if their sexuality or gender was so heartwarming.
I loved the cameos from the guys, especially Alex as always. Side note: why do I like Alex better in every single book but his own?
Thankyou Emmy for providing me an ARC copy.
MM basketball romances have been missing from my annual reading until I came across Easy, Schmeasy. This was a really enjoyable best friends to lovers, fast-burn romance.
3.5/5
This book also had great subtle representation with an MMC POC. The spice was also frequent and spicy! Especially since the couple have an affinity for throat f*cking. I particularly enjoyed the characters internal struggles with self-acceptance and love after trauma. Make sure to check your triggers if you have them.
The beginning of the book felt quite rushed and the fast burn was lightening paced but left lots of time for the action-packed plot. I was disappointed that the bi-awakening was glossed over as usually this is one of my favourite tropes. For a relatively small book, a lot happened and was pretty well fleshed-out.
Sammy and Bentley had to overcome a lot of trauma in this book and found the most beautiful queer found family.
- College
- Best friends to lovers
- Queer found family
- Brojobs
I read this in one sitting, it was a quick and spicy romance that I would recommend.
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did I know that I was going to love this book before I even picked it up? YES. Did this book meet my outrageously high expectations? ALSO YES!
- Double bi-awakening
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Friends to Lovers
- Teammates
- Age gap
This book had it all from the Frat Wars meets Puckboys to a friends to lovers double bi-awakening. I loved this book from start to finish. This is the 6th book in the Puckboys Series and I genuinely believe these women can do no wrong!
I absolutely adored Frat Wars and I was so happy to see Miles get his HEA. I also loved the banter and ‘frat’ related content in the book. Miles was such a loveable and relatable character and I’m really glad we got to delve into the struggles with his family too.
Miles and Cody had the perfect Bromance going and them trying to have a threesome without the girl had me cackling. This book managed to be funny and heartwarming, and also incredibly spicy with some surprise praise and degradation too!
I cannot wait for the next one!
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- Double bi-awakening
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Friends to Lovers
- Teammates
- Age gap
This book had it all from the Frat Wars meets Puckboys to a friends to lovers double bi-awakening. I loved this book from start to finish. This is the 6th book in the Puckboys Series and I genuinely believe these women can do no wrong!
I absolutely adored Frat Wars and I was so happy to see Miles get his HEA. I also loved the banter and ‘frat’ related content in the book. Miles was such a loveable and relatable character and I’m really glad we got to delve into the struggles with his family too.
Miles and Cody had the perfect Bromance going and them trying to have a threesome without the girl had me cackling. This book managed to be funny and heartwarming, and also incredibly spicy with some surprise praise and degradation too!
I cannot wait for the next one!
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Another instalment in the Park Avenue Princes series were we see rich, queer college boys use NYC as their personal playground. This book took a much sweeter and darker take in an ultra-possessive friends to lovers romance between two of the princes, Gavin and Daire.
- Over possessive/protective MMC
- Touch him and die
- Best friend’s little brother
- Roommates
- Lingerie
The toxic masculinity of Daire is so beautifully balanced with the sweetness of Gavin. After only having a glimpse at each of these characters in the previous few books we finally get to dive into the mysterious life of Daire and uncover the spicer side of Gavin. The end was disgustingly sweet and I ate it up!
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- Over possessive/protective MMC
- Touch him and die
- Best friend’s little brother
- Roommates
- Lingerie
The toxic masculinity of Daire is so beautifully balanced with the sweetness of Gavin. After only having a glimpse at each of these characters in the previous few books we finally get to dive into the mysterious life of Daire and uncover the spicer side of Gavin. The end was disgustingly sweet and I ate it up!
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Far From Camelot by Rylee Hale
4.5 stars
This spicy, dark Arthurian reimagining exceeded my expectations! I’m always on the look out for gay fantasy novels and this is one I will be constantly recommending. Please check your triggers before reading if you have any.
It is the second book in Rylee’s Far From series but is a complete standalone. You do not need to read the first book to enjoy this one.
This follows the enemies to lovers relationship of Merlin and Mordred after Mordred kills Arthur. Merlin escapes his grief and guilt by leaving Camelot and hiding in the human world. Hundreds of years later Merlin accidentally bumps into Mordred who has also been in the human realm for a nearly 1000 years. They are drawn together by their powers but can’t get past their undying hate towards each other.
- Magic in modern NYC
- Tattooed emo-musician MMC/nerdy book-loving MMC
- True enemies to lovers
- Hate s*x
- Bond@ge and marking
Trust me when I say when the spice hit in this it blew my mind. Because they are true enemies (none of this dislike to love shit) the hate s*x was phenomenal. They constantly fight for dominance and use magic get their way, its basically magical BD$M.
The only reason that I didn’t give this 5 stars is because the ending dragged a little bit, I feel like it could have been wrapped up quicker
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
This spicy, dark Arthurian reimagining exceeded my expectations! I’m always on the look out for gay fantasy novels and this is one I will be constantly recommending. Please check your triggers before reading if you have any.
It is the second book in Rylee’s Far From series but is a complete standalone. You do not need to read the first book to enjoy this one.
This follows the enemies to lovers relationship of Merlin and Mordred after Mordred kills Arthur. Merlin escapes his grief and guilt by leaving Camelot and hiding in the human world. Hundreds of years later Merlin accidentally bumps into Mordred who has also been in the human realm for a nearly 1000 years. They are drawn together by their powers but can’t get past their undying hate towards each other.
- Magic in modern NYC
- Tattooed emo-musician MMC/nerdy book-loving MMC
- True enemies to lovers
- Hate s*x
- Bond@ge and marking
Trust me when I say when the spice hit in this it blew my mind. Because they are true enemies (none of this dislike to love shit) the hate s*x was phenomenal. They constantly fight for dominance and use magic get their way, its basically magical BD$M.
The only reason that I didn’t give this 5 stars is because the ending dragged a little bit, I feel like it could have been wrapped up quicker
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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’m pretty picky about the hockey romances that I read these days but this was one of the best new release MM hockey romances that I’ve read.
The angst and pining in this book was NEXT LEVEL! The writing was so incredible that I felt the emotions along with the characters. There were A LOT of tears.
- brother’s best friend
- bi-awakening
- pining
- hurt/comfort
This book follows Aiden who is a college student as he falls in love with his twin brother’s best friend and teammate, Liam. Aiden has a lot of his own trauma to overcome through this book and we slowly learn why he feels as though he can’t be in a relationship. Liam on the other hand, loves freely. But Aiden is not an easy person to love, especially when you thought you were straight.
They have to hide their hookups from Aiden’s twin and Liam’s best friend, Archer. Can they be as secret as they thought? Do they want to be?
This was an absolutely outstanding debut novel from Maya and I can’t wait to read more from them.
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The angst and pining in this book was NEXT LEVEL! The writing was so incredible that I felt the emotions along with the characters. There were A LOT of tears.
- brother’s best friend
- bi-awakening
- pining
- hurt/comfort
This book follows Aiden who is a college student as he falls in love with his twin brother’s best friend and teammate, Liam. Aiden has a lot of his own trauma to overcome through this book and we slowly learn why he feels as though he can’t be in a relationship. Liam on the other hand, loves freely. But Aiden is not an easy person to love, especially when you thought you were straight.
They have to hide their hookups from Aiden’s twin and Liam’s best friend, Archer. Can they be as secret as they thought? Do they want to be?
This was an absolutely outstanding debut novel from Maya and I can’t wait to read more from them.
This book was provided to me as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.