Recommended by Rani

Basically just my ramblings on books I love. Mostly romance novels because I love happy endings.

[recommendedbyrani]

Mad Man by Onley James

Summary: Felix Navarro can't stand Avi Mulvaney. He can't stand all the extra work Avi gives him which forces them to spend time together. He can't stand how no amount of biting sarcastic comments seem to faze Avi. He especially can't stand how Avi always calls him kitten. At least that's what he keeps telling himself. The truth is that Avi has been the star of all of Felix's fantasies for months. So when Avi is forced to spend a weekend apart from his twin and drags Felix along on some family business to keep him distracted, Felix protests but eventually relents as always. Except there's only one bed and Felix is learning about all of Avi's insecurities and oops maybe Felix is in love with a psychopath.

Thoughts: This is definitely my favorite book of the 'Necessary Evils' books so far, a series which focuses on seven psychopathic brothers who dole out vigilante justice to criminals who get away with their atrocities because the justice system failed. To be fair, I have thought that about every book in the series as I've read them. I've been waiting for Avi and Felix's story since the moment they laid eyes on each other in book three of this series and this definitely did not disappoint. The banter is hilarious and watching Avi try to figure out how to be a good partner is endearing and entertaining. Because the attraction and the inevitability of the relationship was established before this book began, the entire is just the two of them grappling with their own traumas and insecurities as they try to navigate what it would be like to be together. Another reason this book has been my favorite so far is that it's the first one that has a scene that actually features all of the brothers and their significant others together and interacting. I love the romance, but the brotherly ribbing and griping and teasing in this book was also fantastic.

Meet Cute: Avi and Felix meet in 'Moonstruck', book three of the series which features Avi's brother, Atticus, and Felix's brother, Jericho. Hoping to get into fashion major Felix's good graces, Atticus organizes for him to do a paid internship at Avi's athletic wear label. Avi is immediately smitten when they meet for the first time, but Felix is having none of it.

"I hear you'll soon be working…under me." The implication in his words had Atticus cringing. This was why Asa did most of the talking.

Felix scoffed, raking his gaze over Avi before flicking his eyes away as if he'd been weighed, measured, and found lacking in anything Felix wanted. "I'll be working with you. I don't work beneath anybody," he said, boredom bleeding into his tone.

Avi smirked. "That's okay. I'm sure you'll look just as good on top."

Circumstances That Throw Them Together: Avi and his twin, Asa have never been apart for more than a few hours at a time. Wanting to conduct an experiment, their father, Thomas sends Avi by himself on an assignment to help his brother Aiden on the other side of the country. Knowing that he won't fare well on his own, Avi forces Felix to come along in order to keep himself distracted. Asa's book takes place concurrently with Avi's and I will say it's clever to set the love stories of the twins who can't be apart on the same timeline.

The Sizzle: The sexual tension is definitely there from the first meeting and Felix and Avi actually hook up in the first chapter of the book. The will they/won't they aspect of the romance comes from Felix insisting that it's completely casual while Avi is completely certain that Felix is his person

"You have a snake tattoo," Avi murmured.

Felix's cheeks turned pink, his gaze sliding away. "Yeah, so do you? It's not uncommon?"

"We get the snake tattoo when we make our first  successful kill. Why did you get yours?" Avi asked.

"Because Jericho has a snake tattoo," he said, still refusing to look at him.

"Jericho got a snake tattoo as a symbol of loyalty to Atticus and our family. Noah and Lucas have them, too."

Felix was crimson now. "So what?"

"Nothing," Avi lied.

Felix was embarrassed, even Avi could see that, but he didn't get why. As far as he was concerned, it was all the proof he needed that Felix was meant to be his. He'd already been branded a  Mulvaney. His Mulvaney.

The First Kiss: As I mentioned before, it happens in the first chapter. It follows a slap, which is very on brand for these two.

Conflict: There's a couple. There's the external conflict where Felix is helping the Mulvaneys take down some bad people and then there's a few interrelationship conflicts. There's one that centers on Felix not wanting to admit that what he and Avi have means something because he's afraid that it will be taken away and there's another that involves Felix coming to terms with the fact that dating Avi means that doors are going to open for him that may not have been accessible before.

Love Confession: It happens over text, which I don't generally love, but considering Avi says it first and it's kind of just casually thrown into their conversation, I will accept it.

Happily Ever After: They take down the bad guys, Felix starts his own brand, and they get married.

[recommendedbyrani]

The Long Game by Rachel Reid

Summary: For ten years, hockey superstars Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been keeping their relationship a secret. And with the way their careers are going, it will be ten more years before they retire and may be able to finally be a couple out in the open. But Ilya doesn't want to wait that long. He loves Shane more than he could ever put into words and sometimes he's afraid that Shane doesn't feel the same way. As the pressures of their careers and the unspoken words between them cause Shane and Ilya to begin to spiral in different ways, they must decide if they're truly in it for the long haul.

Thoughts: This book was an emotional roller coaster. I laughed, I cried, I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. It truly was a joy to read and a very emotionally satisfying ending to Shane and Ilya's story. I think it's a pretty popular consensus that 'Heated Rivalry' was the best book in Rachel Reid's Game Changers series and Shane and Ilya were most definitely my favorite couple, so I was both excited and terrified to see how their story would end and I'm so glad to say that this book was everything I could have hoped for.

Where 'Heated Rivalry' was slightly more focused on Shane's emotional journey as he came to terms with his sexuality, Ilya Rozanov is the star of 'The Long Game'. It's his emotional highs and lows that pull you through the story and keep you wanting to know more. He's secure in his feelings for Shane and he knows what he wants their future to be, but he does have his own baggage to deal with and this book allows him the space to face up to his childhood trauma, settle into himself, and figure out what truly makes him happy. This book hit particularly close to home for me as it broached the topic of Ilya being depressed and whether he knew who he was outside of hockey and Shane. He goes to therapy, which I love to read about because it is something that shouldn't be stigmatized and Ilya seeking out professional help is handled thoughtfully.

I know it sounds like this book is emotionally heavy, and it is, but I am delighted to report that the sarcastic banter and electric sexual tension between Shane and Ilya is still present. I always love reading books about couples that are already established because as much fun as it is to read about two people falling in love, getting to see past the initial honeymoon phase and get a peek into how they just live their normal lives as a couple is always fascinating. Shane and Ilya have a routine and its very obvious that they love each other hard, but they are still working on their communication  and figuring out how to say what they really feel. Their insecurities are relatable and I kind of love the fact that even though they've been in a committed relationship for three years when this book begins, they're not perfect and they still have arguments and miscommunications, but they're dedicated to each other and no matter what, they just want to be together.

The main conflict of the book revolves around the fact that Ilya wants to take their relationship public but Shane is much more hesitant. There's more nuance to it than that and there's more buildup to the blowout they have about the topic, but I do appreciate that the Big Fight in this book happens around halfway through. Because they're already a couple, the book doesn't really follow the normal romance novel story structure, so after they fight, they make up and there's still a good quarter of the book left to go. I will say that I'm not completely on board with how their relationship is eventually made public but I am glad we do get to see a significant amounts of the after affects, and how their teammates and friends and the general public react.

If I had one wish for this book it would be that I would have liked to see a longer epilogue. I love the circumstances Shane and Ilya are in at the end of the book and would have been fun and heartwarming to get to live in that moment for just a little bit longer. All in all, this book is fantastic and I couldn't be happier with the conclusion of this amazing series and relationship.

[recommendedbyrani]

Psycho by Onley James

Summary: August Mulvaney was raised to be a killer. The adopted son of a billionaire, he leads a double life. By day, he uses his genius and multiple degrees to teach physics at the university. By night, he and his six brothers use their lifetime of training to hunt down and kill the people who slipped through the cracks of the justice system. Of his brothers, August definitely enjoys the killing aspect of their side gig the most, which is only slightly problematic when he crosses paths with Lucas Blackwell. Lucas is a clairvoyant criminal profiler who was kicked out of the FBI after having a breakdown. When he quite literally runs into August on campus, he catches glimpses of August's extracurricular activities, forcing August to reveal his secrets. When it turns out that Lucas knows someone who would qualify to be the subject of the Mulvaney boys' latest mission, they must work together to bring down a criminal organization.

Thoughts: This book is super sweet, which is a weird thing to say about a story about a psychopathic serial killer. August has never been in a relationship before, so he has no idea how to act around Lucas, all he knows is that he wants Lucas forever. It's endearing and hilarious to read about August attempting to figure out how be in a romantic relationship. His psychopathy combined with his autism means he doesn't really comprehend social cues, but his extremely high IQ means he learns quickly and is eager to do so. Lucas is wary at first, but it doesn't take long for him to trust August and the ensuing relationship is so enjoyable to read. The book takes place over the course of week, but strength of the feelings developed in that time is believable. This is the second book in the Necessary Evils series and although the couple in the first book (Adam and Noah) are featured in this one, the author does a good job of making sure you understand the dynamic without having read it.

Meet Cute: August and Lucas literally run into each on other the campus of the university where they both teach. August is a tenured physics professor and Lucas is a new adjunct professor of criminal psychology. Due to Lucas's ability to gain impressions from touching things, he inadvertently catches glimpses of the extracurricular activities the Mulvaney family partakes in when August helps him off the ground.

Circumstances That Throw Them Together: August is a scientist and doesn't particularly believe in clairvoyants, but he does know that Lucas's complete horror and disgust after touching August means that Lucas must know something, so he seeks Lucas out to confirm his suspicions. August finds it strangely freeing to have someone know his secret, and discovers that Lucas has a target that would fall under the Mulvaney family's criteria for bad people that should be taken out and it isn't long before all the Mulvaneys are roped in to help. August inserts himself into Lucas's life and the rest is history.

The Sizzle: August thought Lucas was beautiful from the moment their eyes met and Lucas definitely thought August was attractive, though he was a little more wary.

August sighed, holding his glass to his lips, feeling the carbonation spring up and burst on his skin but not taking a drink. "He's really…pretty."

A grin spread across Adam's face. "Oh, shit. I think August is crushing on his coworker."

The First Kiss: It happens after August breaks into Lucas's apartment to check on him. Which turns out to be less creepy than it sounds.

Conflict: The conflict is entirely external to the relationship. Lucas and August do have their own issues to work through in terms of navigating their relationship and August figuring out how to be a good romantic partner. But nothing really causes a rift between them. The main conflict of the story has to do with an FBI agent that Lucas had previously accused of being a serial killer and August and the Mulvaneys finding a way to bring the agent to justice.

Love Confession: August's psychopathy keeps him from knowing what love feels like, but it doesn't keep him from saying it to Lucas. Just because he doesn't know how it feels doesn't mean what they have isn't love.

"Shouldn't. I shouldn't love you, but I think I do. I love you but I shouldn't," Lucas said, miserable.

August shook his head. "You're so hung up on time. It took me seven seconds to figure out you're it for me. If the passage of time is so important to you, I'll wait. Even if it takes you seven weeks or seven months or seven years, but don't let time be the only reason to keep us from doing what we both want. We don't have to explain ourselves to anybody."

Happily Ever After: They take out the bad guy and all is good.

[recommendedbyrani]

I’ve Walked Where You’ve Been by Marina Vivancos

Summary: Matty always knew he would meet his soulmate. Everyone did. One day you locked eyes with someone and you just knew that you could never be without them. What he didn't expect was for it to happen when he was 9. And especially not with Ethan, who's shy and quiet and never wants to play outside like Matty. As they grow up, the inevitable bond sickness that arises if they're apart for more than a few days forces them to go to boarding school and eventually college together. Matty resents having to always follow Ethan around and never getting to decide on anything for himself, but as the emotional distance causes their bond to weaken, they must decide if they're willing to try to understand each other or lose each other forever.

Thoughts: This was a very interesting take on a soulmates story. Usually stories that use this premise have to do with two people discovering that they're soulmates and then settling into it as it grows into love. In this instance, Matty and Ethan's bond occur within the first few pages and as a reader, you get to see through the eyes of a child growing up with a soulmate bond what happens when it isn't necessarily all roses and butterflies. There is a genuine attempt to get along at first and Matty even kind of likes the idea of having a best friend and partner in crime that's always around. But as he discovers that Ethan is his polar opposite in almost every way, they move from reluctant friends to almost indifferent acquaintances. The story spans about a decade, from when Matty and Ethan first bond at age 9 through their first year of college where they actually figure out why fate made them soulmates to begin with. Considering the entire story is only 6 chapters long, the author does do a good job of shifting the voice used in each chapter to reflect the stage of Matty's life being depicted. The story is told entirely from Matty's point of voice, but the tone used shifts from an immature somewhat bratty child to a frustrated, emotional teenager pretty seamlessly. That being said, I do wish the story was longer, so we got to spend more time with Matty and Ethan and understand what makes them tick. Especially for Ethan, as we're not really given the time to understand why he is the way he is or his feelings towards Matty. Still, overall, their interaction is adorable and I was smiling widely the whole time.

Meet Cute: Matty and Ethan meet at age 9 when they lock eyes while crossing the street to school. It's definitely life changing as they both essentially collapse and have to crawl towards each other and hug in order for the bond to fully settle.

Circumstances That Throw Them Together:  They're soulmates. The universe in which the story is set dictates that soulmates must physically touch every so often in order to avoid getting physically ill or 'bond sickness'. When they're younger, that means they have to be near each other for a few hours every day, but the older they get, the less often the touching is necessary. Still, they can't be apart for more than a few days at a time, so when Ethan gets into an elite boarding school, Matty has to tag along and when Ethan gets into an Ivy League college, Matty has to go there too. As a result, they're constantly forced to be around each other.

The Sizzle: Matty's thoughts about Ethan start shifting when they're seniors in high school and Ethan gets a boyfriend. It's not so much depicted as jealousy, which is a refreshing change, but more so like Matty suddenly realizes how much he misses the background noise of feeling Ethan through their bond when Ethan starts to actively block him out. As a result, Matty decides it's time to start trying to be friends with Ethan and invites him to actually hang out, including playing board games, going to a hockey game, and going to the aquarium.

Matty steadfastly ignored how fucking adorable it was that Ethan had a favorite type of jellyfish.

The First Kiss: After Matty takes Ethan to the aquarium, Ethan reciprocates by taking Matty to a hockey game. When they get home, Matty very suddenly realizes that they just went on a date.

 The urge to kiss Ethan hit him so strong that Matty wasn't even surprised when Ethan stopped mid-sentence, trailing off as his cheeks turned bright red.

 Conflict: There isn't really one that serves as an ultimate climax. The story is set up more to be like 6 separate short stories with internal conflicts. After Ethan and Matty kiss for the first time, there's a short conflict in which Ethan avoids Matty for a while as a result of some insecurities, but it's resolved with a conversation within a few pages.

Love Confession: Because of the nature of the bond, Matty and Ethan can feel each other's emotions, so the confession doesn't come as much of a surprise.

 "I take it back," Ethan grumbled, even though Matty could still feel him smiling against his neck. "I don't like you at all."

"Well, I still love you, so."

"Urgh, stop."

"I refuse to do any such thing, actually."

"You're the worst," Ethan said happily.

 Happily Ever After: It's more of a happy for now, as the story ends after the confession, but it is implied throughout that Matty and Ethan would stay together forever. As I mentioned before, it would be nice if the entire story was longer and maybe included an epilogue that provided insight into Matty and Ethan's lives some years into the future, but that didn't stop me from being gleefully happy at the sugar sweetness of the ending.

[recommendedbyrani]

Royally Screwed by Lynn Van Dorn

Summary: Angelo and Yuri are destined to be together. Princes of neighboring kingdoms, they've been betrothed since they were born. Both are aware they will have to do their duty someday, but that doesn't mean either of them like it. Besides the fact that Angelo is straight, he also finds Yuri incredibly irritating. Yuri thinks Angelo is a bit of an asshole, but that doesn't mean that he hasn't spent the majority of his life pining after his future husband. When Yuri's life is threatened, Angelo decides its time for them to at least begin behaving like a couple.

Meet Cute: Yuri and Angelo have been betrothed their entire lives. Their mothers were school friends who married crown princes of neighboring kingdoms and happened to get pregnant at the same time. In order to strengthen a trade agreement between the kingdoms' whose relationship up until that point was chilly at best, a marriage between the children was arranged when it was discovered one was to be a boy and the other a girl. Except that they both turned out to be boys and a team of lawyers decided that gender wasn't relevant and the contract was valid.

Circumstances That Throw Them Together: The set up for Yuri and Angelo's intimate interactions occurs when they're 16 and Angelo ends up spanking Yuri as a punishment when Yuri cockblocks Angelo out of jealousy. This happens on page twice and is depicted as an emotional release for both of them before the story fast forwards to the actual plot beginning.

"Thank you," Yuri whispered. "I'm sorry, but I needed that. I needed it so badly. And I don't why, Angel, but you made it better. Thank you."

Yuri closed his angelic eyes, now red and puffy from crying, and fell into an exhausted sleep. Angelo held onto his rival and nemesis and brother and betrothed and knew that nothing would be the same ever again. Angelo flex his hand. It hurt, but in the best possible way.

The situation that kicks off Yuri and Angelo actually spending a substantial amount of time together occurs about 20% of the way into the book when Yuri's best friend asks Angelo to come take care of Yuri after Yuri's boyfriend at the time failed in the aftercare portion of a BDSM heavy intimate encounter. At this point, Angelo and Yuri had been having intermittent spanking sessions for about six years and are in their final year of college. Angelo decides that the only way to keep Yuri safe is for them to pretend to date, since people will expect them to do so before they're forced into marriage at thirty anyway.

The Sizzle: Yuri has always thought Angelo was gorgeous. Once Angelo accepts that he and Yuri are destiny, he starts thinking Yuri is beautiful as well.

The First Kiss: It happens when Angelo is trying to prove to Yuri that he can handle fake dating. It's soft and sweet and innocent and breaks Yuri's heart. The second kiss is much better, but has the same emotional impact.

It wasn't fair that the best kiss of his entire life was entirely fake.

Conflict: There's a couple but nothing that sort of stretches through the entire story. There's a conflict with Yuri's ex-boyfriend when he gets aggressive and Angelo has to keep him away. There's a small conflict with Yuri's manservant when Yuri finds out he might not be who he seems. The conflict that results in the ultimate climax to the book - Angelo's parents not approving of Angelo having an actual relationship with another man and wanting to get out of the contractual trade agreement - is set up about 80% of the way through the book and then resolved a few chapters later.

Love Confession: Much like the rest of Yuri and Angelo's relationship, it's semi argumentative.

Yuri punched him on the shoulder hard enough to leave a bruise.

 "Fuck, ow, what was that for?"

 Yuri burst into tears. "I love you, you prat."

Happily Ever After: Yuri figures out a way to keep Angelo's parents from breaking off the agreement and they get the wedding he's always dreamed of.

Thoughts: This book was extremely entertaining despite the fact that I'm not sure it actually had a plot. It seemed more like a series of situations that Yuri and Angelo are thrown into in order to force them to confront their feelings and then about 85% of the way through the book the author remembers that there's supposed to be a conflict and some sort of story arch. That's not to say it wasn't an engrossing read - but just for the purposes of expectation setting, don't go into this book thinking it's going to follow a traditional story structure. Despite this unconventional plotting, I did really enjoy Yuri and Angelo's relationship. They bicker constantly, especially at the beginning, but it's very clear that underneath that sniping, they both actually do care about each other. Angelo does go through a sexual awakening of sorts over the course of the story, but it's not really dramatized and he comes to terms with it pretty easily and without much fuss, which was nice to read. There are elements of BDSM to Yuri and Angelo's relationship that start out being non sexual and evolve into more as they spend more time together and come to terms with their feelings. I know it sounds like I'm just glossing over a major theme in the book, but honestly, the discipline element of their sex life doesn't serve much purpose in the overall plot besides being used to show how Angelo practices proper aftercare and Yuri's ex-boyfriend did not and was thus a bad person. The tone of the book remains light and snarky no matter the situation, which makes it an enjoyable, low stress read.

[recommendedbyrani]

How to Hack a Hacker by AJ Sherwood

Summary: Kyou has spent the past twelve years keeping Brannigan Genevese safe. It's become full time job that complete with a very intricate system of security checks, spending ten plus hours in front of his computer, and drinking way more coffee than any human should. When Brannigan begins buying up Mob territory and consequently puts himself in danger, Kyou has no choice but to reveal himself in order to protect Brannigan fully. If only finally meeting Brannigan in person didn't also mean introducing him to his scrappy band of brothers. Kyou will do anything to keep Brannigan safe, even if it means unguarding his heart as well.

Thoughts: I'm a sucker for the opposites attract trope and I would say brilliant hacker falls for ex-mafia boss's son definitely fits within that category. Kyou and Brannigan's dynamic is hilarious and entertaining and you can't help but smile as you read their interactions. This is the third book in the Unholy Trifecta series, and the characters from the first two books do play major roles in this one, but it doesn't need to be read in order for the reader to understand the context. As alternate chapters are from Brannigan's point of view, and he must learn all the main characters' relationships to each other, the reader is given condensed versions of their stories. I'm usually not a fan of books that rely too heavily on previously introduced characters, but seeing Kyou's chosen family immediately welcome Brannigan into the fold while simultaneously giving him the 'If you hurt him, we'll hurt you' talk is endearing and hysterical. The entire book takes place over the course of about a week, but you really do feel the growing connection between Kyou and Brannigan and you believe that they would fall in love each other. The whole experience is wild and funny and utterly enjoyable.

Meet Cute: They've only met virtually when the story begins. Kyou has been calling Brannigan off and on for the past six years in order to warn him out of dangerous situations. Brannigan has been pushing to meet in person, but Kyou is reluctant.

Circumstances That Throw Them Together: After Brannigan, a successful real estate developer, begins buying up land belonging to the Irish mob, a price is put on his head. When Kyou notices, he's the only person close enough to warn Brannigan, which results in Kyou having to pick Brannigan up in person in order to get him to a safe house.

The Sizzle: Kyou's pretty much been in love with Brannigan from the beginning and over the course of the years they've been talking Brannigan has fallen for Kyou as well. Kyou has the advantage in that he actually knows what Brannigan looks like, but Brannigan makes it very clear once they meet that no matter the circumstances, they were going to end up dating. Brannigan is also great at using Kyou's aversion to talking about his feelings as a way to get Kyou to take better care of himself by giving him the option to either discuss their relationship or get more sleep. As soon as they're in the safe house, Brannigan takes it upon himself to make sure Kyou is as cared for as possible, and it's heartwarming and completely natural.

The First Kiss: It happens a few hours after they meet in person the first time, but it still feels like a long time coming.

Conflict: The main conflict of the book is actually external, as Brannigan, Kyou, and the rest of Kyou's family fight back against the mob and the assassins hired to kill Brannigan. There's a minor conflict between Brannigan and Kyou wherein Kyou is concerned that Brannigan's family won't like him because he's a criminal, but it's resolved pretty easily and is never anything that Brannigan is actually concerned about.

Love Confession: There actually isn't a specific confession scene. It's said later on in the book, but it's natural and easy and doesn't feel out of place at all, despite the fact that it's essentially been a week since they met.

Happily Ever After: The mob is defeated, Kyou meets the family, and Kyou and Brannigan finally get to go on vacation.

[recommendedbyrani]

Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall

Summary: Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go. (goodreads).

Thoughts: I know I'm late to the party and not saying anything revolutionary on this one since this book came out months ago and was widely well received, but this genuinely was one of my favorite reads of 2020. I will admit that it was at times a little difficult to be in Luc's point of view for the entire book as his low self esteem was sometimes a difficult headspace to be in constantly, but the author does a great job of balancing that darkness with Luc's hilarious wit. I really enjoyed the relationship between Luc and Oliver. They were good foils for each other and brought out the best in each other, with Oliver helping Luc to grow up and take charge of his own life while Luc helped Oliver relax and realize that he doesn't need to be perfect to be loved. I'm also a sucker for the fake relationship trope and the opposites attract trope, so combining them so flawlessly was always going to be thumbs up from me.

Meet Cute: The first time Oliver and Luc officially meet is recounted briefly by Luc in which we're told that they were at mutual friend's party and someone assumed they were a couple and Oliver was absolutely disgusted at the thought. We discover later that Luc's assessment of Oliver's disgust was not at all accurate.

Circumstances That Throw Them Together: After yet another tabloid scandal, Luc's boss tells him he has one more chance to clean up his act or he'll have to find a new job. A coworker suggests that dating someone nice and normal would do the trick, and thus Luc is set up on a date with Oliver by a mutual friend. The date swings between being a complete disaster to being almost good.

The waiter returned and, while I sat in sulky silence, Oliver placed our order. The whole experience was slightly strange, since I still hadn't figured out how demeaning I should be finding it. I definitely wouldn't have wanted it to happen regularly. But there was also some pathetic, lonely part of me that enjoyed being so publicly possessed. Especially by a man like Oliver Blackwood. It felt perilously close being worth something.

The entire first date is infused with a perfect amount of awkward tension and we're also treated to Luc's hysterical inner musings as he realizes that he hasn't figured out how to handle Oliver.

He was never going to call me Lucien again was he? He was going to respect my wishes like some kind of arsehole.

The Sizzle:  Luc admits from the very beginning that Oliver is attractive - not that he'd ever say it out loud.

Oliver was much as I remembered him: a cool, clean, modern-art piece of a man entitled 'Disapproval in Pinstripes'.

Luc had always thought Oliver was out of his league, but he comes to the conclusion that it's more true that he realized a little too late.

Fuck. I wanted to lick him.

Double fuck. I suddenly realized I could never ever take my clothes off in front of this man.

"What's the matter now?" asked Oliver. "And where can I put my shirt?"

"I…I…I'll find you a hanger." And some kind of, I don't know, beekeeping outfit for me. Something nicely covering.

The First Kiss: After realizing that their first date didn't go particularly well, Luc makes a desperate to keep Oliver interested, which Oliver immediately fends off. It's only when Luc explains his predicament that Oliver agrees to be his fake boyfriend. And although Luc got what he wanted, it's clear he would have been happy with slightly more.

In his zeal to get away, Oliver collided with one of the potted plants outside the restaurant, just about managing to grab it before it came crashing down. Which basically meant he'd spent more time voluntarily touching a ficus than he had me.

Conflict: There's not really one event that serves as the main conflict of the story, but more just an overall lack of communication and low self esteem on both sides. Luc doesn't think he deserves someone like Oliver and doesn't understand why Oliver would want to be with him, so he sabotages their relationship before it can go anywhere. What's funny is that's almost exactly the same reason that Oliver self sabotages.

Love Confession: Despite all obstacles, Luc and Oliver do eventually get their shit together and admit their feelings.

Happily Ever After: My one critique would be that I wish the book was longer or the ending was more fleshed out. There's multiple chapters before Luc and Oliver finally get together for real of just pure lack of communication. I don't mind this in the end because we do get the happy ending eventually, but the book essentially stops immediately after they're finally on the same page and we don't get to see any of what their relationship is like now that everything is out in the open. I would have loved an epilogue or a couple more chapters of relationship fluff, but that doesn't deter from the fact that the rest of the book is hilarious and adorable.

[recommendedbyrani]

Here Comes the Flood by Kate McMurray

Summary: Two years ago, Olympic swimmer Isaac Flood hit rock bottom when he was arrested for a DUI. Now a year and a half sober and out of retirement, Isaac is determined to prove that his stellar performance at the Olympic trials wasn't just a flash in the pan and that he deserves his title as one of the most decorated Olympic swimmers of all time. Tim Swan is the reigning gold medalist in diving, and is back to prove that he didn't just get lucky four years ago, but all the press seem to want to know about his recent breakup with a famous television star. Both avoiding the press and trying to focus on their sports, Isaac and Tim find comfort in each other amid the chaos, revelry, and competition of the Olympics. But is sixteen days enough time to build something that will last, or is their relationship destined to end at the Closing Ceremony?

Thoughts: This entire book takes place over the course of 16 days at the Olympics, and I was a little wary going in because it's usually hard for me to find a romance that blossoms in such a short amount of time to be believable, but the author did an amazing job of making the progression of Tim and Isaac's feelings for each other seem natural and unhurried. They go from acquaintances to friends to lovers over the course of about two days, but the deep connection is felt from the beginning. It truly does seem like Isaac is the only person is the world who could possibly understand what Tim is going through and vice versa. I don't know enough about alcoholism to know whether the depiction of Isaac's addiction is accurate, but the author does seem to handle the topic sensitively. It's never glamorized or made light of, but portrayed as a part of Isaac's life that he's handling one day at a time.

Meet Cute: Tim and Isaac run into each other in the Aquatic Center locker room as their leaving their respective practices a few days before the opening ceremonies. They're both aware of each other as both have won medals previously, but they'd never spoken before.

"Tim had long thought Isaac Flood was sexy, but seeing him now, he realized he'd had no idea."

The Sizzle: They're attracted to each other from the very beginning, but they're both hesitant to start a physical relationship in fear that it might affect their performance in their respective sports. Still, they acknowledge that the attraction is there and decide to add some incentive to do well.

"Tell you what. First one of us to win a medal names the time and place."

I appreciate that the possibility of being more than friends is talked about so openly and without any drama. They acknowledge the attraction and come up with a plan to do something about it without any sort of long winded miscommunication. The actual getting together doesn't happen until a few days later, but it's definitely worth the wait.

Circumstances That Throw Them Together: Tim is avoiding gatherings because he doesn't want the press asking him about his recent breakup and Isaac is avoiding anywhere that might have alcohol. As it's Isaac's fourth Olympics, his coach managed to snag him a single room, and thus they find their hang out spot.

The First Kiss: It happens on day two, which is pretty early in terms of most relationship timelines, but I do like that there's no bullshit about it. Tim wants to kiss Isaac, so he does and Isaac isn't mad about it.

"I suppose we can be the sort of friends who make out sometimes."

Conflict: The conflict that brings everything to a head and forces Tim and Isaac to reveal their feelings involves the return of Tim's ex-fiance. It's over pretty quickly and I actually liked that it wasn't drawn out and Tim never second guesses himself once when he turns his ex away.

Love Confession: The confession happens at the very end of the book, as expected. They both acknowledge that it's insane that they fell in love in two and a half weeks, but as a reader, you never doubt that the feelings are sincere.

Happily Ever After: The epilogue is probably the only part that I wish was slightly different. It takes place at the next Olympics and ends how I expected, but it's a lot of telling about the state of Tim and Isaac's relationship rather than having a scene where they actually interact. Still, I am glad that they end of up happy because they both definitely deserve it.

[recommendedbyrani]

Project Hero by Briar Prescott

Summary: Andy Carter is used to feeling like the sidekick. Nerdy, awkward, and completely unremarkable, he's not the kind of guy that anyone looks at twice. But this is the summer that changes. He's finally going get up the nerve to tell his best friend, Falcon, that he's been in love with him for years. Andy just doesn't know where to start. Luckily, hockey god Law Anderson has a plan. Law needs Andy to tutor his hockey team in physics and in return, Law will help Andy become the man of Falcon's dreams. It seems like a simple enough proposal, but the more time Andy and Law spend together, the more Andy starts to wonder where his heart truly lies.

Thoughts: This book had me smiling so big while I was reading. The banter between Andy and Law is hilarious and had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. It sounds weird to say about the main couple in a romance, but I appreciate how much they genuinely like each other right from the very beginning, even though the feelings didn't turn romantic until the middle. I've often found in books that involve makeovers in order to win someone's heart, the person helping with the makeover will suddenly realize their attraction only after the person getting made over has made some changes (i.e. the girl takes off her glasses and the guy realizes she's pretty). Law likes Andy just the way he is from the very beginning and only offers to help with the makeover because it's what Andy wants, not because Law thinks he needs it.

"Andy was helping me with something."

"Helping?" Falcon asks, confused now. "With what?" He looks between me and Andy and frowns. "Andy sucks at sports."

Andy's face falls flat at that, and I raise my brows because even if Andy doesn't happen to be as athletic as Asola and I are, I wouldn't dismiss everything else Andy has to offer.

I also liked the fact that there was no unnecessary hostility or stereotyping used to underscore the jock/nerd dynamic. Law and Andy don't start of hating each other for no apparent reason. Law and Andy are just two guys with seemingly nothing in common that find they enjoy spending time together.

"For whatever reason, I enjoy the exchanges with this smart-mouthed guy. I like how genuine he is. People aren't usually that honest in how they present themselves to the world. We all have masks we put on when we're dealing with each other. Not Andy. He's as authentic as they come."

Meet Cute: Law steals Andy's study seat in the library and adorable banter ensues.

"There's an unwritten understanding that there are some seats that are always taken." I point to the one that Law is using. "That's one of them."

Law's smile widens. "That seems unfair. How am I supposed to know about this nonverbal, non-written agreement?"

Circumstances That Throw Them Together:  Law is an assistant coach on the hockey team and needs Andy to tutor a few members of his team in physics so they can remain eligible to play. Andy is initially resistant to the idea, but after Law becomes aware of Andy's crush on Falcon and offers to help Andy get his guy, Andy reluctantly agrees to tutor. Unfortunately, Andy has a deep fear of public speaking and can't tutor all seven of the hockey players at the same time, so they come up with a solution where Andy teaches everything to Law and then Law tutors the team. And thus begin the study sessions.

The Sizzle: For Law, his attraction to Andy starts as just enjoying the banter between them, he's not really thinking of Andy as anything more than a person he likes spending time with. But the more time they spend together, the more Law seems to realize that his feelings aren't platonic.

"Andy you have nothing to worry about. You never did. Asola, he'll be lucky to have someone like you in his life because…you're perfect. You've always been perfect."

Andy admits up front that Law is physically attractive, but he's determined that he's in love with Falcon, so whatever he feels for Law has to be friendship, right?

"And now I kind of miss Law. No. Definitely not miss. That would be ridiculous. I just wish he was here. It's not like I'm pining for him. But Law and I have a lot of fun, and with him here, I wouldn't feel so out of place. Right. That's the version I'm sticking to."

The First Kiss: It doesn't happen until over halfway through the book, but it's definitely worth the wait.

"I think I could fall on my head and wake up with a coma two years later with amnesia so bad that I couldn't remember who I was, but this kiss would surely stay with me."

Conflict: There really isn't a main conflict besides Law and Andy's lack of communication of their feelings. Law has been falling in love with Andy the whole time, but assumes Andy is in love with Falcon.

"You two are perfect together."

Somebody shoot me.

"Practically childhood sweethearts."

I'm going to puke.

"He's going to be happy about this."

And I will want to die.

"It's time, Andy," I say firmly, and finally, he nods.

Huh.

I guess now I know what heartbreak feels like.

Andy, on the other hand, doesn't really know what he's feeling until he attempts to confess his feelings to Falcon and it ends in disaster. I do appreciate that it isn't overly dramatic and that Andy and Falcon's friendship isn't at all changed by the fact that Andy confesses his love to the wrong person.

Falcon shrugs one shoulder. "No biggie. At least now I know what it'd feel like to kiss my own brother, so I guess thanks for the experience? I mean, as an only child, how would I have known otherwise?"

Love Confession: It involves a slide presentation and a metaphor involving magnets. It's adorable.

"I find myself strangely attracted to you," Andy says with a shrug. Then he winces. "Shit. That was the wrong one. Umm. Soul mates attract each other like magnets?" he says like he's not sure of himself. Then he scrunches his nose. "Man, that sounds even cheesier than it did when I practiced it. Dammit, I'm fucking it all up."

Happily Ever After: Law and Andy stop being idiots and admit how they feel.

How is this my life? It feels like a dream, but so much better because, as Andy squeezes my hand in his, I know that it's real.

[recommendedbyrani]

Bloom by Ruthie Luhnow

It doesn’t have to be anything. 

The words were swirling around in his brain like the dead leaves on the pavement around him, kicked up by the wind. A low voice in his mind warned him that this would end badly - Rory knew he wasn’t built for anything casual, like what he’d offered Milo. But he wanted Milo.

 And if this was the only way he could have him, so be it.

[recommendedbyrani]

The Last Thing He Needs by J.H. Knight

It was all wrapped up in Bobby. He was the music, he was the dream, he was the love, and he was the hope. Tommy O’Shea finally understood.

[recommendedbyrani]

Wolfsong by TJ Klune

He said, “It’s you. I would always choose you. I don’t care if it’s a biological imperative. I don’t care if it’s some destiny. I don’t care if you were made specifically for me. It doesn’t matter. Because I would choose you regardless.

[recommendedbyrani]

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

If I get hurt, I get hurt. It happens, right? Someone always gets hurt. But I don’t want to miss out on us because I was afraid.”

[recommendedbyrani]

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Every face-off he had taken against Rozanov, the Russian had looked him dead in the eye and smirked. Shane was not easily shaken by anyone, but that goddamn smirk threw him off balance every time. 

Maybe it was just that, after a life of playing at level above everyone else, Shane had finally met his match. 

He was sure that was all it was.

[recommendedbyrani]

The Hard Count by Ginger Scott

“Look at me like you expect more. Look at me like it isn’t going to be easy.” Nico breathes the words against my lips, pausing when his bottom lip connects with my top, the faintness of the touch so much better than any other real kiss I’ve had. “Make me earn it,” he says, pausing again to take my top lip between both of his. “I’ll earn it. I’ll never stop trying to earn it...to earn you.”

[arrowingon]

read in 2019 - red, white & royal blue by casey mcquiston

“Thinking about history makes me wonder how I’ll fit into it one day, I guess. And you too. I kinda wish people still wrote like that. History, huh? Bet we could make some.”

[recommendedbyrani]

Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Summary: Alex Claremont-Diaz is the President’s son, which practically makes him American royalty. And naturally means his arch nemesis is none other than Prince Henry, the youngest grandson of the current queen of England. Alex knows his duties as the First Son means he’s forced to engage in unpleasant social situations, but when a confrontation between him and the prince at the royal wedding ends up in the tabloids, he’s also forced to make amends. As his mother begins her campaign for reelection, Alex must engage in some damage control, which means faking a public friendship with the prince. But when their fake civility takes a turn towards a real romance, they both must decide if being together is worth changing the course of history.

Thoughts: This book had me smiling from the get go. It’s written in third person, but the reader is only privy to Alex’s point of a view, which means we’re privy to all his tangential rants, which are so much fun to read. He has an opinion on everything and is always ready with a witty retort that can’t help but make you laugh. The romance is also adorable. This book is fairly long, so Alex isn’t even aware of the potential for a romantic relationship until about 30% of the way in, but despite the fact that you’re only hearing Alex’s side of the story, the author is great about dropping hints as to Henry’s true feelings. I’m a sucker for romances which involve royalty and ones which take place in contemporary settings are even better, so I knew from the get go I was going to enjoy this book. Royal romances often seem a bit fantastical to me, probably because the entire concept of ever interacting with anyone royal is so out of my realm of possibility, so I enjoyed the fact that it was somewhat realistic that two high profile people would end up falling for each other. The only thing that did feel somewhat unrealistic to me is the fact that Alex and Henry, who are in their early twenties (21/22/23), write each other romantic emails where they quote historical figures at each other. I don’t know any men in their early twenties who do this, but then again, it’s entirely possible that it is something that occurs. That being said, the book is so good that I don’t really mind the sappiness. 

The Meet Cute: When the book begins, Alex considers Henry to be ‘as compelling as a wet ball of yarn’. This assessment is primarily due to the fact that the last encounter they had at the Olympics in Rio was less than warm. By Alex’s recollection, he tried to be friendly and Henry snubbed him. 

“There are a few things about Alex and June that new White House hires are briefed on before they start. June’s peanut allergy. Alex’s frequent middle-of-the-night requests for coffee. June’s college boyfriend, who broke up with her when he moved to California but is still the only person whose letters come to her directly. Alex’s long-standing grudge against the youngest prince.”

Ever since, they’ve carefully avoided each other, until they’re forced to interact again at the wedding of Henry’s older brother. What starts as an argument ends in a toppled cake and tabloid headlines.

The Circumstances That Throw Them Together: In order to ease international relations while his mother begins her bid for reelection, Alex agrees to fake a public friendship with Henry. He assumes the weekend of hanging out and getting conveniently photographed will be dull, but he ends up enjoying the prince’s company more than he anticipated and it isn’t long before they’ve exchanged numbers and are on the way to becoming actual friends. 

The Sizzle: It’s interesting that you as the reader figure out that Alex is attracted to Henry before he realizes it himself. This is a technique that’s often used in romance novels, but the fact that it’s framed from Alex’s point of view as annoyances rather than endearing qualities makes the reader’s knowledge of the attraction all the more enjoyable to read.

“And there Henry is, in the flesh, as classically handsome as ever in his tailored three-piece suit, all tousled sandy hair and high cheekbones and a soft friendly mouth. He holds himself with innately impeccable posture, as if he emerged fully formed and upright out of some beautiful Buckingham Palace posy garden one day. His eyes lock on Alex’s and something like annoyance or adrenaline spikes in Alex’s chest. He hasn’t had a conversation with Henry in probably a year. His face is still infuriatingly symmetrical.”

Alex and Henry’s slow and steady ascent from reluctant acquaintances to actual friends is told through a mixture of text messages, emails, and phone calls and is hilarious to read. The author is able to convey Henry and Alex’s personalities in a way which is entertaining as well as informative. 

i hate that tie.

HRH Prince Dickhead: What tie?

the one in the instagram you just posted.

HRH Prince Dickhead: What’s wrong with it? It’s only grey.

exactly. try patterns sometime, and stop frowning at your phone like i know you’re doing rn

HRH Prince Dickhead: Patterns are considered a ‘statement’. Royals aren’t supposed to make statements with what we wear.

do it for the ‘gram

HRH Prince Dickhead: You are the thistle in the tender and sensitive arse crack of my life. 

thanks!

The Kiss: The first kiss happens as a result of Henry valiantly trying and failing to communicate his attraction to Alex and the meaning of his words completely going over Alex’s head. The kiss catches Alex by surprise, but afterwards he has a hard time forgetting about it and decides the best course of action is to confront Henry head on and at least try to continue whatever they started.

The Love Confession: It’s interesting that the story structure has the grand confession of love before the main conflict, as the formula for most romances has the love declaration be what resolves the major conflict between the main characters. The realization that he’s in love with Henry doesn’t really sneak up on Alex, he just comes to accept it and it’s beautiful.

“June plucks away at “Annie’s Song,” and the breeze keeps moving to meet the highest branches of the trees, and the water keeps rising to meet the bulkheads, and Henry leans down to meet Alex’s mouth, and Alex is...well, Alex is so in love he could die.”

The Conflict: At it’s core, the conflict is one which is used often in same-sex romance novels: reluctance to come out due to the potential consequences. However, because of the positioning of the two main characters as such massively public figures, the weight of this conflict is much heavier. Their relationship has the potential to change the course of world history and international politics and that’s definitely something that they both have to take into consideration. Alex not as much as Henry, who is bound by centuries of tradition. I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t just gloss over how their relationship becoming public would play out and had them sit down and discuss what their future would realistically look like if they were to be a couple in the public eye. 

The Happy Ending: In the end, they decide that what they have is worth dealing with the fallout. They acknowledge that there’s obstacles to overcome, but that doesn’t mean their relationship isn’t worth it. 

“Henry’s looking back at him, beautiful and vital and heartsick and still, always, the person Alex is willing to risk ruining his life for. ‘I hate this so much. I know. But we’re gonna do it together. And we’re gonna make it work. You and me and history, remember? We’re just gonna fucking fight. Because you’re it, okay? I’m never gonna love anybody in the world like I love you.’“