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Boys of Simson U. #1
LonelyCollegeBoy
Yeah, that's my profile name on a regionally popular LGBTQ+ dating (or hookup) site, CockyUnicorns. Kinda sad, right? Kinda is an understatement. And it's weird for me, because I've always been the upbeat, optimistic one. A lot of people call me "sunshine," either as a compliment or with a groan. I hope they don't notice that's not me right now. Ever since things started to go wrong, I've been losing hope, day by day. When I came out, my parents cut me off. My whole life I've been working toward this college degree. I don't know where I'm going to live next semester or if I can afford to stay in school at all! And I can't talk to anyone about it but my best friend BJ, but now she won't stay out of my business. Maybe I can at least find some stress release on CockyUnicorns?
I've got the life I want. My job pays well, I've got a few close friends, and I'm in great shape for my age—which is creeping up there day by day. My daughter is awesome, doing well in school, and mostly stays out of trouble. Everything is going according to the plan, which is awesome. Right? So why do I feel every day like something is missing? Like my life plan is more of a trap than a path? Like there's this hole in my heart I'll never fill? I keep promising myself I'll reexamine the plan and revise as necessary. I'll put myself out there, and maybe even come out if I can find the guy to make it worth the trouble. Later. Always later. But when I get too lonely, there's always my trusty app, CockyUnicorns.
As they each turn to CockyUnicorns to find a pleasant diversion, will they end up finding their missing pieces in each other? Or, as worlds collide, will opposites repel rather than attract. The meddling BJ may have something to say about that!
I've got the life I want. My job pays well, I've got a few close friends, and I'm in great shape for my age—which is creeping up there day by day. My daughter is awesome, doing well in school, and mostly stays out of trouble. Everything is going according to the plan, which is awesome. Right? So why do I feel every day like something is missing? Like my life plan is more of a trap than a path? Like there's this hole in my heart I'll never fill? I keep promising myself I'll reexamine the plan and revise as necessary. I'll put myself out there, and maybe even come out if I can find the guy to make it worth the trouble. Later. Always later. But when I get too lonely, there's always my trusty app, CockyUnicorns.
As they each turn to CockyUnicorns to find a pleasant diversion, will they end up finding their missing pieces in each other? Or, as worlds collide, will opposites repel rather than attract. The meddling BJ may have something to say about that!
- GenresM M RomanceRomanceLGBT
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 22, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 16 reviews
July 12, 2024
The roles we play and the secrets we keep can change our lives.
Ender is a LonelyCollegeBoy in love with a Grumpy Daddy. The Grumpy Daddy is in love with Ender. And Billy. And Ender. Both might be in love with another boy online.
With limited friends and family members to associate with, both are drawn to each other as they try to negotiate the work, school, family, and life situations that they are currently in, but are not happy with at this time. But things are quickly going to change.
Ender is a LonelyCollegeBoy in love with a Grumpy Daddy. The Grumpy Daddy is in love with Ender. And Billy. And Ender. Both might be in love with another boy online.
With limited friends and family members to associate with, both are drawn to each other as they try to negotiate the work, school, family, and life situations that they are currently in, but are not happy with at this time. But things are quickly going to change.
April 13, 2023
The blurb looked promising but turned out the book was not.
The beginning was confusing with three povs, the dialogues had weird structure and what's with these exclamation sentences all the time?
As for the story... Age gap, best friend's dad tropes, which I love, done... different.
Not my cup of tea.
The beginning was confusing with three povs, the dialogues had weird structure and what's with these exclamation sentences all the time?
As for the story... Age gap, best friend's dad tropes, which I love, done... different.
Not my cup of tea.
May 11, 2026
4 complete stars
A well written story about loss, parental homophobia, compassionate understanding and meeting challenges head-on.
I was surprisingly delighted at how much I was pulled into this book. Written with raw emotion and just the perfect amount of humor, everything about the plot and characters was blended to keep me turning page after page.
The three main characters, Thomas, a.k.a. "Grumpy Daddy," his daughter, BJ and Ender, a.k.a. "Billy" work well off each other. BJ in particular is the schemer in the story and serves to "match" Thomas and Ender together through less than honorable means. She provides the snark and hilarity at all the correct times, making her character very loveable.
What occurs between Thomas and Ender is both surprisingly caring and very well revealed. To explain how would only ruin the book for other readers, so once again I will keep that undisclosed. I will state that the manner in which the author developed the plot and emotions between them was absolutely enthralling (and the hot cover didn't hurt, either!!)
A powerful story with the perfect balance of heat and deep affection, I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a well-crafted story with believable dialogue, compassion and a wonderful conclusion.
A well written story about loss, parental homophobia, compassionate understanding and meeting challenges head-on.
I was surprisingly delighted at how much I was pulled into this book. Written with raw emotion and just the perfect amount of humor, everything about the plot and characters was blended to keep me turning page after page.
The three main characters, Thomas, a.k.a. "Grumpy Daddy," his daughter, BJ and Ender, a.k.a. "Billy" work well off each other. BJ in particular is the schemer in the story and serves to "match" Thomas and Ender together through less than honorable means. She provides the snark and hilarity at all the correct times, making her character very loveable.
What occurs between Thomas and Ender is both surprisingly caring and very well revealed. To explain how would only ruin the book for other readers, so once again I will keep that undisclosed. I will state that the manner in which the author developed the plot and emotions between them was absolutely enthralling (and the hot cover didn't hurt, either!!)
A powerful story with the perfect balance of heat and deep affection, I highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys a well-crafted story with believable dialogue, compassion and a wonderful conclusion.
April 10, 2023
cute
This story is cute and fairly quick to read. Ender/Billy and Thomas are a slightly different take on the age gap and bff’s dad troupe, I won’t spoil it but it was a bit different than usual. Overall it is decent.
This story is cute and fairly quick to read. Ender/Billy and Thomas are a slightly different take on the age gap and bff’s dad troupe, I won’t spoil it but it was a bit different than usual. Overall it is decent.
Read
June 26, 2023Not for me.
March 21, 2023
I absolutely adored this story. It's that perfect romance that has a fully flushed out backstory, as well as a mild amount of angst, some personal demons for the main characters to get over to move forward in their relationships and lots of steamy bedroom scenes. It is an age-gap story, with a Daddy/Baby Boy dynamic, but neither character stereotypically fit into their roles. That's one of the things that I adored in the story is that stereotypes are broken with nearly every character. While it's a fast paced timeline and a whirlwind romance, the romance still feels genuine. They have their differences, but it's refreshing in the fact that they actually talk through those differences and come up with solutions. It strengthens their relationship and when the story ends, you know that this is a couple that will stay together long past the final page in the story.
March 23, 2023
Good lighthearted read.
This was a good story, relatively low angst and a quick read. It had quite a few tropes going on at the same time- daddy/boy, best friends father, age gap, the whole meeting on a dating app but not knowing, so it did seem quite busy at times. The name changes the author did at the beginning making out it was three separate characters was a bit unnecessary, it was quite clear what was happening.
I liked both the MC’s, it was made out to be Grumpy/sunshine, but there wasn’t much grumpy going on. The side characters were good, I loved the interfering daughter aspect, although I don’t know how I feel about her being called BJ!!
Not the best book I’ve ever read, and there were a couple of things that I wasn’t keen on, but overall not bad.
This was a good story, relatively low angst and a quick read. It had quite a few tropes going on at the same time- daddy/boy, best friends father, age gap, the whole meeting on a dating app but not knowing, so it did seem quite busy at times. The name changes the author did at the beginning making out it was three separate characters was a bit unnecessary, it was quite clear what was happening.
I liked both the MC’s, it was made out to be Grumpy/sunshine, but there wasn’t much grumpy going on. The side characters were good, I loved the interfering daughter aspect, although I don’t know how I feel about her being called BJ!!
Not the best book I’ve ever read, and there were a couple of things that I wasn’t keen on, but overall not bad.
December 10, 2023
Loved but…
I loved this story of Ender and Thomas finding their HEA. There was just enough angst to keep things interesting. Thomas was understanding and so supportive of Ender.
My only reasons for a less than 5 star rating is that one of the big conflicts is mentioned earlier in the book like Thomas already knows about it so it doesn’t make sense that it’s a conflict. Also, the ending seemed a bit rushed and a side character was completely left out of it… just kinda weird. The dynamic between the two of them got a bit confusing in some areas and it seemed like the addition of some kinks were just added to be added. Other than some editing issues it was a really good read!
I loved this story of Ender and Thomas finding their HEA. There was just enough angst to keep things interesting. Thomas was understanding and so supportive of Ender.
My only reasons for a less than 5 star rating is that one of the big conflicts is mentioned earlier in the book like Thomas already knows about it so it doesn’t make sense that it’s a conflict. Also, the ending seemed a bit rushed and a side character was completely left out of it… just kinda weird. The dynamic between the two of them got a bit confusing in some areas and it seemed like the addition of some kinks were just added to be added. Other than some editing issues it was a really good read!
July 23, 2023
There's a lot to love about this story. First - the cover. Where most authors always tend to opt for bright and colorful, this author has chosen black and white. And boy! is it powerful. To me it screams Lonely College Boy. A perfect choice for an amazing story. It shows a young man who feels he has no one. Nothing to look forward to. Misery. At the bottom of his game.
Full of emotion, love, jealousy, snarkiness, and sheer enjoyment seeing people finally finding out what they really need and what is really important to them.
Recommended read.
Full of emotion, love, jealousy, snarkiness, and sheer enjoyment seeing people finally finding out what they really need and what is really important to them.
Recommended read.
July 26, 2023
Complicated Relationships
Ender/Billie gets thrown out by his parents and has nowhere to go. His best friend convinces her father to let him stay with them. That's when things start to get complicated. What follows is a series of twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. My biggest problem is that the issue of whether his name is Ender or Billie is only partly explained at the end.
Ender/Billie gets thrown out by his parents and has nowhere to go. His best friend convinces her father to let him stay with them. That's when things start to get complicated. What follows is a series of twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. My biggest problem is that the issue of whether his name is Ender or Billie is only partly explained at the end.
August 25, 2023
Thomas and Ender
Older man who daughter wants to see him smile and date again. Younger man dealing with his parents and working while trying to finish college. His best friend helped him with a place to stay during break. Oh, and she sets him up with her dad.
Older man who daughter wants to see him smile and date again. Younger man dealing with his parents and working while trying to finish college. His best friend helped him with a place to stay during break. Oh, and she sets him up with her dad.
Read
March 6, 2023DNF at 51%
Not sure where this story was going, it was hard to follow who was speaking.
I was intrigued by the blurb but not for me.
Not sure where this story was going, it was hard to follow who was speaking.
I was intrigued by the blurb but not for me.
Did Not Finish
April 12, 2023DNF at 60%
March 23, 2026
Super good! Thanks for this book!
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June 16, 2023
I really enjoyed the book and I am glad I found it because I didn't know J. Allen Grady but now I am a big fan.
I like the way he describes feelings and insecurities. They seem realistic and also some of the conversations makes me laugh a lot.
I like the way he describes feelings and insecurities. They seem realistic and also some of the conversations makes me laugh a lot.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 16 reviews