Lane Hayes - Better Than Safe

Paul Fallon is a fashion advertising guru. He’s a genius at dealing with difficult editors, art directors, and designers alike. He thrives on the chaotic atmosphere and constant challenges. But in his personal life, he’s hoping for peace and stability. Settling down with a nice doctor or lawyer sounds perfect. Anyone but an artist. He’s been there, done that, and he doesn’t want to relive the heartache.
Seth Landau is a model, occasional guitarist, and aspiring painter. He’s quirky, flighty, and wise beyond his years. Life has taught him some tough lessons, then given him opportunities he never dreamed of. He’s learned to appreciate the fragility of life and to express it in his work. Seth’s flare for the absurd combined with a supple mind and a beautiful body are too alluring for Paul to ignore. Against his best intentions, Paul is drawn to the younger man whose particular brand of crazy challenges Paul to accept that things aren’t always as they seem. Sometimes taking a chance is better than being safe.

Comment: This is the 4th and final installment in the Better Than series by Lane Hayes, which I have been reading for some months. There are novellas following this book, but not other full length books.

In this novel Paul Fallon, a successful fashion advertiser, is at a good place in his life, but it is also true he feels lonely sometimes. Being friends with the man he considered dating months ago has opened up his connections and that is why he accepts to go on a blind date with Seth Landau, a model he saw at a photo shoot, even though he had told himself he would not date artists again. Things don't go well and he feels more relief than sadness over it, which is why he is surprised when Seth contacts him gain, so that they could give it another go. Although he didn't plan on doing such a thing, he finds himself drawn to Seth and his antics and after a while it's quite obvious they are into each other. But Paul has had some bad experiences and one of them suddenly shows up and makes him rethink his fears... 

Paul had been a secondary character in the previous book but he seemed to be a great person, very put together and confident. Well, confident in his professional abilities and in who he is, not as much in how he trusts others to see him. I liked his personality and attitude and I could easily understand some of his thought process and why he made certain decisions.

Obviously, all this had to contrast with Seth, who seems way more independent and carefree in what he chooses to do. I liked Seth as well, but since we only have Paul's POV, it is easy to say that Seth didn't seem as characterized as Paul although the author did a good enough job to show us how these two could work and why they seem to complement one another.

The plot is quite linear and focused on how they go from a terrible first date to be in each other's sphere, even if at first the contacts were meant to be simple friendship. Things change because there is sexual attraction between them from the start and Paul is a little wary of this, because we are aware he had a relationship with another artist and it didn't end well. It's no surprise to learn this person will be part of the story from a certain point on, and that his presence will cause Paul to stress out and to reveal some things about why they broke up.

I will say that it was still a little shocking to see how terrible that other person had been to Paul, and seeing him trust Seth and tell him about it - obviously after some tense scenes - was a good way to let us see how in sync they could be and how different Seth was from that other guy, being art the only thing they had in common. I did like seeing how this revealed Paul's mind-frame in regards to some things and why he is mostly a wary and thoughtful person, even in his personal life. I was quite happy he had Seth, someone who would not treat him that way the other guy had.

Seth and Paul didn't seem to have much in common at first, but something that always endears me in these "opposites attract" couples is how they find ways to respect the other person and even admire them for their skills or whatever. Although Paul's work isn't the kind one sees right away how brilliant it is, the way the plot played out made it easy to see how competent he was, but not in an obvious way. Seth does many things, like modeling and playing guitar, but his art is what makes him who he is, and since he can do exhibitions, this side of him feels more prominent than Paul's, but one could say it's the same world, kind of, and they see the other's value in this aspect too.

When the story ends, the HEA is sweet and seems solid, but not in a sugary way. I could see how they would work out as a couple but nothing was done to exaggerate this and it even feels as if their  relationship is a work in progress, always evolving as their lives keep combining. I did like this feeling, that they are happy but not static in what they feel for one another.

An interesting note, which I had not thought of before starting this book, but Seth is friends with Rand, from this author's book A Kind of Truth, which I read back in 2017 and that I loved. It kind of makes me want to re-read my favorite parts... at the time I really didn't realize these series were part of the same world, more or less.

Grade: 8/10

Lane Hayes - Better Than Friends

When Curt Townsend, a successful young DC lawyer, attends his first gay wedding, he doesn’t expect anything more than a great evening out spent celebrating two lucky guys willing to commit to one another. He certainly doesn’t anticipate meeting someone like Jack Farinelli. Fourteen years Curt’s senior, Jack owns two businesses: a gay bar and a motorcycle shop. He’s gorgeous and self-assured, but Curt is positive they have nothing in common.
Jack is comfortable in his own skin. He’s attracted to Curt’s quick wit and easy manner but most of all, to their unexpected mutual love of baseball. As they forge a friendship based on their shared enthusiasm for the sport, they begin a journey which reveals how their differences might be the catalyst behind a growing attraction. Both men have experienced their share of pain, but they realize they need to set aside the past and learn to trust in a future if they are to have one together.

Comment: Last April I had read the first book in the Better Than series by Lane Hayes. It was only an OK read for me, but I felt enough curiosity about a secondary character, who is the protagonist of this book now, to want to try this one as well.

In this story we follow Curt Townsend, a 28 year old lawyer who is friends with Matt (from book #1) and how his life seems to have reached a very comfortable stage. He is doing something he likes, even though it's not an exciting part of advocacy, he has his friends and his hobbies and not even the estrangement from his father brings him down. However, as soon as he is arriving at a wedding, he receives the news from his brother that their father is dying. Still, Curt tries to ignore what this makes him feel to focus on the wedding and suddenly, he meets Jack. 

Jack seems larger than life, is incredible good looking and Curt is fascinated, even though Jack is older than him and has tattoos and has a bar where gay men who like leather attend. Although they think the only thing in common between them is their interest in baseball, could it be their unlikely friendship might lead to something else?

I was looking for to read this story because Curt had been an intriguing character in the first book, even though he had been on the page for a short amount of time. This is book #3, and I've skipped the second since it would feature a couple that was already together in the first book and, it seemed, the dynamics would be very similar to the couple of the first book. Now, this third one would feature a couple with apparently not much in common and with an age gap. I was curious to see how the author would do things.

Curt was a cute character to know although I must say his background story didn't impress me as much as I hoped for. He doesn't talk to his father and when we learn why the estrangement, the explanation colored Curt in a not so great light, even though what he went trough was awful, if we consider his father's actions. The thing is, mrs Hayes isn't too keen on big development in this series, it seems, and a lot of the emotional state of the characters is more inferred rather than shown. I can accept this but it does make the empathy towards certain things harder to grasp.

As someone who is embarking on a possible relationship, Curt is cute and a little dorky and I had a great time seeing through his funny moments. He is also a total opposite of Jack, and not only due to the age gap. Curt and Jack should not really work, especially if we consider where they are in life - thus why usually age gaps should not lead to a common daily life that would not have divergences - but the fact they like baseball and have friends in common helps to bring them closer.

I thought the romance to be fun and with a good amount of sexual tension before they become intimate, which is how I prefer romances to develop. It's always a treat to see the characters think about one another and desire one another without immediately jumping into bed. The story is told from Curt's POV and I think the author did a good job conveying his feelings, but also what Jack might be feeling in certain moments. 

Despite this, the base of their relationship is friendship. Although we could think Curt would not have much to "teach" Jack in terms of life lessons, they kind of complement each other because they offer the other a different look on some things. I was rooting for them and I liked the fact Jack kept showing Curt how important he is to him; it's true that one of the elements I liked the most was how Curt felt insecure, had a vision of himself which I understand well, and Jack was there to reinforce Curt, like everyone else, can be special for someone and that people have different ways of presenting themselves.

While debating on how to classify his relationship with Jack, Curt is convinced by his friends to go on a date with Paul, who would be a good fit for him. Of course, we know Curt was already falling for Jack, but this situation felt like an avoidable issue - even if the goal was to make Paul a reference, since he is the protagonist of the next book in the series. Still, despite some minor issues, I liked reading about Jack and Curt and will read the next one too, to see where Paul's story leads him.

Grade: 8/10

Lane Hayes - Better Than Good

Matt Sullivan understands labels: law student, athlete, heterosexual. He has goals: graduate and begin his career in law. One fateful night, Matt tags along with his gay roommate to a dance club and everything changes. Matt finds himself attracted to the most beautiful man he’s ever seen. All labels go flying out the window.
Aaron Mendez doesn’t believe in labels, and he’s leery of straight curious men. He makes it clear that he’ll hide his fabulous light for no one. While Aaron can’t deny the attraction between him and Matt, he is reluctant to start anything with someone who is still dealing with what this new label means—especially when that someone has a girlfriend.

Comment: Some years ago, I've read a series by this author which really convinced me this was an author to look for. Well, in regards to stories containing tropes/genres I like, of course, and that is why I've added this book, another contemporary romance by her, to the pile.

Matt Sullivan is a college student already interning at a law firm he hopes to join and he has a pretty stable life. Things change for him when he randomly goes to a gay bar with his gay and non gay friends one night. Suddenly, he exchanges a look with a stranger and he is smitten. They meet and talk and while he feels attracted to Aaron, he believes this to be easy to overcome, since he even has a girlfriend. However, as the days go by, the more Matt thinks about Aaron and hat he feels when he thinks of him. He decides to find Aaron and see if his confused emotions remain... when he realizes they do, what else can he do but spend time with Aaron? Is there hope for them?

This story is told exclusively by Matt and sometimes, as usual when it comes to a romance story, I felt the lack of having Aaron's POV in certain moments. Matt is also a rather stoic thinker and narrator and his way of describing things made the story feel stilted at times and made me think of Matt as someone who is a bit too dry. I suppose this might have been so to better contrast with Aaron who repeats often he is out and proud.

The plot isn't complicated and is all about the character driven. The conflict is internal - mostly Matt's of course - and while I did expect some external issues regarding how those closer to Matt would deal with his apparently sudden attraction to another guy, that never really materialized and the reactions of those who were told were pretty mild. This is also a story more in the novella size... I can't tell if that was intentional or if other books in the series will have a bigger page count, but perhaps if it was on purpose, the stories are not meant to feel as long anyway.

I've checked and it seems this book might be one of the first the author has published, perhaps that is another element to consider in how this book felt like to me, when I compare with my overall impressions of the others I had tried years ago. This story really read as being a bit one sided (even for a 1st person POV) and Matt didn't seem to be very intriguing or special enough as to why his side of things would feel important. Some situations he described actually felt a little boring to me.

Perhaps this impression wasn't helped by the fact Aaron is a more flamboyant element, even more so when compared with "average" Matt, and I will be honest and say characters who tend to be more extroverted or, as in this case, more "twink-alike" don't usually captivate me. I tend to fins these characters a bit over the top and tiring to follow. Sadly to me, Aaron didn't change my mind and while I liked him in general terms and loved the fact he was himself with no excuses for others, his personality wasn't my favorite either.

The guys' relationship felt very under developed too. I can accept how difficult it might be to showcase the feelings between them and how scaring it would be to deal with a novel type of situation for Matt and a scaring one for Aaron (he had been an experiment for a closeted man before) but the chemistry, the sense they were in sync with one another never really seemed obvious to me. I think the author did improve with time and this was easier to "see" in her other novels I've read, but here everything was rather meh.

Therefore, a story with two protagonists who weren't always perfectly appealing to me, a conflict they had to deal with themselves and which felt one sided over the 1st person narration led to a reading experience I wasn't particularly moved by. If I had read this book before others by this author, I might not have continued... and what a pity because of those I've read, I've given five stars to two. This said, some months from now, I might skip the next installment in this story  - the blurb suggests it might be a very similar mix to this one - and jump into the one after, which seems more appealing.

Grade: 6/10

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Home

Isaac Dalton is the guitarist for Spiral, arguably the biggest rock band in the world. The band’s meteoric rise to superstardom has its perks, but fame and fortune aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. Nonstop touring and performing exhaust him, and when an overzealous fan makes it imperative that Isaac travel with a clingy bodyguard, he is ready for a break from the madness. More so when his newly single first crush shows up on his doorstep. The man is strictly off-limits. He’s a memory from a place Isaac would rather leave behind. And he’s straight.
Fun-loving former athlete slash construction worker Adam McBride desperately needs a new beginning. And New York City is the perfect place to start over and think about how to rebuild his life. A short stint as roommates with his brother’s best friend from high school seems like a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, when friendship gives way to fierce attraction, both men find themselves in unchartered and possibly dangerous territory. Isaac has to decide if he’s willing to take the ultimate risk for a kind of love and a kind of home he never dreamed possible.

Comment: Last year I've read the first three books in this A Kind Of stories by author Lane Hayes. I liked them all so I was quite happy when I saw there would be a new book coming out at the end of the year. I got the book recently and was really eager to read it and re-capture all those warm feelings I got while reading the other installments. However, while this book was still very good, it's still the one I liked the least...

In this book we have the story of the last element of Spiral to find happiness. Of the four elements, we got the full length stories of two, the notion the other is happy and now we have the fourth story, Issac's, the third member of the four who also finds a male partner.

Isaac wasn't aware of how much fame he would get when he signed up to be with the band. But he does like the guys, he feels right, he has a good enough life except it seems he has a stalker.

Isaac also needs to deal with an unwanted guest at his house: the brother of one of his childhood friends has gone through a divorce and is getting his bearings back while staying in his apartment, which Issac didn't mind while on tour. But now he's still there and Issac does remember his crush on him when they were younger.... but Adam is straight. Right?

This is a friends to lovers plot but with a slight touch of an almost "lovers reunited", which is the one I tend to dislike the best, simply due to the amount of time spent dealing or talking about past events. Since Isaac and Adam met each other in the past, come from the same town and shared some friends in common, they do talk about what their lives used to be and those scenes always feel a bit boring to me.

Isaac is an interesting character, he does feel well characterized by the author. He is a man of color, he had been adapted by a white couple but that couple separated when Isaac's biological father came into the picture and then his adoptive parents split when the mother left with Isaac's father.

Then Isaac came out to his adoptive father and he sent him away which led Isaac to go to New York and later on he got into the band. 

Issac's past is quite complicated, the issues he needs to deal with aren't something one just pushes aside. We get the notion really soon that Isaac doesn't have a good relationship with any of his parents and is a bit of a loner. This explains why he wasn't too happy about developing feelings for Adam or even about his role in the band. I think this side of things was well portrayed, not going into drama levels but interestingly done. I just think Isaac's personality came across as being a little too detached, you know, so I wasn't always very eager to read about him.

His love interest, Adam, is also a strong character. He was married and we do get to see how he dealt with that and the divorce. His approach to things seems simpler but one can get the idea it was psychologically difficult to reach the point where he's at, of just being himself.

Again, I must complain about the single person POV because while we get a good perspective on Adam's character, it's not the same just having him tell stuff through dialogues instead of being in his head.

The romance was cute I guess, the physical relationship well depicted and the scenes between them generally good.

The interactions with the band members were also important while not removing the focus from Isaac and his thoughts.

The stalking issue was dealt with but to be honest it felt really weird how things were portrayed. Or, maybe I should say the stalker's motivations were presented in a weird way. I can only suppose if someone stalks another person something isn't right anyway.

Overall, I did enjoy this story, I think the emotional content was as rich as I would expect but Isaac as a person wasn't as likable in all his behavior/personality traits so I wasn't as interested in him as I remember being with the others. But it was nice to "be" with the guys again, for sure.

Grade: 7/10

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Honesty

Music is drummer Tim Chalmers’s great escape and the one thing that’s never let him down. But his band Spiral’s meteoric rise to fame has made it difficult for him to maintain a low profile. Unwanted press pesters him after a public breakup with a volatile ex-girlfriend who loves the limelight as much as he loathes it. Tim’s main goal is to avoid confrontation. However, when a handsome stranger in a dive bar turns out to be someone he might know, everything changes.
Carter Hamilton-Temple might be a successful financial consultant with more brains, sophistication, and charm than most, but he always falls for the wrong guys: closet cases or men with issues. He can’t fight his attraction to tattooed rock star Tim, but can he trust his own judgment? When the thrill of danger combined with a fierce physical connection proves too strong for either man to resist, a quiet liaison away from the public eye and curious friends seems like a safe bet. But some secrets are hard to keep. When rumors threaten to rock his world, Tim realizes it’s time to confront his fear with his own kind of honesty.

Comment: This is the third installment in the A Kind of Stories trilogy by author Lane Hayes. I really liked the first installment and the second was very enjoyable, so I was very expectant to read this final story and, thankfully, it was as amazing as I hoped for.

In this book we have Tim Chalmers's story. He is the drummer of Spiral, the band we saw starting having work and recognition in the first book.

Tim has always been a quiet boy because his family wasn't as stable as he would have wanted it to be and he coped how he could. He realized very soon he was bi but most of his relationships have been with women, including the last one, from which he is trying to distance himself after a bad breakup. One night he meets this gorgeous man and they spend the night together.

Both Tim and Carter, the stranger's name, are surprised when they meet again at a party in their friends' Zeke and Benny's house. From then on, they embark on a secret relationship that soon evolves to something very serious. Can Tim let go of his missed expectations and admit he has feelings for Carter? Can he accept they are a couple for real?

Like I said, I was very impressed with this book. I really liked all the steps taken by each main character in order to have a stronger relationship, especially because nothing was being said, but the feelings were there, to be seen. The evolution of the romantic relationship was really my favorite part, even more so when Tim proves he trusts Carter completely in a certain situation. I really enjoyed the sense of "destined love" I got from the guy's relationship. I was left feeling they were truly in love and sometimes that counts a lot.

This plot also has some interesting situations. Tim's family members have gone through hard challenges, they no longer resemble a perfect family, but the need to ensure all are minimally well is something always on Tim's mind even if he tries not to dwell too much on that.

The music industry is again a focus point when we see Tim and the guys trying to keep their passion alive while the more commercial side of things becomes a necessity as well.

Also interesting was the bad side of fame, and how some people just want to be seen at all costs. It seems incredible people really behave like this but...the pressure around fame can be huge, I guess.

If I could change something in these books would be the 1st person narrator. I really would love to have some scenes from both protagonists' POVs, especially when they are about to take a decisive step into the relationship. It was good to see how both reacted to some feelings because of previous situations or things in their lives and in this case, to have Carter's thoughts and not only what he said to Tim would have been great as well.

The writing, globally, seems pretty fluid and easy for me. I'm curious to see if this enjoyment would reflect in other books by the author.

I think this book was very solid when it came to match plot and characterization. I really liked both Tim's and Carter's personalities, all the little aspects that made them a different but interesting person, how well they were together and the HEA seemed pretty well done as well. Maybe a little bit longer scene or more details would have added to the magical side of things, after all, romance is the thing we want to see the most, but overall, I thought this worked out very well for me, personally, and it's a satisfying story in general.

Grade: 9/10

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Romance

Zeke Gulden is a ruthless Wall Street exec. His hard-edged, no-nonsense attitude has served him well in the cutthroat business world, but less so in his personal life. When he finds out his ex-boyfriend cheated on him with a coworker, Zeke can’t let go—not until he finds a way to get even. However, his meddlesome father has other ideas. The new hire at the family-owned bagel store is somewhat colorful, but his dad is sure he’s the perfect man for Zeke.
Benny Ruggieri is a fiercely proud New Yorker who dreams of making it big as a costume designer in the theater. In the meantime, he’s working two part-time jobs in the food biz. When his new boss sets him up with his successful son, Benny has zero expectations. If nothing else, he figures he can entertain himself by making the uptight businessman squirm. Instead, the two become unlikely friends with an inexplicable attraction they can’t ignore. Benny might be the one to help Zeke set aside his quest for revenge, if he’s willing to let go and forgive what he can’t forget… and give in to an unexpected kind of romance.

Comment: This is the second installment in the A Kind of Stories trilogy by author Lane Hayes. This is Benny's story, a friend of Will from the previous book. I was quite eager to try this one after having enjoyed the other book so much. This one seemed a little less magnificent but so far this trilogy has been quite amazing to me.

In this second installment we follow Zeke's voice, he's one of the sons of mr Gulden, the owner of the bagel shop where Rand used to work and where Benny helps now as well. Zeke works high finance and wanted to separate himself from his father's shops and dealings. It's not that he doesn't like his father but they tend to clash. however, when he is told his father hit hid head he goes to the hospital and meets Benny, someone he immediately dismisses even if there's something about him...

Benny knows his book is a matchmaker and seems to think Zeke would be his perfect other half but do they really have something in common? One daring date probably would solve everything but what if they do hit if off?

Probably, the only major thing I'd change in these books is the narrator's voice. I liked Rand in the first book and I didn't have anything against Zeke in this one but often in a romance it's great if we can have both takes on things. I think these books are quite balanced in this aspect but t wouldn't hurt to have a third person narrating, that would increase the relationship angle for better, in my opinion.

I liked this story. Not as much as the other because this one seemed to have  a lesser focus on the romance in the way that although there are romantic scenes and this is a romantic story, the relationship between the two protagonists felt a little bit more clinical. Yes, they agree to a date just to see what they can talk about, and yes, things progress quite nicely, yes we are convinced they are falling in love but the way those things happen aren't as amazing as I hoped for.

Maybe my problem is the characters themselves... I liked them as a couple, I liked several parts of them, especially the emotional level they were showing when dealing with important tasks/situations, etc. But Benny seems to want to shock or to at least not hide from others his real thoughts and preferences and Zeke is a bit too quiet and "cold". I get it that this works out and they balance each other well but their personalities, no matter how charming at times, weren't always convincing or appealing to me.

Zeke, in particular, also had some issues with his father abut his own youth and his father's role in how he saw himself growing up.. it was an interesting take on a father/son relationship, especially when one of them is gay. The closure on this is one of the things that made me appreciate Zeke a bit more.

Something I liked too was the emotional development we saw the characters go through. Both had an idea about what it would mean to be together, to just see what it was between them, as a way to appease Zeke's father into thinking they tried...but the real connection they form seems believable. I liked all the little steps they took, all the sweet moments they shared. 

Of course there was an antagonist here, that was there - in my opinion - to simply act as a propeller to make Zeke realize what he had with Benny was true and could be forever. I don't really mind this tactic but it didn't make things work out as smoothly as I hoped for, considering all the things they were going through.

Zeke, as the narrator, also seems to have something more to deal with. He has his own mind, his father's opinion and his mother's illness. It's a bit too much but... it does provide interesting scenes and dialogues.

I liked the secondary characters. It seems everyone had a purpose, with more or less importance, and things went well, the pace was fluid... I wasn't as marveled with this book overall, but I still had a great time reading. I'm very eager to read the final story and I hope it's as good as these first two were.

Grade: 8/10

Lane Hayes - A Kind of Truth

Rand O’Malley dreams of superstardom. He hopes to one day sing the blues like a rock god. Moving to New York City and hiring a new manager are steps to make his dreams a reality. But nothing moves as fast as Rand would like, and everyone has opinions, which include he keep certain pieces of himself quiet if he plans on making it in the Big Apple. Like his bisexuality.
Will Sanders is a gifted musician who dazzles Rand with his ability to coax gorgeous notes from an electric guitar one moment and play the piano like a professional the next. He’s a geek, but Rand isn’t concerned about Will’s pressed exterior clashing with his tattoos. His focus is music. Yet there’s something about Will that makes Rand think there’s much more to the quiet college student than he lets on. As Rand’s dreams begin to materialize, he’s forced to reconsider his priorities and find his own kind of truth. One that might include Will. 

Comment: I was told about this book on GR and somehow agreed with a friend to buddy read it. Then it ended up not being a good buddy read attempt as I read this in one day and my friend only started after. Still, I simply feel glad because this was a story I enjoyed a lot.

In this book we have Rand's story, he's the lead singer and guitar player in an emerging band and he thinks he needs to improve his musical technique while the new guitar player the band has is getting used to play their songs and so on. He meets Will, a geek college student who is very talented with musical instruments. They agree on some lessons but Rand can't help but feel interested and attracted to Will. 

Will has a secret, though and when Rand realizes what it is, his curiosity can't be avoided and the two of them end up together. From there, a relationship begins but can it last?

I had a great time reading this book. It is entertaining, it has interesting characters and the plot isn't boring. There are a couple of things I would change so no, this is not a perfect book but it worked out extremely well, all things considered.

This is also the first book I'm trying by the author and although each book is different, I feel very hopeful in trying other things by her. I'm going to read the next stories in this series and if I like them all, this can potentially be an author to look out for in the genre.

This is a book that focuses on the lives of Rand and Will. Because Rand is in a rock band, many of the situations portrayed mention musical elements and many details about what it's like to be part of a band and which expectations come from it, especially if the band isn't known yet. I didn't find this boring, the information given isn't too detailed so we have some idea but it's not too much and at the same time the surroundings present a good atmosphere for the plot to develop.

The best part of all this is obviously the romance! I liked this wasn't an insta-love scenario and that it took some time for the main characters to think about the other romantically and because we have the 1st person narrator of course we empathize better with Rand, but his relationship with Will was well done, despite only having his input. I liked how seemed to act almost carefully around the other. It was nice too how the author included everyday scenes from their lives, for instance Rand's job in the bagel shop and little scenes of Will's help with music...and the best thing was how sex between them wasn't in every two pages. It did make the story feel more serious and well thought.

I think the two things I would go without were probably the details that annoyed most people but I manages to overlook or simply not focus on so they became just noise and not something I couldn't put aside. I'm talking about Will's parents and the role they had in the antagonism of the romance towards the end of the story and Will's secret identity of sorts.

Will's father isn't someone who puts others first and is in a position he feels he can force Will to act a certain way but I was just so happy with the romance and the little steps taken for them to admit they were in love, I didn't lose time focusing on Will's parents and why they weren't there for him. It was just a detail in the background for me.

I also could step aside from Will's secret and all the tricky stuff that came with it and why he felt he needed that escape, no matter how valid the reasons. I chose not to think about it for real so although it was part of the plot, it wasn't vital to my enjoyment and despite being there, I could not focus on it as well.

I found it made this book a lot better for me if I didn't focus on the things I didn't like so much. This is not possible in all books, but the writing here allowed me to feel this way.

I was just happy with the way this story was developing. I liked how the main characters evolved because of each other, how they - without over the top situations or actions - gradually accepted one another and felt better in each others' company. Somehow, things were done in a way I really liked so, basically, this was a winner for me. I'm also very eager to read the next books soon.

Grade: 9/10