The Odd Throuple

by Jess Whitecroft

When writer Jack loses his husband he knows he can always rely on his best friend Alex, even if Alex is on his third twentysomething girlfriend in as many months because he can't cope with the gruesome prospect of turning forty.

It's been a hard road, but a year later things are looking up - widowed Jack is just starting to think about moving on, and even Alex's midlife crisis appears to be simmering down when he triumphantly announces that he's finally dating a grown-up.

And then along comes David.

Sexy, adventurous, funny David makes Jack wonder if it might even be time to think about romance again, but David has some secrets of his own, not least that he's already dating a newly out bisexual named Alex. Add a prosthetic leg, a doorstep moment of awkwardness, and a basement power cut, and soon the three are tangled up in enough coincidences and misunderstandings to give even the most hardened conspiracy theorist a headache.

Death, divorce, disability - life comes hard for the men in this unconventional romantic comedy of errors, absurdities, and things you should never ever do with an uncooked chicken.

Genres: M M M, Humor, M M Romance, Polyamory, Romance, Contemporary, Menage

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2023

About the author

Jess Whitecroft was born and educated in the UK, where she was once voted 'Most Likely To Think That Writing A Romantic Comedy About Bigfoot Is A Good Idea'.

After serving an apprenticeship with the late, great Black Lace books, and after many genres and many pseudonyms, she returned to romance, with a fondness for telling unconventional stories about unconventional lovers.

Reviews

[ancientreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put together one grieving widower who keeps the pot farmers of Colorado in business and has metal up and down one leg from the car accident that killed his husband; his best friend, a so-far-straight(ish) archaeologist with 2 PhDs, no social skills, and an ex-wife who pretended to have cancer so he wouldn't leave her*; and one flight-school owner with a below-the-knee amputation, a taste for fancy prosthetic legs, and a solid grounding in the wacky doings of the Cold War CIA; plus a tiny poodle-y mutt belonging to the widower and a hilarious JFK assassination theory that just might be correct, and you wind up, in Jess Whitecroft's universe, with an HFN and long-term potential.

I measure JW against herself: this would've been a 5-star read from almost anyone else.

*Never fear, this isn't the bog-standard m/m(/m) romance misogyny: she turns up later and OMG she is fabulous. There's no one like Whitecroft for writing OTT characters you want to spend lots of reading time with even if they'd give you a headache in real life.

[Aimora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Vandermeer is Jack.

So, anyway, I enjoyed this quite a bit despite not really being a fan of mmm. The characters had great chemistry and were sometimes quite hilarious. Glad there was no epilogue where they were all standing around a surrogate in a hospital bed having their triplets.

[X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a Jess Whitecroft book is like hearing a pop can being opened - that satisfying click-hiss combo. I won’t be explaining that simile, just know it’s correct! This was great as always. And structurally done really well in terms of how the POV chapters overlapped.

[Kikkibird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh this was fun

[T Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three great characters make this story a lot of crazy fun. Three different personalities blend into an awkward friendship, a traditional romance then an unorthodox love story. From the beginning, as we watched friendships continue, new ones start up, feelings develop and love take root the story keeps you on your toes, happily. This book is just a fun, engaging, happily ever after good time that makes you smile.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun romance with three absolute train wrecks of men.

Writer Jack lost his husband a year ago and needs help recovering, his best friend Alex has recently failed yet another relationship, and pilot David is new in town. I thought this was so fun, I hadn’t read a throuple romance before and I thought this was great. The characters were really distinct and funny. I do wish there was more time with the more cohesive throuple, but otherwise, no notes.

Highly recommended if you want a spicy mmm romance!

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book with strong characters and an interesting storyline. The author takes you into the lives of Jack, Alex and David and the mixed up relationships between the three of them. She does a great job delving into their emotions, fears and insecurities and describes both her characters and scenes perfectly. It's not a short story but it is an entertaining and steamy read. It moves fluidly with the three perspectives and is an enjoyable love triangle.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told in alternating points of view, The Odd Throuple is chaotic romantic comedy featuring Colorado-Springs based Jack, a sci-fi writer and recent widower; his best friend Alex, an erstwhile heterosexual with the romantic instincts of an adolescent boy; and David, an assertive and sexy amputee pilot.

First Jack and David meet cute at the park. They’re attracted to one another, but then Alex runs into David (literally, Alex crashes into David’s car in a Kroger parking lot). This is a brilliant scene—it quickly devolves into sniping (“‘I have two doctorates, for your information.’ ‘Are any of them in driving?’”) and when cops approach, Alex, in “some kind of terrible leftist reflex mode” insults them. The cops pepper spray Alex, and are about to do the same to David when he threatens them with a spare prosthetic leg: “‘You want some of this?’ he said, raising it above his head.”

Despite this inauspicious meeting, Alex and David start dating, but when Alex introduces David to Jack, neither lets on that they’ve met before. And then David kisses Jack, having mistaken him for Alex in the dark. David and Jack neglect to tell Alex this, too. The lack of disclosure is especially dumb since Alex has well-known trust issues, thanks to an ex-wife who pretended to have cancer so he’d have sex with her in Yellowstone National Park. (?? But! The crazy ex-wife is not just a plot device! She turns out to have a diagnosis and a treatment plan, and proves intelligent and not without a sense of humor when Alex sees her in NYC. Which he does because…oh never mind, it’s complicated.)

Anyway, back in Colorado the truth about the kiss comes out, and Alex’s jealousy prompts David to break up with him. Then Jack urges David to talk to Alex, and Davis tells Alex that he and Jack had met before, and Alex confronts Jack and then … events* eventuate.

The Odd Throuple has lines like, “David, nobody in the Donner Party identified as a flexitarian,” and a scene in which a character throws a punch, forgetting to first remove his fist from the raw chicken he’s stuffing. It’s absurd, and extremely funny.

As always, Whitecroft’s dialogue is clever, and serves as a conduit for topics she seems to have a particular affinity for, namely conspiracy theories and the people who believe them; the ironies of history, and wall decals that say Live, Laugh, Love or Breathe in handwriting-style fonts (for more on the latter, please see her excellent James Dean Vintage). If funny and insightful riffs on these or related subjects intrigues you, you must read Whitecroft.

The Odd Throuple isn’t my favorite of Whitecroft’s books (that's probably Almost the One, an absolute banger of a second-chance romance), but that might be because m/m/m isn’t my favorite genre? (Also—FYI, they don’t become a throuple until the end.) I’d still rather read my not-favorite of Whitecroft’s books than my favorites by most other authors.

*Sex. Chaos. More sex.

ETA I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, amazing, wonderful book. I can't even tell you how much I love it, I gorged the whole thing in less than 24hrs. I was meant to be doing other things, but I was way too invested to even think about doing anything other than finishing it.

It also came as the most incredible surprise. Jess Whitecroft is my favourite author (I have about twenty favourites, but Jess is my favouritest favourite, if you know what I mean) and I've read all of her books, most of them at least twice. I was literally bouncing up and down when I got the notification there was a new Jess Whitecroft available, and I couldn't download it fast enough. It did not disappoint– it's absolutely packed with her trademark wit and humour, and I loved every word.

She's also managed something I didn't think was really possible. I love the concept of a MMM relationship, but I've only read a couple of books where they really seem to pull it off, and I've never read a really good one where two of the MCs aren't already in an established relationship. Up until now, that is. Somehow, Jess managed to take three very different people, all of whom are messed up and broken in different ways, and yet they form a beautiful, believable partnership.

Not that the characters make it easy. Two of the MCs have physical disabilities, (being disabled myself, I love to see disability rep) Jack is grieving, and Alex, as well as going through a late bi-awakening, also has a serious case of jealousy, which is not ideal for a MMM relationship. It's great to see a romance where the guys are in their late thirties and early forties, and each of the characters are beautifully flawed and realistic. I'm really not sure which of them was the most messed up, but they were all three seriously adorable and I just wanted to cuddle them. Well, four really. I loved how Jack's late husband Paul was also a massive part of the story and a presence in the book, despite the fact he'd passed away before the story starts.

This is just a fantastic book. I recommend all of Jess Whitecroft's novels, I don't know anybody else who can write quite like she does, make me laugh so much, and make my heart squeeze all at the same time.

A caveat, however. If, like me, you know and love Jess Whitecroft's writing, then absolutely go for it. But if you're new to her brilliance, I would read some of her others first-- These Violent Delights and the Fubar series are amazing, as are most of hers-- she writes so widely I'm sure you can find something to appeal. I wouldn't recommend The Odd Throuple if you're new to her, simply because the complexity of the backstory, the rapid-fire humour and the chaotic characters can be somewhat overwhelming. Read some of the others first, and then come back to this one. I'm almost jealous if you're new to Jess Whitecroft-- you've got the most glorious back catalogue to catch up with.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What we have here is failure to communicate."

Communication is a big problem for these three blockheads who unnecessarily complicate their lives by hiding things from each other. Granted, it mostly starts with Jack and Alex, but David joins in, so I’m pointing the finger at all of them.

The lies of omission and commission start when old friends Jack and Alex separately meet and are attracted to the same man, David. For reasons, both Jack and Alex decide not to share the full story of their interactions with David, and that sets off a chain reaction of half-truths and lies as they all three start concealing things. So many bad choices are made, I just wanted to thump them all.

If the first part of the book is about fucking things up, the second half is all finding out, literally and figuratively. Everyone’s secrets and lies are revealed, and no one is happy as they deal with the consequences. It does set the stage for Jack and Alex to act on feelings that were simmering beneath the surface of their friendship, however. And ultimately they realize that the perfect relationship might involve all three of them.

I have to admit that I didn’t quite understand all the drama surrounding one particular incident involving Jack. Alex’s and David’s reactions both seemed overblown to me. But at least it culminates in what is probably the novel’s most hilariously ridiculous scene, which involves Jack getting punched in the face with a raw chicken carcass.

So, obviously, this book is funny. All Jess Whitecroft’s romances have a hefty dose of humor, and this one is no exception. The sarcasm and quippy retorts from all three men kept me laughing throughout.

The comic bits are balanced out by much deeper emotions from all three men as they come to grips with their changing relationships. Jack is still dealing with grief from the loss of his husband Paul, the man he spent twenty years loving, and his pain and sorrow are palpable at times. The moving passages where Jack thinks about his lost love are joined by some very swoony moments in the growing romance between Alex and David, who fall passionately in love with each other in a way that is new and thrilling for both of them.

The mix of humor, emotion, and romance made for a really terrific read. Add in the digs at literary fiction, and how could I not love this book?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a throuple until almost the last page

This is the fifth book from Jess that I've read. Unfortunately for me, I started with Private Members which I absolutely adored so it was all downhill from there. To be fair, the other three weren't all bad but they had a lot to live up to. This one, however, is not good.
I liked Jack and empathised with him throughout. Physically and mentally affected by the horrific car crash that also cost his husband his life, he bumbles on with seemingly only his best friend, Alex, and his tiny neurotic dog for company. Jack is a grownup but the same cannot be said for Alex and, to a lesser extent, David.
Alex, just about to turn forty, was an attention-seeking child who had to get his own way. A womaniser with bad judgment, who made bad decisions and also lied when it suited him (but couldn't, or rather wouldn't, tell you why). He was so spoilt and so self-centred and his infantile behaviour at Jack's cabin was a perfect example of everything that was wrong with him, and I was glad David called him out on it.
I liked David at first but went off him for a few reasons, not least his tentative interest in Jack cooling for a silly reason that he could easily have talked to Jack about, then he met Alex and it was goodbye Jack, hello Straight Man, except when he decided Jack was worth his time.
The speed of Alex and David's relationship was ridiculous, Alex's jealousy and how he treated Jack was awful to watch, David's actions making me feel seasick with how quickly he changed his mind, David stupidly and for no reason keeping his prior friendship with Jack a secret from Alex (thus forcing Jack to do the same).... I could go on but you get the gist.
This was really a book about Alex and David, not about a throuple at all. Jack was the third wheel until things changed between Alex and David, and what happened then was too unlikely, too quick, and with too few details of what was actually happening between the two best friends. Then, miraculously, in the last few pages, there was one throuple scene which was highly unconvincing and incredibly tame after over 300 pages of build up and then the damn book ended so abruptly, I thought my copy was missing the last few chapters.
I'm in the minority and you may like this, but it's not one I'd recommend.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, sweet, and a bit of a disaster!

What happens when you have a movie worthy meet cute and start to think you can finally date again after the death of your husband … only to find out you’ve been friendzoned because the guy is dating your “straight” best friend?

Jess’ books are like nothing I’ve ever read; they’re hilarious, wild, unpredictable, messy, introspective, and romantic (in their own way). This is a story about three older men at a crossroad in their lives, trying to figure out what the hell they want. David is struggling with the newer reality of being an amputee but ready to fall in love and settle down already, Alex is a womanizer who is falling for a man for the first time and realizing that he might have some baggage from past relationships, and Jack is a grieving widower and a writer who is completely avoiding writing his next book. And these guys are a hot, hot mess.

The only thing that I didn’t love about this book was the lie of omissions that persisted throughout. It did create some interesting tension, but I don’t know that it was necessary. Otherwise, I loved how imperfect Jack, David and Alex were. It made them feel real, and also made me question how the heck they’d work as a throuple. But I loved how they both irritated and complemented each other. They could really drive each other crazy! And it was clear from early on that there was an undeniable connection between them all. The banter was especially great in this book and the guys had me laughing out loud quite a few times.

If you’re looking for a bit of a messy romance with a satisfying HEA, give this book a read!

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trust Jess Whitecroft to take three middle age guys - well, one is over forty, one is turning forty, and one has a few years left before forty - and not just write about their idiosyncrasies as an aside, but actually celebrate them to the absolute max. This is weird arse and fabulous! What can go wrong with those two things together? Nothing in my mind, not if you know how to write well, and Whitecroft does that. All I'd say to prospective readers is that the book is more genre fiction meets MMM. If you go in looking for a contemporary style of tropey gay romance or MMM it might not be what you're looking for. The best compliment I think I can give the author is that this is like one of Rob Rosen's books, it had that Rosen vibe, so I'm saying it's written like a gay man. I'm not trying to tread on any toes when I say that, or devalue own voice, just my observation.

Jack, my favourite straight shooter
Alex, a crazy magnet
David - unsure of being vulnerable but appearing like he has his shit together

There is disability rep in a great way, no pity parties here, as well as loss, grief, stupidity, forthrightness, and a quirky poly relationship that made me happy for the three of them.

The usual pop culture references are weaved in, including those around JFK's assassination, the Cold war, as you do, to Belle Gibson-esque ex wives.

Whitecroft never lets me down.
Blog review to come

[Tony Farnden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I have to give something of a warning that this absolutely brilliant read may be a bit Marmite if you are not American. There are a lot of social references and references to characters / people that I couldn't quite get without searching the internet which I didn’t do in the end. I got the flavour of what was meant and did not feel it necessary to read up on some monstrous person. But not a worry as the three main characters are such a joy to spend time with. Jack, Alex and David are smart and funny and just on the right side of crazy company. They are great when they interact with each other. Alex is often the butt of the joke but he does leave himself for it. He is loved and loveable but needs his friends to save him from himself.

The three are going to end up in a throuple which is not a spoiler given the title but there are at least three relationships in the lead up to that: Jack and Alex, Jack and David, and Alex and David, not all of them consummated as such but all well observed and just great to read about. There are dark moments and sadness along the way for the three guys. The only way out for them is to be honest with each other which is not always easy at times. They are such strong, unique and real characters that I was sorry to get to the end. Never mind, I’ll be rereading this soon.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

BEST FRIENDS TO LOVERS WITH BI-AWAKENING

It took a while for me to get into the book say 20% of the story but eventually I got into their funny, awkward yet sweet story and enjoyed it!

Two best friends for two decades one always had a crush but was married,the other straight and a midlife-crises-soon-to-be-forty womanising Professor.

Jack a writer is widowed for a year when his path crosses with pilot David in a sweet meet cute in the park involving his adorable lap dog Heimlich…

David flirts subtly with Jack for a month of coffee dates and meetings in the park until he literally runs into straight womanising Alex who turns his world upside down….

Meeting the new boyfriend was awkward as they both know each other and flirted with each other and so the lies began…

The three of them become great friends together but one innocent incident ruins everything…

Jack always wanted Alex then David, Alex wants both David and Jack, David wants both….

Eventually everyone lies to each other but ends up with a solution at the end of the rollercoaster ride…

One downer was it ended too abruptly! I would of liked to see an epilogue as you as reader has to make your own conclusions….

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Blended Relationship . . .

This story line sounds like a real tangled mess, so you will need to pay attention to everything that is going on. Jack is a writer whose husband dies. He turns to his straight friend Alex to steady him as he gets through this. Alex, in the meantime, is having a midlife crisis and is dating as many women as he can write into his calendar.

When a year passes, things at last seem to be settling down. Alex is over his midlife crisis at last and thinks he may have found someone to settle down with. Jack is also feeling better about things and is ready to start dating again. Having met David, he thinks he may be ready now to perhaps fall in love. But David has a secret that can ruin everything or add a big complication. Will he open up and tell Jack the truth? Or will he have to break things off before everyone important to him gets hurt?

Despite the tragic sound of things, there is so much craziness happening that the reader will be laughing through the majority of the book. “Comedy of errors” doesn’t fully cover all that is happening. The characters are really likable and the friendships are obvious. I definitely recommend reading this one and figuring it all out. Be ready to explain to your family why you can’t stop laughing so they don’t think it’s YOU who needs help. And don’t ask about the chicken.

[Lori¸¸¸.•*❀Ɍɛɑɗs̱LɪƙɛIʈs̱H̱ɛɍJɔɓ 유❤유]

This is going to be hard for me to write but I was not crazy about this book. To be fair, I really don't like reading about throuples or any poly to be honest. I have no problem with it in real life but I think it has to be hard to write it where it actually feels like they are all equals in the relationship. I don't like the idea of someone being left out or extraneous. In this book, the threesome came entirely too late and it felt like two were madly in love and the other guy was just a buddy who had sex with them. Maybe that's how it was meant to be but I just don't care for it.

I hate saying anything negative about Jess's writing because I am a big fan. I think she is greatly underappreciated. She's smart, clever and has a wicked sense of humor. I love the banter and the snark but it's not cheesy. It can be goofy but still clever. I kind of adore her to be honest. That's why it pains me to say anything critical because as an artist I know it can be pretty painful to hear criticism for something you pour your heart into and then put it out in the world.

Honestly, I haven't finished the FuBar series either because of the same reasons I stated above, I am just not a fan of fictional polyamorous relationships. I would certainly recommend it if you enjoy or don't mind the threesomes.

[Romantic888 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Jack, Alex, and David, each with their own very original background, quirks, and wonderful imperfections. They are all in their late 30s or early 40s, and they each have gone through difficult trials in their lives. Jack and Alex have been best friends for many years, and they are so close that they can finish each other's sentences. Jack was married, and he, his husband, and Alex were close friends before his husband passed away. Their relationship had always been platonic because Alex insists that he's straight.
Enter David who first meets Jack and then Alex separately. Their interactions separately and as a group are hilarious, even if they are awkward some of the time. I love all the banter around JFK's assassination, the Godfather movies, the stars, etc., and the chemistry and heat are very high. This is such a good story, but it does take some time to get to their HEA, and then it ends fairly quickly which was my only disappointment. I wish there were an extra chapter or two on their being together as a throuple. This is my first book by this author, but it probably won't be my last since this one was very entertaining.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was a breath of fresh air. I was not expecting to find this book so funny; extremely witty and bloody brilliant. I have learned not to judge a book by its cover and thank goodness because the cover is the only boring thing about this book. Each character helps bring this story to life. It's complicated throughout as three men negotiate feelings, trauma, jealousy, grief but at the same time is witty and downright ridiculous at times. I was hooked from the first chapter. Not many books have me smiling so much. The angst was low for my preference but there are potential triggers. There is a lot of spice but not in a descriptive way so we don't get the full sexual picture but enough to use our imagination and give the book spice and to feel the sexual tension buzzing. The actual 'throuple' relationship takes a long time to establish which means the bulk of the story is the build up.  If anything this creates huge anticipation that keeps you on a hook. It's a 5 star read and a new author for me to look out for more works. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving

[Jean Malherbe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Negatives:
*Book is longer than it needs to be.
*The twist in the tail is left too late, thereby not giving it the attention it deserves, resulting in a major anticlimax; too little too late.
(readers are plowing through 300+ pages in anticipation of the plot coming to a point, only to have the closure rushed and squashed into two pages at 98%.)
*lots of typos. Hopefully the book was proofread before going live.
* Too much jargon and discussion about books, people, political history, science, that is really irrelevant to the story and that the average romance reader has probably never heard of, resulting in stretches of boredom.
(Readers pick up a book for relaxation, not to get a college education.)

Positives:
*Book is appropriately titled.
*Good representation of an amputee character (and poodle mutt behaviour).
*Good pacing.
*Good character differentiation.
*Engaging dialogue.
°Heat/steam around 3 🔥
° Alternating pov by 3 characters.
° First person, present tense (alternating to past during recollection /flashback segments)
# arc provided by Booksprout. This review is voluntary.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess Whitecroft’s books are always fun to read, but this one is particularly joyful. Jack is a grumpy, widowed, SF writer who’s most famous for writing a literary book he hates. David is an amputee ex-veteran and a pilot, with a former CIA father and a Top Gun kind of look. Alex is an academic, an archaeologist who, unlike the other two men, until recently has only dated women. They crash into each other and, although David and Jack meet first, it’s David and Alex who strike up a sexual relationship. Fun and drama ensue. Jealousy raises its head. Eventually they work it out and decide to give it a go as a “throuple”. The final few scenes are brilliant, and it’s slightly sad that we don’t get more time with the group as a threesome. On the other hand, this is set up as the start of a trilogy, and three books do feel extremely appropriate for these three characters! I’m looking forward to the next two books.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jess Whitecroft's stories and found this engaging, witty and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.

The easygoing tone and pace were perfect for our three late thirties-plus characters, Jack the acerbically witty writer, recovering from a car accident that killed his husband, Alex, his friend of 20 years standing who despite having 2 doctorates seems not to have a brain cell when it comes to dating and David, an ex-forces WASP, amputee and all-round thrill seeker who runs his own flight school.

The way these three encounter each other, both separately and together is so typical of their personalities as is how all the relationships develop. The dialogue is sparkling and spot on and the observations from each of these three complex well-rounded individuals are both moving and often very funny indeed. I relished spending time in their world as their story gradually developed. Gorgeous!

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Whitecroft's stories. I feel like she gets really invested in some topic and makes her arguments about it through her characters and it makes her guys' banter so much more engaging and funny. This time it was about the Kennedy assassination.

There were only two reasons why I took a star off this one:

Jack is my favorite. He's been having a rough go. He like likes his best friend but his friend isn't gay.

Then his best friend gets a boyfriend, a boyfriend who was casually (like meet-cute casually) working his way up to dating Jack.

And then he accidentally kisses Jack (mistaken kisses--it's a thing, okay?) and Jack gets punched in the nose for it?!?

No. Absolutely non. David is no longer worthy. I don't accept.

Also, the ending sorta crept up on me. They were finally all on the same page and then bam: the acknowledgements page.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an interesting premise: characters were interesting, well-developed, and engaging, each one unique, with enough information through background and interaction that the reader felt you knew all 3 of them pretty well by the end of the book. I have a hard time choosing which character is my favorite because each had qualities I admire. Plot was realistic, got the POV from each character. There was a lot of humor, with chuckles, giggles, and laughing out loud while reading. I was surprised by the point at which the throuple came about. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an MMM story that blends some solid character development, some distinctive and likable (most of the time) personalities, and moments of absurdity, humor, and poignance. It’s ridiculously easy to get caught up in the characters and their interactions, and even the moments that are mildly infuriating (and there are such moments) are oddly compelling. The dialog is, I have to say, one of my favorite things about the story— the banter is on point throughout, without being over the top, and that’s not an easy feat.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack and Alex are besties. Jack is a widower and Alex needs to settle down and stop running around. Introduce David to this pair and things get interesting. They make an interesting trio. The best friends to lovers and the guy who comes along who is the catalyst to them finding more with one another. I really liked each of these guys and the banter between them in pairs and as a trio. There is humor and lots of very human communication issues that they work through as they find where they will land. Delightful story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious conversations! Jack, lost the love of his life, Paul over a year ago, at 42. Heimlich, the micro dog, is a hoot! Alex, is Jack's best friend and a serial younger woman dater. David/Daniel, is a pilot and an adventure junkie. All three men seperately are interesting guys and seem to be hot messes. David, is the new guy and he meets each. man seperately. There are a few misunderstandings, a lot of meltdowns and several mistakes. Can these guys team up? Interesting story, funny times. Heimlich the dog is hysterical. The author did a good job having these guys struggle to grow up. Interesting story. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meg (queer_book_recs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! Jess Whitecroft’s books are always so funny and I loved the humor in this one. It’s about 3 guys who are in their late 30s to early 40s, two of whom are best friends. I always love a best friends to lovers story, and it was interesting to see how these guys get there. I loved the disability rep too. I loved the characters and the story kept me turning those pages, I couldn’t put it down. I did get a bit frustrated with the slow burn aspect of ⅓ of the trio, but still loved it.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed these three guys!! They are like 30- to 40-year-old guys trying to rediscover themselves and find their place. Each of them is a mess in their own way. I really loved David, adjusting to losing his leg. There are a lot of communication issues as these guys are not truly honest with themselves or each other in the beginning. It leads to some really fun banter though. The relationship is odd and imperfectly perfect!

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three interesting somewhat older characters (1 in 30s and 2 around 40s), all with very different backgrounds and experiences. They felt very realistic and were really far from perfect in all sorts of different ways, which was refreshing. I really wanted the book to be longer, to see how they managed to continue their beginning throuple relationship.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am happy to leave a voluntary review.