I started to like this book the farther I got into it but initially it was a lot of eye rolling. The constant mentions of IPA and brand name beers plus just both the characters being initially deeply annoying - but I pushed through and ended up being charmed by their relationship build-up. However, as a whole, I don't find this realistic at all. They're just not two people that would last very long and the author relied on tropes to the point where it's just really not a realistic story. I usually don't have a problem with that (I mean, it's fiction) but when it's set in a very real world situation including actual brand names and locations it becomes a problem for me to get past. The author should have made up a beer brand and maybe didn't rely so much on a Cincinnati location when it could have been in Anywhere, USA. ( )

Oh my, that was quite the rollercoaster ride. I loved Sam. I adored Donovan. I got angry at Sam. I hated Sam. Donovan broke my heart. I cried. Donovan fixed my heart. I warmed to Sam again. I loved them both. I'm exhausted.

I had already read the short story that this story was based on so I was aware of the dynamic and basis of the story, but I hadn't expected to have quite such an intense reaction to Sam's continual hooking up with other people throughout the story. I'm not one of those people that think the MCs must be faithful from the moment their eyes meet or their feeling are realised or they kiss. Life is messy, people are human and complicated, relationships are a minefield. I'm still not sure if my anger at Sam was based on the way he so blatantly threw his other relationships (because despite what he said they were relationships not one night stands) in Donovan's face, or with Sam's complete disregard for his own self worth. Probably a bit of both.

Donovan is my sort of character. Grumpy, strapping, with a resting bitch face. It was great to see his transformation as he reassessed his life. Of the secondary characters, I adored Monica and Joe, was curious about Jamie, fascinated by Zon, and hated Elliot (oh, and Sam's mother, but that's a given).

As usual with this author the sex scenes are sizzling, with D/S undertones although due to Donovan's gay virgin status these are tentative and occasionally cautious.

Highly recommended. ( )

Oh my, that was quite the rollercoaster ride. I loved Sam. I adored Donovan. I got angry at Sam. I hated Sam. Donovan broke my heart. I cried. Donovan fixed my heart. I warmed to Sam again. I loved them both. I'm exhausted.

I had already read the short story that this story was based on so I was aware of the dynamic and basis of the story, but I hadn't expected to have quite such an intense reaction to Sam's continual hooking up with other people throughout the story. I'm not one of those people that think the MCs must be faithful from the moment their eyes meet or their feeling are realised or they kiss. Life is messy, people are human and complicated, relationships are a minefield. I'm still not sure if my anger at Sam was based on the way he so blatantly threw his other relationships (because despite what he said they were relationships not one night stands) in Donovan's face, or with Sam's complete disregard for his own self worth. Probably a bit of both.

Donovan is my sort of character. Grumpy, strapping, with a resting bitch face. It was great to see his transformation as he reassessed his life. Of the secondary characters, I adored Monica and Joe, was curious about Jamie, fascinated by Zon, and hated Elliot (oh, and Sam's mother, but that's a given).

As usual with this author the sex scenes are sizzling, with D/S undertones although due to Donovan's gay virgin status these are tentative and occasionally cautious.

Highly recommended. ( )