A Gentle Way to Love

Ways to Love #1

by Abrianna Denae

They were never supposed to meet, then tragedy strikes, throwing them in each other’s paths.

Blaise Thompson had everything he always wanted: A soulmate, a daughter, and the person he spent more than half his life with. When the foundation of his life cracks after the death of one of his partners, he’s left adrift, relying on his husband and his new friendship with Grant to get him through.

Grant Davis-Wilde's unconventional upbringing taught him to never settle, except his insecurities and anxiety prevented him from making meaningful connections. When he loses the one person who understood, he finds himself alone in the tragedy until Blaise and his husband offer a lifeline he desperately needs.

Sawyer Thompson would do anything for his husband, including inviting the man they were never supposed to meet into their lives so Blaise can have someone else to lean on. What he doesn’t expect is to feel drawn to the gorgeous, hurting man.

In the wake of their shared heartbreak, Blaise and Grant cling to one another, finding safety and connection they never expected, but neither hesitates to grab with both hands. And Sawyer finds himself falling head over heels for Grant, the other man filling pieces Sawyer didn't know he was missing. But grief isn’t easy, and with every step forward, there are two steps back.

Grant desperately wants to be a part of the unique family Blaise and Sawyer come with, but his past insecurities won't allow him to believe he can have what they're offering. In the end, it'll take Blaise's understanding and friendship, and Sawyer's quiet and gentle way of loving to ensure all three get the ending they deserve.

Genres: M M Romance, Polyamory, M M M, Grief, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Romance

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2023

About the author

Abrianna Denae is a queer author living in Northern California. An English major, they have always had a passion for writing.
Deciding to sit down and write one of the many stories that had plagued their mind for years was the easy part—finding the time to do it was a different story.
Caffeine is their best friend, and sleep is their worst enemy.
A lover of books that make the reader feel something, Abrianna tries to incorporate as much of their real-world views and feelings into their stories as they can.

Reviews

[True Loveislovereview]

This is one of those stories I just want to review as less as possible, it’s an experience and you should experience it yourself.
The author created a beautiful story with a wide poly representation. Different from what I expected and happy to be surprised.
A quite emotional story, where we can find grief, joy, family matters, friendship, love, bonds, and again love!!

At first, I started writing this review by explaining the relationships between the characters but stopped, I think it’s maybe a bit too complicated to put it down in a simple summary. Above that it’s way better to discover and experience it yourself.
Read the blurb to get just a little impression.

Blaise and Grant need each other in their grief, a friendship is blooming, and also Sawyer and Grant are bonding. This is just the tip of the iceberg, I’m also stopping here. It’s so so much more, read it yourself!

Their joined journey is emotional, realistic, gentle, loving, and thoughtful, and runs in a comfortable natural way, there’s so much love and respect, I think the keywords are honesty and communication.
This story gave me a huge insight into the different poly dynamics, I learned a lot and found it absolutely wonderful and liberating.
The author did an amazing job, very impressively written. Applause!

[Scarlett]

I always tell myself I'll write a short review, but I guess that's not in the cards at all when Abrianna Denae is involved. However, I WILL try to be brief and spoiler-free this time as well.

What can I say - I love a good story, I love even more when from the first page I am sucked into the story and cannot put it down. For my eyes to close, and for me to keep reading, because I simply CANNOT stop at the most interesting.

Well, you can already guess that this book was just like that. An added bonus was that it makes for a polyamory relationship.

I read it in one sitting, but it took me a while to make sense of everything and be able to give my rating. At first I was thrown into deep waters. The occasion for which the main characters met was not a good one. I was able to feel their pain as if it were mine. And this, in my opinion, is a job well done by the author!

During the development of the story, there was everything - tension, surprises, happiness, sadness, tears ... so many emotions intertwined and passed through our main characters - Grant, Blaise and Sawyer.

I guess it will take me a while to choose my favorite. All three were charming in their own way. (On the second re-read I will add!)

I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Ay]

This was a bit frustrating.

I wish she had showed someone the draft and received the response: "this is great. now do a rewrite where you show what you want to say through the points of views of clearly defined interesting characters living polyamory".

Everyone is garrulous and preachy at each other saying things like "it's okay for you to feel this way right now and I am here for you" etc etc etc all the time at each other.

Romance is character driven. We, romance readers, have to connect to the characters and their lives and stories to connect with the romance and enjoy it.

So I was a bit disappointed.

[Molly Otto]

Open poly done beautifully

Abri has done something that I wish other authors were able to do. They enlightened me on a lifestyle that I didn't quite get before. They show the reader so many different aspects of how a heart can open to love, from platonic to soul defining.
This book begins with the loss of a partner who kept the relationships separate, but with her passing, these men get to meet and help the other move on to a different place. Sawyer and Grant have that undeniable chemistry from first meeting, and Blaise (Sawyers husband, Cindy's other partner) sparks a friendship with a kindred spirit in Grant, who with the passing of Cindy is left alone. Absolutely adored the slow build-up of all these relationships to show we all grieve and love differently. Thank you, Abri, for bringing this type of lifestyle into the literary world. we need more inclusion of all types of relationships to show love is love, in all shapes and forms.

[C. Gray]

This was a beautiful, emotional story that grabbed me from the very beginning. Even though my nose is red right now I truly loved every second of this story. This story is about love, loss and finding where you truly belong. 🖤🔥💙🔥🖤

[Grayson Mott-Morin]

I'm going to be honest here. When I first received an advanced copy of this book to review, I chickened out of reading it for weeks. I first learned about Abrianna Denae when I read their previous book 'All I Want', which was sooo good and I knew that if this book were anything like that one, my heart would go through the wringer. But I regret putting it off now that I've finished the book.

I'm a big fan of books that have Poly representation in them, especially gay ones. I've never been one to live up to "societal expectations" and I love books that show relationships that do not as well. The problem with some books with gay or bisexual male Poly representation, however, is that they often only show certain sides of it and it often feels like a "why choose" type of book. It doesn't showcase the struggles of being Poly or what your feelings are about being Poly. This book did not feel like that to me. It felt like I was reading a book that had Poly representation that felt real and not a made-up scenario.

The way that the author didn't just give us insight into the budding friendships and relationships between Blaise, Grant, and Sawyer, but also highlighted Grant's parents' relationships and Blaise and Sawyers' other relationships/friendships made it feel like I was listening to my friends tell me about their lives. They didn't feel like characters in a book. They felt like living, breathing people navigating new feelings while still grieving a loved one. I felt Blaise and Sawyer's hurt every time Daley yelled at them or refused to go home. I felt the crushing anxiety Grant had every time he thought he was going against Cindy's wishes or when Grant and Sawyer didn't text him. I felt the love and acceptance every time Blaise and Sawyer's, and now Grant's, unique family got together.

I was absolutely in love with this book. I felt it perfectly portrayed how unique Poly relationships are and can be. I wish I could forget the whole book just so that I can relive those feelings for the first time again. For now, I'll settle for reading this book over and over again until I memorize every detail. I absolutely can't wait for the other books in the series. I have a feeling I will love it just as much, laugh just as hard, and feel represented accurately again.

I am internally screaming at myself for not highlighting more of the book but I thought I would share the two parts I did highlight. Arguably, they were some of the most important parts to remember from the whole book, in my opinion.

'It's different being polyamorous, yes, but I'm still human. Just because I have the capacity to love more than one person at a time, doesn't mean I can switch the love on or off.'

"You know rationally that there's more than one way to love a person, and your capacity to love another doesn't diminish what you felt for Cindy. Or what you feel for me."

[J.L.]

I joke that I read polyamory romances because you get more relationships for the price of one, but the reality is that I truly enjoy the intricacies that can develop out of the traditional storyline arc when three (or more) people are involved. The general premise of this book was entirely novel to me, as my experience so far has mostly been with stories about relationships that are more closed, which just proves how important this story is to the representation of so many people’s actual reality. The specific way in which Grant comes into Blaise and Sawyer’s lives is a compelling bit of storytelling that had me hooked from the beginning, though I pretty immediately enjoyed all of the characters in their own right.

These characters growing closer despite the original intentions of their deceased partner makes for an interesting conflict that underpins the shared trauma of their grief. Denae deftly balances the respect the characters have for their former lover while honoring the that the healing process is different for everyone and that new connections can bloom because, or despite how, time moves on. I enjoyed that the new relationships that develop between these three men are not necessarily the same but still equal in importance, and I was also pleasantly surprised that the more “traditional” romance arc occurs between the two men I did not initially expect.

The overarching themes of this story that I hope will continue through the series mean that these characters don’t live in a vacuum. There’s an important emphasis on a found family of strong external friendships developed because of the polyam lifestyle, not despite it. I loved the quiet affection and support for all “branches” of the family, and though sometimes I felt like I needed a chart, the way they incorporated acknowledgment of the various connections in their lives felt completely natural.

Mental health representation is becoming more frequent in this genre as important character attributes rather than tropes or plot points. This book features excellent examples of characters with differing levels/types of anxiety, but what I appreciated even more was how Denae highlights the nuances that can also come from a character who loves and cares for those with mental health issues.

The progress of this story is as gentle as the title indicates but never dragged. No single dark moment occurs, just the ongoing real-life efforts of recovering from grief and building new relationships. I look forward to revisiting these characters as this series progresses, especially since the polyam elements mean I know I can look forward to being continuously and pleasantly surprised along the way.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

[Kaje Harper]

I really enjoy polyamory and stories with an open relationship and this one ticked all the boxes. Blaise and Grant were both the separate partners of a woman whom they each loved, but who never wanted them to meet. Grant has limited other friendships and no other partner, but Blaise is also married to Sawyer and they are coparenting Blaise's young daughter with that woman, since motherhood was not something she ever wanted. Their marriage is open, and Sawyer has another guy he's been with since college. Who also has a partner. The web of the interconnected mostly-male polycule has been working well until the woman abruptly dies.

At her funeral, Blaise and Grant meet for the first time. They can empathize with each other more than anyone else there, and yet, it's awkward because she never wanted them together, liking her love-life kept in neat boxes. Now they have met, they find solace in each other and a kinship that turns to friendship. Sawyer, who is a warm-hearted guy, begins supporting Grant as well as Blaise, and finds to his surprise that he's attracted to Grant. Blaise is fine with it, but as Sawyer and Grant become closer, Blaise discovers he wishes he was more than just Grant's shared-loss friend too.

This story is a bit idealized, as several couples, triads, and their friends and lovers and partners work out a pattern of love - sexual and platonic - and supportive friendship. The lack of fights and arguments and jealousies and difficulties is a little unrealistic for this many interlinked individuals. I felt the young daughter got a bit of short shrift, as she struggled with losing a mother who had strong ideas and yet had been distant from her. Having her prefer to stay at her grandparents' was convenient in allowing the guys to construct their new relationships more easily, but seemed a bit too hands-off particularly for Sawyer. But as it stands, the story is a lovely exploration of all the different ways people can love when they don't put limits or mundane expectations on themselves or their partners.

I appreciated a vocabulary list, some of which I hadn't heard. The men were all different, all interesting, and the triad they built, while open, was deeply loving and affirming for each of them. I liked the way polyamory here was not mostly about sex, but about friendship and found family and supportive networks. I appreciated the anxiety rep and the inclusion of therapy, medications, and the work needed to find better mental health. The story is generally low-key-angst with forward momentum despite beginning with loss, which makes it a contender for a comfort read.

If you are interested in polyamory and open relationships, give this one a try.

[Katriana]

As the headline for this review suggests I've never read a book quite like this before. I've read other books that have been mmm+ but I've never read something that's been written and composed like this one.

I'm really glad that Abrianna put a page where there was explanations of different terms that were used throughout the book, cause I've never heard of a lot of these terms and that page really helped me understand what they meant. I had never heard of all of the different varieties of polyamorous relationships before I read this book, I was educated while reading this incredible story, and I loved that! I love when an author can gently educate you on topics you weren't knowledgeable in. And now I know things I didn't know previously.

Besides getting educated on topics i didn't know, the writing for this was was phenomenal! The characters are all going through their own types of grief, they are all grieving. And the other made sure to express the fact that everyone grieves in their own way, there is no right or wrong to how you feel after losing someone. And that's really important. I'm so happy the author took such a heavy and serious topic and wrote it so well, and had so many important messages sprinkled throughout the story.

The characters themselves were incredible! Yes, there were a lot of character to keep track of, but this book was written so well that it didn't get confusing. It made sense to have those characters be where they were. I loved all of the characters, their personalities were incredible! I'm really glad I was able to read this incredible book, featuring these amazing characters; Blaise, Sawyer, Grant, Daley, Graham, Eric, Evan, Logan, and Vincent. The messages were really poignant and well written.

*I received an early copy of this book and this is my honest review.*

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews)]

Blaise loses one of his longtime partners, leaving him shattered and leaning on his husband, Sawyer, and an unexpected new friendship with Grant to survive the grief. Grant, raised in an unconventional but unstable environment, is left completely alone after his own loss — until Blaise and Sawyer reach out and offer him the support he desperately needs. What begins as comfort in shared tragedy grows into something deeper: Blaise and Grant form a powerful bond, and Sawyer finds himself unexpectedly drawn to Grant as well. As the three men navigate grief, healing, and the slow rebuilding of trust, Grant struggles to believe he deserves a place in their loving, established family. With Blaise’s steady understanding and Sawyer’s gentle devotion, they work toward creating a future where all three of them can belong.

I loved that this story was steeped in grief, and the emotional weight carried by Grant, Blaise, and Daley was beautifully, painfully rendered. Each of them is shattered in different ways, and the book never shied away from showing how loss reshapes them. What makes it so moving is the quiet strength Sawyer brings to all of it — he becomes the steady centre holding everyone together, even while his own heart is breaking. Amid the sorrow, there’s also a profound sense of love. It surrounds them in different forms: the long‑standing devotion between Blaise and Sawyer, the fragile new bond forming with Grant, and the way shared heartbreak slowly becomes shared healing. The tenderness woven through their connections makes this a deeply emotional and ultimately hopeful read. This was an MM+ story with mature content.

[Antu]

So, context lol.
I just finished reading A Gentle Way to Love by Abrianna Denae and ran so fast to look up their website for the next books in the series...
The screenshot says it all lmao.
Dw, I'm not trying to rush the author. I just finally read a book with a family like the family I dream of and have never once believed is possible for me. It kinda breaks my heart in a million pieces but also makes me feel hope (also painful goddamnit) and just feels me with more joy than I can handle.
And these characters I sweart to god. The whole ass polycule, jesus christ my heart. I need aaaaall of their stories and like a million more.
Anyway, that's it! So this is me *HIGHLY recommending "A Gentle Way to Love"* and begging for more lol.

[Julie]

I had no idea that I would learn so much about Polyamorous love when I started reading this book. I will admit that it took me most of the book to figure out all of the different ins and outs of each of the different couples multiple relationships and how if there is love fan trust they can all ebb and flow naturally. The three men win the book meet after the unexpected tragic death of a loved one that two of the men are dating simultaneously and one of them has an 11 year old daughter with this lady.

There are lots of emotions involved and a chemistry that forms between the mc's and they all work very hard at being there for each other whilst they are grieving. Everyone grieves differently and in this case it brought them closer with the main point being the love they had for their deceased lover.

I like how the story was told, how it explained each of the many different relationships within the group of characters and how they all accepted each other and were one big family found. It was my first time reading such a story and I enjoyed the experience.

[Mari Cardenas]

4.25 Stars!

I've mentioned that I've recently lost my mom, and this book deals with the loss of a partner, so it was quite a difficult read for me. 

Grant and Sawyer are married to each other, but at the same time, they're each in a relationship with someone else. When Cindy, Blaise's partner and the mother of his daughter, suddenly dies, he's left adrift, and the same happens to Grant. Blaise and Sawyer feel a pull toward Grant and Grant feels the same way about them. Could it be that Grant is what's been missing in Blaise and Sawyer's life all this time?

This was such a different take on polyamory than I've ever read. It was eye-opening, to say the least. Grant, Blaise, and Sawyer were all likable and I really liked them together. Grant seemed to fit well with Blaise and Sawyer despite them not knowing each other before Cindy's death. 

Overall, a very well-written, enjoyable, emotional read that I have no trouble recommending. 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Michelle]

It took me awhile to finish this book, having to go back to the terminology page to find out what was being said. Also new characters would just pop up so there was figuring out who they were and where and who they belonged to in the relationship, romantically. Even through the confusion the love and care between the characters shown brightly but Abrianna Denae has always been good at that. It can seem daunting at times but stick with it until the end. The time and effort will be worth it in the end.

Abrianna Denae once again writing some of my favorite quotes!
"At the end of the day, love is love is love, no matter what that looks like to you." ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
“I’m not going anywhere, I’m here with you . For always." 🥰❤️
”My heart might be broken, but it’s not irreparable. This man in bed with me right now is holding my fractured pieces in his hands, and showing me that I don’t have to be perfectly intact to be loved by him." 😍🥰❤️

I am leaving my honest review for a complimentary copy of this book via the author.

[Angel]

If you want to read a story that will make you feel every emotion possible, that will put your heart through the wringer and then sooth it with so much love, compassion, and acceptance...then this is the book for you. It is written so beautifully, full of raw emotions that you will feel even to your soul.
Each character had their own personality, emotions, and ideas but were all intricately connected by different types of true unconditional love. The type of bonds may have been different between the characters but each one was equally important and supported.
Blaise, Sawyer, and Grant did make me cry but their journey to happiness and love was worth every tear and heart ache. And I cannot wait to read more and continue fill up my heart with so many beautiful emotions.

[RN]

I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s beautifully written and I quickly got involved in the story and cared about the characters. I did find it hard to keep track of all the different relationships – who was with who and what sort of relationship they had – but that just added another dimension to the story (& expanded my understanding of polyamory). Grief is the underlying constant in the story, as it’s what brings the main characters together, and it’s referred to throughout most of the book, so I wouldn’t have wanted to read this while sad. Also, I think the title of the book is very accurate reflection of how everyone treats each other in the story. A very worthwhile read.

[Demetra Roussakis]

This is not the first book that I have by this author, but this is the first book I have read that gives a great description of the different kinds of polyamory relationships. This book starts with Blaise and Sawyer meeting Grant for the first time. Both Grant and Blaise were not supposed to meet as the one they both had a relationship with didn’t want that. Both Grant and Blaise suffered a devastating loss and the way they tried to overcome was so sad to read. As they started getting closer, feelings for each other started. I loved this; great chemistry and world building with lots of heat. I cannot wait to read what happens next.

[Cori Samuel]

Lovely open poly romance/relationships story; maybe a bit too short for me and I'd've welcomed a little more 'slice of life' around the various relationships as they develop. But overall well-written and an enjoyable read.

Deals with a lot of grief over the course of the book, so not a fluffy time, but lovely in how it handles its characters and relationship development. Could standalone, but I hope there'll be more.

Useful definitions at the start, used throughout the story ... and note there's a character list at the end, which I didn't see until I got there. I mostly tracked who meant what to whom ... but a couple of later side characters I would have liked to check up on.

[Angel]

Being in the world that Abri creates with her writing is such a wonderful place to be. This is the first polyam book that I've ever read & she made it so comforting. That might not make sense but once you read the book, you'll understand. The title is such a true description of what you'll experience. You will need many tissues. The love that all of these characters have for each other & the way that they are truly there in the face of an unexpected loss is so heartwarming. I loved all the ways that each person had some sort of connection to one another, a truly loving family. 💜

[Belinda Zamora]

Beautiful and emotionally compelling

This was a gut wrenching love story amid the the tragedy of grieving.
The characters put me through an emotional rollercoaster while giving you the strength to grieve and love in your own way.
Grant comes into Blaise and Sawyer's life after losing a partner and amid their grieving process they find that Grant is the missing piece that didn't know they needed.
Watching them struggling to find peace and love together was heartbreaking and so worth the effort for their HEA.

[FHR]

Having been through loss, Grant, Blaise and Sawyer are experiencing different stages of grief.
Coming into each other’s lives is unexpected but their common thread of grief allows them to bond on a deeper level.
As they grow closer, so to does the emotion and connection between them.

This was a poignant story at times as we go on this journey of grief and healing with these characters as they move forward together in life and build something new.
A captivating tale that lingers well after you have finished it.

[Sunne]

It was an entertaining enough read. Actually, it felt a bit like the author wanted to teach people about the different possible ways to love in poly relationsships. There used to be a trend to write non-fiction books as novels in order to appeal to more readers. This book reminded me a little of that. So much was explained about poly relationships and so many were introduced that you almost lost track. The sex scenes somehow seemed like they belonged in a different book. But all in all, not badly written, was entertaining, but didn't grab me enough to read more by the author.

[Jeanine Beaulieu St Pierre]

I really liked this book,,, I think this is the first book I read from this author when I read the index of this book i new it would be something different but I have read about this before ,and I got to say is love is love as long as no one is hurting the other or it's a control thing or abuse and in the same time it gives me better understanding of a polyamorous relationship is and these guys help each other through there grief in different ways ....I read this book for my honest opinion

[Ida Umphers]

An amazing story that shows that both grieving and loving are done in different ways by different people and that as long as you don't try to force your way of either onto others you can find help and support as well as give it. I adored this story of an established couple Blaise and Sawyer who find that Grant is the third person they've been needing. Grant has a hard time accepting love but these three struggle mightily and work it out beautifully in the end

[Crystal Knapp]

Reviewed in the United States. I loved A Gentle Way to Love. I love Grant,Blaise and Sawyer .They where all mourning for someone that they cared about. Blaise wanted to know who his wife was seeing before she died so he went to the meeting at the funeral. He was in the dark place since his wife passed away and Grant and Sawyer try to pull him out of it for the kid

[Rachel]

This was an interesting view into polyamory and a sweet hurt-comfort story, but it didn't feel long enough for any of the relationships to be truly solid and feel like an HEA. Maybe the next book will show more of this set of relationships, which would be really helpful, but I suspect there will be a different set of relationships in the "family" in focus instead.

[Ellen Char]

3,8 🌟 This wasn't a "bad book", most certainly not. Yet... What I didn't like:
1) SO many characters to keep track of. Made my head spin 😵‍💫
2) Letting a 11 year young girl speak as if she's a fully grown up 🙄
3) almost the entire book felt like one long therapy session 🤔

It was nicely written though. Very sweet (VERY sweet 🤭)

[Karen]

Abri does it again, broaching into a new world of polyamory this book opens up so many new possibilities and questions people may have.
It’s full of angst, love, hate, happiness and sadness.
All in all it’s a true Abriana book.

[Nicole Ford]

lovely book

this was my first poly book and I founds it really helpful to have the definitions at the front as there was lots I didn’t know. lovely to see the different relationships and how they all connect.

[Tom]

DNF @ 41%. Polyamory taken to the extreme. For the first book in a series, this throws a lot at the reader. The worldbuilding is extensive, and intense, but the details are sometimes haphazard. It’s yet another polyamory “miss” for me…