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The Beginning of Always #2
Most Of You
There he was…
Shirtless.
Wearing glasses.
Chopping wood like some kind of fantasy lumberjack.
And Emil was officially helpless.
Moving to the East Coast, Emil was there for two things exactly: to become a better person, and to face the part of his past he’d spent his entire life avoiding.
He most certainly hadn't planned on falling in love.
It was one thing to sleep with his absurdly hot neighbor for a single, steamy one-night-stand, but it was quite another to become friends. And the longer Emil knows Renzo, the harder it is to walk away.
However, Emil has no faith in his ability to change, no matter how hard he tries, and he just wishes Renzo would believe him. He just wishes the man would stop giving him hope that behind those soft kisses was everything he’d ever wanted, and more.
Most Of You is a stand-alone, angsty, one-night-stand to lovers romance with mall Santa mishaps, bonfires, New Year's kisses, the merits of a well-made hot chocolate, tons of praise, and a steamy, swoony happily ever after.
Shirtless.
Wearing glasses.
Chopping wood like some kind of fantasy lumberjack.
And Emil was officially helpless.
Moving to the East Coast, Emil was there for two things exactly: to become a better person, and to face the part of his past he’d spent his entire life avoiding.
He most certainly hadn't planned on falling in love.
It was one thing to sleep with his absurdly hot neighbor for a single, steamy one-night-stand, but it was quite another to become friends. And the longer Emil knows Renzo, the harder it is to walk away.
However, Emil has no faith in his ability to change, no matter how hard he tries, and he just wishes Renzo would believe him. He just wishes the man would stop giving him hope that behind those soft kisses was everything he’d ever wanted, and more.
Most Of You is a stand-alone, angsty, one-night-stand to lovers romance with mall Santa mishaps, bonfires, New Year's kisses, the merits of a well-made hot chocolate, tons of praise, and a steamy, swoony happily ever after.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 20, 2023
200 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Lindsey
142 books1,395 followersE.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 24, 2023
I can’t bring myself to root for two characters when they both feel emotionally unavailable.
I’m gonna keep this short and get straight to the point because I’m kind of tired of writing very analytical, long reviews that take up so much time. I want to get used to these quicker, shorter reviews that get to the point. 😅
I’m rating this two stars because I felt some things for the characters: Emil’s past with his mother, his need to grow from his mistakes, Renzo’s past with his ex-husband, caretaking for his brother. But other than that, this wasn’t enjoyable. I had a hard time pinpointing whose perspective I was in, it was difficult to connect with both characters, and there were things that didn’t feel authentic to who the characters were.
Both of their personalities weren’t distinguishable and didn’t feel fully fleshed out. We knew a few things about both men, but most of it comes down to their pasts, not who they are as people. There’s enough to know what to imagine in terms of appearance, but not enough to connect with them emotionally. I struggled knowing who was who at certain times due to their personalities feeling identical. Other than the obvious—Emil coming from wealth, not knowing a lot of basic things, and Renzo being a lumberjack-type and caretaker for his brother—they were not that different and there wasn’t that much to tell them apart.
One moment Emil is a shy, insecure virgin, with Renzo praising and complimenting him. Next thing you know, Emil’s in charge, taking control, knowing what Renzo needs, with Renzo coming off as the insecure one, unsure of what he wants and needs, lacking his previous confidence. It’s not to say there can’t be versatility, but it came across as forced. The sex also started to feel overabundant, taking up too much out of the relationship they were trying to figure out. It was as if their personalities would take turns. As someone who would usually eat up the praise kink, it became bland here, repetitive even.
Both Renzo and Emil felt emotionally unavailable due to their pasts. I thought Emil needed more time talking about his childhood trauma, his complex relationship with his father, and his need to make amends for his mistakes. Meanwhile, Renzo didn’t feel necessarily ready for a new relationship, as if his past with his toxic ex-husband was still a big issue for him and unresolved. Both men didn’t feel ready to move on from what they were trying to move on from in the first place. Sometimes it felt like both characters were using each other as an excuse to not worry about it. The relationship wasn’t developed enough. It didn’t feel like there was enough intimacy due to their pushing and pulling. Normally I love a good push and pull, but not when both characters continue pushing each other away because they know they’re struggling emotionally through issues that can’t just be solved through love. It’d be different if the reasoning was only because of insecurity, uncertainty, lack of confidence, and miscommunication (like assuming and judging). It’s not to say two men in the positions of Emil and Renzo can’t have a relationship, but it felt like both men didn’t know what they wanted yet still acted on impulsivity to have some sort of connection.
Emil still lying to Victor until the end was so contradictory to what he wanted to do. As if lying in Halo wasn’t enough. What was the point of feeling bad for how he acted and treated Victor only to still do the same?
I don’t want to make it seem like this book was a total dud because it did have some things I appreciated.
Once again, E.M. Lindsey adds some disability representation to their story, with Matty (Renzo’s younger brother) having Williams syndrome, or WS for short. I can’t exactly comment on it as I am no professional, but I will comment and say that the author doesn’t make it his entirely personality. Matty is a wonderful addition to the story, and the sibling relationship between him and Renzo is beautiful. I have a biased, sweet spot for sibling relationships, mainly because I have an older brother myself, so reading about them always warms my heart. The brother-bond between them is strong and heartwarming. Renzo never treats Matty differently but clearly cares for him in a caretaking way and not just as an older brother. However, he doesn’t treat Matty like a child and respects his boundaries and wishes.
There is also a lovely friendship between Emil and his new friend, Dahlia, which I appreciated greatly. I think too often, relationships between men and women isn’t explored enough in romances. Dahlia is also not a stereotypical, rude woman who comes off as completely unlikable. She has her own character traits but nothing too extravagant that makes her ignorant. It’s nice to see this change considering most of the time, the women in these MM novels fall under two categories: super villain or nosy friend. Dahlia is neither, and instead just someone Emil could rely on a little, talk with, and come to care for.
I loved Halo a lot. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of this year. It was emotional, genuine, passionate, and incredibly intimate. This was lacking all of that. The relationship felt superficial, dry, and very underdeveloped. Both characters lacked depth, the emotional connection was weak, and it was missing character development.
I’m gonna keep this short and get straight to the point because I’m kind of tired of writing very analytical, long reviews that take up so much time. I want to get used to these quicker, shorter reviews that get to the point. 😅
I’m rating this two stars because I felt some things for the characters: Emil’s past with his mother, his need to grow from his mistakes, Renzo’s past with his ex-husband, caretaking for his brother. But other than that, this wasn’t enjoyable. I had a hard time pinpointing whose perspective I was in, it was difficult to connect with both characters, and there were things that didn’t feel authentic to who the characters were.
Both of their personalities weren’t distinguishable and didn’t feel fully fleshed out. We knew a few things about both men, but most of it comes down to their pasts, not who they are as people. There’s enough to know what to imagine in terms of appearance, but not enough to connect with them emotionally. I struggled knowing who was who at certain times due to their personalities feeling identical. Other than the obvious—Emil coming from wealth, not knowing a lot of basic things, and Renzo being a lumberjack-type and caretaker for his brother—they were not that different and there wasn’t that much to tell them apart.
One moment Emil is a shy, insecure virgin, with Renzo praising and complimenting him. Next thing you know, Emil’s in charge, taking control, knowing what Renzo needs, with Renzo coming off as the insecure one, unsure of what he wants and needs, lacking his previous confidence. It’s not to say there can’t be versatility, but it came across as forced. The sex also started to feel overabundant, taking up too much out of the relationship they were trying to figure out. It was as if their personalities would take turns. As someone who would usually eat up the praise kink, it became bland here, repetitive even.
Both Renzo and Emil felt emotionally unavailable due to their pasts. I thought Emil needed more time talking about his childhood trauma, his complex relationship with his father, and his need to make amends for his mistakes. Meanwhile, Renzo didn’t feel necessarily ready for a new relationship, as if his past with his toxic ex-husband was still a big issue for him and unresolved. Both men didn’t feel ready to move on from what they were trying to move on from in the first place. Sometimes it felt like both characters were using each other as an excuse to not worry about it. The relationship wasn’t developed enough. It didn’t feel like there was enough intimacy due to their pushing and pulling. Normally I love a good push and pull, but not when both characters continue pushing each other away because they know they’re struggling emotionally through issues that can’t just be solved through love. It’d be different if the reasoning was only because of insecurity, uncertainty, lack of confidence, and miscommunication (like assuming and judging). It’s not to say two men in the positions of Emil and Renzo can’t have a relationship, but it felt like both men didn’t know what they wanted yet still acted on impulsivity to have some sort of connection.
Emil still lying to Victor until the end was so contradictory to what he wanted to do. As if lying in Halo wasn’t enough. What was the point of feeling bad for how he acted and treated Victor only to still do the same?
I don’t want to make it seem like this book was a total dud because it did have some things I appreciated.
Once again, E.M. Lindsey adds some disability representation to their story, with Matty (Renzo’s younger brother) having Williams syndrome, or WS for short. I can’t exactly comment on it as I am no professional, but I will comment and say that the author doesn’t make it his entirely personality. Matty is a wonderful addition to the story, and the sibling relationship between him and Renzo is beautiful. I have a biased, sweet spot for sibling relationships, mainly because I have an older brother myself, so reading about them always warms my heart. The brother-bond between them is strong and heartwarming. Renzo never treats Matty differently but clearly cares for him in a caretaking way and not just as an older brother. However, he doesn’t treat Matty like a child and respects his boundaries and wishes.
There is also a lovely friendship between Emil and his new friend, Dahlia, which I appreciated greatly. I think too often, relationships between men and women isn’t explored enough in romances. Dahlia is also not a stereotypical, rude woman who comes off as completely unlikable. She has her own character traits but nothing too extravagant that makes her ignorant. It’s nice to see this change considering most of the time, the women in these MM novels fall under two categories: super villain or nosy friend. Dahlia is neither, and instead just someone Emil could rely on a little, talk with, and come to care for.
I loved Halo a lot. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of this year. It was emotional, genuine, passionate, and incredibly intimate. This was lacking all of that. The relationship felt superficial, dry, and very underdeveloped. Both characters lacked depth, the emotional connection was weak, and it was missing character development.
August 12, 2024
I DONT KNOW HOW TO RATE THIS.
I kind of liked it but then I did not, I was invested into the story but also not. It’s complicated…there were a bunch of things that just didn’t speak to me and I felt no connection to the characters both were so unreachable for me.
I kind of liked it but then I did not, I was invested into the story but also not. It’s complicated…there were a bunch of things that just didn’t speak to me and I felt no connection to the characters both were so unreachable for me.
Read
December 29, 2023DNF at 40% - I just didn’t want to power thru. I was turned off by the “one night stand” between Renzo and Emil that I almost stopped there. I have never read a scene that was almost devoid of any passion and chemistry. It was as unsatisfying as a sex scene could be. Emil acted like a weird, insecure virgin when we all know he was a man about town in Halo. Like who was this guy in this book? And Renzo just felt strange and awkward. It was actually quite off putting.
The coincidences in this book were ridiculous and served what purpose? Oliver just happens to be friends with Renzo? Emil just happens to dress as Santa - and this one felt underhanded and felt kinda gross in the way Matty was used for this purpose.
I have absolutely no emotional connection to the MCs.
Also, Renzo wasn’t Matty’s caregiver. He was merely filling in for their sister while she was on vacation. That just felt a bit underhanded since Renzo didn’t want to be the main caregiver - positioning him as such felt inauthentic and another way Matty felt like a prop.
Also, Emil hiding the death of his mother from Victor when the whole issue was Emil keeping secrets from Victor felt like Emil wasn’t changing. He didn’t have to share how demented his mother was when she was alive but he should’ve been up front about why he was moving.
I’m sure all of this comes to light later but I don’t care enough to continue.
The coincidences in this book were ridiculous and served what purpose? Oliver just happens to be friends with Renzo? Emil just happens to dress as Santa - and this one felt underhanded and felt kinda gross in the way Matty was used for this purpose.
I have absolutely no emotional connection to the MCs.
Also, Renzo wasn’t Matty’s caregiver. He was merely filling in for their sister while she was on vacation. That just felt a bit underhanded since Renzo didn’t want to be the main caregiver - positioning him as such felt inauthentic and another way Matty felt like a prop.
Also, Emil hiding the death of his mother from Victor when the whole issue was Emil keeping secrets from Victor felt like Emil wasn’t changing. He didn’t have to share how demented his mother was when she was alive but he should’ve been up front about why he was moving.
I’m sure all of this comes to light later but I don’t care enough to continue.
Read
December 22, 2023DNF at 45% I liked Emil and Renzo separately but I didn’t feel their connection. They felt awkward and stiff together and the spice was not hot. The dirty talk was awkward. I just didn’t feel the connection between them.
Plus there were a lot inconsistencies, like Emil was a supposed playboy with lots of lovers but he became an awkward, unsure, blushing virgin in the bedroom with Renzo.
Plus the house in Rhode Island not being able to be sold is ridiculous because the housing market here is bonkers.
Plus there were too many coincidental events that it became unrealistic.
The best part of this story was by far Dahlia and Matty, the side characters.
Plus there were a lot inconsistencies, like Emil was a supposed playboy with lots of lovers but he became an awkward, unsure, blushing virgin in the bedroom with Renzo.
Plus the house in Rhode Island not being able to be sold is ridiculous because the housing market here is bonkers.
Plus there were too many coincidental events that it became unrealistic.
The best part of this story was by far Dahlia and Matty, the side characters.
December 20, 2023
How can you not fall in love with a lumberjack-wannabe science nerd with a wicked sense of humor, who also happily takes care of his disabled younger brother? And Emil … his is a true redemption story of a man wanting to better himself for the sake of others.
Since I’ve finished Halo, I’ve been looking forward to getting to know Emil better. His book is heartbreaking and inspirational but also incredibly sexy at the same time. Emil is so lost and has no idea how to become a better person, after breaking the trust of his long-time friend. He accidentally meets his dead mother‘s neighbor and is immediately drawn to Renzo. They are slow and cautious … eventually … after they start out with a hot one-night stand (that fails spectacularly at staying a one-time thing). Renzo‘s life is complicated as it is, his soul is broken by his toxic ex-husband, he’s not able to put his trust in anybody. Yet Emil intrigues him, he wants to fix the broken man so badly, even to the detriment of himself. Both Renzo and Emil are incredibly lonely and afraid to get attached to anyone, yet the kindness and total honesty they show each other call them back time and time again. I don’t know how Lindsey did it again but we meet two unique and flawed characters that just deserve love so badly. I enjoyed their tender, sweet moments, this whole book is just gentle and so raw, I could feel how petrified Emil and Renzo were to expose their most innermost thoughts. We get glimpses of Oliver and Victor from Halo and get to enjoy two new side characters, Renzo’s adorable younger brother and Emil’s new fiery friend. Another beautiful, emotional story from Lindsey that I will be rereading time and time again.
Redemption Story
Some Angst
Great Side Characters
Steamy
I received a copy of this book from the author via Chaotic Creative Services, and this is my honest review.
Since I’ve finished Halo, I’ve been looking forward to getting to know Emil better. His book is heartbreaking and inspirational but also incredibly sexy at the same time. Emil is so lost and has no idea how to become a better person, after breaking the trust of his long-time friend. He accidentally meets his dead mother‘s neighbor and is immediately drawn to Renzo. They are slow and cautious … eventually … after they start out with a hot one-night stand (that fails spectacularly at staying a one-time thing). Renzo‘s life is complicated as it is, his soul is broken by his toxic ex-husband, he’s not able to put his trust in anybody. Yet Emil intrigues him, he wants to fix the broken man so badly, even to the detriment of himself. Both Renzo and Emil are incredibly lonely and afraid to get attached to anyone, yet the kindness and total honesty they show each other call them back time and time again. I don’t know how Lindsey did it again but we meet two unique and flawed characters that just deserve love so badly. I enjoyed their tender, sweet moments, this whole book is just gentle and so raw, I could feel how petrified Emil and Renzo were to expose their most innermost thoughts. We get glimpses of Oliver and Victor from Halo and get to enjoy two new side characters, Renzo’s adorable younger brother and Emil’s new fiery friend. Another beautiful, emotional story from Lindsey that I will be rereading time and time again.
Redemption Story
Some Angst
Great Side Characters
Steamy
I received a copy of this book from the author via Chaotic Creative Services, and this is my honest review.
December 27, 2023
This was pretty good. The streak of hit and miss on this author continues. (For me) some books are really good and others are just pretty bad. It's really weird.
This one wasn't perfect and it did have some bits that annoyed me, like how both MCs were probably not ready for a relationship at that point but in the end the author made it almost believable so I went with it and just let the feels take over.
This one wasn't perfect and it did have some bits that annoyed me, like how both MCs were probably not ready for a relationship at that point but in the end the author made it almost believable so I went with it and just let the feels take over.
March 31, 2024
OMG love this story!
Such an emotional read with huggable moments, tears, found family and 💜
Emil and Renzo are just perfect and the time and communication and brotherly love from Emil to Mattie just made me melt!
Cheating exes , meddling best friends, New friends, angst and past drama ...just it's got it all
Such an emotional read with huggable moments, tears, found family and 💜
Emil and Renzo are just perfect and the time and communication and brotherly love from Emil to Mattie just made me melt!
Cheating exes , meddling best friends, New friends, angst and past drama ...just it's got it all
December 8, 2024
4⭐️
Emil moves across the country to confront his past and to try to be a better person. The first time he lays eyes on Renzo he knows he's in trouble. Emil struggles to believe he can the be the man Renzo needs, but with each moment they spend together he just can't stay away from the man who gives him so much hope for a better future.
Emil and Renzo are just meant to be, no matter how much they try to fight it. Emil is coming to terms with why he's struggled so much to process his emotions, but I loved how he took charge of his change even if he doubted he could do it. Renzo believes in him so much that Emil has no choice but to believe in himself too. Renzo is wary of a relationship after divorcing his emotionally abusive ex, but Emil couldn't be more honest and understanding. For all that they think they don't deserve love, they both care greatly for the other and are so sweet and gentle with their new feelings.
This book reminded me of Halo (the first in the series) where I'm invested but then after a while I get tired of the back and forth "we can't do this but I want you" and just want them to get on with it already. But also just like Halo I loved the whole cast of characters and the relationship was so sweet. Matty was the best and I loved how Renzo was able to play the caretaker role while remaining a brother and friend, knowing how important that was. I loved Dahlia and wish she didn't fall away at the end, but I also was excited to see some more Oliver and Victor. I didn't intend this to be a holiday read but it was perfect for the winter season!
Read if you like:
• hurt/comfort
• one night stand to lovers
• disability rep
•••••••••••••••••••••
Emil moves across the country to confront his past and to try to be a better person. The first time he lays eyes on Renzo he knows he's in trouble. Emil struggles to believe he can the be the man Renzo needs, but with each moment they spend together he just can't stay away from the man who gives him so much hope for a better future.
Emil and Renzo are just meant to be, no matter how much they try to fight it. Emil is coming to terms with why he's struggled so much to process his emotions, but I loved how he took charge of his change even if he doubted he could do it. Renzo believes in him so much that Emil has no choice but to believe in himself too. Renzo is wary of a relationship after divorcing his emotionally abusive ex, but Emil couldn't be more honest and understanding. For all that they think they don't deserve love, they both care greatly for the other and are so sweet and gentle with their new feelings.
This book reminded me of Halo (the first in the series) where I'm invested but then after a while I get tired of the back and forth "we can't do this but I want you" and just want them to get on with it already. But also just like Halo I loved the whole cast of characters and the relationship was so sweet. Matty was the best and I loved how Renzo was able to play the caretaker role while remaining a brother and friend, knowing how important that was. I loved Dahlia and wish she didn't fall away at the end, but I also was excited to see some more Oliver and Victor. I didn't intend this to be a holiday read but it was perfect for the winter season!
Read if you like:
• hurt/comfort
• one night stand to lovers
• disability rep
•••••••••••••••••••••
August 15, 2025
4.5 stars for the narration, 3.5 stars for the story
I liked this story about two mature men with a lot of baggage to overcome - one because of an emotionally abusive marriage, the other having endured a traumatic childhood with a mother with severe mental illness and a father who just wasn't around.
There's maybe a bit too much back-and-forth as they try to work out if they're in the right headspace for a relationship, but the miscommunication between them serves to illuminate their insecurities and then to help them to start coming to terms with them and working out how to move forward. Ultimately, Emil and Renzo very obviously care for each other a great deal and I liked how they were able to support each other and foster a sense of self-belief in one another.
Iggy Toma is a favourite narrator, so I picked this one up in audio confident that I'd enjoy the performance - and I did. My only criticisms are that Emil and Renzo are sometimes difficult to tell apart as their voices are both in the same register, and that the slight accent given to Emil (he's half-Norwegian) sometimes disappears. But it's a good performance overall, and I enjoyed the listen.
I liked this story about two mature men with a lot of baggage to overcome - one because of an emotionally abusive marriage, the other having endured a traumatic childhood with a mother with severe mental illness and a father who just wasn't around.
There's maybe a bit too much back-and-forth as they try to work out if they're in the right headspace for a relationship, but the miscommunication between them serves to illuminate their insecurities and then to help them to start coming to terms with them and working out how to move forward. Ultimately, Emil and Renzo very obviously care for each other a great deal and I liked how they were able to support each other and foster a sense of self-belief in one another.
Iggy Toma is a favourite narrator, so I picked this one up in audio confident that I'd enjoy the performance - and I did. My only criticisms are that Emil and Renzo are sometimes difficult to tell apart as their voices are both in the same register, and that the slight accent given to Emil (he's half-Norwegian) sometimes disappears. But it's a good performance overall, and I enjoyed the listen.
July 27, 2024
4.5 stars
So beautiful, a very well written ARC redemption for Emil.
He wasn't a good friend for Victor (Halo) and in this book he beats himself up over his own behaviour. We get to know Emil's past and all the pain his parents put him through and a lot of things about him finally make sense.
Renzo, Oliver's friend and colleague at college, has been divorced for 3 years, his ex husband was an abusive narcissist who made his life hell. He's got a little brother, Matty, sweet and sassy, whom Renzo wants to protect at every cost (poor Matty was a victim of the evil ex husband too).
Renzo and Emil have a strong connectin since the first day they talked, the night they spent together was emotional for both of them and they reached a level of intimacy non of them have ever experimented before.
They have a lot ot issues: lack of trust, of self worth, fear, insecurities, hurt and starting a relationship is the last thing they need, but it's also very inevitable.
I adored their connection (the sex scenes are highly emotional), but I also loved very much the relationship that Emil built with Matty.
What prevented me from giving five full stars:
I cannot stand abusers, especially when they don't pay for their faults. John deserved worse, in my opinion.
Next book will be about Juno, I cannot wait to start it.
So beautiful, a very well written ARC redemption for Emil.
He wasn't a good friend for Victor (Halo) and in this book he beats himself up over his own behaviour. We get to know Emil's past and all the pain his parents put him through and a lot of things about him finally make sense.
Renzo, Oliver's friend and colleague at college, has been divorced for 3 years, his ex husband was an abusive narcissist who made his life hell. He's got a little brother, Matty, sweet and sassy, whom Renzo wants to protect at every cost (poor Matty was a victim of the evil ex husband too).
Renzo and Emil have a strong connectin since the first day they talked, the night they spent together was emotional for both of them and they reached a level of intimacy non of them have ever experimented before.
They have a lot ot issues: lack of trust, of self worth, fear, insecurities, hurt and starting a relationship is the last thing they need, but it's also very inevitable.
I adored their connection (the sex scenes are highly emotional), but I also loved very much the relationship that Emil built with Matty.
What prevented me from giving five full stars:
I cannot stand abusers, especially when they don't pay for their faults. John deserved worse, in my opinion.
Next book will be about Juno, I cannot wait to start it.
December 21, 2023
Ok....fair warning. I read this book while both kids were home, packing for a trip, aunt flow was visiting and it's only 5 days to Christmas.....
I loved the characters themselves. I loved that both men had life trauma to work through....because duh we all have hard. They were supportive, and yet naive in what the other needed but they talked to each other or our other favorite guys Victor and Ollie from Halo to work it out and figure it out. I loved them and them together.
I appreciated as always Lindsey's disability rep and who Matty was as a character and how he was such a part of their story!!
My hangs up--because I'm me was it felt a little to insta-lovey and certain word or phrases were used very frequently (this could have been made worse due to the 1st paragraph and just something my brain latched on to with 0 significance any other time).
Over all I will probably re-read at a better time in my life to do this story true justice!
I loved the characters themselves. I loved that both men had life trauma to work through....because duh we all have hard. They were supportive, and yet naive in what the other needed but they talked to each other or our other favorite guys Victor and Ollie from Halo to work it out and figure it out. I loved them and them together.
I appreciated as always Lindsey's disability rep and who Matty was as a character and how he was such a part of their story!!
My hangs up--because I'm me was it felt a little to insta-lovey and certain word or phrases were used very frequently (this could have been made worse due to the 1st paragraph and just something my brain latched on to with 0 significance any other time).
Over all I will probably re-read at a better time in my life to do this story true justice!
December 15, 2023
Most of You tells the story of Emil and Renzo. We start with Emil who's come to deal with his mother's estate--a hoarder's house--after not seeing her for years because of her mental illness and complete ruination of Emil's childhood. A neighbor, Renzo, helps him out and they hook-up....with maybe a slight possibility of more in the future. Renzo has his own issues. A chemistry professor, Renzo's ex (a psychology professor) had completely torn him down and gaslighted him before they divorced.
Both Emil and Renzo struggle against their histories--can they trust their feelings or not? A really lovely story of two guys getting better and finding a home with each other.
Both Emil and Renzo struggle against their histories--can they trust their feelings or not? A really lovely story of two guys getting better and finding a home with each other.
December 21, 2023
Two men treated so wrong and neglectful in their pasts and learned to move forward to be better. Emil has never been taught to be compassionate, and when things went so bad in HALO, he had a wake-up call to realize change was needed or he would forever be miserable. Renzos' previous relationship broke his trust in a way that made his not be able to trust himself.
This is one of those stories where both parties understand they need to grow to be better. Mistakes do happen because guess what they're growing. Their passion is exceptional and draws them back even when fear keeps blocking them from going full in. A beautiful love story where, yes, you cry, but the pain is worth the beauty of the overall story.
This is one of those stories where both parties understand they need to grow to be better. Mistakes do happen because guess what they're growing. Their passion is exceptional and draws them back even when fear keeps blocking them from going full in. A beautiful love story where, yes, you cry, but the pain is worth the beauty of the overall story.
January 2, 2024
Two severely damaged men connect despite their fear of anything serious. Remarkably, each time one of them choses flight over fight, it feels genuine rather than repetitive. I'm going to credit that to the author's attention to detail in their traumas. I did skim most of the sex scenes, but I do that with nearly every sex scene anywhere, so don't take that as any kind of warning. Someone wrote that this Emil felt too different from the Emil in the first book, but I did not feel that way, and it's something I'm sensitive to. That, you can take to the bank, as my grandpa would say.
July 3, 2024
A beautiful beautiful story! It had all the ingredients to make you fall in love with all of them. I love that Emil took it upon himself to be better and I love that angels showed up on his path to help him.
Dhalia, the doctor and Matty....Oliver and Vic, pure angels. Matty is the best and always put a smile on my face. And of course Renzo, a pure heart that was a perfect match for Emil.
Again, a great love story, but Matty clearly steals the show, a beautiful soul.
Dhalia, the doctor and Matty....Oliver and Vic, pure angels. Matty is the best and always put a smile on my face. And of course Renzo, a pure heart that was a perfect match for Emil.
Again, a great love story, but Matty clearly steals the show, a beautiful soul.
May 28, 2024
The book took a little to get into, I did NOT like Emil in Halo and Renzo seemed very colorless and mousy. However once we got past the cringy fire scene the pace picked up and the story unfolded smoothly. I was pleased that the miscommunication trope was dealt with quickly and not allowed to linger and sour the mood of the book.
May 16, 2024
Not unlike a slice of Swiss cheese.
Pretty good, at times even delicious, and yet, filled with holes and leaving me wishing I’d chosen a more robust sharp cheddar.
As far as I’m concerned, E.M. Lindsey can do no wrong, and is the best creator of endearing, three-dimensional, LGBTQ+ characters, *specifically* with well-researched and empathetic disability representation, that I’ve come across thus far in my Reading Journey. However, MOY just didn’t measure up for me.
I loved these characters individually, especially Emil and Matty—and I loved the *idea* of Emil and Renzo together—but I couldn’t vibe with this story. I kept feeling like it would be *almost there* again and again, only to feel relatively meh about it in the end.
Mostly, I couldn’t get past the inconsistencies, between this book and Halo and just within the book itself. For example, in Halo, Oliver describes Renzo as “massive” (I believe?) with tattoo sleeves, but in MOY, he’s a Short King with zero tattoo mention, something I feel like Emil would for sure acknowledge, at least to himself. Additionally, in the beginning of the story, Renzo mentions that he grows patchy chest hair, so he waxes everything, and then later, as they’re getting jiggy with it, Renzo’s chest hair is mentioned as a landing zone…if you catch my drift.
I don’t think this story is a total lost cause, but I do feel like the premise to this story had so! much! potential! and just never reached it. Halo was precious and wonderful, and at times I genuinely loved and was excited for MOY, but overall, the storyline felt forced/stilted, like maybe there was a time crunch to get this book released, or the author had a solid concept in mind but the execution didn’t follow through (at least for me). Ultimately, I found myself having to push my way to the end, mostly encouraged by my love for the characters, which was disappointing. 😔
Pretty good, at times even delicious, and yet, filled with holes and leaving me wishing I’d chosen a more robust sharp cheddar.
As far as I’m concerned, E.M. Lindsey can do no wrong, and is the best creator of endearing, three-dimensional, LGBTQ+ characters, *specifically* with well-researched and empathetic disability representation, that I’ve come across thus far in my Reading Journey. However, MOY just didn’t measure up for me.
I loved these characters individually, especially Emil and Matty—and I loved the *idea* of Emil and Renzo together—but I couldn’t vibe with this story. I kept feeling like it would be *almost there* again and again, only to feel relatively meh about it in the end.
Mostly, I couldn’t get past the inconsistencies, between this book and Halo and just within the book itself. For example, in Halo, Oliver describes Renzo as “massive” (I believe?) with tattoo sleeves, but in MOY, he’s a Short King with zero tattoo mention, something I feel like Emil would for sure acknowledge, at least to himself. Additionally, in the beginning of the story, Renzo mentions that he grows patchy chest hair, so he waxes everything, and then later, as they’re getting jiggy with it, Renzo’s chest hair is mentioned as a landing zone…if you catch my drift.
I don’t think this story is a total lost cause, but I do feel like the premise to this story had so! much! potential! and just never reached it. Halo was precious and wonderful, and at times I genuinely loved and was excited for MOY, but overall, the storyline felt forced/stilted, like maybe there was a time crunch to get this book released, or the author had a solid concept in mind but the execution didn’t follow through (at least for me). Ultimately, I found myself having to push my way to the end, mostly encouraged by my love for the characters, which was disappointing. 😔
January 13, 2024
4.75 stars rounded up!
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Emil is in a holding pattern. He’s left his former life behind and moved to the East Coast. He hasn’t told anyone, but his mother has died and he needs to deal with things. But his childhood was so traumatic and he hadn’t seen his mother since he was a teenager. He needs to close this chapter of his life though. Even his few friends don’t know what his life was like and what kind of trauma he’s been dealing with.
Renzo is staying at his sister Camilla’s house with his brother who has Williams Syndrome while she is on vacation. He is a chemistry professor and he’s on Christmas break between semesters to this schedule works out for him. Matty, Renzo’s brother likes things a certain way and they have a good routine going. Matty’s got his job and Renzo loves his brother and he takes both seriously. He notices the man at the house next door that an old lady died while he’s out chopping wood for Matty’s fire. He worries that the man is cold.
When Emil is there trying to get rid of the past, Renzo finds him and helps him with his bonfire 🙂 He invites Emil in and they have a one-night stand. Emil is surprised at how much he enjoys being with Renzo and he takes his number, but he’s not sure he can be someone who deserves Renzo. Emil also makes an unexpected friend who shares the name of her therapist and Emil finally thinks it’s time to start dealing with things. He’s stopped drinking and now it’s time to face the other things that he’s done.
When Emil and Renzo meet again, it’s a totally serendipitous occasion that involved Matty as well. Things are just aligning for these two to get together 🙂 But Renzo and Emil are both very much in their heads and when the get together at the house again, they discover they have more in common than they think – and are connected in other ways. That little discovery just about derails everything.
Emil is trying to be a better man – he feels like he has a lot to atone for. Renzo is totally gun shy because of his narcissistic ex. They are both on unsure footing and they have a lot of stuff going on in their lives that need dealing with. Renzo is trying to make the holidays perfect for his brother as well so there are other pressures too. But maybe, just maybe this new year will be a new beginning for both of them.
As usual E.M. Lindsey is the master of describing characters who are dealing with a lot, showing us their humanity and revealing that imperfect humans are worthy of love. Those characters can then find someone who will love them if they can make themselves vulnerable enough to accept that love. In this book, both Emil and Renzo have experienced trauma and are struggling to figure out their paths forward. This author is quite adept at describing the aftermath of lifetimes of less than stellar experiences. They never sugarcoat the work it takes to deal with the toxicity – including the use of therapy and the difficulty of communicating honestly while acknowledging that the decision to share trauma is a personal decision. I loved the advice that Emil didn’t owe anyone information about his childhood and that sharing that was his decision with those he deemed worthy to know about it. Renzo dealing with his narcissistic ex and understanding the number that had been done on him was debilitating for a while but he begins to realize that he can risk letting Emil into his life. Definitely one of the best holiday or any book I’ve read this year. Two beautifully human characters who deal with their pasts and find the support and love they need and deserve to help each of them heal. Highly recommended.
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Emil is in a holding pattern. He’s left his former life behind and moved to the East Coast. He hasn’t told anyone, but his mother has died and he needs to deal with things. But his childhood was so traumatic and he hadn’t seen his mother since he was a teenager. He needs to close this chapter of his life though. Even his few friends don’t know what his life was like and what kind of trauma he’s been dealing with.
Renzo is staying at his sister Camilla’s house with his brother who has Williams Syndrome while she is on vacation. He is a chemistry professor and he’s on Christmas break between semesters to this schedule works out for him. Matty, Renzo’s brother likes things a certain way and they have a good routine going. Matty’s got his job and Renzo loves his brother and he takes both seriously. He notices the man at the house next door that an old lady died while he’s out chopping wood for Matty’s fire. He worries that the man is cold.
When Emil is there trying to get rid of the past, Renzo finds him and helps him with his bonfire 🙂 He invites Emil in and they have a one-night stand. Emil is surprised at how much he enjoys being with Renzo and he takes his number, but he’s not sure he can be someone who deserves Renzo. Emil also makes an unexpected friend who shares the name of her therapist and Emil finally thinks it’s time to start dealing with things. He’s stopped drinking and now it’s time to face the other things that he’s done.
When Emil and Renzo meet again, it’s a totally serendipitous occasion that involved Matty as well. Things are just aligning for these two to get together 🙂 But Renzo and Emil are both very much in their heads and when the get together at the house again, they discover they have more in common than they think – and are connected in other ways. That little discovery just about derails everything.
Emil is trying to be a better man – he feels like he has a lot to atone for. Renzo is totally gun shy because of his narcissistic ex. They are both on unsure footing and they have a lot of stuff going on in their lives that need dealing with. Renzo is trying to make the holidays perfect for his brother as well so there are other pressures too. But maybe, just maybe this new year will be a new beginning for both of them.
As usual E.M. Lindsey is the master of describing characters who are dealing with a lot, showing us their humanity and revealing that imperfect humans are worthy of love. Those characters can then find someone who will love them if they can make themselves vulnerable enough to accept that love. In this book, both Emil and Renzo have experienced trauma and are struggling to figure out their paths forward. This author is quite adept at describing the aftermath of lifetimes of less than stellar experiences. They never sugarcoat the work it takes to deal with the toxicity – including the use of therapy and the difficulty of communicating honestly while acknowledging that the decision to share trauma is a personal decision. I loved the advice that Emil didn’t owe anyone information about his childhood and that sharing that was his decision with those he deemed worthy to know about it. Renzo dealing with his narcissistic ex and understanding the number that had been done on him was debilitating for a while but he begins to realize that he can risk letting Emil into his life. Definitely one of the best holiday or any book I’ve read this year. Two beautifully human characters who deal with their pasts and find the support and love they need and deserve to help each of them heal. Highly recommended.
December 24, 2023
E.M. Lindsey gives us a beautifully poignant love story with Most of You. A very telling title as both Emil and Renzo struggle to give more of themselves to each other as past hurts try and get in the way more than once. Their connection although immediate did feel right even if it was under less-than-happy circumstances and what follows is the beginning of deep healing for both Emil and Renzo and the kind of soul-soothing romance both readily deserve.
Although there is a sad tone to this book throughout, I loved that Lindsey allowed Emil and Renzo to take their time in becoming more, even when they may have seemed desperate to go full throttle, each at different points in the book. My heart broke for Emil and the harsh childhood he had to endure at both the hands of his mentally ill mother and absent father. But the fact that he wants to be a better man, especially after what happened with his company and business partner (something I need to explore and stat in Halo) showed how much he had changed and how Renzo became a part of his moving on.
Renzo, with his huge responsibilities to his brother Matty (who is a huge standout) and the ongoing guilt he has with bringing his ex into their lives, starts to fade when he realizes that a man like Emil is worth opening his heart again for knowing the skittish man when it comes to love is worth the wait. The hot Professor is such a good guy. The way he has Matty as his top priority, never handling him with kid gloves, but treating him like the wonderful young man he is despite his health issues. They have this beautiful connection that is addictive and I was thrilled Emil could see it too, and eventually wanted to be a part of their family dynamic.
Both Renzo and Emil have moments of panic and it was lovely to see their good friends Oliver and Victor be their sounding boards to guide them into each other's arms for today and forever. Lindsey handles their indecisions and thoughts of insecurity perfectly since again, those past hurts seem to seep into one's mind when least expected.
There are plenty of sexy times that are well-timed and maybe not so much, as well, (wink, wink) but the desire is undeniable and the resulting waves of passion are truly incredible. I just really liked these characters and how both take it upon themselves to want to be better for those they care for.
I hope there is more to come in this Beginning of Always series even though it seems that it's just a two-book series, since E.M. Lindsey knows how to combine great love with real life and all that goes with falling for someone, like no one else.
Most of You is heartbreaking yet maintains a kind of hope for Emil and Renzo that they'll find in each other that missing piece they didn't even know they needed or deserved. It's a great story and is worthy of a huge 4++ stars!
Although there is a sad tone to this book throughout, I loved that Lindsey allowed Emil and Renzo to take their time in becoming more, even when they may have seemed desperate to go full throttle, each at different points in the book. My heart broke for Emil and the harsh childhood he had to endure at both the hands of his mentally ill mother and absent father. But the fact that he wants to be a better man, especially after what happened with his company and business partner (something I need to explore and stat in Halo) showed how much he had changed and how Renzo became a part of his moving on.
Renzo, with his huge responsibilities to his brother Matty (who is a huge standout) and the ongoing guilt he has with bringing his ex into their lives, starts to fade when he realizes that a man like Emil is worth opening his heart again for knowing the skittish man when it comes to love is worth the wait. The hot Professor is such a good guy. The way he has Matty as his top priority, never handling him with kid gloves, but treating him like the wonderful young man he is despite his health issues. They have this beautiful connection that is addictive and I was thrilled Emil could see it too, and eventually wanted to be a part of their family dynamic.
Both Renzo and Emil have moments of panic and it was lovely to see their good friends Oliver and Victor be their sounding boards to guide them into each other's arms for today and forever. Lindsey handles their indecisions and thoughts of insecurity perfectly since again, those past hurts seem to seep into one's mind when least expected.
There are plenty of sexy times that are well-timed and maybe not so much, as well, (wink, wink) but the desire is undeniable and the resulting waves of passion are truly incredible. I just really liked these characters and how both take it upon themselves to want to be better for those they care for.
I hope there is more to come in this Beginning of Always series even though it seems that it's just a two-book series, since E.M. Lindsey knows how to combine great love with real life and all that goes with falling for someone, like no one else.
Most of You is heartbreaking yet maintains a kind of hope for Emil and Renzo that they'll find in each other that missing piece they didn't even know they needed or deserved. It's a great story and is worthy of a huge 4++ stars!
August 19, 2024
"You’re the person I’d been dreaming of for years, but I can’t… I won’t survive getting hurt again. Not like that.”
Emil had upended his entire life and moved to the East Coast to finally face his past and somehow become a better person. Finding love never factored into the equation. But then he met Renzo, who was undeniably hot, but more than that, he was kind, easy to talk to, and somehow made Emil want to confess things he’d never told anyone before. After his awful marriage ended, Renzo wasn’t eager to put himself back out there but he was drawn to Emil in a way he never had been before. A one-night stand turned into friendship then turned into more as neither one could stay away but for two men whose hearts had been so badly damaged, will they be able to open their hearts to each other for real?
Emil was falling too hard and too fast. How was he supposed to keep Renzo at arm’s length? How was his entire life not supposed to become about this man?
I thought this story was very sweet. Emil and Renzo were both damaged but for very different reasons. Emil’s came from the way he was treated by his parents growing up and Renzo’s was thanks to his horrible ex-husband. Emil knew he wasn’t a good guy but he very badly wanted to be better and I liked seeing him work toward that goal. And truth be told, he wasn’t that bad but he spent so long believing he was an awful person that it was hard for him to see himself as anything but. It was hard for him to believe he’d ever be good enough for someone like Renzo.
And Renzo, after being berated by his ex for so long, felt like he had very little to offer someone else. In reality, he was a great guy with a lot to offer and I was glad he finally came around to seeing that. There was a lot of push and pull between these men as they very openly wanted to be together but didn’t think it would work so they tried keeping each other at arm’s length. Of course, that only works for so long before they realize they’ve fallen in love.
As much as I enjoyed Emil and Renzo, it was Renzo’s younger brother, Matty, who stole the show for me. He was adorable and such a good little matchmaker. I also loved how he softened the edges for both Renzo and Emil. Renzo was a great big brother to him and Emil was so kind and accepting of him, it was those moments where you got to see the type of person Emil really was.
The only weird thing was that if you’ve read Oliver and Victor’s extended epilogue, Pretty Boy, the events in that contradict what happens in the epilogue of this book. I’m not sure what happened there but I just wanted to point that out. I guess you can treat it as a choose-your-own-adventure and pick which one you like best.
Emil was the last person in the world Renzo would have envisioned to help heal the broken pieces his ex had left behind, and yet, he was the only one who made sense anymore.
December 30, 2023
EM Lindsey is certainly closing out 2023 with an incredible bang with this absolutely achy, swoony second book in The Beginning of Always series. *Most of You* focuses on Emil who we met in *Halo* and with whom Victor has a slightly rocky relationship, and brand new character, Renzo.
Lindsey is so good at really honing on some of the messiest parts of us as humans and moulding them into narratives that tug at every heartstring and this was no different. What we didn’t know in the first book was the depth of Emil’s difficult past as a child and how that created the man we see at the start of this series. By the time we are reintroduced to him in this book, we find a man struggling with who he has become and completely at sea with this existential crisis he is facing. Emil’s arc is full of Lindsey’s signature angst and my entire heart went out to Emil. And as usual, the author creates such a unique yet deeply honest picture of a man trying so hard to come to terms with his past actions and actively trying to grow amidst these new realizations.
Renzo was also utterly loveable and his story and his continuing recovery from a bad past relationship added to the emotional obstacles between these two men. I absolutely loved how much we understand from the get-go how drawn Emil and Renzo are to each other despite all their hesitation. They were so tender with each other and I couldn’t help but swoon at the way both of them handled the other’s bruised and jagged edges with such care. Their emotional and physical relationship was a beautiful give and take, with each of them instinctively understanding when the other needed to just get lost in the feelings and in the safety of their growing connection. It was an utter joy to watch these two characters find their happily ever after.
Also a special shout out to Matty, Renzo’s little brother who is going up there as one of my favourite side characters. I loved his sass and his earnest affection, and the way he provided something Emil didn’t even know he needed was just perfect! 5 big cozy stars for this beautiful book!
CWs: mentions of past narcissistic abuse and cheating by an ex; mentions of past childhood abuse and neglect; mentions of a parent with factitious disorder (formerly known as Munchausen’s by Proxy); abuse recovery; alcohol addiction recovery; ableism
CNs: This is a contemporary MM romance novel featuring somewhat of a redemption arc for a character we briefly see in book 1 of the series, though this can be read as a standalone. This novel is fairly high-heat and contains several on-page sex scenes. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
Lindsey is so good at really honing on some of the messiest parts of us as humans and moulding them into narratives that tug at every heartstring and this was no different. What we didn’t know in the first book was the depth of Emil’s difficult past as a child and how that created the man we see at the start of this series. By the time we are reintroduced to him in this book, we find a man struggling with who he has become and completely at sea with this existential crisis he is facing. Emil’s arc is full of Lindsey’s signature angst and my entire heart went out to Emil. And as usual, the author creates such a unique yet deeply honest picture of a man trying so hard to come to terms with his past actions and actively trying to grow amidst these new realizations.
Renzo was also utterly loveable and his story and his continuing recovery from a bad past relationship added to the emotional obstacles between these two men. I absolutely loved how much we understand from the get-go how drawn Emil and Renzo are to each other despite all their hesitation. They were so tender with each other and I couldn’t help but swoon at the way both of them handled the other’s bruised and jagged edges with such care. Their emotional and physical relationship was a beautiful give and take, with each of them instinctively understanding when the other needed to just get lost in the feelings and in the safety of their growing connection. It was an utter joy to watch these two characters find their happily ever after.
Also a special shout out to Matty, Renzo’s little brother who is going up there as one of my favourite side characters. I loved his sass and his earnest affection, and the way he provided something Emil didn’t even know he needed was just perfect! 5 big cozy stars for this beautiful book!
CWs: mentions of past narcissistic abuse and cheating by an ex; mentions of past childhood abuse and neglect; mentions of a parent with factitious disorder (formerly known as Munchausen’s by Proxy); abuse recovery; alcohol addiction recovery; ableism
CNs: This is a contemporary MM romance novel featuring somewhat of a redemption arc for a character we briefly see in book 1 of the series, though this can be read as a standalone. This novel is fairly high-heat and contains several on-page sex scenes. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
December 20, 2023
When I saw that the next book in the series would be Emil's story, I wasn't sure I would like it. Emil appeared in the first book, and to say he wasn't the most likeable guy is an understatement. But I was confident if anyone could redeem him, Lindsey could. Man, did she deliver! The first chapter was like a punch to the gut and the emotional hits just kept coming. Emil's story is so tragic and heartbreaking, it really explained a lot about why he was the way that he was.
Though this book is a stand alone, I recommend that if you haven't read Halo yet, read it first to get the full picture of Emil.
Emil is trying so hard to be a better man and Renzo is still overcoming his own trauma at the hands of his awful ex. These two were both broken down and hurting in their own very significant ways. The angst between them was light, but the overall story was full of emotion. One of the thing that I appreciated most about this story is that it is a story of healing and seeking help when it's needed. This is not a love fixes all story. These men did what they needed to do separately so they could work together. They put in the time and the effort. While they could have been better at it at times, they also communicated! There weren't any of the break-ups over silly miscommunications in this story.
Also, Lindsey does not skimp on the steam in this one! The intimate scenes between Renzo and Emil were spicy, emotional, and profound.
Both men are over 40 and experiencing a new start in life in different ways. Their relationship was not some profound love story that magically fixes everything in their lives. They supported each other in fighting their demons, but neither MC tried to fix the other's problems, which is important, in my opinion. Lindsey also, as always, handled their trauma with realism and care, as well as the descriptions of WIlliams syndrome and what used to be called Munchausen by proxy. Definitely heed the trigger warnings, but if you're comfortable, give this one a read! Lindsey's portrayal of relatable, real characters is what has me returning to this author again and again.
Though this book is a stand alone, I recommend that if you haven't read Halo yet, read it first to get the full picture of Emil.
Emil is trying so hard to be a better man and Renzo is still overcoming his own trauma at the hands of his awful ex. These two were both broken down and hurting in their own very significant ways. The angst between them was light, but the overall story was full of emotion. One of the thing that I appreciated most about this story is that it is a story of healing and seeking help when it's needed. This is not a love fixes all story. These men did what they needed to do separately so they could work together. They put in the time and the effort. While they could have been better at it at times, they also communicated! There weren't any of the break-ups over silly miscommunications in this story.
Also, Lindsey does not skimp on the steam in this one! The intimate scenes between Renzo and Emil were spicy, emotional, and profound.
Both men are over 40 and experiencing a new start in life in different ways. Their relationship was not some profound love story that magically fixes everything in their lives. They supported each other in fighting their demons, but neither MC tried to fix the other's problems, which is important, in my opinion. Lindsey also, as always, handled their trauma with realism and care, as well as the descriptions of WIlliams syndrome and what used to be called Munchausen by proxy. Definitely heed the trigger warnings, but if you're comfortable, give this one a read! Lindsey's portrayal of relatable, real characters is what has me returning to this author again and again.
December 23, 2023
This book works completely as a stand-alone story, but putting this book together with Halo makes for a lovely duet. Emil wasn’t necessarily a villain in the other book who needed a redemption arc. The events in that book served as a wake-up call, and I thoroughly enjoyed his journey toward becoming a better person.
Lindsey provides Emil’s history as a context for who he is as an adult, but never as an excuse for his previous behavior. In his own way, he is as wounded as Renzo, who is still in the process of recovering from a marriage that did a significant number on his self-esteem. They share a fairly angsty meet-cute that is immediately followed by an instant connection filled with an intensity that startles them both. Since neither feels like they are either ready for or deserving of a relationship, the retreat that follows isn’t surprising. However, an accidental reconnection that is amazingly adorable opens the path between them for more, the perfect second chance for a more “traditional” meet-cute. Most importantly, Emil and Renzo do not fix each other by entering into a tentative relationship with each other. I especially appreciated the on-page moments showing Emil’s experience with talk therapy.
Many of my notes for this review ended up commenting on elements that this book is not, rather than what it is, which is what elevates the story from generic to the excellent storytelling that I have come to expect from Lindsey. Instead of a trauma-bond relationship between two characters who experience a profound event together, Emil and Renzo develop almost an “anti” trauma-bond connection because what they see in each other is in direct opposition to what they believe about themselves. And though the events of this book occur during the holiday season, it is not a Christmas story. Instead, it is very much a New Year’s story of new beginnings.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Lindsey provides Emil’s history as a context for who he is as an adult, but never as an excuse for his previous behavior. In his own way, he is as wounded as Renzo, who is still in the process of recovering from a marriage that did a significant number on his self-esteem. They share a fairly angsty meet-cute that is immediately followed by an instant connection filled with an intensity that startles them both. Since neither feels like they are either ready for or deserving of a relationship, the retreat that follows isn’t surprising. However, an accidental reconnection that is amazingly adorable opens the path between them for more, the perfect second chance for a more “traditional” meet-cute. Most importantly, Emil and Renzo do not fix each other by entering into a tentative relationship with each other. I especially appreciated the on-page moments showing Emil’s experience with talk therapy.
Many of my notes for this review ended up commenting on elements that this book is not, rather than what it is, which is what elevates the story from generic to the excellent storytelling that I have come to expect from Lindsey. Instead of a trauma-bond relationship between two characters who experience a profound event together, Emil and Renzo develop almost an “anti” trauma-bond connection because what they see in each other is in direct opposition to what they believe about themselves. And though the events of this book occur during the holiday season, it is not a Christmas story. Instead, it is very much a New Year’s story of new beginnings.
Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
December 19, 2023
Emil and Renzo's story is full of emotions and found family moments.
I usually always enjoy EM's stories, the way they write their characters makes them so realistic. Their stories are so poignant and full of emotions. I liked how Emil's character was redeemed in this book, he went from being a bad guy to bring a person who made a bad mistake. He learned from that and is striving to do better, to be better. I think that's really beautiful, and relatable. I feel like a lot of people could relate to Emil's character in one way or another, and I find that so special.
Renzo's character has gone through a lot in his life. When his parents died he resumed taking care and raiding his brother Matty, and his now ex boyfriend was manipulative and toxic. Not just in the way he treated Renzo, but also in the way he treated Matty. Something I really loved about the characters in this book is how prevalent going to therapy was in their lives. Each character said how much it's helped them, and how they've learned things about themselves they hadn't acknowledged before.
Matty's character was definitely my favorite and I am hoping that he gets his own story eventually. I loved his child-like sweetness and how he was as protective of Renzo as Renzo was of him. His character was just so sweet and so loving.
I thought the overall story was good! What made me rate this a bit lower is because this book was full of spicy scenes.. and while that necessarily isn't a bad thing, it just isn't my cup of tea. I was hoping there would be more relationship building, dates, romance, etc. But there was more of a spotlight on spicy times than those other things. That's just my personal preference though, overall a good story!
I usually always enjoy EM's stories, the way they write their characters makes them so realistic. Their stories are so poignant and full of emotions. I liked how Emil's character was redeemed in this book, he went from being a bad guy to bring a person who made a bad mistake. He learned from that and is striving to do better, to be better. I think that's really beautiful, and relatable. I feel like a lot of people could relate to Emil's character in one way or another, and I find that so special.
Renzo's character has gone through a lot in his life. When his parents died he resumed taking care and raiding his brother Matty, and his now ex boyfriend was manipulative and toxic. Not just in the way he treated Renzo, but also in the way he treated Matty. Something I really loved about the characters in this book is how prevalent going to therapy was in their lives. Each character said how much it's helped them, and how they've learned things about themselves they hadn't acknowledged before.
Matty's character was definitely my favorite and I am hoping that he gets his own story eventually. I loved his child-like sweetness and how he was as protective of Renzo as Renzo was of him. His character was just so sweet and so loving.
I thought the overall story was good! What made me rate this a bit lower is because this book was full of spicy scenes.. and while that necessarily isn't a bad thing, it just isn't my cup of tea. I was hoping there would be more relationship building, dates, romance, etc. But there was more of a spotlight on spicy times than those other things. That's just my personal preference though, overall a good story!
December 27, 2023
Is it possible to wrap up two characters and protect them from the outside world? I really wanted to do that in E.M. Lindsey’s new novel Most of You. Lindsey writes hurt/comfort so well, but I am unsure if I’ve read one where both characters have gone through so much to get where they are. We met Emil in Halo. He was Victor’s friend and business partner who knew about the affair that Victor’s fiancee was having with the other business partner. He didn’t tell Vic for months and is beating himself up for hurting the man. To be honest, people treated Emil like he was a monster for not telling the truth sooner which I found odd. Was it terrible he didn’t tell Vic sooner? Absolutely! Did that make him a villain that deserved to be treated like dirt? No. Emil apologized and was trying to make things right. Once you learn his backstory (good grief his parents were the real monsters of this story) it makes a lot of sense why Emil behaved the way he did.
Renzo is getting over his divorce from an abusive narcissist. He is scared of falling in love again for fear that it will turn out the same. He is taking care of his brother Matty while his sister gets away for the holidays. Renzo meets Emil when he starts to go through his dead mom’s house. These two were just the sweetest, and I adored Matty.
One thing I did really appreciate about this book is that there was a solid epilogue. I feel like in most of my reviews I always state that I really wanted to see them in a year or two. E.M. definitely delivered here and gave us a swoony epilogue. It made me so happy. Another winner from E.M. for me!
I received an ARC for my honest review
Renzo is getting over his divorce from an abusive narcissist. He is scared of falling in love again for fear that it will turn out the same. He is taking care of his brother Matty while his sister gets away for the holidays. Renzo meets Emil when he starts to go through his dead mom’s house. These two were just the sweetest, and I adored Matty.
One thing I did really appreciate about this book is that there was a solid epilogue. I feel like in most of my reviews I always state that I really wanted to see them in a year or two. E.M. definitely delivered here and gave us a swoony epilogue. It made me so happy. Another winner from E.M. for me!
I received an ARC for my honest review
December 21, 2023
Rating: 5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
MM | past abuse | grumpy / sunshine | emotional
Most of You was an amazing and beautiful story that turned my heart into an achy, melty mess!
I adored Emil and Renzo as a couple and shipped them hard, they both had a lot of baggage and their story was definitely an emotional read. E.M. Lindsey is brilliant at writing these perfectly flawed characters with traumas and haunted pasts, and I loved how they portrayed Emil and Renzo here.
Emil and Renzo were so good for each other, and my heart melted every time Renzo called him sweet things. I love stories with a touch-starved MC and Emil was definitely one of those, making my heart ache for him every time he reflected over his own past. I loved how safe he felt with Renzo, and it felt like they shared a connection right away. They also had fantastic chemistry and it made the steam really hot and spicy!
It was a little bit of a redemption story, since Emil didn't really make the best impression in Halo, but I loved how hard he worked on becoming a better person and making up for the past. Even if Most of You works as a standalone, I recommend reading Halo first in order to get some background on Emil, Victor and Oliver.
Most of You was a wonderful story, full of emotions but also a ton of sweetness, love and support. I just couldn’t put the book down once I got into it - both Emil and Renzo had amazing character growth and they had me totally captivated from the first chapter.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
MM | past abuse | grumpy / sunshine | emotional
Most of You was an amazing and beautiful story that turned my heart into an achy, melty mess!
I adored Emil and Renzo as a couple and shipped them hard, they both had a lot of baggage and their story was definitely an emotional read. E.M. Lindsey is brilliant at writing these perfectly flawed characters with traumas and haunted pasts, and I loved how they portrayed Emil and Renzo here.
Emil and Renzo were so good for each other, and my heart melted every time Renzo called him sweet things. I love stories with a touch-starved MC and Emil was definitely one of those, making my heart ache for him every time he reflected over his own past. I loved how safe he felt with Renzo, and it felt like they shared a connection right away. They also had fantastic chemistry and it made the steam really hot and spicy!
It was a little bit of a redemption story, since Emil didn't really make the best impression in Halo, but I loved how hard he worked on becoming a better person and making up for the past. Even if Most of You works as a standalone, I recommend reading Halo first in order to get some background on Emil, Victor and Oliver.
Most of You was a wonderful story, full of emotions but also a ton of sweetness, love and support. I just couldn’t put the book down once I got into it - both Emil and Renzo had amazing character growth and they had me totally captivated from the first chapter.
December 22, 2023
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Emil is in part a redemption story but mostly it’s a deeper look at a man who was never taught how to love. It’s hard to believe a person who’s been through what he has would turn out any differently.
But when his best friend gives him a second chance, and his mother dies he starts the process of changing. But it’s not until he meets Renzo that he really starts to see a brighter future.
Renzo is a great guy who’s carrying the guilt of the aftermath of a horrible ex. He’s weary of loving again. He’s also got his own flaws that just make him all the more wonderful in my opinion. We all have our demons.
I love that despite their mutual reluctance to date, they can’t seem to walk away from the other. This stranger, to friendship, to lover story.
The story is full of personal angst and all the emotions (good and bad) that come with it. It’s also full of personal revelations and growth. As well as the care and comfort that comes from finding someone willing to stand by you through it all.
I’m also completely in love with the relationship Emil built with Renzo’s brother Matty.
Emil is in part a redemption story but mostly it’s a deeper look at a man who was never taught how to love. It’s hard to believe a person who’s been through what he has would turn out any differently.
But when his best friend gives him a second chance, and his mother dies he starts the process of changing. But it’s not until he meets Renzo that he really starts to see a brighter future.
Renzo is a great guy who’s carrying the guilt of the aftermath of a horrible ex. He’s weary of loving again. He’s also got his own flaws that just make him all the more wonderful in my opinion. We all have our demons.
I love that despite their mutual reluctance to date, they can’t seem to walk away from the other. This stranger, to friendship, to lover story.
The story is full of personal angst and all the emotions (good and bad) that come with it. It’s also full of personal revelations and growth. As well as the care and comfort that comes from finding someone willing to stand by you through it all.
I’m also completely in love with the relationship Emil built with Renzo’s brother Matty.
August 25, 2025
Somehow I just found out Halo had companion books and a series so I will be binge reading!
I liked Emil and Renzo, I think they were both going through it, and on their way to recovery though in different ways. Their pasts made their communication a bit difficult as there were assumptions on both ends of what they should do/how often they should reach out, but their feelings were strong enough that they wanted to make it work so they did.
I liked how they had time together before realizing they ran in the same circles/knew the same people. Emil got to exist with someone not knowing his past and just getting to be this new person he was trying to be for a little bit. I liked how Renzo calmed him of his past, and acknowledged it happened, but reassured that the man he met was not like that and he was explicitly interested.
Renzo blinked, then threw his head back and laughed. Fuck, he was so, so beautiful. His body sort of swayed with his laughter, moving like he was dancing, and Emil wanted to kiss him so badly that his lips tingled.
I also loved Matty and Emil's relationship with him! You could tell it was important to Renzo for them to get along, and Emi took that seriously, though he didn't overpromise anything as he didn't want to be the person who couldn't uphold those promises.
I liked Emil and Renzo, I think they were both going through it, and on their way to recovery though in different ways. Their pasts made their communication a bit difficult as there were assumptions on both ends of what they should do/how often they should reach out, but their feelings were strong enough that they wanted to make it work so they did.
I liked how they had time together before realizing they ran in the same circles/knew the same people. Emil got to exist with someone not knowing his past and just getting to be this new person he was trying to be for a little bit. I liked how Renzo calmed him of his past, and acknowledged it happened, but reassured that the man he met was not like that and he was explicitly interested.
Renzo blinked, then threw his head back and laughed. Fuck, he was so, so beautiful. His body sort of swayed with his laughter, moving like he was dancing, and Emil wanted to kiss him so badly that his lips tingled.
I also loved Matty and Emil's relationship with him! You could tell it was important to Renzo for them to get along, and Emi took that seriously, though he didn't overpromise anything as he didn't want to be the person who couldn't uphold those promises.
August 31, 2025
3.5⭐️
This book follows Emil, Victor’s not so great friend and business partner from book one, and Renzo, Oliver’s professor colleague and friend. Renzo is staying at his sister’s place and taking care of his brother for the holidays, which just happens to be when Emil takes possession of the house of his late mother next door. After an emotional meet-cute and a steamy hookup, these two can’t resist getting more of each other.
This book had a lot of sweet elements. Matty, Renzo’s brother, was a wonderful character, and added so much charm and love to the story.
Like the previous book, this story is very character-focused and dialogue heavy. We get to hear every tough conversation Emil and Renzo have. While I felt it worked well for book 1, this book ended up being tedious for me. The characters are both going through a lot, which is fine. The issue is that they’re both incredibly wishy-washy with their feelings and intentions. The entire book is them kind of dancing around each other, but not in a fun way. It was kind of frustrating. I love men showing their emotions, but these two just dragged stuff out, and that was the whole story. It made me have a hard time enjoying the book. I still think the author does an exceptional job of building characters, but I wish we had more substance with this one!
This book follows Emil, Victor’s not so great friend and business partner from book one, and Renzo, Oliver’s professor colleague and friend. Renzo is staying at his sister’s place and taking care of his brother for the holidays, which just happens to be when Emil takes possession of the house of his late mother next door. After an emotional meet-cute and a steamy hookup, these two can’t resist getting more of each other.
This book had a lot of sweet elements. Matty, Renzo’s brother, was a wonderful character, and added so much charm and love to the story.
Like the previous book, this story is very character-focused and dialogue heavy. We get to hear every tough conversation Emil and Renzo have. While I felt it worked well for book 1, this book ended up being tedious for me. The characters are both going through a lot, which is fine. The issue is that they’re both incredibly wishy-washy with their feelings and intentions. The entire book is them kind of dancing around each other, but not in a fun way. It was kind of frustrating. I love men showing their emotions, but these two just dragged stuff out, and that was the whole story. It made me have a hard time enjoying the book. I still think the author does an exceptional job of building characters, but I wish we had more substance with this one!
December 21, 2023
Halo, the first book in this series was one of my favorite reads of the year and book two is every bit as amazing. I was so looking forward to getting to know Emil better as he was such a compelling part of Oliver and Victor’s story. His story definitely does not disappoint, his is a truly harrowing backstory. His life was thoroughly upended by his mother’s abuse and his father’s indifference. But, I loved that Emil is also strong and driven. As terrifying as a relationship with Renzo is, Emil looks to take control of his health and healing. It’s not an easy road, but these two characters together are so worth the effort. I also loved Renzo, he is such a lovely person. He seems a bit lost in his life though, trying to avoid his abusive ex husband at work and caring for his brother at home. He also fears another relationship. E.M Lindsey is a master at creating intriguing characters with complicated history, and romances with real emotional depth. I loved these characters, Renzo and Emil are both damaged but not broken - it’s a really beautiful and ultimately uplifting journey to their happy ending. Both books in the series were exceptional!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
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