Uprooting my life from my tiny coastal town on the southern edge of Australia to the dazzling endless sunshine of Southern California was meant to be simple. I had a job lined up at Zimmers surfboards and a room to stay with my bestie and his boyfriend. Simple. Yet finding my feet in a foreign country whilst simultaneously dealing with why I was so, shall we say, stimulated by the nightly acoustics from my loved up roomies was something I wasn’t prepared for. Which might explain why I can’t seem to take my eyes off the sexy, smooth talking barista who makes my morning coffees just the way I like them and who sets my pulse racing. Angel is unlike any guy I have ever met and I am quickly addicted to more than just the daily shot of caffeine. But a love like ours never could run as smooth as Angel’s espressos, especially with my chaotic family and a much-loved baby brother who needs me now more than ever.
Never Giving You Up lures you into a world of love, self-discovery and confusing Aussie slang, a tale low on angst but high on sweetness with one rather adorable (and maybe a little innocent) Australian and a smooth-talking charmer who leaves one young customer a little tongue tied. Contains tender M/M moments that will steal your heart away and never give it back.
I'm a coastal girl at heart (total shocker if you've read any of my books) and sometimes I just can't imagine a better place to find love than a hot summer's eve on a sandy beach.
Throw in a strong coffee or a glass of Australian Riesling and what more could you ask from life?
I spend far too much energy daylighting as a corporate lawyer in the wine and spirits world. I write to escape the real world which is nowhere near us fun. I hail from Adelaide, Australia and I hope you enjoy this little window into my corner of the globe.
Well… how can you read the most perfect story of love, selfishness, surrender and perfection and feel mehhhh at the end??? I’m probably broken ( I blame my book buddy Barbara for this🙏🥰😘❤️🫶).
This was incredibly sweet, endearing, full of friendship, found family, and always putting others first. And I like it I did, but at some point everything was so predictable and lame… that I was just going through this…
We meet Jesse in the previous book and he came do California with Ty and Finn. We didn’t now that he’s been taking care of his baby brother since ever, because his addicted mother just can’t… the problem is that coming to Cali meant leaving his brother with his neglecting mother and things go very wrong, to the point we’re they both join Jesse in USA….he meets barista Angel…what a treat… he is the perfect character… a bit to much maybe? He just leaves everything for his man and baby brother and in a few week they are living HEA…. Marriage adoption the works! His family is that king of OTT who supports gay son/nephew, who like to meddle, who plan marriage and grandchildren on the first time they meet.
“He brought my hand up to his mouth, grazing kisses along my knuckles. ‘Will you be mine, Jesse?’ he asked quietly. My heart started a loud thud in my ears at those words, my whole being flooding with light and liquid heat.‘ Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?’ I asked. ‘Yes. Mine. In every way,’ he answered, those thick lashes low on his eyes. He sure had a way with words this man of mine. I knew I could say that now because that’s what he was. Mine. Officially.‘ I’m pretty sure I already am yours,’ I told him. ‘But in case you need me to say it, then yes, I will be yours, Angel Estrava. As long as I can call you mine.’”🥹
Awwww right? And look at this:
“I can’t breathe when you’re unhappy, cariño,’ he said into my ear, his nose tracing my neck and making the hairs there stand on end.” 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠
Jesse’s mother was such a dormat character… she was a shitty person but we always felt kind of bad because she was so bland…
And Robbie… I can find a reason for his existence… he adds nothing… just annoyance…
“I had the most beautiful ache inside me this morning, testament to the way Angel had treasured my body last night.”
There were some very hot , explicit moments with Jesse coming to terms with his bisexuality. but them… Aria throws this at us:
“Why don’t you come inside, little Aussie,’ Angel rasped, his mouth moving down my neck to trace along my shoulder. ‘It’s time you learnt the difference between making love and being well and truly fucked.”
And you get all fired up and then……. Nada, niente, zero, nothing, zilch… I don’t want to sound like a dirty old lady ( ok… maybe a little) but I wanted…. Truly wanted to see them just being a bit rough and not all loving dovey…..Girl… I.Need.to.know! It’s important stuff that can’t be fade to black ok? We need all the details 🔥
I thing I’m not being fair and I should believe in this kind of love story, but even with the pain and angst Jesse goes through and gets over it with Angel’s help… I didn’t feel this angst… I was just there… it felt easy?!
Abused use of the word best friend - just use Ty ok? And boyfriend… he’s name is Angel… use it pls!
🍯 material right here and I love how this justifies the insta love we get in this one, I bought it :
“I love you too, Angel,’ he said to me then, the words so sweet and so full of his emotion that I felt them to my core. ‘I love you, Jesse,’ I told him, kissing his forehead, my hands still in his hair.‘I love you so much. Too much maybe,’ he said. ‘I don’t know how to deal with all these feelings I have for you, Angel.’ ‘I know exactly what you mean,’ I assured him. ‘I feel it too.’‘It seems too soon to feel this much. But I just don’t feel like I can stop this. I don’t think I can live without you anymore, Angel,’ Jesse told me, his voice cracking with emotion. ‘How did we get this way?’‘We got this way because you were made for me and I was made for you,’ I told him, cupping his cheek with my hand. ‘And you arrived in my life from your distant land at the precise moment we both needed to find each other. I don’t want this to stop either.’
Lameness overload 🫶
So, if you are looking for a pure love story, low angst and perfection everywhere, this is for you!
”I had never felt this way about anyone before, had never been so deep in feelings and emotions that were almost too much for me to process.”
Never Giving You Up is one of my favourite reads of the year. Aria Brennan knew what she was doing when she created Jesse and Angel; it was honestly impossible not to get swept up in their story and fall in love with them both.
This is the second book in the Never Been The Same series. It follows the best friend of Ty Kingsley from the first book, Jesse - another Aussie who’s made his way out to the US to work for Ty’s boyfriend, Finn - as he navigates a new life in another country.
I fell so hard for Jesse. He’s one of those characters I’d do anything to protect. He just… he works so hard and tries so hard and until he met Angel he got so little back in return. I was so glad he had Ty as a friend. He deserves to have someone watching his back and rooting for him the same way he does for others. His relationship with his baby brother was just the sweetest thing ever and they both deserve the world. And Angel, well, Angel is the biggest sweetheart and I would also do anything for him. He’s a smooth talking, gorgeous Puerto Rican coffee aficionado/expert barista, with a heart of gold. He has an amazing support network of family and friends who adore him, and he makes sure that Jesse and Brady are enveloped with love and kindness from day one.
The need to protect and to care for in Never Giving You Up was palpable. From Angel’s behaviour towards Jesse and Brady, to his big, welcoming family I loved, loved, loved the homey and nurturing vibe of the Estrada family and their restaurants. Their kindness was lovely. I mean, this quote alone made me feel some kinda way. It was like a warm hug on a cold day: “I would be standing at Jesse's back until the very end, for as long as it took until he let me stand by his side.”
The imagery this story conjures was absolutely stunning. I felt like I was walking alongside Jesse every time he went down to No Angel for coffee. I was there beside Angel every time he entered his family restaurant. When they were out in the desert and when they were out with Brady. I could see it all so clearly in my mind and I loved every second.
Honestly, I’m going to re-read this a thousand times. It’ll probably become one of my comfort books.
Please enjoy one of my favourite quotes:
“I wasn’t afraid of what this was, of where he and I were going. I wanted him and I wanted to be with him. I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else than right there in his family’s restaurant, the sounds of Latin music and laughter and joy and life all around us and me, tucked up safe in my boyfriend’s arms.”
*I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Never Giving You Up by Aria Brennan Book 2, Never Been the Same series
*CW* mentions of addiction & parental abandonment
"I see someone my soul loves, someone my heart adores, someone my eyes desire and someone my body worships. You are everything I have ever wanted, Jesse Murphy. You say you are not enough? Well f*ck that because to me, you are everything."
Sweet, slightly innocent Jesse moves to California to work for Finn’s surfboard company (we met Finn in Book 1) While searching for a decent cup of coffee he stumbles into No Angel, Angel Estrava’s coffee shop. The attraction is immediate and mutual. But Jesse’s straight – isn’t he?
Angel is the sweetest book boyfriend! Never one to get deeper than surface level he instantly wants to help, protect and provide for Jesse. Jesse has had to raise himself and be there for his little brother. The idea of letting Angel in is both frightening and irresistible to Jesse.
If you like reading about:
🏄🏼 Sweet Aussie surfer ☕ Hot Puerto Rican barista 🏄🏼 Cute little brother ☕ Low angst, high steam 🏄🏼 Best friends ☕ Meddling but loving family 🏄🏼 First times ☕ Do-anything-for-you MC
I’m loving this series! Such feel good, low angst romances. Never Giving You Up is book 2 in the Never Been the Same series, by Aria Brennan. Each book can be read as a standalone but have connecting characters—recommend reading in order for maximum enjoyment 🤗.
Highlights: 🩷instant connection 🩷bi-awakening 🩷found family 🩷so damn sweet
Favorite quote:
“Holy. F*ck. Okay, yep, hold my white flag. I was calling it. I was definitely bi. A signed up, sworn in, card holding party member of the bisexual club. This guy had somehow twisted up all my insides and left me tongue tied and now I was standing there staring at him while all thoughts of coffee fled my mind.”
Looking forward to reading more from this author/series. 👏🏻👏🏻
boy, did I love reading this story. A sweet, innocent young Aussie and greed eyed Puerto Rican coffee wizard, my personal perfect match. Unfortunately, not all is perfect in Jesse's life. He moved to the US in order to help Finn with the USA branch of the family company having to leave his younger brother behind in Australia. I adored Angel's family and the heart-warming welcome Jesse was given. The family not only welcomed him but rather engulfed him and his little brother. Considering the way Jesse and his brother had lived before, that selfless kindness made me tear up a little. What I loved most about the story was Angel and Jesse's dynamic. It was sweet and playful but also serious when needed. Angel deserves his name :)
What will we do for our families? What does the journey from here look like?
I first fell in love with this series with Finn and Ty; I have to say that I think Angel and Jesse's story might be my favorite so far. Jesse has been the main care giver for his younger brother, Brady. Angel and his family jumped in to help Jesse and Brady (whose mother is TERRIBLE) and show them what family should really look like. This book is about journeys, and families, and is low angst. Definitely worth reading. Can't wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Indie Author Creative and am voluntarily leaving a review.
cute and sweet and i KNEW it was low angst so i was prepped for all the issues to be saved thru the power of love even if it took a lot for my reasoning to ignore that no way their adoption and visa got processed that fast just bc they got married but. suuuuper sweet. i did not like the way angel is described in the beginning "sexy spanish accent" made me cringe but its whatever. still cute! i had other grievances but im currently crashing the fuck out over something so i have to finish that up before im open to actually critique anything
Jesse and Angel were such an adorable couple. I loved how they first net and the journey they took together. Jesse was the world's best big brother, trying to protect Brady from a terrible upbringing. I loved how Angel jumped in to help no questions asked. His family was so loving, caring, accepting, and giving to two boys who desperately needed it. Can't wait for more from this world.
Okay are parts of this maybe a little unrealistic? Yes. Do I care? Absolutely not. Jesse & Angel are absolutely fantastic together. Their love and devotion to one another is so well done. I love that Angel is finally a person that Jesse can rely on. Someone that he can share his burdens with when he’s never had that before. Jesse also gives Angel the love that he never thought he’d find. And Brady, Jesse’s little brother, completes their family so well. I just adored this book!
I liked the characters and their chemistry. The book is overall well written I just found the overall storyline a bit more drab than the first book. I plan to read the next in the series.
This incredible story deserves more recognition. Jesse and Angel's love story is one of those, insta-connection between main characters, stories that's easy to believe because it's so well-written. The characters immediately steal our hearts, and it's impossible not to fall for them from the very first page. Jesse's family situation with his mother and her addiction is a significant thread in the story, as Jesse has a younger brother for whom he wants the best. When the situation becomes serious, he can count on his friends, but Angel also steps in, giving Jesse the feeling from the very beginning that he is not alone and can count on him. This book also features some amazing background characters from Angel's family. The bond between the characters that develops into a deep love, the sweet moments they experience together, the support they provide each other, all surrounded by a wonderful family, beautiful Californian landscapes, and the sound of the ocean. I was incredibly captivated by this story and I recommend it to everyone.