Out in the Country

Clementine Creek #3.5

by Alexandra Hale

One weekend. One bed. And one best friend who is about to change everything.

Everett Teal has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.
Every milestone, every heartache – the good times and the bad.

He’s gruff and gorgeous, kind and sure knows how to get more than the motor running at the garage.

He’s all the things I can never have.

Because Everett Teal is straight and lusting after my best friend is a definite no.
There’s no way he’s staring a little too long or purposely brushing his hand against mine.

Right?

I might have been imagining things before but when he kisses me breathless in the middle of my coworker’s wedding – all bets are off.

Everett Teal isn’t just playing around, he’s playing for keeps.

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

104 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Alexandra Hale is a small town girl living with her family in Upstate New York. She routinely runs on caffeine, dry shampoo and thrives on procrastination.

A romance lover and reading enthusiast, Alexandra finally began putting pen to paper shortly after graduating college. An unobtainable dream has slowly become a reality with the love and support of her friends and family and the romance community.

She currently writes steamy, small town romance with a dash of lighthearted fun and happily ever afters that will make you swoon.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out in the Country is book #3.5 in the Clementine Creek series by Alexandra Hale. This is fine read as a stand alone. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series. This is a best friends to lovers, only one bed novella.



Hayden Scott has known he was gay for as long as he can remember. He came out to everyone at an early age and considers himself lucky to be so well accepted. He has also been best friends with Everett for just as long. They are also roommates. Hayden has kept hidden his true feelings for Everett because Everett is straight. He would never do anything to risk their friendship.



Everett Teal is a mechanic. He has always had a less than stellar dating life, never understanding why no one really interested him. Until, that is, he finally figured out that it was because he was in love with his best friend. He kept his feelings to himself, allowing himself time to become comfortable with these new feelings. But, he has a plan. They are attending their friend’s wedding and Everett is finally going to make his true feelings known.



This was super sweet. I didn’t need to know any of the secondary characters in order to enjoy the journey of these two. It was obvious, though, that they both had plenty of support from their family and friends. I do want to say that the whole big reveal of Everett’s, though, felt kind of awkward. I don’t think it went the way he wanted it to. There should have been less doing and more talking! Still, this was a quick read, and was sweet and steamy. I think those that have read the rest of the series were probably even more thrilled for them to get their own HEA. To date, this author has written three MM novellas. This is my second one and I am very much enjoying reading them.

[E.L. Ough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very cute novella, about two best friends, one was openly gay and in love with his best friend and the other straight (kinda)!

Hayden has been in love with his bff since he was younger but he was straight. One night when they were both out drinking Everett let a few things slip, but they didn’t really make sense and Hayden was left wondering what they ment. But not wanting to loose his friend he didn’t mention what had happened and just continued to pine for him. His bestie co worker was getting married and he’d asked Everett to be his plus one, every thing was going to be ok it’s just a few nights with his best friend, he can do this!

Everett always wondered why he never had the right feelings for the the women he dated, but things started to become clearer to him after he started to have feelings for his best friend. Everyone around him know he had feelings for Hayden, except Hayden!! But being his plus one at a wedding gave him the push he needed to let him know he was going all in and was going to get his man!!

This is a fast paced, sweet story, a great quick read if you need some one bed, one weekend, forced proximity, with all the feels.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Book content-
🩵Best Friends to Lovers
🩵Forced Proximity
🩵Only One Bed
🩵Gay Awakening
🩵Sweet and Steamy

[Audi♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious talks and slow dances 🥹
Everett running home on his lunch break to give Hayden a bj🤭
This was so fluffy and sweet. I love besties to lovers.
It was kinda weird that Everett went straight to making out/ groping Hayden at the wedding, tho. he acted like a horny teenager before having the "I'm in love with you" talk. I could see why Hayden was a bit nervous it was just sexual.

[Ed Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2 stars. I liked this, but I wasn’t crazy about Hayden. He spent the first part of the story talking about being in love with his best friend. When Everette actually comes on to him he freaks.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet novella with two guys who have been best friends all their lives. I just love a best-friends-to-lovers trope and this book does deliver it perfectly.
Hayden is gay and has always been in love with Everett, his best friend and whom he lives with. Everett is supposed to be straight but somewhere along the last year he found out he wasn't as straight as he thought and that he had feelings for Hayden. This is where all the romance starts and I just couldn't stop sighing while I read how they got into a relationship and how perfect they were for each other.
This book is a short story but it's packed with so much love, romance and even funny moments. It's just so touching to see them both so in love and being just what the other needs. They know each other perfectly so for them falling for one another was like the next step in their relationship.
This story takes the reader through their path to becoming a couple, what changes and what doesn't, the acceptance they both feel for the other and the discovery of their feelings and how to work together as a couple.
Hayden and Everett certainly left me feeling so warm inside, it's one of those books that are just beautiful to read.
By the way, I don't want to forget to mention Sorren troping Hayden! That was hilarious!!!

[Casey | PageswithPasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hot! Read it! Love it! Then read it again!

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Out in the Country by Alexandra Hale @authoralexandrahale is the prefect sweet little snack, cause it’s a novella.

One weekend. One bed. And one best friend who is about to change everything.
Everett has been my best friend for as long as I can remember.
Every milestone, every heartache – the good times and the bad.
He’s gruff and gorgeous, kind and sure knows how to get more than the motor running at the garage.
He’s all the things I can never have.
Because Everett is straight and lusting after my best friend is a definite no.
There’s no way he’s staring a little too long or purposely brushing his hand against mine.
Right?
I might have been imagining things before but when he kisses me breathless in the middle of my coworker’s wedding
Everett isn’t just playing around, he’s playing for keeps.

I read this book in one sitting. Like no one speak to me I am in Clementine Creek.

First off All Hale Alexandra Hale!

Second let us all rise and slow clap building to a roaring cacophony of thunderous claps for these characters, this world, and the group messages!

Third Hale is a wonder with words. She writes in a way that reading feels like family and home in all the best ways.

Fourth off phew the spice, but worry not, Hale took the time and respect to make an MM romance that is a gift to any and every sexual orientation a reader may be.

Are we at fifth now? Okay fifth this MM romance has a bit of insta love, if you can call it that. It’s more of a deep friendship that suddenly becomes more. Now I am not one for insta love, but I wasn’t phased by it here because the characters also joke and question it.

Best line:
“Did you just trope me?”

Thank you so much for the ARC and I am ready for more!

#outinthecountry #alexandrahale #clementinecreek #indie #indieauthor #romance #indieromance #spice #review #arc #newreview #bookreview

Amazon synopsis

[Onceupona.spine · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| A R C R E V I E W 📝        
        
𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖: Out in the country      
𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣: Alexandra Hale         
𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: Romance         
        
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬:     
Every time I read a book by Alexandra, I tell her, "𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘺𝘦𝘵!" And every time she releases another book, I say it again. 
 
And guess what, Alexandra. . .  
𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐘 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐘𝐄𝐓!!! 
 
This love story captivated me completely right from the very beginning. I absolutely adore a friend to lovers, add in forced proximity and gay awakening tropes, and I am in heaven. 
 
Hayden & Everett were perfection. I fell head over heels for these two. Their connection & chemistry were absolutely beautiful, both as friends and then more. 
This is a low angst love story that will make you smile and make your heart happy. 
Highly recommend it  
Also, if you've not read the rest of the Clementine Creek Series, grab those as well. 
    
 *𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴 25𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 2023. 
𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢 #gifted 𝘌𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦. 
    
𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞:     
"𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘏𝘢𝘺𝘥𝘦𝘯. 𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶?"  
     
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐟:       
• Contemporary Romances    
• Steamy Reads      
• Best Friends to Lovers     
• Forced Proximity  
• Only One Bed  
• Gay Awakening  
• Low Angst     
        
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:         
𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘖𝘧 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️      
𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘖𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️     
𝘗𝘭𝘰𝘵: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️      
𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️    
  
************  
𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5       
       

[Chaotically Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a 3.5 star but there is no way to give half star on goodreads :)

I was so excited for this book but I feel like I am missing so much info and I can’t tell if that was intentional. Lots of spice and that was great. But outside of the cover, I feel like I don’t know what the characters look like (outside of Everett’s tattoos). I can’t picture what their apartment looks like or any other surrounding. For me those are incredibly important details.
Outside of that, it felt incredibly rushed. I love a quick read, but I felt like I was missing so much. It felt like I missed so many conversations that the two of them had in regard to what this means for Everett, for the two of them. I got a lot of smut and that’s cool. I have never read this author so I am unsure if that is just her writing style and for a nice quick read, that would be great. My expectation was to snuggle down into my chair with my blanket and fall head over heels in love with these 2 characters and it just didn’t do that for me.
I did like the book, and I think with more depth I would have LOVED the book.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everett & Hayden
Rating: 3.3 ⭐

- Best Friends-to-Lovers
- First Times
- Low Angst
- Forced Proximity
- Only One Bed
- Small Town Romance

This was a cute novella about best friends becoming something more. These two men have been on a soul-searching journey simultaneously over the past year, even if Hayden didn't know that Everett was coming to terms with himself. Everett has made up his mind that now's the time to make his play for Hayden and starts flirting with him during the birthday weekend trip, but Hayden thinks he's just misinterpreting the actions. Since Hayden didn't get the message, Everett is determined to get his man during the wedding trip but it doesn't go to plan. There's some miscommunication at the beginning, that takes up a lot of space in this story. It's understandable because Everett just kind of jumps in instead of easing into explaining that he's gay, confusing poor Hayden. There's only one bed during their stay but the author didn't really utilize it that well.

In the second half of this the time jumps took away from the story for me. It feels rushed and filled with appearances from other people in the series, instead of focusing on the couple. I did like that the couple took their time in working up to going all the way, ensuring that Everett was comfortable and confident in the decision.

"I already love you, Hayden. Would it be so bad to let me fall for you?"

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No

[kallixto (heartstopper’s version) ♡]

i can’t rate that book because it’s a novella form a series that i don’t read yet but it’s gonna be my next read! i really enjoyed my time with this book even if it’s 100 pages. it was hot, warm but also really cute. i loved hayden and everett <3

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet novella!! Perfect slice of sexy and sweet goodness (especially after an angsty) read. Recommend checking this one out! 🩷

[Kims.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad we got a novella for out & proud Hayden and his best friend turned lover Everett 💕 It was a steamy read and I love diverse representation in a series!

[Confessions of a Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I never knew how much I was holding back until you kissed me like I was the air you needed to breathe."

Hayden has been best friends with Everett since childhood and now roommates. Having come out in his teen years he has lived his life knowing nothing could ever happen with his straight friend and has tramped down his attraction to him. The last thing he ever expected was Everett to show such intense interest in him completely out of the blue....or is it?

Everett has been harboring feelings for Hayden afraid of losing their friendship but when opportunity knocks he takes a chance and goes in full steam ahead. He takes Hayden by utter and complete shock...it takes a minute for Hayden to catch up!

These two are the absolute sweetest with each other. I mean I don't think this could have been a more perfect little novella to read. From beginning to end Alexandra gives us these two men who know each other inside and out in every way except one and then the fates align and they become best friends to lovers! Yup, I troped them....IYKYK 😉

The cuteness overload does not stop with Hayden and Everett....oh no....Ms. Hale brings in all those Thayer boys and Sorren Mackay!!! All of them rounded this story out so well. There were so many LOL moments I lost count. Too many times I was in a fit of laughter when it came to the interactions they have with Hayden and Everett.

While this is a novella set in Alexandra's Clementine Creek series it can be read as a standalone so if you are looking for a quick read full, and I mean FULL of all the feels and many moments of laughter then Out in the Country is definitely for you.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out in the Country (A Clementine Creek Standalone Novella) by Alexandra Hale

🧡 Best Friend's to Lovers
🧡 Only One Bed
🧡 Gay Awakening
🧡 Very low Angst
🧡 Novella

Hayden has always had feelings for his best friend Everett but knows he doesn't stand a chance as Everett is straight. After countless failed relationships with women, Everett has finally realised that everything he's ever wanted has been right in front of his eyes all along. Now that he's come to terms with his feelings for his best friend it's time to take his shot, and what better time than at a romantic weekend away for their friends wedding.

Out in the Country is quite simply a very sweet, low angst novella of two best friends who fall in love. The story itself has very little drama and mainly focuses on the coming together of two friends who are ready to explore their feelings for each other.

There are quite a few characters from previous books in the series who make an appearance in this story. Even though I haven't read any of the other books, the characters were easy to understand and didn't detract from the storyline if you're a standalone reader.

Overall, this novella was an easy bite sized read with very little angst, plenty of fluffy moments and lots of love.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺

First person dual pov 👀

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mechanic Everett Teal and ER nurse Hayden Scott have been best friends for years. Everett recently realized that he's gay and that his feelings for Hayden go beyond friendship, but the problem is that, as far as Hayden knows, Everett is straight. He's finally worked up the courage to make his move while they're away for the weekend attending a friend's wedding. When he realizes the truth, Hayden is understandably surprised and worried that he'll lose his best friend if their romantic relationship doesn't work out. Can Everett convince Hayden that their love is worth the risk?

Hayden and Everett were so cute together! After meeting them in earlier books of the series, I think it's safe to say that the only one who didn't know Everett was in love with Hayden was Hayden. They knew each other well after decades of friendship, but obviously they could still surprise each other. I loved how light and fun their story was, particularly the text message exchanges and Hayden's unlikely friendship with Sorren. (I can't believe they bonded over romance novels, of all things!)

I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans and can't wait for the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

[LAJordan Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for the free eARC copy & the chance to provide my candid review.

Novella Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 The tropes are delicious and everything you’re hoping for:

⭐️Best Friends to Lovers
⭐️Forced Proximity
⭐️Only One Bed
⭐️Gay Awakening
⭐️Low Angst
⭐️No Third Act Break Up
⭐️Sweet and Steamy
⭐️Standalone MM Novella

🤩 That captivating feeling, where you’re totally immersed in your MCs lives. Best escapism ever!
🤩 All the feels of love, lust, laughs, and longing plus so much steamy goodness.
🤩 Texting in books.
🤩 The friends in Clementine Creek are goals!
🤩 Birthday surprises and concert tickets!!
🤩 Everett’s classic truck as an example of how the two MCs totally support each other (and always have).

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 Everett’s classic truck would’ve made a great dirt road scene. You’ll have to read the other Clementine Creek books to get your steamy dirt road scene fix—I highly recommend!!! See my reviews of Back in the Country, Making it Country, and Home in the Country on goodreads.

[Nicki | justamomandherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through Hale’s Clementine Creek series you get peaks at the friendship, and a little tension, between Hayden and Everett. Honestly, I thought we’d get a happy ending for them, but through the Thayor Siblings’ books. When Alexandra said she was writing a novella…I actually screamed.

I ate this read up. If I didn’t have to eat dinner, it would have easily been in one sitting. Hayden and Everett’s friendship was great before. But their love? Took it to the next level. It was beautiful. The insecurities, the spice, the amazing friends supporting them through it. Absolute perfection.

I laughed. I cried (happy cry). I got goosebumps.

My heart is so full after reading this one. They are easily one of my top couples of all time, and I really don’t say that lightly. So, get off your bum and put this on your TBR.

PS. The spicy scenes were 🥵🥵 you’ll thank me later. 😉

[Whitney Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In a small town, everyone knows everyone else and their business, but Clementine Creek is all the best stereotypes, and the Thayers are no different."

Alexandra Hale has officially dipped her toes into the MM world with Hayden and Everett, and she delivered their story with grace and love.

Hale brings us back to Clementine Creek, to the small town where these two lifelong best friends turn to lovers with such ease and perfection it leaves the reader needing that type of love in their own worlds!

Let us all take a bit of time to implement serious talks and slow dances, playing Bright Eyes in the background, to keep our world spinning round.

You'll find all of usual southern charm we expect out of Clementine Creek, and get to visit a few of our favorite couples with this one!

[Emily Johnston (Booked.Up.With.Emily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, but super sweet novella.

Hayden and Everett have been best friends for the majority of their lives. They have been there for each other in every way. But both of them are keeping a secret from each other.

Hayden is in love with his straight best friend Everett.

Everett is secretly gay and in love with his best friend Hayden.

So when they go on a trip for a friends wedding, Everett makes it his mission to tell Hayden his true feelings. And once he does, their relationship is just so cute. Even with it being a novella, the author hit on the major milestones for the couples intimacy and you can just tell that they were made for each other.

The side characters in this book were fantastic and I will definitely be going back to read the previous books in this series.

[Mary Pruett · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I’ve missed him for so long, and I didn’t even know he was right in front of me."

First of all, I should mention that I've never read MM romance. I haven't shied away, it's just never crossed my path in a way that made me take notice. This book, though. Oh the feels. It was perfection, just utter perfection. I had to stop a couple of times to dry my eyes (no 3rd act badness, just happy tears), but it was that perfect story of 2 people who were meant to be together and did it! For those of you who are not into open door 🌶️🌶️, I'm sorry. This has it, but it's not obscene. If you think a steamy scene can be written tastefully, then you'll be ok.

Arc provided by author in exchange for honest review. Thank you, Alexandra!

[readingwithShelbyyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out In The Country
Alexandra Hale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC for Out in the Country!

Read if you like:
* Small town romance
* Friends to lovers
* Forced proximity

Hayden and Everett

They have been best friends for all of their lives, been there for each other in every way. But both of them are keeping a secret from each other. It’s super cute their relationship - Hayden is in love with his straight best friend but little does he know, Everett is gay and also in love with him! AHHHH!

When they go to a friends wedding, and may I add - sharing the same bed! Everett is planning on telling Hayden his true feels for him.

Does their one drunken kiss lead to something more? Read and find out!

[Molly Scicluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and swoony MM romance. I've loved the Clementine Creek series and getting Everett and Hayden's story was the perfect addition.

It's best friends to lovers, with one of the MMCs acknowledging his sexuality and fully embracing his true self. The way the characters rallied behind both characters was beautiful. Imagine a world that was supportive of any type of love between humans.

I'm hoping Alexandra decides to dive more into the world of MM romance.

Absolutely loved it!

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good!

This was the perfect little novella to sum up how they get together ❤️❤️

I’m so happy for them and their not even real lol

They guy group text chats just keep getting better and better too 😂😂

This whole book is just majorly swoony. They’ve been friends for years and slowly adjust to being more ❤️❤️

[Lissete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and fun, this friends to lovers gay awakening is everything that’s right in this world.

[Abby Burch · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Kaitie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never tire or reading anything Alexandra Hale writes. I love these characters and this town so much and I can’t wait to come back for more

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hayden and Everett have been best friends since they were teenagers. Hayden came out as a teenager and has lived his life trying to tamp down an attraction to his straight best friend, Everett. Everett is secretly gay and in love with his best friend Hayden. Everett decides a weekend away at a wedding is the perfect time to tell Hayden his true feelings.

This novella was incredible and at a little over 100 pages it is such a quick read. I loved Hayden and Everett so much. They were so sweet with each other and their friendship was such a great way to tell their love story. There were so many moments that just made me swoon, but don't let the sweetness fool you, Alexandra also brings the steam with these two! There are a couple of appearances from our favorite characters from Clementine Creek, which I also loved. There are also great group text message threads with the other boys of Clementine Creek that had me laughing.

Hayden and Everett make appearances in the other Clementine Creek novels and you could read this as a standalone but I recommend reading the whole series. I am so thankful that Alexandra gave Hayden and Everett their own story.

"I already love you Hayden. Would it be so bad to let me fall for you?" -- I mean seriously 🫠🫠🫠🫠

I want to thank Alexandra for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Lindsey Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the prologue this novella had me breathless. Hayden has the sass and Everett can talk dirty with the best of them. Together these two are dynamite, the tension intense.

This is such a wonderful friends to lovers romance from Alexandra Hale. The strong foundation of friendship is evident in their story and it was so understandable that Hayden was initially hesitant - if things went sideways he didn’t want to lose his best friend. I loved that Everett’s confidence in them was enough for Hayden to take the chance. This isn’t slow burn but they did take their evolving relationship slowly which I think suited them both so well.

As always the Clementine Creek text banter is hilarious. While they always rib each other, I love how the Thayer family come together to support one another which is what they did for Everett and Hayden.

This is a standalone novella but I highly recommend reading the rest of the Clementine Creek series, to not only see Everett and Hayden’s friendship in the beginning of the series but to meet the rest of the Thayers as well.

This was my first MM romance and I absolutely adored it.

[Satchel Paige (Southernbellbookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and Sweet

4.5 ⭐️

My good friend recommended this novella to me and I really enjoyed it! Hayden and Everett are childhood best friends who both have secretly been attracted to the other. Where Hayden had been openly gay, Everett had been hiding behind his wants by dating women. Neither of them wanted to cross over those friendship lines because ultimately they are each other’s lifelines.

The first kiss was so much for these two because it came out as a “feck the consequences” kinda kiss and it was on from there! I loved the patience Hayden had with Everett and allowed him to make the decision to take it to a home run. Ev is a dirty talker and knows how to please Hayden, but the growth to complete trust and sharing the experience together was beautiful, steamy, and swoony.

The book club aspect was super fun in this book too and I loved the troping each other (which helps us reviewers lol). Overall, I would definitely rexooment this short and sweet read!

[Victoria Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is about two best friends that find the forever happily ever after.

They have been best friends since childhood, Hayden came out at a younger age while they were growing up. Everett stayed by his side through it all. You pick up with a prologue with them out in Nashville together celebrating Everetts birthday, some sparks come from Everett and Hayden blames it on him being drunk.

Fast forward, they go to a wedding together for a friend at Haydens job and well sparks are lit. You follow their story on how Everett has all of his firsts with his best friend thats hes loved his whole life.

This story is a fantastic read and addition to Clementine Hill. Read it between book 3 and book 4 just for the story to make sense with events.

This MM romance has a bit of insta hotness, if you can call it that. It’s more of a deep friendship that suddenly becomes more.