Henry’s the odd man out. All his friends are settling down, and his reputation as the Hook-Up King of London seems more like a curse than a blessing these days. Especially when it keeps photojournalist Ivo, his best friend and the brilliant man he’s loved since they were fifteen, at arm’s length. But that’s where Ivo wants him, right? Putting aside his feelings, Henry decides to give up casual sex and look for the real deal. After all, he has no chance with Ivo - or does he?
Henry is everything to Ivo. Best friend, soul mate, the one person who has never let him down. The one person he is loyal to above everything and everyone. But Henry’s in a box marked best friend and that’s where Ivo’s kept him for nearly twenty years, despite steadily falling in love with the gentle man. And besides, why would Henry want to date Ivo? Burned out and injured, he’s the walking embodiment of damaged.
Distance has helped Henry and Ivo keep a lid on their attraction, but when they find themselves in the same city for a change—Ivo hurt and needing assistance, and Henry more than willing to provide it—the two best friends grow closer than ever, forcing a realization, and a decision. Risk their friendship for their hearts? Or can they have both?
From the bestselling author of Rule Breaker and Deal Maker comes a tender love story about two best friends who are perfect for each other, and always have been - if only they knew it.
Comment: This is the last book of the Mixed Messages trilogy by author Lily Morton. After enjoying the books #1 and number #2, I had good expectations about this one but despite still being an enjoyable rad, I don't think this one was as well achieved as the previous ones.
In this third story we have Henry's HEA at last.
Henry has been a good professional throughout his career but his love life is not as steady. Now that his close friends Gabriel and Jude are in solid relationships with guys they love immensely, Henry feels his loneliness even more and decides it's time to start looking for someone to really care and love. However, there's still the little problem of Ivo, the son of one of his father's exes he simply can't forget about...
Ivo returns from one of his journalism assignments and, as usual, he comes to rest and recover in the house he shared in the will with Henry. This time, however, Ivo is finally ready to let go of such a nomadic life and is thinking about settling down and will try to see if Henry might develop feelings for him too...
The way things are, what will these two decide to do when they finally admit their feelings? And what about when Ivo recovers from his wounds, will he return to his dangerous work anyway?
Like I said, this is the third book and Henry has been a secondary character in the other two books. Of course there was something fascinating about him and I was glad he also deserved a story from the author.
What I think wasn't as interesting was the trope used to develop his romance. After the "lovers reunited" and the "second chance" ones, I'd say "friends to lovers" is one of those I sometimes struggle to look for. I mean, of course when well done, any trope can be interesting to see happen, but often or the trope is filled with clichés or the trope is the excuse for the plot and that can be a little boring to appreciate.
Anyway, in this book we have the friends to lovers trope featuring Henry and his step brother Ivo. While teenagers, both of them bonded over their common dislike for their parent's attitude towards life and eventually Henry's father and Ivo's mother separated. During the years they shared together, though, they developed a good connection and Henry fell for Ivo but one awkward scene in college left Henry thinking Ivo would never return his feelings.
Now, years later and at a time where his life is changing, Ivo wants to give in to the attraction he feels for Henry after one day finally acknowledging it to himself.
I just didn't like that much how Ivo just "saw the light" when it came to Henry one day. Their relationship as friends and brothers felt amazing and the messages exchanged by them while living with their parents (thus the trilogy title) prove that but for them to be a couple just felt like too convenient. I'd have preferred to see Henry fall in love on the page with someone new and not go over his wishes, his feelings, his deliberating of every move while regarding Ivo. I don't think the relationship was as balanced as it should, mainly because of Ivo's choices in the past, how could Henry trust him 100%?
Of course eventually he does, or this wouldn't be a romance. It was nice that Ivo finally decided to be brave and admit he wanted to share his life with Henry but the way this happened and the moment of the plot where it happened felt a little too quick and silly (in relation to the scene itself, since he was in an airplane).
The main goal here was to portray how years of knowing someone can "help" in discovering hidden parts of the other person and knowing you re with someone you not only have romantic feelings for but who you also respect. I can understand this tactic but I wish Henry could have had an even more romantic experience with the person he was in love with.
Grade: 6/10
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