I really loved this book! The characters and the plot were just right for me! I know it's not everyone's favorite plot/trope but I loved it.

However, it's super distracting that the author doesn't actually know much about Long Island or it's geography. Having lived there I found the inaccuracies very annoying and distracting from the plot - so reader be warned! It's super obvious that the author is british, and if I could make 1 wish I think I'd wish that authors who write about places they don't know would either do better research or have better beta readers/editors (cough mary calmes in chicago cough). ( )

Loved this so much. It's a gentle romance. A story about two lonely men who find each other through the school PTA. Joel is bisexual, a closeted teacher who is determined never to fall in love again because he's still battling demons caused by his previous relationship. Ollie is adorable and he's given up a lot to look after his sister children. He's out and proud but he can't resist Joel.
The kids are adorable. The story flows well and wasn't too angsty but still had enough emotion to make me cry. ( )

Loved this so much. It's a gentle romance. A story about two lonely men who find each other through the school PTA. Joel is bisexual, a closeted teacher who is determined never to fall in love again because he's still battling demons caused by his previous relationship. Ollie is adorable and he's given up a lot to look after his sister children. He's out and proud but he can't resist Joel.
The kids are adorable. The story flows well and wasn't too angsty but still had enough emotion to make me cry. ( )

A pretty under-the-hood look at parenting and working a romance into that, which to be honest kind of reminded me of [b:The First Time at Firelight Falls|36137941|The First Time at Firelight Falls (Hellcat Canyon, #4)|Julie Anne Long|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1512087572l/36137941._SY75_.jpg|57738833] in the structure, and in a sense had me wanting to reread that and recall how Gabe gifted Annalise with words...

So anyway, it was good. Really, I enjoyed this book, but I continued to draw these direct comparisons. I loved Ollie, and I liked the dynamic overall here but I'm not sure I ever "got" Joel other than caretaking and insecurities related to prior relationships, so it ends up feeling slightly unbalanced.

( )

This book was a beautiful story that was a lovely continuation of the New Milton Series by Sally Malcolm. This book could be read as a stand-alone, but honestly, I would encourage anyone who loves romance to pick up the series from book one and come along for the entire story. Characters from the other books in the series put in an appearance in Twice Shy and I can almost guarantee that you'll be curious about them once you get started.

In this story, Ollie is raising his nephews after a tragic accident took their parents. He's fiercely independent because he's insecure about the job he's doing trying to raise two young boys. In spite of the fact that he's having trouble finding the time to breathe, he joins the PTA at his nephew's school. At the school, Ollie meets sixth-grade teacher, Joel. Joel is four years past a hurtful divorce from his wife... and still not out as bisexual at the school... or in the town for that matter.

The two men are attracted to one another but keep their distance initially for very different reasons. I loved the way Malcolm developed these two characters. It's one of the things that really makes Malcolm's book an instant "going to read that" decision for me. The characters are fully formed and unique and I love that.

Ollie might be in over is head in the day to day practicalities of being a father, but he's got the love and caring down pat. He's put himself last as he has struggled to try and become a parent at 24. He loves his nephews but when his car is totaled in an accident he feels as though things are going to come crumbling down around him.

This is the point at which Ollie's and Joel's lives become entangled. Joel offers his car to Ollie for as long as he needs it. Thus begins the push and pull of their friendship.

Joel is still scarred by the way his divorce came about. He longed for a family with his wife... but when he told her that he was bisexual, she was repulsed and left him. I'm simplifying it in my review...but the author really brings out the hurt and turmoil that is left in the wake of someone not allowing their partner to simply be who they are. There are some lovely moments of dialogue between Joel and his therapist as they being to work through his insecurities and the defenses he has built up around himself. Don't be fooled by thinking this is just a light romance... there's so much romance and love that I really ached for these two characters but the author also explores the reasons we make poor decisions, the way we avoid things we want and how easily we can hurt one another.

Thank you, Sally Malcolm! I could read this series forever! ( )