Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, failed one night stand
Feels: 5/5
Steam*: 4.5/5
Kinks: so many toys, cum play, semi public sex, lingerie kink, hand kink, feminine terminology kink, praise, cockwarming
Angst: medium
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: homophobia, body dysmorphia, disordered eating, anger issues, child abuse, bad parents, overdose death of parent in past
4.5 stars
Liam is 21. He's never been with a guy before. He likes women, but he's a pillow princess so he hasn't come across a woman that he's actually sexually compatible with. He doesn't have much of a drive to date as a result. He had one semi serious girlfriend but a few months ago she cheated on him and he dumped her. He has a complicated relationship with his dad who didn't make it to the MLB and wants to live vicariously through Liam, he's been trying to control his baseball career and workout regimen and diet for years. It's given Liam a complex, he's got body dysmorphia and disordered eating. He also hates working out and wants to quit baseball.
Sebastian is 26. He's gay and works as a personal trainer at Liam's gym. His mom overdosed and his dad was abusive. He got adopted at age 15 but he thinks it was only because his 10-year-old sister was adopted by the same family. So he's never been close to his adopted parents. He's a one and done guy.
The moment Liam spots Sebastian at the gym, he is fascinated by him, he can't stop himself from staring. He actually gets called out on how rude he comes off. People think he's homophobic, and maybe there's a little bit of something there because his dad is homophobic, but Liam is mostly just awkward. Liam really can't tear his eyes off Sebastian and Sebastian correctly pegs Liam as being attracted to him. Sebastian is attracted to Liam as well. He decides to drop Liam as a client at the gym and give in and f*** him, but only once! He's a bit of a jerk about pushing Liam out after their hookup, completely unaware that it was Liam's first time with a guy. They both try to stay away from each other, but they have a heck of a lot of chemistry and feelings and they're just magnetized towards each other.
Once they give in, things slowly escalate to more than they thought they were getting into with each other. A good repeat hookup turns into sleeping over, getting brunch, going on dates, meeting each other's friends and family. And then whoops now they're in love.
I really loved this book. I loved the dynamic between them, they were so entranced by each other, against their better judgment they just wanted more and more of the other person. Their sexual chemistry and compatibility was off the charts, this was an incredibly smutty read. And it wasn't just physical, they snuck in all kinds of greedily eating the other person up with their eyes, just being near the other person, watching them sleep, snuggling, hand holding, talking. I loved their platonic moments the most, when they snuggled, especially when Sebastian submitted to it in a reluctant way but secretly was lapping it up and hoping that every touch and word meant that Liam really cared about him and was his. And Liam was so precious, he was in so deep, and I loved him being clingy, hoarding Sebastian's clothes, smelling them, always reaching for Sebastian and wrapping himself in him. They loved each other so hard. There are some couples where you're like, they're going to get married, they are perfect together... you just love their love!
Also, I'm intrigued by Baby! I love a character that bites as their love language. And I love his attitude. How feisty and fierce he is, he shone in all his little moments.
What didn't I like? This part has spoilers. I didn't like that Sebastian ended up being the brother of Liam's ex who cheated. Sibling's ex is an ick to me, though I will say they made it pretty much a non-issue here. I didn't like how Jax (Sebastian's best friend and one time one night stand) kept rubbing it in the couple's faces that he once had sex with Sebastian. Jax had some moments where he was funny, ribbing Sebastian for being smitten, but there is a line where it's not funny or cute and you start being toxic to your friendship when you're constantly reminding your friend and their boyfriend that you f*****.
Some notable moments:
"“So, you, like, don’t hate me?” I sigh again. “No, Liam. I don’t hate you.” “Hm. Yeah, but see, you say that like maybe you do. A little. And I did get super wasted and pass out in your bed. And I puked in your bathtub.” “You what?” “I cleaned it up!”"
"Understanding floods his face, and I roll my eyes. “You want to ask your boyfriend’s friend for date ideas? Dude,” he tacks on the last word with a dramatic hand over his chest before cupping his mouth with both hands. “Whipped like cream,” he whispers. “Will you go with me or not?” “I will because I definitely want to see this.”"
"“Liam wants me to assure him that I’d be down to stay his boyfriend if he ever turned into a duck.” “Well! What would you do with me?” “I’d… I’d build you a pond,” he pats my shoulder condescendingly, and I roll my eyes. “And I’d buy you cantucci every day to keep your little duck self happy.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.